by Adam Elliott
But now? How many of his unique skills would be available for mastery, and would it be worth it for any of them? The thoughts just brought more questions. If he could master the core skill, it was a no brainer, if not-
“Cayden!”
The sharp tone of Aaron's voice brought his ruminations to an end with a startling revelation. Both men were staring at him intently, obviously waiting for a reply to a question that had gone completely unnoticed.
So much for the AR screen being the problem.
“Uh... could you repeat that.”
Vincent laughed, a biting snarl of a sound as he looked to Aaron. “I take it back, you are correct. Your judgment, along with your protege, is faulty."
“I asked if you were ready to begin your lessons now.” Aaron said, clearly annoyed. “Or if you wanted to wait until the morning.”
“Now, I think," Cayden said, suddenly unable to meet the man's yellow eyes. "Unless. Are the lessons dangerous? I'm still suffering respawn... er... I'm still recovering from the resurrection spell. I'll be useless for combat for another few days at least."
“Nothing more biting than Vincent's wit, though I wouldn't feat injuring yourself too much on that account.” Aaron snorted.
“Charming as always Aaron." Vincent frowned, then spoke a handful of words in an arcane tongue. Ahead of him, the air split apart to create a crackling doorway into what looked to be a laboratory, though it was one more on the 'mad science' end of the spectrum. "Shall we?"
“You know we could walk there, right?” Aaron asked.
“I know that if you complain any further, you will be.” Vincent sighed in annoyance. “This seemed faster.”
Cayden walked to the portal on the heels of the other two men. It never failed to amaze him how something so incredible to him was so banal to the residents of the tower. This was a portal through space itself, a physics-defying wonder that a lazy middle-aged man used to avoid walking down a few hallways.
The portal crackled and hissed, seemingly annoyed on behalf of its owner that Cayden was taking his time. There was no telling how long it would stay open, and he didn't relish forcing the mage to open a second, or worse yet, being halfway through if it closed. Into the breach then.
Beyond the dark portal was a laboratory out of b-movie science fiction. Beakers bubbled, lightning sparked, gears cranked and turned working on curious experiments whose meaning Cayden couldn't even begin to guess. Idly, he wondered if there was any meaning to it at all. No doubt the developer watched a lot of b-movies, perhaps neither of the mages used the room for anything and merely kept it because a mage should have a laboratory.
“This way Cayden." Aaron beckoned, urging him towards a more well-lit section on the far end of the room. It was spartan, save for a single targeting dummy of the same straw variety that he'd seen the General battling on their way here. The dummy seemed as out of place here as it did there, a great warrior swatting at straw men, while two powerful mages used another for target practice.
“Very low te-” Cayden said, momentarily unable to finish as a sudden pressure and the sound of running water enveloped his ears. It was like standing beneath a pounding waterfall, though the sensation vanished just as quickly as he took another step. “The heck was that?”
“An antimagic barrier.” Vincent explained simply.
“To protect this from the lab?”
The older mage looked at him as if he'd said the stupidest thing ever conceived. "No. To protect the lab from the Fire Range."
“I think you mean firing range.”
Vincent looked at him, a ball of fire burst into existence in an open palm. "Thank you. But I prefer it my way."
“Come now, Vincent. Don't scare the boy." Aaron laughed and clasped Cayden roughly on the shoulder. "You can be free with your magic here boy. Show us what you can do.
Cayden paused, looking between the two magic casters with a frown. “Uh... to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what exactly it is that I can do.”
Vincent grinned, and Aaron frowned, the redheaded mage holding up an outstretched finger. "Not one word Vincent. Not. One. Word."
Chapter Twenty-Four
“This is absurd Aaron; the boy is a complete novice!"
“Which only makes for a greater opportunity." He shot back. "A chance to mold his abilities from the start, rather than just providing the finishing touches."
Vincent snorted derisively. "The Great Emperor said he would send us someone for tutelage and testing. Not some child still learning his letters."
“You do know I'm standing right here." Cayden asked. Considering the way neither of them appeared even to acknowledge his words, he wasn't sure they did realize he was still there.
They had been arguing for over an hour and had shown no signs of stopping or slowing down. The argument had yet to come to blows, but more than once sparks, often literal sparks, had flown as they snapped back at one another and vented their frustrations in the form of magical outbursts.
“Are you doubting the Emperor? He said the boy would come. He has come. How about we check his status before you just assume he is useless?"
“Very well." Vincent said. He grabbed Cayden by the wrist, bodily dragging the young man in the direction of the door. The mage was strong, stronger than Cayden would have expected given his wiry physique, which left him little choice but to stumble after Vincent as he was dragged towards a bookshelf on the far end of the laboratory.
Once there, Vincent busied himself by tearing volume after volume off the stacked shelves. What he was looking for, Cayden couldn't begin to fathom.
“Should I be concerned?” Cayden asked as Aaron followed up behind him.
“Not at all. It is a painless spell. He's just looking for a book he is willing to part with." Aaron reassured him. "I know that bloodline families have a way of condensing personal skill and ability down to a numerical form. Status allows us to do something similar, though slightly more in depth."
Cayden was impressed. Players were still learning about the various facets of Elan magic, and how it differed from the version they utilized, so it came as no surprise that a situational spell like this existed, even if he'd never heard of it.
“If you are going to check it, then you'll have to give me a moment.” Cayden said. “I've improved quite a bit since the last time I've managed my abilities. I'd prefer to give you an accurate picture.”
“By all means." Aaron replied, the mage more interested in watching his friend tear apart the bookshelf.
With a snap of his fingers, Cayden called his display to life. Three new levels awaited him, and he didn't even hesitate as he selected Runemagi over and over again.
You have reached Runemagi Level 2
+90 MP
New Skill Learned!
Runic Empowerment
Type: Active Combat Skill
Skill Level: Novice Level 1
Effect: Increase the effect of all inscribed Rune Phrases on target by 100% for one minute.
Cost: 250 MP
You have reached Runemagi Level 3
+90 MP
You have reached Runemagi Level 4
+90 MP
New Skill Learned!
Runic Overload
Type: Active Combat Skill
Skill Level: Novice Level 1
Effect: Increase the effect of all inscribed Rune Phrases on existing gear by 400% for one minute. After one minute, all inscribed Rune Phrases are erased.
There was no more choice for where to put his stat points than there had been for class selection. Runemagi was a mage class, with an associated hunger for MP, something he had very little of. He dumped all fifteen into energy, adding them to the existing five he'd added upon first taking the class.
Satisfied, he pulled up his character sheet to survey the results:
Name: Cayden
Gender: Male
Bloodline: Agares-Tabbris
Class: Guardian 7, Runemagi 4
Experienc
e: 64,238
Next Level: 66,000
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 27
Vitality: 28
Energy: 21
Stat Points Remaining: 0
Mastery Points Remaining: 1
Max HP: 1860
HP Recovery: 5.6/Second
Max MP: 1370
MP Recovery: 4.2/Second
Max TP: 1210
TP Recovery: 7.3/Second
Not bad, but not great. He was edging terribly close to Jack of all Trades territory, a place that was incredibly dangerous when it came to actual combat.
Doubly so when he still hadn't figured out how to use the signature ability of his new class.
Cayden clicked on the skill icon for Rune Magic once more, pulling up the description:
Rune Magic
Type: Unique Spellcasting
Skill Level: Level 1.
Effect: User gains the ability to invoke Runic Magic. Skill level is tied to a number of words known.
If there was a less useful skill description in the entire game, Cayden had yet to see it.
“This one will have to do." Vincent said with annoyance, throwing a massive tome down onto the desk. A few short words of power and magic enveloped the book, swirling about it until text began to peel from the pages, swallowed up into a void of violet energy that promptly vanished along with them.
“Place your hand on the open page.” Aaron instructed. Once Cayden had done so, he reached into a pouch at his side to produce a small quantity of sand. He threw the debris into the air, overtop of Cayden's hand, and in the same breath chanted a handful of mystical words.
The book flared to life, sky blue energy emanating from each and every page in a short-lived colorful display. When it was over, Aaron gestured for Cayden to move back, and the two mages stooped over the tome to inspect it.
The book was full of writing now. He recognized small amounts of it, a display similar to his character info, though vastly more detailed. Perhaps more troubling were the small illustrations as the two magic casters flipped through to various sections of the book. It was hard to tell at the distance he'd retreated to, but many of those photographs looked eerily similar to critical moments he recalled from childhood. Others seemed to be more recent, one a least, appeared to be an illustration of a battle he'd fought just earlier that week.
“NSA eat your heart out.” He mumbled.
The two conferred over his life's story for quite some time, speaking back and forth in hushed tones as they looked over this or that facet of his status. Eventually, the appeared to reach a consensus, much nodding passed from one to the other before they stood upright in near unison and turned to face him.
“I am willing to concede that you have some talent." Vincent said solemnly. "Discovering the ability to inscribe a Rune Phrase without instruction is no mean task, and the fact that it is a skill we will not have to teach you should make the upcoming days bearable."
“What he is saying.” Aaron said with a sidelong glance at his companion. “Is that we are indeed willing to instruct you.”
“Where do we start?”
The question silenced both mages. They exchanged looks, each waiting for the other to offer a suggestion. When none was forthcoming, it was Vincent who spoke. "By having you make a rock."
* * *
An hour later the three were seated comfortably at a table in the guild dining room. Levitating torches stood as a display of magical opulence as the three ate a comparatively traditional meal of roast boar and garden vegetables. Vincent had been eager to get to work, but Aaron had insisted on dinner, so the two had been forced to compromise with the first lesson over dinner.
“To begin with, what is the difference between Aaron and myself?”
Besides one of you being a slightly more colossal jackass? Cayden thought inwardly. “I'm not sure I understand the question? Physically?”
“No, no. Nothing so crass. Magically." He gestured to Aaron, then himself and back again. "We are two different types of magic caster if that helps, a wizard specialized in illusion, and a sorcerer specialized in doing as much damage as physically possible."
“He means evocation and transmutation spells.” Aaron chimed in helpfully.
Cayden knew the difference. Much of Babel's magic system traced its roots back to Dungeons and Dragons, as did their two specializations. “One of you is book smart, the other, naturally gifted.”
“To put it simply, yes.” Vincent nodded. “Though I would argue I am both.”
“Of course you would.” Aaron mumbled.
Vincent rolled his eyes before continuing. “We both access magic in vastly different ways, but ultimately, we do it from the same source of internal arcane power.”
“And even though there are differences in the origins of our abilities, our spells are still largely identical. A Firebolt cast by either of us will use the same incantation, the same trigger words and so on. The difference is in how we mentally prepare. Even for me, every spell is a magical formula to produce an expected result. I just take shortcuts he is unable-"
“Unwilling.”
“Unable to.” Aaron finished.
“Your magic is vastly different." Vincent said, picking up where Aaron left off. "Unlike the rigid strictures of arcane magic or the granted powers of the divine, runic magic is more..." He searched for a word. "Fluid."
With nothing more than a gesture, Vincent summoned a ball of light into his open palm. It floated, there, a slow rotation visible on its surface as Vincent drew his attention to it. “I can summon a dancing light because I know and have prepared the precise method to do so. That power has limits, however. I am unable to alter its color, shape or size without drastically altering the formula.”
“And runic magic could?” Cayden asked.
“Yes, though it comes at a cost.” Vincent waved his hand, the light dissipating in an instant before he scooped up a nearby pitcher of wine. “The regimented nature of our magic makes it efficient. The mana I spend is exact, and regular, without spills or overages, like filling this glass.”
“Your spells, particularly as a beginner, would be more like trying to fill the glass from the side of a poorly tapped keg.” Aaron chuckled.
Vincent seemed annoyed at the interruption, smothering his irritation behind a swallow of wine before he continued "That is an apt if more crude example than I had planned."
“So I'll always be using more mana than a traditional mage would to produce the same effect?"
“In the most basic of terms, yes.” Aaron replied.
Cayden paused before he spoke again, running the information over in his mind. "The trade-off is that I do not have to prepare spells, nor do I have a limited number known, is that about right?"
“Again, in the most basic of terms.”
“A runic mage draws on the power and language of the Great Emperor himself." Vincent explained. "And much like a crafted sentence can have many meanings, the invocation of a rune can do many things based on the will and intent of its caster. By investing your personal mana, you activate and direct the innate strength of a rune to your desired ends."
What he was being told made sense to the creative, gamer side of his brain. But the logical side of him struggled, what he was being told sounded a lot like the two men expected him to learn actual magic in order to use his new class. There was nothing even remotely similar in all of Babel, at least, that he was aware of.
I suppose that is what makes it unique. Cayden smiled grimly.
“It shouldn't be too difficult. At least, not in theory.” Aaron said helpfully.
“In theory?” Cayden replied with a quirked eyebrow.
The two magic casters exchanged sidelong glances as if inwardly arguing who was going to tell him, an argument Aaron appeared to lose. "We were charged with your training, but in truth, neither of us have ever met a Runemagi. There haven't been Runemagi since before the diaspora."
“Oh, wonderful. So
we have the blind leading the blind then?”
Vincent's face tightened into a snarl as he pushed back from the table. He was halfway to his feet when Aaron put a calming hand on his shoulder, urging him to sit.
“Cayden, you need to understand. We were charged by the Great Emperor himself for this task. To train a Runemagi should he come to us with a good reason, seeking knowledge.” Aaron's voice was humble as he spoke. “We were fated to be here, so I find it unlikely that the Great Emperor put us together, simply to have us fail at the task.”
It was a good point. Most players assumed the Great Emperor to be the in-game identity of the developer. If that were true, it seemed unlikely that he would have put Cayden on track to come here without also designing his would be tutors with the knowledge to train him.
“I apologize.” Cayden said at last.
Vincent looked to his friend, silver eyes clashing against yellow before he, at last, dropped back into his seat and took up his wine once more.
“So... in theory how do I use my ability?” Cayden asked.
“As Vincent suggested, we will have you start with a rock. Or rather, earth." Aaron replied. He plucked the tome containing Cayden's status from a seat next to him and placed it open before them. The two mages bickered briefly over whether the page they were looking for was backward or forwards, but eventually, they located it.
The page contained a copy of his lexicon, a near perfect replica of the data he had available in his character sheet. It was open to a page containing the letter E, and with a single outstretched finger, Aaron directed him to the Earth rune.
“An elemental rune, such as Earth, should be the easiest for you to visualize and thus manipulate. What we want you to do is to speak and invoke the power of the rune, to invest it with your mana and shape its expression to create a fist-sized rock. When you've completed that task, then we will continue."