by J. J. Thorn
Chet looked startled, but eventually just laughed again.
"Man, you are interesting Ren. I think it should be clear. If what you're saying is true, I'll need to talk to you after school is finished. You'll be someone to watch for sure."
I still couldn't understand what he was talking about. Chet seemed nice, but I could only pity him. If what he was saying was true, he seemed like he was taking a long time to get used to his affinity and needed to take this class to help.
"Ok, Chet. Well, nice meeting you. Looks like the Professor is about to start."
"Haha, nice meeting you Ren."
We both settled back into our seats. The rest of the class had arrived while Chet and I spoke, but the class was definitely smaller.
"Hell Class, we'll be starting in a minute or so. I see we have a good mix of both new students and alumni with us today. This should make for a more interesting class."
The Professor started. She was a tall woman with blonde hair. She wore a bandana around her head and a pair of overalls covered her body. Her purple and gold robe had been placed around the chair at her desk.
After a minute, she started again.
"So, I'll introduce myself first. For those who don't know me, I'm Professor Sarah Wilks and I've been teaching this class for the last 8 years or so. I went to Krader's Prep when I was younger as well, so we've got that in common. I am not a Dungeoneer, nor have I ever wanted to be one. I always like to start with this, so you don't think differently. At Prep they call us all crafters for simplicity, but I call myself a clay-worker. I make the occasional sculpture, but my time is mostly spent making pots and cookware. When I left Prep, I was a little lost. I spent a couple of years finding out what I wanted to do before I found my love for crafting. After doing that for a few years, they eventually asked me to teach and here I am!
Some people look down on people who don't fight monsters, so I wanted to get that out of the way.
And no, since some of you will ask, some people can animate their creations to fight for them. I am not one of those people."
Professor Wilks stopped there to let her words sink in. She had sounded kind throughout her speech, but very direct. It was obvious that she had been looked down on in the past for her chosen profession and did not want that to happen again.
"So, now that we've gotten that out of the way, this class is about energy manipulation. Despite not being a fighter, I happen to be very knowledgeable about the subject.
All affinity users have internal energy, sometimes called mana, but not all of us know how to use it well.
Most do not. I would guess that half of affinity users are incapable of using the energy for anything besides to use their Skills. Past that, another quarter probably only know how to use it to augment one thing about either themselves or their affinity."
The professor started drawing a circle on the chalkboard at the front of the class.
"So, for those following along. We have 50% who can barely use it at all and another 25% that have very limited use." She shaded in parts of the circle to demonstrate what she was saying.
"What about that last 25 percent? What do we think class, does that mean everyone else is out there using their energy to their full potential?"
She paused. Eventually, a student caught on, raising their hand and answering her question. It looked like another first year, like me.
"Umm, yes?"
I would have answered the same. Didn't her graph make that obvious?
"Good attempt, but no. If we go back to my circle, I would bet less than 3% of users can use their energy to its full potential. And that's being generous.
This class is called 'General' energy manipulation, but it could just as easily be called an introduction to energy manipulation. People spend their whole lives harnessing their skills to use their internal energy to the fullest.
It takes years for some people to get a grasp on even the easiest of tasks.
And if you think about it, that makes sense. Look at Krader, for example. The town is filled with thousands of people, most of them affinity users. Do you see them all jumping from building to building? Running at a sprint from house to house? What about enchanted items? Are those common everywhere, or are they a specialty good bought by those that can afford it?
Energy manipulation has many uses, but most people stop trying.
Can any of you answer why that is?"
She waited as a couple of people raised their hands reluctantly.
"People don't know how, maybe?"
"That's a good point. Even though we have classes like this, energy manipulation is not something that is discussed often. Anyone else?"
She picked a different student.
"Some people are more talented than others."
"Another good point. I think there is an argument to be made there. Some are more talented than others. But as I said, everyone has the innate ability to use their internal energy."
"It's illegal, Professor?"
"You are correct that some displays are prohibited within city walls, but not all. And while a good point, not the reason.
"It hurts?" Another student behind me tried.
"You must have tried it and found that you received a headache. While it is true that it can be painful, this usually only happens when you use all of your energy. Good try, but no."
"You can't see it miss, so it's hard to track."
"I'm surprised you mentioned that. We talk about that later on in the semester, but you're right. We can see how much internal energy we have, but what does that mean? We still have no idea what's happening as we use internal energy to make us superhuman. Even enchanting, which technically anyone can do, is something that we have very little knowledge about. But no, that's not the answer I'm looking for.
I'll let you all know what I was looking for with a hint.
When you use your Skill, regardless of your Rank, is it something you need to spend considerable time and effort to learn? Or is it something you inherently know how to use? Sure, your ability to use it increases as your percentage does, and the applications for your Skill might even change or improve, but from the moment you got the Skill you automatically had a sense of how to use it. What about your internal energy?
Has there been anything that gives you any hints on how to use that? Any box that has appeared in your vision to give you tips and tricks? Any knowledge directly imparted into your brain on how you might be able to use this newfound energy now coursing through your body?
No!
That's because internal energy is unknown to us and manipulating it is hard, extremely hard.
So hard, in fact, that 50% of people give up trying. They are content to live their lives without it.
So then, what about the other 50%? I already said that 25% can use it somewhat, and that's true. Those people have worked very hard at one or two things, and because of it, can use their internal energy for those one or two things. For some, this might mean being able to use their internal energy to enhance their Skills. For others, this might mean using their internal energy to manipulate their affinity altogether. In a way that may not even be listed on the weird box that appears before us. As I said before, you're given an idea of what the Skill is for, but that doesn't mean it can't be improved.
To most people in the military, this means using it to enhance their arms so they can swing a sword longer, or protect themselves from a strike.
To those people, that is enough.
And don't get me wrong, that probably is.
If you're able to manipulate yourself, or your Skills, what more could there be?
Any ideas?"
No one raised their hand right away, considering the question.
I, personally, was terrified to get the question wrong. Since we had seemingly answered no questions correctly so far.
My discussion with Chet and the Professor's current lecture had made me realize energy manipulation wouldn't be as easy as I had hoped.
A student eventually raised their hand.
"Yes, please. Don't be shy."
"Ummm, well, like, I'm a SWORD affinity and I guess I'd want to also be faster on my feet. Not just with my arms."
"YES! That's it, partially, at least." Professor Wilks shouted out of joy.
"Exactly. If you're a swordsman, why would it be good enough to just be able to swing the sword longer or faster? What about your legs, as you've pointed out? Or what about making your body tougher, to withstand blows altogether? Or what about your eyes and brain? Why not make it possible to react faster or see more? And beyond that, what about external energy manipulation?
There’s so much more!
The final 25% are the people who realize that being ok at energy manipulation isn’t good enough. They aren’t happy enough to leave it at that, because they know they can do more with what they’ve been given.
Some of you will remain in the initial 50%, and once again, that is more than enough. Several master crafters are in the first 25% and they die rich. I would even guess that some B-Rank Dungeoneers never get past the first 25%. For some, their affinity might make up for any lack they have in energy manipulation.
But to the rest of you, don’t you want more?
Don’t you want to be in that 25%? What about the final 3%?
What’s stopping you from trying for more?”
Professor Sarah Wilks stood at the front of the class, and by the end of her talk, she was jumping up and down.
I couldn’t fault her, because I was jumping up and down right with her. In my head, of course.
Some looked bored at her talk, but I couldn’t imagine being more pumped up.
I wanted more!
I wanted to be better!
I wanted to be part of that final 3%!
Chapter 21
Interlude – The Night Before
The discovery of a Dungeon had boosted the business of every shop in the small town of Dire. Before the Dungeon, the town saw the occasional Dungeoneer because of the unique variety of monsters further north. Even then, the extreme cold in the northern part of Terna had always kept most away.
Months ago, a group of Dungeoneers had found a new Dungeon by accident deep in the mountains. They had initially tried to keep the secret to themselves but found they were incapable of challenging the monsters within.
Since they couldn’t make any money by battling the Dungeon, they decided to sell it's location to the Guild instead. This guaranteed them a hefty sum of money, and they were able to leave happy. The Guild would send a force of their own into the Dungeon to determine what rank the Dungeon would be.
Time passed and the Guild Hall announced an expedition into the Dungeon. The Dungeon had been classified D-Rank.
Several decided the location wasn’t worth it, but dozens of groups came from across the continent to take part in the expedition.
For some, the new Dungeon was a chance to challenge something at or above their level.
For those that survived, it was an opportunity to make a dent in their advancement while also profiting off anything they found within.
Treasure.
Often called loot, Dungeon divers sell anything and everything they find within Dungeons.
To start, monster parts can be incredibly valuable. Exploring a new Dungeon could yield a series of parts that might prove invaluable to the right buyer.
If you discover a valuable part and find the right buyer, this can prove incredibly lucrative.
Monster parts are also pretty reliable, as long as you can harvest them properly and keep them clean. Dungeons always had a lot of monsters.
Then there are orbs. Orbs had many uses across the continent of Terna and beyond. From enchanting to alchemy, orbs could impart condensed energy to objects in a way that humans couldn't alone.
They are less reliable than monster parts, but Dungeon monsters were known to have orbs more often than regular monsters in the wild.
Because of their scarcity and usefulness, a team of Dungeoneers could live comfortably off the sale of a few orbs for a year.
Past those two things, Dungeons were also sources for other things such as objects, resources, and more.
“Why would you fight something that was D-Rank without me there?!” She yelled, alerting the whole inn to their current conversation.
The Dire inn was packed, with tables full of men and women in full gear. Everyone was covered in furs to keep them warm from the cold winds outside.
The inn’s first floor had a series of tables where patrons ate and drank, while the upstairs was for lodging.
The inn had never been so busy.
It was one such group that was currently seated at a table in the Dire Inn. The leader of the group, Tom Stine, was currently being yelled at by their healer, Holly.
"I told you, Holly, we weren't far from town, and the posting didn't mention an Alpha. We were careful but was caught off guard. Besides, you weren't even available to come with us."
"YA, and you know why that was! I was helping the rest of the healers in town deal with the number of adventurers that had already gone into the Dungeon. Did you hear how many were already injured or dead? People are wondering if the Scouts had been wrong in the Ranking of the Dungeon.
There's a bunch of reject teams who decided to go inside anyways before the expedition even started."
Holly calmed down slightly as she continued to stare at her leader.
Griff, Lin, and Rana were watching from around the table, refusing to get involved in the squabbling between the two.
The rest of Tom's team had seen this happen several times over the years they had known each other. Despite their best efforts, they had learned to just let them talk through it.
"Yes, I know Holly, but you know better than anyone else those men were all lower-ranked. They came in search of treasure and did not come prepared.
We are not those men. The Snow-Talon Alpha had been very powerful, but you must remember that we won."
"Don't give me that shit! You won, but you were all exhausted and you had at least 3 broken bones. You're lucky I was here at all to help you. The other healers in town are barely capable of healing minor injuries."
"I wanted to deal with the monster quickly, and because of that, I was a bit reckless. If the worst happened, we had some bandages and a health potion on hand."
"Hah! Rana is the only one of you with any decent bandaging abilities. And Goddess knows you probably won't use a potion worth 50 gold unless absolutely necessary."
"You're wrong about that. If any of you were ever in serious need, I wouldn't hesitate to use the potion, regardless of its price."
Holly looked at Tom deflated.
"Damnit Tom, if you weren't such a good guy I would have left this team ages ago."
"Well, we're better for it. Thank you, Holly."
The three others cheered, grabbing the attention of Holly and Tom.
"Yay! Mom and Dad are finished fighting!" Lin said first.
"I thought Holly would throw a punch this time for sure," Griff said next.
"Don't tempt me now, Griff. I know you guys were at least partially prepared. The area is well managed by the guards here, so it's odd you found something so powerful. I'm also happy to see you all. It's been a few months!"
Holly looked around the table with a smile. The previous conversation was now a thing of the past.
"We missed you too. It's not as fun without you guys. Plus, we don't get to go into Dungeons very often." Rana responded as she got up to hug Holly.
"Speak for yourself," Lin responded. "I've been going into a few Dungeons while you all relaxed. But I will say, it's definitely not as much fun without you guys. Especially with the people who hire me. They're so new, I basically need to teach them every time. I thought that all Prep Schools taught basic Dungeon stuff?"
While the other four would spend their time off resting, Lin would act as a mercenary for hire. Dungeoneers would
hire her to join her on Dungeon dives. The Dungeons themselves were usually below her Rank, but it gave her the ability to experiment with her Skills and earn a little extra money on the side.
"The rest of us need a break after spending months in a Dungeon. Anyways, let's move onto business for now. I want us to get some sleep tonight since we leave tomorrow. We all know our positions, so I won't go over that. Let's talk about supplies though.
Griff, did you pack each of our bags for the expedition."
"Yes Boss, the town didn't have much, but on top of what I brought ahead of time as well, we've gathered quite a bit. I should have enough for a couple months, even if there are no edible monsters. Plus, we know the snow can be boiled, so we'll always have water available."
"Thanks, Griff. Holly, did any of the men mention what type of monsters were in the Dungeon itself? Can we expect something edible?"
"Ya, a couple of the guys were complaining about the lack of variety, but they saw Talons in there as well. There was also a big humanoid looking monster as well, but early reports haven't been very clear on that one. I'm thinking something like an ogre or a large troll, but we'll see once we get in there. I don't know what the Guild Scouts saw."
Holly and Griff responded to Tom's questions immediately. The real team meeting had started.
"Did anyone pick up something enchanted that we should know about before entering? Any other potions or gear that we should be aware of? I have my chest piece, the healing potion, and a couple energy potions. I know about Griff's shield and Holly's robes, but anyone else?"
"I've got some energy potions, low quality, but they do the trick. No enchanted gear though." Lin added.
"I have no potions, and only the shield we all purchased after our last excursion. Thank you all again for your generosity." Griff nodded towards the group.
"No problem Griff, you keep us safe. And besides, your other one broke. Can't block with my bow just yet, so we still need to rely on you at the front! Who knows, maybe that's my Rank 3 Skill." Rana laughed as she thought of the potential Skill.
"Yes, your shield and the healing potion did set us back, but it really was for the betterment of the team. Don't think anything of it. We made arrangements so that everyone still had money left over to live comfortably. You only help us by getting stronger, friend.