M.D.Syl
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Chapter 131 colorless
🕑 Added 2024-01-08 16:22:18 +0000 UTCChapter 131 New Threats II
If you have discernment,
you can learn from any teacher without taking on their shadow.
Tukado, the Creator.
Loose Lips Potion.
Basil.
Lavender or an energy element flower substitute.
Ground zircon gem. 1g
Blue eyed witch flower. A single petal.
Honey.
A single Almond.
A single owl's feather.
Effect: Whoever drinks the potion is forced to speak the truth.
Note: Promises the mortal made after drinking this potion can be broken if the mortal changed his or her mind.
I glance at the long list of instructions and head down to the garden to look for ingredients.
The sunny gardens are calming as always, and the colorful flowers make me consider gardening as a relaxing activity. I sure need one with all of this stress.
I find Tiom pruning his rose bushes. "Hey Tiom! Do you have Blue Eye Witch flowers? Also any idea where I can get almonds and zircon gems?"
“Hello, young mage. I’m afraid I don’t have the Blue Eyed Witch flowers. They’re tropical flowers, and you cannot find them on this island.” A thoughtful expression flashes across the gardener’s face. “I do not even have an alternative to the psyche elemental flowers. I cannot help you.”
He turns away and then pauses, before pivoting back around to face me, his brows now lowered in what might be concern.
“I heard you imprisoned Lord Gemhand. I must thank you.”
Right... great... what now? I guess I'll have to unlock my grimoire somehow and get that mind reading spell... I still have to somehow master the shield spell... and then I have 3 more spells, I don't even know where to begin... This sucks! If I won't work on it, I'll never master it...
Better get started.
I take a few steps away from Tiom. "Myrsha samir." <Gravity protects.> I summoned a curved wall of the shield. What else do I need to do to master it? "Myrsha samir." <Gravity protects.> I evoke a barrier with a hole in it, one I could shoot magic through if I wanted to. I feel like I mastered the damn thing, but I'm clearly missing something. "Myrsha samir." <Gravity protects.> I summon separate shapes of the barrier.
"Can you also wrap Tukado's Defense around the skin of another and prevent them from moving? Can you use it to entrap a person?" Tiom's voice makes me jump.
That's it! "Tiom! You're a genius! Thank you!" I kiss his cheek. The old man blushes and drops his pruning scissors, he gathers his wits and clears his throat loudly, pushing me away gently.
I take a step back with a grin. "Stand still, I need to try this." "Myrsha samir." <Gravity protects.> I do manage an opposite bubble around him, but it's not sticking to his skin. I dismiss the shield.
"Ahem. You are close to mastery, young lady. Not many mages can claim a mastery over a cantrip, it's simply not done. Very impressive."
"Wait... this isn't common?"
"No."
Damn that hag... "Can you tell me what's the sign of mastery for other spells? I need to master a few of them."
He moves a slow hand on his wrinkled jaw. "I told you. I'm retired. Ask someone else. Maybe Jolla."
"Please?"
"No. Tell me something. The Lord Gemhand. Are you going to kill him?"
I fold my hands. "Most likely."
"Hrmmm... May I talk to him before you end his life?"
"Only if you tell me the requirement to master a few spells of my choice," I reply with a grin.
"Ah... I won't talk to him then. It was just hunting for a gecko above the mirage cloud. Carry on." He turns back and limps toward the rose bushes.
I follow him, matching his slow pace. "Come on, Tiom. It's not like it's hard for you to tell me. You already know this stuff, you just have to say a few words, it'll help me immensely! In return, you can talk to Olfgram, and I'll owe you a favor. How about that?"
"Hrm... Don't promise favors you can't repay, young lady. But alright, just this once, and only two spells. What spells do you want to know about?"
"Five spells! Please?" I bat my eyes at him.
"Two."
"Come on, five. It doesn't cost you anything!"
"Three. And if you keep haggling, I won't tell you a single one."
"Thank you!" I kiss his cheek again and barely hold back my laughter when he blushes. Ok... so what spells were most useful to me in a fight? "Lesser flight spell?"
He grunts, scratching his head awkwardly. "The basic spell would only enable you to fly in the direction you face. Mastery includes flying backward without looking. It is quite disorienting from what I've heard."
"Sonic scream?" I hope there's a way to direct it into a single target...
He shakes his head. "I won't tell you this one."
"You promised!"
"Not this one. If you practice it, all I'll hear is screams for the next week. No. Pick something else."
"Come on!"
"No."
"Fine. Instant freeze?" I hope there's a way not to freeze some of the water around me...
"That is a very hard cantrip to master. The basic spell releases a cold wave that freezes liquid around you. It is possible to freeze the air itself. Cast it with amplifying patterns for extra cold, and focus on freezing the air. You'll reach mastery if clear icy water fall from the air. Do not touch the icy water, you'll freeze your fingers beyond normal healing. Liquified air cannot be controlled without transmutation magic."
Right... A stronger version sounds a little useless with amplifying patterns... "Is there a way not to freeze some of the water around me?"
"Yes. Water to Ice spell. Instant freeze uses four of its five patterns for its freezing effect, the last one is isolating the caster, but it cannot be expanded upon without an extra pattern, and you can't build a six pattern cantrip or the spell will require too much mana."
"You know how the spell patterns work? Can you help me form new spells or explain them?"
"I told you, young lady, I'm retired. Your last spell?"
Ugh... Fine! If I can't do a selective freeze, what about... "Blinding Light? Can I cast it without blinding myself somehow?" I could cast it multiple times, keep everyone around me blinded while I hit them with my magic...
"Indeed. The mastery for this is full control over the light. Blinding only in the directions you'd wish to blind. But I found that holding a hand between your eyes and the focal point of the spell is often enough. I've held up my end of our deal, now allow me to see the Lord Gemhand."
"Alright. Follow me."
*
"Olfgram." Tiom doesn't stand on ceremony inside the bleak prison cell. He approaches his adversary with a grim expression on his elderly wrinkled face.
"Hehehe... Tiom! Have you come to mock me?" Olfgram slurs, tongue gagging out of his mouth.
"What have you done to him?" Tiom asks me without turning, his tone livid.
"Me? Nothing. Sharla has been giving him some pixie dust."
"That's way above the amount you should be giving anyone," Tiom chides.
I fold my hands. "I trust Sharla to know what she's doing."
"Mock me! Spit on me! I know you want to! Do it! You miserable old cur!" Olfgram spits in our direction and giggles to himself like a madman. Maybe Sharla overdid it? No. I doubt that. She probably wants him addicted as soon as possible.
Tiom shakes his head. "No such thing. You are about to die, Olfgram. I'd like you to tell me what you did with Nalfit. Perhaps it'll bring closure to us both..."
"Nalfit? Pshaw, you're still going on about that bitch? It's been years, man! Decades! I sold her in Tolste's Bay ages ago. Hehehehhe..."
Tiom grabs Olfgram by the collar. "Sold her? Like a slave?"
"How else do you sell a woman? Heheheheheh..."
Tiom lets Olfgram go and turns to me. "I'm afraid you'll have to find another gardener, I must leave your fair city. I've got business to attend to in Tolste's Bay. Tell your new gardener to take care of the blooming sowbread flowers, they don't need much since they're self sustaining, but it'd be a shame if they die out. I hope we meet again under better circumstances. May you find your way on the Path of Knowledge."
"Wait! Nalfit. A young woman? Ginger hair. Won't shut up for a single moment? Likes to gossip and flirts with anyone she sees?"
The elderly man stops in his tracks and eyes me with wonder. "Have you met her?"
"Yes... I... I'm sorry to say, she's dead."
He shakes his head. "I still have to track her whereabouts. Where did she die?"
"A small hamlet in the Kingdom of Mansel'a. I don't even remember the name of the village, but it can be accessed through the Sapphire Tower. They have of their teleportation doors about a day's walk from that village."
His fists clench tight. "I see. When did she die there?"
"About... Over a year ago. I'm sorry. We were good friends she and I, I did not know you knew her."
He smiles kindly. "Neither did I, and yet, fate has arranged for us to meet. Or maybe Lady Luck is playing a game again... I thank you, Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. I still must leave."
"Tiom... There... There wasn't much left of her body. I'm sorry. I don't think you'll find it."
"You'll be surprised. Good bye."
The elderly man leaves the cellar, and I follow him silently. Olfgram's mad giggles chase us out.
"Heheheheheehehee..."
*
I spend the next few days practicing and mastering my cantrips. It takes me two more days before I can wrap the "Kinetic Defense" like a second skin around a target and immobilize it that way. If used with the first level yellow barrier, this will last for a minute or longer, allowing me to capture a target with this spell as well.
I cast it on the grimoire, and a second gem lights up. Finally!
With that done. I move on to master the "Blinding Light" cantrip. The ability to blind everyone but myself is rather alluring, since it can both give me an edge and help escape from a sticky situation.
When I run out of light mana, I attempt an amplified "Instant Freeze" to freeze the air.
And once my water mana is out, I move on to practice my "Lesser Flight."
There's a reason I asked for 3 different elements. It triples my practice time. If I had asked only for gravity spells, I'd be stuck practicing one spell at a time.
{28} Brigit (August) The 17th
“Myrsha, nia tsaf lah. Lah shitol ni latsa lah, fel ka’am J’an nia kent.” <Gravity, I command you. You will give me to defy you, and move as I want.>
I soar upward. Flying around the palace with the wind blowing up my tied up hair. I wince to protect my eyes from the wind. If I could fly backward I could also protect my eyes from the wind. But I've been trying for three days. I can only move myself backward in the air at a very slow pace, no where near the normal flight speed of this spell. I think the block here is more psychological than magical. People aren't conditioned to run backward, same goes to flying. It's like running backward... Yet, some people probably can run backward at nearly the same speed. If I have no chance of running into anyone I should be able to do it, but I can't.
I've got an idea...
I climb higher, gaining more and more altitude until it becomes a little hard to breathe. It's freezing up here, and people in the tiny city below me are at the size of small bugs around the bigger fruit-like brown housings.
I look up, and turn my body in the air to lay on my back. I will myself to fall backward, letting gravity do its thing while keeping my magic active.
Blood and adrenaline rush to my head and my vision darkens for a split second. Terrified, I catch myself with the magic and turn to look down. I'm still very high, and nothing happened. I climb back, close my eyes, and let myself fall again. Scream. Catch myself. Fly up, panting, and repeat.
Only now I manage to let myself fall freely for five seconds without fear. What if I hit the ground? I stop myself and open my eyes, twisting in the air to look down. I'm surprised by how high I still am.
Enough! I'm doing it! And I'm counting until 20 at the very least! I climb. Lay back in the air with my eyes closed and my hands crossed on my chest. Weave an extra extending pattern into my flight spell, and let myself fall back.
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
Eight...
Nine...
T-ten...
El-eleven! Eleven!
Twelve! No, thirteen!
Oh snakes!
I stop myself midair and look down again, gasping, sweat dripping off my skin despite the freezing temperatures up here. I'm still extremely high in the sky, so far from the ground that I could probably do this safely for a minute or two.
Again! Not stopping before thirty now!
I climb, close my eyes, and fall with my hands crossed on my chest.
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Eight!
Nine!
Ten!
Eleven!
Twelve!
Thirteen?
Fourteen!
Fifteen!
Sixteen!
Seventeen!
Eighteen? I'm killing myself! Snakes!
No I'm not! I'm increasing my chances for survival!
I'm insane!
Yes because I'm still falling! Ha! "Hmhmhahihihihihi!"
I laugh uncontrollably.
Still falling.
Wind brushing past my shoulders, pushing my coat and skirts between my legs and under my arms.
My long ponytail flutters in the wind to the left of my head.
The clouds above me seem further and further.
I hear people shouting from far below me.
I halt my fall and turn to look down. The city is still rather far. I fell about half the distance, and the rich air down here fills up my lungs. I lean back and fly backward with a smile, and I maintain the same speed of 'Lesser Flight'. Ha! I knew it! It's psychological.
I dart downward, fly to the palace and enter my chambers via the open window. The maid in my chambers screams in alarm, then calms down and bows in apology. I ignore her, and rush to my grimoire.
“Myrsha, nia tsaf lah. Lah shitol ni latsa lah, fel ka’am J’an nia kent.” <Gravity, I command you. You will give me to defy you, and move as I want.>
The third gem lights up.
Yes!
{28} Brigit (August) The 24th
"Revissor ak!" <Light strong!> The flash blinds me as always. No matter how much I try to influence it to do my bidding. I've been at it for a week. This and freezing the air. No progress. In hindsight, it might've been a bad idea to ask for the way to master spells that I have lower affinity for...
Should I give up? Pick a pair of gravity spells to master? Or keep trying? Is there a trick to it? Like flying backward?
I've been at it already. I have no idea what the trick is if there is one. The air won't freeze, and the light keeps blinding me even if I cast it with my eyes forced open...
"I got Olfgram to talk, Mistress." Sharla disturbs me from my training.
"About time! Take me to him." I get up from my chair and stumble on a pillow. My room is a mess... I shouldn't have chased that maid away...
Sharla leans on the doorway with her hands crossed. "No need. I've got everything. We can go to him if you want to hear it from his mouth though."
"No, it's fine. Tell me what you know about his plans."
"He has a cousin in Blue Cypress City. Got him to convince the local ruler to attack Red Cedar. They're planning to attack at Nuriss (March), so we have time. Unless Olfgram was lying about it, cause us to drop our guard. I'm going to send someone to Blue Cypress City, and see what I can find for you. I got all I could from Olfgram, Mistress. You can do whatever you want to him."
"What about that other secret he mentioned?"
Sharla grins. "He has a vault full of gold and gems under his mansion, and I've got the key."
*~*~*
Interlude 131.1
A King. Miles away.
Everything in order in the King's court. Not a single one of his combed hair is out of place. The marble pillars reflect the sunlight, and not even a single mote of dust can be spotted on the purple carpet leading to his throne.
The King, an apprentice to one of the most powerful mages in existence, will do as his master commands and bring ten of these barbarian cities under heel. He already controls a majority of six cities, he only needs four more.
Risif, the King's right hand man, a man his master had lent him, approaches the throne.
"Narwal Gemhand is here, Your Majesty." Risif bows deeply.
"Send him in." The King leans back in his throne. His master better reward him for this waste of time on the Gray Islands. They both know he can conquer ten cities with ease. This is only a damned formality. He can't wait to get back to the Sapphire Tower to finally ascend and study actual magic, not the little cantrips they give to white robes.
Narwal Gemhand is a mousy thin looking man in rich purple robes decorated gold. The king has no doubt the rat picked the color to flattet his King. An empty gesture. "Your Majesty. We received word that Queen Inara had imprisoned my cousin. We are prepared to offer a hefty sum for her head."
The king leans his shaved chin on his hand. He was going to attack this Inara anyway. She holds three cities, and from what his spies tell him her hold is very weak at the moment. The King was only waiting for spring, for a prime time to march his fifteen thousand men army. And now this Inara was foolish enough to cross the Gemhand family. So much for a woman named "eternal". "How much are we talking about?"
Narwal gives a slimy smile. "A hundred thousand gold pieces."
"You'll have her head soon enough. I give you my word." The King promises. This just makes it a win win.
*~*~*
Power level: 3rd stage apprentice.
Mana pools status:
Crown-knot: Affinity 10: connected: 1 gem replenished per minute.
Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 85
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: formed: 21 neutral gems. Conversion ratio: elemental : neutral 6:1, neutral : elemental 1:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 30 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 15 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 22/23 gems
Water: Affinity 6: connected: 69 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 7 gems
Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 15 gems
Gravity: Affinity 9: connected: 93/104 gems
Cantrip known:
Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing. Aria’s Sonic Scream. Aria's Increased Voice.
Fire: Nuriss’ Flame. Effrat’s Firefly, Effrat’s Fire Breath. Sorladika's Lesser Heating. Nuriss’ Ignite. Oniga's Soap Creation.
Light: Noxi’s Light. Lako’s Blinding Light. Rika’s energy hand.
Water: Water Evocation, Water to Ice, Ice to Water, Water to Vapor, Vapor to Water, Mayan’s Icy Spike, Ayla’s Water Jet. Ayla’s instant freeze. Ayla's Flowing Shield. Ayla’s Freezing Vapors. Hot Water Conjuration. Boiling Waterjet.
Earth: Alice’s Oil Summoning, Reiko’s Acid Spray. Alf's Copper Bolt
Wood: Arigor’s Lesser Vines. Kolosu’s Vegetable Summoning.
Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burstm. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s Lesser Shield IIm. Imari’s Minor Telekinesism. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pull. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body. Alino's Orbiter.
Transmutation: Oniga's Laundry.
Spells known:
Light: Rika's Electric Channelb1
Gravity: Alino’s Weightless Bodyb1x2. Tukado's Pushb1x3. Tukado’s defense IIIb1x4m. Imari’s Lesser Flightb2m.
Life: Brigit’s Lesser Cure Poison. Brigit’s Skin Restoration.
(Little letters by spell sides: m=mastered. a=advanced. b=bound spell, number near the b is how many gems of the mana pool binding the said spell takes.)
Focus capability: 20 patterns.
Social status: The Queen of Red Cedar City. Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. Apprentice to the Maven of Mysteries. Sorceress.
Personal Wealth: 1465 Magic Gems. 1420 Golden Peas, 45 Silver Scales, 32 Copper Bits.
Personal Items:
Magical necklace. Contains 100 gems of general mana, can be drained like a mana pool. It’ll recharge by itself at the rate of five gems an hour.
1 potion of lightning body.
1 potion of mana, medium grade.
1 potions of Lesser Healing.
2 potions of Pain Tolerance.
An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keeps the pouches’ content fresh. Each pouch may contain 10g of petals or six potion flasks.
42g Rose petals.
20g Lavender petals.
10 empty soul bottles. Glass with a diamond stopper, put in scaled leather wrapping.
The Great White Egret grimoire. Dedicated by the Maven of mysteries to Inara. 30/100. Locked.
Present Companions:
Kolag of house Befar.
Jerro.
Sharlafyn Nettledew.
Languages:
Toml’a <People’s tongue> Fluent
Sinteo <Speech> Fluent
Myrsha <Gravity> 8/10
Felul <Wind> 1/10
Nim <Water> 1/10
A'arkalu <Wolf Tongue> 4/10
Injuries and scars:
Curses: unknown extracted parasite, possibly bloodline related. Gone due to an unknown bloodline magic.
-
Kingdom’s treasury: 4462 Golden Peas.
Kingdom’s citizen: Red Cedar City: 3,609 adults. 1,654 children. 5263 total.
Apricot City: approximate 800+ humans.
Kingdom's army: 93 Footmen. 13 Peacekeeper Knights. 500 Blood Spears.
Notables at Court:
Tasiya Keyholder.
Jolla SilverQuill.
Talbot Bookkeeper.
Aisha?
