M.D.Syl
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Chapter 114 colorless
🕑 Added 2023-09-12 16:09:40 +0000 UTCChapter 114 Apricot City.
We do not know to appreciate the simple life.
Only when we lose the simple life do we appreciate them.
Only when you lose a loved one, do you appreciate their presence.
Only when you lose your dearest and granted objects, do you appreciate it.
Cherish what you have, focus on the good in your life.
Because it may not last forever.
Lokamesh, Father of Mortal Kind.
Later that night I attempt to unlock my grimoire, I have no idea how to do it. I have no idea how to master a spell, none of the hag's guidance book tells me how to do it.
How do I go about mastering five spells? I can say I mastered ‘Minor Telekinesis’ due to Luard possessing me… let’s try.
"Latsa." <Lift.>
One of the seven odd gems that are imbedded in the grimoire's binding lights up in a light blue glow.
Good… that’s one…
So to master a spell, I need to depend on it for everyday things… constant usage… I can try doing laundry with the cleaning spell?
No. Transmutation magic is based on earth mana… It gives me a headache… I need something I can use constantly, something that won’t give me headaches… gravity and water magic preferably…
‘Water Jet’? I use it every day… I fill my bath with it, I drink it… how can I master something like that? What kind of fine control do I need?
Minor Telekinesis normally cannot control lightweight objects, feathers, hairs, that sort of thing, and now I can do that by practicing it and depending on it. I can do it due to necessity… What can I achieve by depending on water jet? What kind of necessity would lead to improving it? Increased pressure? I can add an amplifying pattern for an increased pressure… No. This should be about fine tuning and control…
I can probably train 'Repulse' on a single hair until I manage to blow it away... if repulse worked on smoke it'd be useful...
If I'm mastering things any way, I need to figure out more than just how to effect really lightweight stuff with gravity magic... I imagine this book will lock again later when I reach fifty or sixty spells and probably demand more spells mastered. No. I need to figure out a methodical way to master any spell I wish.
Waterjet. That's my pick. It's simple enough to be trained without causing too much havoc on the road.
I leave my tent, passing through the dark camp in the light of the few campfires and torches. I find my way to the riverbank and sit on a boulder, looking at the flowing dark water.
“Nimuwal.” <Water unlimited.> I spray the water jet into the river, watching it as it goes. And I need to master four more… it took me five days with minor telekinesis… Five days of torture! How am I going to master four more spells?!
It’s just water… pointless water… I’m not getting anywhere with it… if I was in a hot desert and needed it to survive, I’d still just summon water… what kind of mastery can I get with it? What kind of necessity can I force myself to use with it? I float my grimoire to me with my mind and splash it with water. To my disappointment, the second gem does not light up. The water creates a bubble around my magical book instead.
“Ritsa!” <Repulse!> I attempt to throw the book upward, but it’s unaffected. I didn’t know this book is immune to magic… it always worked just fine when I floated it around… If it’s immune to magic I could try and work something into my armor, have it against my chest or back… Sure, it’ll be heavy, but it can provide protection…
That’s for later. For now I need to master this ‘Water Jet’ if I ever want a chance of mastering a different spell that isn't just a lightweight gravity objects…
How do I summon water? Where does it come from? Does the spell create the water? Or bring it from somewhere else? If so, then from where? If it creates it, then how?
Let’s assume it creates the water… What about my made up cantrip that creates hot water?
No… another pattern is not the way. I mastered ‘Minor Telekinesis’… I gained fine control over it and broke a limitation… Then what’s the limitations of ‘Waterjet’?
A certain pressure and volume of water, which can be increased with alteration patterns… A certain temperature… A certain direction of flow… what if I can influence the direction? Control the water to a degree after summoning it? It should be possible! The cantrip contains the pattern for water, which is also there for the 'Water Evocation' cantrip... and 'Water Evocation' allows me to control the water and move it around.
I focus on the water, trying to move it with my mind as it flows into the river, trying to lift it and aim it upward without moving my hand. It’s like grasping at water, literally. The intense focus gives me a killer headache around the time my mana runs out. I sigh and shake my head. I've been at it for a while, time to get some sleep and try again tomorrow...
"What are you trying to do, Master?" Zoe's voice startles me. She stands behind me, hugging a towel to her chest, her wet long hair dripping water. It seems like she was washing in the river.
I raise an eyebrow. "Done avoiding me?"
She blushes in the dim torchlight. "Um... what were you trying to do with the water?"
I sigh. "Nothing. I didn't manage to do what I wanted anyway. Had fun with Salik earlier?"
She blushes in a deep shade of red that makes me smile.
"On a more serious note," I continue. "Are you sure about Salik? You know he won't..."
She averts her brown eyes downward. "I don't want to talk about it, Master."
I shrug. "Fine. You're the one who made the choice, none of my business. Anyway, Berthold spotted some tracks. We'll be going on another hunt tomorrow. Do you want to join? You'll need to learn how to hunt magical beasts if you're going to..."
"Can you not take the orcs on the hunt?"
"Why not? They're good hunters and sure are helpful."
She hugs the towel to her chest and moves some wet hair out of her face. "They're savages. They raided Red Cedar City when I was little. I... never mind. Do I have to come with you?"
"You don't have to come, Zoe. Hunting magical beasts is a lesson you have to learn, it's how we grow stronger. You'll have to provide yourself with souls in order to grow."
She turns toward her tent and I notice she wears an odd pair of sandals. "Another time then, one where there are no orcs around... I really can't understand how you trust them. Everyone know how they are."
"Oh? And how are they?"
She stops and talks with her back to me. "Savages. Raiders. They kill and enslave good people just because they're weaker than them."
"How is that different from sorcerers?" I chuckle. Kolag would be proud...
She turns with passion in her brown eyes. "There are good sorcerers. Sorcerers like you. Sorcerers from the tales. Yes there are bad ones, but I've never seen a good orc! I've never read or heard a single story about an heroic orc!"
"Never seen. That's the problem. There are good orcs. Lezere... my friend. She was someone I truly counted on to have my back, always! She was a hero, my hero. Balgrum is Lezere's father, I trust him. Before I met Lezere I only knew about orcs from books that have been written by humans and gnomes. I'd rather judge for myself with my own eyes. Lezere and Balgrum have both proven that orcs are nothing like the monsters they're depicted in literature. They have honor. Yes, they keep slaves, but humans keep slaves too. They kill, and humans kill too, everyone and everything in this world kills. Some orcs are probably different than the average like there are odd humans out there. Why won't you talk to one of them? Some can speak Sinteo pretty well. If they call you weak, show them your magic. They respect casters."
"Maybe..." Her shoulders slumps in disappointment. "Good night, Master."
"Good night, Zoe."
I sigh and shake my head. Back to training.
It doesn't take long for me to be disturbed again. This time it's Loyal, my magical carnivore horse who nudges his head against my shoulder. He's in his horse form fortunately; I don't believe I could handle the naked man form right now. Unlike the other horses, no one ties him up to a pole, I don't think anyone can anymore. He also makes the other horses nervous.
"What can I help you with, Loyal? Another clue to show me about my bloodline?"
"Niiighh." He shakes his long head and grabs a mouthful of my hair.
"Heyy... I missed you too." I sigh and pat his head. "I'm sorry... didn't have much time. First Jerro took you away, then the war, then the possession... and now I just need to unlock my grimoire. Damn that hag."
He neighs again, lets my hair go and licks my face.
"Stop it!"
"Niighihihi!"
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Nigghihihihi!"
"You are laughing at me. Great... what's so funny about me?"
He snorts and hits the ground over and over with his hoof.
"I have no clue what that means to say, Loyal... I'm sorry. I really wish you could just talk. And yeah, I know, it's not your fault and it's unreasonable to demand it from you. It's just a selfish wish."
He snorts and keeps hitting the ground with his hoof.
"I never had a pet animal of my own... if you're even considered to be an animal or a pet. I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure you're just doing whatever you want."
"Nighihihihihi!"
"I'll take that as a yes... You see... most people raise a pet to have someone that loves them unconditionally. They raise the said pet from a young age, and make sure that pet loves them. If animals were sapient I'd call that slavery... But most animals don't have a higher intelligence than a two years old child, it's mostly just instincts that helps them take care of themselves. And pets sometimes never develop the said instincts because their owner cares for them and it's a symbiotic relationship. You were never like that, and I never raised you from a young age. You chose me, you chose to save my life. I have no idea why you did that, but I thank and love you for it. You're one of my friends, even if I never fully understand what you're saying..."
He licks my face again.
"You're saying you love me too?" I ask with a smile.
To my surprise, my horse shakes his head.
"So you hate me?"
He nods.
"You hate me?" I ask again, just to be sure.
He nods again.
"Why?"
He licks my face again.
"Right... you can't explain... what am I doing that makes you hate m... Heyy stop!" He pushes me with his head, licking me from head to toe. "Loyal stop it!"
He doesn't stop, not until my clothes are drenched with his gross saliva. Only after a long while he backs off.
"Nimuwal." <Water unlimited.> "Or shakat." <True cloth.> I clean myself swiftly with my magic. "You hate me because I don't give you enough attention?"
He shakes his head.
"Well... If you hate me, maybe you should leave? Be free of me? I don't want you to stay here against your will."
He shakes his head again and nuzzles against my shoulder until I pat his nose for him to nuzzle against.
"You're not here against your will then."
He nods briefly.
"You are?"
He shakes his head.
"Good... I wouldn't want you to be here if you didn't want to. I wish you could tell me why you hate me though. I'll keep guess, nod when I hit the right one?"
He snorts and turns to leave.
"Hey! Where are you going? Loyal?"
He just ignores me, leaving me alone on the river bank.
Great... horse drama... just what I needed...
*
The next traveling day we hunt multiple different magical animals, and I drain the snake's soul before I craft a few more glitter potions. Half of these fail, wasting the ingredients, but half succeed, and I acquire enough potions to last Salik for another year. Also enough ectoplasm and meat to support my meditations, as well as Zoe’s who doesn't join us in the end.
Due to our hunts we don't cover a lot of distance every day, but it's worth it nonetheless simply because how valuable the supply of souls is. I end up emptying the bottles with Luard's soul since I no longer need that poison, I have plenty.
The orcs often get upset when I order them to kill smaller magical beasts, but I lie and tell them that I give these souls to my apprentice which calms them down.
I spend my time alternating between my attempt to master 'Water Jet' and meditation. I know I might not always have such an eager hunting group to provide me with so many souls and I consume a lot of them every day. The majority part of the snake’s soul, combined with all the other souls I absorbed is strong enough to push me close to connecting my water-mana pool. I only need a little bit more time and mediation to process the flood of mana in my bloodstream.
I also decide to learn and bind yellow version of 'Tukado’s Defense' spell, along with the 'Tukado's Push' spell.
A few days later, the orcish craftswoman hands me a set of leather pants and shirt made out of Marili serpent’s scales. I am impressed with her work, the armor fits me perfectly, not too tight, nor too big. It’s very comfortable to move in, with the only downside being the unbearable heat. This is the middle of summer, and this black snakescale armor is too hot to wear. I sweat drops in it, but I decide to wear it anyway. I try my hand at creating a cooling spell, but the cantrip I created doesn't last for more than a minute and I have to get used to the heat.
As for the armor’s magical ability, it cannot repulse objects like the Marili serpent itself, but it can hold and slow objects that approach me too fast, as long as they aren’t too heavy. I am aware that the armor’s magical ability will fade over time, and a year from now this armor will lose its power.
*
{28} Brigit (August) the 2nd
Apricot City.
The the first city I acquired through my deal with Tiara appears once the forest opens up. The tall wooden walls already have my banners mounted on it, according to Marasi, my spymaster, this city is waiting for me with open arms and they’ve been expecting me to arrive months ago. It’s about time to end their waiting period.
“Something’s wrong,” Salik says before I even take my first step toward the open gates. “There are no guards posted at the gates, something must’ve happened. I suggest we send in some scouts.”
I narrow my eyes and focused on the open gates, despite my flags that's fluttering in the wind, they do seem abandoned. “Agreed.”
After my order is given, Berthold, Ryon, Agilla, and Lepp leave for the city, leaving me behind with Salik and an awkward silence.
Half an hour of waiting passes and the group comes back from the city. “Da gangs having fun in da city,” Ryon says.
“Four groups are controlling different parts of the city,” Berthold adds with a nod. “They fight each other for control, there are plenty of bodies in the streets. We need an army to secure this city.”
“Hunting cowardly dogs is shame, we wolves want no part of that!” Agilla declares, making sure I understand that the orcs won’t help me with this one. Not that it matters. There are about twenty orcs in our camp, it’s not enough to form an army.
“We don’t have an army,” I say dryly. What little soldiers I have left—along with the majority of the orc tribe—had stayed back in red cedar city as a garrison force. There should be another solution… “Tell me about the gangs.”
“Not much to tell. You’ve seen one gang, you’ve seen them all,” Berthold says with a shrug.
“What are you thinking, kid?” Salik asks.
“I can join one of those gangs, take control of it from the inside. Take out the leader is I have to. Then form them into an army to take over the city,” I explain my vague plan. “Question is, which gang should I Join, which one is the strongest while being the lesser evil.”
“We could kidnap one of the locals and ask them,” Salik suggests.
“True, we could, or… Jerro? Which gang should I go with?”
Jerro, who seems to be dazed in his own world, wakes up, startled. “Hm, what?”
“Which gang should I bring to my side first? Which one will remain Loyal to me after they take control over the city? And which one is best for the people in this city?”
He rubs his temples and shakes his head. “The Fishermen, and the Red Spears will be loyal to you… the fishermen will be good to the people, their territory is at the docks.” He gasps and pants like he just ran a couple of miles. “There is something… something… this city is wrong, something is very wrong here. I can’t come with you, I’ll die.”
I smile at him. “It’s ok, stay here. Thanks. The Fishermen it is. I’ll be going in with Salik, Ryon, Berthold, and Sharla.
“The old man dies if he goes with you now,” Jerro adds, still panting. “You’ll need him later for the fighting… I can’t see well, something is wrong with this city… Something blocks my sight, and it’s not a god’s chosen… what on Lukam can do this?” It’s one of the rare times I see emotions from him, and this time it’s fear, he’s shaking like a leaf, hugging himself.
“Then Salik stays too. Any other insights you can share?”
Jerro hugs himself closing his eyes. “Variants, this city might end up burning, all of it, and might end up peaceful… Don’t get killed.”
“I’ll do my best,” I reply with a sarcastic smirk. I’m not planning to get killed, who plans to get killed?
“I’m coming with you!” Zoe declares.
“Are you sure you want to come? It’s not going to be pretty.”
“I’ve always dreamed about having an adventure with my sorceress master! And that’s an adventure, right?” She dances lightly in giddiness, her high voice full of excitement.
“I guess you can call it an adventure, as long as you’re aware of the dangers, you’re welcome to tag along. Anything else?” I focus on Salik and Jerro.
Jerro glances at Sharla, opens his mouth as if he's going to say something, then simply turns and leaves.
Salik nods to me. "I'll take care of everything around the camp with Balgrum."
"Good." I turn to the wooden abandoned walls. "Let's go!"
*~*~*
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: 79
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: formed: 16 gems. Conversion ratio: 6:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 26 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 13 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 19/20 gems
Water: Affinity 6: formed: 39 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 6 gems
Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 13 gems
Gravity: Affinity 9: connected: 84/95 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 Burst. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s Lesser Shield II. 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 IIIb1x4. Imari’s Lesser Flightb2.
Life: Brigit’s Lesser Cure Poison. Brigit’s Skin Restoration.
Focus capability: 18 patterns.
Social status: The Queen of Red Cedar City. Shaman of the Twin Moon Tribe. 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.
5 potions of Lesser Healing.
5 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.
Glitter ingredients. (1 bag)
Fresh rose petals, 36g
Fresh lavender petals, 7g
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:
Loyal
Sharlafyn Nettledew
Salik
Jerro
Zoe
Ryon
Berthold
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> 3/10
Injuries and scars:
Curses:
-
Kingdom’s treasury: 3836 gold coins. 123 magical gems.
Kingdom’s citizen: 3,881 humans, 1,836 human children. Twin Moon Tribe: 1,158 orcs. 293 orc children. 529 sheep-slaves.
Kingdom's army: 1,1156 Orc Warriors. 324 Footmen. 49 Peacekeeper Knights.
Notables at Court:
Tasiya Keyholder.
Jolla SilverQuill.
Talbot Bookkeeper.
Marasi Chef extraordinaire (spymaster.)
Old Gardner Tiom.
Balgrum Orc Chieftain.
