Hero of Lichfrost

by M E Robinson

  “Vindammer Town? A few of my friends have players who started there. Supposedly, it’s beautiful, right on a river that leads to the ocean,” Eleanor said wistfully, gazing out at the ocean outside the window.

  “Yeah, I heard it also has an arena. There’s going to be a small tournament held there in two days. So we’re heading there to register and participate in the tournament. If we have time, we can check out the river, and maybe see some of the sights,” Eric replied.

  This made Eleanor cheer, bringing her hands up to her face as she practically vibrated in excitement. Eric smiled; he’d learned quite a bit about Eleanor in the last week. Fairies were more than just simple AI who served the user of the FateGear, answering their questions and guiding them through the game. Unlike other games or programs where the helper NPCs didn’t exist except for when the player called upon them, fairies existed at all times, and could actually leave the FateGear lobby to enter the game where they could interact with other fairies.

  While Eric hadn’t fully figured out where the fairies went, it seemed that there were a number of restrictions upon their movement to prevent fairies from acting as spies and scouts for their players. Fairies could visit areas outside of the normal world of Nasvencia, areas such as Elysium. However, they could not enter Nasvencia itself unless their player called them to their side. Once called to a player’s side, the fairy was bound to the player, and couldn’t travel more than a few metres away. If the player didn’t call upon the fairy, then the fairy could only see what the player themselves saw, sort of like watching a livestream. As a result, Eleanor couldn’t experience the world of Fate herself unless Eric called upon her. As a fairy with a fairly large amount of wanderlust, this was unbearable to the poor fairy, and as such, ever since they’d started to open up to each other since meeting in Elysium, she often begged for Eric to take her to new and interesting places that she’d heard about from talking to other fairies.

  Eleanor’s love of exploration had benefited Eric as well. On more than one occasion, he’d discovered hidden caverns or dens, often filled with various monsters or wildlife. Often, Eric chose to simply leave the creatures inside alone, content to simply explore without bloodying his blade. Unless monsters attacked him first, he found it far preferable to level up his skills through practice and studying, rather than through the slaughter of hundreds of innocent creatures. Of course, if a wolf or other monster attacked him first, Eric showed no mercy, dispatching the monster with a proficiency that would have surprised the him of merely a week ago. Despite the fact that his level was rising fairly slowly, his actual combat strength had improved by leaps and bounds, especially since raising his magic and martial arts to the Journeyman level.

  The one exception to Eric’s new live-and-let-live rule was goblins. Goblins he wiped out on sight, something that had been requested by Alistair. The militia captain had informed him that many of the monsters of Stillwood Forest were simply normal creatures that wouldn’t bother the villagers if they didn’t bother them first. However, goblins, and other creatures of darkness as the Novanalbans called them, were enemies that had to be dispatched. If allowed to live, they would grow rapidly, turning into threats that could level entire villages if left unhindered. It helped that goblins, along with elites and many of the bigger, stronger monsters in the forest, were all aggressive monsters, happy to charge Eric on sight. As a result, he was still able to find plenty of situations to put his hard work into practice, combining magic with martial arts and still somewhat crude swordsmanship to deal with his foes. He really needed to take up Ryan’s offer and start practicing with the weeb squad, Eric thought to himself ruefully, remembering how clumsy his swordplay had looked compared to Ryan's in their outing yesterday.

  Snapping out of his reverie, Eric conversed with Eleanor for a few more minutes before getting up from the couch. Promising that he would summon her soon, he entered Fate.

  Chapter 21

  It was currently just before sunset in Tonbura Village. Villagers were working in their gardens, or simply sitting on their porches and conversing with each other, content to be done with work for the day. Dogs and the occasional cat lay at their feet, taking advantage of the coolness of the evening to have a nap.

  Appearing in the village square, Eric was startled to see that a new addition had been made to the previously unadorned plaza. Sitting directly in the middle of the square was a brand new wooden noticeboard, almost six feet high and three feet wide. Walking over to the noticeboard, Eric could see two large parchments were nailed to it, both glowing slightly, attracting the attention of passing players and NPCs. A small crowd had formed around the parchment, with people of various races all craning their necks to read the notices. Striding closer, Eric elbowed his way through the crowd, pushing his way towards the noticeboard. Breaking through the clumped players, he began to read the first parchment, his eyes widening as he looked over the notice.

  Notice to all Adventurers and Otherworlders:

  Goblins have been detected in the northern reaches of the Kingdom. As a threat to all civilized races, this goblin menace must be eliminated. As such, the Kingdom is ready to reward any who are strong and courageous enough to help overthrow the goblin scourge that has invaded our lands.

  The militia will thus be conducting a largescale rout of these foul creatures on the 18th day of Somerlae. Any adventurers or otherworlders willing to participate should thus contact their local militia captain who will be in charge of organizing the expedition. For those in settlements south of the Nothberum region, head north to join up with the expedition.

  The details of the plan will be outlined on the day of the expedition by the commanders in charge of the assault. Those who participate will be rewarded based upon their contributions to the expedition.

  The following is a list of the villages and towns that will be participating in the expedition. Head to one of these locations to register with the militia captain.

  A long list of various village and town names filled up the rest of the parchment. Eric recognized some of them, such as Tonbura Village and Hamour Village from the map that Alistair had shown him, but others were still unknown to him.

  Shaking his head, Eric looked at the second sheet of parchment.

  Notice to all participants in the Goblin Assault Expedition:

  For those participating in the Goblin Assault Expedition, special units will be formed to assault the most powerful goblin strongholds that have been discovered in our lands. These units will have the chance to earn the highest glory possible in this expedition, and thus will also be the most eligible for rewards following the mission’s conclusion.

  The number of participants allowed in these units is limited, and will be determined through strength of arms. All those who would like to participate in an elite unit are encouraged to head for Vindammer Town where a one-on-one tournament will be held. The top fighters will be allowed entry into the elite unit, while runner ups will be given higher positions in the other units. Registration will continue until noon on the 17th, and the tournament will begin at 2pm on the 17th.

  Prizes for the tournament will be provided for the top participants as a further reward; however, all participants must participate in the expedition the following day or risk being branded an outlaw in Novanalba.

  - Alistair, Militia Captain of Tonbura Village, Order of the Frost Knight

  Eric whistled lightly. It seemed that the time had come to deal with the goblins once and for all. He’d been wondering what was taking so long, as it had been just over two weeks in game since he’d reported the goblin base to Captain Alistair.

  As Eric was pondering the notices, a system message appeared in front of him.

  [Quest Received: Militia Tournament]

  The time has come to wipe away the goblin base you discovered in Lichfrost Forest. However, if you want revenge on the hobgoblin that killed you, you’ll need to gain access to the elite platoon led by Captain Alistair. In order to do this
, you’ll need to perform well at the militia tournament.

  The militia tournament is also an opportunity to show off to your fellow otherworlders. There is a high possibility that seeding for later tournaments will be done with the results of this tournament and others like it in mind. As an otherworlder, doing well is in your best interests. It is advised you take the time before the tournament to prepare. Make sure your gear is the best you can afford, brush up on your skills, and get ready to prove yourself!

  Primary Quest Objective: Participate in the militia tournament and perform well enough to enter the elite platoon.

  Secondary Quest Objective: Fight your way into the top 16 of the tournament.

  Rewards: Entry into the elite platoon. A seeded position in later tournaments. Further rewards may be earned based upon final rank in the tournament.

  Staring at the new quest, Eric was snapped out of his reverie by an elbow to the side.

  “If you’re not reading, then get out of the way! Other people want to read too you know,” a burly dwarf said from behind him, pushing Eric out of the way.

  Glaring at the dwarf, Eric melted back into the crowd, slipping through the throng and back into the open air of the square. His gamer instincts were screaming at him that this was definitely a main quest, something that he couldn’t miss out on. If he failed to do well in the tournament due to a lack of preparation, it could end up being something he regretted for the rest of his time playing Fate.

  Pondering briefly, Eric debated on how to best prepare for the tournament. Unlike Ryan or Jun, who could simply purchase a new weapon and upgrade their gear, Eric’s primary mean of attacking was magic, and Lucy still refused to teach him new combat magic. Fortunately, the only other mage in their group, Rob, was only a few skill levels behind Eric and he still hadn’t learned any spells better than Eric’s Wind Dart or Wind Blade spells. So it seemed that at the very least he wasn’t falling behind any other mages when it came to the power of his spells.

  Still, there had to be something he could do. Upgrading his falchion or bow were both bad options. Having spent the last two weeks in game playing with Jun and Ryan, Eric recognized that his archery and swordsmanship weren’t as advanced as either of his friends. While he was the second best archer in the group, and the third best swordsman, neither option would allow him to win the tournament as he would most likely be defeated by one of the two if he chose to rely on archery or swordsmanship.

  Not wanting to settle for 2nd place, Eric discarded the idea. If he wanted to win, he needed to rely on magic, and possibly martial arts. Firming his resolve, Eric began to walk towards Lucy’s manor. If he couldn’t figure out a method, then he simply needed to discover a new one, and who better to ask for advice than his teacher?

  Arriving at Lucy’s manor, Eric opened the door. Instead of heading for the classroom where he normally spent his time, he headed slightly further in, stopping just short of the first set of magical wards and traps.

  “Master?” Eric called out, rapping his hand against the wall.

  Waiting a minute, Eric cautiously called out again, “Lucy? You there?”

  Hearing no answer, Eric was about to give up when the sound of a door being slammed open heralded an annoyed looking Lucy, who appeared at the far end of the hallway.

  “Yes, student?” Lucy asked, her posture indicating just how thrilled she was at this interruption.

  “Sorry. I’m not interrupting anything am I?” Eric asked guiltily, aware of the late hour.

  “Oh not at all. Just preventing me from delving further into the great mysteries of magic, and my study of Synthesia Astrorum Infernalium. But no, you’re not interrupting anything at all,” Lucy responded, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  Two weeks ago, a comment like this would have sent Eric running back to the study. But by now he was used to his teacher’s venomous tongue. So instead he cheerfully greeted her.

  “Well as long as it wasn’t important, I suppose. Would you mind if I ask a question?”

  Rolling her eyes, Lucy stuck out her hand. With a sigh, Eric dropped a handful of coins into her palm, watching regretfully as he saw his money fly away.

  “What’s the question?” Lucy asked, stowing the money in one of her robes interior pockets.

  “Is there any way for me to get stronger immediately? Ideally by noon on the 17th, so in two days,” Eric asked.

  “You’re registering for the militia tournament?” Lucy asked in surprise, immediately inferring what Eric was asking about.

  “Yeah. But I’m not sure how to prepare for it. As a mage, I can’t just buy a better sword or thicker armour and become stronger like a warrior can. So I was hoping-”

  “I’m not teaching you new combat spells,” Lucy said flatly.

  Eric seethed, “Why not? It would benefit Tonbura as well. I’m going to be going on the militia expedition. The more powerful I am, the more goblins I’ll be able to slay. Doesn’t that benefit you as well? Why are you purposefully keeping me weak?”

  Lucy snorted. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Purposefully keeping you weak for my own amusement? Do you really think that I’m so incompetent a teacher that I would prevent my student from learning?”

  Recoiling slightly, Eric almost backed down. But after a moment he firmed his resolve and stared at his teacher with a fiery glint in his eye. “No. But I know that you hate otherworlders and would rather not teach me at all. The only reason you agreed to take me on is because of Arthal’s letter. If you really wanted to teach me, then why do you refuse to teach me combat magic?”

  Hearing this, Lucy deflated slightly. Regarding Eric carefully, she let out a weary sigh, “Mirna, this is why I hate outsiders. You haven’t a clue about magic or teaching and yet you act like you know what’s best for you. There are legitimate reasons for why I haven’t taught you combat magic yet.”

  “Well then why don’t you tell me those reasons, because so far all you’ve done is teach me about mana circulation and the proper ways to infuse mana and create runic formations. And also take a large amount of my money. Not that what you’ve taught me isn’t helpful, but I need to become stronger now, not in several years,” Eric replied, still angry with his teacher.

  “There are two main reasons I haven’t taught you combat magic yet. The first is that your basics are too lacking. While you haven’t experienced it yet as the spells you’re using are still low level, the more runes you use in the casting of a spell, the greater the chance something goes wrong. Have you ever experienced mana rebound?”

  Eric nodded his head at this, causing Lucy to smirk. “Well mana rebound for most lower level spells isn’t too severe. It usually just entails a loss of mana and consciousness - though you can remain conscious with sufficient willpower or mana. Higher level spells, however, will have far more damaging effects if you allow the mana to rebound. The Fire Field spell, for example, is an advanced level spell - it requires a minimum of four runes to construct, and should even one of the runes fail then the entire spell will rebound upon the caster, causing bodily harm or even death,” Lucy explained.

  “So you’re saying that I suck at magic.”

  “Yes.”

  “Ouch. Not even going to try and spare my ego there?” Eric feigned a hurt expression.

  Lucy rolled her eyes. “As a proper mage trained in the traditional way, I can’t teach a student combat magic before they’re ready. It would be dangerous for both themselves and those around them. And unlike those hacks in the Rimestone Circle, my students will be proper mages, not simple artillery pieces who don’t know the first thing about real magic past blasting whatever they see to smithereens,” she nearly spat this last part, venom dripping from her voice.

  “Fair enough,” Eric conceded, not willing to anger her any further. “What about the second reason?”

  Lucy laughed. “The second reason I haven’t taught you any combat magic is because you’re simply not powerful enough to handle higher level magic. Your elem
ental dart spell is fairly close to the pinnacle of what you are currently capable of casting. In order to learn more powerful spells, you’ll need to become more proficient with both Arcane and elemental magic, and your mana pool needs to grow bigger. You’re actually pretty close to being able to cast journeyman level spells, but until I think you’re ready, I won’t be teaching you any.”

  Eric groaned at this. “So there’s no way for me to get stronger for the tournament?”

  Lucy smiled wickedly. “Did I say that? I don’t recall saying anything of the sort.”

  “But you just said you won’t teach me any new combat magic -,” Eric began.

  Lucy cut him off, “Who told you that the only way for a mage to become stronger was to learn new spells? We have equipment too, just like warriors and all those other meatheads who beat each other silly. What do you think wands are for?”

  “Errrr. I thought wands were just to make it easier to cast spells?” Eric said uncertainly.

  “Wands are far more than that. Although to be fair, technically we’re talking about focuses. All wands are magical focuses, but not all focuses are wands. It’s an important distinction. For example, that rosary your friend carries is a focus that enhances divine spells. Anyways, a focus is to a mage what a good sword is to a warrior. It enhances their natural skills, allowing them to bring out more power, and customize their spellcasting to their own preferences. The wands you otherworlders all use are just simple focuses, constructed from a wood that has a decent level of mana conductivity, and a minor magical gem that enhances the user’s mana circulation.”

  “So if I get a focus then I’ll get stronger?” Eric asked.

  “Don’t you have one already? I thought all otherworlders were issued a wand before being sent here.”