The Way of the Clan 9

by Dem Mikhaylov

  “Thank you! I owe you one! If she does not pull it out, but it takes up some time — Roska will be happy already.”

  “That’s great. Pour it out.”

  I poured.

  “Let us see what happens,” I smiled peacefully and calmly, although I could not get rid of the tight unpleasant lump in my throat. “What should I do with the free characteristics?

  “Intelligence and wisdom, the idea is about the same as last time. In short, the key to success. Look ...”

  We exchanged some more words, and bid goodbye. Still, the tight lump in my throat did not disappear. Very unpleasant sensation.

  They wanted to turn me into a helpless roly-poly, unable to protect either myself or anyone else.

  I refused the weighty guarantee of getting the right amount of mana.

  I did not like the proposal of the Sleepless. Nor the warning — we offered, but you did not take it. Were those the laws of the big game?

  The last few days I tried to give, not take. I tried to simplify everything to the maximum, reduce everything to normal relationships. And I topped it with a layer of friendliness and blessed transparent simplicity. You will grit your teeth and help me to recruit mana, and I will try to repay you, if I can. And then, after the completion of this global mess, we will remain so — if not friends, then we will keep an even relationship and not burn bridges. But they did not understand me. There was the impression that the Sleepless did not want to deal with my mana anymore, by any means. In principle, I understood them. But I did not accept their offer.

  While pondering, I walked to the restored building of the local Guild of Magicians. Going inside, I was plunged into the gloomy cool of the hall. The floors were sparkling clean. The walls were almost naked, but they were painted with a new whitewash. About two dozen paintings were hung here and there, but there was a lot of empty space — many more canvases and tapestries could be placed on the walls. There were statues standing on cubes of snow-white marble. In a word— the restored Guild of Magicians was quickly decorated to give it a sense of greatness.

  I decided to raise the ranks of already “ripe” spells. Then I would sit down on one of the freshly painted benches and place free points of characteristics into my chart.

  Familiar entrances with teleports pleased my soul. There was no need to reflect on how the natives marked different magic and what the strange symbols meant. And there was no delay here. And this was important — there were many people here, and I already heard a couple of people shouting “Rosgard” before I dove into the portal I needed. I was already getting used to ignoring other players, carefully pretending that I do not hear anything and do not see anyone.

  After half an hour I again enjoyed another cold beverage, holding a huge misted glass full of invigorating nectar in my hand. Delicious …

  During my stay in the Guild, I had managed to raise the ranks of a few spells, dramatically increasing the combat power of my character.

  Fireball reached the highest rank, and string passed to the second, and became the “heated string”, and ice reached the rank of “explosive ice spear.” Healing became “serious” — small cleansing turned into just “cleansing”, and “vine” also went on to the next step.

  In addition, I purchased two new spells. The first was called “red wasp” and actually produced one— solitary, and bravely buzzing, with a red and black striped abdomen. This was not an invocation spell, but a combat spell where the wasp dealt a few stinging blows and disappeared. The next rank of magic was called “three red wasps”, the third “small swarm,” the fourth “small poison swarm,” and the latter — “tropical madness.” This fascinated me. I was naively waiting for something like a “poisonous swarm.” And “tropical madness” …,” it was something out of the ordinary. What was interesting was that none of Valdira’s players had the highest rank of “red wasp”. I was informed about this by the sparkling eyes of the “local” magician, from whom I acquired this spell of natural magic. This was logical — the new spell was given only here.

  The second spell … — no more than a childish trick that pleased my boyish soul. I’d try to surprise Kirea and Roska. They would be impressed by my new skill. It was time to surprise the family with something special. Orbit would not take all the spotlight.

  I would be able to surprise him, too!

  “So-so,” Kirea pouted lips, watching my new spell in action.

  “Sucky, and abominably boring,” sighed Roska sitting beside her, splashing her feet in the water.

  “Uf-f-f …” Tyrant breathed a long sigh, turning away from me.

  “You guys!” I was offended. “That is it! Papa is angry! We do not go fishing!”

  “No! It is a very cool spell!” The appraisal of Roska immediately changed. “So cool… dad, cool!”

  “N-n-a-a-ah…” said the elf, tied to the snout of the mammoth.

  “Do not say anything at all!” I grumbled.

  The elf obediently fell silent and poked a golden needle in the nearby ghost, causing him to yelp and jump into the clouds. Kolyvan muttered something reproachful, letting out a few bursts of bubbles. The water around the floating mammoth was boiling — hundreds of bright tropical fish came to look at the hairy wonder. Roska was kept from fishing by only one thing — my promise of a different, more exciting catch.

  I decided to go by water to the place Malice had indicated. And at the same time, to pump the acquired spell “Arnasian propeller,” the same spell used for catamarans and trimarans. To do this, I purchased a fairly large catamaran of two logs connected by ropes of palm fiber and a network of the same material tied between them. The mast and sail were there, but there was no need for them.

  I had not forgotten to tie up the coconut bundles to the stern — Kolyvan, floating behind us, did not take his piteous eyes off them. Then I loaded my family up, having inspired them with the story of a special catch. I sat everyone on the catamaran, and Roska tied a rope to the stern, onto which the trunk of Kolyvan was then hooked. And we were off to the place at cruising speed … and the speed was about the same as for an unhurried, walking adult person. A dashing flight along the crests of the waves did not work out — there was legitimate criticism …

  What was interesting — in the midst of this, I completely forgot about my status as the Great Navigator. I remembered at the last moment, when it was impossible to fix anything — I stepped on board a boat that could be considered a ship. It was certainly not enough for a long oceanic voyage. But everything turned out to be even simpler — there was no notification at all. I was once a mere mortal, ordinary player. The spell had not gone away — I checked this first. Then I realized — we were not an official ship.

  I was glad — I imagined, all across Valdira, a voice message proclaiming that the Navigator boarded a ship, which automatically became the flagship. I would had paid a couple of hundred gold coins to see the Baroness jump. Sitting on the helm of the flagship, manicuring her nails, and here comes the warning…

  “Here,” I pointed out the place. “Get ready, it is almost sunset.”

  “Uff-ooo! Uf-oh! Uf-oh!” We quickly ran over the mammoth, and the elf did not look at us— he only hooked his thumbs demonstratively into his pockets.

  “You park, Dad,” Roska said cautiously. “And we will wait for you on the shore.”

  “Ahem,” I said, rubbing my nose.

  The only trump card was the knowledge of the right place.

  “That’s why you became extinct,” I said under my breath, looking at the mammoth, who was already emerging on the beach. The black and white wolf shook off the water next to him.

  I strengthened my heart and did not betray my grief even when I found out that the damned mammoth had stolen all my coconuts … I kept my expression calm and resolutely rowed to the shore. The spell was so-so … but this was only its initial rank. I wanted to raise it. They would fish — and I would plow the coastal waters.

  But first I would distribute all th
e free points of characteristics. I wanted to do this before fishing, but found that it was about to become evening. I did not want to miss the moment when the special fish appeared. And while they were preparing, I would sit on a stone and deal with digital self-improvement.

  A bonfire was lit on the shore, and Roska jumped joyfully around it, shaking a huge match over her head — the size of a club. Which giant did they steal these things from? And why did no one explain to her that matches were not toys for children? Where was her careless father? And … just … well … it was hard to blame eternally busy parents. They too could be understood and justified.

  “Come on!” Roska declared, dropping a very familiar wooden box on the sand with a handle made of octopus skin.“Let us get the fish! We do not leave this place without it! Let us start training — first we drink a glass of ship tea with five oatmeal cookies, then we prepare the bait! Dad! Is the fish big? Hooks are good, but for the large bait we only have the mammoth … and where should we hook it? Uncle Orbit, why were you crying? What is wrong? You mammoth, right? We would have time to pull him out! Cherries on the scruff of the neck! This is our mammoth! We would not give it to some land fish! Even if it swallows him — we will take him by the gills and say: damn you! A hundred typhoons to your throat! Where is our mammoth?!”

  “Points, points, points,” I muttered, scuttling sideways like a crab. I crept up to a small rounded boulder and tied the catamaran to it. “Points, points, points, … and the mammoth … sigh…”

  Chapter Twenty-Four.

  Mathematics and fishing.

  For about a quarter of an hour I answered an endless stream of questions from my daughter, who had finally found her ever-busy father. There were too many why questions, but somehow I coped with some of them. The rest — I simply did not know the answer.

  How do I know why the famous alchemist Bux Vogel, who lived in Bastiongrad, invented a medicine for black prurigo, but, dying from this disease, did not drink the invented medicine?

  Why is the root of the tropical mandrake called the bearded Muhmudil?

  Why did Plague Knight Fagnir Necrosis beat Scarlet Baron, even though the Baron said that he was stronger than Necrosis?

  Why are snails so important for Valdira?

  Why did the flagship Black Queen buy four hundred white piglets and only one black?

  Why is the Oracle never wrong?

  What would happen if you catch the gray, long-eared cuttlefish, tell her a funny story and then let her go again into the ocean?

  And a hundred such questions… and maybe more … I felt completely drained. But I had set myself up for this.

  But then by the evening they temporarily forgot about me in favor of fishing. Slumping down on the raft, I looked at the stars, put my head gently onto a stone, and muttered:

  “Peace … total peace ...”

  “Oof …” Said the boulder, who appeared to be a sea-tortoise.

  The turtle showed no aggression and crawled into the sea, accidentally dragging the little float with him. After thinking for a second, I did not untie the boat. The turtle did not even notice the increased gravity, easily pulling the tiny ship with me on it. Then the rope slipped, as expected. I was notified that the attempt to catch the beast had failed. Okay, then. But I was on the water, as planned. Sitting more comfortably, I activated the spell “propeller” and sent the ship to the stone island a little away from here. I would go back and forth a few times. Just to keep paddling.

  Opening the desired menu, I looked at the numbers.

  Current character level: 160

  Strength — 19

  Intelligence — 230

  Dexterity — 17

  Stamina — 100

  Wisdom — 141

  Available for distribution points: 320

  This is my current naked and indestructible skeleton. My basis. My rock, the strongest and the most reliable – no matter what happens with imposed on me bonuses, blessings, and effects, my basis in contrast to they will not change – except that I will be cursed, or weakened in any other way intentionally. But then – any curse or poison effect can be removed one way or another. The only thing I would have to be afraid of was death.

  A few digital deaths would throw me back, severely cut my experience and levels, take away my precious scores of characteristics, remove the already selected achievements. Death for me was a taboo. Especially after parking on the Ring of Peace — after all, we did not stop here to catch our breath. So some significant part of the way to Zar’Graad had already been passed. Time to prepare for the hottest time — to the autumn harvest. I was reliably protected, but nobody was insured against chance. As well as a meeting with an extremely strong opponent.

  The only way to counteract — a set of “extra” levels. I needed to do everything to grow a couple of dozen levels before the “X”. This would be my safety lock — my personal airbag in this speeding sea express. But before the buffer starts to work, I first needed to dial up the necessary amount of mana — 10.000 points — and I was afraid, I was still very far from this amount. Intellect — this was the main thing, and wisdom — the pathetic remnants. My main goal was to get the achievement of “Wiseacre” of the sixth rank. And, surprisingly enough, I had just found out — I had enough free points to get to it. But my nerves were trembling. So … two hundred and seventy points go into intellect — after which I would become doubly smarter!

  Current character level: 160

  Strength— 19

  Intellect— 500

  Dexterity— 17

  Stamina— 100

  Wisdom— 141

  Available for distribution points: 50

  Attainment!

  You received the achievement of the “Wiseacre” of the fifth rank!

  You can see the table of achievements obtained in your character settings.

  Your reward for achievement:

  + 5 % chance to identify items.

  + 425 to the number of mana points.

  Current chance of successful identification: 20 %

  Current bonus to mana: + 850

  Attainment!

  You have earned the achievement of the “Wiseacre” of the sixth rank!

  You can see the table of achievements obtained in your character settings.

  Your reward for achievement:

  + 5 % chance to identify items.

  + 700 to the number of mana points.

  Current chance of successful identification: 25 %

  Bonus to Mana: 1550 *

  Attainment!

  You had obtained the achievement “Golden Mind”

  You can see the table of achievements obtained in your character settings.

  Your reward for achievement:

  +25 Intelligence.

  (This achievement had no ranks and was not improved).

  Memorable achievement for a no less memorable event in your game life.

  And so … the level of my mana had jumped up, and I felt incredibly powerful. And for some reason ten thousand points of mana, seemingly so unattainable, suddenly became somehow much more possible…

  The leftovers were put into wisdom — to reduce the cost of mana when magic was activated.

  Current character level: 160

  Strength — 19

  Intellect — 5 25

  Dexterity — 17

  Stamina — 100

  Wisdom — 1 9 1

  Available points: 0

  Attainment!

  You obtained the achievement “Wise man” of the third rank!

  You can see the table of achievements obtained in your character settings.

  Your reward for achievement:

  + 2 % chance to critically hit with magic.

  4 % to reduce the cost of mana to create spells of any type.

  Current bonus to chance of critical strike by magic: 6.5 %

  The current bonus to reducing mana cost to create any type of spells: 11 %

  And again successful. Another ac
hievement, just as important as the previous ones. My survival did not improve at all, but this was a known problem for most mages.

  But the numbers … and mana levels, … and that huge amount of mana! The numbers please me more and more. So then why did Malice pressure me so hard? To move me to another class? Maybe I did something wrong? I checked the numbers again … current amount of life and mana …

  No… this huge mana pit actually belonged to me …

  “Dad! Dad!” I turned to Roska, who was dancing in the shallow water — I caught a fish! Amazing fish!”

  “Well done, sweetheart,” I nodded, still looking at the impressive figures of mana,” You’re my good girl. And your dad likes this fish ...”

  “The catch was easy, but very rare! Rare … rare … A rare fish!”

  “Good,” I sighed, unfolding the catamaran and again directing it along the coast. The “Propeller” worked diligently, eating up a considerable amount of mana per second. But I did not care for such costs.

  “Throw it again! Uncle Orbit! Where’s my bait? You promised! The biggest hook is still empty! And if I miss the catch promised by Papa? If I do not catch the special fish? What then? Everyone would laugh! A tornado on our heads! Reef to us across the course! Where is the bait? Kolyvan … time to stretch your trunk!”

  After these words, I saw a rare sight — bald elf swept along a narrow strip of sand at an unthinkable speed, his expression was so pitiful that it looked like he wanted either to sob or to laugh…

  “I have a tremendous piece of jerky,” I admitted. “I would have sold it — but this meat was for friends, not for those who put me under the fists of divine skeletons ...”

  The thin figure shook on the shore like a reed blade before the onset of the hurricane. He delicately stretched out his thin arms.

  “Fi-i-ine,” I surrendered, taking out the meat and hurling it through the water that separated us. “Not roasting the mammoth today. I get it, though… Roska, after all, loves wolves, not elephants.”