A Mage Prepared

by Thomas Whipple

  Minor Health Potion: Using this restores 50 HP instantly and another 50 HP over 30 seconds. Item class: Uncommon.

  Minor Mana Potion: Using this restores 50 MP instantly and another 50 MP over 30 seconds. Item class: Uncommon.

  The red one is the health potion and the blue one mana. The class information for Items is making me curious though. "Azzaria, my friend, I am sorry that I must ask you another question" I say in and overly formal tone while standing straight backed. That elicits another round of the giggles that I am starting to cherish. When her fit ends she nods to me to continue. I drop the act and ask "What is the class system for items? I have seen common and uncommon items and I have a general idea, but what other classes for items are there? And what do they mean?"

  "The class is a basic overall judgment of the quality and rarity of the item. From worst to best they are poor, common, uncommon, rare, superior, epic, and legendary. There is also a unique class that means that there are only a few in existence and you can wear only one. Unique items can be powerful or they can be for show. The item itself though limits what class is possible to make it. The potions we have are uncommon and the best you can make one that is only minor. Higher tiers of potions may be at minimum uncommon to even be successful. The same system applies to other things as well, like class rarity."

  "I think I get it. So, back to the party system, is there an issue with you being so much higher than me when it comes to level?" I say as we turn Northwest and start off into the forest once again.

  "There will be a little, but the more you contribute the less the penalty to your gains from the battle will be. For instance, the battle we had with the possessed before getting to Efftin would probably have given you full gains toward your next level if we were in a party. The difference though is that I would have also got some, but since you landed the final blow that killed it and we were not in a party only you got anything from it."

  Without any more pressing questions on my mind I start paying attention to our surroundings. We keep the chatter down since the council said there were sightings nearby. It is a few hours later when we confirm it. We hear it before we see it. The forest has gone silent around us like it's holding its breath. All animal sounds around us stopped a few minutes ago, making easy to hear the sounds of dragging feet through the underbrush ahead.

  Azzaria stops near some trees that are close together and I creep up next to her. Poking my head around a tree I look around and see another possessed goblin. Using Identify I can tell that this one is another level 9 Possessed Goblin Corpse. Turning to my friend, I lean in to her so that my mouth is right next to her pointed ear. "Same as the last one, level 9 possessed goblin. If I can knock it over, try to pin it down like last time. If it doesn't fall, then aim for its legs to slow it down or trip it if you can" I say so quietly that only she could hear.

  I'm so close to her that I can see her shiver a little, but I can't tell if it is from the memory of the previous fight or from my breath on her ear. I lean back to get a look at her face, but it is inscrutable and her gaze is focused on the sounds of dragging feet. After a second of me looking at her she nods to signal that she understands. Slowly coming out from behind the tree and watching my step to remain quiet, I can see the monster is headed south and a little bit to the east. Placing us just behind and to its left. It's going slow since it doesn't see us, and looks like a classic movie zombie the way it moves. Knowing the truth about its speed, I want to take it off guard and put it on the ground before it starts running.

  I charge up a Mana Bolt and carefully take aim as the iridescent blue cone forms in front of my extended hand. As I am about to fire I can see Azzaria out of the corner of my eye step up next to me with an arrow drawn. Releasing my spell it streaks across the distance and hits the mark, right in the back of its head. It stumbles forward for a step but unfortunately it only takes a step to stop it from falling. I can see strings of hair in the air from the impact and a black mark where it struck. Immediately after regaining it's balance by catching itself on its left leg an arrow sprouts from the back of the knee, and it collapses face first. Damn she is good with that bow. From there it goes much like the first one. I fire Mana Bolts into its head while Azzaria keeps it pinned down so it can't rise up. Timbre stands guard over us and Thia helps out with a shot from Zapp while staying on my shoulder.

  After the monster dies we wait for it. Just like last time, a beetle comes out that Thia fries right away. Looking at the dead monsters I push aside my misgivings and actually check the body of the goblin for loot this time. While Azzaria keeps watch in case any more arrive, I find 26 copper in a pouch tied to the loincloth. I split the copper between me and Azzaria before I check my messages.

  Identify has reached lvl 4.

  Neutral Magic has reached lvl 3.

  Mana Perception has reached lvl 4.

  Mana Manipulation has reached lvl 3.

  Your familiar's skill: Zapp has reached lvl 3.

  LEVEL UP! Your Familiar Thia has increased in level by 1. Thia is now level 2. As your Familiar she gets 5 points to apply to her Stats and 2 talent points. Thia currently has 5 undistributed SP and 2 undistributed TP. You can distribute these from your familiar's status page. Continue to increase your Familiar's level to follow the path of true power. Fight for the RIGHT to survive!

  That is a welcome sight. I was surprised by the fact that Thia didn't level up from the first possessed goblin we fought. It must have been the small amount she contributed to my kill. Now it is time to help my girl grow. Pulling up her status page I quickly add a point to STR and VIT to bring them up to 5, and then 2 into WIS and finally 1 into INT. I won't be putting any more into STR for a while but I do want to raise her VIT a little. After this level I will focus on improving her speed and magical capabilities. That done, I look to the place for her undistributed TP. Focusing on it the whole screen goes gray.

  After a couple seconds the fog clears in a spot at the top and a stylized bird appears there. It is very small and inside a circle. Four lines start to come out of the bottom and leading away from the symbol. These lines clear the gray area in their path until they connect to another circle each. These four circles have words in them. More lines come off of them but these do not clear the fog, and they disappear within. Playing with the menu a little I am able to zoom in and out and scroll down, left or right from the Bird symbol. There doesn't seem to be a limit to how far it goes but I didn't sit there for long to test it.

  Zooming in on the area that is visible I can see that the four talents are Enhanced Physique 0/3, Familiar Bond 1/3, Screech 0/1, and Enhanced Speed 0/2. Since Familiar Bond already has a point in it I look up what it says first.

  Familiar Bond 1/3: Allows the familiar and mage to sense the general emotions and direction of one another. Next Tier: Allows the familiar and mage to detect the emotions and exact direction of one another

  Seeing this, I get a gut feeling that this path will be worth it. Plus, there is another tier for the ability that I want to see. Placing a point in it I then focus on the connection between me and Thia. It feels almost like it is expanding, allowing more to flow through it. With this new insight I still feel as though it is obstructed. I will finish that talent the next time Thia gains a level. Right now I want to help her support capabilities. Looking at Screech I read the description.

  Screech 0/1: Next Tier: Active skill: Release a loud screech that disorients enemies within a 20 foot cone.

  This looks like what I was hoping for. Selecting it, Thia has a new skill to test out. At that moment I get a rush of excitement from the bond we share. "Do you want to test your new skill girl?" Another little bit of excitement comes through that is confirmation enough for me. "OK, calm down girl. We need to find another enemy before we can do that." Looking over to Azzaria I explain the new dynamic in our bond. "Let's go find another before nightfall so that she can test her new skill."

  We continue our trek northwest for a few more hours before find
ing anything else. When we do find another creature it is a three and a half foot tall bipedal lizard with gray scales. It, like the goblins, is only wearing a loincloth. The tail is what gave it away. This one wasn't dragging its feet as bad as the goblin, but the tail kept brushing up against things and making noise.

  Possessed Kobold Corpse, lvl 9. HP: 100%

  Hiding behind another tree, I tell Azzaria to hold off on pinning it down until after Thia uses screech. Timbre, as before, will be the last line of defense before anything gets to Azzaria or me and stays at my side. Remembering my staff this time I take it in my right hand and we all step out from behind the trees. Pointing the staff at the monster I channel mana into it and activate my Mana Bolt spell. I can feel that it is stronger as it forms at the tip of the staff before it streaks away.

  My spell strikes the kobold in the back and it stumbles. Crying out in its rage, it turns and comes straight for me. It was a little out of range for Thia to use her new skill at first, but it closes quickly at a dead run. In range now, Thia leans forward over Timbre's head and releases a sound like a hunting eagle. It's far louder than I thought her tiny frame could produce, but the effect is instantly noticeable. The sprinting monster trips over its own feet and face plants into the ground.

  From there Azzaria does her thing and soon it has an arrow pinning its right arm and leg to the ground. Using the staff I hit it with a couple of Mana Bolts in the face as it struggles. Thia is also using Zapp now liberally, sending streaks of golden electricity into her target. I see my message icon lit up during the fight but it is getting late. "Lets find a spot a little ways off so that we can set up camp before it is too dark." Collecting the little coin the monster had, we head off in search of a spot to camp for the night.

  Chapter 9

  Twenty minutes after our encounter with the kobold we're in a small clearing about 15 feet across. I'm a little anxious to check the messages I have waiting for me but setting up camp before dark is more important, especially the Ward Stone. Taking it out I use Identify on it to see if it has instructions or something.

  Ward Stone: Sets up a temporary barrier against hostile intent preventing monsters from entering. Duration: 12 hrs. Cooldown: 12 hrs. Range: 15 feet from place used. Recharge: 200 MP

  "Hey, Azzaria." When she looks up from making a fire ring I lift the Ward stone so she can see it and continue "How do I use this?" She waves me over so I leave my pack and stand in front of the rings of rocks she was setting up. "Place the stone on the ground in the middle of our camp," she points to the ring "then put your hand on the stone and think of activating it." Doing as she says, I can feel the moment that the mana drains out of the stone. The magical energy spreads into a circle around the camp and I have no idea what it is doing but I can feel the barrier it creates.

  "It's done. What are you starting a fire for? I thought you said that we would need to keep a low profile?"

  My travel companion responds "We aren't very far from the village and with the Ward Stone we should be fine for tonight. But we don't know what or where the source of this infestation is, so after tonight we will need to go without the fire." I nod and then hold the Ward Stone in front of me. I move my mana to it and it starts to pull on it greedily, taking my mana as fast as I can send it. When it stops, I'm a little light headed from the drain. I wobble a little and Azzaria grabs my arm to steady me.

  Regaining my balance after a moment I put my hand over hers and say "I'm alright now. I just charged the Ward stone so it is ready for tomorrow and it takes a lot for me at the moment. I pat her hand and she lets go, turning back to the fire pit quickly. She piles some wood into the ring of rocks she gathered and I go to set up my tent. I have experience doing this when I was a Boy Scout so it only takes a few minutes. I place my things in the tent and then sit on a log that is near the fire. I open my messages while Azzaria is turning some meat over the fire that she brought out of her pack.

  Staff Mastery has reached lvl 2

  LEVEL UP! You have increased your level by 1. You are now level 7. As a Void Human you get 6 points to apply to your Stats. As you are a Mage +1 INT +1 WIS are allocated. You currently have 4 undistributed SP. You can distribute these from your status page. Continue to increase your level to follow the path of true power. Fight for the RIGHT to survive!

  LEVEL UP! Your Familiar Thia has increased in level by 1. Thia is now level 3. As your Familiar she gets 5 points to apply to her Stats and 1 talent point. Thia currently has 5 undistributed SP and 1 undistributed TP. You can distribute these from your familiar's status page. Continue to increase your Familiar's level to follow the path of true power. Fight for the RIGHT to survive!

  Mana Perception has reached lvl 5

  I'm confused about my first notification. I got Staff Mastery by hitting things with a staff, so why did I get an increase when I haven't hit anything. "Lady Azzaria, I know I have asked you many things but could I impose on you once again?" Looking up from her cooking she gives me an amused smile. I guess the goofy overly formal voice is having less of an effect on her now. Maybe she is tired? "Go on. It's not like we have much more to do right now."

  "I got a message for an increase in my staff mastery, but I didn't hit anything with it. Do you know why that is?"

  "You used your staff as a focus for your spells. If the item is meant to be used that way then it contributes to your mastery. There are a number of ways that this can happen, even for me. If I got a skill that used magic focused through my bow to create an arrow or something it would also contribute to my Bow Mastery. It's most common through a staff or wand. I've heard that some priests use a scepter, which is categorized as a mace."

  "Ah, that's good. I bet the damage bonus for the mastery skill applies to magic attacks focused through it. I'm glad for that because I didn't want to start using a wand." The High Elf laughs at the wand comment. I can see her imagining me waving around a wand like some idiot. Interrupting her reverie I say "Thank you. I'm glad you're with me, and the information you have given me has really helped me understand everything." She nods to me and turns back to her cooking while I look to allocate the new points for me and Thia.

  I take the 4 SP I have and put 1 into INT, WIS, VIT. The last one is put into AGI, because it should help with my aim a little and dodging. Thinking of a game plan for the future in my stats I know that I can't ignore anything. I decide that I will need to increase STR some as well, but it won't be often. I will focus on my magic related stats most of the time or I'll only be a mediocre mage.

  As for Thia, I place 2 into VIT since it's so low and I don't want her to die too easily. The last three I add into WIS. Her skills so far do not take much mana so I want her to regenerate faster to give her more magical endurance. The talent point she has I am thinking of putting into Enhanced Physique which gives a 10% increase to Physical resistance, but she hasn't been in danger and I still feel like I should finish the Familiar Bond. Besides, the description of the next tier has me curious. Since the increase to the bond we share I've gotten the distinct impression from her emotions that she is far more intelligent than I first thought.

  I place the point and feel our bond open up to what feels like full capacity. Focusing on that bond again I tentatively try to send a greeting to Thia. "Hello?" Her head picks up and she turns an eye on me from down the log. "Hello." She returns my greeting. "I knew it, you can talk" I shout out loud. Everyone is looking at me now. "What? Thia can talk." When I say that, Azzaria and even Timbre look at Thia and back to me skeptically.

  "She hasn't said anything" Azzaria tells me.

  "I just upgraded our bond and she spoke to me through it. Right Thia?"

  "Of course I did" I get back.

  "Ha, of course you did." Focusing on the bond again I stop talking out loud. "It's good to communicate with you on this level." She walks over to me on the log and rubs her head on my arm. "I have been taking care of your development so far, but would you like to do it yourself?"

  "Master, I wou
ld like you to do it so that I can be of most use to you."

  "Hold it with the master stuff. We are partners here, and I hope you will see it that way too."

  "I would like that."

  In my mind I ask her "How come you sound and act like an adult when you are only a few days old as far as I know. You are a baby in body as well."

  "I'm not really a baby. I came from a different demesne when you summoned me. Creatures from other realms, like me, are sometimes given a chance to become a familiar. This can allow us to become more powerful since we are linked to another soul that compliments ours. The downside of this is that we need to start over from level 1. I know you want to ask about where I came from before, but I can't tell you much since the summoning process fogs over the old memories. In the end, I'm a fully matured mind in this body."

  "That makes me wonder. Do you prefer to be released when you aren't fighting or doing anything?"

  "No, I would much prefer to stay out all the time. If that is OK with you?"

  "I prefer it that way too."

  Still turning the meat, which is almost done, Azzaria has been glancing my way as though waiting for something. When she sees me turn away from Thia she says "Hello Thia, it is nice to meet you."

  "It was nice to meet you too, after you stopped pointing an arrow at my bonded." She said it over our bond since she apparently can't talk out loud, yet.

  "She says that it was nice to meet you too, after you stopped pointing an arrow at me."

  Azzaria's face goes red from embarrassment and she starts to stammer out an apology when she is interrupted by an odd halting chirping sound from Thia. She looks at the chick and asks "Is she OK?"