A Mage Prepared

by Thomas Whipple

  The four of us head out again and kill a few of patrols with a mix of the same level 10 subclasses we have already seen. Around noon Thia shows me a group of three on patrol. They are patrolling a little ways between us and the river that runs from the lake that is farther north. We changed our course after I told Azzaria about the area Thia and I scouted to head more west than north. The plan is to cross here and follow the cliff north to the village. Now, the group of three wouldn't have worried me much with a kobold brawler and swordsman, but the third member is what gave me pause. He was a goblin with dark green skin wearing rags that may have been robes at one point. He also carried a staff with an animal skull, some kind of medium sized cat, at the top. We hadn't fought any casters yet and that could mean almost anything depending on the spells they have. Ultimately with no new information until we engage we decided on the plan we had before, with everyone trying to stay close to me. Timbre would keep the brawler busy while Thia and Azzaria pin the swordsman and finish it off.

  When we are all in position I step out from the tree with my staff already raised and send a Mana Bolt streaking forward. The spell strikes the caster in the middle of its back just as I use Identify.

  Possessed Goblin Corpse, lvl 10, Dark Shaman. HP:100%

  I think that means that I should expect mainly dark magic, but that is just a guess. It alerts the others with its scream and turns to me. As it raises its staff I have already finished casting Mana Barrier and it flairs up around me. Right after that my barrier takes a bolt of darkness right at the center of my chest. I fire back just as the other beetle possessed enemies get in range of my companions. Timbre gets a claw on the brawler but her bite for its leg misses when it turns unexpectedly. She does get its attention, so she draws it to the side all while using strike and retreat tactics. The swordsman gets hit with Screech from Thia and falls. It even cuts itself on the outer thigh when it does. I get hit with another bolt from the shaman, but I start to walk forward. I want to close a little distance so that I can try and shield the others. It's a good thing I do, because the shaman gathers a dark mist around his hands then directs it to my left where Azzaria is firing at the downed swordsman.

  I got two steps before he fired the mist in the form of some kind of shadow fire. Hopping to the left, I block the cone of fire from hitting Azzaria or Thia. While I am blocking the fire I take the time to ready a Mana Bolt but I don't let it form at the end of my staff yet, willing it to hold just before the point of manifestation. I build up more and more mana at the end of it and hold it back from leaving the staff. Pressure is building in the back of my skull from holding back the spell from completion. The headache is starting to become distracting and I can feel the spell getting almost too hard to contain any longer. I am starting to worry that it is going to blow up in my face, but I hold the spell there after about three times the normal mana. The headache is getting to excruciating levels when the fire dies out revealing my all but destroyed barrier.

  With a shouted cry that is part pain and part relief at being able to release the spell I aim and fire. The Mana Bolt that comes out of the tip of my staff is bigger than twice its normal size, and clears the space to the shaman in an instant. The larger than normal bolt strikes it in the arm holding its staff, forcing him to drop it and spin to the ground. I step forward again and fire another normal bolt. It makes a gesture with the uninjured arm, so I step and fire. The shamans own shadow then wraps around him like armor and takes the hit. Taking his example I cast my Mana Barrier to renew my protection and the cracks all over it close up. By now, Azzaria and Thia have finished off their opponent and run to help Timbre. I step forward and fire off another spell, now about 10 feet from the shaman. Another step and I see the shaman making the same motion as he did to start the shadow fire before black mist starts to gather. I take a gamble here and jump forward to swing my staff to the side and down like I am golfing to hit the enemy spell caster right in the temple.

  It worked! As soon as I bash the Shaman the mist around his hand starts to dissipate. His head roles around on his shoulders, disoriented from the blow to the head. Before he can recover and stand up I fire another two bolts at point blank into his head. It feels like they are forming faster now. That kills him and I start to feel a little bad about what amounts to an execution, but then an insect crawls its way out of its mouth and I get over it. I would rather be dead than have one of those things walking my corpse around like a god damn sports car. I blast the bug and shiver a little at the thought of one of those things in me. It's starting to feel like a mercy for those possessed after I think about it. I look over and everyone else has finished and is looking at me.

  "Thanks for blocking that for me. That fire stuff looked like it would have hurt" Azzaria tells me. She has a complicated expression while she says that. I can't read it before it is gone a moment later.

  "You're welcome. Now we have a lot of ground to cover and a lot of enemies to deal with. Should be clear to the river. You ready?"

  "Yeah I'm ready."

  "I am going to need to kill a lot more of these guys to get that last level. They are only giving a few percent experience to the next level since I am much closer to them now. Let's loot and get moving. My mana won't take long to regenerate so I should be good to go soon." Azzaria heads off to the other dead and I loot the shaman. I find something in his robes and pull out a spell book. I use Identify on it and the staff to see what I have.

  Spell Book: Drain Life: Fire a beam of Death magic that pulls the life from your foe and transfers it to you. Class: Mage only. Death type magic unlocked.

  Dark Shaman Totem. A staff made of dark wood and the skull of a defeated foe. Enchanted through dark ritual. Item class: Uncommon. Durability 48/50. Base Dmg 10-15. 10% increase to power of Dark and Death type spells. 10% decrease to power of all magic type spells other than Dark and Death.

  Done looting the others, Azzaria returns to me and hands me my cut of the copper coins. "The book might be useful for me later but the staff I likely will never have a use for, though it has to be worth something." I hand it to her and she ties it to her pack. It is short, having been built for a goblin, so it doesn't get in her way when she moves. I stick the new spell book into my pack with the other two. It is getting a little crowded in there, but the food we have eaten has freed up a little extra room.

  Thia scouts for us again and directs me to a shallow area of the river nearby that we can ford. The river at this spot is wide and clear; it reminds me of the spot I cooked my meals before Azzaria found me. It's hard for me to remember that it was only about a week ago that I was there with little real danger. Now I am faced constantly with conflict and exhaustion. All for what? The chance to live in a village that I only know one person in, and met a few more? A village that has practically shunned Azzaria and will most likely do the same to me? Thinking about it I know that, as long as there is one person there that I consider a friend, I will fight for it. That one person makes it totally worth it in my opinion.

  Coming out of my reverie, I follow Azzaria across with Timbre close behind. On the other side of the river we continue fighting our way to the cliff. We didn't encounter more spell casters and had minimal issues with the three person patrols we encountered. Sometimes they were close enough together that fighting one would draw the attention of another. With our teamwork we are able to finish off the first patrol before the second arrives. Then it's just a matter of us repeating the process. When we get to the cliff wall I am only one or two groups away from leveling, and Thia has finally caught up to me at level 9. It's getting dark though, so I ask Azzaria what she thinks we should do.

  "I think we need to setup camp, but this is not an ideal place. A little farther north I can see a copse of trees near the cliff that would be a good spot. We can take out the groups near to that and have a good spot for camping. How far are we from the village and will getting closer to it draw too much attention?"

  Checking with Thia I answer her, "That sounds l
ike a plan. It's still a few miles north of those trees to the village and the patrols aren't any thicker till just outside it. We should be fine where you suggested. I think that we should set up a watch though. I will take the first one so that I can sort out the new subclass and all that. I have a feeling that could take awhile."

  Azzaria openly laughs at me. When she calms down a bit she sees my face and clues me in. "Sorry, it's just funny because a lot of classes will be based off of what your resonance is with the different types of magic. For you with your patron and blessing there will be plenty of choices. Your watch may not even be long enough." She is chuckling again as she turns north and I follow. We fight and clear out the three patrols near the trees we plan on setting up camp at. It was really two patrols, but in the dark with only the light of the two full moons we missed a nearby patrol that was attracted to the noise of us fighting the second patrol.

  No injuries, but one goblin was a level 11 swordsman. He gave me a start when he used some sort of skill in the beginning of the fight. His sword started glowing a faint blue color and, just before Thia used screech, he lunged forward faster than normal. I had my barrier up by then so he just bounced off. He was pinned down by Azzaria a moment later. Done for the night with a somewhat secure place to sleep, we head back to the copse of trees and set up the Ward Stone. In the middle of the few trees next to the cliff we eat our cold dinner and Azzaria lays her bedroll next to Timbre before going to sleep. Leaning up against Timbre on the other side from Azzaria I open my messages. It's time to make some decisions, not only about what my fighting class will be but what my profession will be too. Even if I stop fighting and settle down somewhere, tonight's decisions will effect the rest of my life.

  Chapter 11

  Your Familiar's skill: Screech has reached lvl 4.

  LEVEL UP! Your Familiar Thia has increased in level by 1. Thia is now level 8. 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!

  You have earned the ability Spell Delay lvl 1.

  You have earned the ability Overcharge lvl 1.

  Requirements met: Mana Perception lvl 5, Mana Manipulation lvl 5, Spell delay, Overcharge. These abilities have been combined into Advanced Mana Control lvl 1.

  Staff Mastery has reached lvl 5. You gain the skill Interrupt for reaching lvl 5 in a weapon mastery and breaking an enemy spell caster's concentration with that weapon.

  LEVEL UP! Your Familiar Thia has increased in level by 1. Thia is now level 9. As your Familiar she gets 5 points to apply to her Stats and 1 talent point. Thia currently has 10 undistributed SP and 3 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!

  Identify has reached lvl 6.

  Your familiar's skill: Zapp has reached lvl 5. There is now a 10% chance of a 1 second paralysis for those hit with Zapp.

  Woodcraft has reached lvl 5.

  Your Familiar's skill: Screech has reached lvl 5.

  LEVEL UP! You have increased your level by 1. You are now level 10. 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 10. As your Familiar she gets 5 points to apply to her Stats and 2 talent points. Thia currently has 15 undistributed SP and 5 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!

  Congratulations! You have met your second, and most influential, milestone in your development, and can now select a subclass and profession. Your level will be on hold and any gains to your character after this point will be deferred for one day. At the end of one day if you have not selected a subclass and profession, one will be automatically assigned to you. You can access the class and profession selection menu from your status page.

  Your Familiar Thia has reached its milestone of lvl 10. Thia will now age to an Adult Thunderbird. She gains 100 HP and 200MP.

  After the last message Thia starts to glow again and grows bigger. She is now the size of a large bird of prey like an eagle from Earth. Timbre and Azzaria look over at the light and then lay back again after a moment. If I wasn't as excited as I am for finally hitting level 10 and all that comes with it I would have passed out from exhaustion too. OK, I like to save the best for last so I will wait to do my subclass till everything else is done. First thing I do is allocate my SP. I place 2 points into VIT to bring it to an even 20. The amount of damage I took earlier just from the arrow that got through my barrier made it obvious that I could use it. I place the last 2 into INT and WIS as usual. Then I get a look at the new additions that are there.

  Ability: Advanced Mana Control lvl 1

  An advanced form of other abilities combined, increasing their overall effect. Allows a person to perceive and manipulate mana, delay a cast spell's release, and overcharge a spell with mana for greater affect at the cost of more mana.

  Skill: Interrupt lvl 1

  Strike an enemy to break their focus, interrupting their skill or spell. Range: Melee. Cost: 5 MP.

  While I have my status open I can see the flashing spots for my Profession and Subclass just waiting for me, but I resist. I want to take care of Thia first. Feeling the motion of Timbre's breathing on my back I calm a little and open Thia's status to sort her out. With her 15 available SP I bring her STR up two, since it should help her flight and if she needs to carry anything. Two points go into AGI to make sure her dodge and speed keep her safe, and three into VIT in case it doesn't. The last eight points I split between INT and WIS. Now for the 5 talent points she has to place. I finish off the Mana Transfer path, making the ratio we can transfer between us 1:1 and maxing out the ability. Next is what Thia and I discussed she wanted to get next with its active skill and increased defense.

  Knifewings 1/1: Makes the edges of the feathers on the wing and tail sharp. Active skill: Shoots feathers at enemies up to 30 feet.

  Skill: Knifewings lvl 1

  Fires sharpened feathers at an opponent. Can fire 1 feather knife at current level. Cooldown: 5 sec. Range: 30 feet. Cost: 10 MP per feather.

  Next I place 2 TP into the enhanced speed path in the tree, giving Thia 20% more speed. And just below that, the one that will help Thia stay alive and lead to more of a caster build for her. I place the last TP into the Ride the Lightning skill.

  Skill: Ride the Lightning lvl 1

  Change into lightning and use it to travel a short distance at the speed of lightning. Distance will increase with skill level. Range: 5 feet. Cost 50 MP.

  And with that there are 15 points in Thia's talent tree which opens up my ability to see what is on the next tier down. Below the ride the lightning talent is Chain Lightning, but below that is Ball Lightning. This is the path I have been wanting to take Thia on, and where I will probably be focusing most of her talent points. There is another that comes from Ride the lightning but I will leave that for later. What really caught my interest is the new ability I see from the Familiar Bond branch. It skipped the last tier but the new talent, Merge, allows me and Thia to combine and share abilities. I'm not sure what that means exactly but it sounds awesome. That is definitely where the next TP will go. Thia is asleep now so I will talk to her later. And that is it for her at the moment, so I close out her status.

  Time to select my profession. I pat Timbre on the side to get her attention and tell her "I am going to be occupied and I do not know for how long. Can you please keep a look out
for me?" I get a huff from her which I take as a confirmation. I open my status again and focus on the blinking spot for profession. After a second my vision goes black and I feel like I am falling. When the sensation stops a moment later I feel like I am standing on something but when I look down there is nothing. After a moment there is a twinkle in the distance and then another, and another. There are a few sparks of light in all directions, like I am standing among the stars. That one looks like it is getting bigger, that one too. After another minute the three lights that were getting bigger are almost on top of me and stop a few feet away. The glow from them starts to dim and each one resolves into an image of myself.

  All three images are of me and they appear to be of real things I did. One is of me using a rock to sharpen a stick and make the spear I broke on the Stone Tortoise. The next one is of me skinning a hare and stretching out the skin to dry. The last one is of when I summoned Thia. I can understand the first two but the third completely confuses me. The first would probably be a woodworker or carpenter. The second obviously represents a tanner or leatherworker. The third is showing me sitting in a cave with a glowing circle in front of me. I look a little closer and see something I didn't notice or wasn't visible when it really happened. There is a thin misty looking strand coming out of the middle of my chest next to my heart. It drifts out and then into the circle that is forming. When Thia appears in the summoning I can see the misty strand entering her chest.