Legends of Tarthirious: The Complete Collection

by Zachariah Dracoulis

  “Self-righteousness aside,” Gerry chuckled, “that was pretty cool.”

  I smiled in wonderment and nodded as Vilor came marching over to me, “Where did you learn this spell?” he snapped.

  “Nowhere… This is the first time I’ve tried it.”

  “Ridiculous! You will tell me or I’ll…” he stopped, apparently realising how unreasonable he was being, and straightened up, “I suppose being a druid has granted you a certain affinity for these sorts of spells. No matter,” he said and snapped his fingers, reversing the effects of my spell, “you’re free to return to the college. I will contact you when there is another lesson.”

  I wanted to argue with him, but instead rose to my feet and nodded politely, “Thank you.” I said before turning on my heels and walking toward Shadow-Stal.

  “Are you really just going to take that?” Gerry laughed, “You’ve gone soft.”

  “Shut up you dork. Look at me,” I said, mounting my horse, “I’m covered in gunk and my equipment is in some pretty dire need of repairs.”

  Gerry chuckled and gave me a mocking smile, “Whatever you say marshmallow woman.”

  Mission Completed: First Class.

  +100 XP.

  Progress: 495/3500.

  Armelia: Chapter 5

  I was a little disappointed with the first class, but I wasn’t sure what I’d expected. That’s how things normally were with the guild missions, you’d go through two or three kinda boring quests and all of a sudden the town would be in danger, or there’d be some kind of corruption in the higher ranks of the guild.

  My hopes were locked on that last one, mostly just because I wanted the opportunity to kick in Vilor’s teeth, but also because it always resulted in some kind of battle between all the mages, and that was always awesome.

  It took a bit of wandering, but I eventually managed to find the blacksmith. After Gerry and I had broken into his shop, his home, startled and subsequently stunned his wife and wiped her memory, we finally found him ‘hiding’ in the local tavern.

  “Good evening,” I said as politely as I could while shouting, the tavern turning out to be a rather raucous place, especially where Mothin the Blacksmith sat, “I was wondering if you had a moment to spare?”

  Mothin spun around, a massive smile across his face that made me think that he had an identical, grumpier twin that worked in the shop, “Aye!” he said, swinging his tankard, “I take it your sword’s treatin’ you well?”

  “What makes you say that?” I laughed, echoing his cheerfulness.

  “Well ye ain’t dead!” he roared happily before laughing like a maniac.

  It was both an uncomfortable and jolly time being around the giant drunk man, but I really needed some ingots, “I was wondering if you had any wares for sale?”

  Mothin gave me a funny look, “Does it look like we’re in business hours? Give me a break.”

  “No, I know, I was just hoping that you might have some ingots.”

  “Alright, alright, you can have a look at what I’ve got on me, but it ain’t much. Ingots you said? I got iron, bronze, silver, and gold. Fifteen, thirty, fifty, and a hundred gold pieces respectably.”

  “An iron and a silver thanks.”

  -65 gold.

  14,035 gold.

  Received:

  Silver Ingot: Weight: 1(-1).

  Iron Ingot: Weight: 1(-1).

  The price was a bit steep, but that was to be expected when he was outside of the shop.

  We forced our way out of the tavern and started making our way to the blacksmith where we’d left Shadow-Stal hitched to a post, “I can’t stand those places…” Gerry said shamefully.

  “Pardon?”

  “Taverns. They’re always so loud.”

  I found an anvil and went to work with my sword, “And I s’pose the pub’s fine then?” I joked.

  “Well it’s a bit different, innit? For one thing I’m actually having a drink, and for another the football’s normally on.”

  Repaired Silver Iron Sword: Weight: 10, Damage: 25, Durability: 100/100.

  +1 Smithing Skill.

  Progress: 51/100.

  +10 XP.

  Progress: 505/3500.

  Silver Ingot removed.

  Iron Ingot removed.

  “If that’s all you really want then why not just drink and watch it on your phone? I’m sure you could get a group of guys as lame as you to sit around a tavern and cheer on a game in the real world.”

  “See, you say that like it’s a bad thing,” Gerry laughed, “where to next?”

  I looked down at my tattered robes and started wondering where I’d be able to find a seamstress at that time of night. Then I remembered where I was, “You reckon they’ve got someone at the college who makes the robes and stuff?”

  “Ah, yeah, I’m sure we could find someone who’d be willing to do that. Don’t know why you wouldn’t just get new robes though.”

  I released Shadow-Stal and started leading him by the reins, “Why would I waste a single piece of that gold on new clothes?” I asked with a smile, “You guys worked damn hard for that, and I’ll buy silly things like clothes when my debt is paid and we’re all living merrily in the new world.”

  Gerry had a weak little chuckle at that then looked at me with sadness in his eyes, “Do you really think it’s going to be any better?”

  He was right to question it, I know I did constantly, but believing that everything was going to be okay was all that made me work. Honestly, without something like the debt I don’t think I’d have known how to function, what would have been the purpose of life outside if all we did was consume with complete frivolity?

  To be perfectly honest the idea of living in a world without purpose or structure scared the crap out of me.

  Looking back on it I was like a convict who both wanted to escape and at the same time was terrified of the outside world.

  I couldn’t let Gerry know all that though, so instead I simply said “Course. Why wouldn’t it be? You know what I’d be doing with all my free time if I didn’t need the money?”

  Gerry scoffed light-heartedly, “Probably playing this?”

  “Exactly! Except I’d be having fun.”

  “You’re not?” Gerry asked with a confused expression, “I am.”

  “Yeah… no, kinda. I just mean that there’s this sort of underlying thing that’s always there, you know? I’m not playing to play, I’m playing to eat. It’s why I didn’t want to go into game design once I’d grown up a bit.”

  “Didn’t want it to become your bread and butter? I had the same thing.” Gerry said almost mournfully, “I’m positive that if I’d gone into the field professionally I wouldn’t be able to stand gaming at home. Forever looking for problems and seeing behind the curtain would ruin it for me.”

  “Same. Once the magic was lost that’d kinda be the end of it, wouldn’t it?”

  Gerry gave a soulful nod as I hitched up Shadow-Stal and we went up the stairs, “Still though, it’d probably be fun.”

  “Definitely. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to try my hand at it someday, but it’s just not something I could see myself doing full-time.”

  We fell silent for a bit, all the talk of the real world resulting in a bit of a detachment from where we were and essentially breaking the rule about staying in character. I gave myself a pass though and convinced myself that I’d remained in character, just not in world.

  After some mindless meandering through the halls we were able to find a room that seemed to match the description.

  It was like a sweatshop, minus horrible working conditions, add some class and magic, with a single woman working on a gorgeous spinning wheel in the far right corner.

  Her name was Gilda the Delicate and she looked to be about eighty, but mages were known for their ability to slow their body’s natural rate of decay, so she could’ve been as old as five hundred, but I wasn’t there to guesstimate her age.

  “Good evening,
” I said as I approached, “I was wondering if-”

  “My word!” Gilda shrieked upon seeing the state of my robes, “Come, come! I must… oh dear! What have you done to this poor thing?” she asked as she circled me, prodding and lifting parts of the robe so as to see the extent of the damage.

  “Ran into a bit of trouble out by the swamp, I’m sorry.”

  Gilda came to the front of me and, to my surprise, smiled comfortingly, “No need to apologise dear.”

  Gilda the Delicate repaired your Student Druid Robes.

  “Amazing! How’d you do that?” I asked excitedly, playing up my enthusiasm for her benefit.

  “Magic my dear, nothing more than simple magic. People take for granted what cannot burn, freeze, or otherwise damage another person.” Gilda said as she returned to her spinning wheel, “The things one can do with enchantment and repair spells are astounding. That sword, for instance, I could’ve taught you not only how to repair it, but also how to imbue it with the powers of lightning.”

  “Will you?”

  She looked at me confusedly, “Will I what?”

  “Will you teach me? I would love it if I needn’t visit the blacksmith again.” I said with a little laugh.

  Gilda’s eyes widened and an adorable smile landed on her face, “You’d actually like to learn the art of magical repair?”

  “And enchantment,” I said respectfully, “if you wouldn’t mind.”

  The old woman looked about ready to vibrate out of her skin as she ran back over to me and grabbed my hands, “I would love the opportunity to teach someone new.”

  Mission Started: Textiles Class.

  Objective added: Complete Gilda the Delicate’s Lesson.

  “Careful,” Gerry whispered in my ear, “old magical folk have a tendency to eat little lost children in the woods. What if she tries to claw your face?”

  “Then we run.” I whispered back confidently, “Honestly, how fast do you think she can run?”

  He looked her up and down and shook his head, “Looks can be deceiving, that’s all I’m saying.”

  “And all I’m saying is I want to never have to buy overpriced ingots again.” I said, only slightly dipping the bitterness in my voice.

  “Fine, fine, go ahead and get your face eaten. See if I care.” Gerry joked, “I’m just gonna head out for a bit, I might actually get some sleep.”

  “You serious? It can’t be that late, can it?”

  “It’s only about half seven, but I’ve still gotta do dinner, shower, all that fun stuff.”

  I hesitated about what I was going to ask next, but pressed on, “Wanna come over?”

  “Huh?” Gerry asked in surprise.

  “Would you like to grab something to eat and bring it over? Probably be good for me to get into a regular sleep routine.”

  It felt weird talking as if Gilda wasn’t still holding my hands, my fortitude in regards to staying in character was fast fading after a few weeks of playing videogames for fun.

  “Are you sure? I was worried you were getting a bit upset with me.”

  I cursed at myself for letting that get across, then went to get snippy at him for bringing it up, and finally took a deep breath and calmed down, “I think it’s just going to take some getting used to. I haven’t done much multiplayer stuff, and I was expecting to do some me time, but at the same time I really want to spend time with you, and-”

  “And I totally get that, promise.” he paused for a bit, clearly pondering something, then pressed on, “Why don’t I leave you to play for a bit, you get your face eaten off and everything, I’ll clean up some stuff here, then I’ll pop around with pizza and a movie? Sound good?”

  I smiled and nodded, “Sounds perfect, see you in a bit. And do bring an overnight bag.” I said with a wink.

  “Course I will, can you imagine if I went back to sleeping on my bed after the past few weeks. Yeugh.”

  I laughed at what I half hoped was a little joke as he stepped through the door and went toward our room.

  I couldn’t wait for him to come knocking, and not just because I love pizza.

  A little bit just because I love pizza.

  Whatever, you ever have that though? You’re fine for ages and ages, then suddenly someone brings up food and the creatures of the depths grab your stomach and make it sing its starving song?

  No?

  …You’re the weird one.

  Armelia: Chapter 6

  Out of respect, I waited until Gerry had left the room before restarting my conversation with Gilda, “Well I’ve been looking for a teacher.”

  “Splendid!” she said as if no time had passed, before releasing my hands and pulling a book out of thin air, “In here is everything you must learn. From simple repairing spells, to the incredible ones required to turn a simple dagger into a dragon killing, ice shooting device of pure magic.”

  She started over toward the opposite corner of the room to her spinning wheel, before conjuring a green stone plinth covered in runes.

  “What’s this?” I asked curiously as I looked it over.

  “An enchanting stone.” she said sweetly, “We will be using it to teach you your first lesson, please place your hand on the plinth.”

  Every part of me cried to pull my hand away, but I did as I was bid and watched as the stone glowed brilliantly before, faster than a blink, the top opened, my hand slipping in and making me jump back.

  “Good! The stone will now allow you to enchant your weapon.”

  I didn’t like the word ‘allow’ in that sentence, though something told me to ignore it, “Alright, shall I place my sword in it or..?”

  Gilda nodded, “Yes. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t trick you.”

  Her having to clarify it didn’t make me feel any better, though I couldn’t fault her on that, it was Gerry who’d gotten me into the headspace of the Brothers Grimm, not her.

  I’d been so excited before as well.

  It took a bit more hyping up, but I did eventually make it back to the plinth, sword in hand and ready to activate it with the stone.

  Funny, isn’t it? I hadn’t even wanted to get a sword at first and all of a sudden it was like the most precious thing to me.

  What if the stone destroyed it?

  What would I do then?

  Ah well, c’est la vie.

  Silver Iron Sword removed.

  Enchanting Stone activated.

  I started to panic, my sword was gone and at any point I could be thrust out of the world by poor network connection and have lost it forever, but then the window appeared.

  “Choose my dear, fire, ice, earth, lightning, or healing.”

  I chuckled, “Healing, that’s an odd one, isn’t it?”

  Gilda joined me in my little laugh and nodded, “Yes, you wouldn’t think that a sword could do much to heal. But I have seen it done. Some use it to cut others and heal them, others use it to sap life from their foes. As with all things, there are uses.”

  They were interesting options, but I found myself a bit more interested in the powers of lightning and fire.

  Fire was my normal go-to for enchantments, but it’d have little to no effect on daemons, lesser or otherwise, drakes, or sprites.

  It was a hard choice to make, mostly because it meant a change of pattern for me, but I forced myself to be different and chose lightning.

  There was a rattling from inside the stone and, with the all the glamour of a toaster, my sword flew out the top of the stone and directly into my hand, sending sparks of electricity all throughout Gilda’s workplace.

  I felt so powerful holding it in my hand, like I was some kind of almighty God. Any fool can master fire, it takes a true legend to wield the power of storms!

  Renamed Silver Iron Sword to Sparky McStabby-Stab.

  Acquired Sparky McStabby-Stab: Weight: 10(-10), Damage: 45, Durability: 100/100, Enchantment: Lightning.

  Equipped Sparky McStabby-Stab.

  +1 Enchanting Skill.

&
nbsp; Progress: 1/100.

  +15 XP.

  Progress: 520/3500.

  I don’t mean to sound immodest, but it was perfect. The electricity buzzed all throughout my body and I felt as if I could fight the world.

  “Lightning, good choice. With some training you’ll be able to use that to hit many foes at once, and if you continue your training in the magical arts you may even find you’ll gain the ability to transfer your energy to where your arc hits.”

  Teleportation.

  She was talking about teleportation.

  Teleporting from enemy to enemy and slicing them to bits before they could even react.

  I wanted to scream like a girl on her sixteenth birthday getting a car, but composure must trump all, “Thank you,” I said as calmly as I could while jumping around in my mind, “I assure you I will continue my studies until I have learned all there is to know.”

  Gilda laughed and shook her head, “I’m sure you won’t learn everything my dear. For every day in this world there are a hundred new things to learn. Now, for your next lesson, simple repairs.”

  “Actually, would it be alright if we started our studies again come the morning? I’m worried that if too much is learned I’ll forget it all.”

  “Of course! Wouldn’t want to tire yourself out, go my dear. I expect to see you bright and early for the second part of your training.”

  I gave her a polite bow and left.

  I was fully aware that simple repairs would’ve been the end of the quest, but I felt that I’d had enough for the night.

  The journey back to my room was almost automatic, I genuinely have no memory of returning to the door which, to my delight, had yet another magical carving in it, a glowing blue pond. I stepped into my room, found my bed, laid down, and, when I was good and comfy, dozed off.

  Kylia: Chapter 1

  My whole body felt sore as I got up and stretched every part of me, but after some bends and head rolls I was finally back to human form with only a slight bend in my back.