Chapter 33 - Learning New Things (1/2)
I think I can confidently state I'll never finish this story satisfactorily; I just don't release chapters fast enough.
Removed the 'Gravity' from Gravity Telekinesis, it seemed like a good idea at the time..
Additionally I'm not looking for a PR as I've determined it just wouldn't help me, d.a.m.ned as I am.
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Learn the spell Frozen Skies (Voice)YesNo
Learn the spell Blizzard (Voice)YesNo
Learn the spell Ice Shards (Voice)YesNo
Ah, Agis's Diary. Looks like he's an ice mage.
Unable to learn Frozen Skies (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element
Unable to learn Blizzard (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element
Unable to learn Ice Shards (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element
Placing the book inside my inventory, setting it into a separate slot I removed another another book from my inventory and flicked to the first page.
Learn the spell Vocal Amplification (Voice)YesNo
Learn the spell Ignore Limits (Voice)YesNo
Learn the spell Mana Eruption (Voice)YesNo
You know, one of those spells sounds very promising.
You have learned the spell Vocal Amplification (Voice)
You have learned the spell Ignore Limits (Voice)
You have learned the spell Mana Eruption (Voice)
With a small amount of antic.i.p.ation, I checked the spell description.
SkillMana Eruption (Voice)Level1 [0%]Forcing the mana running through your body to explode beyond your capability!
Every second -20 HP
That sounds pretty.. painful.
Wonder if the spell is required to replicate the effects, I can manipulate the mana in my body so surely it should be doable. The spell just likely contains a certain technique to be used.
But, its dangerous and powerful.
Obviously I'm keeping it.
SkillIgnore Limits (Voice)Level1 [0%]Sleepy? Not anymore!
Body faint with hunger? Energy surges through you!
HP consumed at a rate of 1:12 when stamina is depleted
Was the inventor of these spells suicidal?
SkillVocal Amplification (Voice)Level1 [0%]Your voice resounds to be heard throughout the world!
Volume of voice raised to 130%
That spell looked to be of the harmless variety, but what was with the spells in that book?!
Curious, I peered at the book's identification.
Diary of a madmanWritten by a madman in a little known cult, the contents of this book are of the forbidden category.
Contains the spells: Vocal Amplification (Voice), Ignore Limits (Voice), Mana Eruption (Voice)
Hmm. When I think about it, wasn't this book among the three books I found in the metal box? Agis's diary was another of those.
As for the metal box, there's a small story behind that, it relates to a hour ago as I broke into the library..
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It had been a hour earlier, late after everyone had gone to sleep.
Making sure I wasn't being watched, I slipped out of my room and proceeded towards the highest building, poking out of the other buildings like a sore thumb.
I didn't know where their library was, and didn't trust it to be forgotten if I asked about for the location. But still, my search had paid off fairly easy.
As I had thought, it was the mage-like tower poking out of the building, tentacles of mana sometimes flickering over the walls in a spell formation.
Crawling through the tiny window in a lull as the mana withdrew, scanning other areas of the library for potential intruders I peered about inside.
With the amount of spells floating about, it was fairly easy to spot the desk with thick and heavy spells wrapped about it.
Just to get one misunderstanding out of the way, I can't see other types of mana. But when spells are formed in the air, just about every single spell I have seen has contained traces of formless mana which of course, I can see.
Its also easy to see the type of spell by what it does and where it is, and when you have formless threads of mana floating through the air faintly in a distinct way..
I'm not sure really, but its obvious when mana has been formed into a spell.
But regardless, I digress.
The large wooden desk lined alongside 10 other desks stuck out like a sore thumb, surface crawling with spells that constantly surged about the air, seeking out intruders.
Drawing closer to the desk I looked beneath it, easily spying hidden in the shadows a metal box which was almost blinding with the layer of spells covering it. Hiding in shadows and blinding light, sounds strange doesn't it.
But that's just how mana looks.
I did think about looking through the bookshelves before going straight for the desk, but the entire library had its contents covered by a spell. Thin threads of mana entwined through every book in the place, touching them would almost definitely set off some alarm.
I could avoid what threads were in the air easily with my pseudo flight, but it was a nuisance. The spell was barely visible, barest of glimmers indicating the presence of the threads.
All of the spells in this place seemed to link back to the desk, wrapping about a small silver bell lying on top. It all looked terribly complex, and obviously something was going to happen if I touched it.
But what I'm really trying to get at, this was giving me a headache. Tons of books to read, not a single book lying about for grabs.
With a metal box containing something mysterious inside, covered in spells with bookshelves b.o.o.bytrapped for the slightest movement. I had not the time or the skill to unravel these spells to silently take the contents.
With the threads in the air, it was only a matter of time before I slipped up and set something off. So rus.h.i.+ng things was going to have to be done.
As for the things I take, it seems very obvious I should rip into the metal box first. If I'm going to set off alarms, shouldn't I grab the best and use what time I have left to take the rest?
With a deep breath and slow exhalation, my body moved into action.
Grabbing the handle and forcing it open, it screeched like a madman as metal tore and a spell exploded into action. Threads of mana sunk into my arms as my head felt a nudge of pain.
Due to high mental resistance, you have resisted a mental attack
Looking through the books and ignoring the loud screeches of the spell as it wailed in the air, I grabbed the three books I found inside with not enough time to look further as I turned to run.
Grabbing a few books off the shelves as I moved, I ran towards the window.
With a forwards jump and a rush of fear as I briefly entertained the notion of smacking my head, I manipulated my flight in what semblance I could of a soaring arrow.
Soaring headfirst towards the window that seemed to have grown smaller, thankfully my arms went through smoothly before my upper body. It had been when my hips started to go through that I got stuck in a sudden halt and loss of 12 HP.
When I think about it, it had been pretty fun. Not sure I'd do it again though.
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Back in my room and lying on my bed, I placed 'Diary of a madman' back inside my inventory, taking out another unread book.
Ahh, I recognise this one. This was one of the books I had grabbed while rus.h.i.+ng out.
Arthos's theory of ManaWritten by an aspiring student on the mechanics of the world and the laws of mana, this book contains numerous theories that are unproven.
Contains the skill: Mana Manipulation
Contains the spells: Torchlight, Telekinesis
This.
This is..
Unexpected jackpot!
Opening the book and reading the first line, a single box appeared.
Learn the spell TelekinesisYesNo
Obviously yes!
You have learned how to cast Telekinesis without (Voice)
You might wonder why its a jackpot, why I've gotten a little excited about it. Why? Because there's no (Voice)!
It should be fairly obvious by now right? This is Gravity Cloak, but ranged!
Placing the book back inside my inventory, I excitedly took out a stone and placed it on my bed. Then without touching the stone and with high hopes and antic.i.p.ation, *Telekinesis*.
Tiny droplet of purplish mana formed in my forehead, leaving my body abruptly as it shot through the air. Rippling silently as it hit the pebble, it seemed to rebound from the impact. A secondary droplet shooting from the collision and trailing a thin thread behind it as it flew back and impacted my forehead.
Then just like the other spell connections I could use, I felt the connection to the pebble. It was almost identical to the way I used my connections, but slightly better. I could tell my new spell connections would have the same improvements.
Giving a command to the pebble which began to rise in the air, I exposed a slow smile as I felt a little happy. Just like this, I can now cast Gravity Cloak without touching things.
That smile died though, I wasn't satisfied with the behavior of the spell.
The spell was slow, if the pebble had been moving then the bolt would have easily missed.
It had also been weak, far weaker than Gravity Cloak had been. As strong as the (Voice) version but weaker than Gravity Cloak had been. The Gravity Manipulation bonus made it stronger than Gravity Cloak had been back then, but it didn't bode well for the future.
I'll need to train the spell up before it sees proper usage; if I decide to use it. Gravity Cloak is superior in almost every other way.
Hmm. Two books left to look at.
Placing the book containing the theory of mana inside my inventory, I resolved to read it later as I took out another book.
Basic spells of a Fire MagicianWritten as a guide for the beginner mage who wishes to specialize in fire, this book teaches the four spells forming their a.r.s.enal.
Contains the spells: Firebolt, Firewall, Flame, Flare
Not even worth trying to learn, I still read the first line incase but things turned out as expected.
Unable to learn Firebolt (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element
Unable to learn Firewall (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element
Unable to learn Flame (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element
Placing it inside my inventory, I withdrew the last book from my inventory and looked at the t.i.tle.
Death Magic of PosledWritten as a prank and co-auth.o.r.ed by two infamous students, this book contains little in the way of knowledge and one spell that coincidentally works.
Contains the spell: G.o.d's Retribution
Learn the spell G.o.d's Retribution (Voice)YesNo
Sceptically looking at the spell, I considered it.
Eh. Why not.
You have learned the spell G.o.d's Retribution (Voice)
A little curious, somewhat interest-. No. That's wrong.
I was extremely curious, extremely interested and I practically glowed with antic.i.p.ation.
A spell with the name 'G.o.d' in it can't possibly be weak.
Pressing on the spell in the skill menu, a window popped up.
SkillG.o.d's Retribution (Voice)Level1 [0%]A single bolt strikes down from the heavens, crus.h.i.+ng the infidel who dares call on it.
The power of the lightning bolt will match the defenses and health of the caster ensuring instant death.
Mana Cost: 20,000
Spell Effects: Instant Death
You know its interesting, very much so.
But. I'm rather unwilling to test that spell, even if I could afford the mana cost to use it.
Still keeping the spell, it should prove in handy if I ever want to commit a mutual suicide. I a.s.sume defenses means anything that stands between the lightning bolt and me will be destroyed.
Does that mean if I stand beneath that G.o.d of magic it will destroy him?
Can a G.o.d's retribution destroy another G.o.d?
But still, not casting that spell at this point. Its not worth my life.
Maybe if I unlock a resp.a.w.n function..
So, the spells I would call useful from my acquisitions would be telekinesis, mana eruption and ignore limits. Potential insights to be gained if I read the books later.
Placing the last book away and lying on my bed, I dismissed my torchlight as stared upwards at the ceiling. Bored, I heard a small scuffle of a foot outside as the guard s.h.i.+fted position.
Slowly I sank into sleep, welcoming the sweet embrace of sleep.
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The next morning I crawled out my room, unwilling to stay indoors as I ignored the guard standing outside. He didn't stop me, followed me without complaint as I led the way to the dining room for breakfast.
Yid lv.21 Electric Mage