New Magic

“That was both incredibly cool and incredibly disturbing.” I say. We’re currently walking to the local outpost to pick up my order. “I told you, makes you think.” She giggles. “The question is whether or not it’s actually wrong. I mean, whatever that thing was, is lying to him. But it’s also protecting him from the reality that his ship is on a desolate space station, light years away from civilisation.”

“It tricked him into having sex with it, how is that okay?” She asks. “Well hang on, we don’t actually know if it’s just images in his head or if he actually had sex with that giant spider alien thing.” I reply. “That’s true. Still a bit icky to me, even if it was just like a dream.” Mia concedes. I nod. “Agreed. At least it’s kind of trying to help?” I say. “I guess so. Still, they say the road to hell is paved by good intentions.”

“We are totally watching all of that show together, I hope you know that.” I tell her. “Gotten you hooked have I?” She teases. “Well duh. It’s a strange but interesting show.” I smile. She flicks me on the forehead gently. I chuckle, as we approach a nondescript shop, one of many on the relatively quiet street. The aeromancer confidently opens the door and steps inside. A hunchbacked woman who looks to be in her 70s stands at the counter. “Welcome to Granny Jojo’s homemade cookies and cakes. I’m Granny Jojo. Can I get you dears anything?” The woman says in a croaky and sweet tone. Then she looks closer at us and seems to recognise Mia. She straightens her back and speaks, this time a little less croaky.

“Oh it’s you! How are you Mia? How’s your grandfather?” Mia smiles at the woman. “I’m good thanks, my grandpa is good too.” “Still plodding along is he? Is he still single?” The woman asks. Mia snickers before answering. “Yes he’s still single Granny.” “Hmph. Tell him to call me if he wants to change that.” She says. “We’re here to pick up an order. Should be a book for a Gemma Rose?” Mia replies instead.

“Yes yes dear, one moment.” The woman, who seemingly prefers being called Granny, says. She opens a door and disappears into the back of the shop. I look at Mia, suppressing laughter at the exchange. “Shut it!” She laughs. “Didn’t say a word.” I reply, unable to hide the grin that communicates my exact thoughts on it’s own. The woman appears once again from the back of the shop and I use observe on her to get a better idea of who I’m talking to.

Granny Jojo

Lvl 15, shopkeeper

Abyss auction employee

67 years old

Single

Relationship: +12

Emotions: Content, happy, mischievous

She hands me the book and I thank her. “My pleasure. Have a good day, stay safe youngsters!” She says. I put the book in my bag, we wave goodbye and step out of the shop. A gorgeous woman passes us on our way out. She has black hair, a nose ring and wears light, tastefully done makeup, along with yoga pants and a crop top. The short sleeves reveal beautifully done tattoos on both of her arms. I manage to use observe quick enough to get the information before she passes.

Paige Turner

Level 14, store manager

Apprentice of Earth

22 years old

Single

Relationship: +1

Emotions: Excited, happy, apprehensive

It seems like I’m really good at bumping into elemental magic users. The woman doesn’t notice the observe luckily, and I continue walking with Mia. “Could we train at your place?” I ask, after finishing our conversation from earlier and teasing her about what Granny Jojo said. She nods.

“We’ll have to walk a little outside the barrier that my home is in but yeah, we can do that.” “Why’s that?” I ask. “Well usually it’s not a good idea to open two barriers in the same space in the real world. When that happens, the barriers eventually collapse together, which makes things really messy. If we open the barrier a little bit away from the mansion barrier, then it should be fine though.” She says.

After arriving back at the barrier to the mansion, the ten minute walk seeming to pass in no time at all, I open an illusion barrier without monsters. I pull the spell book out of my inventory and examine the cover. The book is blue, the front cover has a beautiful design of a snowflake, hand drawn lines weaving together to create the really pretty shape. The snowflake is enclosed in a blue circle with what looks to be some sort of runes around the borders. It’s a very beautiful cover, one which effectively communicates what school of magic this book teaches.

Learn basic cryomancy?

Yes/No

I click the yes button, and knowledge of elemental magic floods into my brain in an instant. The book disappears into thin air. I was expecting that, though there’s a part of me that is still slightly miffed, given that I spent a large amount of money, my life savings, on that book.

New skill: Freezing Blast lvl 1

Freezing Blast: A blast of frost that deals minimal damage, but slows down enemies in range. Freezing Blast fires in a cone of 90 degrees (45 degrees either side of aiming point) and has a range of (5 + skill lvl/10) metres. Damage and freezing effect slightly scale with WIS, scaling more with skill levels and can be resisted by opponents of higher STR and/or END. 10MP

New skill: Icicle lvl 1

Icicle: A projectile of ice that deals physical damage and slightly slows down opponents. Damage and freezing effect slightly scale with WIS, scaling more with skill levels. 5MP

New skill: Frost resistance (passive) lvl 1

Frost resistance: Resist (skill lvl)% of frost damage. Increases resistance to freezing effects from hostile cryomancy spells. Increases comfort in cold temperatures.

New skill: Cryomancy (passive) lvl 1

Cryomancy: Allows freezing effects of cryomancy spells to stack and completely freeze targets for up to (skill lvl/5 rounded up) seconds. Targets with higher END need more of the freezing effect to be completely frozen. Increases damage of cryomancy spells by (skill lvl)%. Stacks of freezing effect take 1 minute to wear off.

Achievement unlocked: Elemental magic!

You have started down the path towards learning elemental magic!

Reward:

+100xp

New mechanic: Elemental magic

Elemental magic is able to be learnt through either spell/skill books or from attending lessons and having a master teach you. Elemental magic involves using spells from that particular element, such as fire or ice. Different elements have different effects associated with them. You can learn a little about most kinds of elemental magic, but you can only truly master a single element. Choose wisely.

My eyes widen at the number of windows I get from that single book. I read through them all and by the end, I’m smiling broadly. “Holy fuck, I’d definitely say it was worth it.” I say to Mia. I look up at her and she giggles at my reaction. “Dude, I just watched the book you bought disappear and you stare at thin air for like 5 minutes, what happened?” “One sec.” I say, opening my character sheet to check what’s changed.

That skill evolutions listing on my sheet is still bugging me, but looking past that, my skills list is starting to look nice. I look back at Mia and explain. “I now have knowledge about basic elemental magic and can cast two different spells from the cryomancy school.” I explain. “It’s also given me a passive for frost resistance and one that lets slowing effects of my spells build up to completely freeze an enemy.”

“You learnt all of that just from a book?” She asks, an eyebrow raising. I shrug and grin. “Apparently so. Want to help me test it?” “Bullshit!” Mia exclaims. It’s now my turn to raise an eyebrow. “Aren’t you stealing that joke from somewhere?” I ask, unable to remember which story it was. “Yep, but some things just fit the situation, not everything has to be original. And yes, I want to see those spells of yours.”

I store my bag inside my inventory and switch to my combat equipment, before closing the barrier. “Rats again?” I ask. She nods. “The rats were fun, even though they were pretty weak. Let’s do it!” I smile at her enthusiasm, before using the skill to create an ID the same as yesterday, this time trying for slightly higher levelled rats. A forest appears around us, with Mia and I standing in the middle of a clearing. A screech signifies the success of the spell and I use observe on the rat that appears.

Big rat, lvl 10

These oversized rats aren’t very smart or very threatening on their own. If something coordinates their attacks, things get more interesting…

I kick myself as I realise that their description yesterday alluded to the boss. Mia slows down the one charging at her with buffeting wind, then winds up and punches it, to gauge it’s strength. “Still easy, but less easy than yesterday!” She remarks enthusiastically. “It’s level 10, the ones yesterday were level 6. The boss might be a bit tough though.” I reply. “That’s half the fun!” The hyped up aeromancer replies. I can’t help grinning at that, and I shake my head. This girl is something else.

I focus my attention on the rat charging at me. The format of this fight seems to be similar to the fight yesterday, which should mean we can get into a relatively good rhythm. I just have to figure out if I can beat these rats, and if so, how easy it is. I send a blast of frost magic at the rat, using my new spell for the first time. Small ice formations appear on its fur as its movement slows drastically.

That’s pretty damn powerful. I decide to use my other spell. It moves as if it’s been slowed down to about half it’s usual speed, which still doesn’t make it the slowest thing ever, but makes it much easier to aim. The icicle takes a second to form in my hand before I unleash it, aiming for the rat’s eye. I miss and it hits the oversized rat in the nose, penetrating deep and seeming to hit its brain.

50xp

“I think I’m in love.” I say to Mia who snorts. “Good luck hooking up with a rat that’s trying to kill you.” She says. “Mia! No!” I say, laughing. I hit another rat with an icicle. This one needs a second spell to finish it off, courtesy of the spell hitting it in the body. “I meant with my ice magic! It’s fucking cool! You dingus!” “Ooooooh.” She says mockingly. “You sure?” “Shut it! Why did this even become a point of conversation?” I ask. “No idea, but it’s funny so I’m rolling with it.” She replies.

Mia and I once again settle into a rhythm of killing rats. We’re still in a party from yesterday, so I get XP from her kills as well as my own. It’s a very efficient way to farm, and I’m soon rewarded for our troubles.

LEVEL UP!

I barely have enough time to register that window before I get another one, one that makes me tense up in a nervous yet thrilling anticipation.

You have killed enough rats to awaken the attention of the Queen

Boss monster spawned: Rat Queen