"Black and white..." - Garami
Just like my mood right now. Damn, why are the two most difficult ones...
Oh! Welcome to "Magic for Dummies" with Gust-sensei. We're currently in the magic-training area and testing my compatibilities with the "Books of Magic". The sub-categories for the Magician-line classes. But why the heck does the training area look like some sci-fi lab? Sure, the magic symbols and runes all over the place do make it look more "magical", but still...
Anyway, of the four Books, we have the "Book of Worlds" and the "Book of Styles". They are classes that use "normal magic skills", as in the kinda skills that have magic recorded inside them and can be used just by concentrating and filling them with MP. My [Heretic Magic] skill is one of these, but they also require a Magician-line class (from any Book) to be used, so I haven't tried it out yet.
Book of Worlds classes has a focus on "attribute-based spells". [Heretic Magic] is one of the skills related to these classes. They can use different types of magic, but they are limited to one attribute.
On the flip side, we have the Book of Styles. It can use magic from many different attributes (maybe even them all), but they are locked onto a single purpose.
But I didn't qualify for those classes. The test this time around is very simple. Fuel a "magitech" machine that looks like a huge cylinder with some liquid and four orbs inside it, then see which one of those orbs lights up. If there's a hit, then you are good for the class that the orb is representing. They have different color schemes to show this.
And this may be outta the blue, but not qualifying for the class doesn't mean you're bad with the Magic Skills related to those classes. It's just not recommended to take the classes since it's gonna be a big-time pain farming proficiency with them. It's something related to a person's specific mana signature and it can't be changed no matter how much you study, train, and/or evolve even. All this is according to Gust-sensei. He loves calling himself that...
Back to the story, the Book of Worlds is represented by a red orb, and the Book of Styles has a blue orb. Black and white are not part of that color theme, so the "common magic" and I don't seem to have a good relationship. Meaning...
"Seems like you have an affinity for the Book of Traditions and the Book of Creatures. When you take into account that you are from the demon-species, it's not that surprising." - Gust
It isn't? The Book of Tradition (represented by the white orb) is supposedly for "rare" magic that has been developed over the year and added to the World System instead of being pre-prepared by the gods. Or spells only usable by certain races.
The Book of Creatures, however, is supposed to be summoner-type spells. Taming creatures then summoning them when you need them. Or use special "token"-creatures that you could consider real-life "NPCs". That "Rat King phantom" skill I got from killing the boss rodent is one of those token spells.
"Demons are famous for having mystical powers, so being good with the Book of Traditions isn't that weird. Adding to that, demons are often used and using familiars." - Gust
That covers the summoners' Book too.
But the problem I got with these results is that they're either damn difficult to learn, or you need something to summon at all! And either option is unavailable for me right now! This damn training facility isn't up to speed with the latest Book of Tradition materials out there, and the only thing I could summon is Gust! What a waste of magical talents!
Let's just grab the test reward and move on. I feel like going into a depression if I think any more about it. These are..."magic catalysts"? Improves usage of magic while equipped? ...let's go for the ring since it can be treated as an accessory instead of a weapon...*sniff*...
---
A little later:
"...Garami? Were you some master assassin before we met?" - Gust
"...just your ordinary Dungeon-born demon." - Garami
"No monster born in a Dungeon is "ordinary"! Especially not a freak of nature like you!" - Gust
How rude. I just managed to rob those moving dolls of everything in their possession unnoticed when being tested for the "Teaching of Hiding", most famous for their Thief-based classes, and I discovered all the hiding dolls while doing the trial for the "Teaching of Seeking", most seen with Hunter-related classes. It's not that different from my time trying to keep a low profile as I climbed up and down the Dungeon. Well, maybe the stealing part, but still.
"Who gets 120 points out of 100 in the Teaching of Killing test unless they were part of some freaky assassination guild!! Rather, how did you do that!?" - Gust
"...no clue." - Garami
I mean, that trial was the easiest one of them all. Did the old knights go empty of good challenges? Meh, prolly just that knights and assassinations don't work together, I bet.
I mean, for that test, I only needed to "kill" some of those moving dolls, so I webbed them, gagged them, then finished them off before I was noticed. If they were flocking together, I just made a distraction and picked them off one by one. Being able to climb on the ceiling and the walls sure are useful for this kinda thing. And the trial as a whole was a good practice run for the [Darkness Daggers] as well. I hope I can replay it, rewards or not.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"...this body, it's good." - Garami
"I'm not going to deny that. Stygian-class demons are the worst, but you girl, you're dangerous on your own." - Gust
I better be careful if I meet another "Stygian" then.
"*Sigh*. Anyway, did you find out what class you want? That was the whole reason you wanted to do these trials, right?" asked Gust as I was looking at the selection of items that I could choose as my reward. I went for a leg-boosting brangle accessory.
"...one moment," I told him as I made the Kigal-Note provide a list of the classes I could take. Including the classes locked behind special "class quests". At least, those that I could challenge through these facilities. I also made it mention the classes with easy-to-clear requirements. ...wow, that's one long list.
"Hey, your book can do this too?" asked Gust after he preached on my shoulder and looked at the Kigal-Note's contents. "I want one of these. Where did you get it?"
"......treasure chest." - Garami
"Tch. A random drop then, probably. This Dungeon is weird enough, so it's not impossible for something this cool to pop up." - Gust
"...weird?" - Garami
"Yeah. First, we have you...and I'm not being rude. Dungeons cannot create monsters not connected to itself, so the whole deal of you being born in this place without being part of its "crew" is too strange to overlook." - Gust
When he puts it that way...the crow's got a point. This place is weird, compared to the Dungeons that I've read about in the Kigal-Note in my past time. I think the book itself talked...wrote about it as well, but it's so long so I don't remember well.
Anyway, back to my future career. As in, my classes. What I want is...this one, I guess?
---
A little more later:
"...weaving? You serious?" - Gust
"...mhm..." - Garami
I mean, when we have even facilities that help you obtain Crafter-line classes available, you'd want to use them. And weaving sorta fits with my web-related abilities, plus I don't need to go into battle to earn proficiency with the class.
"I mean, shouldn't we try to get out of this place instead of making ourselves comfortable?" - Gust
"...the exit collapsed." - Garami
"Huh? Wait, what?" - Gust
This is gonna take more than my recently-obtained voice can handle. One moment, por favor...
Answer. The Dungeon's entrance was destroyed by heavy bombardments of bombs, so we cannot leave the area until someone clears the rubble.
"Hmm, then we can't do anything but wait. Luckily, there's a lot of food here, so we won't starve." - Gust
Let's not tell him I was responsible for the latest booms. Ah, weaving is so fun...
---
Meanwhile, in the realm of the Ultimate Gods, Nibiru:
A loud noise was heard in the "divine garden", promoting the Ultimate Goddess Order, a being with the appearance of a human woman in her late twenties with long, blond hair and dressed in a white suit to come and look at the commotion.
In the garden, she discovered the remains of an arachnid creature of impossible proportions. The strangest thing about it was that wires and metallic plates could be seen underneath the exoskeleton-like material that covered its body.
"...Alvatria? What tool have you taken apart this time?" - Order
"Something the Invention Lord made. They lost control of it, just like the others." - ???
The one who answered the goddess' question was yet another divine being. The Ultimate Goddess of Darkness, and also the patron goddess of a certain demon stuck in a Dungeon at the moment.
The goddess' name was Alvatria. Like her younger sister, Order, Alvatria had taken a human appearance, a girl in her late teens, or maybe in her early twenties. She was wearing garments typical for a modern girl of her apparent age, even if that clothing should be far from the norm on Terra Sol.
"Oh, yes. The Automata...or was it a Machinerz?" - Order
"I don't think there is any difference anymore." - Alvatria
Yet, unlike Order who had completely emulated the human race, Alvatria had some..."demonic" aura leaking out of her. As if the race she was mimicking was only mimicking the humans.
"Didn't we all agree on not busting the illusion that those machines were under? That they were not real gods related to the Outer One-species?" - Order
"Not destroying their dreams and not destroying them are two different things." - Alvatria
"How merciless. As expected from the goddess of Darkness and ruin." - Order
"Don't forget riches and women." - Alvatria
"...hmm? When did you govern those aspects?" - Order
"Both lead to ruin." - Alvatria
"...what are you watching?" asked Order as she pointed at the screen made of water that was floating in the air. Two people(?) were reflected in the water. One was busy weaving a piece of cloth while the other, a bird-looking something that was reading a book while wearing a bored expression on their face.
"My Champion." - Alvatria
"Oh... poor girl," said Order while she wiped some tears from the corner of her eyes.
"Yeah, she has no money on her name." - Alvatria
"I was not referring to the monetary kind of "poor". I was talking about how she's doomed to share the same appearance as you." - Order
That is true. Ignoring some few differences such as the color of their hair and skin, and that the goddess of Darkness had as many emotions shown on her face as a mannequin, she and her Champion looked like two peas in a pod.
"What are you planning to do against that sweet little demon?" - Order
"You sympathize with anything that I find interesting?" - Alvatria
"Of course I do!" - Order
"Yeah, yeah. And it was this stupid rust-bucket that was planning on doing something. Specifically, assisting my Champion," said Alvatria as she pointed to the sorry remains of the "mechanical outer god".
"...and that would not be interesting for you. Now I understand. And what was it going to help your poor girl with? Escaping that annoying "water knot" place?" - Order
"Nope," replied Alvatria as she changed the vision on the screen. It now showed a ghastly knight walking through the main hall of the same mansion as the albino Champion was in. To the demon's luck, the knight did not enter the west wing and walked straight to the middle area of the mansion.
"Help against him." - Alvatria
"...if the girl manages to survive this, I will give her my Proof." - Order
"How generous." - Alvatria
"Says the mastermind who is making sure that Wild Hunt Lord and her Champion will meet for a death match." - Order
"You guys know me too well." - Alvatria
We wished we didn't, was what Order was thinking, but did not dare to say out loud as she gave a simple prayer to the albino demon who was looking extremely satisfied with the result of her first weaving lesson.
If only this nightmare of a little imp could be as innocent as her Champion, was another thought Order had that would never see the light of day.