"On the distant shores of Akevarar, the mega continent that few dared visit there was once a mighty empire ruled by goblins, The Imperium had good relations with them and often our ships would do the year-long voyage for exotic goods and diplomatic visits until that is the Sea Elves wiped them by employing the foulest and darkest of magicks. Those that survived ran for the new world and joined the Orcs in their struggle against the Elvish menace and to this day they long to return to their homeland and rebuild their empire. The latest survey indicates the lands are barren and nary a soul roam its once-proud streets"
On the Imperium and his Allies volume 1.
"Very good, Lady Lucrezia very good. My fellow priests may not agree with teaching a noble our necromantic arts but I say that's a good thing! gods know we have been making near zero progress in getting the craft to be accepted by the larger society and the word of a noble carries weight around these parts, doubly so for their actions" Spoke Lakshpur Matra, an ancient Kitsune Lich who was positively delighted in teaching William.
"Now, unlike our standard combat-focused magical arts, Necromancy is more of an eclectic field, there are no set structures and we borrow much from other mages, be it in spell crafting, shaping, and deployment of it be it on the battlefield with our battle mages and field engineers or in a civilian setting, the latter being harder due to cultural and societal sensibilities as I am sure you are aware" Lakshpur finished and tied her hair in a neatly done ponytail.
"Hard to sell undying skeletons as farmworkers and ended up displacing local economies" William spoke and the woman grinned "Ah yes, the evergreen project, a marvel of Necromancy and Mind Magic shut down due to the living being afraid of losing their jobs, even after we had all assured them they would not lose coin or land...A topic for another day I am afraid Miss Lucrezia, Today you will be learning Mind Magic!"
William nodded, actual necromancy would be coming far later, to build a proper Necromancer one needed to first shield the mind then the soul as both were interlinked, and with a strong foundation built in the Mind department, his mastery of the Soul would be expanded twofold.
And so the day went on, William would make steady but hard progress towards a passing grade in mind magic as whatever mechanism the Monolith labored under flared giving him flashes of Lucrezia's innermost memories, as recent as last week at that, still he soldiered on as did she and in sharing those memories both were more connected than ever.
The highlight of the day was when he was taught Illusion spells that would specifically help with the foundation of his mind and soul defenses. Deep in a meditative state William was told to focus inward and create a simple construct of Illusion and Mana, Something that in his mind was to be his protector against the unseen be it man-made or from outside of the mortal coil such as demons and devils, the terrors from beyond the star and all in between.
William felt his mana reserves deplete like he was casting multiple thunderbolts, with an oof he supported himself on a nearby table as a tall mana construct stood before him for a second before dissipating into thin air.
"Marvelous! to be able to manifest a humanoid construct on your first try! Still, I must dock points due to ego, surely making the construct look like you is a tad on the nose miss Lucrezia?"
"What?" William asked stupefied
"Lucrezia?!" William asked his hidden friend only to receive another question "Don't look at me! That's on you William I can't make you cast spells!" she bellowed out from the deepest recess of his soul only to calm down a little and a sense of pride overtake the outrage "To think you see me as your protector... I don't know if I should feel flattered or spooked"
"Why spooked? bah, we can have this discussion later" William spoke fast, who knew if his teacher could see Lucrezia's soul or the Monolith if he went quiet all of the sudden.
"Forgive me Miss Matra" he replied.
"Hm, I suppose you did have too much by your lonesome to get where you are today, the mind often hides our honest feelings from ourselves, and its the job of mind magic to tease them out, but I have teased you long enough, now as you no doubt noticed the spell took an incredible quantity of mana and didn't last nearly a wink, do not lose heart as this is but the soul taking its first step on working in tandem with the mind for Mind Magic! here's what you must do to improve the spell..."
Together with the Lich Kitsune William spent the rest of the day ironing out the kinks away as his skill with it increased at a steady pace, alas he had to go back to the Academy, ha gave his farewells to the staff of the church, and set out on his own for once, as Saa'ryu was arranging his training sessions with the Owl and his family of assassins for hire.
Fun times! To train with a master of stealth was a dream come true, even if William was fond of the loud approach when it came to combat.
As night descended into the capital William decided to go to one of the many pubs the game threw at the player for side quests or just talking with NPCs, "The mad Elf" was a fan favorite for its high octane side quests that mostly involved the protagonist going out hunting for beasts that could fight like a demon-possessed Knight, hard but fun encounters meant to test the player's raw skill in combat.
To no disturb the place and its patrons, William quickly fashioned himself a cloak with Illusion magics that masked his face to the lips, alas magic to alter his voice was still beyond his ken so he enacted to just speak very quietly.
The pub was packed, but just enough that there was space to not feel uncomfortable, William sat down by the counter and ordered mead, to the distrusts of the barkeep who thought him a highwayman or thief.
"You try anything funny lady, and the big lad at the door will be talking with you before the night is over" the barkeep pointed to the minotaur at the door who looked like he was ready to die of boredom, at William's glance he rolled his eyes as if to say "don't mind him"
Paranoid as ever, just like the game William thought to himself as he smiled and spoke "I wouldn't dare my good sir" and so he enjoyed the cozy atmosphere alone, seeing adventurers taking the side quests, patrons eating and drinking, the bard playing some god forgotten song no one could sing along...For a split second, it was like William was back in his home, playing the game and just enjoying himself.
Alas, the taste of mead and the cold meats he had ordered was enough to dispel the illusion, as he called for the barkeep for another pint he noticed a couple entering the pub and sitting down at the far end, near the shadows. William furred his brows as something was nagging him about those two, he stood there half staring at them until his second pint arrived and he downed the thing fast.
Maybe it was the earlier lessons in Mind Magic that made him sharp today, or the booze, or even the little flashback he just had, maybe all three but it clicked when he noticed the little minute movements of the couple, how the woman would flex her hands, how the man was touching a little scar in his neck just below his hood...
That was Hope and the Prince! Sweet baby Jesus William thought they are already dating!
"Christ alive it hasn't been 3 weeks!" He spoke to Lucrezia who chuckled "No competition and no one to bar her way meant she worked fast, would you look at that"
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William had a big smile on his face, to think she would find happiness this fast was nothing short of amazing indeed.
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Lakshpur Matra, ancient priest of the Undying who had lived to see the first stones being built in what would become the capital of Vermilion and more watched as the last of the Wulfgrem blitzed through her Mind Magic combat regimen with the patience of a saint, for every mistake the woman would take a deep breath, center herself and try again until she began knocking record after record.
It took her 10 hours, ten bloody hours of doing the regimen again and again and again until the was gliding through it with a grace that bespoke her roots, Lakshpur couldn't help but smile when remembering the northern oafs and their simple but often profound way of living, always charting new land for their newly minted king, fighting and feasting with the other families.
Lucrezia finished fighting the arcane construct with her own, what Lakshpur knew to be a form of high-level shade type spell for defensive action and something someone with no background knowledge in Mind Magic and Illusion spells plus Necromancy would not be able to summon, their records told them that she was clean and had not attempted any Illegal training.
Which meant either they had a natural on their hands or something else was at play here, Lakshpur favored the former as the young woman was a veritable fountain of knowledge both practical and theoretical, from what their people inside the academy told them, she spent nearly every waking hour of her day doing something, be it working on her Magi-Tech forge, learning magic and teaching the one blessed by All-Father or furthering her ties with everyone in the Academy that wasn't nobility.
"Well, Lady Lucrezia I must say you are nothing short of amazing, with this I am ready to advance our training to the next step, take a few minutes to gather yourself for today we start your introduction in the field of Necromancy!"
Lucrezia dispelled her construct and bowed, Lakshpur couldn't help but smile at that, A duchess and member of the Five bowing to her? oh if only this had happened a few centuries ago!
The young woman pulled a contraction that was full of silver and mana crystals and with a flash saw her body clean of sweat and grime, the same for her training outfit. With a sigh, she removed the metal arm and placed its smaller form on top of a table, with a crank of her neck she spoke "Finally"
"Quite the drive you have Lucrezia, but I won't try prying your secrets just yet, I was just told the other day you made a healthy donation to the church and even loaned land in your Duchy for us, if only you knew how long we have tried to make our ways north to dispel the bad name Necromancy still has up there" Lakshpur smiled, what an honest noble she had gotten.
Gods knew they have gotten bad brides all the time from rogue necromancers nobles, only to cut them down and take the cash anyway, now establish a proper church in the north? that was something else, being able to hunt rogues in the wastes and spread the good word would be a boon like no other.
"I have...duties I must tend to and only Necromancy will grant me the proper means to do it by myself
" Lakshpur noticed that for a second there her usual cadence fell off, the mask slipped and she saw a very different Lucrezia, one that carried a burden no young person should. It was plain to see it was a highly personal matter and so respecting the student who had yet to muck it up Lakshpur elected to not push and wait until Lucrezia was comfortable sharing it by herself.
"We all have our reasons," she told Lucrezia "Now come"
They walked along the church's corridors and entered the training room for junior necromancers, a few were already sat down reading tomes or performing spells. Some muttered greetings but the rest was too focused to even notice Lakshpur and her new charge.
"Sit down, it is time to see if your body can handle the aspected mana necessary for the employment of necromantic spells," Lakshpur told Lucrezia who did as it was asked "I will channel some towards you, try cycling it along your body, should you not be able to handle the strain I am afraid Mind Magic will be the only thing I will be able to teach you Lucrezia.
Every living being had Elements they were attuned to, but not everyone could handle the aspect of death, rot, decay, and undeath that was necessary for fuelling the spells. Lakshpur began her work as Lucrezia's face twisted in pain, with a silent spell Lakshpur began tracking her vitals and so far nothing was outside of the ordinary except her...Ye gods Lakshpur thought as she saw the Sigil of Saal'Xhir flaring up and spreading its essence along with the aspected mana.
"Pleasure through pain, ain't my place to judge now is it?" she spoke to herself as one of the junior necromancers laughed and said "Quite common in these halls Lady Lakshpur, quite common indeed"
It took Lucrezia more than an hour to come off from the effects, a longer than the usual time but she was a novice who had hardly prepped beforehand unlike the people here. Still, she passed the first test and now was by all rights a junior Necromancer. Still, it didn't help the girl was moaning in a way that was making even Lakshpur feel improper, you really can't mess with Greater Blessed, can you?
After Lucrezia got her urges under control they began going through the basic spell shaping and weaving exercises for the most basic Necromantic spell, Comune with the Dead, which was self-explanatory.
"Usually we have a ghost or two roaming around as sentries or liches who are testing new means of sake keeping their souls, your task is to find one of those wayward souls and engage in a light convo with them, I will know if you didn't find anyone or otherwise failed to do as I asked, you have 1o minutes" Lakshpur gave the order and Lucrezia bolted from her seat into the corridor.
With 3 minutes on the clock, she came back with a book, an old saber, and two glasses of wine, with a smile she placed them in front of Lakshpur and stood there. Lakshpur couldn't help but nod, that was impressive!
"Tell me, how did you get old Allant and Gwyn to part away with their prized possessions? many here tried to no avail..." she asked Lucrezia who smiled and told her that she used a few choice words with the two ghosts for their items.
"As for the book, Old Flying Otter was happy to trade it for a crate of coffee and a few choice ores, easily done but the paperwork took a while.
Lakshpur couldn't help but smile, ahh to think of the fun times she would have with this young lady as she tore into the old bones and spirits of this place! finally some godsdamned fun in these dusty halls!
She noticed that Lucrezia was also smiling as if she could read her mind and she laughed out loud at the idea, what a day, what a lovely day this was!
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Two figures cloaked in dark robes stood in a fancy hotel room, their faces hidden by both magic and cloth. Silence blanketed the room as both stared at each other.
"Is this hmm, secrecy needed?" One asked in a voice distorted by magic and other means, twisting its head to the other masked person.
"She is in league with a Goddess that can control birds, do you check for crows when you wake every day? I thought so" the other person got up and walked to the table, pulling a small pile of papers from its drawer.
"See, wherever the other one goes she follows, we won't be able to move in and start the second part of the plan if that peasant enjoys the protection of her" she pointed to the papers and with a spell floated them to the other one, who's hand grabbed the floating pieces of paper from the air with elegant grace and unnatural speed.
"And your Mind Magicks can't do nothing to Her? surely her defenses can't be strong enough to hold you right?" The first masked person asked with a hint of a sneer in their voice.
"Mock me all you want but I will not throw my hand in the fire that is messing with Undying Acolytes, She might not be blessed by him but his eyes are on her all the same, after all, it will only take a word for the peasant to go there and learn the craft herself" the second masked person spoke in a fury.
"It already happened" the first spoke with a neutral tone "Shortly before we began this meeting she took the peasant there and my people tell me she's there to specifically train against Mind Magic and Necromantic attacks" they finished looking bored "the sooner we strike the better, we are wasting time with this cloak and dagger play you like so much you know?"
"As if a month of training would be enough to weather my power should I bring it all to bear! And you, have you prepared things on your end then?" The second asked as they sat down.
"Yes, the rituals went off according to plan and the relic is now nigh unstoppable unless She somehow acquires either the shield or the sword none shall stop me" the first coughed "In a month's time all the high nobles will be called to the Palace for the Day of Tribute, both our Beloved and She will be away from school for at the very least a week, we move to strike then"
"And the henchmen?" the second asked.
"My best is ready and willing, after all, they aren't fans of peasants" a smirk could be seen even with the mask.
"Then finally we can move to claim what is rightfully ours, I will begin preparations on my end and send you some of my people as back up" the first voice moved to the door when it heard another cough.
"Yes?" the first asked.
"She fought with the current holder of the Fields, if she takes over it and trains the peasant our plans might..." but the first cut them off with a wave of their hand.
"It won't happen, He's a holder of a Relic and has numerous daughters and their knights in his back and call, short of bringing an actual army to the Academy she will never take the fields from him"
Both nodded and went away with teleportation spells, the room fell into silence once again.