Victor woke up only to find Serena already awake at the end of the bed once more. “Good morning!” She tilted her head back with a giant smile across it.
“Morning, did you sleep well?” Victor asked.
“I slept more soundly than I have in years. I put my head down on you fell asleep and I had sweet dreams.” Serena tilted her head to the ceiling and sighed. “Can I check your book?”
Victor handed Swordie to her and placed her hand on it. “How do I check to see if I can level up on this? Do I simply pour a point of mana in?”
“That, and say ‘Status Sheet’” Victor explained.
“Status Sheet” She said. “This is so convenient. I’m going to put my points in more speed.”
Swordie wrote “Given that you will definitely need immediate potion applications in the future Serena will need it.”
“Your overwhelming confidence feels me with a feeling of safety.” Victor grumbled.
“Oh I have more points.” Serena noted. “Liberator? Is that an achievement?”
Achievement: Liberator – Free 10 or more slaves. Gain 3 stat points. Gain 3 Luck. [ Claim ]
She tapped claim adding 3 stat points. “That’s so cool I’ve never gotten to accept an achievement before.”
“What do you mean? Don’t people know about achievements?” Victor asked.
“Well yeah but they are only available for 30 days before the points automatically apply to your highest stat or skill. If you visit a guild, barracks, mage tower, or church you can claim them and use them for whatever you want but that is expensive and most people don’t bother since they typically want to raise their highest stat anyway. This also happens with people who level up and don’t use their normal points within 30 days.” She explained.
Victor noticed the achievements on the bottom left of his HUD. He wanted to claim both of them but instead tried something mentally rearranging his HUD. ‘Apply the effects of Luzuzal’s Devout to the HUD. He said some achievements and daily rests wouldn’t apply but he never made it clear what would and wouldn’t apply the reduction instead of gain.’
Effects of Luzuzal’s Devout now shown in []
Achievement: Liberator – Free 10 or more slaves. Gain 3 stat points. Gain [Lose] 3 Luck. [ Claim ]
Achievement: Close Call – Survive an attack which reduces you from full health to 10 or fewer health in a single hit. Gain 5 stat points. Gain 10 luck. [ Claim ]
‘Wait I just realized what this means. Adventures have an incentive to adventure as fast as possible as often as possible. I bet the limiting factor is the amount of available healing. This entire town didn’t even have two days worth of adventuring, and the only reasonable way to keep going would be to have two clerics heal each other. I bet clerics are in short supply in the adventuring world so that’s probably not possible. Meaning everyone needs a lot of healing potions, and a lot of gold.’ Victor held out his hand for Swordie and she handed the book over. “Status Sheet.”
Race Human: Victor Vance Vogal
Class : Mage
Level : 6
Base Health : 90
Stamina : 10
Mana : 13
Vitality : 9
Speed : 6
Strength : 5
Prowess : 13
Endurance : 5
Rigor : 2
Willpower : 13
Flow : 13 (+50%)
Luck : -91
Resistance : None
Skills: Speed Reading Rank 2, Academic Rank 2
Hidden Skills: Memory Retention , Luzuzal’s Delusion Rank 1 , Luzuzal’s Devout Rank 1, Luzuzal’s Promise Rank 6,
Spells: Barrier shield Rank 1, Jolt Rank 1, Speed Boost Rank 1, Magic Writing Rank 1
Current Exp to Level 7 28.0%
Victor clicked claim on each achievement and noted the 13 available points could double one of his stats or more. Vitality tempted him but he gently shook his head at this realizing he needed more mana. ‘I need more mana. I need to get an additional skill to defend myself, and possibly more health.’ Victor sighed. “What would you do Swordie?”
“I would evenly distribute your status points between vitality, prowess, willpower, and flow sir.” Swordie added.
“Why?” Victor asked rather confused.
“Sir you need all of those stats.” Swordie noted.
“Yes but wouldn’t the leveling process be either smoother or faster by accentuating one of the stats creating a strength to work around and a weakness to try and negate?” Victor asked.
“Strength will never be your strong suit sir.” Swordie noted.
“I think you should put it all in vitality.” Serena plopped backward in the bed. “You’ll be plenty powerful later if you just survive.”
“I was considering upping willpower with most of my points and taking a spell or skill with the rest. Specifically I really wanted a skill which is good defensively. Do you have a suggestion Swordie, you too Serena if you know powerful low level magic spells” Victor asked.
Vitality Boost Rank 1
Rarity: Common
Requirements: Mage or Cleric Level 1, Cost 3 stat points.
Sustained Spell
Mana Cost: 1 Mana Per Second
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Increase Vitality by 30.
“How much flow is required to reach 1 mana per second?” Victor asked.
“Approximately 100 for mana pools below 100.” Swordie noted as Serena started to peer over his shoulder.
‘I see it grows exponentially if you grow both flow and mana. Most mages likely do that so I doubt it’s a revolutionary thing here. I will just reach those breakpoints earlier.’ Victor pressed his hand to his chin. “Does vitality boost kill you when it runs out? I mean if I am at 30 health and have this running do I lose 300 health when it falls off?”
“If you reach 0 health you fall unconscious. Further damage can kill you such as falling and hitting your head on the way down. However this skill cannot reduce you below 0 health when it falls off. Many skills prevent or reduce the likelihood of death by preventing you from dying in a single hit. Bleed however will often result in sudden death seconds after reaching 0 health.” Swordie explained.
“Would 10 flow and Vitality boost be a reasonable set of choices?” Victor asked the both of them. “I’d like to be able to reach the point I can easily sustain the boost spells for at least an entire combat and then have my mana quickly refill after combat. Wait I also need the familiar skill! Take 5 points and allocate it to that.”
Familiar Rank 1
Rarity: Uncommon
Requirements: 10 Mana, Cost 5 stat points
Sustained Spell: Reduces maximum mana by 2
Bonds a spellcaster and a familiar. This bond allows the spellcaster to share their level with the familiar, cast spells from the familiar, and share their mana with the familiar. The familiar may allow the spellcaster to use its senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other. Allows you to speak to the familiar regardless of language.
“That sounds fine by me as long as you’re taking something to not die.” Serena leaned against him.
“My advice is superior to that choice as it will lead to significant weaknesses; however I accept that you will make your own mistakes.” Swordie brought up a character sheet.
Race Human: Victor Vance Vogal
Class : Mage
Level : 6
Base Health : 90
Stamina : 10
Mana : 12
Vitality : 9
Speed : 6
Strength : 5
Prowess : 14
Endurance : 5
Rigor : 2
Willpower : 14
Flow : 19 (+50%)
Luck : -91
Resistance : None
Skills: Speed Reading Rank 2, Academic Rank 2, Familiar Rank 1
Hidden Skills: Memory Retention , Luzuzal’s Delusion Rank 1 , Luzuzal’s Devout Rank 1, Luzuzal’s Promise Rank 6,
Spells: Barrier shield Rank 1, Jolt Rank 1, Speed Boost Rank 1, Magic Writing Rank 1, Vitality Boost Rank 1
Current Exp to Level 7 28.0%
Are you sure you want to make these changes?
Yes No
“Yes. I’m going to increase flow as much as possible to improve mana regeneration. That way I can use spells as often as I want.” Victor then noted. ‘I’ll also reach that point a lot faster than most would if I allocate my points to it then by level 10 I’d have another 30 flow plus any achievements meaning I need approximately 19 or so achievement points allocated to flow to maintain vitality boost forever. If I raise my mana regeneration enough to maintain those I might even be able to maintain all boost skills.’ His stats increased and vitality boost added to his spell list.
“Sounds good to me! Shall we get going?” Serena added.
“Let’s.” Victor nods.
The two of them walked out into the hallway to see Gargrim straightening his helm with Cawthorn on his shoulder. “Hello you love birds.”
“We aren’t love birds yet.” Victor corrected him.
“HE IS NOT A BIRD HE IS MY MAGE!” Cawthorn squawked at Gargrim.
Serena beamed looking right at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Victor asked.
“Yet.” Serena walked down the hall with immense satisfaction toward Gargrim. “We are out of healing potions what about you?”
“I have 20 left.” Gargrim noted.
“Could I buy 5 off of you?” She asked. “I’ll even pay you 16 gold instead of 15.”
“I’d be hard pressed not to accept, every gold counts.” Gargrim handed 5 potions over.
“Do you need some son?” He asked Victor.
“I’ll take 5 as well.” He pulled out 16 gold and paid him.
“Well are you two ready to travel with me? I will escort you to the border town of Tinik. There we will part ways and I will make my way over or through the mountains to Kival. I highly doubt your travels will take you there soon but I’m likely to spend a long time relaxing and enjoying my gold before going back out. It should take about 8 or 9 days to reach Tinik so we have a long way to go. Do you both have rations?” Gargrim asked.
“No we need to buy some, as well as backpacks, and a covering for a tent.” Serena noted.
“Then we should get to the shops soon. I’d like to leave as quickly as possible so I can sell my item.” He nodded walking off.
Cawthorn jumped to Victor’s shoulder. “MY MAGE NO ENEMIES STALKED THE NIGHT! THE VILLAGE IS SAFE! NO ENEMIES DARE APPROACH YOU!”
“Thank you Cawthorn. When do you sleep?” Victor asked.
“CAWTHORN NEVER SLEEPS! Except on your shoulder. Right now.” The bird dozed off with his claws carefully gripping Victors shoulder.
“I’ll bond with him after he wakes up.” He smiled wanting badly to pet him but choosing not to despite overwhelming urges to wake the crow. Victor took a step and Cawthorn remained asleep seemingly truly tired. “Shall we go buy our gear Serena?”
“If there is anything else you want to buy we can get it.” Serena nodded to the innkeeper as they passed by. She took the three of them to the nearby provision store.
“I’ll just take exactly what you buy. I don’t know what I should get for rations.” Victor noted.
“Jerky, Tac Bread, and nuts tend to be the best foods for the road. You can always hunt fresh food or gather berries for food. There are a lot of other options but I really doubt there will ever be much here besides those for rations.” She was right as they went through and spent only 5 gold each on rations for ten days. Gargrim purchased more Jerky only. They then purchased a backpack and tarp. Serena packed it up on her shoulders. “You’re not carrying this.”
“I could.” Victor said.
“Yeah… No…” She shook her head and the four of them began to make their way toward the exit.
A woman ran after them stopping and panting. Jaya reached them and outstretched her hand. “Thank you so much. I can’t thank you enough!” Victor shook her hand, then Gargrim, and finally Serena. “What is your group’s name?”
“I hadn’t thought of one.” Victor pointed out.
“Well I’m more of a passerby. They are responsible for saving you.” Gargrim pointed out.
Serena nodded. “The name is all yours. I’m not good at naming things.”
“How about the Stars of Verdan?” Victor asked.
“I actually really like that.” Serena nodded.
“It’s a good name. It’s very hopeful and positive. I hope you can live up to the majesty of the name.” Gargrim nodded.
“I’ll never forget that name.” Jaya waved as they started to walk away. “Thank you for everything!” Several villagers cheered as they left shouting thanks and happily holding their loved ones.