Reviewing the Basics
Janus could not seem to get a clean hit on Pella with anything. It was almost worse than fighting Devon. Almost.
It was like she knew where his attack would come from. Not only that, but it didn’t seem to matter if it was just a flash of light or a mana explosion. She would always narrowly avoid the worst of it.
Defeat after defeat was starting to get on his nerves. She never struck him very hard, but each duel ended the same way. Her wooden sword would meet his throat or his chest, and she would declare him dead. It was hard to argue. If they were fighting for real, then he would have surely died.
“I can’t keep going. My mana is spent,” he said.
That wasn’t entirely true. He still had a bit of mana left, but he didn’t want to risk mana exhaustion. The feeling was becoming all too familiar.
“If you say so. You’ve got some tricks up your sleeve now, but I have more.” Pella responded, stepping off of the sparring platform and placing her training weapons back on the rack.
Janus did the same and headed for a nearby bench. It was now that he noticed most of the benches were occupied.
Were these delvers watching us spar this entire time?
The attention was off-putting. He was embarrassed that a dozen people just watched him get trounced for who knows how long. He massaged his sore muscles. There would be less bruising than when he fought with Devon, but that didn’t soothe his bruised pride.
Pella was a lower level than Devon and barely higher than Janus himself. The fights should have been more even.
Dario and Devon continued to spar nearby. Devon was close up, trying his best to hit Dario. But, Dario would simply step out of the way of the blade, or turn in such a way that the blow didn’t land. With each miss, Devon was getting more and more frustrated. Finally, the young swordsman tossed his blade aside and stormed off the sparring platform.
Janus watched for a moment as Dario scolded his fellow student. It was out of character for Devon to act out like this, but Janus could understand his frustration. He’d just spent hours struggling to hit Pella, after all.
Tuning everything out, he focused, picturing a swirl of condensed mana. He reached into his bag nearby, pulling out a notebook and a stone quill. If he didn’t have the mana to practice, he could at least record his experiences and theories.
-
About a week passed with Janus sparring against Pella, Devon, and even Dario. Devon still trounced him nearly every time, but he eked out the occasional victory.
Pella was another story. Even as his [Mana Manipulation] and [Mana Reinforcement] began gaining levels, his strategies rarely worked against her. She had the uncanny ability to avoid most of the damage Janus could dish out. Each time he caught her in blast of mana, he felt a surge of satisfaction. He was improving.
Not fast enough.
His father had returned home after a few more nights of working on the rail line. Construction was going well. The [Rath Rohen] dungeon had been basically completely cleared out and was being sealed up by earth manipulators from Bear and Crow Station. It was good to spend some time just relaxing and talking with his dad. Even Janus had his limits when it came to coming home completely alone after a hard day of training.
It was the end of one of those days of training when Dario approached him. His teacher did not look happy.
“I’ve been paying closer attention to your sparring sessions, and you don’t seem to be taking this seriously,” said Dario.
Janus wasn’t sure what his teacher meant. He had been taking beating after beating, doing his best to fight back. He had been getting better and so had the others.
“I don’t understand,” he replied.
“Don’t take me for a fool, kid. I know you're not using all of your mana.”
The statement shook Janus. His fear of mana exhaustion had been holding him back, but he never considered that it would be a big deal. Surely he would perform better if he didn’t tax himself beyond reason.
Dario sighed. “Pain is part of the process, Janus. Do you think Pella and Devon haven’t been suffering?”
Their teacher had been taking it a lot less easy on the other two. It had frustrated Janus at first that Dario was treating them so differently, but Janus knew that he would have barely learned anything from the man if he had treated him like the other.
At least he’s been going harder on me the past few days.
“I just thought that-” sputtered Janus.
“Let me do the thinking for you.” Dario’s finger brushed against Janus’ chest. “I’m no metamage, but if you have a weakness, and you attack that weakness, the System has a way of compensating you for it.”
Janus deliberated for a moment. The system had already helped him with one of his weaknesses. [Mana Reinforcement] was versatile. He could tangibly manifest mana. It synergized well with his [Mana Manipulation] made up for his lack of fine control.
“What should I do?” asked Janus. He suspected that he wouldn’t like the answer.
“Use all of your mana. Every day,” responded Dario.
Janus grimaced. The thought of mana exhaustion was fresh on his mind every day. It was more thorough than physical exhaustion. It felt like being stretched out and left to dry. Like his skin was cracking and his very spirit was seeping out. He wasn’t eager to experience it every day.
I need to catch up.
After a moment, he looked up to Dario and simply nodded.
His teacher grinned. “That’s the attitude I’m looking for. Devon could learn a thing or two from you.”
Janus wasn’t so sure about that, but he wasn’t about to contradict the praise.
-
More time passed and Janus pushed himself to his limits each day. His mana would regenerate overnight, but the effects of mana exhaustion continued to accumulate. His concentration would slip during his spars and he hadn’t won a single time in days.
He struggled to sleep each night and would wake several times. Physical exhaustion joined his mana exhaustion. Even the thought of waking up once more just to head out to the sparring platforms was too much.
The others expected him in only an hour, but he stayed in bed. He was fighting an internal war. Every fiber of his being cried out to him. Give up. That was the desire of his spirit. Give up.
Who would blame him? Had anybody else in the stations gone through something like this?
With a groan, he pushed himself to a sitting position. He felt disgusted at his self-pity. Nothing else had stopped him, why should this? His disgust turned to anger. An ember burned in his heart. Ambition. He reached for his [Mana Manipulation] skill and began practicing his fine control once more. As he expended mana, it felt like his veins were on fire. He did his best to ignore the pain.
[New skill obtained: Mana Burn]
Cost: None
Cooldown: Always active
Description: You have experienced the effects of mana exhaustion many times. You are no longer affected by the mana exhaustion ailment for reaching low mana. However, you can now spend mana beyond your maximum. Doing so causes a much stronger mana exhaustion ailment than before.
Bonus Stats: 1 Wis per 5 levels
The notification surprised him and broke his concentration. A flash of light pulsed out from the condensed mana he had been practicing with, blinding him momentarily. He rapidly blinked his eyes, but he didn’t need his vision to see the notification pulsing in his mind’s eye.
The sudden release was overwhelming. It was like his mana exhaustion simply dissipated. Everything happening at once was a sensory overload, and he sat in silence as the minutes dragged on.
With a shaky breath, he called for his status.
Status Name Janus Alamy Class Enhancer Level 16 Guild None Life 348 Max Life 348 Mana 508 Max Mana 508 Stamina 388 Max Stam 388 Stat Total Base Class Skill Item Strength 32 16 0 16 0 Endurance 22 16 0 6 0 Dexterity 16 16 0 0 0 Intelligence 83 16 32 35 0 Wisdom 62 16 16 30 0 Skill Level Bonus Bravery 2 5 Wis / Lvl Writing 8 1 Wis / 5 Lvl Sprinting 7 1 End / 5 Lvl Mana Manipulation 19 1 Int + 1 Wis / Lvl Str. Enhancement 16 1 Int + 1 Str / Lvl Mana Reinforcement 5 1 End / Lvl Mana Burn 3 1 Wis / 5 Lvl Empty --- --- Empty --- --- Empty --- ---
It surprised him that the skill was already level three. He had never gained a skill without it starting at level one. Maybe his mana exhaustion had been so strong it had instantly pushed the skill forward.
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With the mana exhaustion clearing out, it was like a fog had cleared from his mind. He could finally appreciate the gains he had made.
Many people liked to joke that strength can make you stronger, sure, but intelligence wouldn’t fix a foolish mind. And that seemed true. Janus didn’t feel any smarter. He wasn’t having any sudden eureka moments or flashes of brilliance. His mind did seem to work faster, though. He hadn’t been able to really appreciate the effect while he struggled with mana exhaustion.
He summoned some mana, condensed it into a point, and attempted to slowly move it around. It was sluggish, but the mana didn’t lose stability.
The extra intelligence is definitely helping. Or I’m just that good.
He smiled, but only for a moment.
[Str. Enhancement] had fallen behind a little bit. He struggled to find ways to use it effectively during the spars. The System didn’t seem to like giving out too many skill levels unless Janus was in some sort of combat. It happened occasionally with lower level skills, but he hadn’t gotten a skill level while practicing on his own in a while.
That was fine, though. He’d spent most of his free time in combat. Even if it wasn’t life or death.
He grabbed his things and headed out.
-
The next day, Dario told them to gather at a table inside the Delver’s Guild. Janus had gotten so used to practicing in sparring area that he stood outside for a few minutes before remembering where he was actually supposed to go.
Dario motioned at him as he approached the Delver’s Guild.
“We’re meeting inside today,” he said.
Janus simply nodded and followed Dario inside. They chose a table near the entrance. While he waited for the others to arrive, he told Dario about his new skill.
“I’m glad. I was starting to get a bit worried.” Dario replied.
The revelation was a small shock to Janus. Had Dario not been sure if the System would provide him with a solution?
Dario noted his hesitation. “I would have called things off and tried to figure something else out. [Mana Manipulation] has incredible potential, but the more mana you work with, the greater the cost. I’m not sadistic. This [Mana Burn] sounds like it was worth the experiment.”
Janus wasn’t sure how to feel about that. He assumed that Dario knew for sure that going through all the mana exhaustion would be worth it.
It was worth it.
He tried to reassure himself.
Devon arrived soon after, but Pella was nowhere to be seen. Almost half an hour later, she arrived. She did not look happy.
“Sorry for the delay, I missed the first sub-train coming to Crow Station.” She said.
Her expression seemed a little severe to Janus. It was just a small delay, after all.
“Don’t worry about it.” Dario said, “We’re going to be leaving here soon anyway.”
“Are we going to a dungeon?” asked Devon.
Devon rarely spoke, other than his countdowns when he sparred. But he had been asking Dario when they would be heading to a dungeon nearly every day.
Janus wasn’t quite as eager.
“No, we’re visiting a metamage. Information about the System is pretty hard to get, and that’s after you’ve sifted through all the lies.” Dario said. “I know a metamage who can help you guys get a better understanding. I’d just tell you myself. But I can’t help with some things, like Janus’ [Mana Manipulation].”
Janus had learned most of what he knew about the System from school. Most of that information came from books that metamages had written.
Metamages were mages that directly interacted with the System in some way. Their class gave them information about the System that wasn’t readily available to others. They were almost always useless in a fight, but that hardly mattered.
“My friend doesn’t live too far from here. We won’t even have to leave to Backwash to see her.” Dario said, standing from the table. He motioned for the others to follow him.
Dario continued as they walked, “A lot of stuff is pretty simple. There are a few basic formulas that govern how much HP or Mana capacity someone has. The metamage can give you the specifics on that.”
Dario explained some basics until the arrived. The group quickly found themselves standing in front of a squat domed building. It seemed almost carved from the ground itself. It matched several other buildings nearby.
Dario rapped his knuckles on the stone near the opening.
“Come in.”
The doorway was not very tall, and the group had to crouch to make their way inside.
The interior was a mess. Papers were strewn everywhere, and charms hung from the ceiling in a riot of colors. A pile of books was haphazardly stacked to Janus’ left. A stiff breeze might have brought the pile crashing down.
At the opposite end of the room stood a woman with jet-black hair, cascading just beyond her ears, accentuating her coppery complexion. Her eyes, as dark as her hair, seemed to gaze through Janus rather than at him. Adorning her neck were nearly a dozen cords and strands of beads, while a dress made of deerskin draped gracefully over her shoulders. Janus was familiar with the clothing and knew that it was incredibly expensive.
There weren’t any deer underground, so most deerskin clothing was from before the stations had been created. Among the tribes that had migrated below ground, deerskin clothing was held in high regard.
“These are your students?” The woman asked.
“Yeah, I’d appreciate it if you could help them out. We’ll start with Devon. Janus, Pella, and I will be outside,” responded Dario.
-
It was a few hours before Janus got his opportunity to speak with the metamage. Both Pella and Devon went before him. He spent the time waiting playing with the ambient mana. Dario didn’t seem very interested in conversation and Janus had no desire to start one.
Pella had just left the building. Whatever she had been told, she had a satisfied air about her.
Nobody said anything, but Janus knew he was next, so he crouched into the entrance.
“This would have been easier if Dario had all of you in the room together, at least for a while. I will have to repeat a lot of what I already told the others.” The woman spoke.
“Ah, sorry about that. I, uh, yeah.” Janus replied.
“It doesn’t matter now. My name is Tsula. Make yourself comfortable.”
Janus looked around for a place to sit. He hadn’t really noticed the lack of chairs when he was inside earlier. He opted to sit on the floor in front of Tsula’s low desk. She kneeled behind the surface, shuffling papers about.
“I will start from the basics because the System is not very complicated before skills and classes get involved.” Tsula said. “The stats are the simplest. You have likely learned about this already, but I must be comprehensive. It will not take much time.”
While much of the basics had been covered during his early schooling, Janus assumed that there were subtleties involved that he had yet to grasp.
“Strength. It makes you stronger, but it also can increase the power of certain skills. The other stats follow this basic premise.” She began. “Intelligence allows you to think more, in less time. Dexterity makes you faster, but also increases your grace. Endurance lends you more health points, health recovery, and resistance to disease or poison. Finally, wisdom is similar to endurance, but for mana. Both endurance and wisdom grant you extra stamina, but endurance is much more effective.”
Janus was aware of most of this. But he didn’t know that wisdom gave him more stamina, or that endurance could make him resistant to poison and disease.
"These statistics can become significantly more intricate with certain classes and skills," Tsula continued. "A skill could potentially link your endurance to your mana, or enhance your strength to fortify the resilience of your skin. It appears that there are very few limits to what can be achieved."
This was entirely new to Janus. It implied that one couldn't solely assess someone based on their stats.
“The standard formulas are also rather simple. I’ve written them down on a sheet of paper.” Tsula shifted one of the many papers on her desk towards Janus.
Janus took the paper and glanced over the hastily scribbled notes. Although he was familiar with the fundamental formulas, aside from wisdom affecting stamina, he decided to pocket the paper nonetheless.
Tsula nodded and resumed speaking. "Just like everything else in the system, these formulas tend not to remain static. Classes and skills have the potential to alter the ratios involved. The System may seem straightforward at first glance, but as individuals level up, they accumulate skills and classes that can drastically modify how the System impacts them."
“Yeah, I’ve read that skills can even be personalized to the person who learns them.” Janus said. “Like someone with my [Strength Enhancement] skill might be able to do something that I can’t, even though it’s the same skill.”
"That's true, but I'd like to discuss your [Mana Manipulation] skill," Tsula replied.