EPISODE 28: Future Plans 2
-Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: New Beginning.
It is fascinating how the system will nearly lock you into your magic affinity once you’ve passed the first stages of your starter class. Those who are a [Mage Trainee] with a focus on fire magic will become [Fire Mage] because of their close choice of the element. Here at Imperius Academy, I’ve been able to study closely the effects of their training mages and the element of their choosing. They are required to learn the 72-base runes, which in truth are easy to master and comprehend as they do not require a great amount of mental energy nor space. This includes those pertaining to an element they have no desire to wield. This has led them to develop a far better mage. As their mages are more entuned with their element but also understand the basics of the other primary elements.
What I mean is that these mages are far closer to achieving a second affinity by the first-class upgrade and the choosing of their second class. Of course, plenty still follow the age-old practice of doubling down and choosing a class closely related to their affinity. Yet others… others have chosen the option to be both a [Fire Mage] and a [Wind Mage] or a [Fire Mage] and a [Earth Mage]. This has led me to believe students of Imperius Academy will have a much greater chance of unlocking rare affinities such as Magma, True Fire, and other mixtures of the primary ten elements.
Oh, how I wish I could have five, no…, ten…, no just an hour with the Crown Prince.
-Excerpt from the Journal of Maiden Braya, A Scholar of the Abode.
----------------------------------------
“Ow, ow, oww! Mom, please let go!” I began complaining. My defenses were easily broken past as my mother twisted my ear. My HUD showed my HP decreasing by -1 per second she held on. Her dark skin held a sheen to it, and I wondered how much excerption she attempted in trying to reach me during the mana storm.
After one more final twist she let go and stepped back. As she did so she took a good look at my egg. I followed suit studying the ruby-like egg. It pulsed in tandem with my heartbeat, the beginning of a connection formed between us. The egg was quite large, but I could easily lift it with my enhanced strength. It weighed around a hundred pounds or so. Around us, the screams of the dead and dying faded as soft background noise. The various spies from around the continent were being eliminated with startling efficiency. One of my mother’s rings flashed and a large plush chair long enough to lay upon appeared. The chair was red velvet and my mother partially lay upon it. Still staring at the egg before finally looking at me as I spoke.
“How did you know it was a perk,” I asked. My head tilted to the side as I looked at my mother.
“Can’t you feel the magic from it? When is the last time you used (Mana Sense)? Even so, a quick (Inspect) shows me its name.”
Instantly I focused, pulling my breath in as I closed my eyes. Before bringing my mind to a state of calmness. As I did so I activated the sense, weaving my mana into my eyes in a certain pattern. That allowed me to see the world through the eyes of mana. I ignored the notification asking if I wanted to make it a skill. (Mana Sense) was useful in determining the different types of mana around me and what held the most weight in the area. For mages, it would be much more, but I didn’t believe I needed it to become a skill.
My eyes opened to a brand-new world of color. Green for the wind and the breeze blowing through my shattered study. Blue and brown color particles accompanied it in small portions for the water and dust in the air. Over them all, and vastly outnumbering everything, was the unattributed mana. The mana that went into spells constructs when a mage casted magic. The world supported its obligation of filling its part of the agreement when a mage used runes to cast their spells. The mana that held the world together and was the first to repair the damage from massive attacks. I couldn’t call it a color as it held a nearly translucent glaze-like appearance. Not blocking the sunlight or my vision in any form but it was like a thin white film covered my eyes.
My vision turned down to the nearly blinding egg within my lap. Understanding what my mom saw as she looked at the egg.
“All perks have an innate ability to affect the physical reality around them on a much more pronounced level than anything else. Do you see how the mana seems to bend the space around it? That is the first and easiest way to spot a perk. The second was quite obvious as the world poured an overwhelming amount of mana into it,” my mother taught. Her red-gold eyes now glistened with excitement.
“Perks are monstrous abilities that allow you to vastly affect the world around you. Similar to a God’s ability to affect reality with their domain but on a more mortal scale. When our Goddess Madris incarnation of Wisdom descended. Did you not see how the very world seemed to bend around her? As if space could break if she just exerted herself slightly?” Queen Titiana let off a sigh of contentment before continuing. “It is the same for perks but on a more manageable scale for the world to handle.” As my mom spoke about Goddess Madris, stars seemed to shine in her eyes. She made a quick gesture in prayer before her attention returned to me.
“This will change our future plans for the invasion of the surrounding countries. This is what I called you home for.”
I nodded in response. Gently shifting my body around to get more comfortable. The crystal egg now occupying my right leg.
“I believe it is time for you to become a military commander. I understand you have your… Ah – ag- age-”
“Agents,” I said helpfully. My mom was not used to the English term.
“Agents,” she repeated before moving on. “Yet that is far from what an organized troop will look like. They are more like operators who excel in monster hunting and bandit culling,” she paused and gestured as she spoke next. “Spreading your name around the queendom through them is fine but for war, you will need much more.
Those who are training at your academy will be great low-tier commanders and those at the college barely can be considered lieutenants. Mariam,” the Queen finished. Waiting several seconds before a figure appeared in a kneel.
“My Queen?”
“Liana, Margret,” Queen Titiana called.
“My Queen,” came their response as they both appeared and kneeled. I could hardly make out how fast their figures were moving. One moment the space was empty and the next three figures were there. Making my brain nearly reboot as it tried to process what happened. What levels are they truly? And when will I finally be able to see what they’re doing?
“My Eyes, My Right Arm and My Left. Rise, it is time. Join us as we need to discuss the future plans of this queendom and get Lawruthian on the right track,” as Queen Titiana said this, one of her rings flashed and several more cushioned chairs appeared around us. Papers fluttered past us as the wind picked up.
“Mom,” I said. Gesturing around us as I caught her attention. “Should we not move to somewhere more suitable?”
“Here is fine.”
I sighed and got more comfortable. My thoughts drifted to when this large egg would hatch before I returned my attention to the figures around us. Giving Mariam, Liana, and Margret a nod of their own.
Mariam was the [Eyes of the Queen], and she fulfilled the role of my mother’s [Spymaster]. Keeping her informed of the various states around Edryan and their current activities. She was a mature petite human that held sharp eyes with crow's feet at the end of them. On the street, she could appear as a kind older lady getting along in her years. I knew she was anything but that.
A few maids began to appear out of the woodwork and served us refreshments. Bringing us tables full of colorful pastries and jars of honey. It was clear this was to be a more informal discussion on what was to happen in the upcoming years. Only after we enjoyed a few of the refreshments did we begin this informal meeting.
“Let us begin by discussing the current state of the Low Kingdoms,” Mariam spoke up. Pulling her silver-grey hair into a ponytail as she produced a map. She circled the Low Kingdoms with her sharp, red-painted nails as she began speaking.
“Our Goddess Madris has made it clear that she wishes us to unite the continent underneath the banner of Edryan. Before we can do so we must understand the situation of our neighbors,” Mariam continued. She held a firm voice that I knew could turn sharp and scalding from experience. She remained a no-nonsense woman no matter the situation.
“Below us, the Federation of Farya is busy consolidating its gains over the Principality of Ardon and the Merchant Republic of Koi. While they’ve used several mercenaries to fight and break the Principality, they’ve managed to break the Merchant Republic on their own. My Lashes managed to gather information about their troop management and structure under Left General Czar as General Indrian and others held the most interaction with him. Right General Zed remains an enigma. We have the general layout of their troop class type and battle formations.”
“We must not forget the key figure and the true ruler of the Federation. Demi-God Isiro has reached the level 300 mortal limit and has presided over the federation for a thousand years or so, his wife included,” Liana seemed to add the ending as an afterthought.
“We don’t know exactly how powerful he is or if an invasion such as this would push him to ignite his divine spark. Information on his current level is also sparse. He could be in the upper 350s but not 400 or we’d be facing the troops of a God,” Liana said. A serious expression on her face.
“A Demi-God of Calculations will not be an easy target. It is best not to say his name with impunity least he hears,” Margret commented.
“The dwarf will be managed.”
The conversation continued after my mother spoke. The issue seemingly resolved from those words alone. I recalled the information I spent my childhood learning.
The Low Kingdoms were a collection of states considered behind the general trend of the Elrunian Continent. That would be in terms of technology and general levels of our people. This was mainly because we were composed of the shorter-lived races. These races were humans, some tribes of elves, goblins, orcs, and dwarves. Even with the enhancement of the Vitality Attribute, we’d live at most twice or thrice as long but nothing when compared to a High Human, Elf, or Dwarf. Them, and the race that held the title True. Those were the truly long-lived races. Currently, with the conquering of the Principality of Ardon and the Merchant Republic of Koi, the Low Kingdoms went from a collection of eight states to six. Each Low State or Kingdom held at least either one God or Demi-God who held the faith of their nation. Those who didn’t, well the Principality and Merchant Republic were examples of not having such powerhouses. It was part of the reason Dioni and Lorde remained vassals to the Edryan Queendom. Goddess Madris held a certain… sway over the countries.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
“Excluding Dioni and Lorde, we have four nations to focus on and only two I truly consider a threat,” Mariam continued. “The Empire and the Federation as it is now. We are the three who hold a position in uniting the Low Kingdoms into one. Although Dioni and the Kingdom of Elraka are slight buffer states between us and the Empire, we still share a border at the Luffer Mountain range. The Empire holds three Demigods to secure their faith and consolidate their people under one leadership. There are rumors that their latest Demigod is in bad health, and they’ve purged all spies in the [Palace of Heaven]. Just as we’ve now done,” Mariam gestured to the bodies that were being piled to burn. She then continued.
“My Lashes have remained in the capital territory, but they’ve remained low under the radar. The Empire is currently very tense for an unknown reason.”
As she finished, the older woman sat back in her chair and gave a content smile as she ate another pastry along with some honey. It's not like I knew she kept a secret stash of the good stuff LSG sold. It’s not like most of the women here did that as well and would come to me when their supply was running low.
“I believe we should create a new field army under the Crown Prince's command – speaking of, Your Majesty, we must schedule and plan the official coronation now that His Highness Lawruthian is of age,” Margret said, a finger on her chin as she spoke.
“Ah, how could I forget,” Queen Titiana said putting a hand on her forehead.
As this was going on I just sat and listened with excitement making my heart beat faster as the crystal egg responded in kind. This would be a perfect opportunity to reveal my class. Hopefully, I would find an opportunity to tell my mom about my past.
“It will be a great boost to his stats and allow him to access certain things about the Edryan Queendom and system.”
Four pairs of eyes landed on me as the thumping of my heart grew to a crescendo. That was not the reason, however, as a clear and distinct sound made its way into our ears.
‘CRACK!’
I shifted my body once again and now held the large red-gold egg with both hands as it lay gently in my lap. A tiny beak that matched the color of my eyes was poking itself out of the egg.
‘CRACK!’
‘CRACK!’
‘CRACK!’
You have received one level from worldly experience. The level is auto-assigned to:
[Hero of Edryan].
You have received one level from worldly experience. The level is auto assigned to:
[Hero of Edryan].
In quick succession, the beak poked itself through several more areas as its egg tooth helped shattered the hard shell around it. I dismissed the notifications and focused on the emerging chick. I began to help, surprised at the raw strength it took me to break off a piece of the crystal. If I was comparing my strength to something of an Earth equivalent, I’d be comparable to a true superhero like Power Man. I could lift a larges amount of weight with relative ease and by enhancing my body with magic breaking through none reinforced concrete was simple. Without skills, my speed at an all-out sprint would allow me to cover a mile in under a minute.
So, it astonished me that it took nearly all my strength to pull a small piece of the crystal shell off. Margret moved closer to me in anticipation. Light in her eyes that I now recognized as the same light that consumed her younger sister. Small spell constructs hovered over her eyes as she analyzed the egg and emerging bird. With several more moments of focus, we managed to create a hole big enough for the small chick to escape. With a small hop, the chick kicked off its egg. Causing the broken container to tumble to the ground as it landed on my lap.
“Chirp, Chirp!”
The small chirp seemed to be let out in victory. Standing proudly on my lap and looking at me for praise was a rapidly drying chick. It immediately received the praise that it was looking for as I held two thumbs up.
“Chirp!”
“(Inspect),” four feminine voices said. A hint of awe in their tones. When they did so something in me seemed to click and a notification appeared before me. One that I chose to read immediately as the colorful letters alerted me of its grade.
You have seen a skill activated by at least three souls of close familiarity. Due to your divine tier racial skill (Soul’s Burden), the rare version of a new skill has been unlocked!
Skill Name:
(Inspect)
Description:
Closely view an object and receive an expanded detailed tooltip on its features.
Function:
Examine an object/person and determine its grade/level amongst other detail information.
Accept
Decline
Accept! I internally said. It was part of my plans to always have one of the most useful skills in the world under my belt. I was still working on what I wanted my class skills build to be with the help of Amaya and Madria and still didn’t possess any class skills. When I was younger, I held fantasies and plans of a perfect build. With the options that opened to me currently, those plans had to change and adapt. I knew I could go to Eliana, my mother, and the rest of the various staff at the castle to help me. I could have the greatest minds of the queendom to optimize my first class skills and all the rest I’d eventually get, but I was having fun with Amaya and Madria. It felt good to do this with them.
(Inspect), (Examine), and (Grade), were all different forms of observation spells that gave you access to the tooltips provided by the System. To achieve a rare version of (Inspect) from watching the woman around me use it was a massive boon. I would not need to spend hours analyzing small things around me to raise the tier of the skill. I heard how the common tier would only provide you with the name of an object and that’s if you’re lucky.
How powerful is (Soul’s Burden)?
I’d yet to run any functioning test on my current list of skills. My past month was kept busy by the small projects I began in preparation for my build and an increased number of interactions with the students and staff on campus. Every action I did was watched and recorded. Every step I took was praised as an accomplishment causing me to become exhausted by the day's end. Further delaying my complete class build.
Would you like to make this a class skill, upgrading its tier to Heroic in the process?
Accept
Decline
I pressed decline and felt the second of my general skills slots fill. Outside of my racial and core skills, I now held two more skills totaling me at eight.
My attention returned to my mom and her staff. Unaware of when the chick escaped from my lap and into that of my mother who was gently petting and cooing at the bird with a smile. The ebony-gradient fluffed-up chick was basking in the praise my mother showered it with. Chirps of joy escaped from its mouth while Margret stood close by fascinated by whatever she saw with the constructs glowing over her eyes.
“(Inspect),” I said, my gaze directed at the chick. Its ebony-gradient fluff was a match for my hair, while its eyes were mimics of my own. I didn’t notice the way the gazes of the four women interacted with one another as they peered at me and the chick.
Name: ???
Type: Divine Beast
Species: Keeper of the Codex
Attributes Unlocked: 6
Standing: Bonded to Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani
Description:
The Keeper of the Codex is a new species of owl born in the world through the perk of its owner, Lawruthian. Although it is a young and small chick now, it possesses the intellect of a human and is able to grow to further heights by consuming knowledge unknown to it or its bonded.
I quickly skimmed through the expanded tooltip. I knew I’d receive far more information than someone with the common version of (Inspect) would receive and that information came into importance as I view the tooltip.
“It has all six attributes unlocked,” I exclaimed in shock.
“She,” my mother corrected. Inspecting the small chick who began chirping in protest.
“She is a divine beast and that is to be expected. Although I’ve never heard of a keeper of the codex. A shame my (Inspect) is not of Legendary grade. It would give us so much more knowledge on what she can do,” Margret said rubbing her hands together gleefully.
The small chick seemed to sense danger and scurried its way over to me. Using its small beak and small talons to climb its way up my legs and into my lap. I smiled down at the figure.
“What should I name her,” I asked. My mind was occupied by the fluff ball now snuggling up to me. I could feel an intimate connection between us. Like she was an extension of a limb or a part of my mind.
‘Sleepy,’ her young voice seemed to say. A small chirp let out as she did so. Slowly ever so gently I laid my hands on the divine beast giving her soft pats as she fell asleep.
“Minerva,” I said before the woman around me could come up with anything. The name just seemed to come to me. Knowledge from a world far away, of a life I already let go of. Knowledge of the name of the Roman Goddess of Wisdom. A small detail of Earth’s history that I’d never remember just appeared in my mind. Sharply, I paused and analyzed the situation. Thinking twice over the events that just occurred. My head was packed with so much knowledge of the Elrunian Continent and its various states, gods, and political figures that only the truly strong figures of Earth's mythology stayed with me. The Greek Gods and their powers/domains amongst other figures. I’d all but forgotten about their Roman equivalent.
So why do I remember such a name now?
‘Show me the description of CODEX OF EARTH,’ I said internally.
CODEX OF EARTH
Description:
Gain access to the library of knowledge humanity has researched for thousands of years. What humanity of 0-000311-9713-7 know. You can know through a quick search of the Codex of Earth. Record, document, and analyze all things underneath the sun.
Was Minerva some sort of mass data collection point? A giant server that held all of Earth's recorded information on it? Now that we’re bonded am I able to access the histories and technology of my first world and life?
That was my original intention and plan when I first picked the perk. Gazing down at Minerva, I smiled. If I could convert batteries to work in the Prime Plane through the use of mana and several other materials… and the help of powerful mages under my mother’s employ.
What else couldn’t I do?
My mother’s voice interrupted my musings as she spoke. Bringing the attention of the surrounding people to her. “We will discuss your perk later. Let us set a rudimentary plan for the upcoming invasions,” Queen Titiana said. Back to business as she fixed her posture and brushed off the crumbs left from her feeding of Minerva. Waving over a butler after she finished.
“Inform the Minister of Communication to convene a court meeting for the morrow.”
“I believe General Indrian should be assigned under his Highness, as she has had the highest communication with him and,” Liana gave me a pointed look. “Will be far better prepared for any new innovations he introduces to his army.”
I gave her a toothy smile. One that was returned in kind. Liana knew me all too well and the first thing I’d do when I got my hands on something like this was to reorganize it to my taste. It was how I managed LSG. Clear chains of command and instructions. Any new initiate in LSG started as an Associate, and after a year or so with LSG and competent results that position would change to a Sr. Associate. Those with business skills and the right mind/skill set would become Assistant Team Leads and so on as they moved up the ladder. I doubt anyone could ever give Bucca a challenge for her position as [Vice-Chairman of LSG]. Regardless there were different divisions in my company. From finance to logistics, front-end, and what counted as LSG's private force of operatives. Agents who went around solving issues related to LSG or the queendom in my name.
“Before all that,” I spoke up. “We need to begin Operation RAIL.”