C21- Pear_Champions of Astrana

Pear gazed up at the towering edifice standing as a grand monument to magic of all kinds with no small amount of trepidation.

"There you are Apprentice!" Ripspell's voice pulled him from his worried thoughts as the tall Human man exited the tower Pear had been looking at. "Excellent! After your escapades last night with your Wolfish friend, I admit I was worried you would be facedown in some gutter, expelling some of your drinks from the previous night."

"Sorry about that Master Ripspell," Pear said with a grimace. "When Axel's around he tends to pull me and our other friends into his own orbit, unless Jim or Markus have something else they want to do."

"There's nothing wrong with young men strengthening friendships with copious amounts of alcohol," Ripspell assured him with a wave of his hand. "Besides, you seemed as though a bit of fun and a measure of normality would do you well at the time. Additionally, with you engaged as you were, I was able to prepare my next lesson for you. Should you wish to continue as my apprentice of course."

Pear couldn't keep his shock from showing as he jerked his head to look at Ripspell rather than the people walking through the city around them.

"Yes, I understand that my methods of teaching aren't meant for the classroom and, after your showing yesterday, I've determined that I cannot simply drag someone screaming to learning from me. This will be your only chance to remove yourself from my apprenticeship, and, if you choose to stay on, then you will be expected to learn my lessons and advance at a pace I choose for you. Fail to meet my standards and I will be disappointed and motivate you to meet those standards. Do you understand?"

Pear moved, following Ripspell, stunned at the older man's words. He'd done his best to meet the Human mage's standards and he had thought he'd done well enough at that, so he was now worried about what had prompted the man to offer him a way out. Had someone spoken to him? Had Pear failed him in some way? The more Pear thought, the more he worried. Finally, he remembered his mother's words from just earlier, when he'd taken a break from Astrana. It was his choice to make.

What did Pear want from his time in Astrana? He wanted to learn magic of all sorts, to become the caster he always wanted to be. It wouldn't be an easy path and if he tried to do it alone then his chances to make it were so low that he'd fail sooner than he'd like. Would he be able to accept that? Would he be able to hold himself proudly if he balked at this chance that he wasn't sure if he should resent or rejoice over? The only way for him to know would be to move forward and choose.

"What's the next lesson, Master?" Pear asked his teacher, firmly making his choice.

"That, Apprentice, is easy," Ripspell said with a smile. "Take this pack."

Pear eyed the small bag carefully before accepting it from his teacher. As he did, he peeked inside and saw a mound of rations, several water skins, and a metal box.

"We'll stop by and grab a bedroll and tent before we leave the city," Ripspell said as he continued toward his destination.

"Where are we going, Master?" Pear asked as he hurried to catch up to the long-legged man as he practically power-walked down the crowded streets.

"In due time, Apprentice. In due time," Ripspell waved his question off as they moved through the city.

"We're here," Ripspell nodded to himself as he looked around the portion of the forest he'd stopped in. "Alright back there, Apprentice?"

"I'm-gasp- I'm fine," Pear wheezed as he supported himself with a tree. "Just catching my lungs before they escape."

"Perhaps I should have moved a tad slower," Ripspell said thoughtfully as he studied his gasping, out-of-breath student. "Let me know when you've recovered and we'll continue."

With a gasped 'thanks,' Pear sank to his knees and tried not to huddle into himself as he attempted to regulate his breathing. Finally, he looked up at Ripspell and indicated he was ready to continue.

"Excellent," Ripspell said, clapping his hands together for one loud, sharp clap. "Most excellent. Stand up straight now. I have some things for you."

"What things?" Pear asked warily as he rose to his feet.

"You'll love them," Ripspell assured him as he approached his apprentice. "Just hold still for me."

Before Pear could move, Ripspell had his palm firmly pressing onto his forehead and his fingers gripped his head in place. With a smile, Ripspell opened his mouth and Pear's mind nearly exploded from the pain that ripped through him. White-hot agony seared through his brain and he was certain he was screaming from the mind-shattering pain that held him in place more securely than Ripspell's fingers ever could. Dimly he was aware of the game's system flashing its notifications at him.

You have completed a Quest!

Grandmaster's Apprentice: In record time you've passed Theobald Ripspell's testing to make you an apprentice he can be proud of. And you survived! Congratulations!

You've gained the Title: Theobald's Apprentice. You've gained access to your Master's wealth of knowledge. You've gained membership into the illustrious Astrana's College of the Magical and Mysterious.

Theobald's Apprentice: All will know you as the Apprentice of Grandmaster Theobald Ripspell. Prices will be in your favor by 10% in cities with knowledge of Theobald Ripspell.

You've gained the Perk: Magus' Sight

Magus’ Sight: View the flows of magic with your eyes. Extra mastery allows you to divide magic flows into raw magics.

You've gained the Spell(s): Air Manipulation, Arcane Manipulation, Dark Manipulation, Death Manipulation, Earth Manipulation, Fire Manipulation, Life Manipulation, Light Manipulation, Water Manipulation.

Air Manipulation: Manipulate raw Air magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Air spells using this Spell.

Arcane Manipulation: Manipulate raw Arcane magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Force spells using this Spell.

Dark Manipulation: Manipulate raw Dark magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Dark spells using this Spell.

Death Manipulation: Manipulate raw Death magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Death spells using this Spell.

Earth Manipulation: Manipulate raw Earth magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Earth spells using this Spell.

Fire Manipulation: Manipulate raw Fire magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Fire spells using this Spell.

Life Manipulation: Manipulate raw Life magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Life spells using this Spell.

Light Manipulation: Manipulate raw Light magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Light spells using this Spell.

Water Manipulation: Manipulate raw Water magic and shape it as you will. Can create new or unknown Water spells using this Spell.

With a groan, Pear rolled over and looked up at the Grandmaster Mage that had caused him such pain.

"Recovered?" said Mage asked cheerily as he looked at him.

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"I hate you," Pear told the man. It only made him laugh.

"Come on, up you get," Ripspell offered an arm to pull the Elf up. "Best you sit up for all this. It's always best to get explanations with your feet on the ground instead of your back."

"What's with all the new spells?" Pear asked the man as he stood up and leaned against a tree to keep from falling back to the ground.

"You've learned the limits of the spells you already know and now it's time you learned the next lesson," Ripspell told him. "This one is two-fold and we will review when you have satisfied my conditions. In the meantime, you should know exactly what those spells I've just taught you are for. With them, you can create spells as you require them and with some practice, you will learn to use them to overcome the limits of your known spells. I believe that I also seared a new way of seeing into your eyes, so you'll want to learn to use that as well. Now, hold still. This will be much less painful and I'm the only one that can put this on you."

Pear tried not to flinch as the man pulled a large cloth of some sort from a bag that sat at his waist. With a short snap of his wrists, Ripspell shook the cloth out and revealed it to be a finely made cloak with gold lettering at the hem and a simple string to tie it to the wearer and prevent it from falling away. Carefully, Ripspell threw the cloak around Pear and fastened the tie in place.

You've gained the Cloak of the Grandmaster's Student

Cloak of the Grandmaster's Student: Can only be removed or placed on by Theobald Ripspell. Grants restrictions to the one wearing the cloak at the Grandmaster's words. Current restrictions: None.

A simple cloak with gold lettering adorning the hems. Enchanted to respond to the words of Grandmaster Theobald Ripspell. Meant to be worn by the Grandmaster's student as they learn from him.

"This cloak will ensure that you learn the lesson," Ripspell told Pear, not noticing the boy's face twisting at the cloak's description. "You will be entering a dungeon that I have spent the last several years cultivating to act as a training ground for my students within the Mage's College. Since you're my apprentice, you will enter the dungeon and move through it. I can't stop others from entering it through other entrances, but you should be fine. Upon completion of the dungeon, you will return here and I will remove this cloak and its restrictions. We will then review the fruits of your lesson. Good luck."

You've gained a Quest!

Grandmaster's Lesson: Enter a dungeon of your master's choosing and complete it with his declared restrictions in place.

Survive.

Rewards: Removal of restrictions from the Cloak of the Grandmaster's Student. Bag of Holding. Right to adventure without a chaperone. Spell: Summon Familiar. Blank Grimoire.

"Wait," Pear tried to stop Ripspell from speaking further.

The man went on without interruption.

"Your cloak will now block you from making use of all spells outside of the simple manipulation spells I've given you. Your cloak will block all forms of sight except the Magus' Sight I've taught you. You will be unable to exit this dungeon without the three keys hidden throughout it," the Human told him imperiously as Pear received notifications that told him the restrictions had taken hold. "Again. Good luck."

Blind and afraid, Pear felt the man push him backward and fell to the ground, not knowing that the Elemental Grandmaster had removed the last separation from the falling Elf and the waiting dungeon's entrance.

You've encountered a dungeon. Given your status as the Apprentice of Grandmaster Theobald Ripspell, you are unable to refuse entry.

You have entered the Dungeon of Elementals. Good luck.

Oddly, white light replaced the black that blinded Pear as the notifications flashed before him and the moment of falling stretched infinitely. With a slight thud, he impacted the ground and the white light was replaced with black darkness once more.

"Where am I?" he asked aloud, fear tingeing his voice. "Hello? Is there anyone else there?"

No answer was forthcoming, despite his calls and Pear couldn't help but curl into a ball on the ground, his breathing coming faster as sobs racked his body. He lay there, crying and despairing at his situation, for what felt like hours before the tears stopped. Before long he had his breathing under control again and he simply lay there hoping for a way out of his situation.

"I can pull that cloak off," he muttered aloud to himself before gripping the hated thing's cloth. "If it's gone I can do this without his damn restrictions."

As he pulled and shoved the cloak every which way, he was forced to acknowledge a simple fact. It wasn't coming off. If he tried to pull it over his head, it tightened itself enough that he couldn't get it past his chin. If he tried to undo the knot that held it in place, it wrapped itself around his body as though it was alive. If he tried to tie it to a heavy rock and run away from it until the strings snapped, it unraveled itself from the rock, or, worse, pulled the rock after him.

Laying on the ground after his latest attempt trying to remove the cloak, Pear stared sightlessly upward, his back on the ground as he tried to muster the courage to stand up and leave wherever he was. As he lay there light twinkled in the darkness he saw, flashing momentarily and with enough irregularity that he thought it was his mind playing tricks on him.

"What exactly was that perk he forced on me?" Pear muttered to himself, summoning his status screen in the darkness.

Pear, Theobald's Apprentice

High Elf

HP: 100% SP: 100% MP: 100%

Mage

Inventory:

Simple Robes(equipped)

Simple Wooden Wand(equipped)

Simple Wooden Staff(equipped)

Cloak of the Grandmaster’s Student(equipped)

Skinning Knife

Pack[Filled]

[Rations(30)]

[Waterskins(5;full)]

[Bedroll]

[Single-person Tent]

[Tinderbox]

Currency:

B; 2I; 11C

Perks:

Darkvision: Maintain excellent vision in the dark

Arcane Usage: Allows the ability to use Arcane aids to cast magics and spells

Magus’ Sight: View the flows of magic with your eyes. Extra mastery allows you to divide magic flows into raw magics.

Skills:

Examine: Study a target to determine race, name, or danger level

Meditate(Lesser): Close yourself off from the world and increase your MP regeneration greatly. Regeneration increases with skill

Harvesting(Lesser): Harvest skins, meat, organs, and plants without damaging them further. Ability increases with skill

Spells:

Missile: Launch a small missile of magic at a target and deal Force damage

Bind: Use ropes of magic to restrict the movement of a target

Shield: Form a barrier of magic to defend the caster; Force spells are absorbed into the shield, making it stronger