"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." -Clarke's third law
Also...I WAS tempted to make it a bunch of exposition on science to flaunt around my non-existant knowledge on chemistry. XD Decided to simplify a bit by not adding numbers and such.
Sorry for the late release, made an extra-large chapter as an apology! Also don't forget to comment errors, and rate. XD I think I wrote it a bit too rushed, after all.
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Nysa POV
Now, currently, both me and the wizard were staring at the mana stone, as we thought on the experiment. It wasn't supposed to be hard, simply grinding it into dust, and mixing it in water. The quest was practically solved. There was absolutely nothing that could go wrong...right? right?
"So, to grind a mana stone, by the lost knowledge of the fairies, we need to-" I was about to explain all science stuff that I obtained through the internet, but I was interrupted.
"I'm an old wizard, I already know a little bit of alchemy, and even more about crushing." The old man said, with a laugh, before he made a small box of stone around the mana crystal, and attempted to crush it into powder. The reaction to it...well, was a bit spetacular. I truly did not expect an explosion of mana, big enough to break the stone, and strong enough to make me fall off the table.
'Float!'
I thought to myself, as I began to fall towards the ground, flapping my wings like mad...enough to slow my descent, at the very least.
Gravity is a cruel mistress!-10 HP
I saw the message, although I did not get up just yet, deciding this was a safer way to go about it. Meanwhile, the wizard had set up a protective barrier on his skin and clothes, meaning he was unhurt.
"...That was more violent than I expected.." The wizard mumbled, as he stared at the broken stone box. At the very least, little to no dust managed to escape it, otherwise bad things could happen.
"Y-yeah...now it is time for step 2." I mumbled, slowly getting back up, by climbing on the table's leg. It was quite hard at first, to say the least, but I soon got the hang of it, by flapping my wings to lighten my weight, while trying to climb the table's leg.
I couldn't tell whether or not the wizard was a patient man, or was just amused at my attempts since I barely could get off the ground, but either way my effort was soon rewarded.
Skill (float) has leveled up!
Skill (float) has leveled up!
As I kept flapping my wings, I slowly got used to the movements... at least just enough for me to feel a slight difference in it. I remembered my swimming lessons, where if I waved my arms too fast, all that happened was me sinking faster...but if I kept my movement uniform, and relatively slow, I could actually swim effectively.
One, two.
One, two.
One, two.
Keeping the rhythim inside of my head, moving my wings up during the 'one', and then moving downwards during 'two', I managed to climb a lot more effectively. Even if I was unskilled on it, I finally managed to get the hang on it! Sadly, I finally climbed back to the top of the table.
...and then fell on it, finding too tiring to stand up. Who knew that fear of falling down to the ground as I climbed was so effective at making me forget how tired the skill made me.
"You know, you could've just asked for my help." The wizard said, calmly as he got up, and walked towards a wardrobe. He opened it, and then I could see various flasks, some empty, and some full of liquids. I couldn't understand a single word on them, since they were too far away. By the time I could read the first words, 'potion of...', the wizard had already picked the empty flask and closed the door.
"Now, I guess we're nearly done." The wizard said, filling the flask with water, summoned with magic. I couldn't figure out how to cast the spells so fluidly... maybe if I practice mana manipulation more, enough to receive some sort of enlightement, just like I did with the float skill.
I sat down, deciding to watch the wizard, hoping it would all work out in the end...although there was something that was bothering me. Did he know I was a player?...probably not, since he was so far away, it was doubtful any other player found him and left.
I watched him picking a handful of the magic dust, and dropped it inside of the flask of water, before putting the lid on, and shaking it a bit to mix the water and mana dust. I could see the water's color changing, from transparent, into a faint blue-like glow. its color wasn't too different from water mana, except it felt...different. Almost as if it was more pure, as if it had no attribute at all. "Is it...done?" I asked, curiously yet afraid.
"Yes....of sorts. I guess your idea was quite good, little Fae, but now it is the testing stage. Can't truly sell something that will simply destroy people, right?" The wizard said, with a kind laugh, as he got ready to drink it.
"W-wait, what about mana overload?" I asked, remembering what happened earlier to me. I had nearly died over there! I can't afford to let the wizard to die, not yet!
The wizard just laughed. "It is easy to avoid it, and I'm not drinking it all at once. The spells I've used in these few minutes would be enough for a sip." He said, with a warm smile, before drinking the mana potion. Just one little gulp. Yet it was enough for his face to pale slightly, quickly placing the potion back on the table."....strong." He mumbled, obviously not expecting it to affect him to this extend.
"Hmm...maybe we should sell it in smaller bottles, with more water dilluting it?" I asked, deciding it was the obvious option.
"Y-yes..." The old man answered, struggling a bit to stay steady on his feet for a few more seconds, as he released the excess mana into the air. Well, even if this version was a failure, it was still progress nonetheless!
And so, we made another one, this time, with a lot less dust, and a lot more water. The 'mana' this time, was a lot more clear than before, probably because of how dilluted it was.
"And now, I think we are ready!" I declared boldly, watching the old man taking a sip of this potion...and this time, he only looked slightly healthier, rather than deadly pale. Surely, we could fit more mana...but it would be risky. It is better to keep the formula the way it is. And that was how I've created, the first mana potion in the whole game!
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Hmm...true. I guess I made the right choice on hiring somebody like yourself." The old wizard said, laughing out loud, obviously happy about the results. The results of our collaboration, even if it was somewhat simple. "I guess it is true. Even an old wizard like myself can be a student from others." He added, thinking on how it was Nysa's suggestion who made it work, in the first place.
"So? What will you do when you leave?"
"I...I don't know. Maybe I'll just learn new things, maybe I'll change the world, just as much as we changed right now." I replied, with a grin. I knew I was lucky. Lucky that the solution of the quest was so easy...but I guess if I wasn't a fae, it would be a lot harder than it was.
"That's the path of a true scholar, Nysa." The wizard replied, with a laugh.A somewhat empty laugh, as he knew that I had to leave sometime...and this time was coming sooner than expected."You can take the potion, if you wish. Think of a gift and a memory, for the first thing we've made together." He added.
Quest complete!You have successfully created a mana potion! This invention might change the way the mages fight, and even change the course of wars, assuming you are able to make it widespread!You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
Class change! Magic scholarMagic scholars are mages, who often lack the power or affinity of other mages, but make up for it by preserverance, knowledge, creativity and skill.
Is not restricted to any school of magic
Skill:
doublecast
Meditation
100% faster reading speed
20% mana regen increase
10% mana increase
+5 RES
+3 MAGDo you want to change class?YesNo
Over-excitedly, I moved my hand to quickly press yes...although I slipped up and pressed no instead.
...crap...
Are you sure you want to refuse class change?YesNo
No! No! I want to accept the class change! Let me class change!
Congratulations, you are now a mage scholar!
You have learnt a new skill!DoublecastRating: ★★★★☆Level 1, beginnerXP: 0.00%Cost: Varies.Cast time: 2 secondsCooldown: 10 secondsType: Class-specificWith superior skill, you learn to cast more than one spell at a time, at the cost of increasing the mana needed for both spells by 20%, and decreasing their power by 20%.
As skill level increases, cost, power, cast time and cooldown decreases, while number of spells increase.
You have learnt a new skill!MeditationRating: ★★☆☆☆Level 1, beginnerXP: 0.00%Cooldown: NoneType: ClassBy focusing on the surrounding mana, you are able to gather them inside of your body, regenerating your magic faster, while increasing the power of spells
10% mana regen increase
10% MAG increase(while meditating)
Can't move while meditating
I let out a small sigh of relief, with a happy smile, as I stared at the new skills...already thinking of their potential.An immobile fortress, firing spells just as fast as a machine gun fires bullets, a nearly invencible outpost. Yet that was too far away...at least right now...
"Oh, and I have a small favor to ask to you. Mind if you deliver the recipe to the king?"He asked, with a small grin on his face.
"Wait...king? I thought the hero was the leader of the human race, not the king!" I declared, confused. Did Seth trick me?
"Well... Yes. The hero is the leader of our army, and he gets the final say on everything, but on the other hand, he is always adventuring. The king is the one responsible for managing the cities." The old wizard said, laughing cheerfully.
Quest: Publishing mana potions!Type: One-timeDifficulty: C+The old wizard decided that you are trustworthy enough to receive the task of delivering the recipe to the king. There is also the fact that he is too lazy to give it himself, but that's another point!Rewards:
Increased intimancy with the king
Emnity with the current noblesFail conditions:
Be discovered as a player.
Anybody but the hero or king learning the recipe.
I stared at it for a few seconds....it looked far, far too risky. Yet at the asme time, more than just a little tempting to accept it. Closing my eyes, I placed my finger on the yes button, deciding that meeting with the king was more than worth it, and the enmity was only towards the maker.
You have accepted the quest!
"...So...how I get to talk with the king in the first place?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Oh, just tell the old inventor Melchior managed to suceed his life-long project. I think that would be more than enough." Melchior said, casually...and only now I realized I never asked his name, and only now I learnt it.
Oh well, it's not like he noticed it!
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PS: Nearly forgot to mention! This is the end of Nysa's 'introduction' arc. The next few chapters will be focused mostly on Inas now. XD