“Isaac...err ugh...probably best to stay with the false name...” Marvin said, beginning what sounded like a request at first before other thoughts got in the way.
Marvin had joined Ivan in the back of the Inn in the little garden Layla often tended herself. Ivan came here first thing in the morning and the team was well aware of the habit now even just after a few days. Ivan trimmed and gathered what he could, and checked for weeds and signs of poor growth, but that was hardly needed with Myrn's magic so obviously hanging over the little garden. Ivan liked the little space. It was right near the kitchen, and sheltered from the noise of the street and most of the noise from the small barn Meeda used as extra storage and stabling option for those with mounts. Few creatures rested in the barn that morning. Ivan had a habit of checking on them as he might have as a squire long ago.
“Good morning Marvin.” Ivan greeted him.
Ivan was situated on his knees, tending the low trough planters.
Marvin began to speak again, but shook his head. Uncertainty pulsed through the thread like the connection of Ivan'sTaps Upon the Web Perception Skill. Uncertainty, and then a great deal of care, for him and another.
“This is probably a stupid question, but are you alright?”
Ivan looked up at the man, sighed, and shook his head.
Marvin nodded, and crouched beside Ivan. He was careful of his sword on his back, but the man moved quietly in his casual clothes.
“What's that one?” Marvin asked, pointing toward a leafy frond of an herb Ivan had just finished trimming.
“It's called the High Queen's Fern. See these fronds here near the center? They grow their spores for reproduction. The plant takes in mana from the air and invests it in those spores. Those spores in turn are used in medicine to unlock magical properties in other ingredients. They are sort of a magical and chemical catalyst for potion making.” Ivan answered.
“So that's what you were collecting?” Marvin asked.
“That and some of the sprouts.” Ivan answered, indicating the soil as he did.
“Mixed with the right ingredients and the venom of certain creatures I can make an herbal antidote with those. They are also really good in soups if you get enough of them.” Ivan went on.
Marvin smiled down at the little plant and then over at Ivan before shaking his head.
Ivan waited, feeling the pulsing tension of Marvin's thoughts. He was brimming with curiosity and strangely enough a desire for knowledge. It didn't seem like he wanted to talk about plants Ivan was growing however.
“What's on your mind?” Ivan asked, saving the man the trouble of forming his own transition.
A little relief played out through the tickling web like connection Ivan sensed with his friend so nearby and so many others still asleep. While useful, Taps Upon the Web quickly became overwhelmed by numerous sensations. Penelope assured Ivan that raising his perception would fix the problem, which sort of made sense. It was a Perception Skill, just one that happened to boost and focus his Insight. It wasn't as useful with enemies, but helped Ivan coordinate with his team.
“Well now that we know-- Well I'd been meaning to ask anyway-- What I'm saying is--” Marvin said, struggling to find the right words.
Ivan did his best to combine his amusement with a kind expression as he gave his friend his full attention. Marvin seemed to calm some as he took in Ivan's easy expression. It wasn't like him to be nervous or to stammer over his words. He hardly seemed to speak unless he was wholly decided on what he was going to say.
Marvin sighed and scratched his head before he managed some little resolve to speak plainly.
“What I mean to ask is if you'd do an inspection of yourself.”
Ivan raised his eyebrows at Marvin.
“Don't trust me Marvin?” Ivan asked.
“I—well that's not it. Not exactly even if I am curious, but that's not why I want you to do it. Actually I want to inspect you even more now that I understand who you really are and what you're capable of. I've seen it myself before now, and I've seen it in your fights.” Marvin explained, first shaking his head as he spoke and then looking out over the garden. As he went on he cast out a hand as if reaching for something.
“There's something just out of my reach that I want to learn. I want to know what it is and its only gotten worse since I got this Ember. I hardly understand what its doing or when I'm using magic at all.” Marvin said, fist clutching at the air, and his face taking on a look of disappointment as his eyes fell upon his empty palm.
“If you're looking to advance your meditation techniques I'm not a very good subject for that. I always struggled with meditation...even with her to teach it to me.” Ivan replied.
“I think that would help. Myrn tried to explain before, but I can't help feel that my Ember isn't like the other casual Magic Sparks.” Marvin complained.
Ivan nodded, getting a lot more understanding from the sensations contained with Taps Upon the Web than his words. What Marvin was unable to convey with his words came clearly with his thoughts and emotions. Regular meditation was like sitting on coals to Marvin's new Ember. Ivan could feel it in the tension of his body since the day of the change, and slight changes in his personality. Marvin wanted to be more than he was, and the Ember was a sign that he wasn't just ready in body, but in soul.
Ivan remembered that feeling.
“You know...When Istania finally gave me her blessing...” Ivan said, looking down at the herb before him; “It felt like my eyes had been opened. Like there were colors I hadn't been seeing hidden in everything all along.”
Distant thunder rumbled over the nearby Ocean and the hiss of rain played over the roofs around them. The air seemed to chill, but neither of them were dressed so lightly yet as to be cold. It was still summer rain after all.
“I could think so much clearer. I could focus, expending mana to do so easily for the first time.” Ivan explained, smiling to himself.
“The Human Fundamental Skill.” Marvin murmured.
“You use it all the time too, don't act surprised.” Ivan said, gently bumping the Mercenary's arm.
“I do?” Marvin asked.
“All the time. Mostly in battle, or when we're in the Dungeon, but you've learned to use it and probably have a good deal of mastery over it.” Ivan informed him, making sure to keep his voice light with good humor.
Marvin frowned, but nodded after a few moments of thoughts.
“I'm not bright. Not like you or Myrn, or even Andy...that meathead.” Marvin said, seeming to relent from some hidden difficulty within his mind.
Pride sang sorrowfully to the ears granted Ivan by Taps Upon the Web, and Marvin hung his head.
“I want to do better. This Ember, and what it's given me...” Marvin began, but cut off again.
He bit his thumb in consternation, brows wrinkling as he struggled to convey just what he meant. Ivan felt his determination and the sincerity of his desire. They likely would have been clear to his un-augmented Insight by this point, but getting to such a state with a person was half the battle.
“Can you feel it then?” Ivan asked. “I know you were pretty uncertain after you recovered. I offered to inspect you then too, but you and your master said no.”
Marvin nodded.
“It might be different if I was a Scribe, or Hells, maybe even just a Student, but I'm not. All of my education fits neatly into my Apprentice Job. Apprentice Blacksmith that is. It's not exactly the best Job for boosting one's intelligence attribute; great for strength and endurance, and a little dexterity, -just little else.”
“So no. I have no idea what Fundamental Magic I gained with the Ember. I can barely feel it,--That or my magic at all. It's probably bursting at the seams and I can still hardly feel it!” Marvin growled.
Ivan nodded, and idly remarked to himself in his thoughts that Marvin's constant surging mana did make him seem on edge. It was just something with his own newly found mystical senses that seemed just about normal to him now. In another year or two he might forget what it was like to feel the way people controlled and held their mana about them. He wondered what Taps Upon the Web would be like then.
Shame roiled through Marvin's emotional aura then, practically broadcasting it to Ivan.
Ivan gave him a look, but Marvin didn't look up. He had his palms pressed to his eyes and remained where he had come to squat beside Ivan.
“I feel so stupid. Even if we did really well yesterday I just feel like I'm missing something. Like I've forgotten the key to the door we've been trying to break down for weeks in my pocket . It's infuriating! I thought maybe some of it was not recognizing you, but that's only made it more clear now. I barely got to sleep last night thinking about what I've been doing wrong.” Marvin growled.
Ivan knew his late Goddess or Father Julian would have just the words to say to encourage him. Ivan had never really been that great with words himself. With the orphans all it took was something easy like 'you can do it' or 'just keep trying'. Would it be so simple, perhaps even to lie to Marvin if only to encourage him, and perhaps get him over this mental wall?
“So why inspect me?” Ivan asked, bringing their conversation back to where they began.
Marvin nodded, and revealed his eyes once more.
“Well that's the thing. You could probably inspect me and tell me what it is. That would probably help, but I don't think that's the way I want to do it.” Marvin said. “I'm not saying I don't trust your ability to inspect me, but...” He shook his head in frustration, his sincerity still coming out clear beside it.
“'Things change first when they are observed. Then again when they are measured and defined. Our presence is something remarkable upon reality. As if to witness it with our minds is to shackle it within our realms of logic and reasoning.'” Ivan quoted, more or less word for word from the Teachings of Halspus; The Foundations of Reality and Magic.
“That's Halspus' teaching?” Marvin asked.
Ivan nodded.
“She likes to talk about how magic and jobs change with culture. It's part of why she's so interested in learning all she can as well. Recording the magic and skills over other jobs allows others to learn of them, and their ways even if they are from another culture, time, or place.” Ivan explained.
“What's that got to do with anything?” Marvin asked nicely enough, but clearly still as frustrated as he had been. Ivan's words of wisdom hadn't been a balm to ease them, at least not in that way. Perhaps another 'manner of application' would do better, so to speak.
“Basically what I'm saying is you're sensing the bias of my mind and magic. We're both human, and we've known each other for some time, but ultimately we've led very different lives. What I see in your magic might be very different from what you would see if you had the skill to look for yourself.” Ivan reiterated.
Marvin seemed to understand immediately.
“I suppose my Master did try to say as much.” Marvin admitted.
“So by having me walk through an inspection of myself you're hoping to gain some insight on developing your own means of self reflection?” Ivan asked, summing up the points he thought Marvin was trying to make based on what he was getting from his insight, attribute and otherwise.
Marvin looked at him with a grateful, yet still partially annoyed expression.
“You say that like it's so easy to just ask.” He grumbled.
“It is when you know what to say. Friends and Teachers are the ones that are supposed to help you find just what that is.” Ivan replied.
He got a curious glance from Marvin.
“We're friends huh?” Marvin said idly, his expression and aura of emotion giving off little all of a sudden.
“Aren't we?” Ivan asked, his voice softer, and a little less certain.
For a vague moment he felt like he was a passenger in his head and he played into this role of a young man doing his best to recover from the loss of his family. -But he was that young man. He was hurt....He....He blinked several times as a slow ache began to build atop his skull right above his left brow. Anxiety suddenly settled in his gut like an unwelcome hunger pang.
“Easy Isa...Ivan...” Marvin whispered, his hand steady and warm on Ivan's shoulder.
“I get it. Why you lied and why you told us. It's clear enough you told Myrn before, but we're here for you too bud.”
Ivan nodded, and let out a softly shuddering breath, the anxiety mostly going with it.
“Sorry.” Ivan muttered, as little paranoid fears and doubts suddenly plagued him.
“There's nothing to be sorry about.” Marvin affirmed, patting his shoulder in a show of solidarity echoed by the unseen cloud of his emotions.
“Inspect Person.” Ivan chanted, taking the initiative, and keeping the conversation going.
It was strange being called by his own name. It made him feel...vulnerable. Even if there was no one around to listen in on them, and certainly not now with the rain coming down in a light drumming patter about the stone tiles of the yard and roughly shingled houses.
Inspect Person: No Target Selected; Inspecting Self
Toggle Mode: Selective Inspection to Full Inspection.
Target: Ivan, Son of Nathaniel
That was probably as far as Marvin got to read before Ivan waved his hand over the information making it spin and organize itself though the page had been filled with colorful information. What appeared next was a complex graph and a listing containing his full attribute list. His 'Job Route' was contained in short blocks, with drop downs for each of his skill listings coming off of each, and was the main feature of the graph. Ivan started out by pointing out his attributes.
Major Attributes:
Strength: 21 Endurance: 25 Dexterity: 14 Agility:17
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Intelligence: 16 Charisma: 15 Wisdom: 12 Perception:11
Minor Attributes:
Mental Fortitude: 11 Astral Familiarity: 13 Recovery: 18 Luck:9
Insight: 16
Marvin leaned in taking a look and read over Ivan's attributes.
“Major and Minor Attributes? Aren't they all just attributes?” Marvin asked, “-And what the hell is Astral Familiarity?”
Ivan shook his head, noting Penelope's silence.
“Not sure. I'll check.” Ivan told him, and called forth knowledge from his connection with the Infinite Library. It wouldn't provide much as he was still limited to 'Basic Information', as the skill that let him access the magic source of information was called, but it would give him an idea.
“It's an attribute associated with summoning and conjuring magic.” Ivan said aloud before really thinking about what he was saying.
Marvin blinked.
“Your conjured dagger?” Marvin asked, his expression open and curious.
Ivan met his gaze for a moment, and then nodded. A small part of him surged up within him as at the same moment he recalled Myrn's rejection of the demonic power he could offer her through Penelope. -And yet he moved his hand again, removing the magic that hid one other attribute.
“It's not just a conjured dagger...” Ivan heard himself whisper as; Demonic Corruption: 19 joined his other minor attributes.
Marvin stared for a moment, but ultimately hung his head. He was curious, that was as certain as anything Ivan sensed from him, but mostly he was sorry, worried too, but mostly sorry.
“Does it own you?” Was all Marvin asked.
Ivan shuddered and shook like the words had been magic missiles crashing into his back. Relief swelled in his chest, and trust in his friend surged so that he knew Marvin felt it through his own Insight. Marvin's gentle grip on Ivan's shoulder became something like a locking vice, not restraining, but supportive and kind before Ivan could manage to answer.
“No...” Ivan choked out. “None of my contracts convey the ownership of my soul. I am...I am my own...” Ivan went on struggling to speak.
It was turbulent emotions that held him back. Emotions that found relief in the human contact as much as he could to trust Penelope and Azalea and look to them both for comfort. He realized that this acceptance was what he had been looking for in offering Myrn power. I wasn't to drag her down with him, but to share in understanding and perhaps in guilt.
Marvin didn't try to meet Ivan's eyes, but his grip on Ivan's shoulder was enough. Just a friend, baring a little of the weight for Ivan while he could. That was all his touch seemed to say. He seemed to look up at the gentle rain and sigh.
“You did what you needed to to survive.”
The words were gentle but sincere. Marvin didn't say any more and remained quietly supportive as Ivan fought through his overflowing emotions. He suddenly didn't know what to do. Or what to say. Part of him wanted to get it all out in the open, and see what Marvin would do upon seeing Penelope and Azalea in the flesh. Ivan also felt like talking to Andy and Davian and seeing if he could manage the same with them, but it was so strange.
For what reason would Marvin have to know of demons? What would he know about them?
When Ivan looked at Marvin he shrugged and stood.
“Andy's family is....was...pretty high up in the church. Her church. They knew a lot of things, and I've always been close with Andy since his parents had picked me out long ago to be his training partner and dogsbody.” He said that last with a huff of laughter.
Marvin looked up at the rain, and after a brief hesitation upon first lifting it, brought his hand all the way to his collar. He reached inside and pulled upon a leather cord. On its end was a beautiful steel jewelry piece. Its detail was unlike the common lost wax molds done in mass. Marvin had made this piece himself. It showed in the way he held it, and the way he looked upon the face of the dead Goddess.
He had made her her likeness in a most common and familiar state. Her features were clear, and her garb was simply cut. She was smiling widly, and welcoming two children, a boy in a tunic, and a girl in a dress, into her embrace. Her great length of hair was divided into braids that lay about her shoulders and down her back, and even the tribal markings she was never without shown in the careful work. The detail of each character was painfully exquisite.
Like many such handmade talisman's of the like Ivan might have once been able to work her magic through it with great potency, and to little cost of his own mana by sharing his faith with Marvin. Ivan could just feel the faintest echo of the magic once held by Marvin's faith in his personal talisman of the Goddess. It made him want to scream. Not at Marvin, but at Theadus.
He could suddenly hear Istania's last words, almost lost to fury, tearing through his mind.
“You dare harm MY children? I will tear you apart Theadus!”
Ivan staggered. Mana surged in his soul burning down his limbs in phantom sensations, it was lost, unguided, and tore through suddenly wild and uncontrollable. Marvin was at his side again in a moment, and managed to get him to his feet and out of the rain.
For long moments they stood together under the garden awning, both watching Ivan's hands as they sparked with scarlet and green wild magic. The magic had burst from Ivan's flesh and soiled his sleeves only to turn and stitch the wounds together again. As they slipped away each of the colorful tendrils of magic turned to shadowy purple and then to deeper black ribbons that ate the light of the gray day.
Ivan grunted and gasped all the while as he fought for control. Somewhere something deep inside his very core had tried to force magic through a spark that Ivan no longer had. To his knowledge that wasn't possible, but to his knowledge very few ever suffered the loss of a spark once it was gained.
“Fuck...” Ivan swore and leaned back against the wall.
He suddenly felt twice his age, and it wasn't only the rapid drain of his mana that made him feel that way. He felt like a different person. Maybe he was after what he had been through. He didn't know what to think about any of it right then though.
“Yeah...I think I remember something of why I thought it couldn't be you now.” Marvin whispered.
He was still close, still supportive, but didn't pin Ivan with his gaze. He just stared down at the rapidly growing plants in the trough. The old wood creaked and groaned as the one hand sized herbs grew roots too deep and wide for the few inches of soil.
Ivan started, amazed at both his hands and the flower wooden garden trough.
“They said all the folks who had her divine spark went mad. Absolutely mad. Magic flying out their bodies way above their Class, or outside of their jobs. They left total destruction in their wake, even forcing Theadus's ultimate retreat. The whole army was practically ran off, but the deed had been done, and the people with the sparks just burnt themselves out...” Marvin whispered.
Ivan's eyes shot to Marvin's in a startled glance.
Marvin didn't look back, and guessed Ivan's questions perfectly.
“It was from a distance...but for a moment...I saw Andy's Grandfather, his mother, and several members of my own extended family not just stand before the fury of a God, but turn it back...and make him afraid.” Marvin whispered with an angry hissing sort of reverence.
Marvin quietly nodded as he put his hands over Ivan's. The magic flared still, but Marvin's grip seemed to help Ivan gather the wild magic and contain it. Ivan stared at Marvin, sympathetic pain reaching down into his own desperate heartache at the loss of his family.
“My parents, and Andy's dad...they're not dead, but they fled. They got us out, and whoever they could and fled across the sea to Zon's territory. We were going to go after them, but there's still people here who need help, and the Dungeon too...it needs to be faced down, and kept in check or the common people won't stand a chance.”
“I let my pride get in the way before. I was arrogant. Just figured I hadn't tried everything yet while being too stuck up my own ass to admit I was afraid to fight after what I saw. Afraid that if Theadus's men saw me fight they'd know...” Marvin continued, his whisper turning to a soft growl.
He turned to Ivan then, a fierce smile on his face.
“Then I met you. And Myrn, and Davian. I knew you were all doing just the same as I was. Seeking power. Making the best of ourselves in the quickest and most violent ways we could think of. We made it into the Dungeon, and had our first couple runs go well. That was promising, but fighting that Knight...”
Marvin strode out into the rain, his fist clenched and held wrists up in the rain as he cast his gaze up to the gray sky.
“Did you feel it...Isaac?” Marvian asked, turning and saying his false name with careful emphasis, his chin indicating a window behind Ivan.
It was either the corner kitchen window near the cellar door, or the window into one of the house's personal rooms meant for the family that owned it. Either way their talk was no longer entirely private.
“Did you feel the strength of that creature when it struck at you, when you drove your conjured blade into its weapon to blind it with the magic interference?” Marvin asked.
Ivan nodded, a small grin sliding onto his face in spite of himself.
“You simply deflected and dodged the blow, fittingly with your weapon against such a large and devastating opponent. I thought you had gone mad for just a moment before you vanished and cut into the thing like a wolf on the back of a moose.” Marvin went on, his voice gaining in strength as he reveled in the memory.
He began to reach back for his sword then.
“Each blow I turned away, every time I met its armor or its own attempts to block and parry me, I felt this incredible sense of--” He waved his hands about somehow never loosing the energy of his impromptu little speech. “--Glorious Combat if it is right to say such a thing. I could feel my blade singing as I carried out its potential each time I turned aside that great bronze polearm. I could feel your blades, Andy's, and Davians, and even Myrn's bow if I wasn't totally imagining everything. It was clear to me, each time you struck, and the damage you would deal. I could feel it like my own limbs, like I was somehow both myself and a grand maestro upon the stage before an orchestra of battle!”
“And yet I felt blind. As much as I understood my own blade I knew that then that as beautifully as we performed then I will never excel until I understand each instrument. I don't think I must learn to fight and train as you do, but perhaps that I should understand it and know just what you can do, what everyone in the party can do! --So that I may wield my blade to make the most of it in turn!”
Marvin continued, ranting and working himself up into excitement as he drew his blade and went through several forms, some being familiar to Ivan. He did that every morning, but today it was almost as if he were dancing. When he spoke of Andy his posture had become more defensive, and then switching to Davian he became light and nimble on his feet, practically prancing across the garden path. Then while mentioning Myrn he thrust forth again, and again, footwork immaculate, and hardly leaving a mark upon the ground. Each thrust sliced through the air, the pointed tip of his white bladed greatsword cutting through the air in a violent rush as if to mimic the intense snapping force of her longbow shots.
Ivan lifted his eyebrows and took the chance to peak up at the windows behind him.
“It was Myrn master. Likely just checking up on you.” Penelope said with a knowing smile on her lips. “Perhaps you should have woken her and taken her for another round.”
Ivan shook his head at Penelope and stood away from the wall before looking over the windows again. No one was watching. Ivan lifted a hand, bringing his floating scroll, its body a mass of deep purple, and its edges licked in too dark phantom flames. The ink was dark today, making itself easily visible against the purple by emitting no light at all.
“So we're back to inspecting then?” Ivan asked, sparing a glance for his scarlet stained sleeves.
He went to one of the rain barrels and rinsed the blood from cloth as much as he could.
Marvin meanwhile lost a little of his steam of fervor and relaxed, looking up into the rain.
“I suppose yeah.” He said with a shrug, but his eyes lingered on Ivan's shredded shirt sleeves.
He took the time to read over Ivan's attributes again.
Major Attributes:
Strength: 21 Endurance: 25 Dexterity: 14 Agility:17
Intelligence: 16 Charisma: 15 Wisdom: 12 Perception:11
Minor Attributes:
Mental Fortitude: 11 Astral Familiarity: 13 Recovery: 18 Luck:9
Insight: 16 Demonic Corruption: 19
“I've seen attributes laid out in various ways before in books. Yours seems different.” Marvin observed.
Ivan nodded.
“Call it a Scribe's bias. I was taught to judge attributes using the same model the followers of Halspus use. It's convenient and easy to understand.”
“Oh?” Marvin asked, casually casting an eye about the windows and positioning himself so that even if someone was looking between that between the two men there would be very little of the scroll to see.
“Explain it to me. I know your strength from sparing, but how would a Scribe or Acolyte under Halspus interpret these numbers?” Marvin asked.
“Well it's like Metrics. The measuring system. Instead of using Stones, Pounds, and Yards with all their terrible conversions it is much easier to do things in tens. With Attributes it's the same way. Ten in any attribute is about normal for someone who's perfectly healthy and has no trouble with various aspects of that attribute. To say it simply, a score of 10 in any attribute is about the best a fully grown person can do without magic or intensive training.” Ivan explained.
It was all pretty basic stuff, and Marvin was nodding along in understanding, even raising an eyebrow as he read the numbers again.
“So you're twice and again tougher than a regular person?” Marvin asked.
“-Than a perfectly healthy person in good shape with no jobs or skills boosting their parameters. Most people, even myself, wouldn't have tens across the board with all their jobs and perks removed.” Ivan answered.
“Still...” Marvin complained, pointing at the '25' listed after endurance.
“I have four combat jobs, one education, and two utility jobs. -Or 'Blocks' technically when you're using the Halspusian model. Each 'block' would refer specifically to a Job's 'route of ascension'. Which we just call 'routes' because it's shorter. Anyway—Of course I'm tougher than most. Almost every job gives some kind of bonus to endurance, even the education jobs.” Ivan explained.
“Seems pretty technical.” Marvin observed dryly.
Ivan nodded, and pointed to the two categories of attributes.
“Like the definition between Major and Minor attributes. There's Scholars who spend their whole lives collecting data on different creatures, monsters, and people to compare the differences in attributes. So far the Major ones are what every intelligent species seems to start with. Minors are either earned, or become a specific derivative of a Major attribute to a perk or magic item you're wearing.”
“So like Recovery. That must be low from some perk because it's not twenty five like your Endurance.” Marvin commented.
“Not quite right, but close. Recovery is a balance attribute between soul and body. It's about mana replenishment as much as it is about stamina and wound recovery. Strength and Agility help improve Hit Points for that matter, spilling over slightly into Endurance's domain.” Ivan clarified, and brought up more information on his scroll.
Ivan, Son of Nathaniel, Detailed Inspection
Hit Points: 38 Mana Points: 244
Ivan blinked in surprise at the number that represented his mana pool.
“Quixla's dagger can be used as a mana containing catalyst Master. Especially if you've been putting off offering the dagger up to its proper master for a few days to better snuggle and enjoy a certain redhead's attention.”
Marvin gave Ivan quite a look at seeing the mana number, but Ivan didn't let him gawk too long. He drew out the large scarlet fighting knife and set it on one of the old wooden tables near him. Once done he looked back to the scroll.
Ivan, Son of Nathaniel, Detailed Inspection
Hit Points: 38 Mana Points: 27
That was a little more reasonable. He didn't feel any better or worse without the item in hand, but maybe Quixla's dagger had to be activated before he could readily access the mana stored within. An intuition and a little itch in the direction of Demonology 1 told him he was right on the button with that assumption. There must be other items and perhaps summoned creatures he could use in the same way.
“Zon's breath...” Marvin swore, glancing at the knife.
Ivan turned a pleading expression on his friend, but Marvin simply waved his hand dismissing the subject. Ivan quickly picked up the dagger and stowed it once again. The number immediately shot back up.
“Anyway Hit Points are just a generalized system. There's been plenty of testing, but more or less the way it's calculated is from its main attribute, added with the two halves of its supporting attributes. That seems about as right as anyone can manage to get it, but like I said about the testing there's all sorts of different wildly different wounds that cause just 1 Hit Point of damage so the system isn't regarded as very accurate. If anything it is advised to be used by Scribes who are helping with post battle efforts since most healers have a much better understanding of wounds and their effects.” Ivan explained, feeling a little bit of the book worm for the first time in a long time.
When he talked with Myrn about flowers it was amid flirting, lots of hand touching, and teasing. Marvin just looked at him like he could still smell the dusty old books Ivan had been reading in the Parish library his whole life. It was a strangely refreshing and humanizing sensation for Ivan. He decided to enjoy it while it lasted while doing his best not to try his friend's patience.
He felt a bit giddy actually, and knew his emotions were sort of all over the place. That too showed in Marvin's occasional expressions and flares of uncertain or vaguely concerned emotions. Ultimately he needed to control his nervousness, but every time he did he began to feel that same out of body dissonance. Just thinking of it again made him shiver.
“So...” Marvin led on, leaning and looking about carefully.
“What about that nineteen? It's your third highest stat.” Marvin said, his voice more serious.
It was clear to Ivan he was referring to the nineteen in his Demonic Corruption Attribute. Ivan gulped as if swallowing could squash his nervousness.
“You're really almost twice again what that means? Why hasn't anyone sensed it?” Marvin asked.
In answer Ivan let the Shroud spill over him. The soft leather of it flowed unnaturally as if through water and settled like a heavy shadow upon Ivan's shoulders. Marvin eyed it and he seemed to understand.
“Is the corruption the form of payment they demanded?” Marvin asked quietly.
Ivan shook his head. He was feeling strange and out of place again. Even if he was nervous.
“I have yet to pay in full, and likewise I have yet to receive all I've asked for.” Ivan answered quietly.
Marvin stared at Ivan for a long while, but nodded.
“Is that where the Dark Spark came from?” Marvin asked, voice calm and sober.
“My presence only helped him awaken that spark.” Penelope whispered aloud for Marvin to hear from within the shadow of the Shroud, “It would have come forth eventually now that my Master is no longer sealed.”
Cold sweat and pleasant tingling sensations ran down Ivan's limbs as she spoke. Normally she limited the amount of magic she put into her words, but Marvin blinked and had to take a few moments to think himself clear of its after effects.
“Your current demonic corruption levels are what's appropriate for your kind Master.” Azalea said, speaking quickly. “It may even be low. I've been careful at Penelope's instruction, but it's difficult to tell. At times it seems to suit you and I feel as though I am hurting you when I cleanse it from your spirit.”
Ivan considered Azalea's words for a moment, and focused on her within the Shroud. He tried to share with her all the pleasant feelings her care and willingness to aid him brought him. Azalea seemed to blush in reaction at first, but then smiled broadly.
“You're welcome Master.” Azalea said sheepishly.
Ivan glanced around, feeling nervous and anxious about talking about these sorts of thing near where so many people could be with skills or magic they couldn't detect. He decided to bring the lesson back into focus.
“Marvin, if you like we can talk about that later.” Ivan said, his voice suddenly even and somewhat heady. He had to focus a moment himself to realize he had unintentionally been copying Penelope and used her skills to enhance the effect of his speech.
“Yeah...that's fine.” Marvin agreed, looking at Ivan somewhat nervously, but then shifting his gaze back to the scroll.
Ivan nodded and expanded the Scroll with a thought. More information spilled onto the page. That graph from before became the main focus. Along the x access were slots depicting levels in 5 level increments. Each was labeled with the appropriate class rank for the jobs contained in the slots beneath.
“You've used the basic terminology for Class Ranks so I guess you understand that?” Ivan asked.
“Yeah, yeah. Basic Jobs only get to Level 5. Standard to Level 10, Adept to 15, and Advanced to twenty, and up five maximum levels on through Expert to Master, Grand Master, and Champion. Everyone knows that, but it's not like anyone really manages anything past Expert without drawing attention to themselves or getting too big for their head.” Marvin replied.
“You're forgetting Avatar and Ultimate.” Ivan chided gently, but Marvin waved him off.
“Sure the Hero Job given by a God is technically in the Ultimate Class, but it's not like anyone else is.” Marvin said, disparaging the thought of such high level Jobs as impossibilities.
Ivan smiled sadly thinking of his Goddess again, but was able to control his emotions this time. He remembered walking with her on this lesson, and reveling in her magic. She had been teaching him, got fed up with his own questions and went to the door, and tapped on it. Ivan had felt her magic stir the very walls around them.
He remembered her grin when she took him by the hand and opened the door. It hadn't opened into the hallway of the Parish, but onto a path somewhere deep in the mountains far away. Even there, wherever it was, the children cheered to see her coming, and the little village nearby broke into sudden activity to welcome her with a feast.
Ivan remembered meeting the man Istania had brought him there to meet, and made him inspect with his very own magic to prove a point. The smiling old man, with his old wrinkled hands, and grand and great grandchildren gathered about him had an Avatar Class Job. It was the wild caster job, Pyromancer, brought all the way to its highest form of Avatar of Flame.
Unfortunately that wasn't the only person Ivan had met with such a job.
“There are people who work their way to such heights Marvin. I've met them.” Ivan told Marvin somewhat sternly.
Ivan wasn't exactly keen on the idea of figuring out what just what any of the Champion Class ArchBishops of Theadus's holy orders could do, let alone their leader, the Pope of Light. A cold part of him that always remembered his rage seemed to write that down, and save it for later. A goal to be met. Another of Theadus's ignorant and malefic followers to claim vengeance upon.
Ivan shook his head and tried to focus. He looked up at the rain and over at a table that boasted its own awning.
“We should sit. This one will take a minute.”