Ted stood in a line next to Jerah, in the morning sunshine, just another recruit in green clothes in one of the three lines of ten. He was in one of the training squares that he’d seen the night before, albeit one of the more boring ones; it was literally just a grassy square. An instructor, female, dark, willowy and attractive, stood at the front, giving them directions on basic magic usage, stating them loud and clearly, not stopping to allow questions or to register any looks of confusion that might appear on the faces of the trainees.
‘You have all been bestowed the ‘Basic Magic’ Skill. This is as simple as magic gets, so don’t go thinking that you’re suddenly a powerful sorcerer. You are not. You will be able to understand the basics of magic and its effects on the world, alongside using basic non-affiliated magical spells.
‘To test this, you have been given the Technique ‘Light’. In this class you will be testing your new skill and technique. First I recommend that you view your Stats screen to review the details of your new Skill and Technique. Then I suggest you try to use it using the instincts that come from your new Skill.
‘You may also have received a notification in your display, informing you of a message. I have allowed you access to your Mission Log, which details all notifications which you may receive. Your notification will be informing you of the skill and technique award. Feel free to read it to clear the notification.’
Ted had already opened his Stats menu the moment the instructor mentioned the skill, amazed to see the Basic Magic skill now sitting below his Spear Mastery skill, which he noticed now was somehow at level 3. He ignored that particular change for now, focusing on the magic. Beneath the Technique title there was:
‘Spell - Light - Level 1’
Now an old hand at this, Ted focused on Basic Magic and said ‘More information’. He knew that last time he’d said ‘what the fuck does that mean?’, but he figured it was probably more around intention than exact wording. He was proven correct when a pop up appeared over his Stats menu.
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‘Basic Magic - Level 1. The basic pillar required for use and comprehension of magic, this skill does not automatically gift any spells or techniques, but allows the user a basic understanding of how magic and mana functions and how it might be channelled and used. This skill is a foundation upon which more complicated magics must be built.
Improving this Skill will allow easier use or manipulation of Basic magic spells, interaction with ambient magic, or magical items.
This Skill is supported by the Intelligence and Spirit attributes.
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Interesting, he thought, before saying ‘Close’. He looked at the Light spell.
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Technique
Spell - Light - Level 1. This spell produces a small orb of non-elemental white light capable of illuminating a short distance. The longer the spell is maintained, the more mana the spell costs. Intensity and size of the light can be increased, but stability of spell will reduce. Higher levels of this spell will allow additional orbs, increased stability, and other effects.
This Spell is supported by the Skill: Basic Magic.
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Well, that all made sense; Ted was glad to see that there was some consistency and logic going around, even if it was with regards to magic. He looked at Jerah, without closing his menu.
‘You get it?’ he asked.
‘Yes, but I cannot say that I feel any different.’ Jerah replied. ‘There are no instructions; should I just wave an arm?’
‘Unsure.’ said Ted. When he’d learnt Spear Mastery, it had come very naturally, to the point that he could barely stop it. With that in mind, he opened his Mission Log. After some practice he’d found he was getting the hang of mental commands with the CPS, and as with the information, it worked with intention over exact wording.
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* Mission Log -
Missions from the Authority - 0
Miscellaneous Quests - 0
System Messages - 3
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System Message:
The Authority has granted you a new Skill.
You have learnt the Skill: Basic Magic, Level 1!
System Message:
The Authority has granted you a new Technique.
You have learnt the Technique: Spell: Light, Level 1!
System Message:
You have taken the initiative and started training your combat skills before Basic Training has begun. You have learnt the Skill: Spear Mastery, Level 1!
System Message:
New Mission: Combat the Dummy
You have bravely engaged a Level 1 Combat Dummy despite having no combat training or experience. Defeat the Combat Dummy in physical combat, or receive a humiliating defeat in the form of bruises from a wooden sword.
Reward: A Level 1 Technique in the Spear Master Skill
System Message:
Mission Complete: Combat the Dummy
Congratulations! You defeated the Dummy through skill, determination, and more than a little luck. Choose between the following Techniques:
Power Thrust, Level 1
Or;
Stand Your Ground, Level 1
System Message:
Your continued practice with the Spear has allowed you to improve your Skill.
Your Spear Mastery has risen to Level 2!
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System Message:
Your continued practice with the Spear has allowed you to improve your Skill.
Your Spear Mastery has risen to Level 3!
End of Messages
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Ted had to bite down on another ‘Holy shit’, lest Jerah smack him again. He mentally asked for information on the skills, and received two more pop ups.
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Technique
Special Attack - Power Thrust - Level 1. This Technique is a combat technique that can be used with spear or polearm based weapons. The user thrusts his spear forward using a magically enhanced thrust, able to pierce through armour and basic defences, both magical and physical. More magic can be used to increase the power of this technique, but technique may fail if overcharged. Higher levels of this technique will allow stronger attacks and variations to be added.
This Special Attack is supported by the Skill: Spear Mastery.
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Technique
Special Attack - Stand Your Ground - Level 1. This Technique is a defensive combat technique that can be used with spear or polearm based weapons. The user slams his magically infused weapon into the ground, point angled towards an attacker, resulting in a small shockwave and creating a harmful barrier in front of the weapon tip. More magic can be used to increase the power of the shockwave, or the defensive strength or area of the barrier, but technique may fail if overcharged. Higher levels of this technique will allow wider and stronger shockwaves and higher defensive capabilities.
This Special Attack is supported by the Skill: Spear Mastery.
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Ted was far from an expert on anything in this world, but this sounded pretty amazing. No one else had mentioned getting anything like this. Not that he’d really spoken to anyone except Jerah, and a couple of others so far.
He had no idea which one to pick though; defence or attack? Which would benefit him best? Which was most useful.
Did it even matter at this point? Likely he was a toddler choosing between two wooden swords, when everyone outside was walking around with diamond tipped katanas.
He decided on Stand Your Ground, on the basis that the thrust attack was really just a stronger version of what he could already do with his own arms. He was not capable of causing a shockwave though, and he’d really like to be. At this rate, he’d be a wizard in no time. He mentally selected the Technique, and felt a warmth permeate his body, brief, but re-vitalising. He breathed out a long breath, and switched his menu back to the Stats. He was pleased to see that he now had two Techniques; underneath Light, Level 1, there was Stand Your Ground, Level 1.
Exciting stuff!
He closed his menu and looked around, remembering that he was actually supposed to be doing something. The lines had gone into disarray as the dozens of men, women, Lizardpeople, and single Bear-person, all shuffled around making some form of gesture with a hand or appendage, apparently in some attempt to summon the light. There was plenty of murmuring going on, and to Ted’s eye it looked like a dozen actors practising soliloquies to themselves outside of the casting room. He let out a small snort of amusement, before deciding to have a go himself.
He’d seen plenty of films and read plenty of books that discussed magic. Of course, all of them were fantasy novels, made up by authors who had almost certainly never travelled to the Second World, learnt about magic, gone through Basic Training, and then returned to Earth to spread the knowledge. But there were always a few themes that were common throughout. Either magic was within you, or around you, an internal or external resource; in either case, concentration and focus were the keys. He also knew that standard video game practice would involve equipping the spell and clicking the left mouse button, but he couldn’t find a way to apply it here.
He closed his eyes and thought about magic. They hadn’t had much of a primer on it since joining Basic Training; this morning had been an introduction to world politics and the geography of the planet, about as basic as it went, and whilst magic had been mentioned offhand, there’d been no detail.He suspected that, since he had magic ‘points’ it must be some internal resource, like energy. Or blood? Maybe not blood. Although maybe that was what hitpoints were?
He was getting distracted. He tried to focus again, bringing his breathing into line. Around him he heard shouts of frustration, and he thought one or two of success. He ignored them, and tried to focus on sensing every aspect of his mind and body. He felt his breath going in and out, his heart beating slowly, his stomach gurgling. And then he thought he felt something else. A slight ringing, like the tiniest of bells being constantly shaken, half felt, half heard, trickling through his limbs and focusing in his chest. Could that be it? He’d never felt it before. But how to draw it out?
He opened his eyes, and saw Jerah stood holding a small orb of light, gazing at it with wonder.
‘It’s beautiful’ he said, staring into the heart of the small sphere. ‘Look, Theo!’. Ted smiled at the delight in his friend’s eyes. ‘Good job Jerah.’ he said, before turning back to his own efforts.
Feeling like he now had a good idea of where his magic was stored, he tried to bring it forth in some meaningful way, out from his body, into the world. He found himself instinctively bringing his hands together as if holding an egg between his two palms, and a tingle as the magic in his body trickled out into them. There seemed to be something in his mind asking for purpose, direction, and he realised it was the magic, having been given an exit, but no form to take. A whole host of ideas came to him as to what he would want to do with it, but there was only one idea he was actually able to imbue it with.
Light he thought, forcefully into his cupped hands. Suddenly a glow came from between his fingers, and he opened his hands up to see a small, glowing orb.
He beamed, a smile as wide as Jerah’s, not expecting how pleased with himself he would be. But this was magic! Real magic! He looked at Jerah and met the tall man’s pleased gaze.
‘It’s amazing!’ Ted said, looking back at his glowing hands.
‘Well done, my friend!’ Jerah said, mimicking the motion of looking between Ted and his glowing orb. ‘We’re magicians!’
‘You are not magicians!’ the instructor called out, making the two of them jump, turning to see that the slender woman had walked behind them as she observed the group. ‘You are basic magic users, nothing more.’
Ted rolled his eyes at Jerah, making sure the instructor didn’t see, making Jerah smile in return. The instructor continued walking round, shouting encouragement.
‘If you’ve managed it, see if you can modulate it, maintain it, grow it, shrink it. Keep an eye on your magic points; if you run out, you’ll be ready to pass out and you won’t be making any more pretty lights. If you’re struggling, raise your hand.’
Several hands shot up, while several others started talking to discuss their progress. Ted and Jerah kept quiet, as they concentrated on the ball of magic in front of them. Ted opened up his Stats window to see that his MP had dropped from 100 to 98. Not a lot, but considering he was holding the equivalent of a small child’s night light in front of him, it seemed like a large expenditure.
He decided to try following the instructor’s advice, and concentrated on the flow of the magic that was trickling out into his palms. Could he slow it down, make the ball smaller? He tried to partially close the imaginary valves to the magic flow, unintentionally clenching most other parts of his body too. But it seemed to work, and the ball got smaller, until it was about the size of a marble. Ted held it between two fingers, and held it up to the sky. There was no real mass to it, no weight or even physical feeling to the ball, just enough resistance for him to know it was there. He wondered what would happen if it no longer touched him, and to test it, threw the ball up into the air.
It disappeared the moment it left his palm.
Interesting. He looked at Jerah, who had gone the other way and increased the size of his light. The ball was pulsing, dimmer yet bigger, but barely maintaining its shape.
‘Trouble?’ he asked.
‘I can’t keep it together!’ Jerah said, a little panicked. Suddenly the ball popped, and Jerah recoiled a little, with a small cry of pain.
‘Careful not to push too far, you may end up hurting yourself!’ the instructor called out, too late and knowing it.
‘Are you okay?’ Ted asked, taking a step towards Jerah, who held up a hand.
‘I’m fine, just a little backlash. Really drained my magic and a bit of my health! I’m down to 80 magic points, and 99 hit points!’ he said.
‘Getting too cocky, mate.’ Ted said, teasing. ‘Stick to marbles like me.’
The rest of the session, which turned out to be two hours, had all members of the group prove their ability to summon a small light, with some evening gaining Light, Level 2. Ted was not one of these, but was pleased to hear from those that did that all it did was allow you to make it a little brighter. Nothing groundbreaking.
They were provided with small potions that restored their mana points to full, well needed after a long session of making tiny glowing balls. Ted downed the blue, tasteless liquid, putting the small glass back on the table that it had been provided on, feeling a tingle similar to that of using the mana, but in reverse. On his Stats view he saw his MP count rapidly back up from 60 to 100.
‘Right, where to next?’ he said, rubbing his hands together. He already knew; he’d read the schedule.
‘You’ll now head over to Classroom 1 for Class Management and CPS Usage. Don’t dilly dally, you’re already late!’
Ted and Jerah shared another meaningful glance as they made their way through the gate to the training area and towards the barracks. Ted was disappointed to see that, even in a new world run by an apparently omnipotent god, the schools were still filled with teachers that would make you late, and then make it both your fault and your problem. Some things never changed.