Chapter 32: Defense
With Professor Nicodemus’s permission, Mercedes left the Temple of Knowledge and wandered down the Sanctum’s garden paths until she found a secluded bench somewhat hidden behind the swaying blue blooms of a willow-like tree with lavender-scented leaves. She sat down on the warm, firm granite slab and silently observed the trembling of her hands before she clenched them into stillness.
‘It’s fine. No risk, no reward.’
And she had definitely been rewarded.
It took the Sparrow a moment to figure out how to return her new spectacles to their corporeal form so that she could remove them from her face and examine them.
[Mystic Appraisal Failed!]
[The item you are attempting to identify is above your rank.]
“Haa. Figures. Thankfully, [Quest Insight] still works on them.” She tucked the crystal pink glasses behind her ears once more before hiding them from view. “What now?”
Mercedes didn’t think exploring the Sanctum would be a good idea. Even if she had earned some favor with all the Titans, she didn’t want to risk bumping into more of Serenitus’s Disciples.
‘Professor Nicodemus said I should return to the Academy and wait, so I guess that’s where I’ll go.’
The Sparrow’s stomach emitted a low grumble, and she sighed as she got to her feet.
‘Might as well eat something while I wait.’
image [https://www.royalroad.com/dist/img/ornaments/16.png]
The Basilisk’s door greeted her with its usual hiss, and the albino moved to her desk, determined to finish more of her homework assignment as she ate. Before reaching her seat, Mercedes stiffened beneath a hostile gaze that drew her pink eyes to the reading loft above, where Novice Taran observed her over the railing with a scroll in hand.
‘Right. Almost forgot about him.’
The Sparrow bobbed her head cautiously in greeting and sank into her chair, fighting the urge to turn around and leave.
The Soul Reaver’s electric-blue eyes continued to stare at the albino with an uncanny expression that reminded her of Nicodemus’s clinical stare. It was as if they both viewed her as an object to be studied and monitored rather than a living being or even a threat.
‘Nevermind. Just ignore him. I don't want the added attention of being responsible for another student getting suspended.’
The Sparrow summoned her quest log and concentrated on the accumulated requests.
[Active Quest Log]
* [Primal Mission: Locate the Master of the Abyss and Liberate Him from His Sealed Interdimensional Prison.]
* Current Objective: Pending.
* Suggestion: Open a line of communication with Vortexus.
* [Special Admittance Scholarship Graduation]
* Current Objective: Complete all necessary curriculums required to graduate.
* Suggestion: Complete Quest: [Dreaded Homework Assignment].
* [Dreaded Homework Assignment]
* Current Objective: Complete all reading assignments.
* Pathways to Power I: Understanding Basic Primary Stats. [Complete]
* Pathways to Power II: Understanding Complex Secondary Stats. [Complete]
* Awakening the Arcane: A Primer to Harnessing Magical Essence and Energy. [Complete]
* Mystical Essence Unraveled: A Beginner’s Guide to Magic Theory. [Incomplete] Progress: 0%.
* The Art of Defense: A Mystic’s Manual to Magical Attire and Enchanted Protection I. [Incomplete] Progress: 0%.
‘[Awakening the Arcane] was easy enough to digest. It was pretty much just a review of yesterday’s lessons on channeling magic internally and externally. That leaves [Mystical Essence Unraveled] and [The Art of Defense]. Personally, magic theory sounds like a boring read.’
Mercedes summoned the metallic silver leather bound primer from her inventory and checked the table of contents, where she was pleasantly surprised to see only one lesson. It was only after she read the introduction that the Sparrow realized the [Quest Insight] prompt hadn’t automatically activated, and she was reading the information through her glasses.
Lesson One: A Study of Defense
The following guide briefly studies the intricacies of mystical armor and defensive attributes required for each of the challenges and dangers unique to each realm. This primer contains an overview of the basic types of armor and their components, essential knowledge for any aspiring Mystic or Adventurer seeking to survive the perils of the Mystic Realms.
‘Nope, that’s too many words. Let’s try it with [Quest Insight].’
Lesson One: A Study of Defense.
A mage without armor is like a fish without gills. A ridiculously absurd idea.
The Sparrow raised a brow at the sudden change in tone but kept reading.
Basic Types of Armor:
* Spellthread Cloth Robes: Requires INT to wear. Provides M.DEF, P.DEF, and S.DEF. Highest defense stat is M.DEF.
* Aetherium Plated Armor: Requires STR to wear. Provides M.DEF, P.DEF, and S.DEF. Highest defense stat is P.DEF.
* Shadowhide Leather Armor: Requires DEX to wear. Provides high mobility with lowered M.DEF, P.DEF, and S.DEF. Highest defense stat is S.DEF.
* Enchanted Chain Mail Armor: A Hybrid armor forged of monster scales or other harvested ore and materials imbued with magic essence. This enchanted armor allows a Mystic to substitute INT for STR, resulting in increased P.DEF, but with a reduced number of Primary Stats per Tier.
* Enchanted Leather Armor: A Hybrid armor forged of ethereal hide or other harvested skins and hides imbued with magic essence. This enchanted armor allows a Mystic to substitute INT for DEX, resulting in increased S.DEF, but with a reduced number of Primary Stats per Tier.
‘Okay, so there are only a few options for Mystics due to the stats we’re given. Sucks that I didn’t benefit from more stats due to being a Hybrid, but at least there are alternatives if I want tougher armor.’
Tiers of Armor:
* Tier I: Inferior Armor is generally crafted by an Apprentice. It is also occasionally obtained as loot drops from low-level monsters.
* Tier II: Common Armor crafted by a Journeyman. It may also be obtained as loot or quest rewards for basic quests.
‘Right, and based on the information in [Awakening the Arcane], these are what Rank I Initiates and Rank II Novices would typically wear. Nice of the Academy to start us off with Common Training Gear.’
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* Tier III: Superior Armor crafted by an Expert and obtained as loot or quest rewards.
* Tier IV: Epic Armor crafted by a Master Artisan and obtained as loot or quest rewards.
‘Well, I have Primula’s cursed Artifact, which, despite being useless, is technically considered Superior or Disciple gear. That would make the Tier IV Epic jewelry and spectacles Astralindar gave me Master gear… which explains their ridiculous stats.’
* Tier V: Legendary Armor is crafted by a Legendary Master Artisan, rarely obtained as loot or a quest reward.
* Tier VI: Titans create and gift their most valued Disciples or Champions with exclusive Mystical Armor as a reward for completing challenging missions that benefit the realm. These soul-bound pieces of gear are highly coveted by Mystics of all ranks due to their unique ability to tier/rank up with the wearer if obtained at a lower level.
‘That sounds—fucking awesome.’
* Tier VII: In the realm of the Primordials, there exists a coveted treasure known as Transcendent Armor. This mysterious armor is unique, soul-bound, and infused with the Primordial's essence and intentions. It is only granted to the most devout Titans, and each piece is designed with the wearer in mind. This legendary armor is shrouded in myth and spoken of only in whispers.
[Note] According to legend, Transcendent Armor cannot be destroyed, but if it does shatter, its essence and the soul of its Titan return to the Primordial Being who created them.
‘No point in getting my hopes up then. I have a long way to go before I can even dream of my Master bestowing such a gift on me.’ The Sparrow sighed as she turned the page and blinked, realizing she was already nearly finished with the primer. ‘That was quick.’
* Artifacts: Artifacts are rare and powerful gear items that cannot be crafted and are hard to come by due to the specific conditions needed for their creation. They are imbued with the spirit of their previous or original owner, which can make them both helpful and harmful to those who possess them.
‘Talk about bad luck. Of course, the first Artifact I get my hands on would have a malevolent spirit with every reason to hate me.’
* High-level Artifacts are often found in Legendary dungeons or inherited from guardians or parents. They become soul-bound to their new owner, which makes them difficult to steal or trade without the death of the previous owner.
‘Wait, that—doesn’t sound good.’
* Artifacts hold grudges against those who killed their previous owner, but they can still be bound to someone forcefully. However, this usually comes with a crippling debuff. In some rare cases, the Artifact will not impose a debuff if they view the death as justified or if they hold an extreme dislike for their previous owner.
‘Thankfully, I’m not soul-bound to Primula’s dagger. At least—I hope I’m not.’
* It is rare, but not uncommon, for Artifacts to be hunted down and sold at the Shadow Syndicate Underground Market to avoid this debuff and any resulting bounty. While artifacts can be worn at any level, no Mystic below the rank of Master (IV) should wear one due to their coveted and unpredictable nature.
The albino closed her eyes with a groan before finishing the final text.
* Gear Set Bonuses: Crafted gear can be obtained in sets that offer bonuses when worn together. Rare Sets of Primal Crafted Gear are available through the Mystic Emporium for purchasing with Favor Points. To obtain this gear, a Mystic must be tethered to a Primordial. The starting price for these sets is 10,000 Favor Points each.
* [Note] Favor Points can be earned in different ways, with more significant amounts awarded for completing difficult missions and quests that have the potential to shape the future of the Realm(s).
[Here ends Lesson One. You have completed [The Art of Defense I: A Mystic’s Manual to Magical Attire and Enchanted Protection].]
Additional Recommended Reading: [Threads of Magic: A Mystic’s Handbook on the Art of Tailoring], [Magical Metallurgy: A Comprehensive Guide to Metalworking], [Mystical Hides: The Secret Techniques of Shadow Leatherworking], and [Mystical Inscriptions: Mastering Enchantments and Runes as a Mystic].
‘Hopefully, the gear set bonuses get better the higher up they go,’ Mercedes mused as she massaged her aching canines in an attempt to mollify her growing hunger. The sound of a chair being dragged across the floor turned her attention to where the Soul Reaver now sat at his desk across from her. ‘When the hell did he come back down?’
The Sparrow refocused on the quest screen, which updated [Dreaded Homework Assignment] with her newest completed objective. ‘Just one more to go—if we don’t end up with more reading today.’
“It seems your trip to Arcanum’s Sanctum was successful,” Taran observed neutrally as he turned the page of his book. “Which Titan did you get tethered to?”
The albino blinked in surprise, then scanned the room to ensure they were alone. “Sorry?”
His blue eyes narrowed with annoyance as he continued reading for a moment before muttering, “So you’re illiterate and stupid.”
Mercedes choked down an angry laugh as she returned the finished primer to her inventory. “Neither. I was simply confused as to why it mattered to a prodigy like you.”
“You can blame boredom,” Taran retorted as he turned another page. “That and morbid curiosity over which Titan would be desperate enough to accept a weakling from the Blood Realms.”
The Sparrow’s brows furrowed in confusion and anger, but her stomach rumbled loudly before she could formulate a response.
The Soul Reaver’s electric blue eyes focused on her for a moment before his lips twisted into an expression of disgust. “Sounds like you’re hungry.”
“I am.”
“Then perhaps you should eat.”
“I was planning on it.”
He raised a brow and resumed reading before commenting, “Don’t let me stop you then.”
‘Fucking Prick.’ Mercedes pushed her chair back and strode quickly toward the Basilisk’s door. She wasn’t sure if the Novice was trying to get a reaction out of her, but his tone and gaze filled the Sparrow with a nauseating sense of worthlessness she thought she had left behind.
‘Just because he won some sort of Mystic DNA lottery doesn’t make him better than the rest of us.’
She stormed out of the classroom, determined to find somewhere private to feed her grumbling stomach in peace, and headed towards the courtyard.
‘I wonder what kind of expression he’d make if I introduced him to Vortexus.’ Her lips tugged into an amused expression at the thought. ‘Even High Priestess Primula was no match for a Void Ravager.’
The Sparrow’s smile faded as she reached the courtyard archways and observed the two Disciples and four Novices gathered around the water fountain. She noticed the disciples' phoenix badges and wondered if they were waiting for their Professor.
The albino turned and left when one of the Disciples noted her presence. The Dining Hall doors were still closed, so she continued to the end of the hallway, where she found the Academy’s first-floor bathrooms. With no other alternative left aside from returning to the classroom, Mercedes sighed and shouldered the door open, scanning each empty stall in turn before shutting herself inside the last one to sit on the immaculate toilet.
Hunger overrode the humiliation of her present circumstances as the albino pulled out a plate of sushi and three blood-eel eggs and took a bite of each.
[Astra Update! A Vitality-rich meal of [Fertilized Blood-Eel Eggs] and [Blood-Eel Sushi Patties] has been consumed. Finish your meal to replenish all primary stats and receive the following bonus: +6 VIT, +4 STA, +4 M.ENG, +3 S.ENG, and +1 AGI for 3 hours.]
Progress: 1/6 Blood-Eel Eggs consumed.
Progress: 1/2 Blood-Eel Sushi Patties consumed.
The Sparrow nudged the prompt to the side. ‘Interesting. The number of Blood-Eel Eggs I must eat has been reduced to account for the Sushi patties. The Stats I get as a reward have also increased. Maybe they stacked? Is that because they’re both made from similar ingredients?’
Mercedes sucked down the last of the eggs greedily, then used the last bite of glazed sushi to absorb any remaining blood from her plate. The sushi wasn’t half bad and at least somewhat resembled ‘food.’ The Sparrow had sampled her first taste of the grilled, glazed eel the night before and had been surprised by the various flavors that made up the simple dish.
‘It’s a nice change from salty bland yolks.’
After finishing, she dumped the leftover gelatinous sacks in the toilet, stored her plate, activated [Refresh] on her uniform, and then left the stall to wash her hands.
‘I still need to contact Vortexus. But not here.’
The bathroom door opened before she reached the sink, and Hestia rushed in. The younger Initiate’s boots screeched to an abrupt halt as her brown eyes fixated upon the albino’s face with a look of widening fear.
Mercedes was confused for a moment until she glanced at the mirror, where she was greeted by the sight of her blood-stained lips and chin.
‘Shit. And the day was off to such a good start.’