Chapter 2 March 3 774 FF
Kiln growled and prowled the woods around the cabin looking for signs of anything dangerous. He was impatient. Over the last year he had managed to track down no less than five creatures that had dropped skill crystals. The last one he had found was just last week. He had found the wolf and tracked it to its den. He spent a day carefully studying the area for the perfect spot, a nice deep ditch that was impossible to climb out of without a rope. Then he lured the wolf into it, climbed the preset rope and filled the wolf with arrows to claim its crystal. He had returned to the cabin to present the crystal to his best friend as a birthday present.
Dan had been ecstatic when he had been given the crystal. He had then promptly went into the nearby human city, sold the crystal and holed himself up in the cabin for the last three days. It irked Kiln that his gift had been sold for mere coin. Kiln thought that the goal for the two of them was to improve their skills so that they could get powerful enough to head east and join a mercenary or adventuring company, but apparently money was more important now. Kiln kicked absently at a branch and a rabbit dashed out of a bush and away from. Kiln had not noticed the rabbit. Normally he would have, but his mind was too distracted.
Kiln sighed and headed back towards the cabin. This area of the woods was dangerous enough that a young distracted elf would be easy prey for the stronger beasts that would occasionally emerge from the deeper woods. The cabin was close enough to the edge of the woods and sturdily enough constructed that most creatures would go out of their way to avoid it.
Kiln quietly opened the door and peeked in. Dan was sitting at his desk and did not notice. Kiln stepped in and could hear his friend muttering to himself. On the desk was an open tome with a complex diagram sprawled across the open pages. Other pages of notes were scattered across the table and an unfamiliar sword belt was stretched across the table. Kiln eyed it with interest as he realized a long, complex and clearly magical pattern stretched across the length of the inside of the belt, etched in silver that gleamed just a tad bit too brightly in the sunlight. Kiln walked to the table and leaned over to examine it, careful to avoid touching it.
“What the-”
Dan started in shock at the sudden appearance of the elf. Kiln blinked innocently at the startled mage.
“Would you stop sneaking up on me, you pointy eared, tree loving sneak thief.”
Kiln smirked and rolled his eyes.
“I walked through the front door. It’s not my fault you don’t pay attention to your surroundings.”
“I am more than willing to bet that you specifically entered with the intention to scare me.”
“Oh, have you finally learned to read minds? I doubt you are powerful enough yet.”
Dan’s smirk instantly wiped away Kiln’s own. He had known Dan for five years now and knew that when his friend smiled like that things were about to go very wrong for whoever he was on its receiving end. It typically happened about eight or nine moves into their chess matches.
“I may not know the mind reading spell… yet, but power is no longer an issue.”
Kiln eyed the belt on the table warily.
“What did you do Dan?”
“I sold the crystal you gave me a few days ago.”
“I noticed.”
“Then I used the proceeds from the sale to craft my first permanent enchantment. Specifically, I purchased all the materials for a mana circle.”
Kiln’s breath caught.
“Isn’t that-”
“The skill that lets me create a magic circuit that will steadily absorb mana every day without a maximum limit? Yes, that’s the one.”
Kiln shook his head. This changed everything. Up until now, Dan had been an interesting if somewhat weak mage. With the completion of a mana circle though, Dan had officially left the title of mage behind and could grasp at the title of wizard. Something that very few people across the world of Herald would ever have the opportunity of achieving. There were probably only a dozen or so wizards on the western continent and of all the different types of magic users, a powerful wizard was the most feared. Granted Dan was still weak, but the completed mana circle meant that he would not stay that way for long.
“So how long before you can start making real lasting enchantments?”
Dan shrugged the question away.
“Theoretically, I could start making one in a little over three months. This mana circle is very weak and will take at least that long to accumulate the mana for a permanent enchantment. I also would need a lot of gold to pay for the required materials. The enchantment also wouldn’t be very powerful.”
Kiln sighed.
“So what you are saying is that we will need to wait some more before we can leave.”
Dan rolled his eyes.
“Are you going to go back outside to sulk some more?”
“Yeah I might- Hey!”
Dan laughed.
“Go look for some more crystals. Ideally we would need at least two so that I can make an item for each of us.”
“Why is magic so expensive?”
“Most isn’t, just mine.”
“You couldn’t have picked a cheaper hobby?”
“Ask me that in a year once you have some shiny new toys.”
“Fine, I just want to leave already.”
“So impatient, besides I doubt your family would let us leave just yet.”
“And you think another year will change their minds?”
“Why not?”
“Dan, you realize my parents are elves right?”
“Yeah, so what?”
“Do you think waiting another year will really make them more willing to let me wander the world aimlessly with you?”
Dan opened his mouth to respond, paused then shut it again. He thought for several seconds then spoke again.
“You’re right, they wouldn’t blink an eye at making you wait a decade or two. Okay then, new plan. We wait a year to let them relax and improve our equipment then we sneak off to find adventure. Now go find me more crystals.”
“So you can sell them?”
“And use the money to make us fancy magic items, exactly.”
Kiln nodded. His annoyance at his friend was gone. Stretching, Kiln headed for the door. He wasn’t sure if he could find more crystals as easily as Dan seemed to think he could. It was incredible Kiln had found any already. As Kiln stepped outside and strode into the woods the breeze rustled his cloak and blew a few leaves. Kiln left no traces behind him as he set out on his hunt and behind him.
Back in the cabin, Dan hid in another book. It was one he had already read, but the familiar words comforted him. In one year, they would both leave he knew. A few months ago that would have excited him, but now it made him scared. He glanced back at the bed he slept on. Beneath it sat his sword. The same sword that he had refused to even draw since he had used it to kill a wolf that had very nearly killed him. A wolf that haunted his dreams every night since the day he had killed it.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Dan glanced out the window at the waning light of day. It would be night soon and he would have to return to the hated bed and the memories that it brought to him every night. Once again he thought about the Gift and once he wondered if it wasn’t really a Gift, but a Curse.
April 6 775 FF
Dan hoisted his pack onto his shoulder. It was heavy. His wand of binding was tucked into his belt. Kiln had found two skill crystals. Dan had sold one to make a magical pair of boots for Kiln. The boots would increase his speed slightly for a minute. He had thought about using the other crystal to make something for himself. Instead, he had used it to make his wand of binding fully functioning. The blade of memory was carefully wrapped up and tied to the side of Dan’s pack instead of buckled to his hip.
On the opposite side of the room Kiln finished adjusting his own pack. He glanced over at his friend and noted the way his friend had packed his sword. Dan had told him that the Gift was called the blade of memory. Kiln knew that initially Dan had not known exactly what it could do, but he suspected that Dan had figured out how it worked. Based on the name, Kiln knew it probably helped Dan to remember things. The elf had seen Dan tossing and turning in his sleep every night and suspected that Dan was forced to relive his memories every night. If they were the memories Kiln suspected they were, it would make for some restless nights to say the least.
Dan’s desire to adventure had been diminished, but he was still willing to set out on the journey. Kiln knew that and respected his friend all the more for it. It took a certain type of courage to face your fears and Dan was doing just that in an effort to support Kiln.
As the two faced each other they nodded and headed out the cabin door. As they did Dan grabbed the walking stick he kept by the door. Kiln rolled his eyes.
“I envy you, your staff, o great and marvelous wizard.”
Dan nodded sagely.
“It is a fine piece of wood that I have. It’s certainly better than any of the sticks you possess. The one is bent and the others are far too short to use as a proper walking stick.”
Kiln laughed and pointed the direction they needed to go to avoid any of the other elven rangers who would be wandering the woods nearby. For the next several hours they traveled. Soon they emerged from the woods of the elven tribes and could see a road running along its edge and east across a wide expanse of open rolling hills. Kiln pulled out a map and pointed at it.
“So we should be on the edge of the Sigsmund, right now. We need to travel northeast until we reach Pars. From there, it’s a straight shot east to Friedmark. Once there, we can either join a mercenary company fighting at the border with Siln or find an adventuring party. I hear there are lands north of there where adventurers go to fight giants and search for treasure. The trip should only take about a month and a half or so.”
Dan frowned.
“We don’t have a lot of coin. Do you think we can make it that far?’
Kiln shrugged.
“I can hunt as we go and we can always stop and look for odd jobs in the cities and towns we pass. We should be fine.”
“Alright then, let’s go.”
Soon the woods of the elven tribes were just a smudge on the horizon. Dan strolled along, walking stick in one hand and, to Kiln’s incredulity, an open book in the other. Kiln would often leave the road to climb a hill and scout the area. He was faster on his feet than Dan who would stay at a steady, relaxed pace on the road. It worked well for them both. Kiln loved exploring the nearby hills and was careful to never get too far. Not that he was too worried about leaving his friend alone. Anyone who tried to stop Dan would get a nasty surprise. The belt Dan had made appeared simple to the naked eye, but the magic circle on the inner side of the belt had had enough time to accumulate hundreds of mana. Dan could protect himself or run if it came to it.
That became their routine for the next two weeks. Occasionally the pair would come across other travelers or would stop in a small town for a hot meal and a warm bed. The weather was warm with occasional drizzles of rain that would not stay for too long at first, but became increasingly heavier and longer lasting.
It was fifteen days after the two set out that they ran into their first real challenge. Kiln had noticed the trouble while scouting ahead and had quickly ran back to warn Dan. Together they climbed a nearby hill and peered down. Dan and Kiln could have easily avoided the trio of rough looking armored men they saw below them, but they both saw the other pair of travelers from their advantage on top of the nearby hill. Neither wanted to leave the white furred beastman or the scaly humanoid to the mercy of the brigands. So Kiln grimly notched an arrow to his bowstring and Dan pulled out his wand. If things went badly, they could always run away.
The first arrow caught one brigand in the shoulder and a huge, thick glob of sticky black goo struck a second brigand, completely restraining the unsuspecting man.
Name: Kilnoher
Age: 18
Race: Elf
Mana
Nature Mana: 1/1
Earth Mana: 1/1
Body Mana: 1/1
Blessings:
Longbow of Sight: Level 1 0/2 Doubles your bow range and darkvision
Cloak of Shadows: Shadow Stealth Level 1 1/2 Increase your stealth level by the level of this cloak
Skills:
Health: 21/21
Longevity: Level 4 3/16 Your lifespan is increase by 4 years
Darkvision: Level 4 3/16 You can see perfectly in the dark for up to 4(8) feet.
Bow range: Level 3 0/8 You bow range is 53(106) feet
Bow Accuracy: Level 2 1/4
Bow damage: Level 1 0/2
Nature Mana: Level 1 1/2
Earth Mana: Level 1 0/2
Stealth: Level 2(3) 0/4
Tracking: Level 2 0/4
Perception: Level 1 0/2
Body Mana: Level 1 0/2
Speed Boost Spell: Level 2 0/4 2/2 points used
Speed increase: Level 1 0/2 1%
Boost Duration: Level 1 0/2 1 seconds per point of body mana used
Sense Animals: Level 1 0/2 You can sense the presence of animal in a range of up to 100 feet for 1 second per nature mana used
Cartography: Level 1 0/2
Name: Dan Del Torre
Age:18
Race: Human
Mana:
Basic Mana: 2/2
Body Mana 2/2
Blessings:
Blade of Memory: Relive the past of those you have slain and gain their experience
Wand of Binding: Level 2 0/2 2/2 points used
Charges level 1 0/2 1/1 charges(regains 1 charge per day)
Binding Duration: Level 1 0/2 Binding lasts 10 seconds
Skills:
Health: 18/19
Basic mana: Level 2 0/4
Body Mana: Level 2 0/4
Enchantment- Imbue Item(Skill Enhancement): Level 2 0/4 2/2 point used(requires 12 hour ritual and 1 gold per mana used)
Skill Enhancement increase: Level 1 0/2 Increases chosen skill by 1 level per 100(99) mana imbued
Skill Enhancement Duration: Level 1 0/2 Imbuement lasts 1 minutes per 100(99) mana imbued
Imbuement Item Recharge: Level 0 0/1 item recharges 0 mana per day
Longsword Accuracy: Level 3 0/8
Longsword Damage: Level 2 0/4
Longsword Parry: Level 3 1/8
Mana Circle(chosen skill): Level 2 1/4 Inscribe up to a level 2 mana circle on an object that will gather 1 mana per day per level. The inscriber may withdraw the mana at their leisure. Costs 100 gold to create per level or upgrade. Requires 12 hours uninterrupted to inscribe
Light Armor: Level 1 0/2
Mana Sight: Level 1 0/2 Can see mana at a range of 1 foot and 1% chance to identify its type
Magic resistance: Level 1 0/2
Enchantment Magic Mana Cost Reduction: Level 1 reduce enchantment costs by 1%
Speed Boost: Level 2 0/4 2/2 points used
Speed increase: Level 1 0/2 1%
Boost Duration: Level 1 0/2 1 seconds per point of body mana used
Strength boost: Level 2 0/4 2/2 points used
Strength increase: Level 1 0/2 1%
Boost Duration: Level 1 0/2 1 seconds per point of body mana used
Defense boost: Level 2 0/4 2/2 points used
Defense increase: Level 1 0/2 1%
Boost Duration: Level 1 0/2 1 seconds per point of body mana used
Weapon Enhancement(Temporary): Level 2 0/4 2/2 points use
Weapon Damage: Level 1 0/2 Increased by 1 level per 100(99) mana used
Boost Duration: Level 1 0/2 1 attack per 100(99) mana used
Armor Enhancement(Temporary): Level 2 0/4 2/2 points use
Armor Level: Level 1 0/2 Increased by 1 level per 100(99) mana used
Boost Duration: Level 1 0/2 Endures 1 attack per 100(99) mana used
Magic Items
Sword Belt- Inscribed with level 1 magic circle
Current Mana:
100 Basic mana
177 body mana
Notes on how wizards come to be: People with the potential to become wizards are actually quite common. The problem arises from the fact that that potential can only be awakened by studying a magical tome. The tome itself is imbued with magic and can only be created by a wizard of sufficient power. The concepts inside, while still somewhat complex, are not all that difficult to understand with sufficient study. The difficulty is that the tomes imbued with the proper magic are exceedingly rare and can only be used once. Couple that with the fact that high level wizards are required to create the tomes and that not all wizards achieve that level of mastery of their magic and it becomes apparent as to why wizards are so rare.
It also does not help that many other magic users are afraid of the power a fully trained wizard can possess and the less savory elements will also eliminate wizards when they are able. That is why most wizards do not travel openly and frequently hide in carefully warded strongholds. It is also why there are no schools for wizards in existence anymore. They proved to be too tempting of targets for darker forces.
-Excerpt from the notes of Dan Del Torrre