Orrin repeated his strategy again. He searched the floor until he found a small group of Skylight Anglers and experimented with his spells, earning the lion’s share of experience for himself.

One of the topics Professor Hugh had mentioned in class was how certain types of magic could exacerbate their corresponding spells. For instance, when fire magic and ice magic mixed people could sometimes create icy fog or boiling steam depending on the mana output, spell level, personal power, and a multitude of other uncontrollable factors. The core of the reading for Surviving Spell Attacks was a simple explanation of what types of mages you should avoid as a different type of mage.

Orrin’s questions had been on using your own magics in combination. While it was rare for a mage to use two conflicting types of magic, it wasn’t unheard of, according to Hugh. Orrin kept his specific magic spells to himself but he was able to come up with two new ways to attack using his summoned swords. Usually, he threw the cheap weapons at monsters to get the underlying requirement of damage on a creature to earn a portion of its experience. He studied the Anglers as they approached.

“Let’s do this.”

In his right hand, Orrin held a [Fire Sword]. Pointing the sword at the group of three monsters, he cast [Gust] focused not out in front of his body but through his hand. He let the mana coalesce and soak itself in the fire mana escaping as heat along the summoned blade before letting it loose.

The result was a hairdryer effect. The air still pushed the three monsters back but a quick check with [Identify] showed Orrin that he had done no damage to the fish.

He dodged multiple light attacks with his increased dexterity. With his speed, the fish couldn’t hope to bite him and instead spread out in an attempt to hit him with their ranged attack.

It took Orrin three attempts before he found a way to ignite the sword’s fire mana and intertwine it with the air magic from [Gust]. A shimmer of heated air blasted out in a cone in front of him, burning a hole through the forehead of one Angler. It dipped drunkenly to the side, hurt and blinded but still alive.

Using the summoned sword in this way made it crumble away to nothingness. However, in his left hand, Orrin held his second experiment: an [Ice Sword]. He repeated the attack using all he’d learned.

A breeze cooled the creature’s burnt skin.

“What?” Orrin shouted in frustration. “That should have worked. Woah.”

He dove to the side. He’d been so focused on the one half-dead Angler, that he’d turned from the other two. They’d swum through the air to get close and almost got his leg and arm.

He summoned another [Fire Sword] and finished off the first Angler. With only two circling him, Orrin spent five minutes trying to get a combined ice and air attack to proc but couldn’t figure it what he was doing wrong.

In frustration, he slowed both Anglers down with [Decrease Dexterity] and approached the closer one.

“Why won’t this work?” At the last word, Orrin swung the icy sword down on the fish. So used to combining his [Gust] at the same time from his earlier attempts, Orrin did the same on reflex.

Where Orrin hit, ice rapidly crept along the Angler’s body. Over half the fish was covered in scaley ice. Orrin’s sword disintegrated.

Orrin snorted a huff of air, half in laughter and half in disbelief. He summoned another [Ice Sword] and walked behind the half-frozen fish before hitting its back fins. This time he focused on the magic.

With the [Fire Sword], he used the air magic to grasp the fire magic. The fire rode the air magic toward the target, creating an attack from a distance. With the [Ice Sword], the ice magic was too heavy. Only when he used it during a point of contact could the air and ice form along the given path of the enemy’s body.

“Fire and air for ranged attacks,” Orrin said as he blasted another [Fire Sword] apart to hit the monster a third time, blowing it to pieces. He approached the final Angler. The fish quivered mightily, trying to move. “Ice and air for close-up melee.”

Orrin used four [Ice Swords] to kill the last fish.

Experience Gained: 1,500 XP (500 XP x 3)

He smiled at the broken bodies of the giant fish in front of him. The questions that he’d asked Professor Hugh about different magic types and how each could change when combined had paid off.

Orrin checked his [Map] and saw a group of four monsters between him and his group. He lured them back to the entrance to the sixth floor of Mistwater Lanterns. He split his attention between his recent finds and keeping two of the fish battered around.

He chuckled to himself. Battered fish.

Experience Gained: 400 XP (100 XP x 4)

The fights he did on his own used more mana but he still had enough to go out for another round. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem as though his party was in the same shape.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Sloane and Hamish appeared to want more fights but sweat had covered Iona’s forehead before the fight began. She fought mostly with her sword but when one of the Anglers moved toward Rhys, she used magic to spike it from underneath. It stopped the monster in its tracks but she’d fainted almost immediately.

Orrin felt a twinge of sympathy for her. He remembered how terrible he felt with mana exhaustion even if it hadn’t happened to him in a long time.

He checked his status while waiting for Rhys to check on her and for Sloan to give the order to go back out.

Orrin

Utility Warder Level 19 (1,418/10,000)

AP: 15

Admin Points: 24

HP: 140/140

MP: 694/1,100

Strength: 9 (100)

Con: 14

Dex:11 (100)

Will: 28 (100)

Intelligence: 11 (100)

So close to leveling. They’re not going to want to stick around for another few hours though. Orrin thought, watching Rhys kneel and whisper with his bodyguard. Hamish muttered something to Sloane who shrugged.

“That might be all we can take today,” Rhys said, standing up beside his bodyguard. “Iona can’t take another mana potion.”

Orrin hesitated. He had a few regen potions. Iona must have a small mana pool if she’s already flagging. We have three hours left before we should head out. I wonder if she’d even trust me enough to drink one?

“She can wait by the exit. Hamish and I are going to hunt a bit more. Do you two want to join us?” Sloane answered with her arms crossed. Hamish stood to her side and slightly behind.

“We’re a party. Nobody is getting left behind and we leave as a group. That is the rule for the dungeon.”

“Casimir? Can you find only groups of two and three for us?” Sloane turned away from Rhys.

Orrin saw Rhys’s fists clench around his weapon. He ignored Sloane and put his hand on Rhys’s shoulder. “Can I talk with you for a minute?”

Orrin walked back to where Iona was lying. She had both eyes closed and looked green.

“Casimir, there is a reason for the rul—”

“If Iona could keep going, would you want to fight more?” Orrin interrupted him. He put his hand in his pocket and fingered the small vial that appeared in his palm.

“She’s out of mana. She pushed too much and didn’t listen when I told her to keep to physical attacks,” Rhys said, directing his voice at the woman between them. “There’s a reason we’re not supposed to overuse mana potions, isn’t there Iona?”

She groaned at the word potion and turned in the grass. For a minute, Orrin thought she was going to puke on his feet.

Orrin considered what he knew about Rhys. The man was slightly younger than him and obviously well-educated. He appeared to have inherited his mother’s brains and acted socially outgoing. However, his bodyguard and friend, Iona never left his side. From Annabella’s files, Orrin knew attending school was his first foray into the real world.

The worry Rhys had for Iona was real. She wasn’t going to die from a little mana exhaustion but as a fellow mage, he had to know how uncomfortable it was. If I help her feel better, he’ll trust me more. Orrin felt like shit as soon as the thought crossed his mind. Still, he was on a mission, and until a better choice came along…

“I have a way she can slowly regain her mana but you have to trust me and you can’t ask me about it.”

Rhys tilted his head as he stared at Orrin. “Do you have a mana transfer skill?”

“Something like that,” Orrin jumped on the possible excuse. “I have a potion that can let her move about and regain her mana like she was resting. If I give it to you though, don’t tell the others. I don’t have a lot of them.”

“Can I see one?” Rhys put out his hand.

Orrin weighed his options. He needed Rhys to trust him so he could make Annabella happy but he also wanted to get more experience. He didn’t think he was going to have time to get thousands more experience to get to level twenty but even the extra ability points from hitting one more level could open up a few options. Plus, he could try and sneak back in on his own.

He handed the small regen bottle over.

“This looks poorly made,” Rhys complained a bit as he studied the glass. He held it up to the fake sky and used the light to look through it. “I’d rather not risk it. I like you Casimir but I don’t trust without verification.”

Orrin pulled another regen bottle out of his pocket using [Dimension Hole]. “Take both and pick one. I’ll drink whichever one you pick before she drinks the other. You have no reason to trust me, Rhys. You seem nice and I’m trusting you with one of my secrets. I’m close to leveling, so this isn’t me being altruistic. Worst case scenario, it’s poison and you have to rush her out of here to a [Healer] but why would I poison the bodyguard over you?”

Rhys slowly took the second bottle without breaking eye contact with Orrin. For not the first time, Orrin saw steel behind the boy’s… no the man’s eyes. Rhys was clever.

He handed one of the bottles back to Orrin. “Drink it.”

Orrin popped the top and tilted the bottle so Rhys could clearly see the liquid splash into his mouth. He checked his status and saw the normal rate of mana regeneration he had grow exponentially. He’d be back at full mana in no time. Maybe I should try for five Anglers before I bring some back?

“If this harms her, there is nowhere you can hide from me,” he said quietly before kneeling back down to Iona. “Iona, I have something for you to drink. It’s not a mana potion but will make you feel better.”

Orrin walked back to Hamish and Sloane. “We’ll keep going in a few minutes.”

“What was that about?” Sloane peered over Orrin’s shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of Rhys and Iona. “Did you convince her to take another potion? I think she’s already taken three.”

“No, I used a skill. She’ll be fine to go before I head out.”

“Then get going,” Sloane said with a shrug. “If she’s going to be useless, tell her to not hit our targets. The same goes for you and Rhys. The two of us want to make this trip worth it. Bring at least two for us and you three can take whatever is left over.”

Orrin didn’t answer and went back to make sure Iona was doing fine. In two minutes, she’d already regained some color and was sitting up on her own.

“I’m going back out. Sloane and Hamish requested two Anglers for themselves. The three of us are to stay out of their way,” Orrin explained. A desire to use [Identify] and make sure Iona’s mana was regenerating crept up and he pushed it away. He didn’t need to make himself more mysterious.

“We can handle two as well,” Iona said with a weak voice. “I’ll show them.”

Orrin kept the smile off his face at her gumption. “I’ll bring back four then. Be ready.”

He stood up and brushed his knees with his hands.

“Casimir?”

Orrin turned back to Rhys with his hand out.

“Thank you.”

“You’d have done the same,” Orrin answered him, gripping the man’s hand. “I’ll be right back.”