Jet found herself in an antechamber with smooth, bare walls. A glowing substance emanated from a high ceiling. There was just enough light to illuminate the chamber. She checked her stats and inventory. She had been reset to a level one mage. A plain wooden staff, a tiny pouch of reagents, and some crystals were the few items in her inventory. She examined one of the longer crystals. In the full version of the Colossal Machine, she remembered that private messages from player characters and NPC were delivered via crystals. She picked up the largest one and examined it. It turned a light shade of blue.
<<>>
System Message: You have a message from the Dungeon Master.
<<>>
She slid a virtual finger over the side of the crystal. An image of a scroll appeared. When she picked it up, it materialized into the parchment. Jet marveled at how real the virtual item felt. Words slowly surfaced on the paper. It was like looking over someone’s shoulder as they wrote.
Dear JetaGirl,
I hope this finds you well. The transference procedure to the portable realm is fleeting. Your essence of being on the full stack was diminished. I was able to save a fraction of your avatar’s stats and inventory. But all is not lost. I have added some clues where you will find some spell scrolls to aid you. The rest has been lost to the ethereal plane, the thin area between your home world and mine. I must impress how critical it is to save the existence you know as the Colossal Machine. The constructs have continued to crumble. Seek me out in the portable realm posthaste. We have much to discuss.
Jet stared at the parchment for a long moment.
Then she checked her stats and gasped as she rummaged through her in-game satchel. A scroll with a wax seal holding the pages together was at the bottom of the bag. She ran a finger across the seal. It was the same as she encountered at the Timemaker’s Terrace. Six inverted triangles with symbols in each section.
Each of the great kingdoms is represented here.
She was impressed by how accurate the wax seal was to the corresponding seal on the terrace where she was tested for her position of Grand Magi. She carefully opened the scroll. She tried preserving the seal, but the motion caused it to crack in multiple places.
This is a permanent stat and level boost. These are one of the rarest items in the game.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The dungeon master’s scroll contained a permanent base skills boost that would allow her to gain a level. Jet didn’t want to lose the parchment, so she decided to use the boost right away. She held the scroll in front of her.
“In-Por-Cad-Em.” [see comment in text]
A flash of radiance enveloped her. She felt her powers expand like branches growing on a tree. Jet gasped as she checked her stats.
<<>>
Character Status
Name: JetaGirl
Race: Human
Level: 2
Gender: Female
Class: Mage (Rank 1)
Health: 108
Mana: 110
Stamina: 100
Attributes
Strength: 10
Constitution: 21
Intelligence: 25
Wisdom: 15
Dexterity: 8
Agility: 8
Charisma: 14
Perception: 21
Luck: 17
Skills
Unassigned
Items:
Novice Staff
<<>>
System Message: Please choose a new spell.
Congratulations on reaching level two. To continue your studies, you must pick a magical school. You may use spells available to your current level, but picking a specialization grants additional bonuses. Please choose from the following:
Divination: Harness the hidden powers within. Channel supernatural powers into powerful spells to aid the caster and allies. Casters can often affect the outcome of battles by casting foretelling spells. Other abilities allow the caster to obtain knowledge from other planes of existence.
Conjuring: Summon powerful allies and items to aid the caster. This school of magic is based on your alignment. Dark magic summons demons and evil spirits, and light magic may summon angels.
Metaphysical: Harness the natural magic within man. Can affect interactions with all nonplayer characters (NPCs). The higher the skill level, the greater their compliance with your orders. Healing abilities are enhanced with this school of magic.
Evocation: Channel powerful elemental magics such as earth, fire, water, and air to aid the caster and allies. Powerful summoners can control weather effects in a small localized area.
<<>>
After giving it some thought, Jet chose the evocation school. She’d specialized in this school before and knew it well. She reasoned it was best to go with what she already knew so she could level as quick as possible. She also received a base set of spells for her new level. She opened her spell book to examine them.
Spell: Lighten
Use: Illuminate the immediate surroundings of the caster.
Incantation: In-Por-Ot-Bem
Reagents: Sulfur, Dragon’s Ash
Level: 2
Spell: Portal
Use: Opens a portal to a caster’s previously visited waypoint.
Incantation: Un-Por-Vet
Level: 2