August 23, 491 U.C.
Writing is weird. Who decided what marks meant what? I held the paper towards the light, squinting at the strange markings. The heck do these mean?
Ela fluttered up to the paper. “How’d you get that?”
“Never you mind.”
“Get rid of it, Casey!”
“Don’t start this again. I will take out my contacts.” I continued studying the markings while Ela went to sulk, flopping around my desk like a dying fish. It was more entertaining than the cryptic writing that refused to yield the secret to making an awakening potion.
My alarm triggered, telling me it was time to make breakfast. With a heavy dose of frustration, I slapped the paper on the desk. Then I killed the alarm and stretched.
“Summon me already!” Ela said, jumping up from the desk.
“No way! You’re a trickster.”
“Casey, please, please, please…” Like a parrot, she repeated the word over and over.
“Do I have mana for it?”
Ela ceased her tirade. “You have plenty!”
“Your spell is expensive! I should check things.”
“No! Summon me!”
I embraced my swirling magic, drifting inward.
~~~
Appearing in my little grove, I grinned.
“Aw.” Ela kicked the ground.
“We’ll have fun later.”
“We’d better. I’m bored. And all the other faeries are mocking me! Don’t be mean, Casey!”
Ignoring the peer pressure, I turned and touched my tree. A giddy smile spread across my face.
Tier 2 User Time Dilation (Haste)
- User experiences 4 seconds for one earth second. Costs .25 mana per earth second. Select One: Time dilation doubled. Cost doubled. Force transference reduced to half. - Cost quartered.
Given my increasing mana and the desire to not get hit, I picked the first one. The tree happily began growing again. Then I walked over and saw two tiny saplings. I didn’t even dare touch them; they were so small.
“What are they?” I asked with a grin.
Ela made a snow angel in the grass. “You have to give me permission for a full scan.” She propped herself up and scowled at me.
I blushed and walked to the others.
Tier Skill Cost Tier 1 Pocket Dimension
- 4 cubic meter pocket space 8 mana Tier 1 Enchanting Varies Tier 1 Potions Varies Tier 1 Free casting
- Cast any spell you can replicate. Variable cost. Penalty of 8x mana. Tier 1 Familiar Manifestation 20 mana to cast. 1 mana for each additional minute.
Tier 1
Attire Swap
- Locked to a single outfit. Current outfit set to Magical Girl Uniform. 20 mana.
I spun and waved goodbye, leaving the place before Ela could yell at me.
~~~
Ela appeared on my ocular computer and went off, moaning for a small eternity. I cooked while she did.
I pulled my breakfast off the stove. Dad was off working on things. That was good news for me. Ignoring my diet, I had eggs and toast. The rich yolk oozed into the bread as I ate.
As I finished the first piece of toast, Ela and a siren interrupted my meal.
Quest Raptor Incursion Reward 50 Reputation. (400 current reputation).
“Only 50?” I asked. It seemed low, but I didn’t understand the rules.
Ela fluttered up. “I’ll see if anyone wants to contribute. If you want to sign up, I could change that.”
“How far away are guardians?”
“Eight minutes. They are off-world at this time.”
I winced. It was plenty of time for them to make a mess. Still, waiting would be best. “I don’t think I can, Ela.”
“We understand.” Ela smiled at me.
They’ll be fine. I turned back to my breakfast, earnestly eating the bread and eggs. I took a nice big bite.
Quest Urgency Upgraded! Reward Increased! - Protect any exposed citizens. - Reputation increased to 500.
Level 3 Mana 46.39/46.39
That was when my horrible, heroic instinct kicked in. “No lies?”
“No, help them, please!” Ela said frantically.
Bolting to my room, I used my Attire Swap spell and slipped off my necklace. Slapping on my mask, I grabbed my gear. Then I dashed out the back, dodging cameras while stealthily running down the narrow corridors.
After a few streets, I stopped hiding, used Haste, and sprinted toward my target. My platinum hair shot out behind me as I blazed down streets. Some people saw me and said something, but I didn’t stick around to hear what they said. Instead, I blew past them while praying that I’d get there in time.
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Vaulting over a scooter, I flew through the air for what seemed an absurdly long time. I nearly fell over as I veered around the corner like some speeding motorbike.
Righting myself, I closed the final gap, overhearing a police radio.
“… help is inbound now. Protect and escort civilians.”
“I can’t protect them… Fuck!” Officer Fitzpatrick shouted. He shot down the street with the others.
Dashing down a lane, I vaulted over a bike and turned the corner, spotting the raptors and people. Not pausing to think, I used the enchantments in my knives. I chucked them into the lead raptor.
In my adrenaline-flooded state, the knives seemed slow. So, I grabbed the next set, used the enchantments, and hurled them too. The first set sunk into the lead raptor. Blood spurted and feathers fell. Summoning them back, I launched them again.
The gap between raptors and humans shrunk with every long moment. Like watching a slow-motion horror film, I began slinging knives like a circus performer. Blades flew. Blood spurted. I buried a knife into the raptor’s head. The lead raptor tumbled, crashing down the road.
In slow motion, the others turned. I continued volleying daggers, sinking them into the raptors. The raptors chirped and charged, leaving a trail of blood and feathers. Another raptor dropped, skidding forward.
Sighting in the glowing raptors, I continued my barrage. One gurgled, a dagger buried in its throat. Then it crumpled, tumbling across the concrete. Turning my focus, I hurled the next set, dropping the other.
Four of them leapt, claws outstretched. I dashed forward, stabbing through green feathers on my way. Blood spurted onto me, coating my uniform. Turning back, I launched a final few volleys, finishing the last of them.
Spinning, I searched for others and felt the adrenaline fading. My heart slowed. Way better! I dropped Haste. A smile spread across my face; then it rapidly died.
Kilpatrick was running up, likely to force me to command.
That just figures. I rolled my eyes and contemplated running. Then I realized his mistake. “Run!”
He ignored me. “You need to come…” The mana exploded out of the nearby dead raptors.
Kilpatrick screamed as if he’d been shot. The mana passed through him and flooded me, setting my eyes and hair ablaze. I dashed forward as he crumpled.
Quest Updated! Evacuate the officer.
I tried to check his pulse. “Is he alright?”
“Drone incoming!” Ela replied.
I gathered mana crystals and daggers while I waited, contemplating taking some of the pretty green and blue feathers on the ground.
I was pulled from the debate by the medical drone’s siren. It whirred down and landed next to the officer. The robotics engaged, sliding a platform under him. Straps shot out and cinched rapidly.
“Confirm evacuation route is clear,” the drone said to me.
“Secure! Evacuate!” I ordered it, feeling quite perplexed at the thought of ordering anyone to do anything.
The drone began flying off, its propellers whirring as it lifted the officer off the ground. My hair blew everywhere as it veered off towards the hospital.
Quest Updated! Finish the remaining raptors.
Running down the streets, I followed the map marker. I made it close to the wall before I saw two more mana raptors. They had broken a hole in the wall somehow. Locking onto me, they charged forward.
I triggered Haste instantly. The quick creatures were no longer that quick. Opting for a speedy retreat, I ran away while grabbing knives. Launching myself into the air, I spun and launched two blades. Spinning, I landed and vaulted again, launching another set. One clanked off a wall. Another trimmed feathers, sending them fluttering down.
With no desire to engage in melee, I leapt, spun, and threw. Landing, I repeated it over and over. Yes, I looked like someone abusing video game mechanics. I bunny-hopped my way to victory. I am still proud of that idea even if my accuracy plummeted horribly.
The last raptor crumbled within six seconds. The lack of wounds marked an award-worthy victory for me. I was quite pleased with that. I raced down the street to grab knives and crystals.
Quest Complete! 500 reputation rewarded. You have 900 reputation. Contact Guardian Command to view Guardian Shop.
Grabbing a mana crystal, I got a new quest from Ela.
Quest Meet with Guardian Command! Rewards 500 Reputation, friends, plushies, candy, and much more!
“No chance. You forget that.” I raced off before they could find me.
“You really should meet.”
“Nope. No more of those, Ela.”
“That wasn’t the deal we made.” Ela giggled as she fluttered around.
I darted behind buildings, veering away from cameras or drones. Then I vaulted over a wall, raced down a tunnel, and emerged in another alley.
“What spells am I getting?” I asked Ela. “I deserve another reward.”
Quest Meet with Guardian Command! Rewards 500 Reputation, information about your magic, friends, plushies, candy, and much more!
I sighed. “You stinker!”
Ela giggled. “You asked for it. I offered.”
“Treacherous, cute fairy. I’m on to you.” I swapped back to normal clothes, put on my amulet, and emerged from the alley devoid of cameras.
“Miss! You shouldn’t be out here,” an officer said as she approached.
“The alarms ended,” I replied. “Did you see that magic girl? I saw her over there. I need to get home. There is a mana storm. Please, officer. It burns so bad.” I gave puppy eyes while hiding my bloody hands behind my back.
“Go ahead. Hurry.” The officer continued forward.
I raced down the streets until I was back at home. Then I showered, rinsing off all the blood. Grabbing my bathrobe, I headed to my room and pulled up the internet, blanching as I read.
Unregistered Guardian Saves Officer!
Unregistered guardian defeats Raptor incursion, saving six!
Vuln nobility requests a meeting with the unregistered guardian!
Self-Awakened and Unregistered- A living contradiction to Fae statements!
Magical People – A call for registration!
Platinum Princess – Everything We Know!
Magical Girl Platinum- Who is she? We ask Guardian Command!
I huffed, sending air streaming up my face. It seemed that someone had made up a name for me. Given that I couldn’t step forward, I was about to be stuck with it too. Videos were going up quickly. One enterprising streamer was showing a makeup tutorial to look like me. Given that I’d worn a mask, you may be wondering how she was doing it. She decided to fill in the blanks herself.
Dad was not going to be happy about any of it. I decided to deny everything and say it was some other magic girl. I spent a few hours rehearsing my lie.
Current Level 3 Current XP 69.76% Current Max Mana 46.32 Regen per minute 0.26 Growth Time (Days) 10 Potential Mana 11.58 Reputation 900
Tier Skill Cost Tier 3 User Time Dilation (Haste)
- User experiences 8 seconds for 1 earth second.
- Force transference limited to 50% 0.5 mana per earth second. Tier 1 Pocket Dimension
- 4 cubic meter pocket space 8 mana Tier 1 Enchanting Varies Tier 1 Potions Varies Tier 1 Free casting
- Cast any spell you can replicate. Variable cost. Penalty of 8x mana. Tier 1 Familiar Manifestation 20 mana to cast. 1 mana for each additional minute.
Tier 1
Attire Swap
- Locked to a single outfit. Current outfit set to Magical Girl Uniform. 20 mana.