It is noon, and like every day, I am in the library. After spending several days reading various books on hunting, and even one book on the kingdoms history, I moved on to the magic book section of the library not long ago. So far I haven't learned anything. All the books are written by different mages, and none of them seem to know how to write a book on magic. There is no consistent system that I can find. The worst ones make no sense, while the best ones I can make out as being a combination of instructions on how to use mana in certain environments, but the mana instructions seem incomplete and the environment is described using some form of pseudoscience.
It baffles me how people manage to learn magic with such lack of scientific knowledge. Even this statement seemed strange to me at first, but after learning some basic magic I quickly learned that magic is just control of a substance called mana that can influence the natural to create abnormal effects. Even this basic concept seems buried deep in the books. Surely someone must have written a better book on magic somewhere in this world. Even if they don't have the scientific understanding of my home world it should be possible to get some basic concepts right.
It seems my high school chemistry and physics will do me a lot of good in learning magic, but I still need to work out how to use mana to influence nature. I have learned a few things, but mana is an alien concept to me and my academic mind. The books have so far not helped me understand how to use mana. The only option is to learn by observation, but all the mages I have met so far are reluctant to teach magic to fellow hunters.
As I look out the window, I see some mages in the training yard out back. Maybe I can find an excuse to train with them. I leave the library behind, and head to the yard. The mages seem to wonder why I am approaching them. I wonder if they know that I can do a bit of magic as well. If they knew I was here to learn they might not like it. "Hi guys, what are you up to?" No answer they just look at me. Do all mages in the world behave like moody gothic teenagers?
I keep talking hoping to spark their interest. "Just got to say I got the greatest respect for magic. In my last mission I almost got stabbed to death by a swarm of goblins after a goblin mage paralyzed me with his magic. I managed to break free eventually. Do anyone of you know how to do this kind of magic?" Let us see if anyone bites. The all look indignant, one of them speaks up. "Of course we can do magic far better than some smelly goblin mage." Line and sinker.
"Really! Why not let me feel it." One of them cocks his head. "Are you saying you want to be our practice dummy?" "Sure, I got nothing to fear from fellow hunters, I would rather get used to it now than face another magic wielding beast. I promise I won't hold it against you." One of them smiles. "I remember you. You are frequently in the arena in the evening. You must be a sucker for punishment. Most guys would be bedridden for a week after the beatings you get, but you always seem to shake off the injury."
The guys seem well into the idea of using me as a test dummy. "I'll go first. I will hit you with a stun bolt." The first mage gets ready. As I brace myself for the hit I carefully study the mage. As normal I can feel the forms of the mana more than see them. I guess it is why the writers relied a lot on describing feelings. They can't see the mana, but they know the feeling when it is done right based on past experience.
What I can see is the abnormal appearance of a bolt of electricity. Not sure how to explain it. I saw a picture of ball lightning once, and this is not it. The ball shoots towards me. It is going nowhere near as fast as the goblins. I take the shot on my chest. It stuns me for a few seconds, but that is about it. "You seem to have some resistance to stun magic." As soon as I can get a clear voice out I retort. "I think I developed some as a result of the magic from the goblin, though he must have hit me with something stronger than this, as I was stunned for much longer."
The mages take the challenge. Another steps up an conjure up something a lot more impressive. I am too fixated at the intensity of the bolt to brace for it. It hits me as hard, if not harder than the goblin's blast. Come to think of it, I never took his full blast. The next tens of seconds I am in a daze, but again I eventually break through.
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I continue being their test dummy until dusk sets. They try various stun, lightning and paralysis spells, and I seem to grow accustomed to the effect. When I check the menu my stun and paralysis resistance has shot up. Still a bit dazed by the whole experience I head home for an early night.
The next morning I head to the guild, and I run into the same guys. "Want to continue our training from yesterday." At least one of the guys seem to warm towards me. I think. Hard to say if he is being friendly or if he just likes to hurt me. By evening both my stun and paralysis resistance hits level 7. At this point I am shaking off the spells like a chilly wind.
"You know, most warrior rely on equipment to protect them from magic, but I have heard of a some who train their bodies natural resistance to the point were most magic don't affect them. As you can imagine, those guys are particularly strong. Are you planning to be that strong?" One of the mages directs the question at me. "Not that ambitious, I just didn't like the feeling of not being able to move or defend myself when my enemies charge at me."
"With your resistance as it is now, we could put on a show in the arena this evening." I like the idea and sign up for it. Following the first fight, we enter the stage with me on one end and one of the mages on the other. He is probably the most competent out of the lot. Raising his voice he starts to speak. "We are hear to show you something amazing. Many of you might know the terror of being paralyzed by magic on the battlefield. We have a hunter here who can shake off the strongest stun and paralysis magic." The last bit got the crows interested. They have been seeing me on a regular basis in the arena. At this rate I will soon be a local celebrity.
The mage summons up the strongest blast he can muster and sends it straight at me. I take it and start walking towards him. The shock blast only slowed me for a moment. A lot of people seem surprised or excited by the show. A couple of guys shout that they can do it too. My mage associate addresses the men to come down and try. Unsurprisingly they do not repeat my feat. One falls face first in the sand and stays there for a few minutes. The other stays standing, but is unable to move for a couple of minutes.
Just as we are about to leave the arena a female voice can be heard. It is surprisingly clear without being raised. The only answer I can think of is magic. "I can understand him being able to resist your weak spell my dear Fells, but do you think he can resist mine?" It is clearly a challenge, but I am not sure who it is directed at. The new lady clearly got beef with my mage friend Fells. Once again, his name had slipped my mind until she reminded me.
I raise my voice. "I am more than ready to take your strongest shock spell." All I can think of is breaking through to level 8 and hitting my over-boost criteria. I might find myself humiliated in front of the crowd instead. The new lady steps into the arena, and Fells leaves. She asks some other mages to erect a magic barrier around the arena. She turns to address me. "You win if you can get to me. I win if you can't get to me within a reasonable time. Any don't worry about what I consider reasonable. The crowds will get bored and call me the winner before long."
She really is cocky, I feel the need to up the game and motivate me to win. "I meet your challenge, and I add to my own. I will only win if I get up to you and smack a kiss on your lips. You can only resist with stun and paralysis magic, but you can try as many times as you like." The crowd seems to like it, and the confident lady looks ready to humiliate me.
I soon realize why she wanted a barrier raised around the arena. As we get ready she summons up enough crackling thunder to knock out everyone in the arena. Confined to the small space of the arena I starts have doubts. As massive amounts of voltage sweep over me I wonder if she remembered to down the amp. High voltage and low amp should be the basic requirement for stunning an opponent, but if the amp is high, this storm of lightning could fry me.
As I feel the shock tear through my body, not only do I realize that I am still alive, but I am still conscious. As I force my body to respond to my command to move, it feels like I suddenly break through ice. Instead of just moving my body, I find myself running strait at a pretty face utterly shocked. I manage to slow my speed just in time as I sweep my arms around her and bend her backward giving her a smooth kiss on the lips. "You taste sweet."
If I was hoping for an affectionate return to my kiss, I was hoping in vain. "Get off me, you better not think you are getting any further with me." Feeling the need to defend myself while still maintaining a good atmosphere for the crowds I retort. "Don't worry. You might be beautiful, but my four beautiful wives are more than enough." I turn around to a familiar voice. Far back on the stage I see all four of my wives. They don't seem at all fussed that I just kissed a complete stranger, just proud to be my wives.