With glittering eyes and shaking hands, I saw the impossible.
Health: 20/20
Stamina: 20/20
Mana: 10/10
The bar beneath my [Stamina] that once sat void of any color, now brimmed with an electric blue. I had opened the gateway to [Spellcasting] like my transported peers, but I had not known where to begin. How do I cast? How do I choose my spells? How do I master it?
It was at this time that I wished that Taro was with me. He had mentioned in our early conversations that he ‘meditated’ but he dumped all of his starting points into the [Spellcasting] attribute and was able to cast flawlessly.
I sat cross-legged and dug my hands into the surrounding sands. My eyes forced shut. My body shivered. I sat as still as I could and focused on creating spikes of sand like Taro had done. All I could hear was the thumping of my chest and the adrenaline coursing through my system.
My body twitched with excitement and I fidgeted my hands. I sought comfort in a world where none existed. I’m trying to perform the unnatural. Unnatural even for myself. Damn you gods above for cursing me. I gritted my teeth and nothing but rage boiled within me once again as I thought of my origins. I had this damn ring since I came here and now I’m attuned with it? Now I’m able to receive mana!? I’m going to rot in this damn desert until I can raise pillars of sand to the stars and shadow the sun. I’m going to bury the gods, the creator, “This world!” I said aloud with clenched fists.
A quiet thump resonated atop the grains of sand. I opened my eyes and saw not pillars. But a wave. It was barely an inch tall and lasted a few feet before sinking to the ground. The sands have been shifting my entire time in this desert, and yet they never moved like that before.
It was proven that it was by my own hands that moved the arid earth, and not the whispering winds, when the status bars in the corner of my view shifted.
Mana: 9/10
I couldn’t help but smile greatly and almost weep from my droughted eyes. No matter how meager my power was now, I knew I could level it later. I took my hands out of the sand and was mystified by the dim arcane blue and purple that had crawled across my palm and weaved through my fingers.
I clenched the ethereal force in my grip and could feel it resisting. It felt alive. I knew not what it was or how I could control it. This force that had come from within me had the consistency of dense fog but the weight of a storm. I rested beside the fire and gazed at my hand until my [MP] returned to full.
I had hoped that the [System] would have said I ‘discovered’ a new spell that I could log and level with the other abilities in my menus as the hours passed, yet it never did. I suppose it can only say I discovered it when I know how to replicate it, I thought. A frosted sigh left my lips while I settled down and remembered the small wave I conjured.
My eyes had shut and the stars had disappeared. A nervousness had crept through my mind and I opened them in an urgent flash. I was met with the scorching sun looming above, pinning me to the earth with a blinding light. The horizon had filled with the great ball of fire while I stayed stuck to the blue sands beneath me. Wisps of magical energy and the arcane sailed through the arid earth and carried me to a land enshrouded in darkness.
I saw silhouettes of my parents against the sun but I was far off in the land of shadow. My voice could not resonate a bellow and my legs held shackled in place. Then the gods had appeared. The mighty orc, Irokirth, descended from his floating platform and raised his axe. The blade cut through each of my parents despite my desperate will to save them.
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My arm reached out and cast shadows against the vibrant land, extending my island of imprisonment as the silver ring shimmered. The black covered the sands, the skies, and the sun. My parents were none to be seen. But the presence of the god had stayed. The cackling of deep laughter filled the void until a warm light had covered my hand.
A sense of comfort and life interlocked with my fingers and took hold of me. A voice, gentle and familiar, had spoken to me before I awoke. “Irokirth will bow before you, oh Karnyn. Follow the life I breathe and it will guide you to your destiny.”
* * *
The silver of my ring reflected dazzling beams into the far distance. Gadaan promised we’d arrive at the city today, but in the valley of red canyon rocks, it was hard to tell. I checked my [Map] and it showed it to be over 50 miles away. I figured we’d arrive on another day at best, but I didn’t know how large the city extended until the golden symbol of the gods beamed the reflection of my ring back at me from the carved canyon.
Atop the slopes of the valley, we overlooked the Birkra River. Banners of unknown factions flapped in the wind beside the streets below. Religious criers praised the gods. Docks stood on the edge of the banks. And ships sailed to and fro the ports of Hubloc across the wide river.
The marvelous city of granite and limestone disappeared into the horizon while the Arena stood prominent in the center. We had to cross the river to get into Hubloc but the trading and ferry docks on this side were just as lively.
Gadaan led the horses through the bustling suburbs. I could tell the scent of skewered fish and booze guided his snout. He pulled the wagon over to the side of the building and huffed an exaggerated sigh.
“End of the line, plainskin. Take this bag and take off. I have business to attend to.”
“What am I to do?” I asked. My nerves spiked and my heart decided to pound.
“Survive if you can. Die if you don’t. Find some hybrid friends and make a name for yourself or wither away to be forgotten… that’s my plan anyway.”
He shoved the rucksack into my arms and I could hear the clanging of silver within. “Thank you, Gadaan.”
The beast scoffed and grabbed his crutch. When he climbed down the wagon I saw a dwarf come out of the tavern with a jolly expression that turned dour upon the close-inspection of the battle-scarred merchant.
“You’re looking lighter than before, you old mutt.”
“I lost most of the cargo, Grash.”
“To the abyss with the cargo! What happened to your leg!? And who’s the half-skin!?
“He’s leaving,” Gadaan said with a narrow eye.
I put the pack over my shoulders and gave him a nod goodbye. My stomach writhed and strangled itself like a boa constrictor as I passed by the tavern. While I headed for the docks, I peeked inside the bag. 25 coins and a rolled parchment. I was curious about the scroll but I saw a boat quickly filling to the brim with passengers.
My worn boots jogged across the rough soil until I slapped a coin into the elf’s hand that granted me entry onto the vessel. The attendant didn’t seem pleased with the dried ichor of the mimic rubbing off on his white glove, but I was joyous that I made it aboard.
I stood beside other hybrids of every bloodline. The majority looked to be in the same rags I spawned with while some of the half-breeds almost looked like proper nobles already. Upon the rocking boat as it sailed slowly across the channel, it was at this time that I missed being surrounded by familiar faces.
Don and Alex were still listed as my [Party Members] but I was still uncertain if they would ever travel to Hubloc. Dammit, I hope you two didn’t spawn across the world. You two can see me on the [Map] now so you better hurry your ass! I thought. Although my nervousness of the city and my friends plagued my mind, a deep yawn crawled across my face.
The sun glimmered against the bobbing waves of the current like golden stars. I pondered against the railing of the boat of what I’d do next. Since I had [Mana] for once, I tried [Messaging] Don or Elixir to tell them of the grand news; But like I expected, a red [System] notification appeared in front of my vision.
[TARGET OUT OF RANGE]
[TARGET OUT OF RANGE]
It’s always something. I just can’t have shit in this world, I whined. My complaints of Carrion and the troubles bestowed upon me by the gods vanished when I saw the green earth of the city come into view. The oasis in the middle of the bleak desert called to me and every hybrid I stood beside. My eyes gleamed with hope. My mind imagined a future each of us could have. My pilgrimage had ended… but my story had just begun.