It was back. What is it you ask? That God damn pull on my soul! That's what's back!
Mia had managed to get two kills, filled her stomach a bit, before she felt a pull on her consciousness. She had learned the hard way to PAY ATTENTION to things like this, so she picked up on it pretty fast. She didn't quite realize what it was at first though, no. Yet when she caught herself shambling in the direction of the human town she quickly realized what the issue was.
Why? Why is this happening to me again? Why must I suffer so? Like please? Can I not just live and survive on my own? Mia shambled in the general opposite direction of the pull, slowly approaching the event horizon. Much more slowly then she had been yesterday, she could feel the difference in the power of the pull. Something about her was more resistant, but not resistant enough.
Her current goal was just to struggle against it for as long as possible, but with that effort she wasn't able to focus on much else. Which even with her upgraded stealth, it left her open to surprise attacks if one particularly observant monster noticed her. Which just so happened to be quite the inevitability.
SNAP
A pair of jaws snapped against the open air where Mia had been just moments ago. Though she dodged them with relative ease, leaving her assailant chomping at nothing. Her increased stats went a long way towards her speed, and the basic weak monsters were in no way able to even get close to her, unlike her weaker past self. She barely even had to retaliate, a flash of her claws and the insignificant beasts front half had been ripped off and tossed aside. A quick kill, paired with at least three previous occurrences that had happened the exact same way.
Notably, she hadn't leveled up. The "being harder to level up" bit about class advancements seemingly starting to take effect. But that was less pressing on her mind at the moment. So, think that whatever this whole annoying mind domination thing is? It's in full swing now. It's kind of like a... What would you call a rising pain? Ah, doesn't matter. It hit it's peak and has stayed at a consistent level. And while I can definitely resist against it harder then I was yesterday without having classed up at all? I can't resist it entirely.
Slowly but surely Mia was being dragged against her will towards the town yet again. Much slower then the last time it happened, but still happening regardless. She definitely wasn't a fan of her upcoming choice, but after awhile she stopped putting so much effort into resisting and more into approaching safely. The tide of incoming monsters was speeding up, and more and more started taking notice of, and attacking her. They weren't that dangerous, but maybe a big nasty could stumble upon her and she didn't want to take the chance.
I'll just hope that this thing gives out sooner rather then later, and if not I'm pretty sure i can do better then the last time I got caught in this. My stats are like, what, nine times higher now? And I've got some skills that I... Huh... Most of my skills actually wouldn't help in a straight up fight, scratch that previous thought. Touched by death and willpower are the only things that would do me any good in a direct conflict... I don't really know how to use shadow magic yet, natural born hunter is good for extended fights, but doesn't help much short term, and stealth is stealth while magic proficiency does nothing, I think... Yikes. Well, still. Nine times higher stats, focus on the positives Mia.
Mia's focus dipped a bit and turned it inwards, but she was fine as long as her stealth remained active. At least, she thought so. Returning to her paused venue she took another look at the runes of the shadow magic that she'd been working with. "Medium, Darkness, High, Area." Once you get past all the fancy shmancy pants rune language it's actually pretty easy to understand. I have only pity for those who aren't Riftwalkers, not able to understand every language naturally! Truly a great blow to their ability to learn magic.
Going back to that thought though, once you understand what the runes say, they're actually pretty simple to use. Think of the runes like... Building blocks, and putting them together to make something is how you create spells. But obviously, trying to arrange building blocks in a way that wouldn't abide by the laws of physics... The laws of physics say 'screw you!' Right back to you and the structure collapses. Magic language is effectively the same, I think, anyways. Much like everything else here I haven't done much testing with it.
But regardless, you put runes together in a way that doesn't work and the spell just... Fizzles out of existence. For instance, the spell that I made after I finally managed to actually learn what the runes said, which by the way, was an arduous task. (My brain still shivers in fear of having to do something similar ever again.) Was 'medium darkness high area.'
Medium referring to the output of the spell itself, and darkness being what the spell created. Given that this was a spell that caused more of a metaphysical effect (using big girl words here, are we Mia?) instead of creating something it covered an area. Which is what the 'high area' affected. It ended up draining my mana, at least I think that's what it is? So fast because the spell tried to cover so much ground. Why are you talking to yourself you ask yourself Mia? Because you're going crazy and you're reaffirming magical rules to yourself. That's why.
So, bearing all of this in mind what exactly should I be trying to make? I'm also wondering what leveling up this skill will even do given how many runes are already here, about fifteen by the way. Alright let me see a few of these. 'Shade', what's the difference between darkness and shade? 'Propagate', like... Self replicating darkness? How does that even work? 'Low, that's obvious, low output power. 'Amplify', what's the difference between output and amplification...? Hold on, let me try something.
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Mia gathered four runes together, Amplify, Darkness, Low, Propagate. Returned her focus back to the world around her, tried to cast it aaaaannnnddd... Nothing, the spell didn't work. Ok, is it amplify that's not working? Uhhh, Medium, Darkness, Low, Propagate. Three two one and caaaaast-nothing. Spell failed, ok, let's try it without propagate then. Amplify, Darkness, Low-low... Low what? Uhhhh... Low... Low Shade. Amplify, Darkness, Low, Shade. And cast-DAMNIT! Nothing. Alright you know what? I'm just gonna try shade. Shade. Nothing, no duh. Ok, Low, Shade.
A strange ball of amorphous black... Something, manifested into reality in front of Mia as the spell worked it's magic. It floated in the air for a moment before Mia's fascination paved the way to her concentration on the runes wavering. Letting the magic fade, then dismissing the runes from existence. The spell faded shortly afterwards, the reality defiant sphere of nothing, yet also something at the same time rippling away into the fabric of existence. So, shades... Weird. Darkness is actual darkness, but shade is something... Physical? Well, obviously darkness is something physical... Well... It isn't, it's just an absence of light... Bah! Pull your head out of your backside Mia!
Shade, it's a physical darkness. Darkness, it's a darkness that you can't touch. Maybe that's why they didn't work together? Let me try another one. Medium, Shade, Low, Propagate.
Mia celebrated at the instant success before she almost fell over. She felt a "bit" more of a strain on her consciousness as this spell was casted. All the spells she'd used before had felt basic. Not even impacting her in any way besides draining whatever kind of magic reserve she had to cast these spells to begin with. This one was different though, it strained at her mind as the runes to cast it created themselves. She had to put an actual effort into trying to use this spell, which was a first, even if her experience was limited. Better to learn that some spells took actual effort sooner rather then later she supposed.
The runes finished forming, and glowed with a dark light. From their gloomy gates sprung forth a roiling liquidy black ball. Well, this is... Different. The last one wasn't moving and... Expanding...? I'm not sure I like that, must be the propagation. It's probably not that bad but like... Seeing this I think what if somebody could use this to a higher degree? Could they make some kind of infinitely sustaining mass of darkness? Not sure I'd like to see that... Actually, I'm fairly certain I wouldn't. That sounds like an SCP entry.
While Mia continued to talk to herself the orb of darkness continued to expand. Soon it had gotten rather large, and she felt a little bit light headed. Mia turned her focus back to the thing, marveling at the rate of it's expansion. Less so the amount of energy it was sapping from her now. Holy crap it's huge! How fast does-rrghhh... Do these things grow? Turn the magic off before I just faint out in the open!
The magic once more followed her mental commands, and with a unceremonious splash the mass of darkness fell to the ground. Unlike the last shade spell she'd casted, this one was sticking around and didn't immediately fade out of existence. Uhhhh, eep! Mia leaped backwards as the fluid washed over her paw, before quickly glancing down at it just to make sure it was fine. Didn't hurt, but other worldly shadow liquid warranted caution by her standards. But... The result was a little surprising.
...That's... Not right, my paw wasn't see through before. Did-however, her train of thought was rudely interrupted by a large furry beast, not quite similar to any animal she knew, but resembling a lot of them anyways. Mia, experiment with magic later. Big death around, what the hell are you thinking?! Deal with the threat, move on!
With a burst of speed Mia took off in the direction of her assailant, but surprisingly, it actually managed to react to her and dodge. Avoiding the first and would be final attack of the fight. It wasn't quite fast enough to catch and punish Mia for her reckless attack, but it was able to avoid any damage itself.
Ok, fast enough to dodge? That's ok, that's alright. Are you fast enough to dodge continuously though? Mia bounded forward again before the monster even managed to turn around all the way. In a blur of claws and teeth she zipped around the monster, ripping and tearing at it's limbs, trying to lay it low for a killer blow. It swatted, roared, and stomped as she tore it to pieces. But each hit was soundly avoided. Which was good for her, every stomp cracked the ground and Mia had no doubt that it would do the same to her.
Eventually, it stumbled, and Mia saw exactly what she wanted.
SWOOSH
She took off of the ground jaws wide as soon as the monster began to lose it's footing.
CRUNCH
With a satisfying snap she'd come to... Not enjoy, persay, but, find heartening throughout the past twenty four hours, her jaws closed around the monsters throat. An explosion of blood slapped into Mia's face as it fell to the ground, quickly dying from the grievous wound. Luckily for her, this one seemed to be just a little bit stronger then the others.
Level up!
+12 strength, +12 dexterity, +21 constitution, +7 wisdom, +6 capacity, +6 intelligence, +3 charisma, +2 manipulation
Level up!
+12 strength, +12 dexterity, +21 constitution, +7 wisdom, +6 capacity, +6 intelligence, +3 charisma, +2 manipulation
Ah, wonderful, two level ups, not one. Now unfortunately, in my haste it would seem I have gotten very close to the fighting, oh my god, Mia, you idiot.
Mia could hear the slicing of blades in the somewhat far distance, throughout all of this time she had been passively moving towards the town, even while working with magic or fighting. So... Alright Mia, time to dig in. Hold on for AS LONG as you can. Please please please please PLEASE do not give in this time!