"Talking"
Thoughts
*Sound Effects*
Phenomenal: Chapter 1 ~Extraordinary Measures~
In the world of Nimri high above the land and far beyond lingering clouds where no mortal eye could see, a goddess silently gazed down upon the lower realm. Her face distorted with sorrow as she contemplated the future of her beloved children. The world was peaceful and kind, nothing had threatened to upset the balance of Nimri in countless years. However, less than a decade ago foul magic and ancient powers had been used. The result was towers, hundreds of towers that had been spawned all across the lower realm. No two towers were alike, as they arose some twisted while others drew upon the surrounding landscape to shape their form.
"Lyria, you should find a better hobby..." a feminine voice spoke from behind of her "...what use is worrying all the time?"
"Leave me Adriel, I need to be alone." The goddess didn't even bother to face Adriel.
Instead of leaving Adriel waltzed up to Lyria and joined her on the ledge. "We grant them abilities, attributes, proficiencies, feats, perks and spells, isn't that enough?" Lyria sighed as Adriel interrupted her silent contemplation. "There's nothing we immortals can do, you know that sister."
"They won't survive this... there must be something, we just haven't thought of it yet." There was a pang of despair in Lyria's voice.
"We may not survive this either, have you thought about that?"
"I have"
"And?"
"I'm more worried about the beings of the lower realm. Besides if they survive this, we survive this." Lyria explained
Adriel sighed, "It's a shame they're all as good as dead. Forty years or so from now when our power wanes and those towers open, I don't even want to think about it. Demonic beings walking the face of Nimri once again. Last time we lost contact with the lower realm, this time..."
"...the beings inside are only growing stronger and more numerous as time passes while the lower realm remains oblivious to the danger. If only we could warn them." Lyria bit down on her forked tongue in aggravation.
"I'm more worried about what happens when the beings who made those abominations siphon power from them. In a few decades... probably less than half a century we won't have the strength to oppose them. You're right though, if the little ones knew what was inside those towers and what it's about to do to them." Adriel looked straight into Lyria's eyes "They might fight back."
There was a glimmer of Hope in Lyria's eyes. "I know what to do sister, I must speak with father."
Lyria removed herself from the ledge and turned towards a river that flowed through the mysterious higher realm. On this floating mass of land many different scenes of beauty and life made up the residences of various immortals. Lyria's residence happened to be all water. As she approached the river Lyria's garment faded and the scales along her back shimmered with a pale light. In mere moments as she dove through the air and into the river Lyria became an enormous, beautiful white snake. Adriel sighed and admired the speed her sister could traverse the higher realm as she followed suit and soared through the air in the form of a bird.
Minutes later Lyria and Adriel had greeted their elder god, Drasil. This wise immortal could see the fires of hope burning within Lyria's eyes. "What have you realized child?"
"The mortal realm must be warned."
Drasil shook his head absently, "I assume you've found away?"
"We lessen our collective power, disrupt the balance and the towers will open..."
"Even if we could, do you realize how many would die if that happened!? The fools have set up marketplaces and settlements around the towers, without the divine realm's protection..."
Lyria's eyes saddened, "Before the monsters become too strong for them to fight the towers must be opened."
"It isn't possible for us to distort the balance like that, you should know this child." Lyria looked him straight in the eyes and in that moment Drasil knew exactly what she planned to do. "No, I won't let you."
Adriel spoke up, "Won't let her what?"
"There's only one way for our power to wane." Lyria began to explain "If one of us were to die..."
Adriel gasped, "But we're immortals, we can't die... not like that."
"Unless our immortality is stripped from us." Lyria spoke calmly as Drasil averted his eyes. "It must be done father, at this rate the darkness will rise. The lower realm will be destroyed and us soon after. They showed incredible amounts of cunning while creating those towers and linking them to our power. We have to be equally as cunning if we're to save Nimri, to save our beloved children."
Drasil calmly considered Lyria's proposal before nodding in approval. "You're right... one of us will have to..."
Lyria cut him off, "I will, it's my scheme to give the lower realm a fighting chance. The towers will open and they will act, many will die and suffer now but... we have to do this. I have to do this."
"It won't be easy child, being stripped of immortality is a fate worse than a thousand deaths. Even then you would retain your power... I will have to kill you when it's over but death will be a mercy after what you've suffered."
Adriel silently walked away because she knew exactly what was about to happen and was unable to bear the thought of watching. Numerous others had begun to appear in order to watch over the final moments of Lyria. The one with the kindest heart, the one many deferred to as a source of constant warmth and love. Not one of them bothered to intervene because they knew that she wouldn't allow them to die in her place. Drasil took in one final lingering gaze of the goddess. "Lyria the benevolent, the wise, the snake, my precious daughter you would die for them?"
Her expression turned somber, "I love them."
Drasil steeled himself and placed a hand on her shoulder. Moments later Lyria cried out in agony and fell limp. He didn't stop as she writhed in pain. Seconds became minutes and many averted their gaze. Lyria had stopped screaming and only gasped for breath with her eyes wide, a waterfall of tears staining the dirt. Her beautiful scales had fallen off and the effervescent glow that surrounded her had diminished. As the ritual came to an end Lyria was barely conscious and with the last of her strength she mouthed one final apology, one final farewell to her father as he drove a speared hand through her chest. He had not wished to prolong her suffering for a single moment, Drasil vocalized his sorrow as soon as the task was over. The elder god's emotion could be felt throughout the entire upper realm as the land quaked and the balance weakened. The towers were opened, this day would forever be known as "The Reckoning". Evil mages had summoned the towers and this was an unjust punishment forced upon all of Nimri, thousands would die this day.
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Lyria believed herself to be dead but now in a dreamlike state she began to hear voices, human voices.
"Name her my love, she's our firstborn." a man's voice spoke
The woman gazed fondly at her newborn child. "Myra, Myra Vetalis."
The man happily grinned, "Your mother would've been happy to know you named her that."
"Let me hold her." she spoke "That's odd... it almost looks like a snake's tongue doesn't it?"
He looked over his daughter inquisitively, "You're right... that's unique."
I'm alive? Lyria began to panic for a moment before she realized that she couldn't feel her divinity, her connection to the balance. A powerless newborn child?... Thank you father. She assumed her father was responsible for this miracle before drifting off to sleep.
Her slumber was abruptly interrupted sometime later. Lyria was having trouble making sense of what she was hearing. Then at one horrifying moment, one terrible sound she realized what had happened. The towers were open and she had been reincarnated in a surrounding settlement. Unable to do anything she remained silent and only listened as people we're slaughtered and villagers fled for their lives. Drasil would never have sent her soul to this place, her new life had been given out of spite. Someone wanted her to suffer, to see what she had done.
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During the next few years Lyria had become accustomed to the name Myra. Her father was incredibly protective. In the aftermath of the reckoning, as it had been named, Myra's father was forced by her mother who had been weakened from the pregnancy to take their child and flee. Myra was fond of Tanner Vetalis, an easily six foot tall human with dirty blonde short scraggly hair. The man hadn't let in to despair when his wife died. Sure he never seemed quite as happy as the time when Myra first heard his voice but this man was a good father.
Myra silently took in as much about the rapidly changing world as she could. Her father never let them stay in one place for very long. It seemed that the stronger beasts who escaped the tower had a tendency to attack when people began to group together. Anything but a large city wasn't safe anymore. Myra almost couldn't bear the thought of how this was all something she had intentionally caused.
Not wanting to let her father know that she was the reincarnation of a snake goddess, Myra took care to lead her father into believing that she was just unnaturally intelligent. The young girl was careful to never take any action or speak of anything that she hadn't learned from her father. By the time she was nearing the age of five Myra had gotten a little impatient and decided to give her personal status a look over... the information she found was something that Myra decided would be best to never share with anyone.
NameMyra VetalisAlignmentGoodLevel1ProfessionNoneRaceDemigodTitleNoneHealth80 / 80Mana600 / 600Venom100 / 100Poison100 / 100Strength4Vitality6Agility16Dexterity12Intelligence20Wisdom20Magic Affinity100Luck50Attack1Defense0Magic ResistanceFire0%WaterImmuneWind0%Earth0%Light50%Darkness0%Racial: Poison and water immunity, +50% light resistance.
Perk NamePerk RankPerk LevelPerk ExperienceSerpent NatureParagonN/AN/AYou are born with an innate connection to snakes. Being double-jointed means you have unusually flexible joints. This perk allows one to use venom and poison. This perk allows one to master abilities utilizing venom or poison.
Perk NamePerk RankPerk LevelPerk ExperienceDemigodParagonN/AN/AYou are born with an innate connection to magic. This perk gifts one with magical affinity and double the mana of other beings. This perk allows one to master abilities utilizing mana with unnatural ease.
Perk NamePerk RankPerk LevelPerk ExperienceUnnatural ToleranceParagonN/AN/AA horrific experience has increased your threshold for pain. Nothing short of a fatal wound will hurt enough to paralyze you.
Proficiency NameProficiency RankProficiency LevelProficiency ExperienceToxin ProficiencyInitiate739%Increases potency if venom by 14%
Increases duration of venom by 14%
Increases potency if poison by 14%
Increases duration of poison by 14%
Your blood contains low level anti-toxins.
Myra shuddered as she read the final perk's information, the memory of that day, what she had felt was still fresh. Using her tongue Myra carefully inspected her teeth and realized that she could indeed extend a hidden set of fangs. So I've still got them... that's unexpected. Myra looked over her information one more time. Has there ever been a demigod that didn't suffer?
Tanner quietly watched over his daughter and quickly realized she had accidentally accessed her status screen. At first he moved to instruct his child how to close the screen. However, in a few short moments Tanner realized that his daughter wasn't confused. She was carefully inspecting the information. Over the past year Tanner had come to the conclusion that Myra is a genius. When he realized that she could repeat anything he had said before the man began to pour every useful bit of knowledge he could into every conversation. "Is something wrong Myra?"
Myra was a bit startled and in an attempt to cover up her mistake decided to give her father a piece of truth. "Dad, what's magic affinity?"
Tanner looked a little happy as he replied, "Magic affinity is a rare gift that only one in ten people are born with. Only one in a hundred ever manage to use more than beginner magic. What is the number next to your magic affinity Myra?"
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Myra took a moment to consider what the normal amount might be. "Ten"
Tanner gasped with shock, "That's amazing! You'll be an astounding mage my daughter, most people are born with one point. Even the mages guild leader was only born with eight points."
Oops... I should've paid closer attention as Adriel carried on about her mages. Myra thought while her father prattled on excitedly.
"We'll be going to Tal'ma'thul Myra, they can teach you more than just magic. You can learn spell circles there." Tanner grinned, "Under normal circumstances this vagabond lifestyle would be for the best but you need to be trained. The mages will take you in."
Myra thought back on her memories, they had become vague and sometimes difficult to reach. Tal'ma'thul, the city of mages. She'd heard from Tanner that In recent years it was one of the few places still safe from beastmen and monsters but... "Haven't they closed off the city to refugees?"
Tanner admired his daughter's memory for a moment, "They'll let us in. It's mutual gain Myra, you've a lot of potential as a mage."
Myra gave him a perplexed look, "What about you dad?"
"I'm coming with you, the world is a dangerous place and those mages won't teach you how to survive like I can. You may be a girl but that means nothing to me, you'll be just as strong as any boy your age. You're almost five now Myra, soon it'll be time for training and combat. I'll at least make sure you can easily escape from danger before I let you out of my site... I still don't understand how you sneak around so easily Myra."
Myra gave him a bright smile, "You just don't pay attention dad!"
Tanner's heart melted, "We leave in the morning love, rest well tonight. There's a long journey ahead of us."
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When Myra and her human father began their journey towards Tal'ma'thul he explained meticulously everything he could remember about the sort of terrain they would encounter along the way. Myra didn't really find it all that interesting seeing as she knew the worlds general form through and through. As a snake goddess whose domain was water she spent the majority of her time watching over the world and its reptilian inhabitants, in her past life Myra had been particularly fond of the Ophidian race. Ophidians were the only humanoid race that she as a snake goddess could assist with their abilities and attributes, a proud warrior-like snake people.
When her father began to talk about magic again she started listening attentively. Because Ophidians were beings without magic she knew very little of how it worked for mortals, most of the time Ophidians would become warriors. Even then Myra had only ever assisted with abilities, perks and feats concerning poison, venom and her most favorite pastime, love.
"Your mother was a five point mage Myra, you get the talent from her." he claimed proudly "I've never been much of a listener but I do know the basics... just the basics."
"Mother taught you?"
"She did, we worked together a lot so it was important to know what she could do. The first step in becoming a mage is learning how to harness your mana and use it to enforce your will upon the elements. Your mother had an uncanny 63% water affinity, I fell in love when she walked on water to pull me out of a river."
Tanner's sad eyes nearly broke her heart so Myra tried to move the subject away from her mother for the time being. Remembering the one you love and making peace is important but she knew Tanner, her father wasn't capable of coping with what had happened yet. "There's more to it than just magic affinity?"
Tanner made an ~oh right~ face, "View elemental affinity"
Myra mimicked him, "View elemental affinity"
Elemental AffinityFire0%Water100%Wind0%Earth0%Light83%Darkness0%
"I have water and light affinity."
Tanner looked a bit shocked, "Just the two?"
Myra cocked her head, "Not good?"
"I just assumed being a ten point mage you'd have at least 10% in all elements... Most three point mages have at least 10% in every element and usually around 25% in a favored element."
Myra realized that her affinity probably had to do with what she had been in her past life. Lying once again she spoke a bit timidly, "I'm like mother, 67% water affinity and 28% light affinity."
Tanner smiled happily, "That's amazing once again, you've got nearly full affinity. Almost all mages only have about 70% total affinity, I was told the amount never adds up to more than a hundred."
"Dad, Is it bad to only have two elements?"
"Well... it would've been fine a few years ago but with the world in turmoil mages are sought out for versatility more than anything." he noticed Myra frowning "Don't worry Myra, water and light is plenty I'm sure."
She breathed a slight sigh of relief. "How do you harness mana and... spell circles are?"
Tanner looked a bit perplexed, "It's different for most people, some just feel it on instinct while others need to train for years and concentrate. Your mother was a natural. How quickly you can cast a spell is basically how fast you're able to conjure the necessary element and how far away the origin of the spell is from your current position. Spell circles take time to draw but they can be used to enhance a spell's raw power by several times."
As he explained it Myra decided to see if she could, as Tanner had claimed enforce her will on the water inside her canteen. Hmmm, I guess refilling it should be alright. Moments later the canteen began to gush while her father rambled on.
*ding*
A new Perk has been generated: Mana Control
Perk NamePerk RankPerk LevelPerk ExperienceMana controlInitiate11%Improves your ability to efficiently and skillfully use mana.
Increases natural mana recovery speed by 1%
Decreases mana penalty for non-spell elemental manipulation by 1%
A new Proficiency has been generated: Water Magic Proficiency
Proficiency NameProficiency RankProficiency LevelProficiency ExperienceWater Magic ProficiencyInitiate11%Increases spell power with water magic by 1%
Decreases mana cost of water magic by 10%
When casting near a water source increases spell power with water magic by 1%
When casting near a water source decreases mana cost of water magic by 10%
Requires a water source to cast spells.
Allows the use of beginner level water spells.
Intelligence has been permanently increased by 1
Wisdom has been permanently increased by 1
A new Spell has been generated through water magic proficiency: Conjure Water
Spell NameSpell CategorySpell LevelSpell ExperienceConjure WaterBeginner11%Use mana to conjure pure water at a targeted location.
-Range: Line of sight.
-Costs 2 mp/sec.
Intelligence has been permanently increased by 1
Tanner gaped as Myra panicked and poorly hid the mess she'd made. Oops
*pft-hahahahaaaaa* "Like mother, like daughter..." he claimed while choking back his laughter "...she did the same thing on instinct as a child and nearly scared her parents to death"
Thank goodness it isn't unusual for kids to accidentally use their mana. "I just tried to do what you said dad,... sorry I busted my canteen." she held up the leaking, now unworthy of its name container "Can you fix it for me?"
His expression turned gentle as Tanner patted his prodigious daughter on the head and took hold of the canteen. "Of course love."
Myra watched her father's handiwork happily. She began to ponder over a few things. When she first reincarnated Myra had considered Tanner a second father and this a second life. However, as the first few years passed her thinking began to change. Somewhere along the line Tanner had become her first father and this life became a new life. She had been truly reborn, no one depended on her except for Tanner and that was only for emotional support.
Adjusting to the feeling of mortality had been an odd experience for the goddess turned demigod. The aches and pains that come with living and breathing a normal life. Myra was happier than she'd ever been. One of the things she thought she'd never have, the life of a human... but more importantly the chance to live among and protect the lower realms inhabitants. Myra made a silent determination when she realized that she was more than human, the towers have to be neutralized. The catalysts that spawned them are powerful creatures and to sever the tower from the balance one needs to slay the catalyst. Myra would become strong, she would atone for the reckoning. Tanner looked on and sighed as he saw his young daughter make a face entirely unsuited for a child.
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Their journey up until this point had been relatively uneventful, aside from the few monsters and wild beasts that Tanner calmly dealt with the traveling was easy.
"This next part is the worst." he claimed while pointing towards a white topped mountain "Once we cross the Tal'lei mountain range Tal'ma'thul is only a few weeks away."
"Why is it the worst?"
"Because it's right in the zone that monsters like to gather at around inhabited areas, it's just a hotspot for dangerous activity... normally we'd find a caravan to make our way through but at this time of year nobody comes in from the north like us."
Myra cocked her little head. "Why not wait for the right time of year?"
"It's too dangerous out here... I didn't want to say anything but did you notice how we were attacked right after you used magic?"
Myra gave him a stunned look, "Why?"
"Maybe it's because of their nature, I don't know. Point is monsters will gather in droves when they sense mana and you probably look like an irresistible steak right now. You'll have trouble controlling your mana and that means we need to be in a town. This was the closest one and luckily it's the city of mages. They won't mind your presence."
"I'm sorry dad." she frowned as Tanner tapped her on the nose
"It's not your fault love, this is a good thing."
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Myra ecstatically gazed out towards the city of mages from atop her father's shoulders, "It's huge!" She could see the city's walls from the mountains. It would still be a few weeks of travel before they arrived but Myra had already begun to plan out how she would explore the town in her free time. Every time her father stopped them at a village or encampment she would immediately disappear and start to explore nearly driving Tanner insane.
"Alright that's enough, down ya go."
"Awwwww.." Myra gave him a sullen look.
"Just a little more..."
As Tanner spoiled his daughter he continued to waltz along a relatively flat area of the mountainous terrain. They had passed the high ground less than an hour ago and Tanner had started to sense blood lust. Monsters were nearer than he'd like so nothing would stop his continued advance. To his dismay the sound of falling pebbles caught Tanner's ears and he quickly turned while placing Myra behind of him.
"Monsters?" she asked
"Yeah... get ready to run." Tanner unsheathed his longsword and brought up a defensive stance while lying in wait to see if this was an enemy they could flee from. Moments later two large red bears, easily four meters in height plotted over the terrain. Tanner's expression turned grim, there was no chance of outrunning them... and he didn't have the confidence to beat them. In order to protect his daughter Tanner gathered his resolve and spoke quietly. "When I move you run towards the city, you don't look back and you don't wait for me, remember everything I've taught you about the land, got it?"
Myra choked back tears, she could sense the gravity of the situation and nodded to her father without arguing.
*RUMBLE!*
Tanner panicked and took hold of his daughter as the ground began to shake while the massive beasts fled. Within seconds the ground began to collapse...
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