“Jack? Are you alright?” Seraphine-sii looked worried, though she was worried, I couldn't help but think her furrowed brow was anything but cute.
“Yes, yes, I am doing well. I think we should definitely stay in the Kingdom of Lunari. For we helped raze a city in the Solaeum Kingdom, and we might get arrested if we get recognized. The Principality of Shadows has a bad reputation, and the Undead Quarter is uninhabitable. By the way what do you plan on doing? I realized that we were traveling in the same direction, but we don't have to be together.”
She looked at me for a while before answering, “I intend to find a place where I belong in this world, as many of my kind are summoned here, but are discriminated against and even subjugated. I would like to provide shelter for anyone summoned from the Plane of Creation. I had just been summoned like you, but I hear stories from those that returned to our village.” she looked sorrowful.
I placed my hand on her shoulder and assured her, “No need to worry, I might have a place for you. As this Kingdom is far north of where we started, so it might get really cold here. Though that being said, let me help you.”
I then turned around and used my ability, Homescreen. A portal that was in the shape of the gateway of the entrance to this very world from earlier appeared before me. The gate with muses that decorated had a picture of the Homescreen that I had created on the other-side of it. I tugged the hand of the nervous Lamia as I entered the portal to the familiar screen. I felt the Lamia gasped. I know she was surprised, but I was very relieved in it turning out how I thought it would.
“Is this Yxda's Drawer? A Pocket Realm within the Creation Plane? I always knew you were a noble.” She looked around with amazement, staring at the large castle in particular. She then had a frown. “It seems to be lacking in life.” She looked at my face again.
“It is as you say, though with this realm, it is fully under my control. I decide the very fabric of this space, it is mine to command.” I had the options menu pop up in the corner of my sight and I purchased some animal spawners. And I had them litter the forest with them. A window popped up for me.
System Notice
Gold from user collected, total reserves: 2,197,503 gold
Gold spent on purchases: 3,500 gold
Gold left: 2,194, 003 gold
Would you like to withdraw gold?
I decided to empty my spacial bag and convert the contents, with exception of the Metal staff and the summoning grimoire, into gold. I chose to keep the staff to be equip my left and the grimoire strapped to my side. All, I am missing is a robe and I look like the classical mage. The gold amounted to about 5,100 pieces, practically filling the spatial bag.
I then looked to Seraphine-sii and said, “Well, now there is Wild Life. There is life present here, but nothing sentient. What is a ruler without any subjects. If you plan on doing what you said you were doing, then I will provide you with this much. You may use the castle as a place to stay if you so desired.”
“Milord!” Seraphine-sii quickly bent at her waist, “I will forever follow you and swear fealty to you. My loyalty to you shall be unrivaled! Though you have graciously offered the castle, I feel it is natural that I take to the forests.”
“I understand, I will allow you to do as you please, and if I come across another, I will send them your way, or even I will bring you to them to have you tell them yourself.”
“Thank you, Master.” She seemed delighted, to have found place to call home. “I will work hard. I will not accompany you on your travels unfortunately, for there is much work to be done.”
“I understand,” I nodded, “I will be back.” With that I walked through the open portal and turned around to close it behind me. I was once again in the room that presumably belonged to Ray. I then open the door only see that a little girl was about to open it as well. The look of shock on her face was almost priceless.
“G-good afternoon. I apologize, I thought you were still asleep. I was sent by father to wake you up.” She seemed to get over her shock rather quickly. When I looked her up an down, I noted that she just like her father, dark hair, brown eyed and a snub nosed, as well as some nice clothes. She seemed to fidget when I stared so I just ruffled her hair and kept walking.
Past the doorway we were both at, was a short hallway that ended at the top of a set of stairs. Following that, I saw that the stairs ended behind a bar and just left of the kitchen. I was greeted by Ray himself. “Morning sunshine, or should I say afternoon? I knew you looked sickly, but I didn't how bad it was. I don't mind if you use the room to get better, but you have to pay for meals, I don't mind if you work here to pay if you are running low on coin, though it may get in the way of your recovery.”
“You have got to be the kindest person I have come across. I think I will be taking you up on your offer. I am not feeling very well, so I will be resting in the room you have provided. Thank you.” I left to go back up stairs, while Ray was smiling to himself.
I think I should meditate and increase my skills where I can here. I walked to the room and closed the door behind me. I then lay on the bed and close my eyes for meditation. I quickly found my Mana this time and I began to expand it outside my body. It was very resistant to my commands at first but then I was able to expand it into a thin bubble around me. I then condensed it as fast as I could and expanded it as fast as I could. It began to feel like a work out, I would occasionally take breaks while in meditation. As I continued, I changed up the exercise. I then condensed the Mana into a ball and moved it around my body faster and faster. I then tried moving it outside my body while still keeping within my grasp. It proved rather difficult but I was barely able manage it while I reabsorbed it into my body, this process went on for sometime, I let it out one last time before I was so fatigued that I couldn't hang on to it that it slipped from my grasp, thus ending my meditation session.
Skill Upgrade
Mana Manipulation V: Further increase in Mana Efficiency and spell effectiveness
Ice Magic Mastery II: Increase Ice Magic effectiveness and efficiency
I was covered in frost again, and this time I heard a sound. I looked over at the doorway, where I saw a the little girl wide eyed and staring at me.
“May I help you?” I ask this to break the awkward silence.
“A-a-ah, no. It's just, uh, breakfast is ready!” She quickly ran away.
Breakfast? I look out the window to see that it indeed looked early morning as the Sun was on the rise. I guess that direction is West then, I thought. I brushed the frost of me before I headed downstairs when I saw that the little girl was trying to tattle on me. Upon seeing me she closed her mouth and didn't utter another word. Seeing his daughter this way, he quickly looked behind himself and saw me.
“Ah, morning. My little Snowflake was trying to tell me you were freezing in the room I lent you. She says the cutest things. Anyway, do you want breakfast? Its ready you know, just five gold coins.”
Although, I didn't need to eat anything it seems, I figured the humans would worry if I didn't eat anything, so I payed the gold and ate silently. It was a simple breakfast of a fried egg and hard bread. Hmm, it seems this world's culinary skills weren't up to par with Earth, not even in the slightest. Maybe another player will become a chef and spread Earth cuisine. Of course there would have to be a player farmer to get the best ingredients. As it stands, I can only taste salt from the egg, and nothing from the stale bread.
As I was thinking all this, Ray spoke up, “In a couple of days, the Duke will be here. It is a rare thing for him to come here. He is the Duke of the Diamond River Delta, of which we are at the edge of. I wonder what he wants.” Ray put himself in deep thought.
“Perhaps I will gather with the people on that day. But for now I must rest.” I stood up and left Ray at the table by himself. Jogging upstairs, I went into the roomed I was lent, and sat on the bed. It was then that I saw the little girl in the corner of the room. “What are you up too?”
She looked at me for awhile before answering, “I-I want to watch you freeze.”
I nodded my head before getting in a comfortable sitting position and closing my eyes. Finding my Mana even faster than before, I quickly get into the exercises that I practiced before, this time I made simple ball of ice that I had float around me as I did the exercises. After a while had passed I stopped my exercise before I mentally fatigued myself. I opened my eyes and I had seen that there was more frost around me than usually, actually parts of my clothing were in cased in ice.
Skill Upgrade
Mana Manipulation VI: Now able to absorb magical attacks from: Ice, Water, Undead, and Dark
Ice Magic Mastery III: Knowledge absorption in Ice Magic is increased
Ice Resistance II: More Resistant to Ice Magic Attacks
I look to the little girl and I had seen that she was staring at me intently, though I also noted we weren't the only ones in this small room. From the doorway, I heard the familiar gruff voice, “Amazing, you were actually freezing yourself.”
I immediately brush off the thick layer of ice and apologized, “I am terribly sorry, I wasn't trying to freeze my surroundings on purpose. It just seems like that was an unavoidable thing.”
Ray and his beautiful wife stood in a stupor, and then seemed to have snapped out of it, “That is more than fine. Besides magical ice only turns to water under magical fire, or manipulated by mage to do so. So you don't have to worry about a mess. Who knew I was helping a mage? I know you need to learn the ways of the world, but I think you need to go to Divinity. It is Magic Academy at the caldera of the Heart of the Stars, just beneath the Celestial Lake. They will be able to teach you all there is to know about the world.”
I thought for a moment, “I see, hey isn't that Duke supposed to come to this town?”
Ray nodded, “Yea, however, he sent a letter to the chief, saying that he will delay his visit for a week or two.”
I nodded as I made my decision, “I have decided that I will leave after the Duke comes, I would like to say my farewells then. Perhaps, I will travel to Divinity. I wouldn't want to be a burden to you.”
Ray then shook his head, “Ah, don't think you were a burden, but we will properly send you off when that time comes.” He said this as he left the room.
Well, that went better than expected. It is nice to know that elements summoned through magic don't act like physical counterparts. Perhaps I could look into doing some creative things. I might make an Elemental or an Automaton made completely out of ice or something.
I closed my eyes again, knowing that the little girl was still watching me. At first I found it a little creepy, but now it seems a little cute, kind of like a curious little creature studying an object of interest.
For days, my meditation went on like this, each progressing level I broke through became lengthier in time. It was a week and a half that passed by, I had regularly entertained Ray's little girl, whom was named Yuki. I had several conversations with Ray's wife, named Karina. I found out that Ray was from the Solaeum Kingdom originally, but made his way the Kingdom of Lunari where he met Karina and had a child. Apparently, the merchant taxes were less harsh in the Kingdom of Lunari.
Skill Upgrade
Mana Manipulation IX: Able to absorb almost all magic damage from any school, except Holy.
Ice Magic Mastery V: Able to shorten incatations to just to the spells' name. Or even forego it all together, at the expense of more Mana. Only applies to Ice Magic
Ice Magical Arts II: Able to learn more basic spells in Ice school magic
Ice Resistance III: Able to stand colder temperatures, and block Ice Magic
Hmm, I wondered why it stopped at level nine and not ten. If I learned anything about NPI, they really liked rounding things off by the tens. At my pondering another pop-up sprang up.
SK Notice
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Leveling Skills: As you level skills, it takes longer to reach the next level. Skills max out at level IX. However, skills can reach level X if, and only if, certain titles, achievements, or blessings are gained.
I see, so in order for me to get to that Mana Manipulation skill to level X, I might have to become a really powerful mage, or even get a blessing from a god or something... well, that put a rain in my parade. I did gain a total stat base raise in my Magical Defense by about 10, and a stat base increase in Mana by about 150.
Seeing as my skill had reached it's current height, I automatically learned two spells, Ice Spike and Ice Totem. I can recover completely expended Mana four times in one day, it was an awesome recovery speed. I was able to wear my Mana around me at all times, acting as a sort of shield, though it took on the character of Ice, so it formed a mini-blizzard around me. My meditation training was done, so I decided to walk around town before my departure in the next day or two.
When I exited the restaurant, owned by Ray, named The Winter Sun, I was almost ran into by a man in a rush. He didn't even stop to apologize, he ran and joined a bigger crowd that was waiting and cheering for something. Or someone.
I then realized that I lost track of time and was a day off, the Duke of this place was coming today. Maybe I can fulfill the objective of being invited to his court for my quest, if I can somehow impress him while he is here. For now, I decided to join the crowd. I then overheard a conversation between two figures within the crowd, as a caravan was being pulled by a few horses, making its way toward this usually sleepy town.
“Whada ya think he's 'ere for?” said a man that was out of my sight.
“”I reckon, he's 'ere to glad hand. Just a friendly reminder, one being that we outta pay taxes. Either way, let's accept 'im in open arms?” said a man that was probably close to the first man, perhaps they were friends, they didn't sound particularly educated, but as they were probably farmers, they didn't need to be.
By then a caravan that seemed more and more decorated pulled up in front of the crowd and even stopped with a rather slim, grim looking man stepping out of the outrageously caravan and spoke out. “Greetings, town of Iglaku. As you probably have figured out, I am your lord, Duke Clostaru of Diamond Fields. I know I haven't shown my face in public in these last few years, but I came as the bearer of bad news. My entire clan, aside from myself has died. I have no family, at least by blood anyway. I want you to say hello to my new family!” With a gleeful expression he snapped his fingers.
Upon the snap of his fingers, the caravan walls fell and what was now before us was a platform on wheels, with a pile of corpses tumbled out. I noticed there was a magic circle on the platform itself. I know that all magic was in the Old Elvish Language, but now that I could understand all languages, it looked like normal words to me. I was however too far away to see them clearly, though I did have a bad feeling about it.
Clostaru then stepped in the middle of the circle and held large, intricate metal staff above his head and shouted, “Rise, Soulless Bodies, Rise. Reanimation Circle.” Upon his very words, the magic formation started to glow, and little wisps flew into the bodies, making them rise on their own. He then declared, “I, Duke Clostaru, renounce my name and titles to follow the path of Thun'quqyg. I name myself Thun'malitum, and I welcome you to be a apart of my family!”
The now reanimated corpses then charged at the stunned crowd, causing a mass panic. There were people that had chunks of flesh ripped from, and others that got trampled to death by the panicked horde of people trying to escape the hellish scene.
“You have got to be kidding me. Is this perhaps a regular occurrence? Why do people keep trying to follow the Lich?” I mutter to myself. I then cast one of my newly learned spells, “Pillar of Ice, push forward, Ice Totem.” Normally this move is used to push enemies back with an enormous pillar of ice coming from the ground, though I used it under my feet, therefore it became a pillar that I stood on from a rather tall height. I then summoned my other spell that I knew and aimed at a nearby corpse, “Chunk of Ice, hurl, Ice Spike.” As the incantation suggests, it was a fist sized lump of ice that was then hurled at the corpse.
It hit its mark though, it seemed like it only got his attention. It was however impaled in the back of his head. So maybe if I fired a few at one target, it would take it down. No that would prove inefficient against their growing numbers, perhaps if I altered the incantation of the spell for Ice Spike...
Quest: How to Stop a Zombie Apocalypse
Mission: You wish to preserve this town and its inhabitants.
Objective: Kill all Zombies or Kill Thun'malitum
Reward: Title, 2,000 Exp., 1 SP, 500 Gold, 20 Respect/ Admiration
Hmm, I guess it is time to play hero, though what would happen if I chose to destroy the town instead? A little pop-up answered my question.
Quest: How to Start a Zombie Apocalypse
Mission: Your thoughts coincide with Thun'malitum.
Objective: Kill all villagers
Optional: Throw ten villagers to a pack of Zombies
Reward: Title, 2,500 Exp., 2 SP, 2,000 Gold, -50 Respect/ Admiration, 50 Fear
Why are the evil quests so much more rewarding than good quests in games. I would normally jump at an opportunity to join the evil side, but since this is my new life, I better coexist with the locals, or it may be my downfall later. I do know some people that play this game will jump at the chances despite this being their life.
As I was thinking of a way to deal with the Zombies, I saw a small figure darting between the buildings and attacking the Zombies. It wasn't until she stopped and yelled at me that I got more details of her figure. She was a little short, but had long brunette hair and pointy ears, she also had a round face with a small nose. I was a little far away, but her big eyes were a soft chocolate brown that I could see from here. “Are you going to help from up there or what?”
Just then, a pack of Zombies noticed her and started to sprint in her direction, not just one pack, but three, from all directions. She was stuck. So I launched an Ice Totem beneath her feet and had her in the air in no time. She was at roughly the same height as me. She was visibly relieved, but she then turned toward me as if to say 'now what?'
I clad myself in my Mana, like I had practiced the week prior to today, and it formed a miniature blizzard as I expected. I then resummoned the Ice Spike, “Chunk of Ice, hurl, Ice Spike.” Before I launched it at a poor zombie, I realized something, it started to spin in the blizzard. I remembered that bullets fly faster and farther the faster they spun. Since the Ice Spike shared the same appearance as a bullet, albeit a very big bullet, I put my thoughts into practice.
I began my incantation again, “Chunk of Ice, Spin speeds of sounds, Compact, Condense, Hurl, Ice Bullet.” I chose to condense it's form to that it was small enough to ignore air resistance, but it was compact enough that it wouldn't shatter on impact. With it spinning at high velocities, it should fly at speeds, incomparable to that of the Ice Spike, therefore I dubbed it the Ice Bullet. It was rather lengthy incantation, so I will just shortened it to its name, I might just do a silent incantation in dire situations.
Satisfied with my creation, I then had it float over my finger gun. I aimed my finger gun at a zombie, and watched as my Ice Bullet disappeared and the head of the Zombie exploded hardly a moment after. I felt a considerable amount of Mana compared to the Ice Spike leave me, however, it still wasn't much compared to my Mana reserves and Mana recovery rate. I could have fun with this. I started casually sniping the zombies from across the town and beneath as I sat on my Ice Totem.
Thun'malitum must have noticed that his fighting force was quickly depleting and that I was to blame. I figured he might have noticed when all of the undead came to the base of my Ice Totem and started clawing at its base. I waited until my perch became unsteady and I fell with my Ice Totem. However, before impact, I dispersed my form into that of icy Mist, with my Mana still circulating around me. My descent slowed drastically, my Ice Totem shattered on the ground way before I even touched the ground.
I was in the middle of the Zombie horde as they tried to grab at my incorporeal form. I let my Mana run amuck amongst them, freezing all the surrounding zombies solid. I had more zombies that surrounded them, so I had to walk to get them. Well, walk is the wrong term, more of a slow glide. It was rather difficult and slow.
After all of the brainless corpses were thoroughly frozen, I released my Mist form and I brandished my rapier. I hacked, slashed, and stabbed my way through all of the undead popsicles. I looked toward Thun'malitum, his facial expression was priceless.
He seemed to take a step back on his platform, almost falling off. As he was struggling with his balance, I made an incantation, “Chunk of Ice, condense, compact, Spin, Spin Speeds twice of sound, Fly forward, Ice Bullet.” I changed the incantation to add more firepower to the bullet at a cost of rest of my Mana. The thin pebble sized Ice Bullet hovered in front of my index finger, as I made a finger gun.
I pointed it at Thun'malitum, much to my surprise he laughed, “That's it? Wow, I know that spells sometimes falter, but wow you could only summon a pebble lump of ice that you are going to-”
I then pulled the trigger of my finger gun. Bang! My Ice Bullet broke the sound barrier, though to the naked eye, it looked liked it exploded. Though the same could be said about Thun'malitum's head. His poor head couldn't handle the speeds of my Ice Bullet, and so his head opened a path for through its center. Thus Thun'malitum was no more.
Thun'malitum's nearly headless body fell and slammed into the ground with a thud. The magic circle beneath his feet faded until it ceased to glow all together. The entirety of the village fell silent and motionless. The first one to act was the girl from moments before.
The long hair of hers fluttered about as she leaped off the Ice Totem and landed with a soft thud. She stood up and winced momentarily and then marched over to me with a stiff expression, probably from the pain she must be feeling in her ankles just now. As soon as she was in arms length of me, she stopped and looked me up and down before narrowing her eyes, “How did you do that?”
I glanced elsewhere, “Do what?” She leaned in closely. Too close, too close. “Anyway, what are we going to do with those guys.?” I hurriedly point at some robed figures that appear to be with Thun'malitum, but didn't play any role in the Village's would be demise, so they went unnoticed.
Said robed figures became aware that I had noted their presence, and then threw themselves on the ground in submission. Villagers slowly came out of their homes and were now surrounding the robed figures, yelling at them, spitting on them, various angry mob activities. The little girl glanced at the mob, “I say we do nothing, it looks like the villagers of Iglaku want to give them a piece of their mind.”
We watched as the mob tied and beat their prisoners before hauling them off to probably continue beating them. As we watched, I asked, “My name is Jack Frost, what are you called?”
She then looked at me with her brown eyes, “My name is Nin-Solana, though people just call me Sola.”
“Ah, well I guess I will call you Sola, seeing that I am people.” I flash a smile. Just then, Sola went from smiling to sticking her hands near my face and using her fingers to open my mouth. She checked this way and that. After she removed her fingers from my mouth, she then moved extremely close to examine my face. “W- what are you doing?”
After a minute or so of getting closer than comfortable looks at me, she sat back satisfied, “Well, I am still alive after invading your personal space, and you don't give off a holy feeling... say, are you a Yxdan Vampire? I only heard about them in stories, I never thought I would actually meet a noble vampire.”
“A noble vampire?” I was perplexed. Seraphine-sii also mentioned something about me being noble, but I am pretty sure that was because she saw that I owned a castle.
“Yes, in all the stories... well I only know of three of them, the Yxdan Vampires were called noble vampires, mostly because they were able to protect their beloved even after death. They were created mainly by Yxda, though they were altered by Vuzmes, giving up their immortality for another life, a double life. Though they are inherently good, they still need blood to sustain themselves periodically. Other vampires include, the Abelian Vampires, Kuqbusi Vampires, and Quktixi Vampires.”
I look at her, and tell her to continue. “Alright then, as far as I remember, Abelian Vampires were regarded as holy vampires, because they were able to use Holy Magic, and they were empowered by the sun due to Wiqdum's influence. They were created by Wiqdum, Abelia and Ovthys. They are only capable of kind acts, though they still need blood every few years, otherwise they are prone to insanity where they wind up hurting someone. They usually commit suicide afterwards because of the crushing guilt, according to a legend I read.
Kuqbusi Vampires, also known as the slaver vampires, being able to call back any soul of the beings they devoured. They also possess high end hypnotic powers they use to enslave the living. Kuqbusi are only capable of bad deeds as far as the stories go, they also require blood frequently. They were created by Kuqbus himself.
Lastly the Quktixi Vampires, or the insane vampires. These ruthless beings, are said to have blood thirst and blood lust levels beyond anything else, and are driven insane by their own existence from time to time. They are uncontrollable and insane half of the time. They are said to have wings, incapable of good deeds. They are demons created by Fyrhena and Quktix, and since they are native to this world they are unsummonable.” She summarized.
“You say you read these in legends and stories, but you speak as if they are fact.” I said.
She simply replied, “Well, most stories, riddles, and jokes have some truth to them. Also, these are archived stories in the Lost cultures section of the Library of Ages at Divinity.”
“Divinity, you say... wait, you said that those awful demons are not summonable because they live here? Why is that?”
“Well, many of the demons that the Demon gods have created eons ago are not summonable because they live here. It isn't like you will see them anyway. Most of these creations live on the Cursed Continent. That is the continent to the west of this one.”
“I see.” I muttered. Just as I was about to wring more information out of Sola, I saw an elderly man walk over toward us. “Yes, may I help you.” I called to the old man.
“Many of this humble towns' citizens have reported that you were the one to stop this small towns' destruction single handed. We would like for you to accept this towns offerings to our hero. We gathered a little from everyone, and would like for you to have it.” He then pushed a mid sized pouch filled gold coins into my hand.
Quest Completed: How to Stop a Zombie Apocalypse
Mission: You wish to preserve this town and its inhabitants.
Objective: Kill all Zombies or Kill Thun'malitum
Bonus: Kill all Zombies and Thun'malitum (74/74)
Reward: Title, 5,665 Exp., 1 SP, 500 Gold, 20 Respect/ Admiration, Title
Title Earned
Title: Hero of Iglaku
Level Up! You Earned 1 Level!
You've gained: 3 Strength, 5 Mag. Str., 3 Defense, 5 Mag. Def., 3% Stealth, 3% Speed, 5% Accuracy, 10% Blood Thirst, 1 SP, 10 Health, 20 Mana, and 10 Stamina.
Congratulations on reaching Level 8
A light throbbing started in the back of my head, and I felt a familiar thirst began to scratch away at my throat, though only enough to be uncomfortable.
He smiled as I took the gold he presented to me and then walked away. At first glance, he just seemed like a friendly old man, but there was a certain air about him;. He smelled like leadership. So, I inquired about him, “Who was he? He is surely more than just an old man.”
Sola then nodded her head, “Yes, he is the town's Baron. Though he used to be an Archmage whom has lived a very long life even compared to an elf, though his powers and longevity has been stripped away from him through a curse made by Thun'quqyg. Since he was born here, he came back to his roots, and the citizens here made him Baron, with the hep of a noble of course.”
“What is his name?”
“His name is Baron Rolnaru. The Count of this area resides in the next town over, Glacetenko. A Baron works under a Count, a Count works under a Duke, and a Duke works under a King. Back in the glory days of the Empire, there were some Kings that worked under the Emperor, though they were vice-royalty.”
“A feudal system? I thought so, with the Kingdoms and what not. What is the Principality? A type of Kingdom or a Merchant Republic?”
“I thought everyone knew... They are a Theocracy, given that they are ruled by a man of the supposed cloth. So what now, Hero of Iglaku?” she teased.