Part 1:
Wraith opened his eyes and was confused by his surroundings. He was in a strange place, completely different from his home. He slowly realized where he was. It was his new home. It would be a while until he got used to it.
After dragging himself out of bed, he stumbled into the bathroom. After a long, scalding shower to shake off the last vestiges of jet-lag, he got dressed and went to make breakfast. He went to cook breakfast, settling on a few crispy strips of bacon, scrambled eggs and two pieces of toast. He wasn't a great cook, but he did occasionally help out his mom in the kitchen, so he did know how to at least get around a kitchen.
He wouldn't starve, but he would still suffer through some burnt or undercooked meals for a while. It was just another thing he would have to get used to. He thought about all the things he would have to do as he was sipping his cup of coffee.
The legal matters were already being taken care of, so he didn't have to worry about suddenly being deported, and the financial matters were under control. He had set up a bank account a few months ago, and Unicorn had already made the month's deposit. It was more than enough for both food and rent.
Since those things were taken care of, he had time to focus on Royal Road. For the next month he would have to work non-stop. Well, there's no time like the present. After washing the dishes, he went back to his room and stood before his new capsule.
He brushed a hand over the silver metal and plastic. When he lifted the lid of the capsule, he saw a small booklet lying on the soft blue gel. Apparently the capsule had a few extra features. The video feed was sent directly to Unicorn so they could monitor his progress. There was a contract inside the booklet, which allowed them to do so and use the video as they liked.
The gel was also heated and designed to be as comfortable as possible. They were small advantages that made things a bit easier, but didn't make playing the game too easy, thereby making it unfair for the public. After signing the papers and putting it to the side, he entered the capsule and logged in.
He found himself in the desert. Just a few miles away, he could see the city of Jorenheim. He wanted to go find Sarin and Vangar, but first there was something that he needed to do.
He walked down the sand dunes into the city. It was still the afternoon, the sun hovering just above the horizon. There was plenty of time to get his task done and go find his pack.
Once he got into the city, he immediately set forth to find and talk to the King. Since the Adversary were planning on coming to Jorenheim, he had to clear it with the King. Because he was technically related to the King, he was allowed to speak privately with him.
“Wraith, I'm glad to see that you've returned to us.” The King was in his throne room, wrapping up the day's work with the rest of the court.
“I'm afraid it's a very short visit. I simply needed to inform you that I've found us some new allies. They call themselves the Adversary”
“They still exist?” The King was surprised by the news.
Wraith was also somewhat taken aback to realize that the King knew about them. “I didn't know you were familiar with them.”
“We've heard stories about them, but we assumed they had all perished long ago.”
“Fortunately they survived, and they wish to make their home here as well. They gave me this orb so that they could build a teleportation gate that would let them come here.”
“We know that their interests are aligned with ours, and they are quite skilled in craftsmanship, but do you believe that they can be trusted?”
The King's gaze was piercing, asking Wraith to think long and hard on his answer. “I know that you've never met them personally, but I have. All they want is a place to call home, where they can be free. SO yes, I believe they can be trusted.”
“Very well then, you can place the orb outside the city walls. We'll get started on building the foundations of their new city.”
“Thank you your highness,” Wraith said with a bow.
The King simply smiled. “Take care grandson.”
After burying the orb in a suitable location, he activated his Heart's Compass skill and let it point him in the direction of Sarin and Vangar. They were together, out in the middle of the desert.
From the skill, he could tell that they weren't too far out. He walked back out of the city and headed west. In about twelve minutes, he found the place where they were sleeping. There was no real need to wake them up so he lay down beside them and went to sleep.
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When Wraith woke up early the next day, he went to go hunt and break in his new body. He cautiously looked for a good opponent. It would have to be a monster that was strong, but not overwhelmingly so. Eventually he came across a giant scorpion. It was only about a metre and a half in length, but it looked vicious.
He transformed into his wolf-form and extended his claws. It was an odd feeling to do so. There were extra muscles in his finger-tips that controlled the extension and retraction of them. It was slightly difficult to get the hang of it, so he would need more practice to pull them in and out quickly.
The first thing the scorpion tried to do was strike him with its tail. Wraith dodged it fairly easily and gripped it tightly. Outside of the dungeon the test took place in, the difference in strength was huge. He was unable to even hold on to the tail, let alone do any significant damage to it. Even though the scorpion was only around level thirty, Wraith's attacks barely fazed it. It was basically a war of attrition.
Wraith scratched and clawed at it's hard outer shell and shaved the life from it. With his high agility stat, he avoided getting hit and made sure every one of his attacks landed. After over a hundred attacks later, he finally managed to kill it.
The problem was that it drained his stamina. It took him almost an hour to end the fight, which was just too long in a real battlefield. After collecting the venom, the meat and the carapace, he rested up and returned to where Sarin and Vangar were sleeping.
By the time he got there, they had already woken up. Sarin bounded over to him and greeted him enthusiastically. Vangar walked towards him with a more measured pace.
Wraith didn't understand what was going on with Vangar. He knew that he was angry and brooding about something, but he didn't know what. “Vangar, is there anything I need to know about?”
“Alright then. I have to go find the Kingdom of Asvale anyway.” Wraith and his pack used the teleportation disc that Fenella gave one last time, and left the realm of Jorenheim. Once again he found himself back in the continent of Versailles. It was a pleasant change from the cold darkness of the caves. The desert of Jorenheim wasn't bad, but it just didn't have the lush vibrancy of the forest.
The grey rocks under the bright sun, surrounded by trees that reached towards the sky made him feel free. His inner beast felt at peace here, revelling in the hunting ground. He and his pack walked for a while, heading in the general direction of Asvale.
From where they were, it would take about three days to get to the outskirts of the kingdom. They started walking immediately and trekked through the forest. He hadn't had to walk through the forest for any great distance before, owing to the fact that he was teleported there. What he wouldn't give to have that luxury again.
They had been walking for several hours when they came across a patch of earth without any trees on it. It was an open space perfect for taking a break. “OK guys, this is a good place to stop.”
As he dodged, he saw that Vangar had leaped to where he was, his jaws open and ready to tear into his flesh. Having failed the surprise attack, Vangar landed on his paws and turned towards him. He bared his fangs and snarled at Wraith.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?!” Wraith growled at him, feeling a mix of anger, confusion, and betrayal. That attack wasn't a playful one, it was meant to maim, and kill.
You have been challenged for leadership by Vangar! Warning, killing Vangar results in a permanent death. If you lose, you will lose the Leader of the Pack skill. Challenge cannot be refused.
With those words, Vangar lunged towards him. After dodging his attack, Wraith transformed into his wolf-form and tensed his muscles. Crouching low, he ran and used his claws to slice at Vangar's right eye.
Vangar howled with rage. He could still see out of it, but his vision was severely compromised. Although he attempted to bite him, Wraith danced away form his jaws with relative ease. With his agility stat being considerably higher than Vangar's, he could keep out of danger. With his reduced health and lack of defence, even one attack could potentially be fatal.
Mindful of his stamina, Wraith moved as little as possible, while raking his claws up and down Vangar's throat, torso and haunches. Although Vangar tried to snap his jaws around Wraith's throat and limbs, they only caught air.
After fighting beside each other, they knew the others' strengths and weaknesses. Vangar knew that Wraith couldn't make any big moves or receive any attacks. His main, and only, asset was his speed. However Vangar was underestimating him if he thought he could endure Wraith's attacks until he ran out of stamina.
With his claws out, Wraith could slowly slice through fur, skin and muscles until he could sever the veins and arteries, causing him to bleed out. It was the best plan he had, since all his attacks barely took of five to ten points off Vangar's Hp.
First he had to immobilize him. It wasn't completely necessary, but every edge he had over him was necessary. He aimed for the tendons on his legs and the muscles of his haunches. Over and over he got close and swung out with his claws.
“Well if every rabbit you hunt manages to hurt you like this, then you must not be as good a hunter as I thought you were.”
Snarling in rage, Vangar leaped at him wildly. Wraith had been successful in making him angry. He was more aggressive, but less precise in his attacks. It was easy for Wraith to claw at his exposed throat when he stretched too far forwards, leaving himself vulnerable. They were shallow wounds, but they built up on top of each other.
Sets of four gashes crisscrossed over each other, blood dripping down his chest. Despite its garish appearance, it was much less serious than it appeared to be. Yet with each swipe of his hands, Wraith deepened and lengthened the wounds, cutting past the skin and muscles to nick the arteries and veins themselves.
It was then that Vangar realized the seriousness of the situation. Wraith may have lost his power, but that didn't make him any less dangerous.
“You know, you've been saying that you're going to kill me, but I still don't know why. We were friends. I trusted you, so...why? What made you hate me so much?”
“No! Don't give me that excuse.” Despite his attempts to stay calm and rational, he still boiled over with rage. He lunged at Vangar and ripped open his throat, cutting into his jugular and causing arterial blood to spurt out over his hands.
Vangar twisted his head away and shied back, more wary than ever.
Instead of inflicting a major gut wound, Vangar only managed to close his jaws over Wraith's forearm. His massive fangs tore through the muscle and crunched through the bones. In a heartbeat, Wraith lost his right arm. All that remained was a ragged stump that bled profusely.
Wraith jumped back and cursed at the wound. It wouldn't heal fast enough to use again in this fight. Instead he had to make do with that one hand. As he thought, he lost a lot of Hp because of that wound, almost a full quarter.
He gritted his teeth and forced out his words. “You and I both know that you're spouting a load of crap. You knew that we were going to find a new way for me to fight. All you had to do was wait a week or two and I'd be better than ever.”
“Why didn't you do that Vangar? Why did you attack me before that, while I was weak?”
“Just admit it, you wanted me like this so you could take the pack for yourself. This is all because of your selfish desires.”
“Admit it.”
“You wanted to be leader, and to hell with anyone that stood in your way.”
“Damn you, just tell me the truth!”
Wraith looked at him hard for a moment before bursting into laughter. “So that's what this was all about. In the end it comes down to petty jealousy? Fine then. If you want it, try and take it away from me.”
Wraith gave a dozen small strikes for every injury he received. It took another twenty minutes for them to wear each other down. Where Wraith had a missing arm and a few large bite-marks on his body, Vangar's flesh was peppered with a hundred small gashes, some of them bunched together to form deep slashes on his throat and torso.
They both laboured for breath, their stamina and health nearly depleted. Wraith was better off than Vangar, though not by much. They were both a hairs-breadth away from death, chests heaving and rivulets of blood dripping down their fur.
It was painful. More so than any other injuries he received in Royal Road. Of course others were more serious and were physically much more painful, but this was more than that. This was fight without joy. His blood didn't pump with excitement and the adrenaline coursing through his veins didn't give him a rush of exhilaration. The thrill of the hunt was gone.
The pure love of combat was tainted by his friend's betrayal. Every time he slashed at Vangar, he chipped away at his own heart. When he lost Fenella, his spirit fractured and cracked. The pain and loss brought out the darkness inside him. He could feel it pushing against his damaged soul.
Just when he thought he had started to heal, he was blind-sided by this sudden turn of events. He may have been cracked before, but now he was broken. He had grown up quickly, and had done so the hard way. His innocence was gone, replaced by a hard, cold outlook on life. The darkness had broken through and he didn't try to fight it, but rather accepted it into himself.
Vangar could see it in his eyes. The warm glow was replaced by a harsh, cold light. He thought he could take on Wraith, but even without his strength, Wraith managed to best him.
Wraith was still standing, while Vangar was on the ground, the tendons in his legs severed and his throat split wide open. Parts of his spine and ribcage could be seen beneath the torn flesh, his entrails hanging out from his stomach.
Vangar watched as Wraith inched closer to him. Massive chunks of flesh were stripped from his limbs, with four of his ribs completely shattered. Although he coughed up blood with each breath he took, he still moved forward.
Each step thundered in Vangar's ears, his fear mounting until it gave way to pure terror. Wraith kneeled beside him and placed his good hand on his neck. “You fought against me, and all you've got to show for it is a mangled body and no friends. Tell me, was it worth it?” He sighed wearily. “Never mind, I don't really care at this point. You made a choice, now you've got to live with it, well that's only if you want to live. Truth be told, even after everything you did, I don't want to kill you. But if it came down to it, I would. So tell me, will you submit or do I have to do something I'll regret the rest of my life?”
Wraith pushed his fingers into Vangar's flesh, sinking them deep and reopening clotted veins and arteries. There was only a spark of defiance that flared up in his eyes before being chased away by shame and terror.
“Good. Once you heal up, I never want to see you again. I'm letting you go now because of what we once shared, but come after me once more and I will treat you as an enemy. You attack me once more and I'll tear your heart out of your chest, even if I lose my own heart in the process.”
Struggling, Vangar pushed himself up onto his feet and nodded. He slowly started limping away. He only took a few steps before he turned back.
Sarin didn't even meet his eyes, her face turned away in disgust and scorn. “You lost the right to ask me that when you turned on us.”
At this Sarin turned her head and looked at him square in the eyes. Her glare was hostile, as if she loathed the very sight of him.
The last vestiges of his ego withered and crumbled at hearing that. To his credit he didn't speak again, rather choosing to wordlessly limp away into the forest. He tired to obtain everything, but ended up leaving with nothing.
Vangar has left the pack.
Once he had disappeared from sight, Sarin's mask of disgust and nonchalance crumbled, revealing the hurt and sadness she kept hidden from Vangar. She whimpered, her body sagging under the weight of her sadness. They sat together on the ground, trying to make sense of what happened.
Vangar's betrayal hurt her just as much as it did Wraith, More so since she had known him since birth. She had known that he was impulsive, headstrong and selfish, but she hadn't thought of him as disloyal and self-centred to such a degree.
In the span of an hour, their world was turned on its head. It was such a sudden event with little warning. They had both been blindsided by Vangar's traitorous actions. The only question they repeatedly asked themselves was, why? Why did he give everything up like this? Why was he so willing to risk it all?
Though they turned the question over in their minds, they came up empty. In the end, they had lost a friend and trusted ally. Although they still had each other, there was a loneliness that wasn't there before.
“We keep going to Asvale, nothing's changed. If anything, now I know that I need greater strength. If power's what I need to be a leader, then I gain enough crush anyone that stands in my way. If a human isn't suited to lead the pack, then I'll become a monster.”
The bitterness in his voice and the hard glint in his eyes saddened Sarin. The man she knew had been replaced by someone colder and harder. If she were human, she would have hugged him. As she was, all she could do was press against his legs and nuzzled against his neck. Wraith hugged her tightly, burying his face in her soft fur.
He didn't let himself break down and drown in sadness. Instead he shed only a single tear before steeling his heart. Wallowing in his grief wouldn't get anything done. He needed to be strong, for himself and for Sarin.
Once Wraith had recovered, they started walking again. The rest of the trip was quiet and uneventful. Neither of them wanted to talk anymore about Vangar or anything else for that matter. They were lost in their own thoughts. One filled with sadness, the other filled with rage, but both still stinging from the hurt of betrayal.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
After a long trek, they finally made it to the outskirts of a village. It was a rustic place, meshed together with the wilderness of the forest. The houses were large and made out of thick logs of wood. Being so far away from the cities, most of the people living there were farmers.
Wraith could see them working in the fields, with some hunters returning with freshly caught game. To protect themselves from the beasts and monsters within the forest, they didn't have any soldiers, but rather relied on a large wooden palisade that surrounded the village.
“Sarin, you stay here. I doubt they would welcome you in.” Sarin nodded and stayed behind the treeline while Wraith walked towards the large open gates. They were over ten metres wide and fifteen metres high. Unless monsters attacked en masse and sieged the village, the palisades would keep out almost all attackers.
When Wraith got within eye-shot of the guards, they immediately put their hands on their swords, ready to use them against him.
“Stop right there!” The large guard shouted out at him when he was a few metres away from them. He was a heavy-set man with a thick moustache. He was the older of the two, his hair completely grey. “Who are you and what business do you have here?” He seemed suspicious of Wraith and had his sword half-drawn.
“No need for violence, I'm just an adventurer making his way through your village.”
The other guard scoffed. “An adventurer with glowing eyes and such markings on his face? You look more like a demon to me.” He unsheathed his sword and held it before him. Though he put on a brave front, there was a distinct trace of fear in his face.
“This is just a simple misunderstanding. The eyes are the result of a magical experiment that went awry. It improved my sight but had an unwanted side effect. The markings are just normal tattoos.” He lied smoothly with an affable expression on his face. He made sure to stay relaxed and assume an nonthreatening posture.
The older guard seemed conflicted, but eventually took his hand off his sword. “Fine. We'll let you in but keep in mind that we've got an eye on you.”
“What?! You-you're letting him in?!” The younger guard was shocked at this statement.
“Well I doubt he's completely human, but he's no demon, that's for sure. Besides, he hasn't done anything for us to refuse entry.”
“But-”
“But nothing. Did you forget that I'm your superior officer?”
Although he was furious, the guard grudgingly re-sheathed his sword. “No sir.” He still gave him a baleful glare, but he went back to his position and let Wraith in.
“Thank you officers.” Although he wanted to fight against the guards, especially the young one, he restrained himself. Lashing out because he was still hurt by Vangar's betrayal wouldn't get him anywhere, especially since the NPCs were already willing to take up arms against him due to his race.
It took him a while to get to the heart of the city, after walking past the farming grounds. Wherever he went, the villagers either raced inside and closed their doors or held their hoes and shovels threateningly towards him.
He ignored these people and went straight towards the local tavern. It would be one of the local hotspots, and there would likely be someone there that could point him towards what he was looking for.
“De-Demon!” A horrified man ran out as fast as he could. He was followed by most of the customers there.
Wraith gritted his teeth in irritation. The screams and unwarranted looks of fear were really getting on his nerves.
The once bustling tavern only had a few people left. Besides the barkeeper who looked calm and went about his work like usual, there was a frightened young waitress, a group of three old men, and a passed out drunkard.
Well at least there are four people I can get information from. Other than the waitress that was standing in a corner of the room, the customers were all sitting on stools around the bar. Wraith walked forwards and took a seat besides them.
“I'm surprised you guys didn't run out screaming too.”
“Well. We've been around for a while.” The man with thinning white hair that reached his shoulders, glasses and a hooked nose said this to him. Even though his back was hunched over and he had a thin frame, Wraith sensed that he was dangerous.
The short chubby man agreed with him. “Yep. There ain't much we haven't seen in our day.” His ruddy face had only a ring of short grey hair on the sides. There was a jovial air about him which made him quite charismatic.
“Besides, you don't look like any demon I've ever met.” The last man had his hair pulled back into a short ponytail. The most notable feature about him was the patch over his left eye and his short, clipped beard. He too held an air of danger about him.
“And pray tell me Laedan, when have you ever met a demon to compare this young man to?” The first man snorted when he asked him this.
“Vincent, I've told you and Reitair that story before remember? It was forty-six years ago, when I was but a fresh-faced youth who travelled the world seeking to uphold the values of truth and justice. For seven years I called myself a paladin, until the day I stepped into the depths of the Montvale Castle. When I went in, I didn't expect to come back out.”
“Not this again. You must have told this story a hundred times and each time you never really tell us what happens. We're inclined to believe that you made it all up.” The man known as Reitair told him this, an aggravated look on his face.
“It's not a made up story, I really did meet a demon there, I just can't say anything beyond that.” He turned towards Wraith. “I'm telling the truth you know.”
“Instead of listening to Laedan's tales, why don't you tell us one of your own lad? What brings you to such a remote part of the continent?” Vincent asked him curiously
Throughout the entire exchange, Wraith couldn't keep the smile off his face. His earlier irritation had melted away before the old men's antics.
“Well I'm just looking for the kingdom of Asvale. Can you tell me anything about it?”
They three men thought for a while but came up empty. “Sorry son, but we don't know anything about it. The name sounds familiar though.” Vincent said this with an apologetic tone of voice.
“That's too bad. It makes it a whole lot more difficult, but I'll manage.”
“By Asvale, do you mean the one by Rosenheim?” The barkeeper asked him as he dried a mug.
“Yes, that's the one, what can you tell me about it?”
“Well, although I said that it was by Rosenheim, it's actually quite a bit away. Their perceived closeness was more to do with the border they once shared.”
“Once shared? That implies that they don't share it anymore.”
“That's right. Since the kingdom was dissolved, the affairs of the border got a bit murky.”
“So it doesn't exist anymore? What happened and how long has it been?”
“It was about three hundred years ago. You know that Asvale was near Rosenheim on one side, but to the other side, its neighbour was the Kallamore kingdom. They normally had frequent monster raids that devastated their kingdom time and time again, but three hundred years ago, they finished building their wall. It was supposed to hold off monster attacks, and it did work, for a time. Since they couldn't get to Kallamore, the monsters headed East to Asvale. That was the beginning of the first wave of attacks. They say that a hero saved the kingdom during the first wave, but after a few more raids, the kingdom was broken. No one man can save a kingdom. Some people still blame Kallamore for it, but it's useless to point fingers. Asvale was unprepared, and Kallamore soon suffered as well. Their walls didn't hold up long, and they were forced to fight again, though ironically it's now part of their way of life.”
“That's...not good.”
Laedan looked at him quizzically. “Say youngster, why do you want to go there anyway?”
“I heard that there was a special way of fighting for people with my unique constitution. For a fighter with intellect and wisdom instead of strength, this is the only option.”
Vincent set down his mug and swivelled in his chair. “Let me see what you're talking about.”
“I don't know if I'm comfortable with that. My information isn't received well by others.”
“Come now, I'll show you mine if you show me yours.”
“Vincent, don't be propositioning the poor lad. You're making him uncomfortable.”
“Oh shut your mouth Reitair. You know exactly what I'm asking of him. Here, I'll go first. Show stat window.”
Status WindowNameVincentAlignmentDarkLevel353ClassMage of the Six PathsTitleThe MasterInfamy8204Health39506Mana70320Health Regen5.3%/secMana Regen7.8%/secStrength58Agility492Stamina277Vitality841Wisdom1266Intellect1697Luck0Attack354-375Defence28Magic ResistanceFire43%Water36%Earth39%Black Magic48%
* Ability to use all branches of magic
* Spells cost 20% less Mana
* Magical attacks are 25% more powerful
Wraith was slack-jawed at the sight of Vincent's stat window. His level, his stats, his infamy, they were incredibly high. “...What are you?”
“That's pretty obvious isn't it? I'm a, well let's call it a colleague of yours. Although I've been retired for quite some time now, they still tell tales of our exploits.”
“Our exploits? So Laedan and Reitair are equally powerful as you?”
“Of course. We were the strongest and the most feared warriors of our time. None dared to cross us without being willing to give up their own life in return. We carved our names into the annals of history with my magic, Laedan's sword and Reitair's......sense of humour?”
“Oh of all the-. Sense of humour? That's what you think of me after all these decades?”
“Yeah,” Laedan chimed in. “His sense of humour is mediocre at best.”
Reitair gave him a withering look. “What my so-called friends were trying to say was my voice and hands. If that doesn't make any sense to you, maybe this will help. In our little trio, Vincent was the mage, Laedan was the warrior, and I was the bard who tied them all together.”
“Alright then. Since we're both on the same side of the law, show stat window.”
Status WindowNameWraithAlignmentDarkLevel53ClassAvatar of the Chaos BeastTitleNoneReputation0Health515 (-2950)Mana4320 (+3100)Health Regen1.3%/secMana Regen3.7%/secStrength10Agility272Stamina177Vitality154Wisdom146Intellect149Luck0Leadership21Attack1-2Defence78Charisma1Killing Intent106Endurance52Magic ResistanceFire0%Water0%Earth30%Black Magic50%
* All stats increase by 20% at night
* Holy weapons and magic do twice as much damage
* Gained the ability to equip class specific items
* All NPCs will look upon you with caution, and will be less likely to give you quests. Cities with a strong Church of Freya presence might be openly hostile
* Restricted from gaining fame or land with other mortal races
* Relationship with wolves at maximum
* Relationship with other churches at minimum value, might be considered an enemy by paladins and priests
* Will not be attacked by werewolves unless provoked
* Can understand the speech of other monsters
* Prohibited from using any form of weaponry
* Can learn Tailoring and Alchemy skill to the level of a Master
* Can learn secret skills related to class
* All Hp gained will have 85% automatically converted to Mana
* Strength capped at 10. All additional gains split equally into Intellect and Wisdom.
Vincent whistled in surprise. “You weren't kidding about your special constitution. It almost seems a shame to let you continue as a fighter instead of as a mage. You sure you want to engage in such crass activities? If you want, I could teach you the more elegant art of magic.”
Laedan snorted. “Just because you can cast fireballs and lightning bolts doesn't make you any better than a warrior. A real man fights with his fists.”
“Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize that swinging a blade around was the epitome of manliness. You feel free to go and hack things up. I'll be there to save your arse when you get in trouble. Bah, we're getting off the point. Tell me Wraith, would you like to become my apprentice? You've been one of the most interesting people I've met in my lifetime.”
You've been offered an apprenticeship with Vincent. Although you cannot change classes, you will be able to learn certain skills related to the mage classes.
“I appreciate the offer, but no. It just wouldn't work.”
You have refused the apprenticeship.
“Really? That's too bad.” He looked visibly crestfallen. “May I ask why not?”
“It's obvious why the boy turned you down. He's got the eyes of a killer.” Laedan smiled viciously as he said that. “He revels in having blood on his hands. The sight, the smell, even the taste. It's something you can't get from fighting at a distance. He's more like me than you.”
“Now that's a crying shame.” Vincent sighed. “In any case, you mentioned that you were more interested in a type of martial art than in the Kingdom of Asvale itself right? Because in that case I might be able to help you.”
“Really? I'm all ears.”
“Well it's a bit of a long-shot, but I may have something written down in my notebooks. I have a hobby of researching techniques to control Mana so I've collected stories and information throughout my travels.”
“I'd really appreciate it. I'd love a chance to read the books.”
Laedan cackled at the exchange. “Be careful what you wish for. What he calls his hobby is more like an obsession.”
“Ignore him. He wouldn't know a book from a doorstop. Well, come on then.” Vincent stood up from his seat and beckoned for Wraith to follow.
“See you again later then.” Reitair waved him off.
Laedan said his farewells too. “Come to me for some real training when you get tired of him.”
They left the bar and walked to the very edge of the village. They came to an almost isolated area, where the only structures were a large house and the wooden palisade. Unlike the other houses in the village, this one was built from stone.
When he stepped inside, he was shocked at what he saw. From wall to wall, the house was filled with thick tomes. There was barely a spot on the ground that didn't have a pile of books on it. “So these are all your books. I thought it would be twenty or thirty, and not...quite this much.”
“Oh no, this just a portion of it. The bulk of it is down in the basement.”
So this is what Laedan meant by an obsession. “Well, there's still a few hours of daylight left, so I might as well get started.”
“Go ahead. It's a big house so feel free to stay as long as you like. All I ask in return is for you to lend a hand when I need it.”
“That seems fair. And I was wondering if you'd mind having another house-guest”
“Well I certainly have the space to put up someone else, so I don't see why not. People like us have to stick together.”
“Does that still hold if the house-guest doesn't walk on two legs?”
“...Sure, I guess so. I've got some work to do before I turn in for the night, so I'll see you and your friend in the morning.” Leaving Wraith to the massive pile of books, Vincent left the room and went down the staircase on the other side of the hall.
Besides the two chairs and the table, there weren't any other furnishings or decorations. What he did was clear out an area for himself and started leafing through the books. Many of them were grimoires that detailed the use of spells and magic.
Obviously those weren't of any help to him, as he didn't want to learn magic. He set aside those texts and picked out the ones that were the most relevant to his interests. Fire magic, ice magic, The Crafting of Golems, Introduction to Illusions, all useless to me. Come on, there's got to be something here I can use. I need to find something.
He was growing frustrated at going through all the books. While it was a treasure-trove for an aspiring mage, none of them had what he was looking for. He was about to storm out in frustration when he found a thick leather-bound book. The title of the book was 'The Laws that Govern Magic and General Theory Behind Practical Uses: Volume 1.'
It was an enormous book, one that would take him several hours to get through. By this time the sun had set and it was dark out. After lighting a few candles, he started reading. It wasn't broken up into separate sections like a textbook, but was one long read-through. He couldn't skip ahead, so he had to finish it all. Fortunately the book was quite engaging.
He already knew some of it from his earlier readings, but some of it was quite new to him. The thought that there were six active types of Mana, and one passive type was a bit different from what he and other players thought. Though in retrospect, most players probably didn't give much thought to it.
Even the players that took on a magic-related class didn't have a solid grasp about the theory behind magic. According to the book he held before him, There were four elemental types of Mana that existed in nature, two that existed outside of nature (the holy and dark element), and what the author called the Ethereal element.
The purpose of the Ethereal element was solely to provide a framework for the other elements to act through. Unlike the other elements, the Ethereal element was only found inside a person's body. It was the only type of Mana that could exist inside a living being, with the exception of certain magical creatures.
While it made sense, it made Wraith wonder how he could use it to supplement his combat abilities. Hopefully the rest of the book would tell him that. He finished reading a few more chapters before he put it down and went outside.
He jogged from Vincent's house to the main gate that led into the village. The security there was pathetic. Instead of having guards on watch, the village merely locked the giant gate. Wraith supposed that since it was such a small village, they wouldn't have the manpower to spare for a proper watch-force.
He found it to be sloppy work, but it was perfect for sneaking in and out. The gates were only barred with two large pieces of wood, so he pulled them out and pushed the gate open. It creaked a little, but he didn't hear anyone wake up and come for him.
He went into the forest and found Sarin. She had been waiting for him to return since he left a few hours ago. While the guards may have been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, they wouldn't be willing to let in a giant wolf like Sarin.
“I had to wait until no one would see you come in. I've found a place we can stay at for a while.” He led her into the village and closed the gate behind them. Within a few minutes they had arrived at Vincent's, and Wraith cleared out a space on the floor and they went to sleep for the night.