Lightning struck from the heavens and split the land in two, the crack dividing the land and creating a crevice that seemed to stretch downward to the center of the world. From the bottom of the pit, something let out a roar that shook the world.
"Run," a voice called out, its presence an echo in the back of Taka's mind. He flew through the air away from the splitting Earth, or whatever planet it was, as fast as he could. The sense of terror made his soul tremble, and he needed to get away. Wings of light burst even brighter from his back allowed him to soar faster than a dragon, more akin to a shooting star. The sky was red. The scent of fresh blood filled the air. He looked down and saw piles upon piles of mangled corpses.
"Master, help!" Screeched a familiar voice from below.
Syla, Taka thought to himself. Oh no. Not again. Not again.
His wings glowed a blinding shade of white as he plummeted as fast as he could toward the voice, and before he knew it, everything came into view. Syla was chained to the ground in the center of large magic circle, at least 10 feet in diameter. 5 wizards in midnight black cloaks stood at each point of the pentagram encased in the circle. The magic circle was carved into the ground, sunken in about an inch, a pentagram-looking shape with more elaborate carvings etched towards the center. Tears streamed from Syla's eyes, and a sixth figure in a purple cloak hovered over Syla, chanting something in a language Taka couldn't understand. The crack in the ground raced toward the magic circle, but stopped when it reached the edge. The sixth figure shouted something and a dagger of darkness materialized in his hand as Taka was entirely frozen in the air, unable to move a muscle, as if something had stopped time from flowing just for him.
No! Taka screamed within his head, but that was was all he could. The sixth figure brought their hand down in a sharp piercing motion down in line with Syla's heart, and --
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Taka's eyes shot open. He was panting heavily, feeling wired, like his heart had just been restarted. His focus darted around the room, taking in his surroundings. He was in a small wire basket laying on a tiny bed of a soft, hay-like material that felt more like wool fiber. He was in a bedroom, with a large, lavishly decorated bed next to the dresser his basket sat atop of.
What. the. HELL. That wasn't real. That wasn't real. Taka thought to himself, trying to ease his panic. He was clearly dreaming, right? The last thing he could remember before that weird vision/dream thing was talking with Vanz'goran in the throne room with Syla... Syla. What was happening to Syla?
Right before he passed out, there was a new notification and he had gotten new magic and new skill, Taka remembered. He opened up his status window.
NAME: Filo RACE: High Worm* CLASS: Magic Scholar MAGIC: Earth, Psychic, ë̶͙͈́̋̽̃̽̆v̵̨̡̯̭̭̮̼́ͅi̸̟͓͈̲͋̒͆̐̎̅̇͆l̶̩͉͙͉͕̓̉̓̈́͌, Raw SKILLS: Telepathy, Burrow, Charm, Fear, Mana Transfusion
He had a class now, though he wasn't sure what that really meant. He remembered that he was able to unlock more skills, magic, and abilities, by fulfilling "conditions" or discovering them, but how he would actually go about doing that was still a mystery. He unlocked the FEAR skill by using the TELEPATHY skill a certain way, but that was due to pure luck. Taka needed to learn more about the magic system of this world as soon as he could. The acquisition of Raw magic was the part of class assignment that intrigued Taka the most. He hadn't yet figured out what "having" magic meant, as skills, or certain skills at least, seemed to be magical spells, so was it all a matter of mana manipulation of a specific type that led to the "learning" of specific spells? Vanz'goran had pointed out the ability to multi-cast psychic magic wasn't common, and that was before his class was assigned to him, so maybe being a "High Worm" had perks he wasn't aware of? The unique Eyes of the Worm Mother ability that gave him "true sight" was a whole other question -- did being blessed with true sight simply allow him to better see mana and the flow of magic, or was that what caused Taka to have the strange dream/vision? It had only been a day, and already there were more questions than he could keep track of. He needed to think though it logically.
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There were immediate questions, and big questions. The immediate questions were the ones he should be able to discover himself through using magic or asking Syla, Vanz'goran, or the lizard folk guards, perhaps. The big questions were those that wouldn't be so easily answered. Taka decided to make a mental list for himself: he had done so countless times before, whether it be for when he needed to prioritize his time during exam season in university, or for the JRPGs with convoluted stories he was forced to play with his friends.
The immediate questions:
- How would one go about learning magic?
- Are the defined skills I have common, or is that part of the system unique to me?
- What's the history between the retired demon lord and the god that summoned me?
The big questions:
- What was happening in that dream? How do I make sure that doesn't happen?
- Why am I a High Worm and not just a normal worm?
- Is the god who summoned me going to try to kill me?
There were countless more questions bouncing around Taka's head, but for now, these would have to do. He needed to start making real progress in understanding this world and his precarious place in it, or else he feared that the dream he had may be a vision of his future reality. The dream, Taka thought to himself, why did I think "not again?" And I was flying? And those robes, there's something seriously evil about those guys... It was overwhelming. He needed to focus on the immediate questions, starting with magic. Finding out about the history between gods and demon lords seemed risky, and if his skill system was a unique ability in it of itself, revealing his hand could prove dangerous, so the safest course of action would be to learn more about the magic he seemed to have an aptitude for. Before he could plan further, Syla peaked their head into the room. Taka activated his TELEPATHY skill and linked with Syla.
I'm awake, please come in.
Syla burst into the room, "Master Filo, are you alright? You passed out and I wasn't sure if we should wake you."
Yes, I am, thank you. I was just exhausted from my travels..."
Syla's ears perked up, "your travels? Does that mean you remember more of your past?"
Right, he had told Syla that he had amnesia. If he played his cards right, that could work in his favor and he'd be able to learn more about magic without raising suspicion or eliciting any questions that he'd prefer not to answer.
Sadly not, Taka sent to Syla, I fear that my memories will not return.
"Don't lose hope yet!" Syla said sympathetically. "It's only been a few days, it can take time--"
A few days? Taka sent, his panic rising again.
You've been asleep for 3 days, so it hasn't been a week since your amnesia... began, right?
Indeed. I suppose I'll remain hopeful for now.
Taka needed to talk to someone besides Syla about magic. If he was supposed to teach the elf, it would be best if he didn't reveal his lack of knowledge, lest it threaten his position as Syla's tutor which could give him the protection of the (retired) Demon Lord. To not arouse suspicion, he'd need to give the kid something to do.
Syla, are you ready to begin your training?
"Yes!" Syla shouted, bouncing up and down.
I'd like you to focus your efforts on refining your concentration for now, Taka sent. To start, I want you to be able to control the flow of your physical enhancement spell. While you've been using it, it pulses throughout your whole body. That flow is the right idea, but in order to bolster your magic, you need better control. Focus on reinforcing specific parts of your body, such as your legs for running, and keep your concentration there. See if you can put, say, 80% of the enhancement there.
Syla was silent. Taka was worried that he had overstepped, or said something entirely incorrect and was about to be called out on his blabbering. He didn't know if anything he said was accurate, useful, or even possible, but based on what he saw and how he was able to feel magic now, at the very least, he didn't think he was entirely wrong.
"You were able to see the fluctuations of my mana in my physical enhancement?" Syla asked quietly.
Yes... Taka replied, unsure of himself.
"You are... I promise, Master Filo, I will do exactly as you say, from now on, as long as you'll have me as your student," Syla pledged. "I humbly thank you for your wisdom."
Maybe Taka had gone a little too far, but it was too late. He'd have to go along with it for now.
Of course. Now, I'd like to speak with your former magical tutors. Are they here in the castle?
"They are! I'll bring them to you now," Syla cheerily answered, and ran off without another word. Taka was alone again, but at least now, he had a plan.
I'll learn magic, make a place for myself here in this world, and then I can live a chill life!