As Jeb opened the door to the Inn, he was surprised to see that the Bard was still sitting at the table.
“I was wondering when you would realize that you’d left mid-conversation,” he said conversationally. “Your first Mana Backlash is usually the roughest, at least assuming your Magic Affinity, Mana Depth, or Mana don’t suddenly and rapidly outpace your Willpower. How are you feeling now?”
Jeb thought about the question. “I think I’m feeling better. My mind feels less like it’s spinning around. What should I work on after this?”
“I think now would be a good time to learn your first Song. Now, there are a number of different pedagogies for teaching Bardic Magic. Most all of them teach a different first Song, because their creator has an idea for a perfect path. I’m no different. The first Song I’ll have you learn is Lute Enforcement.”
The Bard stopped speaking, and Jeb recognized his role in the lesson. “Why are you having me learn Lute Enforcement first?”
The Bard beamed. “A number of reasons. There are three primary reasons, though. First, it will prepare you to cast primarily through your lute. Though the Academy will teach you to Sing silently, it’s important to start with audible Song. You can read, correct?”
Jeb was confused by the sudden segue. “Yes?” he replied, confused.
“Do you still speak when you read, or is it now a silent endeavor?”
Jeb thought about it. “The Librarian taught us that we could read faster if we didn’t mouth words, so he made sure that we all read silently. Personally, I think he also just didn’t want the constant din of all of us reading aloud at once.”
The Bard stared for a moment, then shook his head, recovering. “Right, I forgot that all of the children here get educated. He still started you reading aloud, though, right?”
“My mother did, yes.”
“Similarly, to learn Silent Song, you should start with audible Song. The second reason to learn Lute Enforcement is that it will attune the Lute to you. That will make any additional Magic you use it for easier.”
“That makes sense,” Jeb said.
“And finally, by casting primarily through your lute, it will help you to avoid future Mana backlash. Lutes are fundamentally static, so Mana backlash hurts them far less. Some would argue not at all, but-” the Bard caught himself, “sorry, another lesson that this is the wrong time for.”
“Anyways, the important part of this lesson is teaching you the Song to learn. This is categorized as a First Tier Song, though the System doesn’t recognize Song Tiers. It’s built on a single tone, though you will likely have better luck if you don’t play it.” The room seemed to fill with a single pure note.
The Bard glanced over at the bar and lowered the volume of the note. “First, listen to the tone. Do you notice anything about it which isn’t totally static?”
Jeb listened. As he kept listening, he realized that the tone felt like it was cycling. It slowly got slightly louder, peaked, then got quieter again.
“Now, then, on top of that-” the Bard paused, thinking for a moment. “Actually, I think that it will be more beneficial for you to figure out this Song by yourself. I’m very curious what method you will use to learn the Song.”
“What happens if I can’t figure it out?”
“What timeline are you working on?” the Bard asked.
“I’ve got until the next Census probably,” Jeb admitted.
“Then I’ll let you figure out how long to struggle before you give up on the Song. Come back when you either figure it out or can’t make any progress.”
Jeb started to stand up again, before realizing what was missing from the lesson. “Wait, what does the Song sound like?”
“Glad you asked!” The Bard started playing a simple repeating pattern. “This is the base motif for the Song. Use that to help center and focus your Mana, mind, and will. Once you’ve done that, layer your Mana on top of the lute playing.” Something deeper began sounding in the room.
“Then you’ll sing on top of it.” The Bard started singing, though the words meant nothing to Jeb. Even Gift of Gab seemed unwilling to help him understand what was happening.
“This Song has three major effects. First, it will help retune and clean the lute strings, so they’ll play better. Second, it will help the lute to stay in tune and strung for longer, and will help a little with the strength of the lute. Finally, it will help the tone and speaking. A well-infused lute can carry for miles and be quieter than a whisper as the Bard playing it needs.”
Jeb noted that none of the music had stopped, even though the Bard had stopped singing and playing the lute. “Now then,” the Bard said, somehow stopping the music, “repeat the motif and sing after me.”
Jeb tried, but the pattern kept tripping up his hands.
“Calm down,” the Bard advised, “stop trying to remember what comes next and just start mirroring my playing.” As Jeb did, the pattern started to feel more natural. The Bard stopped Jeb once he had done three repetitions without making a mistake. “I’ll leave you to figure out how to add Mana to that,” he said, “Now for the words. Can you read music?”
“I think so?” Jeb replied honestly, “I did the Lute Quest to learn a song, and there were strange symbols which I think represented the notes and rhythms I was supposed to play.”
“Good job teaching yourself!” the Bard said, “though you may want to check with the Librarian to see if you can get a book to learn the notation. I’m just going to write out the syllables and music you’ll need for singing, because teaching you the music will be a lot more difficult than either of us wants to deal with right now.”
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Jeb had to agree. As he left the building, the tone that the Song was built on seemed to be resounding around him still. The gentle rise and fall seemed trapped in his mind.
He walked into the Library and was immediately stopped by the Librarian.
“Jeb, are you aware that there’s a Spell on you right now?”
Jeb looked into the Librarian’s eyes. The pages flashing by seemed angrier somehow. “No?” Jeb responded, confused. “What Spell is on me?”
The Librarian stared just above his head. “As far as I can tell, the Spell is just producing a sound. Should I remove it for you?”
Suddenly it clicked.
“Oh!” Jeb exclaimed, “I guess I do know what the Spell is. The Bard told me to learn a Song, and the tone that it’s built on has been playing in my head since I left. I was wondering if it was something Magical keeping it in my mind.”
“It was,” the Librarian said. “I assume you don’t want me to remove it, then?”
“No, I think I should keep it,” Jeb responded. “Though, on a similar note, I was wondering if I could check out another book.”
“At the rate you’re going, Jeb, you’re going to max out your Library Card,” the Librarian said.
That was news to Jeb. “Wait, there’s a limit to how many books I can check out?” he asked incredulously. Before the Librarian had a chance to respond, though, Jeb realized that he had another question. “I have a Library Card?”
The Librarian chuckled. “I’ll answer those in reverse order. Yes, you and every other literate Citizen has a Library Card. Since you haven’t tried to check out a book in any other Library branch, the Card is only linked here. I should probably fix that for you now, though, since you will be leaving soon. It sometimes takes time for the request to go through.”
“Where are you sending my Card to?”
“Hmm? Oh I’m just linking your Library Card to the Library System. Don’t worry, the books you check out still remain private. As soon as you return a book, it gets removed from your record. And, even while you have it checked out, only a Librarian can see that you have it checked out, and even then only if someone requests the exact edition you have.”
“That’s nice and all, but why would I worry about the books I check out being private?” Jeb asked.
The Librarian gave Jeb a sad smile. “I hope you never find an answer to that question for yourself. But, answering your other question, there is technically a limit to books you can have checked out, but that number is high enough you would actively have to work to reach it. What book are you looking for now?”
Jeb’s mind was racing, thinking of reasons he would need the books he read to be private. Still, he answered the question, “the Bard recommended that I get a book on reading music notation.”
“Easy enough,” the Librarian said, grabbing a book from underneath the counter. “Truthfully, I expected you to ask for this book a while ago, so I made a copy already.”
“Thank you!” Jeb said, leaving the Library. He put the book in his bag and hurried to the Farm to meet with his Aunt. He’d finally learn what happens in the Brew Barn.
Jeb’s Status Sheet at End of Chapter:
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Jeb Human Age: 16 Class: Least Mud Initiate Level: 1 Experience: 1781/100
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Total Statistic Load: 182 Physical Load: 109 Strength: 25 Dexterity: 18 Endurance: 27 Vitality: 35 Presence: 4
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Mental Load: 73 Intelligence: 21 Willpower: 20 Magic Affinity: 16 Mana Depth: 3 Charisma: 13
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Mana: 335
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Glyph Attunement: 9 Least Conjure Water Tier 1 Spell Least Shape Earth Tier 1 Spell Least Hold Earth Tier 1 Spell Least Create Earth Tier 1 Spell Least Destroy Earth Tier 1 Spell Least Shape Earth - Efficient Tier 3 Spell Least Move Air Tier 1 Spell Least Create Fire Tier 1 Spell Least Create Mud Tier 2 Spell
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Skills: Least Mud Magic Meditation Mana Manipulation Spell Glyphing Improved Glyph Groking Gift of Gab Running Identify Soil Savvy Animal Handling Fertilizing Lifting Athletics Lute Playing Singing Musician Pollination
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Achievements: Focused Meditator Student of Magic
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Quests: Major: Slay the Dragon of the West (Progressive)