We took a small break to pass by the kitchens to fill our water skins and grab some trail rations. It was expected that we would hunt and forage during the mission but there were always unlucky days. On the way, I found a good use for mental partitions, handling sensory inputs. I could shunt Mana Perception into my second partition who could dedicate its full attention to it and filter out the interesting parts.
Back to our quiet spot, Vel leaned into me and we both pulled out our respective spell books. There were three requirements to cast a spell. Having the required magic skill to convert raw mana into the right type, having a high enough level, and enough memory slots available. For example, as a level one Druid, I could cast ninth level spells or lower and had forty six memory slots.
I focused on the page and, with some effort, I managed to memorize the first level spell Flame. Spells were represented by what was commonly referred to as a magic circle, though it was a bit of a misnomer since they could take other geometric shapes as well. Each pattern had sigils and pathways to guide and modify the flow of mana to form the effect. Nature spells had organic-looking patterns of elegant curves and swirly sigils.
Casting was instinctive. I let the skill guide me and pushed a small amount of mana outward. The small magic circle formed on top of my index finger and a flame the size of my fist appeared above it.
"Try not to set anything on fire," Vel said.
With Mana Perception, I could see the flow of magic through the spell. How it changed flavor from raw mana to nature mana as it traveled through my arms and its change to magical flame as it passed through the circle. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to decipher the spell circle itself. It seemed that I was limited to observing only the effect of the spell but not its inner workings.
"I have it under control," I said with a smile.
I cut the flow of mana to the spell and the flame fizzled out of the air harmlessly. I memorized a few more spells, at least one for each of the six base elements. In addition to the four classical elements of Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, nature magic also had two conceptual elements, Light and Void. The first was the element of creation and the second was its mirror, the element of destruction. The first was a key component of most healing spells, it allowed to regenerate health for example, the second could be used to destroy bacteria or poisons, among other things.
System Log
Memorized Spells
[Flame Bolt (3rd)] [Conflagration (3rd)]
[Water Blade (3rd)] [Water Shield (3rd)]
[Air Bullet (3st)] [Overpressure (3rd)]
[Earth Spike (3st)] [Pit Trap (3rd)]
[Regrowth (3rd)] [Healing Surge (3rd)]
[Purge Toxin (3st)] [Void Bolt (3rd)]
Cost: 36 memory
[Spell Slots (Druid, I)] has reached level 5
[Nature Lore (I)] has reached level 6
I watched Vel and she seemed to be absorbed in her own experimentation. The small spot we had chosen had already gained an impressive amount of greenery. The plants around her were growing and changing, wood and vines intertwined together to form shapes. Right now, they grew relatively slowly but I had no doubt that her speed would increase with time.
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After playing with Druid spells for some time, I switched my focus to Magus. The first thing I tried to test was the weapon enchantments. I pulled my dagger out and activated the skill. I felt the surge of mana but the skill stopped half-way through its activation. I paused for an instant before I understood what was missing, I needed to specify which enchantment I wanted. I triggered the skill again but this time, I mentally pushed the damage enhancement onto my weapon.
The mana flowed and settled on the blade. Then, I realized I had no target to test it on. I sheathed it again and kept an eye on it with my second partition.
I pulled my bow out and repeated the experiment on an arrow. The enchantment concentrated at the tip as expected. I let the arrow fly at the ground and it sunk in a few centimeters. After the impact the enchantment remained active.
The mana cost was a bit steep, fifty for each, but if it remained for a while then it was probably worth it. With my current regeneration, I could recoup the cost in about one minute.
I couldn’t test Spell Combat or Spell Strike without having spells, which was what I wanted to try next. The small journal on Arcane classes that Breknir had provided had helped somewhat. I had gotten a better idea of what Arcane magic could do.
If Nature magic took natural forces and amplified them, Arcane magic simple changed the rules. Both could create fire or ice but went about it in different ways. But Arcane wasn't only about elemental effects, it also allowed the manipulation of more abstract concepts like force, gravity, and even time.
The book had no spells as it was a more general guide. Which meant I had to create my own with the help of Arcane Lore.
Arcane Lore (I, 1/20)
Grants an intuitive understanding of Arcane magic, allows the study and creation of spells.
Higher skill levels increases the level of spells you can understand or create.
You start with the ability to study/craft 3rd level spells.
Every 20 skill levels, the level of spells increases by 3
"I'm going to try spell crafting," I said to Vel.
"Already? Isn't that a bit … early?"
"I have no arcane spells for my Magus class. And the book Breknir gave me didn't have any either."
"No real choice then," she said with a shrug, "is it dangerous?"
"Now for low level spells. It should just fizzle out."
The danger went up with higher spell levels of course. The more energy involved the higher the danger of an explosive failure.
I pulled out my study notebook and started to jot down ideas. As I pulled on the skill, I started to visualize the different glyphs and even partial spell circles in my mind. Unlike my Druid spells, those looked precise and orderly, more along the lines of an electronic circuit than a plant. Each component was connected to the other in precise ways with no flourishes, each sigil fulfilled only a single function.
I gnawed on the end of my pen. It almost felt like programming in a way, or hardware design. Though whoever had come up with this language needed to be shot, it was absolutely atrocious to work with for beginners.
The simplest spell I could come up with wasn't even first level, it was a cantrip. Probably the most useless cantrip I could have made, a light spell, but it was also dead simple. Turn mana into light. I memorized it and cast it.
The small ball of light hovered above my palm and gave off a pale blue light like that of the crystals used to light the streets of Niu and illuminated the jungle.
"Congrats," Vel clapped.
"Thanks," I said with a smile on my face.
System Log
Memorized Spells
[Light (0th)]
Cost: 1 utility slot
[Arcane Lore (I)] has reached level 2
It was a small but important step forward.
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I let loose another arrow. When it hit the small trunk I had been aiming for, a small patch of frost spread around the point of impact. Vel had graciously provided target dummies for this test and was grinning viciously.
After carefully reading the description of Spell Strike, I had come to an interesting realization. It worked with a bow. Combined with Spell Combat, it meant that I could fire an arrow loaded with a touch range spell. Short range spells were usually stronger for their level to compensate for the need to get up close and personal with your target.
Spell Combat (5 FP)
Gives the user the ability to cast spells and attack with a weapon simultaneously.
Higher skill levels allow stronger spells to be cast while attacking and more weapon attacks to be performed during a cast.
Spell Strike
Deliver a touch range spell with an attack of your weapon. The spell is reduced in strength by 50% when cast this way, the penalty decreases by 5% every 10 skill levels. [Spell Combat] must be active to use.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
The result was an interesting synergy that I intended to take advantage of. Another feature was that it allowed to set trap spells at a distance. With this in mind, I had created a few spells with elemental status effects. Shock Touch paralyzed the target for a second or so, Cold Touch slowed down the target, and Scorch Touch had a damage over time effect. I also created trap variants of the spells, Shock Rune, Chill Rune, and Scorch Rune.
"It's almost time," Vel said.
"Let's get a move on then," I grabbed my pack and handed Vel hers.
She threw it on and took my hand. We leisurely made out way towards the gate to begin our mission.
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Liscura Van-Niu
[Dark Elf]
Rank 2 | Level 1/40
10 SP | 14 AP | 0 CP | 1 AS | 0 Perks
Status
Health
2'025/2'025
+65%/h
Stamina
2'465/2'465
+75%/h
Mana
3'131/3'495
+110%/h
Focus
63/132
Spell Slots
Magus (Arcane)
Max: 6th
12/28+4
0th: 1/9
Druid (Nature)
Max: 9th
36/46+5
0th: 0/12
Attributes
Strength
43
E
Intelligence
84
A
Agility
63
C
Wisdom
73
B
Vitality
41
D
Spirit
77
B
Endurance
57
C
Mind
66
B
Perks
[Blessing of Gaia]
[Multiclass]
[Magic Affinity]
[Improved Senses]
[Mana Perception]
[Night Vision]
Classes (2/∞)
Magus (LV 1)
Druid (LV1)
Core Skills
[Arcane Magic (III)] [Weapon Enhancement (I)]
Core Skills
[Nature Magic (III)] [Nature Bond (I)]
Class Skills (4/10)
[Spell Strike (I, 1/20)]
[Arcane Lore (I, 8/20)]
[Spell Combat (I, 1/20, 5FP, OFF)]
[Spell Slots (I, 4/20, 15FP)]
Enhancements (1/2)
[Damage (I)]
Class Skills (2/10)
[Nature Lore (I, 6/20)]
[Spell Slots (I, 5/20, 15FP)]
General Skills (24/32)
[Daggers (I, 15/20)]
[Light Bow (II, 5/40)]
[Light Armor (II, 23/40)]
[Dodge (II, 3/40)]
[Niu Blade Style (I, 6/20)]
[Niu Archery Style (I, 14/20)]
[Anatomy (I, 15/20)]
[Diagnosis (I, 11/20)]
[Medicine (I, 13/20)]
[Surgery (I, 3/20)]
[Herbalism (II, 22/40)]
[Alchemy (III, 17/60)]
[Tracking (II, 2/40)]
[Stealth (II, 4/40)]
[Parkour (I, 16/20]
[Foraging (II, 12/40)]
[Identify (I, 7/20)]
[Memory Enhancement (I, 1/20, 5FP)]
[Logic Enhancement (I, 1/20, 5FP)]
[Mind Acceleration (I, 1/20, 10FP)]
[Mind Partition (I, 1/20, 10FP)]
[Niu Sign Language (II, 14/40)]
[Elven Language (IV, 12/80)]
[English Language (V, 6/100)]
Resistances
[Poison Resistance (I, 13/20)]
[Disease Resistance (II, 3/40)]