In the final taster session of the day their lecturer actually made use of the university’s spell overlay, having entirely forgotten about it up until that point Bronson was confused when she told the students to compare two the spirit binding ritual arrays and see if they could identify any issues.
What arrays?
This led to Bronson discreetly asking Abrax where everyone was looking at the arrays, which elicited incredulity as apparently connecting to the network was remarkably easy. It made Bronson feel like a grandparent unable to understand all the crazy newfangled inventions like Wi-Fi.
After a few minutes of trying to turn the diagram Abrax scribbled down into a rune using his Kol manipulation, Bronson felt a line of Kol reach out to him and his vision was filled by a screen, not unlike the ones produced by the system. It asked him if he wanted to complete the setup immediately or do so later and he selected the save for later option.
The two arrays everyone else was looking at flashed up before him. He didn’t get long to look at them before the lecturer started speaking again, at which point the arrays zoomed out, it was still more than enough time to understand that Familiars and Spirit Binding was a class he was ill-equipped to tackle. It sounded exciting, but out of reach for now at least.
He just lacked the prerequisite familiarity with codified spell casting. Most of what he’d done involved incantations and that just wasn’t the same. The spells he’d cast with runic diagrams were incredibly simple and even if he’d been a part of a couple of rituals, he hadn’t ever created one himself.
There wasn’t even one set grouping for runes, each type like its own separate language. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to count for Tongue and Tooth of Faith and Fae, his current spellcasting ability was the equivalent of a toddler just learning how to sound out words one syllable at a time. He couldn’t attempt to understand the labyrinthine spirit-binding array.
The lecturer highlighted a section of it, enlarging it and launched into an explanation of the importance of including certain restrictions in the arrays. If you weren’t careful you could accidentally summon a malevolent spirit, or if that was the goal, then fail to properly contain it.
Bronson came away from the taster session interested, but not intending to pursue it at that moment. Abrax didn’t seem to think it would offer him anything new.
– – – – –
At Professor David’s instruction Bronson took one final look down at his module options. He’d spent the last few days attending taster sessions, studying and working towards his rehabilitation with Ayo, it was slow going.
WIth everything in order he passed his list over, into the waiting grip of a rust coloured tentacle.
“Yes, not a bad choice to round out your fundamentals.” The professor’s voice was animated, but it wasn’t visibly coming from somewhere. Bronson assumed it was the result of some kind of spell. “And you selected my class. Trying to butter me up?
“Incantations? That seems like an out of place choice.”
Bronson was about to respond with magical but changed his mind. “They feel unbelievable in a good way, free in a way the other things don’t.”
Professor David’s eyes lifted up from the page and her voice took on a firm tone. “As long as you aren’t just using them as a crutch, it’s okay to explore them.”
Bronson nodded vigorously. Incantations were fun, and personal tutors could change your options if they didn’t think they were a good fit for you. “Yes. I just like incantations I don’t want to let them become a crutch.”
The professor’s attention returned to the list and a throng of tentacles reached up to the bookcase behind her. The ancient wood bowed under the weight of the haphazardly organised books, in jenga-tower piles only a swift breeze away from collapse, liable to take out the shelf and anyone else in the room with them.
With twin deft movements the professor removed two worn books and put them down infront of Bronson. “Have you read these two?”
Bronson reached forwards for them, stopping momentarily to check if that was okay.
“Go ahead.”
He hefted the two tomes towards himself and the sweet earthy aroma of old books joined the lingering seaweed scent. Bronson read the titles. Spatial Localisation with Divination and Boundary Magic. “No?”
“You’ll have to wait on Introduction to Dimensional Theory. Having at least read the two books is a prerequisite for taking the class. You also need to be able to cast second tier spells consistently. Can you do that?”
Bronson shook his head. The spells he’d casted could only barely be considered tier one. “Why do I need boundary magic? What does that have to do with teleportation?”
“Let me ask you this. Where do you stop and begin? What do you want to teleport? Do you still want your clothes with you when you teleport? Skills are smart, and so are incantations up to a point, but real magic needs determined limits.
“And before you ask why you need to understand spatial localisation, well what do you think happens if you get fast and loose with your location? You end up in the air, or the ground. The planet isn’t stationary.” The professor summoned an illusion of a screaming Bronson phased half way into a wall. At least it was silent.
“What should I do then?”
“You’ll need to change one of your options.”
“Could I take Introduction to Temporal Magic instead?”
“Gods no, that requires 3rd tier magic proficiency.” The professor lifed up the list. “Given your current choices. I’d recommend the academic tutoring module, It’s not worth credit, but given your current choices, I’m assuming you still haven’t done a lot of magic and having a guiding hand to support your training would likely be more valuable than additional classes at this point.”
Bronson rolled her words around in his mind. In a way it was true his goal was to get proficient as fast as possible so he could pour himself into the magics related to the mark.
Does my list help with that?
Academic Tutoring
Supplementary Kol Manipulation
Supplementary Rune Construction
Introduction to Esoteteric Magics
Incantations
Alchemy
They had to select at least six modules,but could go up to eight. Like Professor David said, Bronson wanted to have time free to improve his core skills and the prerequisites to learn the harder magics. The supplementary classes were made to get people additional practice with the skills, whether that was advanced students looking to refine their skills, or ones less familiar, those two were a no brainer.
Incantations was a more broadly focused version of the Incantation crafting class, getting to know some useful incantations at the same time as a broader overview sounded useful. The alchemy class was mostly picked in the hope that he’d share a class with Abrax and Vic, while introduction to esoteric magics, Professor David’s class looked at some of the more unusual ways of creating magic, while also providing a wider base of understanding around magic in general. At least that was how the booklet sold it.
He hoped it would help fill in the gaps around his general knowledge, as to touch on more advanced topics you normally had to place it in context, at least from his experience. Taking a history module might have helped, but it just felt so mundane. The books they gave me after the exams touched on some history anyway. Ugh I have so much studying to do.
“Are the rest of my options okay then?” Bronson asked.
“They should be fine, but come to me quickly if you have any issues with the classes. If we do it quickly we can still move you into a new class.”
Bronson moved to stand. “Thank-you professor.”
“You’re welcome Bronson.”
He moved to the door, but an idea came to mind before he stepped out.
“Oh professor, I don’t suppose I could get a list for the librarian for the two Dimensional theory books?”
“That’s fine.” The professor grabbed a pen and ink well from the shelf.
With magic they could definitely make ballpoint pens. Or something better.
“I’ll add the books for your other classes too.”
Bronson thanked the professor and moved to the door again.
“Oh and one final thing. Do you have any skills you’d recommend to improve my learning?”
“I’ll add another book to your list.”
“Thank you again professor.” Bronson bowed slightly. They do that here right?
“You’re sure you don’t want to ask any more questions?”
“No, I'm fine professor.”
Bronson thanked her again and left.
Next stop. The Library.
While waiting for his turn at the library counter his mind drifted back to the first time he was there. Coming out of the library it was the scary fae librarian that stayed in his mind, but he’d also spoken to a guy. He threw around a few names, before landing on what he thought was right. Lyrus, big sword guy.
He’d said something about putting on muscle and Bronson had a note about where he could get some tinctures?
Bronson quickly collected his books, the librarian giving him a wink as he left.
Bronson put the books down in a stack on his desk and changed his clothes before setting out for Ayo’s house.
On his way there a notification popped up out of nowhere.
*Ding* Local Quest: Lily Patel has been stuck in a tree for three hours. Reward: Proportional to help given.
Around him everyone stopped and started looking around frantically. Okay so, looks like everyone wants free experience.
Uncaring Bronson continued onwards towards Ayo’s house. After a while the quest disappeared and there were a few sighs around him. After a while he started hearing snippets of conversation all on the same topic.
“Poor kid’s going to get stuck with a warrior class now.”
“Yeah if they get a class.”
Unwilling to display his ignorance by asking, he saved his questions for later.
He and Ayo settled into their usual routine. She got him to move through a number of painful stretches and resistance exercises. He was making some progress. But it wasn’t enough. It seemed as though his reliance on the brooch meant that during that time it was like he wasn’t using his muscles and therefore they weren’t getting any stronger.
“Ayo, why was everyone saying that kid in the local quest was going to get stuck as a warrior?”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Normally a person’s system quest gives them exp and allows them to unlock a class, but their quest was used to help them out of a difficult situation. Everyone’s collective will tends to be pushed towards getting the system to make them stronger so it tries to do that. You can’t progress if you’re stuck in a tree. Or in your case if you can't communicate with anyone.”
“Wait so it’s alive?”
“No. Magic isn’t alive. Keep your knee in. I won’t answer your questions if it’s going to distract you. But it can have intent.”
Bronson dedicated one of his threads to ensuring his form stayed consistent.
“But that doesn’t explain why they’d be stuck as a warrior.”
“Because the system pays the most attention when unusual things happen and something like killing a monster counts. Therefore it counts further towards unlocking a class.”
“Then how do mages unlock starter mage classes?”
Ayo increased the resistance he was pushing against. “They practise Kol manipulation like anyone else.”
Bronson’s eyes thinned. “You can do that without skills?”
“Don’t look at me like that,” said Ayo.” You can and you probably should practise without a skill.”
“How do I do that?”
“I’m not a mage Jem. Ask one of your classmates.”
They lapsed into silence after that and Bronson fell into his thoughts, one thread still determinedly clinging to proper form.
Abrax would probably just snort and shake his head. Asking him would be fine.
“So Ayo, your actions determine the classes you’re likely to unlock? Normally the quests people receive are tailored towards them and that’s how they get classes?”
“Yes.”
Does that mean that I spend all this time in recovery, I’m going to get classes that just revolve around recovery, or strength training?
“Can we do something more productive than this rehabilitation stuff?”
“There isn’t anything more productive.” Ayo adopted a lecturing tone. “Training while injured is stupid, and your body will react differently with the brooch as compared to if you didn’t have it on.”
Bronson sighed. Maybe I should pay Lyrus a visit and see what tinctures have to offer.
Bronson left Ayo’s house, sore and painful like usual. Bronson headed over to the more martial part of the university. The directions had told him to head for one of the training halls, specifically warded against preventing lethal harm.
As he’d hoped the third-year was standing with a group of other people, all visibly fighters of some description. Though it seemed that not all of them actually subscribed to the walking tank philosophy of Lyrus.
Bronson’s understanding of what a training hall was in the university was also a little out of touch. Instead of an actual building it was actually a concave dome in the ground, more like an amphitheatre or arena with a flat ring in the centre.
Bronson approached the group and coughed lightly. “Excuse me.”
A couple of the people in the group turned to him and levelled scrutinising looks. “Kirk, I think it’s one of yours.”
A toned guy, with pale and freckled skin turned to him. “Don’t recognise him?”
At that point Lyrus also turned. He squinted for a moment before they opened in recognition. “Library pipsqueak.”
Bronson didn’t quite know how to feel about that introduction but he chuckled lightly. “That’s me.”
“So you want to try some of the tinctures?”
“That was the plan.”
The white guy, Kirk, stepped forwards. “Lyrus don’t try to sell my product when I’m right here.”
“I don’t cut me out. I told him to come.”
“Chill out. I wasn’t gonna.” Kirk levelled his attention on Bronson. “Wait a minute kid. Zoya’s just about to fight and we all want to watch.”
Kirk pointed down to the stage. In the centre was a dark skinned girl with a thin rapier. She brought her arm up into a fighting stance and the edges of her blade faintly glowed.
On the opposite end of the arena. A boy with a candy-floss-blue afro stood relaxed. His sword was sheathed, but his hand was on the hilt. Small wisps of pink smoke huffed from his nostrils and a shimmering heat haze radiated from him.
“Feigned nonchalance stoking a raging fire is such a stupid technique. Zoya’s going to win for sure.”
“I want Zoya to win, but Emmanuel won the last tournament.”
“Shut up man, Zoya’s going to win for sure.”
Bronson zoned out the voices, and focused on the two combatants.
A faint shimmer, distinct from the heat haze fell over the arena stage and the two combatants moved.
So this is how people with physical classes move. Bronson had no trouble following the action mentally, but the fight was actually hard to follow visually. Everything was blurred, like the out of focus part of the camera. His eyes couldn't keep up.
The rapid tap tap tap of clashing blades seemed to grow faster and slower cyclically as their fight progressed. Visibly there was no evidence of the fight taking place. No blood fell onto the floor, but portions of the combatants bodies were overlaid in red and they slowed down a little. Real pain visible on their faces. But no blood?
A few seconds later the boy with the blue afro lazily threw his sword from its sheath and it crashed into Zoya’s face. Her face and her body flashed red and then they were both teleported back to their starting positions.
So that’s how physical fighters fight. It’s incredible.
“His technique is so dumb, it just counters hers.”
“So lucky.”
Faster than Bronson could see, Zoya appeared beside them and sheathed her sword. Its glow fading as it slid into the sheathe “Emmanuel is good, not lucky.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re dating.”
Zoya rolled her eyes
Emmanuel appeared beside Zoya and lazily threw an arm around her shoulder. “I might be better than her, but she’s better than all of you so it levels out.”
“Shut up man, no one likes a cocky winner.”
Bronson waited to the side, and stepped out of listening range, not wanting to intrude.
A couple of minutes later Lyrus and Kirk walked over. Both of them a good couple feet taller than him.
“You ever seen a fight like that before pipsqueak?”
“No, it was incredible. I didn’t think stats could make people move that fast.”
Lyrus snorted.
Kirk rolled his eyes. “It’s more than just stats, when you fight in accordance with a technique your movements are infused with Kol. I think of it more like a casting tradition than fighting with just a sword. Not that these dumb brutes seem to agree."
Lyrus grunted.
"Lyrus brought you to buy some of my tinctures, so what are you looking for?”
“The runt wants to put some muscle on those skinny bones.”
“Lyrus, don’t talk to my customers like that. Kid, you want muscle growth tinctures?”
“Yes?” said Bronson.
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“Yes. I do.”
Kurt reached into a pocket. His arm going down to his elbow and then past it. “Got it.”
He then pulled out a stoppered glass vial filled with a blue liquid and held it out to Bronson. “That’s going to cost you 14 and 6 levels. Try to bring the vial back.”
Bronson fished around in his pockets for his bank sigil and flourished it.
“Ah kid. I accept credits. This is a side job, not a full on business” Far faster than it appeared the vial disappeared.
“Oh er, right.”
“Come back when you have it in chips.”
Kurt turned away.
“Will you still be here in 20 minutes?”
“See you in a bit, kid.”
Just how much is 14 and 6 levels anyway?
The gap gets bigger between levels so 14 and 6 is presumably less than 15.
Bronson headed to the bank. He might be able to get cash back from any random shop. Chips back. But he wasn’t sure.
When he got back to the training arena Lyrus was actually facing off against an opponent. Both were moving slowly though Lyrus was slower, whenever the opponent struck Lyrus seemed barely affected as though the opponents attacks were just bee stings.
Scary.
Bronson pulled out around a quarter of the chips he’d taken out and handed them to Kurt, in exchange for the tincture.
Bronson put the tincture in a pocket and rushed back towards his room.
Five minutes later he sat down on his bed and pulled out the vial. He stared at it in silence.
Now or never.
Not giving himself time to feel any trepidation he flicked off the stopper and downed the contents. That would break so many rules in a chemistry lab.
One minute after he downed the vial, a shimmery feeling radiated out from his stomach. Excitement? He felt the muscles in his stomach start tensing and releasing. Looking inwards towards his bloodline core he saw muscles slowly growing in definition. I’m going to get a six-pack from this.
Three minutes later the shimmery feeling drifted towards pain. His stomach was cramping. He rushed to the loo. Three minutes after that he left the loo, feeling much lighter. The Kol flow in his abdomen was starting to look a little turbid and smaller build ups and releases were happening all over his body. They hurt, but nothing like the ones from the brooch.
Eight minutes later, it felt like a horde of elephants were taking turns to stampede over his entire body.
Thirteen minutes later [Damage Smamage] went off, and his toughness went up to 62.
Captain, we have a problem.
Bronson pushed all of his attention into forming an image, the people he could trust at university, Abrax, Vic, Tyrus and Ayo all getting an impression of what was going wrong with him.
Ah fuck, I can’t believe I’ve done this.
– – – – –
Ayo sighed contentedly. Bliss.
Going to university to train Jem was a vacation, training would be light until he fully recovered and she fully intended to take advantage of the lull. It wasn’t often she got to relax like this.
Ayo slipped deeper into the rose scented water and flipped the page of her detective novel.
Her bones shook like a drum. Jem got himself into trouble and needed bailing out.
She had no way of helping, she didn’t have an excuse to go onto university. This is Haywood’s responsibility.
– – – – – – –
I hate marking.
Tyrus miserably flipped the page of the student’s assignment. Some students take their improved mental faculties and turn them to evil. An essay on grain should not be 45 pages long.
Tyrus debated the benefits of getting rid of one of his skills for [Attention Regulation]. At least this wouldn’t hurt so much then.
Before he could finish debating with himself he felt the press of some familiar magic against his mind, He let it pass. A picture of Bronson unconscious on the floor of his room pressed into his mind.
Dealing with that would get me away from this.
Tyrus glared at the essay. But if I do that then I’ll have to come back to this.
He sighed and picked up his pen and the red ink pot.
Then he felt the brush of more familiar magics. He declined the call.
He felt the magic reassert itself. Not happening. He declined.
Immediately another tendril pushed towards him. Nope.
Another more powerful tendril pushed towards him. He batted it away.
Four more tendrils tried to connect and on the fifth he accepted.
“What do you want?”
He felt Ayo glare at him.through their mental link. “He’s your responsibility, do something.”
“I was going to.”
“You’re lying. Do it now. Or I will report you to your granddaughter.”
You don’t have to bring Nessa into this.
“Fine.”
Tyrus cut the connection, then stood up and stretched. I’m definitely getting [Attention Regulation].
– – – – – – – – –
Bronson’s voice appeared in Vic’s mind. “Hey could I get a hand. I think I need some help.”
Bronson?
Are you there?
Vic pressed a kiss into her girlfriend’s cheek. “I’ve got to go do some RA stuff, I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
– – – – – – –
“Roomie I think I might have done a fucky wucky. A little help here.”
Abrax drew back in disgust, his spell cast faltering. WHY DO I UNDERSTAND THE WORDS IF I DON’T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. BRONSON WHAT SORT OF CURSED PLACE DO YOU COME FROM.
“Come on Berry, we have to check on our idiot roommate.”
Berrioux slashed with his wing, decapitating the giant fish boss with a line of ethereal feathers which wound together like a garrote, slicing through the flesh.
Abrax picked up their rewards. He put a small pile chips into his pocket and threw a blood red gem at Berrioux, who swallowed it in one go. He looked at his faebeast and smiled. You are going to be such a terror.
Berrioux croaked back. “I know, I’m great.”
They exited the trial dungeon and ran back towards their room.
He ran up the stairs and met Vic in the hallway.
“You too?”
“Yep.” Vic flashed him a dazzling smile. “I don’t suppose you could open the door. You’re keyed in so it will open way faster for you.”
Abrax stepped forward and pushed a line of Kol into the door.
The locks clicked open and they stepped inside. They moved around to the bedroom. Bronson lay on the floor, convulsing with foam at his lips. What did you do, idiot?
“Excuse me.” A man stepped in behind them and pushed them aside. He walked over to Bronson and slapped him in the face. “Wake up idiot.”
Abrax felt his stomach tighten. “Don’t call him an idiot.”
The man didn’t respond.
He pulled open one of Bronson’s eyelids and looked at his eye. It was unfocused. The man picked up a vial, Abrax hadn’t noticed and sniffed its contents.
“Well don’t just stand there. Pick him up, we need to take him to the infirmary.
Just who is this guy? I don’t like him very much. Berrioux landed on his shoulder and croaked into his ear. “Yeah he’s a cunt.”
Vic picked up Bronson’s convulsing body and slung him over her shoulder. “Berrioux, that’s sexist.”
“Sorry Victoria.”
On the way out the man picked up a pile of Bronson’s books and carried it with them. Why?