“It was just one fry. I’ll get you another!”
“You don’t just take the last one. That’s just common sense,” grumbled Frank, and he was gratified to see both Salem and Wilbur nod at that. “And don’t give me that ‘just one’ crap. You ate most of it.”
Esther threw her hands up in indignation as they made their way to the training facilities of the Hall, mumbling something about selfishness.
Frank chose to ignore that and focused instead on his surroundings as he considered his options. How was he supposed to sneak into the city now? If there was an office of the Guild of Souls in Tinecea, he’d have to go.
A disguise maybe? Were invisibility cards a thing? Either of those could work.
Esther was people watching, a tall beer in one hand and a freshly acquired and filled flask on her hip. Her other hand was resting on a dagger strapped to her belt, and Frank thought he should probably get himself a weapon, too. One that didn’t take a card slot away from him.
He shifted his focus to the notifications and wondered if now was a good time to look through them. He glanced at the others, and they all seemed to be watching the crowds.
After hesitating for a moment, he decided to ask. “Have any of you gotten a chance to check the notifications from the escape?”
“Yes,” said Wilbur, an excited smile on his lips.
“Mmhm.” Esther drank from her mug.
Salem just shrugged. “It wasn’t anything too useful. My class has to do with cooking, so the experience wasn’t that relevant to me. Still got some points for it, though.”
Even though he’d decided he would open his notification quickly, he felt like he hadn’t gotten a good opportunity to take the time and look through them. Between the escape from the mayor, catching their breaths, then digesting the presentation and having a meal–well. Maybe he could have found a couple of minutes in between all that.
Next time.
As the others talked, Frank kept pace with them and tapped his notifications.
Pick one from the following two rewards:
[Enhanced Resistance: Mind]
Rarity: Rare
Type: Empowerment
Effect: Increases your mind’s resistance to external suggestive or compulsive influences.
Or
[Scroll of Mind Ward]
Rarity: Rare
Type: Consumable
Effect: A spell scroll capable of casting the spell Mind Ward once. For approximately an hour, the target is protected from mind-altering spells such as mind-based illusions, suggestions, or compulsions.
Frank began to really appreciate whomever–or whatever–it was that assigned the rewards. Faced a new challenge and got through it? Here’s a card to make it easier the next time around. And in this case the timing couldn’t be better.
Mind magic was a worrisome prospect, and he needed to learn about its capabilities as well as its limits.
He looked at the consumable card for a few seconds then dismissed it. Though the difference between both cards was intriguing to consider. Both were defensive in nature, but they seemed to go about differently. The enhancement-card he would use actively and consciously. He recalled how [Quick Step] had worked. Once he activated the card, he felt the magic flow in his body, and he could trigger the effect with a thought. He assumed this one would behave similarly. Maybe forming some sort of mental shield he could reinforce with a thought? The more mana he pumped into it, the stronger the protection would be.
The spell-card, on the other hand, would be a one-time cast that’d give him the mental protection, without him having to worry about its upkeep.
Unless that’s not at all how the scroll works. Maybe it’s also a flexible kind of defense? Or it builds itself back if damaged? And how efficient would either of these two cards be?
Frank shook his head and sighed. Every time he got an answer, three new questions popped up. Though… that in itself was pretty fun.
[Enhanced Resistance: Mind] has been added to the Deck of Fates.
Frank hesitated for a moment, then he removed [Viper’s Fang] and replaced it with the new card.
I should have enough mana for a quick test.
He considered that for a second, then shook his head. He was already running on fumes and even though Salem’s meal had restored his energy, it had done little to his mana. He should be figuring out a way of replenishing his mana. Preferably without having to drag a stockpile of mana potions with him at all times.
And once that’s done, he’d need to test it. Lumovik had mentioned that merchants and negotiators might have such skills at their disposal. Finding one of those could allow him to experiment.
He wondered if there were ways to have mental resistances to magical effects without cards.
The crowd began to thin out, and Frank was surprised at the pep in his step. He felt energized, and even though he could use a shower and a rest he was primed and ready to get some work done, thanks to Salem’s food.
Then he examined the last message, and he recognized the card leveling format.
[Force Missile] - Level 2 achieved.
[[Fast Missile]] variant unlocked
Frank raised an eyebrow. The regular missile was already pretty fast. How fast would this one be?
Another thing to test. And he needed to get better at using [Quick Step] as well. It had behaved differently than what he’d expected. And it had been disorienting, which ended up with him finding himself way closer to his target than he would have liked.
This all hinged on him finding a way to replenish his mana, though. The empty feeling in his chest was still present. In the background, true, but he felt that if he tried to cast anything, he’d drop to his knees but considering the section they had now entered, he might get his answer soon.
Roars and shouts filled their ears, coming from the many sparring rings that filled the wide space ahead. The main passage they were in suddenly opened into a stadium-like space, with at least nine or ten sparring rings. A small crowd filled the spaces in between the rings, with some fights attracting significantly more attention than others.
Agents zipped by as Frank peered beyond them. In the closest ring, a large woman–one of the white-eyed people–got her arm chopped off by a dark-skinned man with the same eyes, an instant before she punched him so hard with her remaining arm she sent the man skidding for a couple of feet.
And from the wild grin on her face, she was having the time of her life.
Frank saw them stop the fight and clasp hands, and they were soon separated by a green-uniformed person who fussed around the woman before having her carry her own arm as she followed them.
“Goddamn,” said Esther.
Frank hadn’t been the only one who had stopped and seen that. Salem seemed slightly concerned, averting his eyes from the gore, while Esther’s gaze was following the woman, and there was definitely something he recognized in that look. Equally as interested was Wilbur, who seemed ready to climb into one of the rings himself.
Well… he is from here. I guess.
It was still odd to see how willing Wilbur was to get into fights. Maybe it had to do with his small stature and how Frank was associating his height to that of a child. Something Frank will have to get used to.
On the other hand, it’s not as if the Suinah had gained the Suit from just sitting around. He must have earned the card. Somehow.
Another fight was starting in that same ring, between two regular-sized humans, and Frank wondered how well he would do up there.
If healing was provided, he would definitely need to get up there. Maybe that could get him some levels, and he’ll need as many as he could get.
----------------------------------------
There were more food stands in the training wing of the Hall, and having had half his meal stolen, Frank decided to sit down and get something to snack on. Plus, it would give him a break from the pungent and noisy crowd out there.
Wilbur had gone with an Agent to find a trainer. Salem mentioned a Crafter thing then walked away, which left Esther.
She strolled away as well, whistling after saying she’d be right back, leaving Frank alone with a newly acquired notebook he got from a stand that was selling information packets about Champions. Collected from the fights.
Not only
His pen scribbled against the white pages while he chewed on an exquisitely roasted piece of mushroom. The skewers he’d gotten were probably one of the tastiest meals he’d ever eaten in his life.
So. The goal now was to prepare as best as possible for the oncoming Trials. And the key to that was… Achievement Points.
The presentation had gone over what could be done with APs. They were, in a way, a currency representing a combination of raw potential and a favor owed by the almighty Automaton, and Frank quickly figured out that this was the real currency of the competition. Not that gold wasn’t important. A lot could be done with coins and he would probably need every penny he could get his hands on. His own debt was measured in coins.
But the Automaton didn’t care much for gold.
No. What set Champions apart–and what made the event special–was that Achievement Points could be gained. Mainly by Champions and by those who provided services to them. After glancing at the store option in his menu–which most definitely had not been there before the presentation–he realized he had nowhere near enough points.
There were training options. There were cards, either sold by other Champions or by dedicated merchants. There were gear, magical and mundane, and there were so many items that they had to be classified into their own categories.
Weapons that didn’t need to be summoned by cards. Potions of healing, of mana, and an impressive–and concerning–number of resistances. There were hundreds of different spell scrolls. And speaking of spells, in the weapon tab Frank discovered there were wands that could cast spells. And they could use Frank’s mana, or their own reserves.
Frank thought it was safe to assume mana batteries were a thing.
There was so much to buy, and nowhere near enough points. Even though some items had alternative pricing in gold, he discovered that his measly handful of gold coins couldn’t afford much more than a couple of potions. Maybe a spell scroll, if he aimed low enough.
Frank pursed his lips and tapped his pencil on the paper. He had a good question he could begin with, and so he downed the rest of his beer and looked around. Seconds later, he had an Agent in front of him. And the answer was thorough.
“There are many ways in which a Champion might prepare for the oncoming trials. Though not all are efficient for the four days available, some could have a significant impact on your odds.
“Option one. Familiarization with new cards. We have multiple arenas and training halls where you can test any new card you might have gotten against provided dummies or against Automaton recommended Agents–depending on the nature of the tests and on the recommendation of the Voice. Or you could test yourself against other Champions for a more realistic training. Do keep in mind that Champion against Champion sparrings are 99.9% safe. The rules and safety are guaranteed by high-level Agents of the Automaton, as long as it is classified as a sparring session. These services and options are often free. If they are not, they cost only a low fee in mundane coinage.
“Option two. There are a significant number of trainers and experts willing to provide their services for a fee–often in AP. Their expertise can vary, but for a Seedworlder their advice could be invaluable. All certified trainers are listed in the marketplace’s interface under ‘Find a Trainer’. The Agents of the Automaton are allowed to offer training as well, for certain subjects. This option will be listed under the previously mentioned item, under the title of ‘Find an Automaton Trainer’.
“Option three. We see that you currently are in possession of an [Ambrosia]. Offerings like [Ambrosia] can be used as a gift to a god of your choosing, and the god might grant a favor back. These favors can be in the form of cards, boons, or special training. Any favor granted from a god can have an impact on your Fate. The odds of a response might be low, considering the current stage of Trials. Keep in mind that how you conduct yourself in the Trials might improve your odds of receiving a deity’s favor in the future, while it might alienate others.
“[Ambrosia] can also be used to access some challenges that you can find listed in the Hall of Shrines. An Agent can guide you when requested. Challenges have guaranteed rewards, but do note that while time is slowed within the challenges, safety is not guaranteed. The challenges can be anything from a simple talk with an oracle or the deity themselves, defeating a monstrosity, a tournament within the realm of the deity, or retrieving a cursed item from a dungeon or catacomb. Anything is possible, so plan accordingly.
“Option four. The Hall of Champions has access to many job postings, quests, and requests filed by different guilds and individuals. A Champion can pick from these when there is no Trial ongoing, and will often be rewarded with valuable experience, and possibly cards and Achievement Points. The Champions have to be careful when it comes to timing, as they will immediately be transferred to the starting point of the Trial when it starts, no matter the situation they are in. An Agent can provide more details when requested, but as the Trials are set to begin shortly, this option is heavily discouraged at the moment.”
Frank thanked the Agent, and they nodded back before they rolled away and were quickly intercepted by another table. Frank glanced down at the notes he took. He had options, that’s for sure.
[Ambrosia] being valuable was good to know, and those challenges seemed interesting, but… too soon. He didn’t want to have anything to do with gods just yet. He was curious. Incredibly curious. But he was also terrified. And the Agent had said that anything goes in those challenges, so he would be at their mercy. What if he offended them?
Frank looked into the distance as he considered the ramifications of the existence of gods.
What are they like? What can they do?
Summoning the [Ambrosia] card into his view was trivial, now that he had some practice with the interface. He looked at it for a moment and wondered which god he should interact with first. Whenever he’d get around to that. Should he even try?
His thoughts were cut off by the sounds of a mug landing across from him, followed by the rustle of a cape. A man pulled a chair, then sat down facing him.
A man Frank didn’t know.
Tall. Curly dark hair loosely tied in a high knot. Olive skin. Fully covered in leather armor under a pristine cream cloak with red embroidery. The man had been paging through a small notebook as he sat down, and now he ear-marked a page before closing it and putting it down. He looked up at Frank and smiled, and before he could speak another person stepped closer.
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Khaa briskly removed the scarf she had wrapped around her face and pulled back her hood, throwing a peeved look at the man who had just sat down. “We agreed to wait.”
The man shrugged. “It’s as good a time as any. Why not introduce ourselves while we’re here? Before others do,” said the man as he gave Frank his most winning smile. He extended his hand for a handshake. “Hi there. My name is Kreios, and I am one of those who assisted your escape from the Kalligeros estate. I’m happy to see you are all safe and sound.” Glancing around, the man added. “Will your friends join us soon?”
Khaa sat down in her own chair, slowly and deliberately. She eyed the man. “Why? So the Repository can make their own laughable offer to them as well?”
Frank slowly turned to Kreios and caught the glare he was giving Khaa.
“Since when do the Beastfolks of Kothanah care for Humans?”
The two narrowed their eyes at each other and before they could launch into another salvo of snipes, Frank raised both hands. “Stop. Please.”
The two gave each other one last glare before turning and fully facing Frank.
He put down his pen and leaned back against his seat. “Is this about the sponsorship business?” Frank’s last encounter with the subject had been merely hours ago, but now that he was in the Hall–and surrounded by the Agents of the Automaton–he didn’t feel as vulnerable as he had been in the mayor’s residence.
Kreios gave him a sheepish smile and shrugged. “I guess it is. Same as the business of at least half of the non-Champions around us. And of course, like you’ve experienced for yourself, there will be a few willing to trap you into a magically enforced contract. But I can promise you will see none of that with either of us. If we reach an agreement, it will be in good faith and with no coercion whatsoever.”
Khaa gave the man a sidelong glance. She then met Frank’s eyes and nodded.
She helped us escape. Ulterior motives or not, we’re not sitting in a dungeon under the mayor’s property.
He could hear out. He owed her at least that.
Frank stared at each of them for a moment, weighing his words. “I’m flattered by the attention, but I’m not sure I did anything to deserve it.”
The two shared another look, and they seemed to reach an agreement. Khaa was about to speak when Kreios jumped up, surprising both of them.
“Before I forget,” he said as he turned to rifle through one of his many satchels. He plucked out a rolled piece of parchment–to the annoyance of Khaa–and presented it to Frank. “I am a traveling merchant by trade, but on special occasions–like the glorious Celestial Trials–I represent the Repository. And on behalf of them and myself, I’d like to offer you a small welcome gift.”
He presented the scroll and Frank glanced at Khaa before hesitantly grabbing it. He looked up at the merchant. “Again, I’m not sure why I’m getting all of this attention. And I hope this isn’t a way to try to guilt me into a sponsorship.”
Kreios chuckled good heartedly. “Of course there’s a bit of that,” the man said, and at Frank’s raised eyebrow, he added, “Look. What the mayor did is unacceptable. And trust me, we’ll be making sure the higher ups hear about it. There will be sanctions. Not just on him.” Khaa nodded at that, and the man continued. “But sponsorships are usually how these things are done. And of course, some contracts are more favorable than others. But in no way would any reputable faction try to force you into one.”
The man leaned back, and Khaa continued. “These Trials often see the birth and growth of the pillars of this Great Realm. Warriors, artisans, leaders. And so, supporting them, offering them gifts and good terms are commonly-used tactics to build a good relationship with them, and potentially have them carry your name.
“Of course, not every single Champion will reach those heights. In fact, most will be forgotten by the end of this event. But every faction wants to invest in the right Champions. And we both believe you and your team have a good chance.”
Frank leaned back and considered what he had just been told. He glanced down at the scroll, still in his hands, and something immediately came to mind.
“So If I were to hold off on sponsorships now, and consider it after the first Trial, I would get better terms.”
Khaa showed her teeth in a grin, and Kreios barked out a laugh before confirming Frank’s theory. “Of course. Well. Not a lot of representatives will tell you that but… yes. Plus you would have had the chance of showing what you’re really capable of. What your team is capable of. So far, you’re mostly unknown. Aside from surviving the Initiation test–which some factions already know about and I know that one of your escapee-friends did the same but still–you have to keep in mind that every person selected for this Trial is special. The Suinah with the Suit? The cook? Everyone that will be taking part in the Trials?” A wide grin stretched on Kreios’ face, and his eyes lit up. “All of them are the one talent in ten thousand. And every faction would want such geniuses in their ranks.”
Khaa nodded fervently at that, and she stared intently in Frank’s eyes. “I do hope the Suinah is still in your team? I noticed both the Minotaur and the human girl left.”
Frank nodded and didn’t react to the fact that they had been keeping tabs on the team. He’d expect nothing less from such headhunters. “He is. Wilbur–that’s his name. The woman is an old colleague from my world. The last one is Salem. The cook.”
Then he paused and observed his thoughts for a couple of seconds. He felt grateful for Khaa, which made sense. Wariness, when he considered Kreios. But not for anything specific. He just had that hint of salesmanship that made Frank expect the merchant to turn and try to sell him something at any moment. Which, to be fair, both of them did. And they had been upfront about it from the get go.
No. He wasn’t under any charm magic. His thoughts were in order. His general level of suspicion was the same as always. The only reasons he was opening up and sharing were that the two had been direct, and that he was in a safe environment.
Still, he kept his eye on the [Enhanced Resistance: Mind], for comfort.
Kreios clapped once. “Good. Good. That is a good team. But you should look into recruiting some more. And you need a trainer to go through the basics.”
“No need,” said Khaa as she refilled a clear glass from the bottle a waiter had left. “I took the liberty of reserving a chamber. We’ll just wait for the rest of the team to come back.” She glanced at Frank and nodded. “My welcome gift.”
Which reminded Frank of the scroll in his hand. As he unfurled the document, he realized that these two might be the most knowledgeable locals he’d met so far.
He paused and glanced up. “I appreciate the gifts. But as you might guess, I… It’s not easy to find answers. And I have quite a few questions, once of which is really pressing.”
When Kreios nodded for him to continue, he asked the question that had been in the back of his mind since his realization back in the forest. “Where can I find information about my family? The people I knew? The Agent said it’s the purview of the Guild of Souls, but they didn’t specify where I could find one. Do you know if there’s one in the city?”
That would imply him going back out there and risking the attention of the mayor and his lackey, but to find out about his family? Jane? His enemies? He would take that risk every day of the week. And nobody said he couldn’t make some preparations this time.
Kreios leaned back and reached for his glass. He breathed in deep, then exhaled. “Well,” the man said, “the good news is that my gift will help. It had been something else, but when I learned of what happened with the mayor, and knowing you were a Seedworlder, I made the request for this, assuming you’ll want to find the office of the Guild of Souls.” When Frank’s eyes widened, Kreios nodded. “Yes. There is an office in Tinecea. And you’ll need that scroll to get to it.”
Frank looked down at the scroll in his hand and immediately unrolled it. Once it was unfurled he saw the illustration of a card at the bottom of the generic welcoming letter.
As soon as he focused on it, the card popped onto his interface.
[Disguise Self]
Rarity: Epic
Type: Spell
Effect: Disguise the clothing and features of the user. The spell conjures the alteration as they are in the caster’s mind, and the effect should last for approximately an hour per cast.
Accept [Disguise Self] into your Deck?
“That should allow you to make your way to their office. But,” Kreios added warningly, “keep in mind that your requests will be documented. And those you ask about might be informed that you’ve looked into them.” Then Kreios took a sip from his cup and winced when Khaa nudged him.
Frank saw that. “What is it?”
Kreios glared at Khaa, but she refused to back down. The man sighed. “Fine. I didn’t want to be the bringer of bad news, but I’d recommend you temper your hopes. Being brought back to life by the Guild of Souls is not a guarantee. Not…. every soul from the Seedworlds gets caught by the magic. Some get through. And they move on to wherever we’ll go once we’re dead as well.”
He turned to Khaa. “There. Happy?”
Frank… hadn’t really considered that.
He had little to go on, true. But once he accepted the fact that he was here, and once he saw Esther, he was almost sure that they’d all be around. Somewhere.
The fact that some of them might still be gone when he’d been hoping to see them again was a gut punch.
He glanced down at the card, and something tightened in his chest. Images of the fire flashed into his mind. The beeping of a heart monitor turning into a long, steady tone, and Jane’s hand gently falling to her side.
He shook his head. No. There’s still hope.
He accepted the card and breathed deep. He would go to the Guild of Souls. First thing tomorrow. But for now, he should be using his time as best as he can.
Frank looked up at the whispering duo. “The mayor did something to my mind earlier. I got a card that’s supposed to help, but I want to make sure it’ll be enough.” And with that, he shared the card with them before asking. “Will this be enough?”
Kreios glanced at Khaa. “Do you want to take this?”
Khaa’s lips pulled back into a toothy smile. “Go ahead. You are the expert.”
Kreios narrowed his eyes at the Beastfolk and Frank saw the twitch in his temple. The man sighed again and turned to Frank, continuing to glare at the Beastfolk for a second.
“Right. So, in the spirit of trust and disclosure, I believe I know a bit about what you’ve just been through. The Kalligeros are notorious for cultivating abilities that would give them an edge in the world of politics. Anything they could use for negotiations or intelligence gathering and all that entails.”
He ran a hand through his hair before continuing. “I’m saying all of this to give you some context on why you shouldn’t worry too much about mind-related abilities. Especially when you’re ready for them. Do you remember those arrows that guided your escape? Well, only you were seeing them. Not the guards.”
Frank’s head snapped up.
At his alarm, the man added quickly, “It was a simple communication magic. Like the interface of the Automaton. Only those I target can see it, but it cannot affect you. Think of it as telepathy. Only it’s visual.”
Frank’s mental finger was on [Enhanced Resistance: Mind], and after a couple of seconds he reluctantly triggered it.
He didn’t like it. It brought back an old memory of when he once had to open the envelope and count the money right in front of a nice old lady, because the last time he’d sold something on the classified ads, he had been ripped off. And now he had to see the understanding–but less enthusiastic–polite smile and watch the human connection crack.
The sad realization that often, genuine trust had little place in the real world.
He hated seeing Kreios sigh and lean back, a complicated expression on his face. He hated seeing the neutral but understanding nod of Khaa as she sat still and waited. They had been nothing but friendly and informative so far, and he didn’t think they were influencing him in any way. He was practically sure. But thanks to his recent experience and how subtle the influence had been, he needed to be one hundred percent sure. Or he would keep second-guessing every interaction, and he didn’t want to live like that.
His chest ached as the mana flowed out of him. There was a lull where he was breathing hard, resisting the desire to hunch forward, and it was over when the mana–now different–flowed back through his chest and into him.
It flowed up. Smooth and warm. He felt it wrap itself around his head and then… nothing happened.
His general mood was still the same. The fuzziness of his thoughts–brought by the sheer mental fatigue from everything that had happened so far–was still present.
After a quiet couple of seconds, he thought he could feel the effect of the magic.
It was like a part of his mind had grown more sensitive. It was the same part that had perceived the influence of Lumovik, a few hours ago. And by it being placid and… unreactive, it told him that nothing was tampering with his mind.
He fell backward against his chair. He felt a light headache, and even though his body felt energized, he could tell his mind was falling behind.
A nap would help.
Khaa seemed to notice he was done. She interlaced her clawed fingers on the table and spoke. “Mind magic cannot take control of a person. It cannot change who you are. The best it can do–to varying degrees of potency that will depend on the user–is tamper with your mood, with your attention or with focus. And even then, it’s only temporary. Because your mind will naturally defend itself, and it will inevitably break out of the influence.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. So your caution is not misplaced,” said Kreios. “Dampening someone’s fear or focus when they’re disarming a dungeon trap can be fatal. But you must also remember, a [Fireball] or a dagger through the heart would be even deadlier.”
Khaa nodded. “All Glyphs can be abused.” She raised a hand, and Frank saw a globe of water coalesce above her palm out of thin air. The water swirled, and he leaned forward, fascinated. “My water purifies. It cleanses and it defends. It is a barrier between me and my enemies. But water also floods. Water drowns and takes away everything into its inky depth. Every Glyph can create as much wonder as it can inflict harm.”
A server came in and brought some appetizers. Frank used the lull to look around the recreational section. Beyond, in the reception area, he could see a new group come in through the faraway entrance while all around him the clamor and energy never seemed to waver. The server left, and Kreios picked up a small meatball on a skewer and bit into it. He swallowed, then spoke.
“The Book of Impressions contains a lot of Glyphs that can be abused in the way Lumovik Kalligeros did. But the good news is, the more you’re subjected to such magic, the easier it will be for you to detect it. And of course, the stronger you get, the weaker its influence will be. I… well, my time is limited, and I don’t believe you’ll have a lot of time before the Trials begin, so I suggest finding a trainer about this subject.”
Frank leaned backward and tried to digest everything he was learning.
He could train himself to withstand mental influences? Like some sort of exposure therapy? He would be interested in that. Maybe the Automaton could provide such training…
And then he remembered something.
Frank quickly went to his list of cards and found what he was looking for.
[Artemis' Bane]
Rarity: Epic
Type: Summon
Level: Adaptive
Description: A descendant of one of the most annoying companions the Goddess ever hunted with. An obnoxiously loud, irritating hare that will attract your enemy’s ire as long as it breathes.
“Would a summon that’s supposed to ‘attract my enemy’s ire’ count as mental effect? And sorry if this is obvious, but what is the Book of Impressions? And what are Glyphs?” he asked, then shared the card with both of them.
Kreios hummed as he leaned forward, brows raised. “Khaa will answer the second part, and yes, that Summon has a mind-affecting ability. You can definitely use it to work on your resistances. Just hang around it until you’re used to it. After a whi–”
“I’m sorry,” Khaa cut in while tilting her head. “Do you assume that a freshly awakened Seedworlder, who’s first interaction with magic was today, would figure out a mental resistance training regimen by themselves with ‘just hang around it’?”
Kreios opened his mouth and closed it. He pursed his lips and gestured to her to go ahead.
Khaa straightened up. “We’ll cover the mental training regimen later. As for the Book of Impressions, it is the classifications of Glyphs that relate to perception and the mind in general. This, for example,” she said as she pulled a piece of paper and quickly drew a symbol on it before she pushed toward Frank. “This is the Glyph of Water. From the Book of Materia.
“When you channel a Glyph, your own raw mana gains the property of said Glyph. You could focus that converted mana and throw it out toward a target as a [Water Jet]. That is called Projecting. You could manipulate it and diffuse it through your body to increase your strength and sense of balance. To give you a superhuman resistance to fires. That is called Empowering. And Shaping is the degree of control you have over your own mana. Your skill in manipulating and moving it. When you use a card, it takes care of all of that. That’s what makes cards valuable.”
Kreios took over. “In summary, Glyphs are the building blocks of all magic. And your aim should be to master one of them as well as working on basics of mana manipulation. Because that is your biggest disadvantage at this moment.”
Frank glanced up. “What do you mean?”
“Yeah, mysterious man. What do you mean?” Esther sidled up over the Kreios’ side–hoping to surprise him–but if it worked, Frank couldn’t tell.
After a quick introduction, Kreios continued his point. “Well, you will compete with and against Champions who grew up around magic. Warriors and crafters with great potential, and whether they were scions of rich and powerful families or random farmers in the middle of nowhere doesn’t matter. To be selected, they have to be good at something. In nine cases out of ten, they would have begun their path to mastery with a Glyph. And you can bet that they had much more practice with mana techniques than you do.”
Both Frank and Esther frowned at that for a couple of seconds until Khaa sighed and explained it in simpler words.
“They have abilities outside of what their cards would allow.”
Oh. Well, that’s not great.
Frank had already learned that it was possible to cast spells without cards back when Wilbur had shown him how to see [Artemis' Bane]’s inner workings. But he hadn’t expected that such capabilities would already be widely present.
The wide variety of card abilities his opponents might have was already cause for concern, and now he learns they could cast some more without having the card restriction?
So far, Frank had seen magic that affected the mind. Khaa could control her water like limbs and throw tree-trunk sized lances of water that could explode on impact violently enough to scatter a group of armed soldiers like rag dolls. Kreios had transmitted directions to them in their own minds. Wilbur could summon an armored suit around himself.
Just that sample told him that the possibilities and combinations were immeasurable. And his competition would have more than just their cards.
Frank leaned back against his chair and swallowed.
Seeing the concern on face, Kreios pointed at him. “Now you get it. But,” and Frank’s heart lifted. “While those born in these lands might have more magic at their disposal, they are still limited by mana. Same as you. And that kind of casting is not easy, nor is it quick. Don’t get me wrong, there will be a couple of prodigies here and there, but cards are faster. And while a Glyph limits the magic you can cast, cards have no such restrictions.”
“And the reason this is considered fair,” said Khaa, “is that Seedworlders often have significantly more experience than the young talents from around here.”
A waiter came up and refilled their cups then replaced their appetizers with a fresh batch, which Kreios immediately started sampling while Khaa continued to explain.
“Sure, those born outside of Seedworlds start with more power. You, on the other hand, start with the knowledge of how that power should be used. Most of you have had a long life of difficult decisions. Of strife and challenges. You start with a lifetime of experience, while those born here are young. Untested. Some are leaving their village or family compound for the first time. This should incentivize Champions to mix and match to cover for their weakness.”
Khaa slowly stood up, looking down at the platter of appetizers. “You are behind. Both of you. But compared to the real powers of this Great Realm, or to even myself, all Champions are children. From where I stand, the difference is negligible and the sooner you begin training, the quicker you’ll catch up. So. Let us start with the basics. Follow me.”
Frank and Esther shared a look, then got up, and trailed the Beastfolk. They had to bridge the gap between themselves and the locals, and now's as good a time as any. Plus, if Frank was heading back out to the city, he needed to prepare. And he could prepare much more efficiently if he learned about the rules of this world’s magic.
They left Kreios alone at the table, and he waved at him when Frank glanced back.
He sighed. He wasn’t going to get his nap, it seemed.