Ray
“The first step is to replace the air with the natural mixture of gasses. The three gasses that are produced by Air magic under normal conditions and are considered to be the natural environment.” Ray said.
“Yes, none of us are good enough to produce other gasses anyway, so can you please just go on and tell me why you’ve made this violet light show in the air?” one of the girls said, clearly irritated.
“Oh, that’s just how my magic works. The violet glitter will turn into Air when I want it to.” Ray replied.
“Now, if you would please follow my instructions and fill the room with Air?” Ray said.
The others followed instructions, conjuring air into the room and pushing the old one out. Ray kept an eye on things, pushing his violet glitter into places where the other spells did not reach. Ten minutes later, they were ready for the next step.
“ Now we seal the room.” Ray said, directing some metallic glitter at the doors, sealing them shut. “ The doors will need to be sealed and unsealed repeatedly,, and the air needs to be repurified at regular intervals.”
“Or we could just make an entrance foyer where we refill the place with proper air and then seal or unseal the doors.” a boy suggested. “I used to have a cousin that worked at a beast part factory, they used the system”
“ Well, that’s a good idea!” Ray said, trying to sound encouraging for some reason. The sentiment just felt appropriate.
“No it isn’t. A foyer would need to be constructed carefully, and sealing and resealing the doors would take a lot of mana from people.” the first girl said.
“The foyer could be big so that people come in first thing in the morning and wait for it to be opened. The door could be opened only twice a day except for emergencies. And we can always pay someone to handle it.” the boy replied.
“And who’s going to pay to make your little foyer?” the girl began, but Ray was already on it. Ray hadn’t had to use the potion yet, but this seemed like a good time to use it.
Ray undid the latch and gulped it down, watching as his mana ticked up to ten thousand. The tier, however, remained the same, the System had apparently considered that it was extra mana from a potion, not something else. The mana felt amazing, but he had work to do. Ray willed the floor to grow upwards, conjuring green glitter in plenty.
The mana poured out of him, showing the power a Tier 7 wielded. A foyer grew there in seconds as Ray’s mana dropped below a hundred. But there it was, a foyer, just like they needed.
“Well, there are still rooms’ safety, the ingredients to talk about.” the girl said, but even she couldn’t put much indignance into it.
“Oh, shut up, Rena! Just look! A lab building. In the commoners district. Could you imagine that yesterday?” the boy answered, looking giddy. Ray had noticed that he had been excited all the while, his hands were constantly fidgeting, and he had a very wide smile on his face.
“No…” the girl answered.
“So shut up and think about our future. The times are changing. The nobles are falling, and we are rising!” the boy said, spinning around in the empty space, laughing.
‘Oh sush, Garon, the nobles might hear!” Rena said, but she was laughing too. Ray could not help it.
“No, they won’t. The brats can’t stand our sewers. No, this is our place, and we can say what we want here!” Garon said. Ray had to agree, this was their place, somewhere the nobles were unlikely to step. At least until they had the factory up and running.
Skill gained!
[Leadership]: 100 mana +1 to Endurance +1 to Combat
Title gained!
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[The symbol]: The fires of rebellion have burned silently in the Empire of Humanity for well over a century, but never have they crossed into the light. The people have been without hope, but not anymore. In the outskirts of the empire, the city of Afreial feels the heat of revolution.
And it revolves around one bakery, and its teenaged caretaker. The power of a revolution falls to you, Ray Rosenmund, High Fae of the Empire of Humanity, son of Marchioness Salazar and Matilda Rosenmund, the Scholar of Afreial.
Shall the fires die untended? Shall they bolster the fires in the darkness? Or shall they carve a path of their own in this Empire?
Rewards: 500 mana; influence, responsibility.
Tier up!
Tier 4 (1074/1600)
Ray dismissed the blue screen to find everyone staring at him
“Tier 4, eh? I guess you got the biggest piece of the pie?” Rena said.
“Did you get notification too?” Ray asked.
“Yes, the mana for being in the place of change? Did you get a different one?” Rena replied.
“Yes, the System just told me that a revolution has begun, very theatrically.” Ray answered.
“Oh, you mean the System stated the obvious '' Rena said, snarkily, but the smile on her face betrayed her. “The System must have needed Garon to tell it, I can understand it, I would be hard of hearing too if I had to deal with so many nobles every day.”
The room burst into laughter as Ray tried to process what had happened. A few days ago, he was trying to keep a low profile. Now he was the face of the rebellion. At least he had friends now.
----------------------------------------
Matilda
Matilda looked at the Satyr in front of her suspiciously.
“Are you sure the information is accurate?” she asked.
“Yes, honored Scholar, it is true. The leader of the Mage-Warrior order is dead. The last thing he did was vow to buy your bakery by force.” the Satyr asked, his teeth chattering.
“Do calm yourself. I did not kill him, and even if I did, I wouldn’t kill you. As a rule, I don’t kill my informants. Now go, we both have things to do.” she said as the Satyr left.
The next guest was already waiting at the door of her underground office.
“Do come in, your majesty. After all, this is your base.” Matilda said, the Rebel Queen in.
“In name only I fear. I hear that a scholar has taken over this one.” the Rebel Queen replied, smiling slyly.
“Just rumors, after all, isn’t it your staff that works here? I just rent it occasionally.” Matilda replied.
“Yes, rent it to run what is quickly becoming the continent's most prestigious spy ring.” the Rebel Queen.
“And what is that your majesty wishes to know from this spy ring?” Matilda asked.
“I want to ask if my good friend is sure she wants to do this.” the Rebel Queen asked as Matilda's face hardened.
“Are you going to stop me?” she asked.
“Oh no, dear, I am going to help you. The Order of Mage Warriors going down would be a very good thing for the rebellion. But are you sure you want to do this? The Human continent will hear of this. Just about everyone will hear of it. The name of the Scholar won’t be secret anymore.” the Rebel Queen said.
“Oh, they wouldn’t connect that with little old me. Tell me, do I look like someone that is powerful enough to do something like that?” Matilda said.
“To me, Matilda, you look like someone that used her years of knowledge and expertise to go straight from Tier 3 to Tier 13 in less than a month. Not even your son do something like that.” the Rebel Queen said.
“Did Ray do something again?” Matilda said, frowning.
“Just started a revolution of his own. The System seems to think this one will be a big one.” the Rebel Queen said.
“And not yours?” Matilda asked, laughing.
“I haven’t acted yet, and Ray has. I have to say, I couldn’t have done it. To light that fire is something I have wished for so long, but I couldn’t. But your kid managed it, the young people, why did I not think of it. A Tier 4 now, you know, faster than my kid.” the Rebel Queen said.
“Yes, I am quite proud of him.” she said, sighing. “ I knew he was going to do things, Antasia, but I didn’t think it would be so soon. Or so massive. The System told me that the bakery is now a symbol of hope, you know? A symbol of hope!” Matilda said.
“I can see it. The ones not in the know think it is the home of Ray, the talented College student that failed the Academy test and is now leading their children in opposing the nobles despite it. And the ones in the know think it is the home of the Scholar.
“The entire Commoner’s district wants you to succeed, Matilda, and if you do, I think the entire Empire will be in trouble. The power of hope is not to be underestimated. After all, if one can do it, why not ten? Why not everyone else? The people grow braver for everyday the bakery stands, Matilda. And that is why the nobles will try their very best to make sure that it doesn’t stand for much longer.” the Rebel Queen said.