The spell Jessica had used on herself the night before ended and she woke up like a switch had been thrown. She was up and dressed in mere moments and cast a sound dampening spell on herself, then dug the Church of Light symbol out of her robes and left it on the bed. She was out of her room and up the basement stairs before anyone noticed and she went out into the city with a clear mind and a clear purpose. She thought about going to the castle and looking through their library for what she needed, then she thought that would be the first place that the others would look for her and changed her mind.
Jessica passed several places that were already rebuilding from the damage the night before, and she was very surprised that the castle had been attacked by one of the creatures and the church had been spared, even though it was a much taller building. She pushed that thought aside and found a magic shop that was open. She was glad that at least someone was open this early.
“Please tell me you have a book on mana crystals and a book with a mind protection spell.” Jessica said to the clerk.
“A book on mana crystals?” The woman asked, and Jessica nodded. “Okay.” She said and picked up a tiny little book on the subject. “It's a children's book.”
“A children's book.” Jessica took the book and her mind reeled over all of the basic magic information that she lacked. It had never occurred to her to start from the basics. “Do you have any other magic books for children?”
The clerk laughed. “Sure. Do you have a young child at home to teach?”
Jessica resisted the urge to point to herself. “What about mind protection spells?”
“In what manner?” The clerk asked and piled several books on the counter.
“Some kind of area effect, or even something that will keep me clear-headed if someone tries to charm me.” Jessica said. “Or a dazzle spell counter, or even...”
“Okay, okay. I get it.” The woman said and walked around the counter. “Most people would want a charm or an enchantment to help fight those kinds of effects.”
“I can't wear anything obvious or it could be countered.” Jessica said and the woman nodded.
“You want something more permanent or...”
“Permanent would be great; but, I'll take daily or even weekly if necessary.”
“The initial cost is pretty high mana-wise, then you can maintain it for almost nothing for as long as you want.” The clerk said and pulled a thick book off of a shelf. “If you can get a few other magic users to help the first time, it can be permanent.”
“Can the permanent one be cast later?”
“Of course.” The clerk said.
“Then I'll take it.”
“All right. Just let me copy it out and...”
“I can memorize it.” Jessica said, and the woman laughed.
“I'm sorry, it can't work like that.” The woman said. “It's a mind-altering spell. You can't memorize it.”
“Then how do I cast it?” Jessica asked.
“You copy it and read the spell as you add the mana, then chant.” The woman said with a laugh. “Just like every other spell.”
“Will it consume the paper?” Jessica asked, because she wanted to ensure no evidence would be left.
“Unless you put it into a spell book with the appropriate mana cost, it will consume the paper it's written on.”
“Good.” Jessica said. “I'll take a couple of copies.”
“You can copy it yourself.” The clerk said.
“No, I can't.” Jessica said. “I won't have time.”
“All right.” The clerk said and opened the book to the right page. “It's a little complicated and...”
“That won't be a problem. I'm an archmage.” Jessica said and the woman choked and sputtered. “It's all right. Keep working.”
“Y-yes, archmage. Thank you, archmage.” The woman said and copied the spell out of the book. It was a little more complicated than a normal spell and it required a couple of ingredients that she had plenty of in her bag of holding, so as soon as the woman finished making a copy, she took it and walked over to the counter and prepped it.
“You can't...” The clerk stopped telling her she couldn't cast a spell inside the shop, then changed her mind and went back to copying the spell again. “Never mind.”
Jessica read the spell and added the mana and proper ingredients, then started to chant the verse at the bottom of the page. As she did, the page started to be consumed and she felt a band of mana start to form around her mind. It was a odd feeling for her, because she didn't think she had any sensations on the edge of her mind, and then the band became really tight and snapped into place.
“GAH!” Jessica yelled and put her hands on the side of her head and rubbed her temples. “Dammit, that hurt!”
The clerk laughed. “You just cut off your mind from being touched by outside forces. Of course it's going to hurt.” She said. “It only hurts when initially cast, though. Maintaining it is easy. Just add it to your daily chant.”
“My what?”
“You know. The chant you use to prep your daily spells so you can cast them for free.” The woman looked at Jessica like she was stupid. “Everyone knows that.”
“Yes, right.” Jessica said. “I just woke up and came right here.”
“You skipped your morning ritual to come here?” The clerk asked, surprised. “Then you can go right out through that door in the back.” She said and pointed. “I'll finish making your copies while you prep your daily spells at the altar.”
Jessica was going to ask her how to do that, then she remembered the children's books on the counter. She picked them up and took them to the back of the shop and went through the door. It was a nice white space with an altar at the back, and it had various symbols of the different religions marked out on it. She thought about writing them all down, then decided it was better to read one of the children's books on how to prep free spells first. She shut the door and sat down against it and opened the first book called 'Magic and Me'.
Jessica didn't feel at all belittled that it had easy sentences to read and pictures for her to look at. It didn't make her feel like a child at all as she absorbed the basic spell information. It didn't do much for her overall power, since she was pretty much at the top tier for casting spells; but, it did give her a better understanding of how they worked and what the spells themselves were made of. She absorbed the book's information and then read the next and the next. When she read the one on mana crystals, she had learned everything that a child that grew up with magic would know.
It almost blew her mind.
Jessica went to the altar and prepped what she thought would be her daily spells, considering she was an archmage, and after a few quick chants, she felt the spells generate and hang around her. They weren't physical or mystical, or had an real substance, and yet they were floating around her like they did and she knew that she could pick one of them and it would be instantly cast. She also felt that they would be expended at the end of the day, whether she used them or not, and she was okay with that.
Especially since she had three times the normal daily spells at her disposal.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Two fireball spells, three healing spells, one major healing spell, two flight spells, two minor healing spells for crowds, and two speed spells were at her command. Jessica revelled in the thought of being able to heal someone instantly and not have to rely on a spell to cast it or drain her mana.
How could I not have known this was possible? Jessica asked herself.
“Hey, are you okay in there?” The clerk asked through the door.
“I'm fine.” Jessica said and walked over to the door, then she opened it. “Thank you for letting me use your altar.”
“I hope nothing was wrong.” The clerk poked her head into the room and saw that nothing was changed on the altar, and relaxed. “You were in here a while.”
“I'm sorry it took so long. I had twelve spells to prepare.” Jessica said as an explanation.
“T-t-twelve?!?” The clerk gasped. “And you skipped it?”
Jessica laughed. “Believe me, I won't be skipping it from now on.”
“I should hope not!” The woman exclaimed, then she smiled. “I made ten copies of the spell.”
“Thank you.” Jessica said. “How much for them and the books?”
“Ten copper for the copies and a silver each for the books.” The clerk said, and Jessica paid for them and put them into her bag of holding. “Don't forget to add the chant for the mind block spell to your prep from now on.” The woman said and walked over behind the counter.
“Oh, I won't.” Jessica said with a smile and walked over to the counter herself. “Do you have any mana crystals?”
“I sure do.” The clerk said. “What kind do you want?”
“Any chance you have a neutral one?” Jessica asked.
“I knew an archmage would want the versatility.” The woman said and bent down behind the counter for a moment and put one on the counter with a box and a cloth.
Jessica looked at the five inch wide chunk of crystal and smiled. “I'll take two.”
“D-did you say two?” The clerk asked and looked at Jessica over the edge of the counter.
“Are they expensive?” Jessica asked.
“They are a gold and twenty-five silver.” The clerk said without moving.
Jessica took out three gold coins and put them on the counter. The clerk blinked her eyes for a moment, then put a second crystal on the counter and added another cloth and box. She stood up and took the three gold coins.
“Thank you very much.” Jessica said and wrapped one of them in a cloth and put it in the box, then tucked it into her bag of holding.
“If you need anything else, let me know.” The clerk said.
Jessica picked up the second crystal and tucked the cloth and box under her arm and carried the mana crystal out of the shop. After reading the book, she knew the crystal needed to be attuned to her mana, so she slowly covered the crystal and held her mana in a ball around it as she walked down the street towards the Church of Light. She walked inside and ignored the pointed stares from the acolytes that had opened the door for her. She went inside and down to the basement, then knocked on Josh's room door and waited.
“Do you know what time... oh. Hi, Jessica.”
“Hi, Josh. I bought a mana crystal.” Jessica said and held it out to him. “Give me a hand?”
“Sure.” Josh said and touched her wrist. Jessica felt energized and charged up the mana crystal in about a minute and it only took half of her mana.
“Thank you.” Jessica said and started to walk away.
“Where are you going?” Josh asked.
“Outside to cast the crack locate spell.” Jessica said without looking up from the glowing green crystal. “This thing is so neat!”
Josh chuckled and shut his room door.
Jessica went back up the stairs and to the front doors. “Good morning.” She said to the two acolytes there. “I was concentrating on attuning this crystal and couldn't say it before.”
Both acolytes nodded and opened the doors for her.
“Thank you.” Jessica said and went outside. “Now I just need a good place to set this down.” She said and looked around and saw a pile of paving tiles in a stack across the street. They were extra ones left over from repairing the street the night before and she went over to them. It was the perfect height for her and she put the cloth down and put the mana crystal on top of it, then she took out the crack locate spell and copied it over. She cast the spell and used the mana crystal as the focus, then a five foot wide greenish see-through bubble appeared and showed her the entire First Sothen Kingdom.
Jessica took out another piece of paper and made a quick drawing of the map and asked the spell to zoom in on each of the cracks she could see. She marked their locations on the map and the directions to get there, then zoomed back out. She tried to shift the focus of the spell to the next kingdom and it wouldn't change.
I guess you have to be inside the kingdom for it to work. Jessica thought and dismissed the spell. The mana crystal was empty after casting such a huge spell, so she put a bit of mana into it to distinguish it from the other one, then wrapped it up and put it in its box and then in her bag of holding. With a flat surface right there, she made several copies of the map and then remembered that Hunter wanted a copy of her Flight spell. She made a couple copies of that and wrapped them in one of the maps.
Jessica was tempted to use a viewing spell to try and find him, then she realized he wouldn't want to be found that way. With no other recourse, she walked down the street and took the corner and kept walking. She thought about using one of her speed spells to get to the castle quickly, then dismissed that silly thought and enjoyed the leisurely walk instead. By the time she arrived at the castle, pretty much everyone in the city was up and the guards at the front gate asked her what her business was.
“I made a map of all the cracks in the kingdom and want to deliver it to the queen.” Jessica said with a smile. “If she's up. I don't want to wake her if she's still in bed.”
The two guards exchanged glances, then one of them stepped back and opened the front door for her.
“Thank you.” Jessica said and went inside. A court attendant was there and he led her up to the room that the queen used for meetings and she was ushered inside. The queen came in a moment later and looked at Jessica as if she were a particularly interesting specimen that she would like to see the inside of. The queen didn't say anything and held a hand out.
“It's a map and...” Jessica started to say.
“The flight spell that Hunter wanted.” The queen said and cupped her hand for a moment, spoke into it, and a little ball of light zoomed out through the window.
“You cast them yourself?” Jessica asked, surprised.
“There is a lot that you don't know about me.” The queen said. “Is there anything else?”
“Um... not really.” Jessica said. “I just...” She looked at the queen's blank face and sighed. “I'm sorry.”
“Is that for something specific or is it just a blanket apology?” The queen asked.
“I thought I was humoring you by taking those lessons, and even though I did learn some things, I didn't really understand what you meant.” Jessica said. “Now I do.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I am missing a lot of the basic knowledge that I should have, if I had grown up here.” Jessica said. “I'm sorry that I dismissed your concerns over my behavior, considering I was ignorant and didn't know I was ignorant.”
The queen gave her a slight smile. “Then you are much farther ahead of the other emissaries than I thought you were.” She said. “Try to keep it that way.”
“I will, your majesty.” Jessica said and smiled. “I definitely will.”
Jessica left the castle and went back to the Church of Light to meet up with the other emissaries and to give them the map she had made. If they were lucky, they would meet Hunter at the closest crack. It was barely a day's normal travel away, and with her instant speed spells, she knew they could get there much quicker than that.
*
“Huh, what?” I asked as I woke up from something poking me on the forehead. “What the...” I reached up and grabbed the little ball of light. The queen's voice spoke as if she was right there in the room and told me that Jessica had dropped off a map of the cracks in the kingdom and the flight spell I wanted.
“Thank you, your highness. I'll be in the meeting room in a few minutes.” I said and let the ball of light go and it flew out through the window.
“What was that?” Maylia asked and rolled onto her back.
“A wake up call.” I joked and leaned over Afyne and gave Maylia a kiss. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Maylia said and glanced at Afyne, then whispered. “Hunter, I'm really starting to miss your private lessons.”
“We could send Afyne out to get the horses ready for departure.” I whispered back.
“She's too efficient and we would only have a few minutes.”
“There's six horses now, remember?” I reminded her.
Maylia smiled. “Right after breakfast.”
I nodded and gave her another kiss, kissed Afyne's cheek, since she was on her side between us, then I slipped out of bed and dressed quickly. I hit the button for the powered armor and went over to the window.
“You're going to do that every time now, aren't you?” Maylia whispered.
I grinned at her and opened the window, then I jumped out and down the two stories to land softly on the ground using the Levitation technique. I used Mana Presence Run to quickly run through the city and avoided all of the damage and patches of snow that were still left, and went to the castle. The guards opened the door for me without stopping me and I ran all the way up to the meeting room.
The queen handed me the copies of the flight spell and the map of the cracks.
I stored the flight spells and looked over the map. “It's just your kingdom.”
“It wasn't deliberate. I could tell she tried to cast the spell wider and it didn't work.” The queen said.
“That means you need to be in the kingdom to cast the crack locate spell.” I said, and she nodded. “All right. I'll amend this to the list you gave me and I'll check everything out.”
“Oh? You're not going to pick and choose?” The queen asked.
“I don't really have that luxury anymore. Not after yesterday.”
“I understand.” The queen said and held a hand out to me. “Stay in touch.”
“I will, your majesty.” I said and took her hand and bent over it. “If you need me back here, just holler.”
The queen nodded. “Good luck, and good hunting.”
“Thank you.” I said and let her hand go, then went over to the window.
“Can't you use the door this time?” The queen asked with a smile.
“I could.” I grinned at her and jumped out the window.
*
Queen Celestina held in her laugh and walked over to the window. “Men.” She said and closed the window.
“Mother? Was that Hunter?” Milly asked as she came into the room. Her eyes were still puffy from crying the night before.
“Yes. He's going on a self-imposed crusade.”
“For you, I hope.” Milly said and hugged her mother.
“I think he's doing it more for himself.” The queen said. “If he skipped something, he would never know if what he skipped would be something that could lead him to whatever this evil is that's making the cracks.”
Milly looked out the window and saw Hunter's running figure as it blurred out through the courtyard and down the road. “I hope he finds it soon.”
“So do I, Milly.” The queen said. “So do I.”