After their break, the two returned to their respective training sessions. Nasrin continued to help Circe refine her instincts, while Zeke inched closer and closer to learning the barrier spell.
Hours passed, and as Circe laid on the ground with her arms spreaded beside her, she stared intensely at the sheet of clouds sailing along the dusk sky.
Though specifically, her eyes fixed on a system notification that floated in her vision.
[The dungeon’s energy resonates with your body.]
[
[Stat:
[New stat unlocked:
< Stat Description >
Name: Instinct
Current Points: 5
Requirement: Reach 50 Stat Points in
Effects
Heightened the character’s sensitivity and danger sense.
The higher the stat, the sharper the character becomes. Cannot be increase using
5 Points : Increase the character’s detection by 5%
10 Points: [LOCKED]
15 Points: [LOCKED]
[Show More]
<<>>
“So it changes ‘dodge’ to this ‘detection’ thing,” Circe thought to herself as she rose from the ground, brushing dust from her hands. “That makes sense. I can already feel the stat’s effects,” her eyes locked with Nasrin’s as the bird made her way to the other end of the field once more. “...I’ll dodge this next attack.”
Nasrin kept eye contact with Circe. “Hm? Her aura changed,” taking a closer look at her trainee, she noticed the intensity in her gaze. It reminded Nasrin of the look of her now-fallen soldiers; a raptor’s piercing eyes. “Something must’ve happened. Alright then,” without warning, she rushed forward. “Let's see what she’s got.”
“!!!” As a cold sensation ran down her spine, Circe jumped back, causing Nasrin’s claws to dig themselves into the ground where she once stood. While her eyes still couldn't follow the attack, her body moved first as if it’d predicted the incoming danger.
Nasrin straightened herself, a hint of a smile flashing across her features, “Good job, you finally dodged.” mockery tinged her cheery voice.
Circe flashed a smile. “Thank you, it's because you helped me that I gained new strength,” her attention landed behind her, seeing Zeke still occupied with the Witch’s Codex. “Zeke~! Are you done yet~?”
“I’m pretty much done with the barrier one,” Zeke responded calmly, tired eyes remained fixed on the pages of his spell tome. “I'm close to figuring out the buffing magic…I’ll get started on the last circle as soon as I'm done.”
Nasrin walked over to Zeke. “Would you mind showing us your barrier magic?” her voice managed to draw Zeke’s attention away from the Codex. “I’d like to test out its strength, if you don't mind.”
“Sure,” Zeke replied without missing a beat. As he rose from the ground, he stored the magic tome into his inventory. “I doubt I have enough magic to withstand your attack, Nasrin, but I'm confident that I can block any of Circe’s,” he pointed his thumb at the mentioned girl. Despite the fatigue riddling his expression, Zeke managed to crack a smile. “Will that substitute as an appropriate test?”
Nasrin glanced at Circe, noticing her sarcastic smile and knotted brows. “...Yes, I’ll judge both your strengths at the same time, so that's more beneficial.”
“Alright then,” Zeke sneered as his thumb cracked each finger one by one. “Hit me with your best shot.”
Circe laughed, her eyebrows twitching at his taunts. “Alright then, but if I break your little barrier, you’ll have to let me hit you with all I’ve got.”
“Fine by me,” Zeke shrugged, the corner of his mouth growing wider. “Cus I doubt that you can, anyway.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
As Circe called the Serpent Twins into her hands, Zeke extended one palm and conjured up his magic. Bright blue spreaded around his body, rising to form a large translucent dome seemingly made from fragile glass panes. When it finished constructing, he lowered his hand.
[Mana Barrier]
< Skill Description >
Name: Mana Barrier
Type: Active Skill
Tier: B
Cost: 80 MP
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Effects
- Creates a construct that protects the user from
- When the Mana Barrier breaks, grants (+5)
<<>>
“Hoh~” Nasrin crossed her arms, nodding in acknowledgement. “I'm not a mage myself, but I can tell that you possess dense mana. Your
Despite Nasrin’s high praise, Circe scoffed at Zeke’s proud barrier. “So your Mana Barrier is B tier. No biggie,” she raised her daggers. “How can it defend against an S tier skill?”
A chuckle escaped Zeke’s grinning lips. “You’ll see when you attack.”
“I don't need to be told that twice!” Circe roared as she activated Assassinate, closing in the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Her daggers crossed into the magic barrier, and she felt little resistance against her direct hits.
Despite that, Circe’s jaw went slack when she saw not a single scratch on the blue surface. Its shimmers began to look taunting in her eyes. “...What the hell? Assassinate couldn't affect it?” a second later, realization dawned on her face. “Oh wait! There's ‘that’ you could do.”
“As expected of you, Circe,” Zeke nodded, confirming the thought she had. “You're always sharp about these things. Yep, this isn't just one barrier spell.”
[Strengthen]
< Skill Description >
Name: Strengthen
Type: Active Skill
Tier: C
Cost: 60
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Effects
- Increases
Bonus Effects
- Skill can be used on another spell to increase its effectiveness at the cost of double the mana. Can be reduced by mana-reducing effects.
<<>>
“Remember when I said I had trouble with strengthening the spell a couple hours ago?” Zeke waved his hand, dispelling the magic barrier. “While I was messing around with it, I just happened to learn the Strengthen spell along with Mana Barrier.”
Circe laughed. “Accidentally learning something sounds unbelievable.”
“Yes. Yes it does,” Nasrin spoke up, her voice garnering both their attention. A mixed look of awe and disbelief plastered across her features. “Ezekiel…are you sure you don't know that you're a witch?”
Zeke nodded. “You might’ve gotten confused because I learned my spells from a book called Witch’s Codex. My father is a swordsman and my mother’s history is normal as well,” he lifted a finger as he listed his thoughts. “No one in my family uses magic but me, for all I know.”
Nasrin looked down, her bird face seemed to scowl. “Anyone can learn original magic and become a witch, but pure blooded witches are much more powerful,” she murmured, though her voice rang loud enough for both to hear. “You may be right, Ezekiel. But do keep an eye out for the possibility. Even in my world, there are a lot of so-called knight families whose bloodline originated from witches.”
Zeke and Circe exchanged a glance. His attention returned to Nasrin as he replied with a nod. “Alright.”
“Now then,” Nasrin inclined her head in agreement. “Circe can take a break while you continue to learn the remaining spells. If we want to spare time for the battle ahead, you must hasten your progress, Ezekiel.”
“No worries. I got this.” Zeke winked and raised a thumb, earning him a roll of the eyes from Circe as she scoffed at him. All he could do was glare at her, unable to form a word of argument. He didn't know why she’d laughed at him in the first place.
.
.
.
< Skill Description >
Name: Zephyr’s Blessing
Type: Active Skill
Tier: C
Cost: 60
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Effects
- Increases
<<>>
< Skill Description >
Name: Frost Grasp
Type: Active Skill
Tier: B
Cost: 90
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Effects
- Spreads a frigid mist across a wide area, inflicting targets hit with the
- Targets with low and or reduced status resistance have a higher chance of receiving the
Bonus Effects
- Infusing an attack with this skill gives it a 20% base chance to inflict
<<>>
Zeke laid with his back on the ground, facing the permanent sunset sky above him. His tired eyes unfocused from one moving cloud to another, as if trying to avoid looking at the icy mess that scattered around him.
“Hello Zeke? Earth to Zeke?” Circe peered her head down at him, her hands loosely crossed behind her back. “Woah, you're definitely way out of it. Are you okay?”
“No,” Zeke responded bluntly. “I feel sick. And cold.”
“Duh,” Circe rolled her eyes. “You got Wind’s Grace working after a few minutes, but then spent an entire hour fixated on that ice debuff spell of yours.”
“Mana exhaustion feels horrible,” Zeke’s words began to slur over one another. “...I’m gonna take a nap.”
Before anyone could say a word, Zeke’s eyes closed shut, his chest rising and falling to a rhythmic beat. “...I guess we can let him sleep for a bit?” she giggled at Nasrin, who couldn't stop scratching at an icicle spike created from one of Zeke’s many mistakes.
“Yes, of course,” Nasrin straightened herself, though her eyes remained fixed on the frozen spear. “...For a mistake, his ice magic sure is strong.”
Circe didn't hear Nasrin speak as she occupied herself with slowly moving Zeke out of the circle of frost. When she lifted him up into her arms, his head leaned against her chest. “...I’m not sorry, his sleeping face is cute.” A smile broke across her face.