A language ability book? I have no idea what exactly this book will do but whatever it is, if it makes me stronger, I'll take it. And the window is gold tinted, I wonder what that means but no time for that, let's do this! I mentally clicked 'Yes'. A silver mist left the book and flew into my chest, giving me a warm feeling in the center of my being.
NOTIFICATION
You have used a Legendary Language Ability book and have gained the Universal language Ability!
Due to the use of a Legendary ability book you have gained an ability while your abilities are still locked. Due to the rank of this item the new ability is unlocked, but any other abilities you may have are still locked. No penalties incurred due to rank of ability book
CONGRATULATIONS
Universal Language Ability has been gained. No language is beyond your grasp! When exposed to any written or spoken language for the first time you gain complete mastery of the spoken and written word. The languages of the elementals, dragons, infernal, celestial, and even the language of the immortals are within your grasp.
A LEGENDARY ABILITY! What god of luck owed me a favor for this?! All languages are within my grasp now, sounds pretty good. I hurriedly looked at the first two books that I couldn’t read before, and I now could read the titles! The first book was titled 'So you want to be a Mage: Everything you need to know to begin' and the second book was titled simply 'Arcane Warrior'. Well, what the hell was going on? Granted I am not complaining, just confused.
I looked back to the ability book, and it was still open to the second page. In all the games I played, whenever you used an ability or skill book they disappeared. But the book was still there, there with a complex geometrical pattern with numerous symbols too small for me to read on the page. I turned to the next page, and it was blank. I flipped through the rest of the book, roughly 500 pages in all, every page past the second page was blank.
I then remembered the note I had, I started looking around for where I could have dropped it and quickly found it lying in the grass next to me. It was made from heavy parchment folded in half and sealed with a red wax seal with what appeared to be an emblem of a dragon pressed into the wax.
Breaking the seal was a letter written in English, I started to read.
'I apologize I could not meet you in person, but I have left you with a few welcoming gifts. As you are reading this letter, I will assume you have noticed the three books I have left you. First you must read the black book and accept the ability it will give; this will allow you to read the other two books.
The ability is a language ability I have personally transcribed for you. The second book is a starter guide for the path of a mage, I would advise you to read and try to absorb the lessons contained within as quickly as possible. The second book, which is titled 'Arcane Warrior' is a comprehensive guide for combat magic. About this book, I must warn you to never show this book to another soul, this knowledge has long since been lost or destroyed.
With access to these two books, you will be well on your way to becoming a proper mage. I know about your lineage, at this time I cannot tell you how, and with the family history you are almost guaranteed to be destined to become a great mage. One day you may even reach Magus.
Along with the basic items I have given you, you should have an easier time staying alive and building your strength. One last thing I wish to tell you, the book contains skill. Once it has been used keep hold of the book, it will appear blank but will be useful to you in the future.
Best of luck, and I look forward to the time we meet in the future. '
The letter was unsigned, with the same dragon crest that was pressed into the wax at the bottom of the page. So, this unknown person is the reason why I have starter items, and he knows about my connection to Merlin...who is this person? And why wouldn't they sign the letter?
Looking up at the sky I noted that the suns where now fully in the sky, but it didn't look like it was midday yet, but I had already wasted a good portion of the morning. I needed to make a plan; I couldn't just sit by this pond until my supplies ran out. And I really needed to figure out how to get some experience. I decided to stop messing around and get down to business.
The first thing I did was finish looking at the last things on my status page that I failed to get to before breaking down yesterday. I never checked out what traits I had or my languages, so I focused on just pulling up those.
I worked with the system to give me a simple breakdown of my traits.
TRAITS
Magus Blood: The blood of a Magus flows through your veins.
Iron Will: Your Willpower is as strong and unbending as iron. 15% resistance against Mental/Spiritual/Charm affects. +2 to Intelligence, and +1 to Charisma gained.
Let's see, in traits I had Magus blood and my newly gained Iron Will. Magus Blood 'the blood of a Magus flows through your veins.' What kind of crap is this? Who wrote this description, and where the hell do I file my complaint? I tried to focus more on the trait, but nothing else came up. Well, that's a complete bust. I thought my Merlin's bloodline showed I already had magus blood, but I guess there is a difference. I'm not going to worry about it right now, I'll either find out later or I won't. But the trait did remind me of my race modifier. When I originally saw my status information, before Blaise started the process to force my awakening, my race showed as 'Human (Primitive)'. Now that I was awakened the modifier had changed from 'Primitive' to 'Magus'. Even the writer of the letter had made a distinct difference between a mage and a magus, making it sound like magus was something rare and higher.... This line of thinking isn't getting me anywhere.
Looking over my status screen I really didn't like how it showed so much information at once. I wanted it to appear more streamlined. And thinking back to some of the novels I use to read, I immediately started trying to alter my notification settings, to many characters got seriously injured or killed because of a notification in the middle of battle. I have one life; I am not risking it.
Status page streamlined, Check! Notifications settings changed, Check! Perfect now to check out my new status page.
NAME:
Hawk Direveil
RACE:
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Human (Magus)
Merlin's Descendant (weak)
(Can be evolved)
LEVEL:
1
EXPERIENCE:
0
/100
HEALTH:
70
/70
STAMINA:
140
/140
MANA
560
/560
ATTRIBUTES:
Strength:
12
Dexterity:
14
Constitution:
14
Intelligence:
18
Willpower:
10
Charisma:
11
Luck:
6
Free Stat Points to Allocate:
0
ABILITIES:
Universal Language, LOCKED
SKILLS:
Anatomy (Beast) lvl 6
Anatomy (Humanoid) lvl 5
Biologist lvl 6
First Aid lvl 2
Herbalism lvl 3
Survivalist lvl 2
Language(s): Common, Archaic Human *Universal Language Ability
TRAITS:
Magus Blood, Iron Will
MARKS
Oath of Righteous Retribution
Much better, although now I noticed I had a mark 'Oath of Righteous Retribution'. It must have appeared after my oath last night. And now I needed to start scouting the area. I really wanted to start learning magic, but I should really check out the area surrounding the clearing. I was already lucky to have survived one night out in the open, I didn't want to keep testing my luck. So, I picked up the books in front of me and with the letter, willed them back into my inventory, then I pulled up my inventory.
INVENTORY
Basic iron sword x1
Wooden short bow x1
Quiver x1
Iron tipped arrow x20
Basic iron dagger x2
Grimoire x1
Hatchet x1
Tinderbox x1
Dried Jerky x10
Waterskin (Full) x1
So You Want to be a Mage Book x1
Arcane Warrior Book x1
Black Leather Book x1
Note x1
Looking through it, I had no idea how to use a sword or daggers. To be utterly fair I did know the pointy end goes into the enemy, but everything beyond that is beyond me. I had used a bow before, but that was at least ten years ago at summer camp. And even back then I wasn't that good with it, only hitting the target 8 out of 10 shots. Of those 8 that hit the target, only about 3 were even close to the bullseye. Out of all my options I will have to go with the bow, at least with it I could stay far away from anything I wanted to shoot. So, pulling out the quiver and arrows I loaded the quiver and slid the harness on, the arrows sticking out of the quiver being just above my right shoulder. Next, I pulled out the daggers, I was surprised to find that the daggers were actually in scabbards that I could easily attach to a belt around my waist. Luckily the pants they gave me came with a belt, it wasn't leather, and I honestly couldn't tell what it was made from. It almost felt like you took a normal belt and made it with some weird rope, it was a weird belt. But the daggers attached to it easily enough.
Wondering to myself I pulled out the iron sword, and nodded to myself when I found it in a scabbard. I tried to figure out how to attach it to my belt, but it seemed like they had way too many straps on it. I tried for what felt like 15 minutes before I stopped what I was doing, shaking my head at my own ignorance, then I took off the quiver and was able to strap the sword onto my back without issue. Once the sword was in place the quiver fit nicely over it. Then I pulled out the bow, which I just held in my hand.
Checking myself out in the reflection of the pond, I looked pretty badass. Sword popping up over my left shoulder, quiver with arrows over my right shoulder, two daggers on my belt, and a bow in my hands. If I had armor, I would be ready for any newbie zone, I hope this area is like a newbie zone. Would really suck to go through all this to just walk out into the woods into the waiting mouth of a level 100 monster. I shivered at the thought.
Begging to any gods listening out there to not let me walk directly into any monster I have no chance against. Firming my will up, I squared my shoulders, pulled an arrow from the quiver and nocked it. As ready as I could be, unless I wanted to just let the forest remain a complete unknown and just sit by this pond and hopefully learn a spell before I ran out of food... No, I can't do that. I started walking into the forest.
The shade under the trees was cool, with a slight breeze blowing through the trees. All the trees sported bright green leaves and needles, it felt like a pleasant walk during springtime. As I was walking through the forest, I looked at the stats of my bow and arrows, I should probably start checking this stuff before I am about to use it.
NOTIFICATION
Wooden Short Bow: A short bow 3'5"ft long. +5 dmg, +5% accuracy. Quality: Common
Iron tipped arrow: A well-balanced arrow shaft, tipped with an iron arrowhead. 5 dmg, +10% accuracy, 2% chance to cause a bleed affect. Quality: Common
Very nice! +15% to accuracy, 10 damage, and 2% chance to make the target bleed! Let's go hunting!
Not long after entering the forest I saw a brown rabbit about 20 feet in front of me. It was about 3 times the size of normal rabbits, and it had two long brown fluffy tails. I pulled back the arrow and slowly aimed at the rabbit. I took my time aiming, and when I had 100% confidence in hitting the rabbit I released. The arrow shot from the bow, and struck a tree right behind the rabbit, 5 feet above the rabbit. The rabbit wasn't even spooked, it just kept munching on a leafy bush; while pulling another arrow from the quiver and nocking it, I noticed the blinking icon in my lower left vision. Prompting me that I had unread notifications. Looking around again, all I noticed was the rabbit munching away, not seeing anything that might be dangerous I decided to read the prompt.
CONGRATULATIONS
you have learned the skill: Archery
Well now that I have the skill maybe I will only miss the huge rabbit by 3 feet instead of 5 feet. Clearing the message from my vision, I pulled back on the arrow and aimed once again at the rabbit. Taking my time, I took careful aim....and fired!
It was another miss; I was wrong I didn't miss it by 3 feet or 5 feet for that matter.... No, the arrow plunged into the ground 8 feet in front of the rabbit. And the rabbit had the nerve to not even look up from his meal, just kept munching away. I should have practiced more at camp...