Chapter 32

Apparently, the tag along was none other than Rikt, or as he had to be referred to by everyone at the Magical University, Grand Master Sage Rikt.

Yes, because that name wasn’t annoying at all.

Though to be fair, apparently that is what everyone with all three master’s qualifications badges should be addressed as.

“Grand Master Sage Rikt, I present to you Sage Laurain, as per your request.” Lady Von’Graysing said, her voice calm and in control, though the slight trembles in her body show that she is incredibly nervous at the gesture.

“Thank you Lady Graysing, this will be all for now.” The old master said to my master. The person who I had worked so hard to be trained by in the art of spy craft was so easily dismissed. Worse, was the way he didn’t use the honorific Von in front of her name, as he just gave her title and last name notice without noting her full prowess.

“As you command.” Lady Von’Graysing said, yes I will still think of her as a land owner, even if this old sage will not.

Then something hit me, Lady Von’Graysing introduced me as Sage Laurain. I paused, trying to figure out exactly what that was all about as I had always either been Karen or Lady Laurain when things needed to be formal. But now I was a Sage? When did that happen?

Rikt watched the old spy master saunter away. I half thought that the old man was staring at her hips as she moved away, but then quickly dismissed that creepy thought. The old man looked like a stronger, more stoic, and mana infused version of Ghandi. I honestly hoped that such an old man wouldn’t fall into the creepy old pervert trope, it seemed that he had enough suave characteristics to redeem him, but one never knew with developers.

Fortunately, if he was part of that trope, he didn’t make any blatant comments. Instead, he just seemed to watch her go, then once he deemed that she was far enough away from us he nodded to himself, then cast something.

Spatial magic, or what sort of felt like Spatial magic gone wrong was cast around us.

Just feeling the magic, I felt instantly unclean.

I don’t know if something in my stare gave away the suddenly creepy vibe or if my mask slipped enough, but the old man seemed to catch onto my discomfort almost immediately.

“Ahh, you can feel that, can’t you?” He asked.

I nod, not wanting to betray just how vulnerable I suddenly feel. We are in a pocket realm, or at least what I would think of as a pocket realm. It is space that seemed to have come out of nowhere.

A quick search with my own Spatial magic shows that we are far cut off from the world I know.

“You are even checking to see if you can escape, this is good. The fact that you can cast anything here at all shows that you are very talented in your Spatial magic.” GMS Rikt stated, his eyes seeming to evaluate me for a moment, before he came to a conclusion.

“Tell me child, what do you know of your parents?”

At that I could only stare at the man.

From my understanding, Karen never had parents. The man that took her in as a child was someone who eventually became a slaver, but was never actually related to her.

“I don’t know. I was taken in by a relative stranger who sheltered me until I eventually ran away.” I reply, not giving away the fact that I was almost sold into veritable slavery for the Roseblade family.

Hearing my answer the old man just nods, “well perhaps I should tell you a few things. First, as you might or might not be aware, you have the blood of the Ancients running through you. Not only that, but it seems that you have awakened not only an ancient bloodline, but also one of the rarest of ancient magics.”

With his words, I could only nod in agreement. The statements made sense and were basically what I had put together from both my own trials and understandings.

“It’s funny, for at the height of our illustrious empire, those with your awakened power were deemed common. That eventually a hierarchy was established to make it so only the rarest of powers and lineages would receive recognition. As such, your power and those of your lineage were quickly shunned and then soon forced their children to adhere to the other seven pillars of void magic. Making it so the most common and most needed of magical schools became the rarest. Then before we knew it, the knowledge had been lost. That is until you came.”

Hearing that I could only feel a slight shiver down my spine.

“Why would you need us, if it was so common? Just for batteries?” I asked. I realized this was likely what caused the alerts and sensors to go off when Rikt apparently entered the city the other day.

Now that he was here, and the ancient batteries for the nearby power center were recharged the city seemed to be more alive than ever.

Chuckle.

The old man just laughed, “no that was sadly something we only recognized well after the collapse and loss of your school of magic. Again, due to how prolific you and your kind were, we had batteries for countless centuries, before even that loss was registered. No, the fact that we all lost, or didn’t quite understand was the spell that only masters of your profession could cast. A sacred spell called, Disruption Field.” Rikt replied.

As he spoke, I knew he said the words of the spell, but was surprised when the spell didn’t do anything. Also, it took a moment for me to register the spell, as that was the base incantation of the spell. I’ve since moved onto the higher versions of that spell.

But hearing the explanation, I was confused.

“Why exactly would a spell that disrupts people using illusions or stasis magic in general be seen as important?” I asked.

Rikt for his point just stared at me, then seemed to realize something.

“Do you know of this spell?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I?” I asked.

Then looking down at my left hand he seemed to realize something.

“I guess the ancient tests would know if you were in fact capable of casting all of the primary spells of your caste.” Rikt stated.

As he spoke, I could hear part of the class distinctions that he was talking about coming to life with his words.

Then before I could get too caught up in his words, he asked, “could you cast the highest version of the spell you know?”

Hearing the patent challenge for what it was, I acquiesced.

Perfect Arcane Repair Disruption Field.

This was my specialization spell, and the one that helped me get past the C-Ranking for my Arcane Repair magic.

Whoosh!

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect to have happen with the casting of the spell.

I know I didn’t expect my spell to somehow counteract the Void Purification spell that had put us into a temporary pocket dimension. But then again, maybe I should have?

Pop.

My magic expanded out and then interacted with the strangely odd magic of Rikt and then seemed to counter the spell completely.

Suddenly, Rikt and I appeared right where we had been a few moments ago. Right in the middle of the open courtyard, but rather than no one being around a number of students and professors were all moving about trying to get to their morning training classes.

Then suddenly GMS Rikt and I both appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

I looked around, feeling stunned for a moment trying to understand what exactly I had just done.

Rikt on the other hand just smiled brightly, as he too looked around. Though he seemed to be looking beyond not just the border of the pocket dimension, but into the surrounding area as well.

“This is…” Rikt began, as he moved to the edge of my Disruption Field and held up his hand to seemingly test for something. “This is amazing, you,” he began, and then turned back to face me as he continued to try to put words to what he was seeing. “You managed to learn this all on your own?”

I wanted to correct him, that I had my own personal AI assistant, countless tutorials, fan devoted web pages, and even the game developers to ask for helpful insights for this, but somehow knew that none of that would translate well. Especially as it probably broke the supposed fourth wall that this world never let get broken, especially while in immersion playthroughs.

“I mean, when you’re good you’re good, I guess.” I state, trying to come up with something that would cover this apparent gap.

Rikt for his part seemed to contemplate that statement, then apparently looked back at the border of my spell.

Seeing that he noticed something, I decided to ask.

“Can I ask what it is you are looking for?”

Rikt hearing my question shook his head, before seeming to come back to the present.

“Your spell work, in invocation, it’s all perfect. Better still, it cut down on the presence of the Void that my spell and other Ancient magics would inevitably call forth.” Rikt stated, a clear note of nostalgia filling his voice.

By now others passersby seemed to be coming closer, as if to listen in on our conversation, but fortunately Rikt either was too distracted to care, or just didn’t care about others hearing about this development at this time.

“As I said before, you have the most important power set of the Ancients available to you. Your power, this Disruption Field, is perfect. When a master of your caliber casts this spell at this level or proficiency, you are able to heal the world.” GMS Rikt stated, his words seeming to flow as he looked off into the distance, off to the west.

“There are places where the Ancients once battled each other for resources of this continent. Resources that should have been abundant due to other Void casting tiers.” Rikt began.

Hearing him, I immediately blurted out the two examples that came to mind.

“You mean the Seasonal Fluctuations and the Germination Specialists?” I ask, wondering if I got the two classes correct.

Hearing the words, Rikt paused as if trying to decipher what I said. Then after a second he paused, and then stared at me.

“Yes, I do mean the Seasonal Horticulturalists and the supporting Germination Specialists. Though most of the Germination Specialists focused on breeding out those who were typical of your magical capabilities, at least at first. Then when the knowledge had been mostly lost, that is when there was an influx in trying to create more forgotten bloodlines like yours back into existence. But they were all for naught.” Rikt began.

Then hearing his words I realized something.

“Wait, so your saying that if I cast Disruption Field,” I begin, but feel the power in my already active spell redouble, but that is beside the point as I am just trying to figure out one thing. “If I cast this spell out west in the wastelands, I might be able to rid them of their corruption?”

Hearing my question, Rikt just cocks his head to the side, as if trying to understand what I said.

“You have been out west to the restricted zones?” He asks.

Hearing that, I realize I might have overstepped my bounds.

“No, this is the furthest west I have ever gone. But I have heard tales of the never-ending fields of corruption that need to be avoided by caravans at all costs.” I reply, stealthily leaving out the fact that there is also a major temple of the Ancient out there, one that could likely rival the size of the Magic University entirely.

For his part the Grand Master just stares at me for a long moment, then seems to nod to himself.

“You speak as if you have knowledge of foresight?” Rikt began.

Hearing that, I pause, realizing that was supposedly Roseblade’s gift. And was to help her explain the way she would know more things, the more times she played. It was also supposed to be a way that characters of the world would be more willing to forgive oddities that might otherwise arise from Claudia’s playthrough. Were they also granting me this same courtesy?

If so, did it mean that now according to the world I now had not one but two active bloodlines? Or did they now think that in addition to my increased mana density provided from excess body fat that capped out at 24% body fat, though I could clearly go over that threshold, I just wouldn’t be rewarded for going over that marking. Did it mean that my bloodline was now recognized as a super bloodline with not one but two major benefits?

This of course meant that Claudia Von’Roseblade would almost be worthless in this new content. As everything cool would be performed by me, Karen. Though in a way they were two completely different story types. At least currently they were.

Claudia’s was that of a noble country building, empire domination strategy game. While mine would be more of an exploring the open world and finding ancient mysteries type of game, what a few of the hardcore strategists who loved the initial game disliked so much. Basically, once you used Karen to unlock Ancient technology, the game was on easy mode.

Now as just Karen, I felt I had the basis to make it a little bit harder. As I already had plans to steal the best and brightest of retainers and have them join my faction as an adventuring party at the very least.

There is a long silence, only after a moment do I realize that Rikt was apparently waiting for me to reply. Then as he stared into my eyes he seemed to come to his own realization.

“Ah, I see. So this is the case?” Rikt spoke, then seemed to scan the crowd of onlookers, until he found a face he had been looking for.

“You there, spy master Graysing, can you speak of this?”

Lady Von’Graysing who had been apparently close enough to eavesdrop on our conversation paused but then seemed to come forward. She seemed to tremble ever so slightly as she walked into my Disruption Field, as she did, I noticed the flicker of a few magical effects and enchantments vibrate slightly.

“How might I be of assistance Grand Master Sage Rikt?” Lady Von’Graysing asked, bowing slightly as she spoke. Seeing her act in such a way caused chills to run down my spine as I was not used to seeing her act any less than the ruthlessly efficient spy master who would stop at nothing.

“Have you noticed any peculiarities about your prized pupil and her ability to seemingly predict the future?” Rikt asked.

Fluster.

Hearing the question, Lady Von’Graysing visibly tensed at the question, before answering truthfully.

“I would say that she often seems to either predict the best course of action to take, or shows a surprising amount of foresight to her actions.” Lady Von’Graysing replied diplomatically, answering the question as directly as possible, without otherwise betraying my confidences.

Hearing her reply, I couldn’t help but be thankful that she didn’t just state yes, and then list off all of her reasons for thinking so. I could name a few off the top of my head, first and foremost were the modified credential cards, then there was the way I was able to strike down all of the attacking enemies on the death scenario entry into the school. Nor the way I was able to predict her approach on my initial appearance to the school, where I made sure to have my Disruption Field already engaged as she approached. Those were but some of the instances where I broke character that she saw. There were of course others, like how I knew she would take on a singular apprentice, and how Magister Carthwright would also take on a singular apprentice in parallel, so long as I proved myself worthy of both.

Rikt hearing the reply nodded to himself as he then peered off into the distance as if in deep thought. Just as I thought he was about to say or do something, he shook himself before refocusing on the point off in the distance.

Seeing his stare I too looked off, and saw that yes as expected a number of students who all pretended to be otherwise engaged were witnessing the situation play out.

There were the two Drakerton brothers who looked mildly at odds with each other. But despite that, they both seemed to be watching me. Then the princes Priam and Galvis both were watching from directly behind me. Oddly enough, Claudia was not there with them. Perhaps she was doing something else? But if so, then with whom, as all of the love interests were here. There was Prince Upsteel and his entourage at the far end behind Rikt, then to my two o’clock was Prince Oneraton staring on.

But my gaze finally locked onto the person that Rikt had apparently spotted.

Just seeing the person in question caused my chest to tighten slightly as I saw that it was Marie De’Claire.

“You there, come here.” Rikt called out, his voice all but demanding of the Saint candidate.

“Me?” Marie asked, but a quick head nod from Rikt confirmed the order.

“Come on,” Lady Von’Graysing said, adding her authority to the command. “We all need to make sure that when the true master of the University speaks that we all obey.”

Her words were loud and clear.

Clamor.

Hearing her words to Marie, everyone began speaking.

Even I was taken aback by this sudden change of the story. Though there were always rumors and references to the fact that Magister Carthwright was just the current placeholder, that the true arch mage of the university was out exploring the world. Some fan sites even said it had to be the traveling sage, gods I hate that, as I always thought that to be a stupid idea. But now, Butler487 will never let me hear the end of how he was right with his wild conspiracy theory from the very beginning.

Yet, no one could have predicted what actually happened once Marie came near.

As soon as she entered the protective field of my Disruption Field, Marie staggered slightly as if punched in the chest. Then began to grab at her chest, as dark black smoke began to rise off of the girl in waves.

“What the heck?” Was all I managed to ask, as the world I knew suddenly got flipped on its head.