Chapter 036 - Night

One notebook turned to two, then to three, ink stained her hands, her knuckles ached, and her eyes burned. She rubbed her fingertips together slowly as she looked over the latest sketch in her notebook. Her eye twitched and she scratched out a portion, looking back at the paper and writing down a few more notes. One of the first things she learned was that Arcane spells were– as the chapter indicated–basically equations with the same x value. It noted that more advanced spells may have multiple variables later on and that some traits, abilities, and other factors may alter or reduce the original x value without changing the outcome.

That x value? Mana.

Runes, on the other hand, were the operators in spells. Not only was mana the primary variable and input but there was a rune for mana itself. It had different functions depending on where it ended up in the circle which was basically the space for the equation. It only had so much room so you couldn’t just pack a bunch of runes into a circle and go for it either. What Anna was currently working on was recreating the equation for Mana Shield from the flashes she got from the system and what she’d learned in the text.

It was deceptively simple looking. Putting a rune one or two degrees off on the circle ruined the whole thing, which was frustrating. According to the book, this exercise was important because by completing the exercise it was a direct way to unlock a specific skill. By unlocking the skill, one had clearly demonstrated a correct understanding of the ‘spellform’ which was the name of a completed spell. If you could scribe other spells through study it was possible to even learn them if you demonstrated an understanding of the spellform.

She rubbed her eyes and took another sip of water. “Alright, the guard rune has to be right. Uh…” she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Think…”

She heard steps coming down the stairs behind her and sighed. “What time is it?” She couldn’t be bothered to check the clock, her head was pounding.

“It is dark,” Catherine said.

Anna nodded and leaned back in the chair she’d dragged over. Catherine approached and stopped next to the counter, glancing down at her work. Anna looked up at her and Catherine nodded. “The Scribe Spell skill exercise,” Catherine said thoughtfully. “You made a lot of progress in just a few hours.”

“I guess,” Anna grumbled, tossing her pen on top of the notebook.

“I cannot directly help you, you know, or you will not get the skill,” Catherine said, pouring over the diagram. She shifted the pen out of the way and eyed some of the notes. “You said you were a student? A good one I assume?”

“Not terrible.” 

She didn’t want to talk about it, that brought back memories of Chloe and rage was not what she needed right now. Well, even though she already wanted to hit something. Catherine stood up and crossed her arms, eyeing the notebook one more time before turning away. “Get some sleep when you finish. You will get the next one.” She said before adding below her breath, “Little monster.” 

Anna looked back at her. “What was that?” But Catherine was already half-way up the steps. She rolled her eyes and shook her head before turning back to the diagram. She was about to snatch up her pen when she saw something. It was pointing vaguely towards the mana rune but a few degrees to the left of it. It was a small change, Hold the phone. She put her finger on the spot and grabbed her pen, scribbling down a few more things and checking her work. That sneaky little… she looked back up the stairs and then clicked her tongue.

She went over everything one more time and pulled the last diagram out of her notebook, setting it to the side and copying everything down. She shifted the rune and…

You have acquired a new skill:

Scribe Spell (Mortal-Common-Base)
The most basic skill of any Arcane mage. Recording a spell to be kept in a spellbook for reference is crucial for advancement. A skilled Scribe may even use specialized paper to prepare scrolls.

“Ha!” She hopped to her feet, “There it is! Holy shit it worked!”

She ran her fingers back through her knotted hair. It felt amazing. Being able to cast magic was cool and all but understanding it was an absolutely euphoric feeling. She flipped a few pages and did a speed read of the section on casting. It was merely the process of creating the spellform accurately in one’s head and then passing mana through the ‘imaginary’ spellform. It sounded ludicrous but after casting Mana Shield as many times as she had, she got the gist of it. She turned away from the counter and pointed towards the far wall and closed her eyes.

The symbols moved into place in her minds eye, the structure took shape, the energy came next. She’d pulled mana before, obviously, she knew what it felt like and how to do it. She’d used her own system-based spells and abilities before, items too. It came naturally and when she opened her eyes she was… a little disappointed. The barrier had formed right in front of her hand but it was a bit wobbly, slightly malformed. She rubbed her chin. “I think my visualization is off or something.”

She grinned. Still, it works. It’s more time consuming and… she checked her Mana Tolerance …mana intensive than just using the system. But it can be done.

She looked back at the textbook and sat back down, energized. “You’re a wizard Anna!” She declared before frowning and tilting her head. “Warmage.” She shrugged. “Same difference, except I am not shooting for a helpless ball of feathers for my companion.”

She looked over at the text on Engraving. Golems huh? That skeletal champion didn’t come alone, I’m gonna need numbers. Golems sound like a good way to even the playing field.

First thing’s first, she thought and felt her blood begin to heat up. Not the defiant roar of a lion, but something smoother, a hunger that she wholeheartedly vibed with. A challenge between her and that feeling of growth, of power. Anna got back to work.

New Spell Acquired!

Mana Bolt (Common-Base)
You create a small and inefficient mass of combustible mana that can be fired at a target. Mana consumption cost is based on Will, Damage caused is based on Intellect.

New Spell Acquired!

Pathetic Illusion (Common-Base)
You create a singular stationary, soundless visual illusion that lasts for a brief period. Mana consumption cost is based on Will, Quality of the illusion is based on Intellect.

New Spell Acquired!

Heal Minor Wound (Common-Base)
You use magic to heal a small amount of tissue at a rapid pace. Mana consumption cost is based on Will, Speed and effectiveness of healing is based on Intellect.

Anna had no idea what time it was. Her headache was long gone even as exhaustion pulled at her. Her mana tolerance was reaching its limits after testing and retesting and two of the notebooks had been completely used up, every page covered in failed diagrams and notes. Even so, the feeling of victory after victory had been so incredible that she just kept going. That heat in her blood had pushed all the fatigue away. Numbers and spellforms danced in her head even as she slumped in her chair and let out a self-satisfied sigh. She felt full.

There was so much to learn and she felt like she hadn’t even scratched the surface. Even so, she more clearly understood that the spells provided by the system as their own sort-of-skills were intended to be the baseline. There was a lot of flexibility once you understood how the whole thing worked and you could create effects on the fly if you were good enough. Even so, there were so many factors and fights were fast and brutal that it really wasn’t wise to try. 

When it came to runes, there was the aforementioned mana rune but also directional runes, vitality runes, defensive runes, shape runes, the list went on and on. She’d managed to commit about ten of them to memory before she’d started working on recreating the spells already in the textbook. Apparently they were all also foundational spells for their own schools of magic, focuses that mages would delve into as a speciality. She wasn’t interested in that, she wanted to know more, know everything. 

“Later though,” she sighed. “Probably should rest my eyes or that woman is gonna kill me.” Her eyes fluttered. “Yeah, just a few minutes. Then I’ll drag myself upstairs…”

–

Catherine stood at the base of the stairs and listened to the foolish girl snore loudly. She shook her head and walked over to the counter, ready to shake her awake. There was only four hours or so until it would be time to get up for the morning run and do drills. Catherine handled rest in her own way so she wasn’t bothered by getting a few hours of actual sleep in. This girl on the other hand was not even in her twenties, she had energy to spare for sure but she wasn’t being very kind to her body.

Slumped out in your chair like this. Someone feels safe. She thought wryly. You nearly clubbed me this morning when I woke you. I didn’t miss it.

She smirked and looked down at the notes splayed out on the counter. Pathetic Illusion, Mana Bolt, Heal Minor Wound, she reached down and picked one of them up. She frowned a little and then glanced at the girl again. She could not have possibly been only studying magic today. What is this? She would have to have been brought up surrounded by complex figures to make this much headway so quickly.

She put the notes down. Who are you, Annastasia Flitt?

She sighed and shook her head, looking back at the notes and then to the bags embedded beneath the pale girl's eyes. Her fingers were stained with ink and bruises from holding the pen too long. There were even early signs of mana burns from attempting and failing to cast spells over and over on her fingertips. You’re going to make yourself sick overcasting like that, Catherine thought and looked down at her own hands. She rubbed her fingers together. The marks that had been there since childhood were long gone with the new body she’d been given.

She looked up at the sky. I do not suppose if I prayed for her it would make a difference?

Silence.

She looked down. I thought so. Then I will do it myself. She is crass, arrogant, violent, and cruel. She is also a hard worker, driven, and ruthless to herself. She knows respect even if she pretends not to show it and is capable of moments of kindness. That is what I have seen in just this short time. She opened her inventory and sifted through the dozens of lines before pulling a blanket out and draping it around the young woman. I am curious as to what you will turn into, little liege, rest well while you can. You have only proven that I need to push you harder.

She turned away and walked up the steps when a chime rang in her head. Her brows furrowed and she marched through the ruined space and into the lobby, her sword appearing in her hand. She pushed out through the glass doors and stepped onto the patio, planting her sword at her feet and glaring towards the skeletons that had crossed over her alarm spell. You think you can surprise a former Inquisitor? A common spell like that is easy for me to remember even after all this time. You will not enter this cradle, monsters. 

She checked her stats.

Name: Catherine Elaine Haust
Race: Human - Mataian
Class: Squire - 2 (110/750) 33.1%
Profession: None
Tier: Mortal - First
Heritage: None

Resources:
HP: 76/76 | SP: 46/46 | MT: 0/78

Her eyes narrowed. It will do.

Lesser Skeleton - Level 3

Lesser Skeleton - Level 3

Lesser Skeleton Warrior - Level 5

She clenched her jaw as the three of them approached, trudging through the snow and over the debris that she’d dragged from inside the building and hidden within the drifts alongside the direct path leading away from the door. One of them let out a raspy howl, throwing its head back and brandishing razor sharp fingers while the warrior gestured at her with an axe in hand. She popped her neck and her nose wrinkled with rising fury. Nothing compared to what he fielded during the war. Pathetic.

The first skeleton lunged and her hand snapped out, before it even realized what was happening she drove it down onto the hilt of her sword. The handle of the weapon erupted from the back of its head and it went limp. She pulled it off and tossed it aside as the Skeletal Warrior tilted its head and eyed her. She returned its stare and felt its horror-gaze wash over her. Terror tried to grip at her heart but all she saw was thousands of years in hell. She raised a hand and beckoned it with a finger.

Come, your minions won’t be of any use.

The warrior pushed the remaining lesser skeleton aside and charged at her, axe raised over its head. She pulled her sword from the ground and dipped left, raising the weapon and catching the axe by the blade. She let it slip down into the notch and twisted, using leverage to send the skeleton stumbling to her left with a shove of her shoulder. A quick kick cracked against its knee and it fell. “I may not have my old powers,” she growled as it tried to readjust. She raised the sword over her head. “But I do not need the light of dawn to smite you.”

As its head separated from its shoulders the last one attacked. She took a step and pulled the blade up from the first blow, clenching her teeth and accelerating the strike. Her muscles screamed against the effort as she caught the blade connected with the skeleton’s spine at the waist. She released mana, letting muscle memory carry her through the attack and the bones burst into fragments. She huffed out a breath as it collapsed.

New Ability Acquired: 

Power Strike (Common-Base)
You may now expend extra stamina and a small amount of mana to deliver devastating strikes against a target, dealing enhanced damage.

She scoffed. I really am starting over. Already a little breathless, humiliating.

KRREEAKKK

She looked up as more crawled out of the snow and popped her neck. At least it will not take long to catch up. She glanced back at the door and set her stance. Keep growing little liege, I will hold the gate.