Mage’s Challenge- 20% complete

  I pulled up the Mage’s Challenge. I hadn’t thought about it too much as I had been focused first on the Rogue and then the Healer’s Challenge. I figured I needed to see if there were any hints about what I needed to do, as there had been in the wording of the other two challenges.

  Mage Challenge- the vast power of magic awaits you, but mastery must be proven. Only in the crucible of pressure are true mages made. Test yourself to see if you have what it takes.

  Something must have displayed on my face because Maelis asked, “Is something wrong?”

  “No, I think something is right. Just sitting here is completing my Mage Challenge. I don’t know why, but still…”

  “Then perhaps you should sit down here.” He waved his hand to an area next to the platform.

  I almost followed his directions, the power heady and just waiting for me. My mind raced with the magic in this place. Something about it made me feel like I was coming alive… yet at the same time, my mind felt cloudy. Power for the sake of power was never a good thing, not if I didn’t want to change in ways that I couldn’t predict.

  I thought about every example of people I knew who got power on Earth. They all seemed to be corrupted by it. Easy power was never free. The cost just wasn’t obvious. Politicians were only an obvious example from Earth, but here there were even more dire consequences. I simply felt something was off, so I had to know.

  “How were you supposed to test me?”

  His eyes blinked rapidly several times before he answered me. “I was to train you in meditation and see if you could awake your ability to use magic.”

  “But I can already use magic. I cast Healing Grace on myself then as the only one of my three spells I could cast without it being potentially deemed an attack.”

  “Ah, that was meant to be a healing spell, was it not?”

  “Yes, it works pretty well.”

  Maelis shook his head. “Now, I understand why the heavens gave you a Healer’s Challenge. You used the magic, but you don’t fully understand it. It is much like a child wielding his father’s wand. He might be able to trigger it, but the effects will be uncontrolled at best or destructive at worst.”

  “What are you talking about? I can heal just fine with that spell.” I protested.

  The expression on Maelis’ face softened. “I’m sure you do your best, but if you will meditate with me, I’ll show you how to truly understand the magic. It will become part of you. You will open many more pathways for your future this way.”

  Then he got a confused look on his face. “Perhaps we have been seeing this the wrong way. Perhaps the heavens sent you to us so that we might help you along your path more so than for you to aid us.”

  That made a certain degree of sense to me. I had been wondering how I would be able to defeat either force in this war. If the Delmin were strong enough to keep the Ceorgi trapped in this one city, then they had to be formidable. “Two more questions.”

  “Fine, Sigh-less, but then we must get down to work.”

  “I’ll be quick, as long as you give me straight answers. “What happens if I pass this test of yours?”

  “You’ll awaken your magic and achieve a greater level of understanding. You will know yourself better and what type of mage you can become. You will also likely gain some type of immediate benefits, but the blessing of the heavens is unique in each instance. For me, I gained a benefit where my Mind Stat is 10% more effective than just its number indicates.”

  I thought about that. It was like what I had gained with Charisma.

  “Okay, and what if I fail your test?”

  His eyes blinked rapidly again. “Let us not dwell on such things.”

  “No, Maelis, where I’m from we’d say that you have a horrible poker face. I know it’s something bad. Just be straight with me.”

  “The elders would likely order you to be consigned.”

  “What does that mean? You keep dancing around the question.” I felt my anger rising. My mind was scanning the room, but every Ceorgi that I had managed to Identify so far was at least level 20 and the guard captain outside had been level 60 with an uncommon class.

  “It means that you would be required to give all your mana to the crystal. Rather than being like one of these,” he waved his hand at the figures meditating around the crystal, “who get to participate in the ritual of empowerment, you would simply have your mana sucked out of you. It’s quite painful, I’m told.”

  “And what would happen after that?”

  “You would be put outside.”

  I knew he was lying to me. Either the process killed those who were consigned, or they were killed afterward. I didn’t understand the purpose because it seemed like having more people donate mana would be for the best.

  That left me with the choice of trying to fight my way out, which seemed unlikely, or simply sitting down to meditate. So far, I’d already gained 20% progress on the challenge, so I was willing to give it go.

  Without another word, I walked over to the spot he had pointed to and sat on the floor, cross-legged like the Ceorgi on the platform. Maelis came and sat across from me. “Thank you, Sigh-less. I am glad you have made this decision. I will do my best to help you attune your magic.”

  As I sat there, I tried to relax. When my dad died, one of his military buddies had pulled me aside after the funeral. We couldn’t have afforded counseling, but he tried to teach me a breathing exercise to calm myself. It involved timing my breaths and trying to match the inhalation with the exhaling in terms of how long each breath took. Then I was supposed to build up, so that I was taking very deep and slow breaths.

  I’d been too angry at the time to make much use of it, but now I tried it. I figured at least it would help me focus my mind and relax.

  Slowly in, hold for a count of three seconds.

  Slowly out, a count of three seconds.

  I followed that pattern for a few minutes, keeping a count in my head. After a few minutes, the counting part stopped, but I had fallen into a pattern. It was happening naturally. I won’t say I was perfect at it, but I felt at ease.

  Then a notification popped up… of course.

  You are seeking to attune your mana to the aspect of life. This will make any spells you cast consistent with this aspect and easier to cast—more potent, and less mana intensive. In contrast, other types of spells will become more difficult. The further they are from the life aspect, the greater the difference. Be aware, death aspected magic is considered an opposing attunement as such, death magic would be exceptionally strenuous for you and potentially harmful to your core.

  As with most choices, there are advantages and disadvantages. What you choose will show more about you than your magic.

  Mage Challenge- 30% complete.

  Chapter 35- Consigned

  A shudder ran through me, goosebumps prickling on my skin. There was a sudden sensation as if someone had plugged me into an electrical outlet, a buzzing energy coursing through my veins. The previously humming and chaotic energy around me coalesced into a harmonious hum, blending seamlessly with my own rhythm. It was as though I had tapped into the circuit of energy flowing through the chanting casters on the platform.

  Then I realized that Maelis was actually the one who had tapped into them, but then he was directing that energy into me. The pressure within my body began to build as I felt myself being overcharged with mana.

  At first, it wasn’t that much of a difference.

  Mana: 694/680

  Interestingly, the effect wasn’t limited to my mana.

  HP: 361/350

  “Do you feel it, Sigh-less?” Maelis asked in a hushed whisper, as though afraid to disrupt the moment.

  I nodded in response, still focused on the invisible energy twining around my body. I could feel the mana pulsing within me. There were twinges of wild and untamed energy, although it resonated in harmony with the aspect of life around me. It was like listening to an orchestra, each note a vibration of life, intermingling with the other notes to form an elaborate melody.

  I could hear it. I could almost touch it, the soft yet potent melody whispering promises of life, growth, and vitality. The hum within me, born out of my connection to the mana, echoed the song of life including the wilder aspects. The orchestra… no, my orchestra was growing louder and stronger.

  Mage’s Challenge- 40% complete.

  My eyes flew open as the soft chime of a notification broke my concentration, before quickly refocusing. Maelis was observing me closely, an intent look in his eyes.

  Mana: 712/680

  HP: 373/350

  “Your aura is changing, Sigh-less. You are nearly over the crest. Soon it will become easy, but the next part will be the hardest.”

  Taking a deep breath, I let my awareness spiral outwards again. I reached out to the pulsating mana around me, the symphony of life singing in my ears. I let it wash over me, its sweet melody seeping into my veins, melding with my own rhythm. My heartbeat fell in sync with the melody.

  Maelis was right about one thing. The pressure inside of me continued to build. While it was less external and more a part of me, it was no less intense.

  I took a deep breath, and mana… no, the essence of life, filled my lungs and then my veins like glowing green motes. The air around me seemed to come alive, the scent of fresh earth and new growth filling my senses. I could taste the tang of mana on my tongue, an electric pulse of pure, untapped life energy.

  My mind raced as I felt this power. A single tear ran down my face. With this sort of power, I would have been able to heal my father. I would have been able to cure cancer. So many miracles lay at my fingertips now. I imagined the wonders which the system would usher in.

  The more I delved into the life aspect, the more vibrant the world around me became. I could see the subtle shimmer of the mana flowing around me, a dance of glistening green energy. The low hum of the crystal in the middle of the room grew louder, my own heart synchronizing with the heartbeat of the world around me.

  As I absorbed the mana around me, I could feel a physical change. Yet, the internal changes were just as obvious to my mana charged eyes. Vigor filled me, thanks to the higher lung capacity pumping life-giving oxygen through my highly charged blood cells. Arteries, and essential organs were rejuvenated, repairing and altering cells on a molecular level for greater efficiency and replication. My body buzzed as newfound energy filled me. It was as if I was drinking from the fountain of life, a powerful gush of raw energy rejuvenating me from within.

  Mage’s Challenge- 60% complete.

  My breathing became slower, more measured. Each intake of breath seemed to draw in more mana, filling me with its potent energy. I could feel a symbiotic relationship forming between the aspect of life and me, the rhythm of our pulses beating in synchrony.

  As I exhaled, I released a stream of mana back into the room, the vibrant green energy mingling with the rest. The circle of life, a perfect balance between giving and receiving, the essence of the life aspect itself.

  There was a moment of absolute silence, a pause in the symphony of life. In the next moment, the harmony resumed, but it was no longer just an external melody. It was within me, part of me, flowing through my veins, infusing each cell of my body with its energy.

  Mana: 896/680

  HP: 433/350

  I was on the cusp of a breakthrough, I could feel it, but then a cacophony of sound broke my meditation. I opened my eyes and watched as half a dozen Ceorgi with staves or wands drawn escorted in more than twenty Delmin. All were in chains. Each had a metal collar around their necks, with bands around their wrists and ankles as well. A thick chain ran through hoops in each band and down the line, linking all of the Delmin together.

  Maelis stood up and screamed with as much anger as I’d ever heard from him. “You idiots, we were so close to creating a new mana recycler.”

  At the same moment, I heard the sound of thunder overhead. Except I quickly realized it wasn’t thunder. I looked up through the clear dome and could see the shield overhead. The bombardment had resumed in full force, and it felt like the entire city was shaking.

  I wasn’t the only one shaken, but I also knew that this was my only opportunity. The chanting mages around the crystal were all still completely focused. Beyond them, the only Ceorgi in the room were Maelis and the six guards.

  The moment I saw the Delmin in chains, was the moment that I chose a side. If these challenges were meant to show something about me, then let this show that I was not going to watch chained men and women being fed to a crystal. Fortunately, Maelis was yelling at the others. He must have more authority than I had initially given him credit for. I’d been played, but I could feel stupid about it later on.

  Maelis glanced back at me, but I was still sitting there. I had to do my best to act completely harmless. I’m sure my aura already did that for me. In fact, as I realized it, that was probably why they hadn’t bound me and were willing to try deceit over force. My aura made me seem harmless to them. I’d need to use that.

  After seeing me remaining still, Maelis turned back to the guards. “Feed them to the crystal. Do it quickly.”

  “Yes, Child Maelis,” the guard in front shouted.

  The Delmin started trying to struggle, but runes on the chain held them down. A few of them began weeping in fear or pleading, but I shut out their voices. I needed focus, not sympathy now.

  I had to strike while I still had the surprise. The other advantage that I had was that from what I’d seen, the Ceorgi were hardly physical specimens and even the Delmin seemed more about Strength and Durability than speed. My high Agility might just give me the initiative.

  I called two items out of my spatial container at the same time. The Staff of Blocking appeared in my left hand and my formerly basic dagger, which was now common appeared in my right hand. I didn’t have time to Identify it to find out what the differences were, but I could already feel that it was better made. The weight was perfectly balanced.

  In an instant, I was up and moving as I cast.

  Boon-Bane

  I felt the power of the spell fill me while at the same time weakening my foes. I wasn’t sure how it was going to affect the Delmin. It wasn’t like I trusted them, either. Not wanting them to be sacrificed hardly made them allies.

  I completed my movement with a short step toward Maelis. He only realized I was moving at the last second. He partially turned, so my dagger took him in the gut rather than the back. His robes didn’t provide him any type of armor, but I wasn’t willing to bet that he didn’t have magical items so with my other hand, I swung the staff and hit him across the head.

  Maelis crumpled to the ground unconscious and bleeding out. It would have to suffice for the moment.

  I used my Mage Missile Ability. Fortunately, because I’d been meditating for so long, I had maxed out the benefit of Immobile Power, another of my passives. It had time to reach its maximum and thus the missile did more than double damage.

  When the flash of blue light struck the commander of the prison guards squarely in the face, I expected to see him knocked backwards. I knew it did moderate damage, so maybe with it doubled, that would be serious damage. What I hadn’t counted on was that the damage was based upon a comparison of my targets Durability against my Mind.

  From the way that the blast caved in his skull, I could only assume that the Ceorgi had very low Durability and I made a mental note to put some points into it. This could happen to me, if someone else used a similar combination against me. I thought grimly.

  That shock combined with the fact that none of them had been expecting the harmless and adorable figure on the floor to suddenly go all murder-y on them allowed me to fire off a second Mage Missile. This one took the guard furthest from me in the chest near his shoulder. His robes again provided little protection, and I think I may have nearly taken his arm off.

  I wasn’t paying attention to notifications to know if he was still alive or not, but either way his body spun in the air until he landed face down behind the Delmin. After that, though, my luck started to give way. My third missile hit the next guard in line, but it bounced off an invisible shield which flickered in the air around him.

  He leveled his wand at me, and an electrical blast fired off at me. But for the fact that I’d already conjured a pair of shields from my staff, I would have been dead or trembling on the ground.

  Maelis sat up as he downed a potion. “Take him alive, if at all possible.”

  Two of the guards ran forward under the cover of their bubble-like shields and helped drag Maelis away from me. I fired off a couple more missiles but then had to give up as the other two guards were keeping up a constant barrage of fire and electricity from their wands. I definitely needed one of those if I survived this.