Magus Ascendant (Warlock of the Magus World/The Gamer inspired quest)

Kolarthecool · May 22, 2017

A/N: for readers of my other two quests 'Going for a Walk' and 'Adventurer Quest', I am not dropping them. I am, unfortunately, putting GfaW on hiatus. Though it's the more popular of the two, my muse refuses to cooperate and focus. Thus we have this. So I will be splitting my attention between this and AQ until inspiration strikes.

A/N 2: for those that haven't read the Warlock of the Magus Word light novel, there is a glossary of terms that might affect your votes at the bottom or the post. Please read that before making your choices. I will also answer any questions you may have.

A/N 3: make sure votes are in the proper format ([X][category] vote) or they won't be counted!

-x-

Summary: The Magus world, a land filled with both strife and wonder. Here, the value of the average human is akin to that of mundane animals and livestock. In this land of magic and mystery, only those with the power and drive to ascend to the lofty ranks of the Magi can be said to hold true worth. It is in this world that your story takes place. You, who have been found to hold the potential to become a Magus. You journey will be a long and dangerous one. Your goal? To reach the upper ranks of Magus kind and stand as a god among ants.

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate.
Chapter One: Creation.

-x-

With a rattling jolt that you have long grown used to, you feel the carriage come to a stop. The horses neigh and snort, perhaps relieved that their months long duty is complete. You do not know, nor do you care.

You look up, taking in your surroundings and the forms of your peers. A majority are morose, looking down at their feet with worried expressions. As they should be. Your numbers are far less than what they were at the start of this journey. A carriage that once housed twenty youths now holds only seven. The final leg of the trip had been… arduous. Constant attacks by monsters, deadly flora and dangerous fauna have seen to a steady decrease in your numbers.

The inside of the carriage reeks of unwashed bodies and human waste yet none of you complain, not when a single step outside could mean your death. You recall Tobias, a carefree and exuberant boy your age. A single step out the carriage door to relieve himself. A single bite from a small, buzzing insect. He was dead before the third step. The memory causes you shudder and you instead focus on the approaching footsteps. You can see the others look up at the sound, realization starting to change their expressions to one of excitement and relief. This is it after all, the end of the journey and the start of a new one.

The door slams open with a crash, causing you all to jump. One of the black robed guards enter, his face a stoic mask but his eyes burning with emotion. Not good ones. Never good ones. He sniffs the air and sneers, his gaze sweeping over you all with contempt.

"We have arrived." He growls, voice deep and rough. "Collect your luggage and meet in the center square."

Then he turns and exits the carriage.

You exchange looks with the others. Some frown and glower when they catch your eye. A number simply nod and move on. One grins and gives you a thumbs up. You return the gesture and stand, following the crowd out of the carriage and into the light. The sound is the first thing that hits you. A cacophony of voices and noises mixing together in an unintelligible thrum. The smell hits you next. After weeks in the stench of the carriage, your first breath of the fresh ocean air is magnificent. It is a moist, salty scent that seems to flow through you and wash your cares away. Finally, is the sight.

Before you stretches a wide expanse of buildings and people. Hundreds of cabins and tents dot the land, the flat grassland having been cleared to make room for this temporary meeting area. Moving among them are the people. Thousands of youths much like yourself, ranging from age eleven to fourteen, wander the area. Some are moving with purpose, while others are just milling about the area. There is a great mix of appearances, something to be expected as all the children here have been gathered from all corners of the continent.

Then, there are the robed figures. Men and women in robes of black or white make their way through the groups of children. They are given a wide berth and respectful treatment from those they pass.

This is it. The academy recruitment area. This, is where your journey as a Magus begins.

But first. Who are you?

What is your Origin?
[][origin] SI: a reincarnated soul dropped into a world you previously thought of as fiction, you have subsumed the soul of your host and taken their place in this strange world. You have some degree of Meta knowledge, nothing that can be exploited to give you a massive advantage but enough that you can avoid some of the pitfalls and dangers of this world.

[][origin] OC: an inhabitant of this world, it is all you have ever known. You are taking your first steps out of the mundanity of life and into the world of Magi. Everything from this point on will be new and amazing. You will have to work hard and remain diligent in order to gain a grasp of this new world and ascend to the ranks of the Magi.

What is your Name?
[][name] Write in: first name only unless you choose the [Little Noble] backstory.

What is your Backstory?
[][backstory] The Talented Orphan: a street urchin with nothing to your name, it has been revealed that you hold a great potential for the arcane arts. Likely inherited from an ancient ancestor. Train hard and cultivate your power. Greatness is within your grasp.

You might not have known it but it's true, you were born to be a Magus! At least, that's what the weird guy in the white robes said.

There you were, just walking (running) down the street one day, minding your own business (fleeing from angry guards) when some weirdo suddenly pulls you into a dark alley and starts rambling on about 'strong spiritual force' and 'high grade potential'. Well, being the accommodating person that you are (desperate to hide), you decided to hear the fellow out (as far away from the prying eyes of the guards as possible). Best decision ever!

As it turned out, the guy was actually one of the guards for a caravan transporting all sorts of kids your age to become acolytes and eventually, Magi. As if that wasn't fantastical enough, the guy was also able to sense your raw potential, a natural talent for the magical arts far above that of anyone on the continent. Suffice to say, the guy was pretty dang desperate to have you join their little caravan. He was even willing to sponsor you and pay your way through, within limit and for future recompense of course.

Well, being a homeless orphan with not a whole lot tying them down (as well as some pretty angry shopkeepers and guards looking to wreck your shit), you'd gladly agreed and rode off with the caravan (after making sure it was legit and full of rich, noble brats rather than dumb, gullible orphans of course. You're homeless, not stupid)

Pros
You start with:

A degree of 'street smarts'.
A Spiritual Grade of 5.
10 Magic Crystals.

Spiritual Force stat starts at a base value of 2 and grows at twice the rate.
All spells are 50% easier to master.
You will have a guaranteed entry into any academy of your choice and will receive some degree of blatant favoritism from your assigned professor.
Your sponsor will be willing to provide you with some extra instruction or funds.
You have a 50% Chance to start with Basic Magus training and stats.

Cons
Your street urchin background, poor etiquette and luck-of-the-draw talent will alienate a majority of your peers.

You start with a Sworn Enemy.

Your sponsor will expect an equal or greater reimbursement of their time and resources when you advance. The more you rely on and borrow from them, the more you will be expected to repay.

[][backstory] The Little Noble: born of an ancient and noble bloodline, you are the last remaining member of your branch of the family. Gifted with prodigious talent for the Knightly arts, it has also been discovered that you hold just enough potential to perhaps become a Magus. The first of your line to do so. Lacking a natural talent for magic, you instead grasp at greatness with an unstoppable drive to succeed and a body born of the highest pedigree.

Centuries ago, one of your ancestors lent great aid to a wandering Magus. In payment, the Magus handed them a bag of Magic Crystals. This tale, you learn from your lord Uncle as he unseals the family vault and hands you an black, silver embroidered bag full of clinking gemstones. Why? Because for the first time in countless generations, a potential Magus has been born into your noble family.

You.

Yes, as if your great talent with the Grand Knight techniques of your family weren't enough, it has been discovered that you have the talent to succeed as a Magus. So, with nothing but a bag of Magic Crystals, your Cross Sword and a few of your favorite articles of clothing, you set off with a caravan of your fellow scions, and a number of black and white cloaked guards.

You have said your goodbyes and shed your tears, for the path of a Magus is both long and arduous. The chance you will survive or even return within your Uncles lifetime is so low as to be nonexistent. This single chance is all that is left to you, the last carrier of your deceased mother and father's noble bloodlines. It is up to you to become a great Magus and establish a strong family in their honor.

Pros
You start with:

A degree of 'etiquette' and 'basic knowledge'.
Preparatory-level Knight training.
A [Cross Sword] and some high quality clothes wear.
30 Magic Crystals (a minimum of 10 will be required for school fees).

Your Strength, Agility and Vitality stats start at a base value of 1 and grow at twice the rate.
Physique based spells and abilities are 50% easier to master.
You have a 50% chance to start with Knight-level training and stats.

Cons
You are more of a warrior than a mage, a great deal of luck will be required to become an official Magus.

Your Spiritual Grade is 3.

Your noble upbringing, while somewhat militant, has imparted some bad habits. You will look down on those of a lower standing, often earning their ire with your attitude.

You have a 1d100% chance to choose the more frivolous and extravagant options for non-essential votes.

[][backstory] The Lowborn Scholar: you are but the child of a lowly merchant family, yet your appetite for knowledge is voracious. Your talent for magic is adequate (spiritual grade 4) but combined with your thirst for knowledge, you have the potential to become something truly... terrifying.

Well read and studious, you can always be found with your head in some book or another. Perhaps not the best of habits for the lowborn child of a merchant but you can't help it, there's just so much you don't know about the world and your parents trade is such a waste of your great intelligence. As was becoming a usual occurrence, you'd skipped out on a day of minding the shop to go to the small library down the road. To your dismay, you came to find that you've already read every single legible book in the place. Not that there were many but still.

Despairing for something, anything, to read, you'd gone searching through the tomes too old or damaged to be read. It was during this search that you'd discovered it. A thick, leather bound tome similar to all the rest, except written in a foreign language. A language you'd seen some mention and translation of in other books. The Byron Language, the language of Magi. This is enough for you to understand the importance of the seemingly ordinary tome.

A quick translation with a language primer and you discovered that the book was in fact a journal, a journal belonging to a Magus that once passed through the area. You had no idea how it ended up here or why, but you could clearly recognize the value of the item in your hands.

Thus a plan was born.

There were no more books left for you to read, not here at least, but in the academy… oh yes, the Magus academies are known to have shelves upon shelves of books, hundreds of which you've never even heard of. Yes, with this journal as collateral, you could easily buy your way into one of the academies and lay your hands on all of that glorious knowledge.

So, you went about putting your plan into action. Your bags were packed, the next caravan to the academies was researched and your parents were convinced into giving their, grudging, approval.

Now you've set off. To a world of knowledge and wonder.

Pros
You start with:

Basic knowledge in all subjects.
Advanced knowledge in all mundane subjects.
A simplified primer on the Byron Language.
15 Magic Crystals (a minimum of 10 is will be required to pay school fees).

Self study and Research related efforts take half as long and are twice as effective.
Previously researched actions, including spells, have an additional 25% chance to succeed.
You have a 50% chance to start with Byron Language already learned.

Cons
Your great intellect and thirst for knowledge has given you a haughty, know-it-all personality. This attitude might make you some enemies.

You are 1d100% chance more likely to choose the most knowledge gaining option during a vote. This can be both good and bad.

What is your Cheat power?
[][power] Sharingan: you have an altered version of the Copy Wheel Eye, an ocular technique of great power and versatility. Be warned however, that though they are powerful, these eyes are said to carry a great curse.
Pros
Passively grants:

Near perfect sight.
Enhanced reflexes.
+50% boost to Fire Affinity.
+0.5 to base Agility and Spiritual Force.

When active, can grant:

An eidetic memory.
The ability to see Magic in others.
An enhanced clarity of perception.
Immunity to illusions and most mental magics.
The ability to copy any action you witness (especially spells and magical acts).
The ability to cast minor illusions and hypnosis.

Can evolve into:

The Mangekyo: easily achieved - just add grief and despair.
The Eternal Mangekyo: hard - will require a spare pair of Mangekyo eyes.
The Rinnegan: difficult but not impossible - you will need to gain some measure of a plant-type bloodline or nature magic.
The Rinne Sharingan: near impossible - somehow absorb the equivalent power of nine Rank 5+ Magi.

Cons
You gain the Curse of Hatred trait: a Magus must at times be cold and unfeeling, you are not. You are more prone to emotional attachments and outbursts. Feelings of Love, Betrayal, Grief and Anger affect you far more strongly than others. You are more susceptible to emotion based attacks.

Can be temporarily negated or permanently removed.

You gain the Sage's Eyes trait: while your spirit is strong, your body is not.

Base Strength is reduced by 1 (minimum value of 0.1) and grows at half the rate.
Can be temporarily negated or permanently removed.

The value of your eyes is beyond compare. Should anyone in the magus world ever discover them and their abilities, they will not hesitate to claim them. By any means necessary.

[][power] The Gamer: you are the personification of bullshit. The rules and laws all other Magi must obey are but mere guidelines and suggestions to you. You cheating cheater. (Ability mechanics altered slightly to fit the setting).
Pros
Passively grants:

An immunity to all illusions and mental magics.
An absurd healing factor.
+1 to base Vitality.
An unprecedented rate of growth in all categories and abilities.

You have access to your Stats, Skills and Inventory menus.

Cons
Your body, mind and soul are pure bullshit. If absolutely any Magus learns of this, you will wish for a swift death by the time they are done… experimenting.

[][power] Saiyan: you have been granted a powerful heritage. Strong, fast and able to utilize your magic in strange and unique ways, you might truly be the ultimate warrior.
Pros
Passively grants:

Enhanced reflexes and senses.
Triples your base Life Force.
+1.5 to base Strength, Agility and Vitality.
All stats gain a substantial increases after recovering from near fatal injuries.

Can use Spiritual Force stat to perform Ki techniques.
Can later gain and utilize all Super Saiyan and Oozaru transformations.

Cons
You gain the Conflict Seeker trait: your warrior blood gives you an inborn need to fight, to seek out new opponents and challenges. While the need and ability to grow stronger can be beneficial, your desire for a strong fight and aggressive attitude can oft times be detrimental.

Can be temporarily negated or removed.

You are able to control your power in strange and unique ways, as well as achieve never before seen transformations with great destructive power. Other Magi are certainly going to take an… interest.

*Robed Figures: the figures in black robes are Knights, the white robes are Acolytes and Magi. They have been assigned to collecting and protecting new students for the academy.

*Spiritual Grades: there are 5 grades of magical potential, the higher the number, the quicker the Acolyte can advance magically and the greater base chance they have of breaking through to the Official Magus level. A grade of 5 has a 90% chance, 4 is 50%, 3 is 10%, 2 and 1 are near enough to 0% to not matter.

*Acolyte and Official Magi: acolytes are Magi in training and are pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. There are 3 ranks of the acolyte stage and only rank 2 and three can even use the weakest of spells. It can take anywhere from thirty to a hundred years for the average acolyte to become an official Magus, if they advance at all. Official Magi are the true powerhouses of the Magus world and reaching this level gives an individual some modicum of importance. Official magi are monumentally more powerful than acolytes and are capable of easily defeating whole armies of both mundane soldiers and acolytes without batting an eye. There are 9 true ranks of official Magi, each is more difficult to reach than the last but is also inconceivably more powerful than the lower ranks.

*Spiritual Force: the stat needed to advance as a magus and cast spells. It is the most important stat.

*Magic Crystal: the premier currency of the magical world. It out values gold coins to a tremendous degree and is required to purchase absolutely anything in the Magus World. A single low grade crystal is worth almost 10,000 gold coins.

*Stat values: a value of 1 in any stat is the average for an adult human. Any value past this makes one equal to that number of humans working together at the same task.

Strength: a measure of physical might. Strength determines all melee and body related aspects such as how high you can jump, how hard you can hit, and how much you can lift, etc.

Agility: a measure of physical alacrity. Agility determines all speed and dexterity related aspects such as how fast you can run or attack, and how quickly you can react to stimuli, etc.

Vitality: a measure of overall wellness. Vitality is an incredibly important stat that determines all health and endurance, as well as a few spiritual, related aspects, such as: your overall health (1 vit = 1 hp), your physical durability, your regeneration speed, your maximum Spiritual Force and your overall Life Force.

Spiritual Force: a measure of spiritual might. Spiritual Force is an incredibly important stat that determines many vital aspects such as your rank, what spells you can use and for how long, your overall Magic Power, as well as your overall Life Force.

Magic Power: a measure of magical might. Magic Power is required in the casting of various spells. Magic Power value is always equal to or lower than your total Spiritual Force.

Life Force: a measure of overall life. Life Force is the total amount, in years, you will naturally live. It can be used in the casting of certain spells.

*Spell Mastery: spells are difficult to master and can have harmful consequences when failed. It takes time and practice to fully master a spell.

*Debt: Magi are not good or nice people. They are self centered and only care about how best they can manipulate a situation to their advantage. Being in debt to a Magus is alright if it is a small amount that can be later paid off through valuables or services. Go too far into debt however, and you will find yourself forced into an unfavorable contract or even becoming a slave.

*Etiquette and Knowledge: the setting of this world is medieval fantasy. Being educated is a sign of nobility, most Magus aspirants are nobles. There is an expected level of etiquette you must follow and failing this can make you enemies. In the magus world, knowledge is power.

*Knights: knights in this setting are individuals with a meditative breathing technique that purges the body of weakness and greatly strengthens it. A knight is capable of superhuman feats and some magic like abilities. There are 3 official ranks of knight: Preparatory Knight, Knight and Grand Knight. The strongest Grand Knight is no match of a true and prepared Magus, though a magus with knight training has an advantage on one without.

*Cross Sword: a weapon used by knights and required in the use of their arts.

*Self Study: a majority of your magus education will stem from self study. You can learn from an academy professor sure but all will require some form of payment for their lessons and even then, you will only receive the basics unless you can impress.

*Researched bonus: a vast majority of potions, spells, enchantments and the like have low success rates. Finding ways to boost this can be beneficial depending on what route you wish to pursue.

*Elemental Affinity: having an affinity for a certain element makes spells of that element easier to use, cheaper to cast, and more powerful. In turn, spells of the opposite element are weaker and more expensive. A high affinity in a single element is require to advance past the first Magus rank.

-x-

Voting is Closed.

Kolarthecool · May 22, 2017

Name: Cat.
Level: 1.
Rank: Acolyte (Initiate) | Preparatory Knight (Intermediate).

Hp: 208 / 208.

Regen: 2.08 / second.

Mp: 250 / 250.

Regen: 2.5 / second.

Sp: 108 / 108.

Regen: 1.08 / second.

Strength: 1.08.
Agility: 1.18.
Vitality: 2.08.

Spiritual Force: 2.5 / 10.4.
Life Force: 120.8 yrs.

Points: 0.
Status: None.

Equipment

Weapon said:
Cross Sword | Durability: 88%
A specially designed weapon for use by Knights. It is able to withstand great amounts of strain.

Damage: 0.5 + Str.
Speed: Medium.

Items

Low-grade Magic Crystal (3).
A special mineral primarily used as currency in the Magus World.
It can be used in a variety of other ways by those who know how.

Small Travel Pack (Full).
A small carrying bag full of a few sets of quality clothing, feminine hygiene products, office supplies and the odd knickknack.

Bladed Weapon Mastery (Passive) | Lv: 19 / 50.
A skill that improves your abilities while wielding a bladed weapon. Only applies while you are holding a bladed weapon or tool.

Increases crit chance by 19%
Increases attack speed by 38%
Increases damage by 57%

Bluff (Passive) | Lv: 25 / 50.
You know the value of deceit, of leading others astray so that you may benefit.

+25% chance to fool a target.

Byron Language Comprehension (Passive) | Lv: Max.
A measure of your understanding of the Byron Language. Grants a minor benefit to related skills.

100% understanding of Byron Language.
25% bonus to deciphering Runic Arrays, Spell Formula and Spell Models that use the Byron Language.
25% speed bonus to creating Runic Arrays, Spell Formula and Spell Models using the Byron Language.

Detect Bloodthirst (Passive) | Lv: 13 / 50.
You inspire a desire to maim and kill in others. Be wary.

Detects any desire to harm the user within 13 ft.
Reveals the source of danger.

Gamer's Body (Passive) | Lv: Max.
Your body is no longer that of an ordinary human.

+1 Vitality.
Gain Hp, Mp and Sp stats.
Hp, Mp and Sp can be recovered through the use of food, drink and sleep.
Removes the bodily need for food, drink and sleep.

Gamer's Mind (Passive) | Lv: Max.
Your mind is no longer that of the ordinary human.

Enforces a calm and peaceful state of mind at all times.
Grants an immunity to illusions and all psychological status effects.

Life Affinity (Passive) | Lv: 1 / 50.
You have a major affinity for the Element of Life. It clings to you like a warm blanket.

Allows the cultivation of [Life] type elemental particles.
Increases the effectiveness of [Life] type meditation techniques by 1%
[Life] type skills gain 1% bonus xp.

Meditation (Active) | Lv: 21 / 50.
A clear mind can do wonders for the soul. A skill that assists magic regeneration and allows access to the the Sea of Consciousness.

Increases Mp Regen by 84%
External shock may break meditation and cause you to fall into a state of confusion.

Natural Talent - Magic (Passive) | Lv: Max.
You have a natural talent for the arcane. Your ability to comprehend magic is far beyond that of your peers.

Spiritual Force stat gains double the value when trained.
Element Affinity skills gain double the value when trained.
+50% xp gain to all spells.
You have a base chance of 90% whenever advancing to another Magus rank.

Observe (Active) | Lv: 15 / 50.
With but a single glance, you are able to ferret out information about a target.

Reveals a variety of detailed information about the target.
Cost: 5 mp.

Running (Passive) | Lv: 30 / 50.
You are accustomed to running… away from trouble.

+0.3 Agility.
+30% movement speed when fleeing from an enemy.

Speed Reading (Passive) | Lv: 37 / 50.
A skill that allows you to more quickly read and comprehend information.
Affects your perception of time.
Cannot be used while in combat.

+148% increase to reading speed.

Soul Affinity (Passive) Lv: 1 / 50.
You have a minor affinity for the Element of Soul. It is drawn to you like a moth to a flame.

Allows the cultivation of [Soul] type elemental particles.
Increases the effectiveness of [Soul] type meditation techniques by 0.5%
[Soul] type skills gain 0.5% bonus xp.

Steal (Active) | Lv: 20 / 50.
You have learned to take what you want and damn the consequences.

+20% chance to successfully steal a random item from the target and place it in your Inventory.
Requires physical contact with the target.
Cost: 3 mp.

Two-handed Weapon Mastery (Passive) | Lv: 18 / 50.
A skill that improves your abilities while wielding a weapon with both hands. Only applies while both hands are holding the same weapon or tool.

Increases crit chance by 18%
Increases attack speed by 36%
Increases damage by 54%

Void Blade Breathing Technique (Active) | Lv: 21 / 50.
A skill capable of elevating the user to the rank of Grand Knight. Allows use of Void Blade techniques.

+0.02 Str so long as Str stat is below 8.00 points.
+0.02 Agi so long as Agi stat is below 8.00 points.
+0.02 Vit so long as Vit stat is below 8.00 points.
+2 Life Force so long as Life Force stat is below 100.
Can only be used once every 4 hours.

Void Blade Foot Technique (Passive/Active) | Lv: 19 / 50.
A method of quick and efficient movement for users of Void Blade techniques. Skill effects can be affected, both positively and negatively, by your status or reflexes.

Passively increases movement speed by 19%
Increases movement speed by 69% while active.
Increases movement speed by 38% for 3s when [Detect Bloodthirst] is triggered.

Void Blade Mastery (Passive) | Lv: 19 / 50.
A measure of your skill with Void Blade techniques.

Increases damage of Void Blade techniques by 38%
Increases damage with Cross Swords by 19%
Increases attack speed with Cross Swords by 19%

Void Spear (Active) | Lv: 1 / 50.
By focusing your negative energy into a weapon and performing a jabbing motion, you launch forth beams of corrosive energy.

Damage: 1 | No. of beams: 1 | Range: 10 ft | Cost: 45 Sp.
50% chance of the beam penetrating a target.
High chance to disintegrate all matter within 1 cm of the beam.

Etiquette: 6 / 100 (Novice).
-General Knowledge-

Byron Language: 44 / 100.
Magus World: 1 / 100.
South Coast: 1 / 100.

Minor Ally: Characters that view you in a neutral or positive light. They can be called upon for minor favors and are more likely than not to aid you should you require it.

The Sly One. Glen Arendale is a noble initiate from a minor family. He is sly and clever, with a great fondness for word games and trickery. Glen views you as a neutral entity. He neither likes, nor dislikes you.
Assistance Capability: None

The Brash One. Kulwin Lerondas is a noble initiate from a minor family. He is brash and straightforward, often speaking what is on his mind and bulldozing right to the point of a topic. Kulwin views you in a positive light. He would be willing to extend you a sliver of trust should it ever be required.
Assistance Capability: Minor.

The Leader. Leonard Phale is a noble initiate from a large and powerful family. He is charismatic, friendly and loyal to a fault. Leo views you as a probable friend. He likes that you haven't allowed your natural talent to turn you into an arrogant jerk. He also has a tendency to use you while bragging to others.
Assistance Capability: Minor.

The Adepts. Felix, Issac, Garet, Ivan, Piers, Jenna, Mia, Sheba and Himi are a group of nine teens of minor nobility from a small, coastal nation. The nine are a close-knit group of friends with lofty goals and dreams. They have little to no chance of ever advancing to Official Magus but nine Acolytes working in tandem can achieve great things. The nine have a great deal of respect and awe for your genius status and humble attitude.
Assistance Capability: None.

The Peers. Jeffrey Franzen, Kudric Gallows, Kendra Henson, Nicole Linden and Silvan Holk are the second or third children of minor noble families. They are the Grade Three Initiates of your year and each have a small chance of advancing to Official Magus. They are friendly but highly unexceptional individuals. They view you in a positive light given your status and would be willing to lend their assistance in minor matters.
Assistance Capability: Minor.

Minor Enemy: Characters that view you in a neutral or negative light. They dislike you for one reason or another. They are likely to just ignore you but will not pass up an opportunity to hinder you.

The Hanger-on. Alicia Lerbin is the youngest child of a minor noble house. She is quiet and passive, a sheep in every way. She is one of the many that bullied you during your journey to the recruitment area, not out of dislike but simply because others were doing the same. She has no feeling towards you but will go with the majority opinion should it come down to it.
Threat rating: None.

The Quiet One. Jecob Senok is a young lord of a middling noble house and a Grade Four Initiate of Four Relics Melody. He is silent and observant, often abstaining from conversation so as to observe others. He finds very little interesting and is easily lead around by those with more forceful personalities. He finds you boring and prefers to simply ignore your existence.
Threat Rating: None.

The Bitch. Magritte Helmway is a young lady of a middling noble house. She is snobbish and spoiled, a brat that hates not getting her way. She is one of the many that bullied you during your journey to the recruitment area and refuses to apologize for it. She says that she dislikes you because of your commoner status but the real reason is because she has a crush on Deacon Fiss. Unable to bully you anymore, she chooses to simply ignore you.
Threat Rating: None.

The Snob. Rachel Adderstein is the heiress of a minor noble family and a Grade Four Initiate of Four Relics Harmony. She is icy and snobbish but can become very heated when the topic is something she holds interest in. She dislikes you for your slight against her crush, Lucifer Nocturne, and is set on pretending like you don't exist.
Threat Rating: None.

Sworn Enemy: Characters that hold a great deal of negative emotion towards you. They hate you and all that you stand for. They will do all in their power to hinder you.

The Little Lord. Deacon Fiss is a young noble and the nephew of your towns lord, the Duke Rosenthal. Due to events that transpired when he was young, Deacon has a deep hatred for commoners. He has focused this hatred on you, the uppity commoner from his hometown that dares to aim for the prestigious rank of Magus.
Threat Rating: Moderate.

The Dream of Gaia. Lucifer Nocturne is a Peak Rank One magus and a high ranking professor of the Oakenbrook academy. He holds a grudge against the Neilis family for reasons unknown. Following your first conversation with him, wherein you unknowingly slighted him, he has come to view you as an agent of the Neilis family and thus, an enemy. His vows to the Academy keep him from overtly acting against you but he is patient and cunning.
Threat Rating: Deadly.

Minor Debt: Your sponsor, Klaus Neilis, has gifted you 10 Low-Grade Magic Crystals, as well as a traveling bag and an assortment of clothes and supplies. You are expected to pay this back when you can, preferably with 15 Low-Grade Magic Crystals or by signing a contract with his family.

Kolarthecool · May 22, 2017

I plan for this quest to be light on numbers and dice rolls. Should one be needed, a d20 or d100 will be used.

Combat will be a matter of preparation, good planning on the voters parts, and a roll or two for luck.

Stats are the only hard numbers that will matter and only as a measure of your progress and capability. The main stats are:

Strength: a measure of physical might. Strength determines all melee and body related aspects such as how high you can jump, how hard you can hit, and how much you can lift, etc. The average human has a Strength value of 1.

Agility: a measure of physical alacrity. Agility determines all speed and dexterity related aspects such as how fast you can run or attack, and how quickly you can react to stimuli, etc. The average human has an Agility value of 1.

Vitality: a measure of overall wellness. Vitality is an incredibly important stat that determines all health and endurance, as well as a few spiritual, related aspects, such as: your overall health (1 vit = 10 hp), your physical durability, your regeneration speed, your maximum Spiritual Force and your overall Life Force. The average human has a Vitality value of 1.

Spiritual Force: a measure of spiritual might. Spiritual Force is an incredibly important stat that determines many vital aspects such as your rank, what spells you can use and for how long, your overall Magic Power, as well as your overall Life Force. The average human has a Spiritual Force value of 0.1.

Magic Power: a measure of magical might. Magic Power is required in the casting of various spells. Magic Power value is always equal to or lower than your total Spiritual Force. The average human has a Magic Power value of 0.1.

Life Force: a measure of overall life. Life Force is the total amount, in years, you will naturally live. It can be used in the casting of certain spells. The average human has a Life Force value of 80.

Kolarthecool · May 23, 2017

A/N: Since the Gamer can make pretty much anything into a skill, I'm gonna need to ask you guys for some help. If the MC ever does anything that should create a skill but it doesn't, let me know right away so I can change it. Also if you make a vote based on a skill that you want to gain, mention it in the vote so I can add it in or let you know why it's not possible. Thanks in advance.

[X][origin] OC.

[X][name] Cat.

[X][backstory] The Talented Orphan.
A degree of 'street smarts'.

Skills gained: Running, Bluff, and Steal.

A Spiritual Grade of 5.
+10 Magic Crystals.
+2 Spiritual Force.

Skill Gained: Natural Talent - Magic.

[Coin Flip: Tails. Failure: you don't start with basic training]
Sworn Enemy: The Little Lord (Deacon Fiss) added to notes.
Minor Debt added to Notes tab.

[X][power] The Gamer.

Skills gained: Gamer's Body, Gamer's Mind and Observe.

Hp stat is gained.

Damage is now dealt to Hp rather than the Vitality stat.
Hp is equal to your Vitality stat multiplied by 100.
Hp recovers at a rate of your Vitality stat per second.

Magic Power stat becomes Mp stat.

Mp is equal to Spiritual Force stat multiplied by 100.
Mp recovers at a rate of your Spiritual Force stat per second.

Sp stat is gained.

Physical exertion and fatigue are now counted as a reduction of Sp stat.
Sp is equal to your Strength stat multiplied by 100.
Sp recovers at a rate of your Strength stat per second.

Spiritual Force maximum is now decided by your Vitality stat multiplied by 5 (dependent on your rank).
Life Force is increased to a base of 100.

Life Force is now increased by Vitality multiplied by ten.

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate
Chapter Two: Bully, Friend and Affinity

-x-

Following the rest of the group, you make your way around to the back of the carriage where two of the black robes are unloading all of the luggage strapped there. Even after months of this, you are still uncomfortable with keeping your stuff in a bag like this. Ever since you woke up one day to see that box of words floating in front of your face and learned about the power you were... blessed with, you'd kept everything of value in your Stash. Your power called it an 'Inventory' but calling it your Stash felt way better. A secret place where all of your things can be safe and no one can take them from you? It was like a dream come true.

You couldn't exactly keep up with that habit during this trip though. Not with other people constantly bothering you and wondering where you keep getting your food and clothes from. No, you had to keep all of your stuff in the bag Lord Klaus got for you and wait for the black robes to unload it at every stop. At least that's finally over an done with. According to Flesha, you get way more privacy to do whatever you want at the academy. Privacy will be nice. You could really use it after months trapped with all of these stuck up nobles.

"Cat!" One of the black robes calls, throwing your big traveling sack to the ground. You push through the people in front of you and quickly snatch it up before anyone else can think to act.

The caravan you arrived with consisted of eight massive carriages, each pulled by a team of six horses and able to comfortably hold twenty kids and two of the black robes. There was a ninth, smaller carriage for the four white robed lords but none of you ever went near that one. The reason you mention this, is that despite being on one of the carriages farthest from your own, that asshole Deacon Fiss still manages to mess with you and your stuff. Sometimes it's just a push or a shove when you're not looking. Other times, your things go missing or get damaged, or a group of the other girls and some of the boys will get together and say insulting things where you can hear them.

Not the worst you've had to deal with, not by a long shot, but it gets… grating. They tried worse things at the start but the black robes quickly put a stop to that. You suspect Klaus had a hand in it but you're not certain and knew better than to ask.

The worst part is that you couldn't really do anything about Deacon and his hanger-ons. This isn't like the streets where you can just punch his nose in and kick him till he pukes blood. There's way too many of them working together for that to work and even then, the black robes would stop anything too blatant on the grounds of it annoying the piss out of them. Never mind the fact that Deacon is loads stronger than you. Like, ridiculously stronger. Flesha said it was something called Knight training but you kind of zoned out when the explanation got all long and boring. You dont even get bored!

Seriously, that girl.

Whatever the case, it's connected to whatever it is that lets the black robes do all those amazing things and slaughter monsters without batting an eye. No way you can beat Deacon in a straight up fight if he's capable of the same and Flesha totally shot down your idea to just shank him in the back. Who the hell is even shank proof? Well, other than yourself but you've come to understand that you're all sorts of bullshit compared to normal people.

You look up at the sound of a loud clap.

"Gather round children." Klaus, you'd recognize that smarmy voice anywhere, calls out.

Shrugging your bag onto one shoulder, you walk over with the rest of your carriage and one other to stand before the white robed figure. You can see the other white robes gathering up the rest of the children from the other carriages. A few seconds pass as Klaus looks you all over. Heads duck or turn aside as his gaze sweeps over the crowd. After seeing the devastation one of the white robes can inflict on a swarm of monsters, the others have started showing proper deference and respect. That's a pretty big deal from a bunch of pampered noble brats. You meet his gaze head on, causing him to smirk. Maybe if it was one of the other lords you'd be properly cowed but not with this joker. Like he'd said, 'you're an investment that will hopefully bear fruit one day'.

He's not going to do anything to ruin his little investment.

Klaus Neilis | Level: 39.
Acolyte (Peak Rank 3)

Above him floats a familiar label, words you have long grown used to seeing above everyone's head and barely pay attention to anymore.

"Right then. As you can all see, we have arrived at the staging grounds." Klaus begins after fully surveying the crowd. He sweeps his arm out as he talks, as if displaying the vista of cabins, tents and people to you all. "A bit later than scheduled but that is to be expected. In a moment, I want you all to go to one of the big tents there and follow whatever directions you are given."

The tents in question are a trio of building sized structures near the center of the area. You can see a long line of other kids standing outside the entrance of each tent.

"Well, from this point on you are all on your own. I wish you all the best of luck." Klaus finishes, before turning and walking away. You watch him go -that's it?- before turning back to the distant tents. Well, might as well-

Oof!

You hit the ground. Not hard enough to hurt but enough to leave you sprawled there and the contents of your open bag scattered. That was definitely closed when you walked up. You look up with a scowl, not even surprised at the identity of your assailant. A boy in a fine, and probably super expensive, suit. He is just a year older than yourself with short blond hair and aristocratic features.

Deacon Fiss | Level: 4.
Acolyte (Initiate) | Preparatory Knight (Beginner)

"Watch where you're going worm." Deacon Fiss sneers, contempt dripping from his voice. His hanger-ons, four other noble boys that like to kiss his ass and three simpering girls, chuckle and giggle as they walk off. You glare at their retreating backs before moving to gather your things.

The young lord, Deacon Fiss. Nephew to Duke Rosenthal, the lord of the city you grew up in, by way of the dukes younger sister. Before all this, you'd only seen Deacon from a distance. He sometimes rode through the town on horseback, surrounded by a group of his uncles knights. A lot of the town girls, yourself included ashamedly, liked to sigh and make eyes at him. He was just that handsome and mysterious. So when you'd spotted him at one of the campfires your first night with the caravan, you'd taken the chance to go say hi to your crush. After all, you were both going to become Magi right? And everyone knows Magi are of a completely different standing when compared to normal nobles.

Suffice to say, things did not go as you planned.

Everything started off well. Deacon didn't show much interest in you, what with the five other girls trying to hang off his arm, but he was at least receptive, if somewhat amused, of your stuttered introduction. Then you must have made some mistake or something because he immediately asked for your name and if you were a commoner. When you answered, his attitude completely changed. What started as amused disinterest immediately turned to passionate hatred in the blink of an eye. Insults were hurled and you were sent fleeing with tears prickling your eyes. From that point on, he went out of his way to bully you and as the highest ranking noble there, the others were quick to follow his lead.

It was only weeks later that you learned the reason of it all from Flesha. Apparently Deacon's parents were Baron and Baroness of a small area in the north of the kingdom. They weren't very good at it though and the people revolted. In the ensuing civil war, ending with victory on the side of the kingdom of course, Deacon's parents were killed, their land was gifted to another noble family and he only made it out alive thanks to the aid of his bodyguard. Well, he was understandably upset with the commoners that orphaned him and this must have eventually turned into a dislike for all commoners.

Regardless of the reasoning, you were still the one to suffer at his hands and that has made you understandably resentful. One day, you will-

[][personality] Make him pay!
You are vengeful and entirely willing to hold a grudge. Anyone that dares slight you will suffer your wrath. Be that through humiliation or more… fatal means is entirely at your discretion.

[][personality] Make him sorry!
You are willing to forgive and forget. If someone slights you, you are willing to let it go so long as they apologize. If they dont... well, that depends doesn't it?

[][personality] Write in.

"Are you alright Cat?" A voice asks as you put the last of your items away and you look up. Once again, you are not surprised at the identity of the person standing above you. A girl roughly your age in a plain looking dress. She has long, straight, black hair that covers a majority of her face, plain, unremarkable features and is wearing a set of large, round eyeglasses that make her eyes look bigger than they are.

Flesha | Level: 2.
Acolyte (Initiate)

"I'm fine Flesha." You grumble in reply, taking her offered hand and letting her pull you from the ground. "Just Deacon being an ass like usual."

She makes a humming sound and nods. Then, with nothing else said, she starts walking towards the large tents with the rest. You watch her go, waiting a few seconds before moving to follow.

Flesha is the only one here you'd consider a friend and even that's a bit of a stretch. The only other person from your town, other than Deacon, you know of her as the daughter of Klein and Marin, a pair of skilled bakers that own a small shop in the marketplace. Sometimes they would give you a loaf of bread or some cookies if you looked suitably hungry and sad. They weren't bad people. Flesha is their oddball daughter. The only other person in the whole town to spend as much time in the small library as Old Jorin and he actually lived there. She always had her head in one book or another, preferring to read rather than learn to bake or help at her parents store. When she wasn't reading, she was either deep in though or just staring blankly at anyone that passed by.

How she managed to join the caravan, you don't know. Klaus told you how expensive something like this is. There's no way Flesha's parents could afford it. Not even if her family started saving from the time of her great-great-great-great-great grandparents. You asked her about it but she'd just hum and stare. Still, she was one of the only ones that didn't join in on the bullying. She was also able and willing to answer any questions you had. The two of you could have probably been better friends but Flesha preferred to spend her time reading and you didn't want to cause her any trouble. She was commoner born like you but Deacon and the others always seemed to overlook her. You didn't want to be the one to bring his attention to her.

Sighing, you follow the throng of people until you arrive at the tents. The line has gotten shorter but there are still a lot of kids waiting their turn. A few of the black robes are walking around, handing out papers. One passes by you and you take the paper as it's held out. It's a form that you need to fill out. You sigh in relief and quickly fish out one of the pencils Klaus bought you. The fact you can actually read and write would be a pretty big deal back home if anyone knew about it. You never had much use for the skills, like the rest of the street kids, but you quickly saw the need when the boxes started showing up and words started floating over everyone's heads. At that point, you had no choice but to learn.

Finishing the form up, you get in line and wait your turn. The line moves quickly but it still takes close to half an hour for your turn to come up. Taking a calming breath, unneeded as it may be, you enter the white tent. The inside of the tent is more sparse than you were expecting despite the spaciousness. There is only a simple, black table with a red cushion on top of it. Resting on the cushion is a clear glass orb the size of your head. Seated behind the desk is one of the white robed lords, an old man with a completely bald head and a long white beard.

Advacus Gyrin | Level: 31.
Acolyte (Rank 3)

"Well, come on then. I dont have all day you know." The man, Advacus, grumbles with a frown. He is holding a hand out and making grabbing motions in your direction. "Give me the form and put your hands on the crystal ball."

You hurry forward to do as you're told. This time, your head is bowed low as the memory of dozens of dog sized insects dying in a blaze of light and fire flashes through your mind. You hand him the form and place both hands on the clear ball. A shudder passes through you. The ball is cold as ice and feels like it's... shaking? You look at it but no, the ball isn't moving at all despite feeling like it. Wait! You can see a white light inside the ball that wasn't there a moment ago.

As you stare into the ball, the light seems to grow brighter and brighter. In accordance to this, you feel a pain in your head, one that grows in strength as the light grows brighter.

"Good, good. Dont let go child." Advacus says, staring intently at the ball.

You can barely hear him over the feeling in your head, the sound of blood gushing through your veins. The light grows even brighter.

"...hurts." Your voice is strained and weak.

Your head is throbbing in pain, you feel like you're going to lose consciousness at any moment. You haven't felt like this in a very long time. Pain is something that is fast for you, lasting for a split second before fading. This feeling. This constant, growing pain. It feels wrong. Something must be going wrong!

"Keep going child." Advacus mutters, leaning forward. "As long as you can."

The light grows brighter again and your feel something -pop- in your head.

"I can't! No more!" You wail, it's too much.

Your hands twitch, fingers trying to pull away from the orb as you reach your limit. For a moment, you fear that you're stuck to it. That you're unable to let go and will be forced to suffer this pain until you die. Panic rises for the first time in many months. Then your hands release the orb and you go stumbling back, gasping and panting. The pain vanishes in an instant, like you are used to, and a blue box pops into existence. You absently wave it away.

Your attention is locked on the ball, the thing that hurt you so much. It look so innocent, just a clear glass orb. You want to destroy it. To pick it up and dash it against the ground. At the same time, you don't want to touch it. Not even for a moment. It's not fear you feel, never fear, just a wariness of something that has proven capable of hurting you despite your power. You tear your eyes away from it and look up at the white robed man. He's busy scribbling away at the form, your few seconds of weakness completely missed.

You sigh and straighten up just as he looks up.

"An excellent result young miss!" Advacus announces, now all smiles and cheer. "A spiritual grade of five. A high-ranked grade! You will go quite far."

You just nod and take the form when he holds it out. Still smiling, he holds a hand out towards a slit in the tent wall behind him. You completely missed it.

"Go through here for the next test." He informs you, head tilting so he can see the doorway behind you. "Next!"

Hearing someone enter the tent behind you, you rush through to the next section. This room has another of the black tables in it, this with a basin full of a silvery liquid on top of it. There are two of the black chairs placed on either side of the table. One is empty, while the other is being used by another of the white robes. This one is a woman, young, pretty and buxom with curly blond hair and glimmering green eyes. Her beauty is marred by the snooty sneer on her face. She looks you over with a piercing gaze and scoffs.

Aliana Knottham | Level: 27
Acolyte (Rank 2)

"Well? Sit down and give me your form." She instructs, her tone cold and nasally.

You do as she says, careful to avoid touching the basin on the table at all cost. Aliana takes the paper and begins glancing it over while you wait. You notice her sneer deepen at a few parts before completely vanishing in exchange for a wide eyed gaze as she gets near the bottom. She quickly conceals it and the sneer is back in place when she looks up at you.

"Humph, a grade of five. I suppose it makes sense. No other reason someone of your.... background would be here." She says, tone still cold. "Well, let's test your elemental affinity now."

She gestures at the basin and you look down at it. The basin is oddly shaped and bumpy, seemingly made of stone and filled with liquid metal. The liquid is completely still as you look into it but you can't see a reflection. You keep your hands at your side, completely unwilling to touch it.

"Look into the water." Aliana commands, leaning back in her chair. You find yourself doing so, unable to tear your eyes away now that the command has been given. You startle when the water begins to swirl. Thankfully, there is no feeling of pain this time. Instead, the silver color of the liquid seems to fade away, slowly becoming replaced with a mix of other colors. As you watch, one color grows to dominate the entirety of the basin, spreading from the center to the edges until it fills the whole bowl in perfection. A second color courses through the first, lines of it appearing to mar the solidity of the first color. More colors pop up after this, appearing as small dots on the canvas painted by the first two colors.

"What do you see?" Aliana asks. Her voice is deep and distant, as if she is talking to you from somewhere far away.

You answer her, your own voice slow and monotone as if you are in a trance. A moment passes after you speak, then you hear her shifting and suddenly the basin flashes. The liquid returns to it's silvery hue and you find yourself able to look away. You shake off the trance and sit up, that was really strange. What was that? Not an illusion or a mental attack, you're supposed to be immune to those. Maybe some type of self hypnosis? You make a note to ask Flesha about it before returning your focus to Aliana.

"Well, how interesting." She says, making some marks on your paper. "Your affinities appear to be..."

What are your elemental affinities?
[][primary] Write in: provide a one word answer for the affinity of your choice. It can be anything you want it to be, within reason. This will be your main affinity and the one you will need to master in order to progress in the future. Any affinities that are too 'sciency' will be dumbed down to their fantasy equivalent.
(As a Gamer, you can learn to use any affinities you wish to an unprecedented degree but only your primary can be fully mastered in order to Rank up)

[][secondary] Write in: another one word answer. This is your secondary affinity. It cannot be something that is in opposition to your primary (ex: a primary of fire cant have a secondary of water or ice). Your secondary affinity can be used to bolster your primary in certain ways.

A pair of boxes appear one after the other at her words. You skim over them with practiced ease before dismissing them to focus on Aliana. She is giving you another once over. A moment passes. Then she snorts and gestures towards the exit with her head.

"Out you get, I still have more of you little sprogs to deal with."

You stand and leave the tent without another word.

"Are you Cat?" A voice asks as you exit the tent, blinded by the sudden increase in light. You blink a few times to clear your sight before looking to the source. It's a black robe with a gruff appearance and a deep frown.

Hansel | Level: 12.
Knight

"Yeah, that's me." You reply, giving him a questioning but still respectful look. The black robes, as you understand it, are mainly slaves of the various Magi here. That doesn't stop them from being terrifying beings with the power to snap you like a twig.

"Finally." He sighs, turning away. "Follow me, Lord Klaus requests your presence."

Dang it.

-x-

Voting is Closed.

Kolarthecool · May 26, 2017

A/N: my thanks to @mrttao for his help with this chaptee. Hope you all enjoy.

A/N2: going to bed directly after this post. If you have any questions, you'll have to wait for answers.

[X][gender] Still female, yay?
[X][elements] Primary of Life, secondary of Soul.
[X][personality] Aloof and Ambitious. Your focus is on gaining the power to not only survive, but to thrive in this dangerous world. You will ignore slights against you so long as they don't impede your goals. Should they do so, you vengeance shall be terrifying.

-x-

You gained two skills last post that were quickly dismissed.

Life Affinity (Passive) | Lv: 1 / 50.
You have a major affinity for the Element of Life. It clings to you like a warm blanket.

Allows the cultivation of [Life] type elemental particles.
Increases the effectiveness of [Life] type meditation techniques by 1%
[Life] type skills gain 1% bonus xp.

Soul Affinity (Passive) Lv: 1 / 50.
You have a minor affinity for the Element of Soul. It is drawn to you like a moth to a flame.

Allows the cultivation of [Soul] type elemental particles.
Increases the effectiveness of [Soul] type meditation techniques by 0.5%
[Soul] type skills gain 0.5% bonus xp.

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate.
Chapter Three: Klaus and the Academy.

-x-

The two of you reach Klaus' cabin far too quickly for your liking.

After making sure you are following, Hansel leads you through a maze of cabins and tents towards one in particular. The crowd of excited initiates parts like water around the two of you, the other children wisely getting out of the way when they see him advancing through. You duck your head at some of the pitying looks you receive. They seem to assume that you can only be in some sort of trouble if a black robe is leading you around.

Arriving in front of a cabin that is just the slightest bit larger than all the rest, the black robe turns and leaves with only a grunted 'go inside'. You watch him vanish into the crowd before turning back to the now imposing looking door. You're really not looking forward to this.

Klaus…

Klaus Neilis is not a bad man, not to you at least. He has, to your knowledge, never tried to deceive or manipulate you. Something you are willing to bet that others in his position would gladly try. Instead, Klaus has told you plainly and bluntly why he is helping you, what he expects in return, and the difficulties you might face in repaying his aid. He has, as far as you can tell, been completely upfront and honest about everything. You might not have come on this trip at all if that wasn't the case. So yes, the Klaus you know is not a bad man... but he's not someone you can trust either.

Klaus is one of the nobility. One of the rich elite that rule over the commoners of the land. More than that, he is a noble born of a Magus family. Just as nobles stand above commoners, Magi stand above nobles. If Klaus were to take up residence in the court of the king, it would be he that the king bows and kowtows to. That sort of power, of privilege, it does not sit well in the hands of a good man. Klaus might be all smiles and kindness with you but you've seen how he treats the black robes and the other 'commoner rabble'. He is not a bad man but he is most certainly not a good one either.

More than that, he is someone that holds power over you. On but a simple whim, he has granted you a future of power and authority. A future that won't see you dead and rotting on the streets before adulthood. All it would take is another whim, a changed mind, and you will be no more than a destitute street urchin so very far from home. Klaus is the one that holds your fate in his hands. You do not like that, not one bit.

Sighing, you reach out and grasp the doorknob. He probably already knows you're out here, better not to dawdle. Turning the knob, you open the door and enter the cabin.

The room you enter is beyond extravagant. Looking around, you can only think that something like this is more belonging in a lords castle rather than in some cabin. The walls are of some type of polished, white stone with various paintings and golden ornaments hanging from them. The floor is a lush, black carpet that looks like the furry hide of some great beast. There is a golden chandelier hanging from the stone ceiling above, the dozens of candles it holds serving to brightly illuminate the entire room.

Off to the side is a bed. It is far too long, far too wide and piled with far too many pillows. The frame is made of a dark wood with an intricate and arcane looking pattern carved in it. In the center of the room is a round, deep brown, wooden table piled high with all sorts of delicacies. There are two chairs, both the same color as the table and with a cushioned seat. Sitting in one chair is Klaus.

The noble lord, Klaus Neilis is a somewhat androgynous looking man with sharp, angular features. He is quite tall and thin, with shoulder length black hair, kind and inviting brown eyes, and a pair of very pronounced cheekbones. He is the sort of man that women like to sigh over. The sort that can have them fainting with only a smile. There is such a smile on his face now, warm and welcoming. It just makes you want to flee this place.

"Ah, my dear Cat. Welcome, welcome." Klaus greets, his smile widening and his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Come, sit and eat. You must be quite hungry after such a busy day."

You do as he says. You're not all that hungry, or thirsty for that matter. You can barely even remember the last time you were affected by such feelings. Still, you like the taste of food and any chance to indulge is a welcome one. Especially when it's such high quality fare as this.

Walking up to the table, you place your bag to the side and take a seat on the empty chair. A few moments pass as you make you choice before you reach out and pull over a saucer with a slice of red and white cake on it. There are far too many forks of varying size on the table, so you just grab the largest one and dig in. Klaus winces at the action but you pay him little mind as you scoop a piece of cake into your mouth.

…..delicious.

You have consumed Hagenberry Cake.

Hp Regeneration: +10% for 1 hr.
Mp Regeneration: +10% for 1 hr.

Hagenberry? It tastes like that Lemon Tart Flesha's parents gave you on your birthday years ago. You'll never forget that taste.

You take another bite.

Klaus smiles. Damn it.

"I'm glad you enjoy it." He says, looking at the table with a slight frown. He shrugs. "It's not quite up to my usual standards but what can you do? At least, I'll be back home in a months time. Then I can get some proper food."

You glare, trying to set the bastard on fire with your eyes. Unfortunately, it doesn't take.

Your first night with the caravan was your very first time tasting white bread. White bread is the sort of food only nobles can afford, commoners have to suffer with the bitter black bread. Street kids like yourself would be lucky if the bread wasn't stale. It is so bad, that after gaining your power, you were more likely to go days without food than eat a slice of black bread. After years of only being able to eat stale, bitter black bread, that single bite of soft white bread was enough to bring tears to your face. That heavenly food, food that no ordinary commoner can ever hope to taste, is the sort of thing bastards like this consider trash. You could really see yourself hating him for that alone if he wasn't helping you so much, if he wasn't the reason you could eat such wonderful food now.

"Ah, never mind that. How was your aptitude test?" Klaus continues, smirking at your glare. He seems to find your attitude 'precocious' and 'adorable', it's the only reason you even dare to act this way.

You just shrug and hand him the paper, you learned your lesson after the first lecture on talking with food in your mouth. He takes it and quickly skims through while you keep eating. There are seven cups of different colored liquid on the table. You pick a bubbly red one and take a sip. Fruity, like a grape but with a hint of something else. Apple? Who knows. It's still delicious.

You have consumed Vinewroth Extract.

Earth Resistance: +2% for 30 mins.

You quirk a brow at the vanishing box. Resistance… something to look into another time. For now, Klaus has finished reading the paper and is looking at you with a wide grin.

"Marvelous! A grade five aptitude, just as I suspected." Klaus praises, clapping his hands together in excitement. "And a primary affinity for Life, that is quite lucky."

You give him a quizzical look and he rolls his eyes. He leans forward in the seat and you prepare yourself for a lecture.

"A Magus needs to cultivate in an area with suitable elemental particles dear girl. The more particles of your element there are in the area, the better and faster your cultivation. These particles are naturally released, and increased, by Magi of a like nature operating in suitable areas over a number of years." He explains, taking an orange and red colored tart from the table and cutting into it with a small fork. "A place full of corpses and death, like a cemetery, will be saturated with Darkness and Death type particles. A volcano will have plenty of Fire type particles, a forest will be flush with Nature type particles, and a cave will be chock-full of Earth or Metal types. Things like that, but only if powerful Magi or creatures have saturated the place with their radiation."

He pauses to look at you. You nod to show your understanding. So far it makes sense. Klaus smiles and jabs his fork in your direction.

"Now you, you my dear have a primary element of Life. Life!" He exclaims with a loud laugh, startling you. "Where can you go that you won't find life? What academy can you attend that has no living beings? Ah, you may as well have gotten Air or Dirt with such luck."

Oh. You understand the point now. So long as there is something alive in the area you study at, there will be the Life element particles that you seem to need for whatever reason. It really is lucky.

"Oh yes, and more than that, you have a strong secondary of Soul. You really are quite the lucky girl. Such complementary elements." He sighs, looking wistful. You, in turn, just look confused. Something that causes him you chuckle.

"Ah, I forget how little you know about this world. Truly, you are lucky to have one such as myself to guide you through this." Klaus boasts and now it's your turn to roll your eyes. He chuckles again and takes a bite of the tart, seemingly savoring it before speaking again. "Soul is perhaps one of the few elements that work best with Life. You wouldn't think it but Life can be very finicky. A… not better, but more suitable element would have been Earth or Light."

He pauses to think, taking another bite of the tart. Nodding to himself, he continues.

"Most Magi with Life tend to lean towards Plant magic. Usually, their secondary is nothing outstanding but with just Life, they can quickly grow and control all manner of plants. Spell models for this type of magic are also relatively cheap and quite abundant. It is one of the most popular paths for those that cultivate Life." He pauses to take a sip of a steaming, purple drink and sighs in contentment.

"This isn't the only way Life can be used however. So long as something is alive, and sometimes even if it is not, Life can be used upon it. Some use it to heal or stave off death. Others use it to better understand the mysteries of undeath. When Soul is added to Life… well, that's when things get interesting. Magi are a suspicious and solitary lot, but even the most untrusting Magus will pay a fortune to have a Magus skilled with Life and Soul assist them in creating a clone. It is simply worth it."

He pauses again and you find yourself wanting to squirm under his intensified gaze. You can practically feel him reevaluating your worth. He sighs after a few seconds and reclines in his seat.

"Unfortunately, such advanced practices and spell models are near impossible to come across. Any Magus with such in their possession would guard it vehemently. It would be a difficult path to walk." He continues before shaking his head. "Never mind that, we've gotten quite off topic. Tell me dear Cat, have you decided what type of academy you wish to attend?"

You blink at the sudden conversation change before shrugging. You take another sip of your drink.

"Uh, I don't know. A good one?" You ask in reply, wincing at the uncertainty in your voice. You didn't get a chance to look at any of the academy buildings or meet a recruiter. How are you supposed to know which to pick?

Klaus sighs again and rolls his eyes.

"Of course, that is a given, but which type of Magus do you plan to be? Your elements are well suited for both so it's a matter of which philosophy you subscribe to." Klaus explains. At your blank look, he curses under his breath and frowns. A moment passes before he sighs and continues. "Tell me, what do you know of the two Magi factio- never mind, I should have expected this. Very well, I shall explain."

You try not to wince. All of these explanations are probably going to end up costing you. Maybe you should have accepted Flesha's offer of a book or two to read.

"Now, listen closely Cat. There are two types of Magus on this continent, the Light and the Dark. Both factions are Magi in every sense of the word but they have vastly different philosophies. Light Magi follow a certain code of benevolence. They protect and cultivate resources, growing what plants they need or keeping livestock and commoners in their territory safe and in high numbers. In turn, they are more strict and enforcing of certain laws. If you follow this path, then you will find yourself limited in what you can study regarding your Soul element. Most types of study in that area is considered 'evil' and thus, illegal" He explains, taking on a lecturing tone. You're quite sure you don't like how commoners like yourself are lumped together with livestock. "Dark Magi on the other hand are more… wasteful. They subscribe to a philosophy of the strong crushing the weak and will use up what resources the can find with little to no thought to the consequences. They have very little in the way of laws and so long as one has the power, they can do as they please. Due to this way of thinking, Dark Magi often make raids into Light territory for resources. As such, most Dark and Light Magi tend to fight one another on sight. There is more to it than that but really, you should only choose based on what best benefits you and your studies."

"And what would that be?" You ask, mind reeling from all of that information. You haven't even started school yet and you're already sick of learning.

Klaus shrugs.

"It depends really. If you wish to best cultivate your Life affinity, then go with the Light Magi. They have had more Magi of that element and know it better than most. The head of Sovereign Saints Bell Tower is one of the best healers in the entire South Continent, their route of cultivation and focus of study is best if that is the path you wish to walk. In turn, the Consecrate Chapel of the Exalted Five are superior in purification and defense against darkness users. Their methods are more suited for those that use Light but they can be just as effective with Life. The other three schools are of middling importance in this regard but can teach you some of this, in addition to the use of plants and such." He explains, finger tapping on the table. Then he frowns. "Your studies regarding your secondary affinity will suffer however. As I mentioned, the Light Magi have strict laws in regards to the soul. There are certain… experiments and studies one must perform in order to fully explore the mysteries of the soul. A majority of these are illegal in the territory of the light Magi."

He pauses until you nod in understanding before continuing.

"In turn, your study of Life will not be as great or as easy in the lands of the Dark Magi. Most academies there will just have you focus on plant type magic and send you on your way. It will be up to you to better discover ways to utilize your power. The Dark Magi are also quite lax in regards to their laws so you may conduct any experiment you wish in pursuit of your studies. Like I said, Life can be used in such... interesting ways on the living." Klaus continues, smirking when you shudder in some understanding of what these experiments would entail. "Your study of the soul will also flourish with the Dark Magi. There are no restrictions to what you can do and a vast number of Dark Magi over the centuries have been powerful necromancers. If there is anywhere to learn the mysteries of the soul and spirits, it is with the Dark Magi."

You worry your lip in thought once Klaus has finished speaking. It really is a tough decision to make. This is your future as a Magus you're planning after all. You look up at Klaus and he gives you an encouraging smile. You scowl.

"What side is your family on?" You ask. That seems like the sort of thing you should consider when making this choice, even if it's so that you can choose an opposing faction.

Klaus laughs. Long and loud, it is the laugh of someone that finds the cause of their mirth ridiculously hilarious. Minutes pass before he stops long enough to give you an answer.

"Apologies dear child, I forgot how little you know of this world. No Magi would ever ask such a thing knowing my name." He says, still chuckling. You give him a blank look and he grins. "Well, as you know, I am of the Neilis family. We are… neutral as far as these things go. My family holds control of one of the few safe routes between the lands of the Dark Magi and those of the Light, what little trade there is between them has to pass through our territory. As such, both sides consider us allies and we remain neutral in their disputes."

He pauses, tapping his chin in thought before his grin turns conspiratory.

"Of course, those of the Neilis clan with certain... inclinations, can find ways to assist the side of our choice." Klaus continues with a shrug. "Really, it depends on what side of the route the one in question is operating from."

That doesn't seem like it should work based on all that he's told you of both factions. Wouldn't the Light Magi have laws against it? Wouldn't the Dark Magi just attack and take what they want?

"They let you do that?" You ask, curious. He scoffs and puffs his chest out.

"Grandfather is a Rank Three Magus and Father is Peak Rank Two. Even if the other members of the family are ignored, the other Magi would be foolish to deny us." Klaus boasts. You have no idea what any of that means but you guess it's supposed to be impressive. Klaus deflates at your lack of reaction and sighs. "Either way, it means that you are not beholden to choose any faction because of your debt to me."

He pauses, face scrunching in thought.

"Matter of fact... should you wish it later on, I could easily see to it that you are given safe passage from one faction to the other." He continues, expression turning sly. "It will cost you of course, the academies are quite strict regarding deserters and the like. For the troubles such would bring, only a signed contract to join the Neilis family would suffice."

You nod and frown. You really need to look up what this contract stuff means. This isn't the first time he's mentioned it. That aside…

"What are all the good academies then?" You ask. Checking with their recruiters might be good but you don't really know enough to make the right choice on your own. Better to ask Klaus while he's still in a good mood.

"Hmm.." He hums, tapping his chin gain. "Well, I suppose there's…"

The next few minutes are spent with you eating and listening as Klaus expounds on the merits of each school. He gives you a general overview of them all, before launching into a more detailed explanation on the ones he feels are best suited for your elemental affinities. The ones that can offer you the best benefits.

In the end, it comes down to nine academies. Five on the side of the Light Magi and four on that of the Dark Magi.

Which Academy will you attend?

As provided by @mrttao, this is a simplified explanation on the divide between factions and what they believe.

Black mages commonly wear black robes.
They are hyper darwinian, believing in a survival of the fittest murder-academy education.
They believe in honest fair exchange. You can experiment on your students only if you bribed them into agreeing to let you do so. Of course, you don't have to tell the details upfront and if someone has a rare enough thing, they would ignore the taboo and take the risk and try to do so on the sly.
They believe non-magicals to be like weeds, you harvest them as needed and they will repopulate on their own.
They do in fact hunt down and kill black mages who wantonly slaughter mortals to prevent the depletion of this valuable resource.
They recruit anyone, noble, peasant, even people from other's territories.
They believe it is impractical to spend your entire life manufacturing stuff and that it is better to steal the resources you need.
They live in hidden communities away from the mortals.

White mages tend to wear white robes.
They pretend to be wise and kind.
They manage large scale magic ingredient farms/ranches to produce resources.
They are fairly unified, and control the larger portion of territory.
They usually only recruit nobles but will take in talented individuals.
They are slightly less likely to rob and steal.
They consider their non-magical citizens to be "well treated cattle".
They live amongst the mortals and have a system of expensive magic purification towers that prevent their stray radiation from killing them all (an official magus could kill a normal human in seconds just from his body's radiation if he puts his reactor on max)
Mortals in their territory are expected to bow and praise all official magi whenever they see them.
Any mortal that insults them may be freely executed, but it's usually frowned upon if overdone.
Many of them will occasionally wear black robes and a mask at night and go robbing their fellow white mages while pretending to be black mages.

White and black mages usually kill each other if they encounter each other in the wild. There are some neutral trade cities.
Both sides have a treaty to strictly control access to knowledge of advancing to official magus and whenever they become overpopulated, they conspire to create a wide scale war to thin out the lower ranks.

Light
[][academy] Sovereign Saints Bell Tower.
A well regarded academy located within a large bell tower in the center of a city. The tower stretches high into the sky and can be seen even days away from the city. Its bell tolls once a day, when the sun is at its highest. Their main area of study is on the human body and how best to heal or treat it. The buildings around the tower are all hospitals where the students may practice their craft on injured volunteers.

When the holy bell atop the tower tolls each day, it creates waves of energy that invigorate the students and slowly raise physique, up to a point, for those who practice their meditation technique.

[][academy] Consecrate Chapel of the Exalted Five.
A militant academy based inside of a cathedral like building on the outskirts of a small city. Their main area of study is on purification type magic and combating Darkness. They focus on the use of Light type magic to combat Darkness element mages, demons and undead.

There is a maze of catacombs and dungeon vaults beneath the academy where they lock up dangerous dark/undead related items and remains so that time may cause them to decay. These areas emit powerful radiation that can cause mysterious beings to spawn. The academy has chosen to exploit this by having all mortals from their city interred within when they die, converting the whole underground into a natural training ground for their initiates. In effect, it is an attached dungeon with naturally forming, low level undead.

[][academy] Four Relics Melody.
A major academy based in a mountainous region of the continent. A major city stands in the valley ringed by these mountains. Their main focus of study is on the casting of various types of illusions and ensnaring the souls of lesser beings.

The academy has been built high in the snowy mountains. Four of the tallest mountains have a large pagoda constructed at their peak. Inside of each lays an ancient relic that is constantly emitting an enchanting music. Contained within the lesser peaks are the rest of the academy. The highest peaks are constantly shrouded in thick fog and vibrant rainbows.

The academy cultivates multiple colonies of majestic, magical birds as a source of raw materials, flying mounts, and income.

[][academy] Oakenbrook Academy.
A resource generating academy with a spacious campus inside of a large city. Their main area of study is in the field of Alchemy and Potioneering, as well as a minor focus in the animating of inanimate objects. The entire city has been specially crafted by earth manipulation, the buildings all created out of seemingly perfect marble. The rooftops are used as gardens and through the center of the city runs a river. In the river itself there is a massive oak tree whose roots serve as a bridge, while the canopy spreads over an utterly massive area of the city. The fruits that hang from this tree shine with a mysterious light.

Despite the campus, a vast majority of this academy is actually underground. Its halls are greatly steeped in the essence of Earth and Life. Whole segments of the campus above are actually greenhouses for the resources the Magi require.

[][academy] Melodious Serenity of the Nurturing Mother.
A nature loving academy located deep within a magical wood. A city formed of magically sculpted trees surrounds the academy building. Their main area of focus is in the manipulation of plants and seeds.

Several of the forest's trees have been awakened to sapience, granting them the ability to cultivate as Magi or Elementals. They serve as guardians, teachers, and the source of highly prized, magical seeds. The aesthetic is similar to that of your typical, fantasy "elf" village.

Dark
[][academy] Obsidian Vault of Eternal Sleep.
A mysterious academy located deep underground. Its environs and tunnels are full of thorny bramblea and dangerous plants. The land above is a swamp shrouded with a miasma of toxic gas. Their main study of focus is on the mysteries of the soul and necromancy.

The academy keeps a population of enslaved gnomes imported from the subterranean world long before the connection was severed. Thanks to this hidden population of non-human slaves, it is cheap to buy souls or living subjects for experimentation.

[][academy] The Desolate Labyrinth.
A remote academy based in the ruins of an ancient structure. The labyrinth walls are covered in extremely detailed frescos which form an illusory world of their own. As such, their main area of study is that of illusions and the ways they can affect the soul.

Students who reach the age of sixty without breaking through to the ranks of official Magus, will have their soul extracted by the faculty and added to the fresco. Most become mindless ghosts, but a sizeable minority manage to retain their sanity and continue their training as a bodyless, spirit Magus.

The academy actually has several spirit magi as staff members

[][academy] Misty Woods Academy.
A deadly acadeny located on a desolate woodland. Years of work by the staff have transformed the trees surrounding the academy onto demonic trees. These serve as guardians for the academy, as well as mentors for those brave enough to form a contract. Their main area of focus is in the transmutation path of Alchemy, using magical plants and Plant type magic to augment the body and soul.

This academy produces a wide variety of bizzare mutated monsters. Their main staple is the plant zombie, a human turned into a great knight equivalent that is utterly obedient and has plant matter growing out of its body. There is also a nearby canyon into which many failed experiments have been tossed. Enterprising students might venture there, as even the failed experiment of an official Magus might contain valuable insight for them.

[][academy] Damned Reef Temple.
A devious academy based in a lighthouse like building on the ocean side. The light that shines from the top of this structure has a mesmerizing effect that can ensnare and draw in those that are unable to resist it. Any that fall prey to this effect are used as experimentation subjects by the staff and students. Their main area of focus is necromancy, primarily in understanding the mysteries of the human body and soul.

Located deep under the academy building is a massive cistern full of blood. Several creatures with powerful regenerative abilities have been slowly drained over many centuries to acquire all that blood. It is used to power a variety of blood magics and rituals.

-x-

Voting is Closed.

Kolarthecool · May 30, 2017

[X] Oakenbrook Academy.

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate.
Chapter Four: Recruitment and Peers.

-x-

It is only after you've passed through the recruitment area of the various academies, that you being to realize just how unprepared you might be for this new world. The continent of Gelenos, upon which your home city can be found, is not a place steeped with magic. While there are monsters that roam the wilds and stories of the great Magi, it is not something that the average person will encounter in their lifetime.

According to Klaus, the entire island continent is a 'low particle area'. This means that there are so few of the magical particles that Magi need to improve, that very few Magi would actually choose to live here. Of the fifty or so million people that live on this small continent, there are perhaps a total of three thousand Magi and Acolytes. A majority of those being criminals that had no choice but to flee the South Continent, or Acolytes unable to ever advance and have thus returned to their homes. Those numbers do not lean to magic being a prevalent force.

What you know about the capabilities of a Magus can be summed up on one hand. What little Klaus has explained to you and what you have actually seen; a ball of explosive fire that could easily lay waste to a squad of soldiers. Still, there is something else that you are beginning to understand about the Magi. Something that you are slowly beginning to piece together on your own.

Magi are crazy.

Take the Oakenbrook Academy recruitment tent for example. Tents, as everybody knows, are temporary structures built with wooden poles and cloth sheets. The sizes and shapes might vary a little but all tents are relatively the same. Well, apparently the Magi wholeheartedly disagree.

Your walk past the recruitment 'tents' has revealed one absurd sight after the other. From a tent shaped structure formed entirely out of mist and light, to a towering bell tower built of spiraling sheets of gold and silver with an actual bell formed of cloth at the top. The Magi here have completely reinvented the meaning of the word tent.

The most normal looking one of the whole lot, a regular shaped tent constructed of wooden poles and leather walls with strange patterns inked on them, actually tried to trap you in an illusion. Trapped as in, there were other initiates collapsed around the tent and everyone was carefully avoiding looking in that direction. And this is only the Light Magi side of the campground, you shudder to think what structures have been set up on the side of the more callous Dark Magi.

The Oakenbrook Academy recruitment tent, which you've managed to find thanks to directions from Klaus, is as absurd as all the rest in its construction. The entire tent is like a showcase to the magnificence of nature. Standing before you is a might tree, an oak you presume, with an expansive canopy that covers much of the surrounding area. A myriad of bushes, shrubs and the like have all been grown around the tree. Then, long, thorny vines hanging from the branches of tree have been used to lash the whole thing into a tent like shape. All in all, it looks like a tent that has been naturally grown from the ground. You'd spotted the top of it when overlooking the whole area from the carriage but dismissed it as just a normal tree. How wrong you were.

Sighing for what feels like the thousandth time today, you adjust your bag straps and enter the tent.

The inside of the tent is more spacious than you are expecting, with dangling vines separating the front area from what looks like another room. Bulbous fruits hang from the vines and branches above. Each pear shaped fruit glows with an inner light bright enough to illuminate the tent. In the center of the room is a wooden desk, also grown directly from the ground, with a man seated behind it.

The man is... beautiful. This is the only word that seems to fit. He is too effeminate to be considered handsome but retains enough masculine features that you can't mistake him for a woman either. The man is tall and thin, with regal features that would make even Deacon and Klaus steam with envy. His hair, lashes included, is a platinum blond that seems to glow under the light of the fruit above. He is robed in White cloth. Not the white that Klaus and the others wear, but a white so white that those others may as well have been decked in black.

It actually hurts to look directly at those robes.

]-The Dream of Gaia-[
Lucifer Nocturne | Lv: ???
Magus (Peak Rank One)

…what? That… title? aside, why are there a bunch of question marks for his level. This... this is new. Should you... should you Observe him? The last time you used the skill was on a strange looking man in the marketplace. Shortly after that, said man confronted you with claims that you had the potential to become a Magus. You don't know if Klaus was able to sense your power being used on him. You've been too wary to try. But this is strange. This is something you've never encountered before.

What do you do?
*whether Lucifer notices the scan or not is undecided. Don't take the following conversation as proof that he didn't notice.
[][observe] Use Observe on Lucifer.
Chance that Lucifer, and all future Magi of a higher rank than you, will be able to sense your scan of them. How they react to it is up to them.

[][observe] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
The MC will absolutely avoid using Observe on anyone that could sense it or can reasonably retaliate for it.

For that matter, what do you do regarding your other hidden ability?
*Magi tend to carry everything of importance on themselves. It won't be weird for you to always have stuff on hand, though the question of how you store it is up to you. Bags of Holding are a thing… if you're a really high ranked Magus that is.
[][inventory] Don't use the Inventory.
Any collected items will be kept on your person and the Inventory will only be used if you run out of pockets and pouches.

[][inventory] Use the Inventory (when no one can see).
All items will be stored in the Inventory. The MC will also collect random items such as food or resources on her own but only if there is absolutely no one around that might see it.

[][inventory] Write in.

"Ara? Another student come to apply? How joyous. This one was beginning to think there would be no more." Lucifer says, sitting up from his seat and looking you over. His voice is soothing and melodious, you feel like you could just lay down and fall asleep listening to it.

An illusion has been resisted!

You have gained the status [Radiation Sickness].

[Radiation Sickness] - Your proximity to a source of great radiation is causing you harm.

Max hp is reduced by 1 every hour.
This status can only be removed by distancing yourself from the source.

You eyes narrow as the feeling of relaxation fades away and you quickly read the text box. That... what? What is radiation? This isn't the first time you're hearing that word. Your lack of knowledge is really starting to annoy you.

"Oh ho." The Magus chuckles. There is a great deal more interest in his gaze now. "My, oh my. To think that the side effects of this ones' radiation, suppressed though it may be, would be so easily resisted. How fascinating."

You have lost the status [Radiation Sickness].

Your eyes widen slightly as something in the air seems to shift. A pressure you didn't even notice is lifted from your shoulders and your breaths come easier. What... what the hell?

Lucifer chuckles again

"Indeed, you must surely be a student of great talent. Ah, perhaps this one has not wasted their time coming on this errand." He sighs, leaning forward to place both elbows on the table. His chin comes to a rest on the bridge formed by his fingers. You notice that they are decorated with an assortment of rings. "Come child, allow this one to see your testing results."

You nod and step forward with the sheet held out. Included is a folded letter from Klaus in some language that you can't understand. Lucifer takes them with a wide smile and begins reading. His smile widens as he reads your test sheet-

"Oh my, a commoner yet you have a fifth-grade aptitude? You lucky girl!"

-only to slowly fade as he reads more and more of Klaus' letter. By the end of it, Lucifer is clutching the crumpled letter in one hand while angrily biting the thumb of the other. The tent is silent as the Magus stews in anger while you watch on with some trepidation.

"Damn it. Damn those Neilis' bastards!" Lucifer growls, angrily muttering under his breath. He is practically gnashing on his thumb. The crumpled note explodes in flames, and his eyes flick down to you. Startled, you take half a step back.

A new skill has been gained!

Detect Bloodthirst (Passive) | Lv: 13.
You inspire a desire to maim and kill in others. Be wary.

Detects any desire to harm the user within 13 ft.
Reveals the source of danger.

You find yourself pinned under his gaze, stuck fast by a pair of icy blue eyes. Breathing becomes difficult. Even the thought of moving is impossible. It's not fear you feel. Feeling fear is an impossibility for you. No, this isn't fear or terror. This is certainty. The certainty of approaching death.

"Answer this child. Did the Neilis have you sign a contract?" Lucifer asks, voice low and sibilant.

It takes every last bit of effort for you to shake your head in the negative. You are as calm and collected as always yet you still find such a simple motion difficult. It takes several silent seconds of effort but you manage it.

Lucifer grins at the reply.

His emotions seem to do a complete one-eighty and he's suddenly standing, bearing over you with a beatific expression on his face. The feeling of certain death vanishes in an instant and suddenly you are able to breath again and move freely.

"Oh? Truly? My, my. How fortuitous." He chuckles darkly. "Tell me little kitten, how would you like to become this ones' personal apprentice?"

You frown, unsure of what that means. Your thoughts and emotions are still in turmoil after what you just experienced but now isn't the time for that. Your power grants you exactly what you require. Focus.

Seeing your expression, Lucifer stands upright. Tall and imposing, the sight fills you with trepidation. His hair, eyes and robes are glowing brightly in the light.

"This one is head of Oakenbrook Academy's Department of Illusions. This great one specializes in illusions, nature manipulation, and the conversion of energy. In these topics, there is no one better than this one to instruct you." He boasts, voice filled with pride and satisfaction. "If you agree, this one can promise you a personal laboratory and greenhouse of your very own. This one will even provide you with information on five topics. For free! Truly, this one is magnanimous and generous in their offer."

He looks back to you and frowns at your blank look. Sure, that sounds like it might be a good deal but really, you have zero context here. You have absolutely no idea what any of that means or it's value. Klaus mentioned that Oakenbrook was renown for it's Alchemy and Potioneering department, as well as the resources they grow and sell. Lucifer doesn't seem to have anything to do with that.

Lucifer sits down and slips back into his relaxed, regal appearance. His arms are crossed over the table and there is a calm smile on his face. Clearly, you're both going to pretend the flashes of rage and prideful boasting didn't happen.

"Well? What do you say child?" He asks, smile widening.

You worry your lip as you muse over the issue. A moment passes, where he seems to be patiently waiting, before you reply.

Once you start the academy, there are a variety of topics you can study and ways you can study them. Each topic is rated out of 100 points, with 95 to 100 being the level of a Grandmaster in the topic. This is not a limit however, as your knowledge can always surpass that of the average grandmaster. Each method of study gives a different amount of points and has a cap on how much you can learn from it. You can also lose points from things such as a bad memory and the like.

Learning from a Mentor/Professor can give you the most points and has the highest base cap of 50 points in a topic. This cap can be changed based on your relationship with your mentor and how willing they are to teach you the more advanced topics.

[][mentor] Accept.
You gain Lucifer Noctus as a Mentor.

You gain a head start on your studies.
All lessons from him will give double points.
Lessons on subjects he specializes in will give triple points.
Knowledge cap from this Mentor is increased to 75 points.

[][mentor] Refuse.
You gain Lucifer Noctus as a Minor Enemy. Lucifer dislikes the Neilis family and will connect you with them. As you are technically protected, he will not go out of his way to impede you... but he will certainly not help you either.

[] Write in: Optional. What do you say? Maybe you can blunt some animosity.

-x-

As it turns out, the spread of cabins behind the Oakenbrook Academy recruitment tent is reserved solely for the students of the school. As such, you are granted one of the cabins to use as your own. Only for a single night however, as it seems your group was the last to arrive and the various Magi will be shipping out with their recruits tomorrow.

Making your way around to the back of the tent, you're met with the sight of various other initiates sitting around a campfire. The fire is burning low and surrounded by various logs that can be used as seats. Off to the side is a long table holding a large quantity of food and drink. There are quite a lot of items you have never seen before on the table.

One of the initiates by the fire, a young boy with tanned skin, dark red hair and emerald green eyes, sees you and smiles. Standing up, he makes his way over with a pleasant smile on his face.

Leonard Phale | Lv: 3
Acolyte (Initiate) | Preparatory Knight (Beginner)

"Hello there, you must be new here!" He greets with a slight bow, sounding exuberant. "I'm Leonard, of the Phale family. You can call me Leo!"

You nod and smile in reply. Might as well be polite.

"Hello, I'm Cat. It's nice to meet you." You reply. His smile slips just the littlest bit before returning to normal. "Yeah, I just got accepted into Oakenbrook."

"Ah, welcome." Leo says, turning to lead you towards the fire. "Come on, I'll introduce you."

You follow behind him with a slight frown. You recognize two of those initiates around the fire. Both are girls that liked to hang around Deacon and bully you. Annoying.

"Everyone, we have a new companion!" Leo yells, drawing all attention to yourselves. He turns sideways and holds a hand out towards you. "This is Cat and she managed to pass Master Nocturne's test as well. Let us treat her well."

You get a few muttered greetings and nods as you look around the fire. At a quick glance, you count nineteen other initiates. A couple share the same level as Leo but most are just in the ones and twos.

"Hello everyone." You greet with a nod. Both of the girls you recognize frown and glare at you.

"Tch." One sneers, drawing attention. "That girl is just a commoner one of the White Robes took pity on, there is no way she deserves to be here."

The other nods along. You just roll your eyes. Leo frowns and looks between you and the two girls. Seemingly coming to a decision, he turns to the two girls with a stern expression.

"Come now Magritte, we are going to a new continent to become Acolytes. Things like family names and backgrounds shouldn't matter." Leo says, shaking his head. "Besides, Cat must have some talent if she managed to get accepted to our Oakenbrook Academy despite her background."

He turns back to you with a soft smile.

"I myself am a fourth-grade talent with a great chance to advance to official Magus. The same is true with Kulwin and Glen here." Leo says, pointing to the two others of the same level as him. He then points to a cluster of kids sitting somewhat separate from the rest. This cluster includes the two bullies, Magritte Helmway and Alicia Lerbin. "Those seven there are all third-grade talents with a small chance to still advance to Magus."

You nod and he points to the final cluster of kids, nine total and seated farthest from all the others.

"Over there are all the first and second-grade talents." His voice is lower now and takes on a tone of distaste. "They have a very small chance to ever advance to official Magus. They will likely be stuck as Acolytes forever."

You nod again in understanding and he gives you an expectant look. Sadly, it takes you a moment too long to realize what he, and the rest, are waiting for.

"Oh, uh, I'm a fifth-grade talent." You say and his eyes boggle. The circle goes silent and you realize that everyone is staring at you in either awe or envy. "I think that's supposed to be good?"

No one says anything for the longest moment. Then Leo laughs and places a hand on your shoulder.

"See Magritte? A fifth-grade talent! A genius!" He crows, looking around the circle of faces. "You better apologize while you still can, Cat here is definitely going to be a Magus someday."

Unsurprisingly, Magritte and Alicia don't take this well and glare at you with sour faces. You shrug and Leo laughs again.

"Never mind, never mind. Come on Cat, I'll show you where you can put your things." Leo says, shaking his head and leading you off to the side.

Following Leo, you are lead to one of the cabins near the back of the area. It looks exactly like all the rest.

"This one is still empty." Leo says, opening the door. You both cough as a cloud of dust pours out of the doorway. Leo steps in while waving a hand to clear some of the dust. "They're really not the best, these old cabins, but at least you only have to put up with it for one night."

Stepping in, you look around with a frown. The cabin is as decrepit as Klaus' is extravagant. The walls, and roof, are cracked and moldy. There are two windows, both grimy and thick with dust. There is only a single, rusted sconce for a torch on the wall and a rickety looking cot at the back of the room. It's not the worst place you've had to sleep in but really…

"Ah, don't mind it." Leo says, waving a hand negligently. "Just put your stuff away and come sit at the fire."

You nod and thank him.

"Ha ha, think nothing of it. I'm just glad you're not like that jerk Aaron." He laughs sheepishly, scratching his chin while looking away. You give him a questioning look. "Oh! It's just a bad guy that I had to travel with. He got tested before the journey and found out he has a fifth-grade aptitude. He was acting very arrogant the whole trip."

You nod again in understanding. If you actually knew what it meant to be a fifth-grade aptitude before all of this you might have acted the same. If only to get Deacon and the rest to leave you alone. Oh well. Knowing that you have such great, and highly desired, potential is enough.

"Well, I'll be seeing you." Leo says with another wave, turning to leave. The door closes behind him and the room descends into darkness. You can still see, if barely, from the light shining through the dirty windows.

Stepping into the room, you drop your bag on the floor and collapse onto the bed. A cloud of dust has you coughing again for several minutes. When it settles, you lay back and sigh. Today has been a very long one and it's not even sundown yet.

What do you do next? (Choose up to two).
[][action] Return to the campfire.

[][action 2] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.
[][action 2] Socialize with Magritte and the other Grade Threes.
[][action 2] Socialize with the First and Second grades.
[][action 2] Return to cabin early (allows you to select one cabin action)
[][action 2] Write in.

[][action] Stay in your cabin.

[][action 2] Study the Orb Lucifer gave you (only available if you chose him as a Mentor).
[][action 2] Check your bag.
[][action 2] Check your power for changes.
[][action 2] Sleep.
[][action 2] Head to the campfire (allows you to select one campfire action)
[][action 2] Write in.

[][action] Write in.

-x-

Voting is Closed.

Adhoc vote count started by Kolarthecool on Jun 2, 2017 at 2:56 PM, finished with 103 posts and 26 votes.

7 people have voted
[X][observe] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
- veekie
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
- Unseelie
- LucidProp
6 people have voted
[x][Sex] Male
- Willian
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
- ConfusedPotato
- Verdom
6 people have voted
[X][personality] Stand above him. What you most want is to become strong enough to survive in this harsh world, as long as his actions don't impede your progress you will not go out of your way to get back at him. If he does actively impede you though...
- yttam50
- DevilsAdvocate
- Nicklance
- ConfusedPotato
- Verdom
- mrttao
6 people have voted
[X][inventory] Use the Inventory (when no one can see and only for particularly valuable things, or emergency supplies you need to have available in a crisis).
- veekie
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- wingstrike96
- Unseelie
- LucidProp
5 people have voted
[x][primary] Life
- giodan
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
- Nicklance
5 people have voted
[X][action 2] Socialize with the First and Second grades.
- veekie
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
5 people have voted
[X][action 2] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.
- veekie
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
5 people have voted
[X][personality] Make him sorry!
- Willian
- giodan
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
5 people have voted
[X][action] Return to the campfire.
- veekie
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
5 people have voted
-[X] You have little aptitude for his specialties, and so you hope you would not waste his time and attention until you are more deserving of his time.
- veekie
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
5 people have voted
[X][mentor] Refuse.
- veekie
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
5 people have voted
[x][secondary] Soul
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
- Nicklance
- Verdom
4 people have voted
[x][Sex] Female
2 people have voted
[X][academy] Oakenbrook Academy.
- makopaulo
- JackOfAll
2 people have voted
[X][mentor] Accept.
- Unseelie
- LucidProp
2 people have voted
[x][academy] Obsidian Vault of Eternal Sleep.
- Mellithae
- TheRuisu
2 people have voted
[x][primary] Time
- ConfusedPotato
- Verdom
2 people have voted
[x][secondary] Space
- yttam50
- DevilsAdvocate
2 people have voted
[x][primary] Soul
- yttam50
- DevilsAdvocate
1 people have voted
[X][academy] Misty Woods Academy.
- trill
1 people have voted
[X][academy] Sovereign Saints Bell Tower.
- Pyran
1 people have voted
[x][secondary] Water
- Willian
1 people have voted
[X] Oakenbrook Academy.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[x][secondary] Air
- giodan
1 people have voted
[x][primary] Light
- Willian
1 people have voted
[X][secondary] Write in: Death
- SkyCrab
1 people have voted
[X][primary] Write in: Lightning
- SkyCrab
1 people have voted
[X][inventory] Don't use the Inventory.
- Deamen1989
1 people have voted
[x][secondary] Mind
- ConfusedPotato

Kolarthecool · Jun 6, 2017

A/N: following the events of this chapter, a Relationships tab has been added to the character sheet.

[X] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
The MC will avoid using the [Observe] skill on any Acolytes or Magi unless the following criteria are met:

- she somehow manages to discover the lack of danger. No meta-gaming allowed for this (I.e: making her Observe another character just cause).
- the target is someone that she has no issues provoking.
- the target is suitably weak enough for her to not worry about the consequences.

[X] Use the Inventory.
Items will be stored in the inventory so long as the following criteria are met:

- the MC has no immediate use for the item.
- the MC will have no reason to present the item to others any time soon.
- no witnesses are around to see the item being stored away.

The MC will also have a chance to pilfer useful items if she can get away with it.

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate.
Chapter Five: Enemies, Socializing and Departure.

-x-

[X] Refuse Lucifer.

You shake your head in the negative, conveying to the Magus that you would refuse his offer. Lucifer frowns and raises a single brow in question.

"Oh? You would refuse this one's generous offer?" He asks, leaning back and crossing his arms across his chest. "Pray tell girl, why might this be the case?"

[Lucifer Nocturne is gained as a Minor Enemy]

[X] You have little aptitude for his specialties, and so you hope you would not waste his time and attention until you are more deserving of his time.

"~fufufufufu…"

Upon hearing your reply, Lucifer begins laughing. The laugh is cold and mocking, completely lacking in mirth. It is not a good laugh.

"Ah. Concern is it? You would not waste my time and attention. Is that the case?" He chuckles.

He suddenly stops laughing and you find yourself once more pinned under that dangerous gaze.

"To think," Lucifer begins, voice suddenly low and dangerous. "that the day would come that this great Magus would be spoken to in such a way by a lowly acolyte. Ah, the follies of youth."

You frown, unsure of what he means but he continues speaking before you can think to protest.

"Very well child. If you believe that you, you who have yet to even take the first step into this world, know more than this one of your aptitude and suitability then so be it. This lowly Magus shall bow to your superior expertise."

He waves dismissively at the door you entered through.

"Go then child. Go join with your peers behind the tent." He commands, already turning away. "Oakenbrook Academy welcomes you. Do not disappoint."

You find yourself leaving the tent with trepidation. Something tells you that this meeting with Lucifer Nocturne will have graver consequences than you can possibly imagine.

[Lucifer Nocturne is upgraded to Sworn Enemy]

-x-

[X] Return to the campfire.

You can only lie on the hard cot and stare up at the dark ceiling for so long before you grow bored. As there is nothing you can think to do inside the dark and dusty structure, you decide to return to the campfire with the rest of your fellow initiates. Just as before, Leo is the first to spot you approaching and the cheerful teen stands with a wide smile. As the others start to notice you due to his action, Leo waves you over to his small group of three.

[X] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.

Looking around the fire at the somewhat segregated groups, you decide to join him. Short of your two bullies, you know no one else here and his smaller group is much less intimidating than the others. Besides, he's treated you well enough already.

"Cat, hello." Leo greets as you approach, grinning broadly. "I'm glad you decided to come back. Come on, sit with us."

Returning the greeting with a quiet 'Hello' of your own, you take the offered seat on a wooden log. The wood is hard and rugged beneath you but the warmth of the near by fire more than makes up for it. Leo retakes his seat once you've sat down. He is looking quite pleased that you joined them.

"Allow me to make the introductions." Leo offers, looking to you and the other two boys for permission. Receiving three nods, he continues. "Gentlemen, you of course remember our fifth-grade genius, miss Cat. She is of the same Noveria kingdom as the ladies Magritte and Alicia."

The two boys smile and nod in greeting to you. You return the gesture. Despite already knowing their names, you wait for Leo to make the introductions. A few strangers back home were always unnerved when you addressed them by name.

"Miss Cat. This here," Leo continues, holding a hand towards the boy closest to you. "is the young lord Kulwin of the Lerondas family."

Kulwin is a young looking teen with short, brown locks and dark eyes. He has a broad build with some baby fat still on the cheeks. Leo gives the two of you a few seconds to exchange greetings before continuing.

"And this, this is Glen of the Arendale family. Both are cousins from the distant land of Galius." He finishes, gesturing to the third and final boy in your little circle.

Glen is almost the complete opposite of Kulwin. His hair is a shining blond, just a few shades darker than Lucifer's, and his eyes are a bright blue. He has an athletic, wiry build and seems to hold himself quite awkwardly.

"Nice to meet you both." You say once Leo is finished. Both boys return the sentiment.

You all descend into silence for a few seconds. You're not sure what to do. How exactly are you supposed to converse with these young nobles? Before all of this, your only interaction with the nobility was watching them ride through the town from a distance. Following that is the year long bullying campaign perpetuated by Deacon and his friends. A year ago, you would be lucky to even come within ten feet of a noble let alone talk to one. Yet here you are, seated at a campfire with three noble heirs and you have no idea what to say.

Thankfully, Leo perks up with an idea and turns to you with a smile.

"Ah... before you joined us Miss Cat, we were about to discuss our travel here and some of the troubles we may have faced." Leo explains, frowning slightly at some troubling memory. He shakes his head clear after a moment and continues. "Would you care to being? How was your journey coming here? Was it simple, or was it as eventful as my own?"

Having a topic to latch onto, you begin regaling them with the tale of the year long journey from your home city to the recruitment area. Much of the trip was as uneventful as that of any caravan traveling across rough country. Not even bandits were foolish enough to attack after spotting the black robed lords guarding the caravans. It is the latter months of the journey that were the most rough. After leaving civilized territory, the caravan had to travel across the dangerous, beast infested wilds of the continent. This is where you faced the most danger, and deaths. This months long journey across the wild plains of the continent saw to your numbers being reduced by numerous beast attacks, deadly insects and equally deadly plants.

Once you finish talking, to the knowing nod of Leo and the pale faces of Kulwin and Glen, the boys go on to share their own tales.

Leo, it seems, journeyed here from all the way in the desert nation of Haliwen to the far south of the continent. He is the youngest of four sons and two daughters, born to a great family with a close tie to the royal family. Having fewer prospects than his elder siblings, he set off for these distant lands in the hopes of becoming a Magus and establishing his own family branch one day. His journey here was a close mirror to your own. His caravan enjoyed a somewhat sedate trip across the continent until they left civilized territory and entered the wilds. Facing a great number of dangers, a good majority of his traveling companions died during the trip. Luckily, he was one of the few that managed to survive and make it.

Kulwin and Glen on the other hand, were lucky enough to enjoy a simple journey.

Both boys, you learn, are distant cousins from two minor noble families in their kingdom. Their journey was a calm and relatively short one as the kingdom of Galius is the closest to these recruitment grounds. Due to the efforts of their king, there is a clear, frequently patrolled traveling lane through the wilds from their nation to the general area of the recruitment camp. Aspiring knights and the like would keep the lane clear of monsters as a form of training and practice. Thanks to this, the two boys enjoyed a smooth, two month long journey with their caravan. You try very hard not to envy them.

Hours pass as you and the three jump from topic to topic. As the conversation continues, you learn more than you've ever known about the continent you were born on. Listening to Leo, you learn that your home city and the surrounding territory are part of the great kingdom of Noveria. Leo's home nation of Haliwen is to distant the south of Noveria and both have been allies for many generations. His caravan was even able to pass through the fringes of Noveria's territory unmolested. You also learn that Galius, the home nation of Kulwin and Glen, is to the far east of Noveria and is considered an enemy nation to both.

Despite this fact, Leo has somehow managed to befriend the two cousins using the same reasoning as the one he used on yourself and Magritte earlier. Traveling to a new continent to become a Magus, things like a person's background and family shouldn't matter. You're not sure how that will hold up once you actually reach the South Coast but all three certainly seem to believe it. Not only are they friends despite their families and home nations being enemies, but all three have been treating a commoner like yourself as a respected equal.

After a while of exchanging stories and just discussing nonsense, you begin to gain a grasp of each boy's character. Leo is quite charismatic and friendly, a natural leader that seems to know just what to say and when to say it. Kulwin is a bit brash but just as friendly if you can get past that. He speaks bluntly and straightforwardly, getting directly to the point rather than dancing around a topic like others would. Glen, in turn, is sly and clever. He seems to prefer keeping quiet and listening to others speak rather than involving himself. All in all, a mismatched but friendly trio of individuals.

After quite some time of this, you excuse yourself from the group with a mention of wanting to meet some of the others. The three boys see you off with smiles and words of kindness, leaving an open invitation should you wish to join them again. You're not quite friends, not even close you think, but you wouldn't mind spending more time with the three.

[Minor Allies gained: Leonard Phale, Kulwin Lerondas and Glen Arendale]

-x-

[X] Socialize with the First and Second grades.

Sitting with your first and second grade peers is, in a word, awkward.

Unlike yourself, these teens have a modicum of knowledge regarding the Magus world that you are all entering. This means that they know, in far greater detail than yourself, what it means to be a fifth-grade talent. Whereas these nine can only hope to reach the peak of Rank Three Acolyte within their lifetimes, you are almost assured to rank up to official Magus within the next two decades. Because of this, the nine initiates are treating you with a great deal of awe and respect. You, a commoner street urchin, are being treated with the utmost respect by the scions of various noble houses. It is as mind boggling as it is awkward.

Upon joining the group, much to their obvious surprise and excitement, you are introduced to everybody. There are five boys and four girls in the group, all from the small, coastal kingdom of Weyard to the southwest. They'd apparently all grown up together, their families holding titles of minor nobility and living in the capital city rather than on individual lands, and elected to become Magi together. Their families had agreed to this, in the hopes that each of them could some day return to elevate their houses to the ranks of upper nobility. Even if they had no chance of becoming Magi, a powerful Acolyte was still a force to be reckoned with against common soldiers and knights. Imagine what nine such Acolytes could do together. They certainly had lofty goals.

Regarding their talents, three of the boys are second-grade talents, while the final two are first-grade talents. The girls on the other hand, are split fifty-fifty. Of the boys, the second grades are a broad-shouldered and boisterous redhead by the name of Garet, a short and quiet blond by the name of Issac, and a thin, serious brunette named Felix. The final two are Ivan, a studious looking blond and Piers, a joyful teen with blue-tinted dark hair. Of the girls, the second grades are Jenna, a tomboyish redhead and Felix's sister, and Sheba, a shy and quiet blond. The last two are Mia, Piers' cheerful cousin with the same blue-tinted hair, and Himi, a short, serious teen that looks far younger than her stated age.

You spend quite a deal of time speaking with and listening to the nine teens. They have a cheerful dynamic, often trading jokes and playful barbs. They're quite the interesting group and somewhat fun to speak with but as time passes, you find yourself feeling like an intruder in a long stabilized group of friends. It is difficult to join the conversation and whenever you do comment, the awe and respect they hold for you often has them remaining silent or uncertain how to reply.

All in all, it is an awkward experience and you soon find yourself retreating to your cabin as the sun finally sets and night settles.

Still, the nine seem to appreciate you choosing to join them. The other teens, with higher talents and such, seem to treat them with disdain or indifference. A fifth-grade talent interacting with them in a positive manner seems to mean quite a lot to them.

[Minor Allies gained: The 'Golden' Nine]

-x-

The next day finds you standing on the beach with a great crowd of initiates, guards, Acolytes and Magi. Though you dont require any sleep, you still choose to partake in order to speed along the passing of time. So you'd gone to bed around ten last night and woken at the crack of dawn. Just in time too as the various Magi and Acolytes made a sweep of the camp, waking everyone and ordering them to gather on the beach. Now here you are, standing silently in the crowd of excited initiates, waiting for something to happen.

Something, it turns out, is four massive dirigibles descending from the clouds above to hover over the crowd. Each is massive in size, bigger than three or even four large houses put together and you can't help but gape in awe that something so huge could fly. You're still staring up in silent wonder when one of the Magi at the front begins speaking. You completely miss what is said but thankfully, Leo is nearby and the friendly teen grabs your attention with a soft tap on the shoulder. Looking down at him, you receive a knowing smile as he gestures to the structures above.

"Really awesome aren't they?" He asks and all you can do is nod and look back at the hovering transports. "I've heard that his majesty, King Jafar, has one back home but I've never actually seen it. I don't think it's anywhere near this size either."

You nod absently and he chuckles. A moment passes before he tugs on your sleeve. You look down at him again and he lets go.

"Come on. We're supposed to head over and get onto that one." He says, pointing to the left most transport. The carriage of the vehicle is painted in alternating shades of green and black while the balloon holding it up is a bright and reflective white. "I think a couple of the other academies will be sharing the same one with us."

Nodding again, you follow along as he leads you to where the rest of your peers are congregating.

This is it. The next step of your journey.

-x-

The dirigible ride will take one month, you can choose what you wish to do for each week of that month.
What will you do for the first week? (Choose up to three)
[] Socialize.

[] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
[] Magritte and the Grade-Threes.
[] The 'Golden' Nine.
[] Klaus.
[] Lucifer.
[] Random Initiate.
[] Random Knight.
[] Random Acolyte.
[] Random Magus.

[] Explore the transport.

[] Train with your power.

[] Write in: how?

[] Gain Knowledge.

[] Write in: a previously mentioned topic that the MC would want to learn more about.

[] Write in: anything you can think to do aboard the dirigible.

-x-

A/N2: regarding Lucifer. While your reply can be taken as a compliment or polite refusal, your character lacks the basic level of Etiquette required to properly convey this sentiment even with her [Bluff] skill. Lucifer instead perceives it as a slight against him and his years of experience, turning a minor enemy into a major one. Yay plot~
As a suggestion, stick to bluntness or outright lying in the future, you personality and bluff skill are more effective in this regard.

A/N3: Yes, those are Golden Sun expys there. No, there's no hidden secret here. I didn't plan to even do that until I was writing the chapter and needed nine names. There you go. I'm sure you can easily guess how each will progress in time, what you guys do with them going forward is totally up to you.

-x-

Voting is Closed.

Adhoc vote count started by Kolarthecool on Jun 11, 2017 at 4:38 AM, finished with 141 posts and 30 votes.

6 people have voted
[X][personality] Stand above him. What you most want is to become strong enough to survive in this harsh world, as long as his actions don't impede your progress you will not go out of your way to get back at him. If he does actively impede you though...
- yttam50
- DevilsAdvocate
- Nicklance
- ConfusedPotato
- Verdom
- mrttao
6 people have voted
[x][Sex] Male
- Willian
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
- ConfusedPotato
- Verdom
5 people have voted
[x][primary] Life
- giodan
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
- Nicklance
5 people have voted
[x][secondary] Soul
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
- Nicklance
- Verdom
5 people have voted
[X][personality] Make him sorry!
- Willian
- giodan
- Ravraxas
- RLDX
- Deliriousdoodle
4 people have voted
[X][observe] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- Unseelie
- LucidProp
4 people have voted
[x][Sex] Female
4 people have voted
[X][inventory] Use the Inventory (when no one can see and only for particularly valuable things, or emergency supplies you need to have available in a crisis).
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
- Unseelie
- LucidProp
3 people have voted
[X] Train with your power.
-[X] Meditate.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Aiden
3 people have voted
[X] Train with your power.
-[X] Try to feel Life and Soul particles and make them come to your faster.
-[X] Experiment with moving them around you, condensing them, dispersing them. Try to get a good feel for them.
-[X] See what happens when you condense Life as tightly as possible.
3 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
3 people have voted
[X] Gain Knowledge.
-[X] What the academy will be like; what classes are offered; the paths Life mages can take there; how one goes about getting a greenhouse.
2 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
-[X] Random Magus.
--[X] A potioneer Mentor.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
2 people have voted
[X][mentor] Accept.
- Unseelie
- LucidProp
2 people have voted
[X][action 2] Socialize with the First and Second grades.
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
2 people have voted
[X][action 2] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
2 people have voted
[X][action] Return to the campfire.
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
2 people have voted
[X][mentor] Refuse.
-[X] You have little aptitude for his specialties, and so you hope you would not waste his time and attention until you are more deserving of his time.
- Yzarc
- Unelemental
2 people have voted
[X][academy] Oakenbrook Academy.
- makopaulo
- JackOfAll
2 people have voted
[x][academy] Obsidian Vault of Eternal Sleep.
- Mellithae
- TheRuisu
2 people have voted
[x][primary] Time
- ConfusedPotato
- Verdom
2 people have voted
[x][secondary] Space
- yttam50
- DevilsAdvocate
2 people have voted
[x][primary] Soul
- yttam50
- DevilsAdvocate
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with the First and Second grades.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
- Aiden
1 people have voted
[X][primary] Write in: Lightning
- SkyCrab
1 people have voted
[X][secondary] Write in: Death
- SkyCrab
1 people have voted
[x][primary] Light
- Willian
1 people have voted
[x][secondary] Air
- giodan
1 people have voted
[X] Explore the transport.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
-[X] The 'Golden' Nine.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Return to the campfire.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X][academy] Sovereign Saints Bell Tower.
- Pyran
1 people have voted
-[X] You have little aptitude for his specialties, and so you hope you would not waste his time and attention until you are more deserving of his time.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Refuse Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Use the Inventory.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[x][secondary] Mind
- ConfusedPotato
1 people have voted
[x][secondary] Water
- Willian
1 people have voted
[X][academy] Misty Woods Academy.
- trill
1 people have voted
[X] Gain Knowledge.
[X] about Knight and Magus power systems (you know the basic stuff)
- Aiden

Adhoc vote count started by Kolarthecool on Jun 11, 2017 at 4:39 AM, finished with 33 posts and 8 votes.

3 people have voted
[X] Train with your power.
-[X] Meditate.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Aiden
3 people have voted
[X] Train with your power.
-[X] Try to feel Life and Soul particles and make them come to your faster.
-[X] Experiment with moving them around you, condensing them, dispersing them. Try to get a good feel for them.
-[X] See what happens when you condense Life as tightly as possible.
3 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
3 people have voted
[X] Gain Knowledge.
-[X] What the academy will be like; what classes are offered; the paths Life mages can take there; how one goes about getting a greenhouse.
2 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
-[X] Random Magus.
--[X] A potioneer Mentor.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
1 people have voted
[X] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Use the Inventory.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Refuse Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] You have little aptitude for his specialties, and so you hope you would not waste his time and attention until you are more deserving of his time.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Return to the campfire.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with the First and Second grades.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
-[X] The 'Golden' Nine.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Explore the transport.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
- Aiden
1 people have voted
[X] Gain Knowledge.
[X] about Knight and Magus power systems (you know the basic stuff)
- Aiden

Adhoc vote count started by Kolarthecool on Jun 11, 2017 at 4:41 AM, finished with 33 posts and 8 votes.

7 people have voted
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
- veekie
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Umi-san
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
- Aiden
7 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
- veekie
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Umi-san
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
- Aiden
6 people have voted
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
- veekie
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Umi-san
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
6 people have voted
[X] Train with your power.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Aiden
- Umi-san
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
4 people have voted
[X] Gain Knowledge.
- Umi-san
- wingstrike96
- Deamen1989
- Aiden
3 people have voted
-[X] What the academy will be like; what classes are offered; the paths Life mages can take there; how one goes about getting a greenhouse.
3 people have voted
-[X] See what happens when you condense Life as tightly as possible.
3 people have voted
-[X] Experiment with moving them around you, condensing them, dispersing them. Try to get a good feel for them.
3 people have voted
-[X] Try to feel Life and Soul particles and make them come to your faster.
3 people have voted
-[X] Meditate.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Aiden
2 people have voted
--[X] A potioneer Mentor.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
2 people have voted
-[X] Random Magus.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
1 people have voted
[X] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Explore the transport.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Use the Inventory.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
-[X] The 'Golden' Nine.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with the First and Second grades.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Return to the campfire.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] You have little aptitude for his specialties, and so you hope you would not waste his time and attention until you are more deserving of his time.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Refuse Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] about Knight and Magus power systems (you know the basic stuff)
- Aiden

Adhoc vote count started by Kolarthecool on Jun 11, 2017 at 4:42 AM, finished with 33 posts and 8 votes.

3 people have voted
[X] Train with your power.
-[X] Meditate.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
- Aiden
3 people have voted
[X] Train with your power.
-[X] Try to feel Life and Soul particles and make them come to your faster.
-[X] Experiment with moving them around you, condensing them, dispersing them. Try to get a good feel for them.
-[X] See what happens when you condense Life as tightly as possible.
3 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
3 people have voted
[X] Gain Knowledge.
-[X] What the academy will be like; what classes are offered; the paths Life mages can take there; how one goes about getting a greenhouse.
2 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
-[X] Random Magus.
--[X] A potioneer Mentor.
- Mezenga
- zeromass
1 people have voted
[X] Don't use Observe on Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Use the Inventory.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Refuse Lucifer.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] You have little aptitude for his specialties, and so you hope you would not waste his time and attention until you are more deserving of his time.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Return to the campfire.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with Leo and the other Grade Fours.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize with the First and Second grades.
- Kolarthecool
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
-[X] The 'Golden' Nine.
--[X] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Explore the transport.
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Socialize.
-[X] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
- Aiden
1 people have voted
[X] Gain Knowledge.
[X] about Knight and Magus power systems (you know the basic stuff)
- Aiden

Kolarthecool · Jun 13, 2017

A/N: this is turning out way longer than I anticipated so rather than waiting to post one mega chapter, I'm going to make it into a two or three parter.

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate.
Chapter Six point One: Aboard the Dirigible (Week 1. Pt 1).

-x-

Walking through the long hallway of the dirigible, you feel as overwhelmed as when you first stepped into Klaus' cabin. The inside of the craft is extravagant beyond belief. The walls and ceiling are fashioned of a rich, dark wood. The floor is covered with a lush, white carpeting. Various statuettes and ornaments of gold and silver decorate the walls of the wide hallways and spacious bedrooms that you walk past.

As the vessel beneath your feet slowly and smoothly lifts of, the whole lot of you are lead into an expansive hall. The room is far wider and taller than it has any right to be. It must certainly be taking up a good quarter of this whole craft. Round tables and chairs capable of seating four at a time fill the room, while a long table with close to twenty chairs stands on a raised platform to one end. A number of ornate chandeliers hang from the ceiling above, filling the room with a warm glow. Behind the platform, you spy a jewel embedded door with odd patterns carved into its surface. The various initiates around you whisper in wonder as you file into the room and around the tables. You hear a number of questioning comments about the jeweled door.

The room goes dead silent a moment later as robed figures make their way onto the platform, their steady footsteps the only sound that can be heard.

The first ones onto the platform are the Magi. Two figures garbed in resplendent, white robes and a third in robes of the darkest black. One of the white robed Magi is clearly Lucifer, the Dream of Gaia looking as calm and unconcerned as when you'd left his presence. The second white robe is a beautiful, young woman with silver locks pulled up into a bun and a stern expression on her face.

]-The Melody of Discord-[
Anastasia Tellard | Lv: 47.
Magus (Quarter-Converted Rank One)

The dark robed Magus is a sickly looking man with crimson eyes. His features can only be described as skeletal, with the skin pulled tight over his bald skull and thin, spindly hands. His nose is a sunken wreck, the scars on his face hinting that the missing feature was clawed off by some manner of beast. Despite his frail appearance, his steps are steady and strong as he follows behind the two Light Magi.

]-The Undertaker-[
Selvin Bount | Lv: ???
Magus (Semi-Converted Rank 1)

Without even a glance to the crowd of silent initiates, the three Magi cross the platform and pass through the jeweled door at the back. You spy another hallway leading deeper into the vessel before the door closes with a resounding slam.

Following several meters behind the three Magi, twelve Acolytes also make their way onto the platform and through the door. You spot Klaus in the middle of the throng, your benefactor sharing a whispered conversation with the curvaceous, female Acolyte that is hanging off of his arm. As soon as the door closes behind the last Acolyte, fifteen of the black robed Knights make their way onto the platform. Rather than pass through the door, they instead line themselves up in front of the long table. The room remains silent as the grave as one of the Knights steps forward to speak.

You take a long look around at the crowd surrounding you. There are perhaps fifty of you Initiates here. No more than sixty at the most. This, as Leo mentioned before you lost him in the crowd, is because there are three academies worth of students on-board. Two other academies, Four Relics Melody and Damned Reef Temple, are to share the same vessel as your own Oakenbrook Academy.

You return to facing the front just as the Knight begins speaking. From him, you learn that only half of the entire dirigible is accessible to you initiates. Less than half actually, as a good deal of that space is taken up by personal sleeping quarters which you can't really trespass into. Everything that lies beyond the jeweled door at the back of the platform is considered forbidden. Just as he says this, the gems embedded in the door flash with a myriad of colors. Excited mutters rise up in the crowd as the patterns carved into the wood begin glowing with the same light but they are quickly cut off by a cough from the Knight.

Visible to your eyes alone, a label appears above the closed door and remains even as the glowing dies down.

Spirit Flaying Barrier | Rank 1.
20 / 20 Life.

...Probably best to stay far away from that door. You're not certain what exactly would happen if you try to pass through it but the words 'Spirit Flaying' do not lend themselves to positive results.

The second announcement the Knight makes, is to inform you all that you will be stuck on the dirigible for upwards to a month. It is an estimated two weeks to reach the coast of the South Continent, where the students of Damned Reef Temple are to disembark. Then it will take another week and a half to cross the lands of the Dark Magi and reach the mountains, where you are to drop off the students of Four Relics Melody. Finally, it will take a few days more to reach Oakenbrook. This, of course, causes another round of excited whispers.

A month to reach your academy somewhere near the center of the South Coast is simply ridiculous. You expected the dirigible to be fast but not that fast. A journey like this would take years by boat and carriage. Why don't more people travel by dirigible? Or maybe they do, how would you know really.

Once the room is returned to silence, the Knight moves on to his final task. Mainly, the assigning of rooms. Numbered keys are handed out in a flash. The group of Knights become literal blurs as they sweep through the crowd in an instant and drop the keys wherever they please. You pick the small, bronze key off the top of your head and notice the number 16 carved into the metal. Once they are finished, all fifteen Knights make their way out one of the side doors. Leaving you all to your own devices. Excited conversation and shouts pick up again once the chaperons are gone, a few of your fellow teens exclaiming in surprise and wonder at suddenly finding a key on their person. Even you are shocked at such a show of speed and ability, nothing like that had been displayed when they were fighting off monsters.

As minutes pass, the crowd begins breaking up into various sized groups. Having lost sight of Leo and the others in the crowd of initiates while boarding, and having no want to seek them out, you decide to just retire to your room for a few hours.

You certainly need some time alone to think.

-x-

Leo finds you a couple hours later. You are in your assigned room, just laying on the bed, thinking, when the other teen knocks on your door.

A flash of relief crosses his face when you open the door. Apparently, he visited every room before yours in search of you. He chuckles sheepishly when you just give him an incredulous stare.

"Heh, never mind that miss Cat. The others and I are gathering together in the lounge, would you like to join us?" He asks, friendly grin on his face.

[O] Socialize.

[O] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.

You consider the proposal for a few seconds before nodding. You have nothing better to do after all. Leo steps aside so you can exit the room and close the door behind you. Even though you have nothing of value in the room, having finally placed you pack into your Stash-

[Item Gained: Small Travel Pack (Full)]

- you sill lock the door and tuck the key into a secure pocket. That done, you follow behind Leo as he leads you down the hallway. Rather than heading towards the hall with all the tables and chairs, he's leading you in the opposite direction. Back towards the craft's exit.

"Where are we going?" You ask, frowning. "This is the way to the exit isn't it?"

Leo spins around so he is walking backwards while talking to you.

"Oh, you didn't do any exploring? That was the very first thing I did." He replies with a laugh. You just shake your head and motion for him to continue. "Anyways, this ship is way bigger than you'd expect. This part here has all of the bedrooms, the public washrooms and baths, and that huge cafeteria we were in -oh, that's where you have to go for meals by the way, but there's a stairway just up ahead that leads to a whole other floor."

You look up at the already high ceiling in astonishment. How can there possibly be another floor? Regardless of your disbelief, there is indeed a stairway that leads up onto a second floor of the craft. You must have passed by it without noticing earlier. As you follow Leo up the stairs, you begin hearing the buzz of conversation and activity.

The stairway leads right into the center of a cozy room just as wide as the cafeteria, if not as tall. Two entire walls of the room are simply made of glass. Wide, clear windows that allow you to see just how far down the ground really is. You quickly look away from those and take in the rest of the room. All around the room are a number of couches and large cushions with various initiates seated in them and socializing. Along one wooden wall are a number of shelves full of books and boxes. Seated on a couch beside a closed set of doors at the far end of the room is one of the Knights, the black robed woman is sitting comfortably with her legs crossed and her attention on the book in her hands.

"This is the lounge. There's snacks and drinks in that closet there, and some games and activities with the books on those shelves." Leo explains, pointing towards the closed doorway and the full shelves in turn. "Come on, we have a seat saved over here."

Following behind him, you're led to a cluster of couches and chairs where Kulwin and Glen are seated with a pair of other Initiates. A girl and a boy of the same age as the rest of you. Both are level three Initiates, though the boy is also a Preparatory Knight. The girl is incredibly petite with bright red hair and green eyes. Coupled with her pale, porcelain skin, she looks like a life sized doll of exotic make. There is a snobbish look on her face as she listens to something Kulwin is saying, the brash teen excitedly chatting while gesturing with his hands. The boy is dark skinned with short black hair and dark eyes. He is sitting on one of the larger cushions and from his expression, is completely disinterested and bored with the current topic of conversation. Luckily for him, Kulwin stops talking as they all notice the two of you approaching.

"Hello everyone!" Leo greets, voice loud and clear. "Sorry it took so long. I had to check all of the rooms until I found hers."

He steps to the side so they can see you better and you give the group a wave. Kulwin and Glen return it after a moment but the girl just frowns while the boy looks you up and down before sighing.

"Miss Cat, these two here are Rachel Adderstein and Jacob Senok. They are the grade four initiates of our neighboring Academy, Four Relics Melody." Leo introduces, holding a hand out to the girl first, then the boy. "Lady Adderstein, Jacob. This is my friend that I told you about, Cat. She is the grade five genius of our year."

You nod to the two in greeting and offer a polite smile, but inwardly you are frowning. Friend… you are certainly friendly with Leo but you wouldn't go so far as to call him a friend. Not after only knowing him for less than a day. Under any other circumstance, you might dismiss it as him being overly friendly and optimistic but not after that sort of introduction. You're not so dumb as to miss what's going on here. No, you know when someone is trying to use you.

'Friend that I told you about', 'grade five genius'. Those were the words Leo had used. It stands to reason then, that not only were they talking about you before the other teen set out to fetch you but that Leo, and perhaps Kulwin and Glen as well, had been using your high aptitude in order to brag. For what reason, you do not know but you can certainly guess. You've seen these sorts of small power plays happen on the streets, one gang using the reputation of one of their members to scare off enemies. Certainly, this is the first time you can say anyone has tried to use your reputation in such a manner. First time for everything you suppose.

That said, you're not sure how exactly you feel about Leo or the other two going around and using their minor connection to you as bragging material. It's certainly flattering to be on this side of the line for once but you also remember what happened to Two Step Tony. Letting others use your reputation as they please can turn… messy.

What will you do?
[][rep] Ignore it. A fearsome reputation can be quite beneficial if properly utilized. You certainly dont have one, yet, but such a thing is inevitable. Allowing your probable friends to use you in their bragging could have positive effects in the future.

[][rep] Put a stop to it. You don't want the attention and trouble of having a reputation. It might be inevitable but you can blunt the damage if you put a stop to this right now. Telling Leo and the others to cut it out will ensure they don't use you to brag to others in the future.

[] Write in: how do you phrase the request.

[][rep] Write in.

Saying nothing for the moment, you take an offered seat on a single-seater lounge chair that allows you to clearly see everyone. A few moments pass in silence before Rachel speaks up.

"So… Cat, Leonard here claims you are a grade five talent. That must have been quite the joyous discovery." She comments with a frown. You simply shrug, unsure what to say really.

Everyone has been going on and on about your talent but you still have no idea what it means really. Highest chance to advance to official Magus they said. What does that even mean? What separates a Magus from an Acolyte? Is it just a matter of power and levels like your ability has shown or is there more to it? Why is it difficult for some and easier for others? You have so many questions. How can you be joyous of something you don't even understand the meaning of?

You're pulled from your troubled thoughts when, all of a sudden, Rachel's expression does a complete flip from disgruntled snob to excited, blushing maiden. The girl leaps forward out of her seat, the abrupt movement startling you and causing you to press back into your own seat as she leans much too far into your comfort zone.

"Oh! Oh! I bet Lord Lucifer has already taken you as an apprentice!" She exclaims, cheeks rosy and eyes wide with excitement. "You simply must tell me what he is like in private."

Your eyes dart around the circle formed of your chairs, seeking help from any of the others. Unfortunately, Kulwin and Leo are far too amused with the situation. Both boys seem to be on the verge of laughter, barely managing to hold it back as they take in your pleading look. Glen and Jacob on the other hand, seem to be far too interested in your answer to interfere. The latter has even sat up from his reclined position. No longer does he look disinterested.

Seeing no help coming from the useless boys, you can only turn back to Rachel's burning stare and offer a response.

"Uh, he offered but I turned him down?" You manage to say. She goes still. Completely and utterly still. A glance at the others shows that they are all giving you incredulous looks.

"You what?" Rachel hisses, stumbling away as if dazed. She is staring at you with wide eyes, as if unable to believe the words you just uttered.

Having your personal space returned to you, you simply shrug. The stares continue for several awkward seconds. Seeing as no one is going to say anything, you decide to elaborate.

"Well.."

And so the story spills forth. It's not a long one really. You make a quick mention of Lucifer's offer, then a word by word recounting of your response and his cryptic final words. Once you finish the short tale, you finally get a response from the five…

"You. What!?" Rachel again. This time, it's a screech full of equal parts disbelief and rage. Rachel, and the other four, are staring at you with wide eyes and dropped jaws. That feeling of trepidation you felt when leaving the recruitment tent returns.

"Um... I sai-" You begin, only to be cut off by the other girl.

"I heard what you said you... you… arrrgh!" With that final exclamation, she turns and stomps away. Jacob snickers, shooting you a final look full of amusement, before standing to follow.

The two make their way to the stairs and descend. A few eyes follow them before darting back to your group once they're out of sight. Seconds pass in silence before, seeing that there is going to be no more disruptive drama from the four of you, the various initiates resume their conversations. You dont think the black robe even looked away from her book through it all

"Cat." Leo says with a gulp. You turn to him and only now do you note his pale complexion. The other two are the same, pale and wide eyed. "How are you still alive?"

Any other time, you would give him a sarcastic deadpan stare for that but given how serious they all look, you decide not to. You make a noise of confusion instead.

"Seriously, how did you manage to say something like that to a Lord Magus and avoid him killing you?" Glen cuts in. He has a shrewd look on his face, as if seeing you in a new light.

"What do you mean? Whats wrong with what I said?" You ask, feeling more and more irritated. "It's true isn't it? I don't know a lot about this whole Magus thing but I don't think I want to do anything with illusions and that other stuff."

All three share a look but it's Leo that replies.

"Cat. A Magus like Lord Lucifer, despite his appearance, must be at least a hundred years old or close to it. To be a department head, he must also be a Grandmaster in his craft and pretty close in his other specialties." Leo explains, staring at you with pity. You don't like that look. "In that one sentence, not only did you refuse his generous offer but you also indirectly insulted his ability as an educator and mentor. You basically implied that he can't even judge the capabilities of a student and how best to teach them. I've seen people, high nobility even, die for less in the royal court Cat. The fact that you made it out of that tent alive is a miracle."

You blanch and sink bonelessly into the chair. Even now you are not afraid but you're certainly wary. You've borne witness to what happens to commoners that even slightly upset the nobility. It is not pretty. Releasing a deep breath, you look up at the three nervous boys.

"How do I apologize then?" You ask. Because that's what it's going to take isn't it? Well, it's not like you're averse to groveling and begging. Things like pride have no place on the streets.

Rather than the response you're looking for however, the three recoil back looking even more shocked.

"Geez, you really are a commoner aren't you." Glen says snidely, even snickering at the end.

"Cat…" Leo begins, shooting the other boy a warning look. "This isn't something you can just apologize for and hope it's forgiven. Most nobles, let alone Magi, don't work like that. Unless you can offer up something incredibly valuable or a few thousand Magic Crystals, your best bet it to completely avoid him and hope he forgets about you. Seriously, how did you survive this?"

You sigh, partially relieved that you won't have to prostrate yourself at Lucifer's feet but also a bit concerned that it would take something of that magnitude to be forgiven. You weren't even trying to insult the guy! Geez.

"Hey, wait a second. You're a commoner?" Kulwin asks, having been noticeably quiet this whole time. This question, you feel, is completely deserving of your deadpan stare. "Oi, don't give me that look. I'm just asking cause you got into the academy and all. Glen and I had to pay ten Magic Crystals each to get in. Where'd you get the crystals?"

"That's… actually a good point." Glen adds. He frowns for a moment and turns to Leo. "Our families lost almost five hundred men hunting down enough beasts to sell for those Crystals. I assume it was the same for you?"

Leo frowns and nods.

"We lost over a thousand men and five Grand Knights hunting a Desert Wyrm for its rare Heartstone. Even then, the stone only sold for thirteen Magic Crystals." Leo replies, fixing you with a questioning look.

"That's what I'm saying." Kulwin continues, giving you the same look. "How did you even get into the Academy? No way Master Lucifer would have just let you in after saying something like that."

You consider the matter for a moment before deciding you have no reason not to tell them of your sponsorship. Magritte pretty much mentioned it at the fire last night anyways.

"Well.."

Once again, you regale them with a tale. The tale of how you somehow drew Klaus' attention. Of his offer to sponsor you to any academy of your choice. Of the crystals you were loaned and the eventual repayment that is expected. The more you talk, the more the boys seem to calm down. By the end of your tale, all three appear relieved. Leo is even sporting his familiar grin.

"Wow Cat, what a tale. It makes sense though. A talent like yours is probably easy for even an Acolyte to sense." He comments with a chuckle. "It explains how you're still alive too."

Now it's your turn to look quizzical. What does that have to do with anything?

It's Glen that provides an explanation.

"You probably don't know it but the Neilis family are sort of a big deal on our Gelenos continent, and they're supposed to be even more important on the South Coast. The founder and head of the family is said to have been born on Gelenos and even now, a branch of the family controls the Mansatine Isles to the distant east." He explains, getting more and more excited as he speaks. "More than that, the Lord Neilis is a Rank Three Magus!"

Seeing you look of incomprehension, he sighs and explains.

"With the disappearance of the Rank Four Monarch centuries ago, Rank Three Magi are considered to be the most powerful existences in the entire South Coast. There are only ten Rank Three Magi on the entire continent. Four lead the Light Magi, four lead the Dark Magi and two are considered neutral. Lord Gunther Neilis is one of those neutral rulers." He finishes. You 'ahh' in understanding, now knowing why Klaus seemed so proud when he stated this.

Leo nods and gives you a thumbs up.

"That should settle your fears Cat. As long as you have such a powerful family backing you, Lord Lucifer won't dare to act against you." The teen says and you actually sigh in relief. "Still, you should be careful that you don't make more enemies like this in the future."

[O] Work on picking up expected manners and basic culture from them.

The words spark something in you and you frown. You really are starting to hate how woefully unprepared you are for all of this. Clearly your fellow Initiates were actually taught how to survive in this world. Lacking their claim to nobility, you really had no one that could teach you all the do's and don'ts for dealing with prickly nobles and Magi. Maybe... well, you don't like the thought of asking any one for help but if they're going to claim to be your friend and use you to brag... what do you have to lose?

"C-can you teach me about all this?" You ask, fixing each boy with a stern glare. You dare them to refuse. "I don't want to make another mistake like with Lord Lucifer."

You reply is three groans of despair.

"Damn it, I really hate etiquette lessons." Kulwin whines, slumping in his chair. Both Leo and Glen nod in agreement.

You don't let up your glare until they're squirming in their seats.

"Fine, fine, I'll help. Just stop glaring like that." Leo begs with a joking grin. "Still, there's no way I can fit years of etiquette lessons into the one month we have on the ship. Not even two straight months of lessons will be enough to cover it all."

You frown but he continues before you can speak up.

"Don't worry, we can at least cover all the important stuff you need to know about Magi. The rest you'll have to learn on your own from the books or something." He says, looking to Kulwin and Glen. The two spend a few seconds considering it before nodding.

You consider it as well before also agreeing. It's better than nothing.

"Good, we can start tomorrow. For now, let's just relax." He proposes and the three of you nod.

The rest of the day is wasted on meaningless but enjoyable conversation and the odd game.

-x-

Voting is Closed.

Kolarthecool · Jun 15, 2017

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate.
Chapter Six point Two: Aboard the Dirigible (Week 1. Pt 2).

-x-

[O] Gain Knowledge.

Hours later, once you'd all eaten and retired for the night, you stand from your bed and creep out of your room. The hall is silent and dark, everyone having gone to bed over an hour ago.

Having no desire to just sleep the night away, you've decided to spend your time doing something productive. Namely, learning more about this world you are to enter. The etiquette lessons with Leo and the others will certainly help in this regard but as the boy himself said, you will have to pick up quite a lot of this on your own. Which is what you've decided to do. Earlier in the afternoon, when fetching a board game from one of the shelves, you'd spied some interesting titles among the many books on the shelves. You didn't really have the time, or inclination, to read while the others were there to distract you but now that everyone has gone to sleep, you can spend your time perusing those books.

Making your way down the dimly lit hall and up the stairs, you return to the lounge area of the dirigible. The night sky can be seen out the wide viewing windows, the stars and moon above being clearly reflected off the waters far below. What few clouds there are stream past as your vessel whizzes by at incredible, yet undetectable, speeds. Turning from the mesmerizing view, you take in the rest of the lounge area. Much of the room is still brightly lit, allowing you to easily spot the two figures already here. One is a black robed Knight, a young man this time rather than the woman from earlier in the day. He is sitting on one of the couches near the center of the room, eyes skimming over a thin book in one hand while a cup of some steaming liquid is held in the other. He seems completely ignorant of your presence, simply reading the book in his hand while taking a sip of the hot beverage.

]-Master of the Crescent Blade-[
Artus | Lv: 17
Grand Knight

The other figure is one quite familiar to you. Flesha is comfortably curled up in one of the couches to the far end of the room. As usual, her face is buried in a thick tome but you can see a content smile on her face as her eyes dart over the page. Knowing her, any offer of greetings or questioning will be seen as nothing more than an annoyance. You will have to seek her out during the day, perhaps at meal time when she is not busy reading. Still.. you wonder..

'Observe.'

Your friend is an initiate, a commoner raised one the same as you. She has never shown the ability to detect your power and not enough has changed to make you suspect that she might be able to now. With no Acolytes or Magi present, you do not feel at risk using your ability for the first time in several months. The presence of the black robed Knight would have given you pause before but you have since learned that these Knights lack the acute senses for the arcane that Acolytes and above seem to posses. You wouldn't risk using it on the Knight directly but on an unaware subject in the same room? No problem.

Flesha | Lv: 2.
Acolyte (Initiate)

Strength: 0.4 | Agility: 0.5 | Vitality: 0.4
Spiritual Force: 0.8 | Magic Power: 0.8

Affinity: Soul (primary), Earth (secondary).

Status: None.

A book loving girl from a small city on the Gelenos Islands. She is an extreme loner with a genius level intellect. Her dream is to create a library where the entirety of the worlds knowledge can be found.Recently, she has been accepted as an Acolyte of the Damned Reef Temple academy.

Not much different from the last time you Observed her. Except for that annotation at the bottom. Damned Reef Temple… that's one of the dark academies. Which puts her on the side of the Dark Magi... A future enemy should you both continue along your current paths. The thought fills you with sadness. Sighing quietly, you make your way over to the shelves and begin looking through the various books.

Not as varied as it turns out.

Of the numerous books on the shelf, there are perhaps a total of six different tomes. There are several copies of each text, a good idea considering the number of students on-board, but only six actual types of books from what you can see. Luckily, these seem to contain exactly what you are looking for. These books seem to have been placed here not to entertain the bored initiates, but to educate them of the world they are entering. To a degree at least. The books range from a summarized history of the South Coast and the Culture of the Magi there, to a number of brochures and texts regarding the three academies aboard the vessel. The odd one out is a translation book for something called the 'Byron Language'.

"Another one huh?" A voice suddenly says from right behind you. "Don't you brats know what time it is?"

You jump in surprise and spin around, eyes wide with fright. Your heart hammers in your chest for a few seconds before your power kicks in and enforces Calm. Standing just a few feet behind you is Artus, the black robed Knight. You didn't even hear him get up and approach. More than that, he's not even looking at you. His face remains fixed on the book in his hand as his eyes dart over its pages.

A moment passes in silence. He flips the page. Just as you are about to speak up, either to apologize or ask if there is a curfew, he cuts you off.

"You can read whatever you want, whenever you want brat." He says, eyes still fixed on the page. "Just don't try to take the books from this room. If you see anything you want to keep, you can buy it for a Magic Crystal."

His piece said, he turns and begins walking away. You watch him go, unsure what to say. Once he has returned to the couch, you turn back to perusing the shelf.

"Oh, by the way-"

You release something between a squeak and a screech as you spin back around. Absently, you note that Flesha has shushed you from across the room but you're more focused on Artus, who is STANDING JUST A FEW FEET AWAY! How he managed to sneak up on you again, just instants after you turned away from watching him sit down, you do not know.

"-don't damage any of the books if you cant pay for them." The Knight continues, completely ignoring the glare you are shooting him. "You'll regret it."

Then he turns and stalks off back to his couch.

You glare for several seconds, daring him to try that again, before turning back to the shelf. Seconds pass, then a full minute. You reach for the shelf… when no voice speaks up to surprise you, you pull one of the history texts off the shelf and quickly walk away. Artus is still seated when you look, eyes fixed on his own book. Flesha is the same, smiling to herself as she traces a finger along the page.

Choosing a seat far from the Knight that can quite clearly kill you in the blink of an eye and the girl that will actually try to kill you should you bother her, you sit back and flip the book open.

Surprising as it might seem to some, given that you are a commoner born street urchin that can actually read, you've never been a fan of books and reading. Those few weeks after you gained your power, where you had to learn how to read in order to understand what the strange boxes and labels said, were some of the most tortuous times of your life. Not even the free food Old Jorin provided, in an attempt to encourage your new habit, was worth the bother.

Books. They were a means to an end at that time but you dont share Flesha's love of them. They contain information, sure, but never anything that could help you to survive on the streets. You were glad to bid them good riddance once you'd learned everything you needed. Knowing that, it can be understood why your shoulders slump and your eyes begin to tear up once you open the first page of the history book and see the lines and lines of tiny lettering. It would take an age just to read this entire text.

Thankfully, you know how to navigate a Table of Contents and each section is helpfully titled. Simple titles too instead of that poetic nonsense with subtle meanings. You shudder and begin flipping through the book.

[O] Learn about Knight and Magus power systems.

While the book seems to be filled with mountains of information, a lot of it seems to be based on the Ancient Magi that once ruled the whole world... and many others if you are reading this correctly. You skim though most of the history and cultural information, planning to come back to it all once you see when Leo and the others can teach you. Instead, your search brings you to the final few chapters of the book. These chapters cover the recent history of the South Coast and the culture that rose following something simply called 'The Great War'.

Reading through those few chapter and what they have to say regarding the Magi and Knights, even someone like you can clearly see that a vast amount of information is being omitted. What you learn is incredibly unhelpful and a lot of the information seems to have been censored in a manner that simply raises more questions than it answers. Even going back to the shelf to check with some of the other history tomes doesn't help, the same information is being hidden in all of those books.

Still, your persistence allows you to piece together some information that can be considered as useful.

In regards to the Magi, apparently those few with the talent -one in ten thousand individuals you learn, can use some sort of special meditation technique to strengthen their Spiritual Force. Using this meditation, those individuals can progress up the rank of Acolytes until they are ready to become official Magi. The books mention 'bottlenecks' and 'breakthroughs' but there is absolutely no explanation of what is required to go from a Rank Three Acolyte to a Rank One Magus. None at all.

You do finally learn of the differences in power though.

You learn of how a properly trained Acolyte is comparable to a squad of armored soldiers. Of how Magi in turn are so high above Acolytes, that even a full army of Acolytes can only hope for a swift death when facing a Magus of any rank. Of how each rank of Magus is so much more powerful than those below them that it is staggering. Of how impossibly powerful the mythical Rank Four and higher Magi are said to be. Of how any Magi that could reach the pinnacle and achieve the fabled Rank Nine may as well be considered a god.

You learn so much that you have to set the book down and just breath for several minutes.

The world of Magi, the world you are entering. It is simply insane.

Your sole dream in this world is to gain power. To not only survive the dangers that abound but to thrive and stand so high that none can ever hope of looking down on you again. Right now, you've learned just how far you have to go to even hope of grasping the fringes of your dream. It is daunting.

You will do it, make no mistake. You simply have… perspective now. Smiling thinly to yourself, you dive back into the books. Maybe this whole reading thing isn't as bad as you made it out to be.

Compared to the information on the Magi, the knowledge of Knights and how they operate isn't as heavily censored. Not as helpful as you'd like but definitely more informative. Just like Magi, Knights practice a special meditation technique that allows them to grow more powerful than their fellows. By 'stimulating their Life Energy', a Knight is able to become physically stronger, faster and healthier than the norm. They are considered no match for a trained Acolyte, let alone a full Magus, but a fully trained Knight can face off against fearsome beasts capable of slaying armies of mundane soldiers and come out victorious.

To your annoyance, there is absolutely no information on just how one goes about stimulating their Life Energy to become a Knight. The book mentions that there are hundreds of different paths you can take to become a Knight, each with its own unique techniques and methods, but that very few are able to take the user all the way to the apex rank of Grand Knight. Unfortunately, many of these training methods are the secrets of noble families or only passed down from master to student.

Trying to figure it out on your own might be an option but if it was that easy, others would be doing it all the time. No. To learn how one becomes a Knight, you can only hope to come across an unowned instruction manual, seek out a master to train you or buy the knowledge from someone that already has it.

You look over at Artus for a moment, considering, before shaking your head and returning to the book. Still, your mind is on other matters rather than the text in your hand.

Leo and a few others on board are Preparatory Knights, that means that they have the basic knowledge of their training technique at the least. Depending on the level of their Knight technique, training in it could take them all the way to the final stage of Grand Knight. You don't feel that the three boys are friendly enough to share what is essentially a family secret with you though. Not unless you can offer something in return.

Deciding to set the matter aside for now, you return the various history and cultural texts to the shelf. The sky outside is growing lighter by this time. You've been reading for so long that even Flesha has already retired to her room. You must have been too distracted to notice her leaving. Artus is still in his seat, fully awake and nose still buried in his almost completed book. You have only a little time left before you'll need to return to you room and at least fake at sleeping.

[O] What the academy will be like; what classes are offered; the paths Life mages can take there; how one goes about getting a greenhouse.

Well, you suppose you should study up on what is to be your new home.

Grabbing one of the Oakenbrook brochures and a thin text regarding the school, you return to your seat and begin reading. Minutes pass as you learn more about the school, it's history and specialties. You learn that the current Headmaster of the academy is Julianos Gulliver, a Rank Two Magus of great renown -though there is no mention of just what exactly he did to gain that renown. That the city surrounding the academy was actually created by the academy founder for the sole purpose of serving the needs of the academy and those within. That Oakenbrook is one of the top providers of plant based magical resources to the rest of the South Coast. Only matched by their rival academy, the Melodious Serenity of the Nurturing Mother. All that and more you glean from the two items.

Of the topics you are most interested in however -namely what the classes will be like, what you can do with Life element based magic and whatever Lucifer meant about a personal greenhouse, you find little to nothing. It is actually quite frustrating how little information the book provides regarding the academy itself.

Regarding the classes, the book lists that 'Oakenbrook provides at a least a minimum level of teaching in all magical subjects' and that 'Each department of the academy is headed by a grandmaster of the field capable of addressing all student concerns'. It makes absolutely no mention what exactly these subjects or departments are. You know Illusion is one, headed by Lord Lucifer, but that is all. Either this is more of that censorship at work or the writers expect readers to already know these things.

As for the life element, there is mention that the academy is always welcoming of those with an affinity for Life, Nature or Earth. No mention of why that is or how you can learn to utilize this power though. At this point you're not even surprised.

It's the subject of the greenhouses that gives you the most information actually. As a supplier of magical plants and such, Oakenbrook has a vast number of greenhouses where they grow these items from seed form. Students that manage to distinguish themselves, or are willing to pay a monthly fee, can actually gain access to a greenhouse for their personal use. This allows those students to grow their own plants, either to use as resources in their various experiments or to sell through the academy as a source of income. Lucifer was being quite generous with his offer it turns out.

Frowning, you return the almost useless books to the shelf. Now would be the best time to return to your room but something causes you to pause. Your eyes land on one of the translation texts and you frown in thought. A language book seems really out of place here, nothing you've seen so far has hinted at the South Coast using a separate language from Gelenos Island. So what exactly is this Byron Language and why would it be included with the rest of these educational books.

Reaching out, you grab the book and flip it open.

Would you like to learn the skill [Byron Language Comprehension]!?
[][skill] Yes.
[][skill] No.

...What?

-x-

Laying on your bed sometime later, you stare up at the ceiling while deep in though.

In one day, you've managed to learn quite a great deal about this new world. More than in your entire year traveling with the caravan. The worrying thought, if you decide to consider it, is all of the censored knowledge you came across. You try not to focus on that though. Not until you get to the academy and see what can be learned there at least. Maybe the books are censored simply because both factions share this vessel. It would make some amount of sense.

Right now, your main concern is the information you gained regarding Magi and Knights.

[O] Train with your power.

[O] Meditate.

Rising up from your relaxed position, you sit cross-legged with your hands on your knees and close your eyes. Meditation… you know what that is but that can't be all there is to this right? Old Jorin liked to meditate from time to time in order to calm his nerves and relax but he certainly wasn't a Magus. But the books were clear on this at least, Magi and Knights train their abilities by meditating.

You frown as you try to remember what the old man said the one time you'd been interested enough to ask him about it.

Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes... already done. Slow and control your breathing… easy enough. Now… you need to clear your mind and focus inward… not as easy. The old man did say that the hardest parts of this is thinking of nothing while trying not to fall asleep. Well, sleep is optional for you so that's easy enough but thinking of nothing… not so easy.

You try to clear your thoughts but it's easier said than done. Thoughts and worries keep flitting through your mind. You concerns about this new world that you're entering. You worries about your strange power and what might happen if it is discovered by the Magi. Your thoughts on the censored knowledge, the things you still need to learn and your etiquette lessons that are set to begin in just a few hours. Your mind is a buzz of activity despite your best effort.

Minutes pass. Then an hour. Your efforts are... better. You're not sure whether it counts as clearing your mind, but you manage to focus on the blackness of your minds eye. Focusing on that single image of blackness helps keep other thoughts at bay. You're not sure how long you do this for but eventually, you hear the 'bloop' sound of your power creating a box. You open your eyes to read the bo-

Where... where are you?

Instead of your room aboard the dirigible, you find yourself sitting in the middle of a dark void. The ground beneath you is clear and hard, as if made of thick glass, but all you can see is an endless depth of bright green mist. The mist also covers a few feet of the ground, surrounding you and stretching out in all directions. Clouds of the green mist hover around far above you, somehow floating about despite the lack of wind.

This place… what is it? How did you get here? How do you get bac-

Just like that, you're back in you room aboard the dirigible. You startle and jump from the bed, head darting about in slight panic. This is your room on the ship. Where did you go though? Was that all just illusion? You're supposed to be immune to those. A dream? You don't remember falling asleep though. That's not something that happens to you.

You look around the room in worry until your eyes land on the blue square hovering a few inches away. Frowning, you read the words on the screen and begin to understand.

A new skill has been gained!

Meditation (Active) | Lv: 1 / 50.
A clear mind can do wonders for the soul. A skill that assists magic regeneration and allows access to the the Sea of Consciousness.

Increases Mp Regen by 4%
External shock may break meditation and cause you to fall into a state of confusion.

The sea of consciousness? Is that what that… place was? You recall reading those words in one of the books earlier but there was no explanation regarding it. Again, as if the writer expected you to have prior knowledge. That aside, this skill certainly doesn't seem to be what you're looking for. Maybe if you… retaking your seat, you will the skill active and fall into a meditative state. It comes far easier this time and In what feels like the blink of an eye, you're back inside that mist filled void that is apparently your own mind.

Nothing has changed within the void but now that you know where you are, you are able to more calmly take in your surroundings. You notice how the mist within a few meters seems to be drawn to you. It swirls towards you, as if being drawn in by an invisible force. When it touches you. the mist seems to be absorbed into your body. You don't feel or sense anything happening however.

[O] Try to feel Life and Soul particles and make them come to your faster.
[O] Experiment with moving them around you, condensing them, dispersing them. Try to get a good feel for them.
[O] See what happens when you condense Life as tightly as possible.

You try to feel the mist, to sense it in some manner but there's nothing. No sixth sense, no strange feeling within your head. You feel the same as normal. Still, you give an attempt at controlling the mist. This whole place is supposed to be your mind or soul right? Then you should be able to control what happens here.

Easier said than done.

Trying to will it does nothing. Gestures, commands both mental and verbal, nothing works. Nothing happens. Nothing changes. No matter what you try, the mist seems to be entirely unaffected. It simply continues floating about the void, slowly trickling into your body where it touches you.

Nothing you can think to do has any effect on the mist or the rest of your Sea of Consciousness.

As you thought, it's simply not that simple. Whatever it is that Knights and Magi do to train their abilities, it goes far beyond simple meditation. Sighing, you leave the void and reappear back in your room. Just in time it seems as someone begins knocking on your door. The sun has long risen by this point and light now fills the room from the round porthole window.

Time to start another day it seems.

-x-

Buying Books!
You have the option to purchase a book from the dirigible to permanently own. Each book costs (1) Magic Crystal. Skill books are denoted by a ! mark.

[][books] History and culture of the Ancient Magus World.
[][books] History and culture of the South Coast.
[][books] Brochure and supplementary text on the Oakenbrook Academy.
[][books] Brochure and supplementary text on Four Relics Melody.
[][books] Brochure and supplementary text on Damned Reef Temple.
[][books] !Primer on the Byron Language.
[][books] All of the Above.
[][books] Buy none.

Knight Training!
Thanks to your research, you now have the opportunity to obtain information regarding Knights and their physique developing training. (Select one option to attempt for week 1)

Knight techniques are a special type of meditation that can be practiced in conjunction with other types of meditation techniques. Using Knight training grants a minor boost to your Strength, Agility and Vitality.

Each rank of the technique also comes with a specialty move that can either grant a temporary boost to your physical stats or deal a large amount of damage to an enemy.

[][knight] Buy It.

[][buy] Leo (65% chance of success. Rank 3 Vitality based technique. 4 Magic Crystals).
[][buy] Kulwin (65% chance of success. Rank 3 Strength based technique. 4 Magic Crystals).
[][buy] Glen (65% chance of success. Rank 3 Agility based technique. 4 Magic Crystals.).
[][buy] The 'Golden' Nine (80% chance of success. Rank 2 balanced technique. 3 Magic Crystals).
[][buy] Jacob or a random Initiate (80% chance of success. 50% chance the technique is actually Rank 3, stat focus is random. 5 Magic Crystals).
[][buy] One of the black robed Knights (90% chance of success. Rank 3 balanced technique. 7 Magic Crystals).

[][knight] Ask someone for it.

[][ask] Leo, Kulwin or Glen (15% chance of success).
[][ask] The 'Golden' Nine (20% chance of success).
[][ask] Jacob or a random Initiate (5% chance of success).
[][ask] One of the black robed Knights (2% chance of success).
[][ask2]] Write in: any non-monetary bargains, offers or threats you make to increase success chance.

[][knight] Write in.

Week 2!
What will you do for your second week? (Choose up to 2)

[Locked in] Socialize.

[O] Etiquette Lessons with Leo, Kulwin and Glen.

[][week 2] Socialize.

[][socialize] Magritte and the Grade-Threes.
[][socialize] The 'Golden' Nine.
[][socialize] Flesha.
[][socialize] Klaus.
[] [socialize]Lucifer.
[][socialize] Random Initiate.
[][socialize] Random Knight.
[][socialize 2] Write in: any topic or aims you have for socializing.

[][week 2] Try to train your power.

[][train] Meditate nightly (only available if you chose to acquire a Knight technique).
[][train] Write in: how?

[][week 2] Gain Knowledge.

[][knowledge] Write in: a previously mentioned topic that the MC would want to learn more about.

[][week 2] Write in.

-x-
Voting is Closed.

Adhoc vote count started by Kolarthecool on Jun 18, 2017 at 8:15 AM, finished with 21 posts and 7 votes.

7 people have voted
[X][train] Meditate nightly (only available if you chose to acquire a Knight technique).
- Umi-san
- yinko
- veekie
- SkyCrab
- Aiden
- yttam50
- Kshail
6 people have voted
[X][books] Buy none.
- Umi-san
- yinko
- veekie
- SkyCrab
- Aiden
- Kshail
6 people have voted
[X][skill] No
- Umi-san
- yinko
- veekie
- SkyCrab
- Aiden
- Kshail
6 people have voted
[X][buy] One of the black robed Knights (90% chance of success. Rank 3 balanced technique. 7 Magic Crystals).
- Umi-san
- yinko
- veekie
- SkyCrab
- Aiden
- Kshail
6 people have voted
[x][week 2] Try to train your power.
- yinko
- veekie
- SkyCrab
- Aiden
- yttam50
- Kshail
5 people have voted
[x][knight] Buy It.
- yinko
- veekie
- SkyCrab
- Aiden
- Kshail
1 people have voted
[X][socialize] Flesha.
-[X] Personal questions: Why did you choose to go to the Dammed Reef Academy? What affinities do you have? Are you glad with them? What level are you at? Would you like to remain friends in the future?
-[X] Information questions: What have you learned thus far? What do you know about cultivating Soul particles and what Soul can do? My school is focused on plants, so I was wondering what you know about magical herbs? What do you know about the cultivation of plants, magical or otherwise? Are these books the only one on this ship? Did you bring any with you that I could look at? What is the Byronic language and is it useful?
- Umi-san
1 people have voted
[X][week 2] Gain Knowledge.
- Kshail
1 people have voted
[X][knowledge] Read the skill book without saying Yes
- Kshail

Kolarthecool · Jun 22, 2017

A/N: was really surprised with some of the votes. No write in options to just try to steal the skill book or Knight technique. It worked out but you guys really need to play to your strengths more.

-x-

Magus Ascendant
Arc One: Initiate.
Chapter Six point Three: Aboard the Dirigible (Week 2).

-x-

[O] Buy no books.
[O] Don't use the skill book.

Would you like to learn the skill [Byron Language Comprehension]!?

Yes | No

You stare at the little box of text with blank eyes. Every inch of you radiating raw disbelief. You spend several moments just staring at the box. You have to it three more times before you are willing to admit that yes, it does say exactly what you think it says. Even then, you are still unwilling to believe.

You move the book up, then down, left, then right. The box is still there, hovering inches above the pages and mocking you with its impossible meaning. You slam the book closed. The box vanishes. Slowly, cautiously, and just a tad hopefully, you reopen the book. The box reappears.

Would you like to learn the skill [Byron Language Comprehension]!?

Yes | No

Okay then. This is actually happening. You take a deep breath and release. This is new, certainly, but it's not the first time your power has greatly surprised you. You can deal with this.

Now, you're not stupid. Ignorant of a great many things, yes, but definitely not stupid. You've always had an inquisitive and quick mind. You wouldn't have survived as long as you did on the streets without one. The enforced calm of your power and it's allowance of level headed thought at all times, excepting moments of surprise of course, has done nothing but boost your already high reasoning ability. As such, you are able to quickly piece things together and understand what this means.

Somehow, your power is able to create new skills from books.

Certain books, you amend, looking to the various texts you just spent the night reading. None of those had given the option to teach you a skill. What exactly sets them apart from this one? Is it that they have no skills they can actually teach? That makes some manner of sense you suppose. Those are all informative texts regarding history, geography, culture and the like. This, on the other hand, is purely an instructional text. Following that reasoning, then it makes sense for this book in particular to have a skill to offer where those others do not.

That said, you still find yourself hesitating to tap the Yes icon despite every inch of you, from the tallest hair on your head to the tip of your toes, wanting to do so.

As you have come to learn, a sizable amount of effort is required in order for you to gain a new skill. Running, bluffing, and stealing, these actions pretty much summarize your entire life before Klaus found you. Despite that, you still required hours, and even days in the case of the last one, of effort for a skill to be created. Even your Observe skill only appeared after you spent several hours surveying the marketplace in search of an easy mark. The only exceptions to this rule, your two Affinity skills, could be excuse as unknown magics were at work there. Given all of that, you accurately reasoned that you need to perform an action several dozens of times at minimum before it can become a 'Skill'.

To now learn that there is a way to quickly and effortlessly learn skills, it is frustrating to say the least.

You can't help but curse your past self for not taking Old Jorin up on his offer way back when. Who knows what skills you missed out on by not exploring more of that library. Then again, the old man was looking for an apprentice Lorekeeper to someday replace him so who knows where you would be right now. Certainly not on this ship bound for distant lands.

That aside, even with this discovery and what you've reasoned about skills, you find yourself unable to select Yes. The reason? Simple. You have absolutely idea what this will do. Not to you that is, your power has never shown an inclination to bring you harm -the opposite in fact, but to the book.

Your eyes flick up and over to the seated Knight. Artus is paying you absolutely no mind, his eyes still roaming over the book in his hands. Your turn your attention back to the book.

Selecting yes… it is a risky choice. Instantly learning a new skill sounds awesome but there must be some drawback right? What if the book becomes damaged? Or if all the letter disappear because your power absorbed them or something. If something like that were to happen then you would be forced to pay for the book. You can't afford to risk it.

If this was the you of yesterday, you might actually be willing to take the risk. One Magic Crystal doesn't sound that high after all, not when you have ten of them in your Stash along. Thankfully, you are no longer that ignorant girl. The you of today is someone that understands just how valuable these crystals are. How could you not be after listening to the sheer number of lives lost just so you noble friends could scrap together the required school fee? Hundreds dead just to gather together the same number of crystals you have stashed away. It certainly put that into perspective for you.

You suppose your earlier ignorance can be excused. After all, Klaus had just absently tossed the pouch to you and told you to come see him if you needed more. How could you expect something treated so carelessly and considered 'Low-Grade' to be so valuable? Well… okay, you really should have seen it coming considering how Klaus treats other extravagant items but still!

Regardless, you now know the value of these crystals. Spending one on a book just so you can learn a new language quicker… is seems like a gargantuan waste. So, you tap the No icon and watch as the box fades away.

You close the book with a sigh. A moment passes as you just stare at the closed book with slight worry. Eyes closed, you open the tome again. You can't help but sigh in relief when you open your eyes and see the box returned. You might not be willing to chance it now but it's good to know that the option is still open if you change your mind later.

Closing the book again, you return it to the shelf and turn away. It's far past time for you to return to your cabin and fake at sleeping. The Byron Language text can afford to wait a few hours.

Besides, there's something you really want to try.

-x-
...
-x-

[O] Etiquette Lessons with Leo, Kulwin and Glen.

Lessons with Old Jorin were boring and tedious affairs. They mostly consisted of you listening to the Old man lecture on about this and that, then trying to use the knowledge provided to translate a paragraph out of some boring history text. Sometimes, the Old man would get nostalgic and then you had to work while listening to him drone on and on about one thing or another. These lessons lasted for hours at a time, Old Jorin having nothing else to really occupy his time, and by the end of each one you were actually glad to escape back to your cold, dirty alley.

Lessons with Leo and the others couldn't be any more different. There were no lectures, no planned subjects or review, and they barely lasted half an hour before you all ended up playing a game or doing something else for fun. They were confusing, infrequent and often times annoying. The first few lessons were more than enough to make you regret this decision.

To be fair, you really should have expected it when you asked a trio of thirteen and fourteen year old boys to teach you about a subject they vehemently disliked. The fact they actually bothered to try and impart some measure of etiquette on you was already notable effort on their part.

Still; in between the various games and distractions, you managed to squeeze some valuable knowledge out of the three.

When Leo had gone down the list of things you would need to know, you were a quite ready to call the entire thing off. The list was quite long and full of subjects you could only see as being useless. Things like, what style of dress you should wear depending on the season and climate. How to decorate a room based on its location relative to the rest of a manor and the importance of visitors that would be entertained there How to sew, embroider and put together a flower arrangement that conveys the correct message. The list went on, each item sounding even more useless than the last. Thankfully, the boys had no desire to teach such dull subjects and were glad to skip on those topics. Instead, your short lessons focused on the more important and relevant lessons. The things you would need to know in order to survive past a year in Magi society.

The first thing you picked up is that all Magi are to be referred to as 'My Lord'. The only thing a Magus respects is strength, if one has strength then all other matters are meaningless. Because of this, regardless of gender, age or social standing, a Magus is afforded the title of Lord to be used with every ounce of respect such title deserves. There are only two exceptions to this rule. The first is in regards to Magi of equal rank. In this case, both can use personal names if they are friendly or antagonistic enough. If they are neutral then the use of the title remains. The second exception is in regards to mentors and close colleagues. A mentor is simply referred to as 'Mentor' or 'Master' whereas colleagues gain the title of 'Senior' or 'Junior' where appropriate.

As if that wasn't enough, the rule completely shifts when applied to your fellow Acolytes. In this matter, you can refer to a fellow Acolyte as 'Senior' or 'Junior' based on their ranking, or by name if you are friendly enough. Unless they come from a great Magus family. If that is the case then the acolyte in question is to be afforded the title of 'Lord' and nothing else. You can't even play it safe and refer to all acolytes as 'Lord' since using such a respected title on a 'lowly' Acolyte with no great family to support them is considered insulting to the Magus Lords. But not using the title on an appropriately ranked Acolyte can also be seen as insulting to said Acolyte and draw their ire.

It's confusing and annoying. You can only think to avoid every Acolyte unless you know their standing or to memorize the name of every great Magus family in the South Coast.

On another occasion, you are taught how to properly bow and curtsy. The former more than the latter. Perhaps five minutes were spent teaching you an acceptable curtsy, the majority of that lesson was dedicated to making sure you knew how to bow with the proper amount of respect. Magi and Acolytes greet one another with bows. Things like handshakes and hugs are only appropriate if both parties are familiar with one another. As such, there is a whole lot of useless etiquette slapped onto the bowing to make sure the proper respect is conveyed.

As an Acolyte, you must bow at a ninety degree angle when greeting a Magus. Your knees must be locked and your legs straight. You arms have to be tight at your sides, hands open and fingers straight. Any mistake or imperfection can be taken as an insult or sign of laziness. Bowing to Acolytes is similar, you never bow as deep as you would to a Magus and the bow becomes degrees shallower based on the receivers rank and standing. Initiates like yourselves are only given a courtesy nod as a greeting. It sounds simple enough but you still had to spend several days practicing before the boys deemed you good enough to avoid insulting anyone. Those were not fun times.

Another lesson, drawing from your conversation with Lucifer, is to never contradict or talk back to a Magus. You are in no way, shape or form to ever even imply you know better than a Magus. You certainly failed at that one but now you know not to repeat it.

Most importantly, you learn that you are to never look a higher ranked Magus in the eyes. Matters of disrespect and implied challenge aside, this point is actually an important one due to the sheer danger involved. As far as the three are concerned, you shouldn't even look in the direction of a Magus if you can avoid it. This is due to something you already have a passing experience with, the radiation of a Magus.

Magi, you learn, are constantly exuding vast amounts of magical radiation. Radiation similar to what you faced when you first met Lucifer. Higher ranked Acolytes and Magical Beasts are guilty of exuding the same radiation but not to the same… potency as a Magus ranked being. The more powerful a Magus, the more powerful the radiation they generate. Most Magi, especially those in the academies and cities, forcefully contain their power to keep it from leaking out. They have to as If they didn't, normal humans and weaker beings would find themselves suppressed to the point of death. Even Acolytes would find themselves powerless against the loose radiation of an official Magus. Lucifer only released the smallest portion of his own radiation inside that tent and even you, with all the benefits afforded by your power, only had a number of days to live.

The reason the three advise you to completely avoid the Magi when you can, is because even contained, a Magus' power can have strange effects on the weak. Looking a Magus in the eyes, or even staring at one for too long, can cause all sorts of strange reactions. You might be drawn into an illusion, driven mad by strange and terrifying sights, or if you stand too close, you might even end up badly injured with no sign as to why. This warning primarily applies to the dark Magi but the boys warn that you should be careful even with the light Magi as just the slightest slip of their control is all it takes.

All three boys were yet again shocked that you managed to survive meeting Lucifer despite not knowing this. Knowing to keep their head down and eyes to the ground is the only way they survived Lucifer's carefully released aura unscathed. A test of sorts that you managed to pass without even knowing of it.

The etiquette lessons will continue for the rest of the journey but after covering these crucial topics, the boys don't feel like there is all that much else you will immediately need. Well, except for maybe knowing which utensil to use with which course when eating but you don't consider that to be as important.

[Knowledge tab added to character sheet. Etiquette added to Knowledge tab. Etiquette +3 points]

-x-

[O] Buy the Knight arts from one of the black robed Knights.

-7 Magic Crystals.

Sitting on your bed after another long day of... well, nothing really -your days seem to mainly consist of sitting around talking or playing games with your peers. When you're not doing that, you're off trying to parse through that language text or attempting to figure out how to control your power. Not much progress has been made in either case.

Tonight it different though.

Looking over the two innocuous looking items laying before you, you can't help the pleased grin that stretches across your face. A grin that soon turns into a grimace as you remember just how much you paid for these simple looking items. The two items, a small bead with swirling patterns engraved on it and a plain looking sword in a rugged sheath, are the result of a hard day's effort.

Well, it wasn't very hard in the end but the lead up was certainly nerve-wracking.

Following your failures at figuring out the Knight and Magi meditation techniques on your own, you'd decided to pursue another method for learning the Knight arts. Mainly, by buying it from someone that would be willing to sell. You first considered going to Leo or another of your peers but quickly dismissed the thought. Every one of them you'd seen was a Preparatory Knight at best. There was no guarantee that their techniques could be trained all the way to the Grand Knight rank. You would basically have to trust the seller to tell you the truth and you would likely have no way to verify until it was far too late for you to get you crystals back. So, you'd gone to the one individual you knew for sure held a Grand Knight ranked technique. One of the black robes.

Asking the question was perhaps your greatest feat of courage. The black robes seem to just exude a natural sense of disregard, disgust and dislike for you Acolytes. After putting the matter off for several hours, you finally gathered the guts to just go to the nearest Knight and ask. What you'd gotten was a simple reply. A price so outrageous you wanted to just call the whole thing off. Seven Magic Crystals. That was the going price for the Grand Knight level technique the black robes use. It was a set price too. The Knight you spoke with was almost... eager to make the sale but he would accept no less than seven Crystals.

According to him, when you'd asked, it was expected that some Initiates would want to learn the techniques after seeing what their black robed chaperons are capable of. So, the Magus Lords that own the enslaved black robes allow them to sell the technique off. Considering how much more powerful even trained Acolytes are compared to a Grand Knight, the Magi don't really see the techniques as something to be hoarded like the mundane nobility do. From this sale, the Magus gets six of the Crystals and the Knight keeps the remaining one for making the sale.

A single Magus Crystal is quite a lot for these Knights. Converted into gold coins, they could have enough to give what family they may have a life of luxury and decadence. Selling the technique is something they are all more than eager to do. The Knight was even willing to throw in a free Cross Sword to keep you from going to another of his comrades.

In the end, it came down to how badly you wanted the technique. So, you'd paid the exorbitant price. Unlike the language book which you could just learn the old fashioned way, Knight techniques aren't something you can just come across or discover on your own. The price was high considering your meager purse but you feel it was worth it. You might have been able to find it cheaper on the South Coast but that was weeks away at best, you wanted it now.

Taking up the bead, you bring it to your face for a better look. A simple use of Observe has the unchanged information box appearing before your eyes.

Knowledge Vessel.
A single use item containing the spiritual emanations of a Magus. Will impart the stored information on you when used.

Teaches the skills and techniques relating to the [Void Blade] Knight arts.

Use | Destroy

According to the Knight, and verified by the item's description under the effects of your Observe skill, this little bead contains all that you need to know about the Grand Knight level technique used by the black robes. Figuring out how to use the bead, understanding the knowledge within and mastering it is all up to you, of course, but acquiring said knowledge is supposed to be the hardest part anyways. The rest is just a matter of time and practice.

Studying the bead, you can't help but be amazed with all of the magic you've seen in the past few days. This item for example, a tiny little bead that contains what is essentially centuries of refined knowledge. With a single choice, you can make that knowledge yours. If items such as these are quite widespread then will your power allow you to gain skills from them? Like with the skill book you found earlier in the week. You're quite curious, though it will have to wait. You certainly can't afford to buy any such items at this time. Not without borrowing from Klaus or stealing them at least.

Deciding to finally get on with it, you reach out and tap Use icon on the box. The box vanishes and the bead shatters into countless flakes. For a moment, you panic, thinking that maybe you accidentally tapped the wrong option, but then you feel something happening. There is a flash of heat above your palm, as if you are holding a lit candle in your hand, then… you find yourself groaning and grabbing your head as you are suddenly besieged with a flurry of images and knowledge.

The secret to the Knight arts. The piece you were missing. The knowledge streams through your mind and suddenly you understand. The Knight arts, they're not just a matter of meditating like you thought but there is also a breathing technique required to stimulate the body's internal energy. A breathing technique that must be followed to absolute perfection in order to progress in the technique. If you are even a single second off on one breath, the technique will fail and you might even suffer some backlash. This is the reason you can't just create a Knight technique on your own. Something like this requires decades of delicate study, careful experimentation and continuous refinement.

A new skill has been gained!

Void Blade Breathing Technique (Active) | Lv: 1 / 50.
A skill capable of elevating the user to the rank of Grand Knight.
Allows use of Void Blade techniques.

+0.02 Str so long as Str stat is below 8.00 points.
+0.02 Agi so long as Agi stat is below 8.00 points.
+0.02 Vit so long as Vit stat is below 8.00 points.
+2 Life Force so long as Life Force stat is below 100.

Can only be used once every 6 hours.

You are barely able to read the box before another burst of knowledge has you groaning in pain. This time, your mind is filled with dozens upon dozens of images. Visions of how to properly hold a blade. How to stand, breath and move. How to slash and thrust, parry and flourish. You learn how to dance across a battlefield in a blur of steel and blood.

A new skill has been gained!

Void Blade Mastery (Passive) | Lv: 1 / 50.
A measure of your skill with Void Blade techniques.

Increases damage of Void Blade techniques by 2%
Increases damage with Cross Swords by 1%
Increases attack speed with Cross Swords by 1%

Then, you gain knowledge what you can consider as your first actual spell. A technique capable of transforming a simple thrust with the blade into a beam of pure destructive power capable of skewering multiple targets over a short distance.

A new skill has been gained!

Void Spear (Active) | Lv: 1 / 50.
By focusing your negative energy into a weapon and performing a jabbing motion, you launch forth beams of corrosive energy.

Damage: 1 | No. of beams: 1 | Range: 10 ft | Cost: 45 Sp.
50% chance of the beam penetrating a target.
High chance to disintegrate all matter within 1 cm of the beam.

You slump back onto the bed with a slightly hysterical giggle. Your newly acquired knowledge plays through your mind, images flashing about at the speed of thought in a confusing slurry.

This was definitely worth the price.

Still giggling, you sit up and unsheathe the sword from the leather sheathe. It's a heavy object. The only one the Knight could find in the vessel's armory that was short and light enough for you to use without tripping and stabbing yourself. The cross shaped hilt, for which the weapon is named, is long but not too long. It is designed to be used with either a single hand or two of them, the extended guard providing excellent protection to the hands.

The double-edged blade is long, narrow and far to thick. You didn't realize it before but with your new knowledge, you now know that this blade is far too thick and unbalanced to be used by any true swordsman. It's a weapon designed solely to be used by those that walk the path of a Knight. With their superhuman ability, a Knight can easily swing this weapon about with no care to the weight or imbalance. More importantly, the abnormal thickness and special crafting method used in creating the Cross Sword allows the weapon to survive the strain Knight techniques would place on it. Where regular blades would chip, bend or break, the Cross Sword stands firm.

Cross Sword | Durability: 88%
A specially designed weapon for use by Knights. It is able to withstand great amounts of strain.

Damage: 0.5 + Str.
Speed: ~~Medium~~ (Slow).

Dropping the sheath, you stand from the bed and take a steady stance with both hands on the hilt. Only then do you take a few experimental swings with the sword. Your movements are slow and sloppy but you can't help but grin. Yesterday, all you knew about swords could be summarized with 'stick em with the pointy end'. Today, you're enough of an expert to not only know that you're sloppy with the weapon but also what to do in order to improve. How could you not be excited?

The next few minutes are just you swinging the sword about in known, but never before practiced, motions. Vertical, horizontal, diagonal and more. You practice the various swings one after the other with a gleeful grin. Focusing on a particular skill, you end the maneuver with a powerful thrust of the blade. Something in your chest, not your heart or any other physical organ, pulses and you feel an ice cold chill radiate outwards from near your stomach. The feeling travels up through your torso, down your arms and into the outstretched sword. The only warning you have about what is to happen is of a small sphere of the darkest black appearing at the tip of your weapon.

You blink.

A beam of darkness with a pointed tip lances forth from the sphere. The beam crosses the room far too fast for you to follow and skewers your dresser drawer. Your grin slips as a chunk of the wood roughly the size of your closed fist simply vanishes. There's no sound of impact or any sign of resistance at all. The spear of darkness simply strikes the piece of furniture and vanishes, leaving only a hole in the wood as a mark of its passing. You can see that the wood surrounding the hole is blackened and rotted. The corrosive effect is spreads outwards for a few centimeters even as you watch.

Maybe... maybe you won't practice that in closed spaces.

Still, your grin returns in full force. You can do magic! Something awesome and amazing that you can afford to show others, unlike your Steal skill or Inventory.

You try to give the sword a few more test swings, only to frown at how much heavier the weapon feels. In fact, now that you notice it, your entire body feels much heavier than usual and... and, are you breathing hard? What's- oh. Oh! Wow, has it really been so long since you were actually physically tired? You suppose so. You've never depleted your stamina this much before.

Wow, you did not miss this feeling.

[O] Try to train your power.

[O] Meditate nightly.

Deciding to try something else while your stamina recovers, you sheathe the sword and lean it against the wall next to your bed. Dropping onto the bed with a thump, you make yourself comfortable and close your eyes.

Breath in.

Hold.

Breath out.

The breathing technique comes to you easily, as if you've practiced it countless times. You inhale, hold it, then exhale, the whole while following an exact timing. Within seconds you begin to sense a slight chill, so slight that you might just be imagining it, circulating through your body as you meditate. You avoid seeking out your inner realm this time, simply concentrating on your body and its breathing.

With each breath you take, the feeling of ice water in your veins increases until you can no longer mistake it for a figment of your imagination. The chill seems to radiate out from your chest. Then it circulates out to each of your limbs before collecting in the center of your forehead. This happens multiple times, each time the feeling becoming stronger and your forehead growing colder. Just as the feeling beings to grow too uncomfortable to ignore, you feel that same point in your chest release a pulse of warmth. A moment. Then it feels like something in your head bursts open and the the chill spreads all over your head..

Your eyes snap open and you gasp.

Black smoke explodes out from each of your facial orifices. From your mouth, ears, nose and even your tear ducts. The Smoke flees your both in a fast rush, rising up towards the roof even as it seems to break up and fade away.

You wobble, breathing hard and groaning. Your stamina bar is completely full yet you feel so exhausted. You yawn and collapse onto the bed. You can only lay there, breathing rushed and eyes fluttering open and close. Several minutes pass before you manage to keep your eyes open long enough to read the box floating in front of your face.

Stats have improved!

+0.02 Strength.
+0.02 Agility.
+0.02 Vitality.

Skill [Void Blade Breathing Technique] is unusable for 05h:55m:32s.

You grin in triumph. One step closer to your dream.

Then your eyes close and you slip into your first real sleep in an age.

-x-

[O] Gain Knowledge.

[O] Read the skill book without saying Yes.

The Byron Language, you have come to learn, is quite a complex and powerful one. The language is ancient, older than the oldest kingdom you know of. It is also one wreathed in magic and power. The more you learn about the language, the more you come to understand its importance.

The Byron Language, is essentially the language of magic. The reason the translation text is on the dirigible is due to this. It is a language that you and the rest of the initiates on board will need to know if you ever hope to progress as Acolytes.

The Byron Language is the one that all spells are chanted in. It is the language that 'spell formula', whatever those are, are written in. It is the language that anyone hoping to walk the path of a Magus is required to be proficient in. Heck, if this book is to be believed then there are even other worlds out there that were conquered by the ancient Magi where the Byron Language is the main, and sometimes only, method of communication. It is singularly the most important skill you will need as you embark on your journey as a Magus.

So, it can be seen why you practically devour the book with gusto. Every moment of free time you have is spent parsing through that book. During the day, you read it while the boys are distracted with board games and pointless conversation. At night, you find a spot away from Flesha and whichever Knight is on guard duty and spend the whole night reading through it.

The only interruption you allow is for the hour long meditations to improve your physique. In regards to your Knight training, you are making steady progress. You can't exactly swing your sword around in your room or fire off those destructive spears but the nightly meditation is progress enough while you work on learning this language. Unfortunately, progress is somewhat slow when it comes to learning the Byron Language. In two weeks time, you could easily finish any other book of the same size. With this language primer however, you end up spending hours to days on a single page.

Like you said, it is quite a complex language.

Byron Language Comprehension has leveled up.

Lv 21 → 22.

Byron Language Comprehension (Passive) | Lv: 22 / 50.
A measure of your understanding of the Byron Language. Grants a minor benefit to related skills.

44% understanding of Byron Language.
11% bonus to deciphering Runic Arrays, Spell Formula and Spell Models that use the Byron Language.
11% speed bonus to creating Runic Arrays, Spell Formula and Spell Models using the Byron Language.

It does help that with each level up of your skill, you 'understand' more of the language.

Similar to learning the Void Blade techniques, every time your Comprehension skill levels up you have knowledge regarding the Byron Language poured directly into your skull. Even if it regards something you have yet to learn, you suddenly gain the knowledge as more of the language reveals itself to you. You've already discovered that you can learn the language simply by reading the first page over and over again and leveling the skill in this manner. This is quite boring and slower though, so you choose to stumble your way through the book instead.

Still, you have learned more about just how bullshit your power is. Your fear of what should happen should a Magus ever discover it is stronger than ever but this is something you can't help but take advantage of. Imagine, how many ancient magics out there can only be found in partially intact tomes? Where other Magi would have to pass it off as a lost cause or incomplete skill, you can master the whole magic from just that single piece.

The thought alone causes you to salivate.

Wiping the drool from your lips, you flip to the next page of the book. You're almost halfway through at this point. The more you understand of the tongue, the faster you can read these chapters and move to the next. You easily translate the first sentence on the page without aid of the provided glossary, only to pause as yet another box appears.

A new skill has been gained!

Speed Reading (Passive) | Lv: 1 / 50.
A skill that allows you to more quickly read and comprehend information.
Affects your perception of time.
Cannot be used while in combat.

+4% increase to reading speed.

Oh? Well, that will certainly help.

-x-

Sometime during the end of the week, you reach the South Coast.

As it is quite late at night, you are far too busy reading to notice the approaching land. You barely even notice the slight thud of the vessel touching down or the sound of shuffling feet as a third of the initiates, acolytes, knights and Magi on-board disembark.

When morning comes, the dirigible is now passing over a sea of green rather than blue.

Two weeks remain until you reach the academy and everything begins.

-x-
End of AtD: Week 2 progress report.

12 days of Void Blade Breathing Technique.

+0.24 Str.
+0.24 Agi.
+0.24 Vit.

Void Blade Breathing Technique Lv 1 → 8.
Meditation Lv 1 → 9.

Rank Gained: Preparatory Knight (Beginner).
-x-

Week 3 Vote!

Trying out a new voting mode which I plan to employ for your time in the Academy.

There are 168 hours of time in a week. Rather than selecting a set number of actions, you get to instead choose how you will use that time.
Certain activities and actions will drain away from that time however, leaving you with a set amount of free time each week.
You can vote for as many options as you would like but I'm betting plans will get more votes over single votes. Double check that you suggestions dont go over the allotted free time.
Any chosen item happens over a set amount of time each day for a full week. For example: something that takes 7 hours is actually split into 7, hour long activities.

Locked in Actions
Etiquette lessons with Leo, Kulwin and Glen (3.5 Hours).
Void Blade Meditation (7 hours).

You have 157 hours and 30 mins of free time.

What will you do this week?
[][week 3] Study (7 hours minimum. Choose how many hours you want to spend on each).

[][study] History of the Ancient Magus World (general knowledge).
[][study] Geography of Magus World (general knowledge).
[][study] History of the South Coast (general knowledge).
[][study] Culture of the South Coast (etiquette).
[][study] Geography of the South Coast (general knowledge).
[][study]Byron Language (general knowledge).

[][week 3] Socialize (7 hours minimum. Choose how many hours you want to spend on each).

[][socialize] Leo, Kulwin and Glen.
[][socialize] Magritte and the Grade-Threes.
[][socialize] The 'Golden' Nine.
[][socialize] Flesha.
[][socialize] Klaus.
[][socialize]Lucifer.
[][socialize] Random Initiate.
[][socialize] Random Knight.
[][socialize 2] Write in: any topic or aims you have for socializing.

[][week 3] Training (7 hours minimum. Choose how many hours you want to spend on each).

[][training] Work on your sword skills.
[][training] Train Void Spear.
[][training] Write in.

[][week 3] Gain Knowledge (3.5 hours minimum. Choose how many hours you want to spend on each).

[][knowledge] Write in: a previously mentioned topic that the MC would want to learn more about.

[][week 3] Write in

-x-
Voting is Closed.

Magus Ascendant (Warlock of the Magus World/The Gamer inspired quest)

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