Chương 15: Concerning Magic

Ch. 15 - Concerning Magic Magic, and the practice of it, is a nebulous thing at best. However learned a scholar or mage is, they will all describe it in a way that sounds almost contradictory. Because, apart from the very basic tenets, it all comes down to the user's own interpretation. Adding skills and classes to the mix confuses things even further. The scholarly pursuit of magic, studying and understanding the principles behind it all, differs greatly from mages who use skills to cast bound spells.

I won't even touch on magic adjacent classes like alchemists. To me, every mixture seems arbitrary, with ingredients being assigned properties and effects beyond what is naturally possible. Only through the skills of their class can an alchemist create wonders. If I were to attempt to combine the root of the Fire Lily, powdered tusk of a Ground Boar, and purified Spirit Water, I would achieve nothing more than a mess. Definitely not a Potion of Stamina. - from the writings of Steadholder Eckhart"I hate you, Raek."

Wyatt rubbed at his bleary eyes, trying to get what felt like sand out from under his lids, his head throbbing as he sat up with a groan. He looked over to one side; the muffled complaint had come from Marie. The [Hedge Mage] was laying face down on her bedroll, arms and legs askew, groaning softly. Losmer wasn't much better. He was sprawled out on the side of a nearby hill, an arm flung over his face, refusing to engage with anybody.

Everyone was feeling the worse for wear after over-indulging in Raek's rotgut alcohol, and were feeling less than charitable towards the [Swordsman]. It even overshadowed any excitement Wyatt would normally have felt towards the new skills and levels he'd obtained. He just felt too miserable. Annoyingly, Raek himself seemed perfectly fine. He stood in the centre of the camp, looking refreshed and full of vigour, sounding apologetic, but also unable to keep the look of amusement off his face.

"I'm sorry everyone, but you shouldn't drink that much if you can't handle it." Marie lifted her face from her pillow, her eyes bloodshot. She glared." You shouldn't buy the cheapest bottle you can find! You shouldn't — ow, ow, ow." Marie clutched at her head, groaning as her raised voice escalated her headache. Wyatt got out of his bedroll with some effort. Kit looked up at him reproachfully from where she had been laying under the blanket, her fur fluffing up as he exposed her to the cooler air.

Wyatt didn't feel quite the same level of animosity as Marie and Losmer, but he did eye Raek with a certain amount of ire.

"How are you so fine? You drank more than anyone." Raek puffed out his chest.

"That's a warrior's constitution for you! Don't ever knock it." Losmer's voice was gravelly as he levered himself to his feet. He looked balefully at Raek.

"Don't listen to him, Wyatt. Someone who buys such crappy liquor usually buys the cure as well." Wyatt glanced between Losmer and Raek, confused.

"Cure?" The [Archer] nodded.

"Yep. Raek, stop messing around and hand them over." Raek sighed theatrically, then grinned. He whipped his hand down to his bag of holding, pulling out three vials of swirling yellow liquid.

"You only had to ask! Here, catch!" Raek tossed the vials at them all in quick succession; Wyatt missed his but it landed safely on his bedroll. Losmer had to lunge to get his, gritting his teeth as the sudden movement exacerbated his hangover. Marie yelped, fumbling for hers, as it also landed on her blankets.

"Whoops, sorry team. Uh, don't look at me like that, okay? Guys? How about you drink them down and then we can all cheer up?" Wyatt watched as Losmer pulled out the cork of the vial, tipping it to his mouth and hurriedly gulping it down. Marie was having trouble with hers, but she worried at the cork with her teeth before also getting it open. She tilted her head back and drank it with closed eyes, dropping the vial and sticking her tongue out once it was all gone.

"Bleh. Those always taste so awful." Wyatt looked down at the small vial in his hands. The liquid swirled unnaturally, with a strange sheen that ran throughout it.

"What is it?" Marie yawned, stretching languidly. The smile had returned to her face and she practically sprang out of bed. She nodded encouragingly at Wyatt.

"Hangover cure. Don't worry, it works fast. The alchemist we go to is a reputable one. Even though we should be saving our silver for necessary potions instead." This last was directed at Raek, who just smiled, unrepentant.

"They seemed pretty necessary to me. Don't worry, I got a discount on them." Losmer had also perked up, and had strode over to the fire to get it going again from the smouldering embers that remained. He took the time to lightly jab Raek in the ribs though as he went by.

"Yeah, a discount because you probably bought them in bulk." Raek just folded his arms.

"Hey, I just know my team. I didn't make you drink anything, you know." Wyatt listened to them bicker for a moment, glancing down at the vial in his hand. A potion … from an alchemist? So it was a magic potion? He pulled the cork out, recoiling slightly at the smell than emanated from it. It was sweet, reminding him of overripe fruit. Cloying and sickly. But if the others had drunk it … Wyatt tilted his head back and swallowed the potion. It was unpleasant to say the least.

The liquid stuck to his throat as it went down, a viscous experience that made him want to gag. But, almost instantly, the headache that had been thumping around his temples, the bleary, gritty feeling in his eyes … it all vanished.

"… wow." Raek grinned at him.

"Good, right? Come on — breakfast time!" After they had breakfasted, Raek announced that he wanted to explore the copse of trees on the other side of the stream. Last night he and Losmer had found the foundations of an old building with what looked to be a cellar. Although Wyatt had expected that they would go as a group, Raek waved that idea off. It was just a whim, and they'd be done by mid-morning.

Then they would all head to the dungeon exit, hand in the bounty on the goblins they'd killed, and plan their next adventure. This suited Marie as she declared, with a steely look in her eye, that she was going to do something about Wyatt's clothing. Wyatt had done the best he could, but washing and beating clean his clothes in the cold, stagnant water of forest pools could only do so much.

It had worked out for the best though; no one had really looked twice at what he had on, except to be sympathetic that he was wearing such old and worn clothing. His long pants and shirt apparently looked nondescript enough that it could pass for something from this world. After Raek and Losmer had left, Wyatt watched as Marie bustled around, humming to herself. He had much to think about. Wyatt had picked up a lot of extra information from casual conversation with his new friends.

The entrance to the dungeon was apparently just outside of a growing city, Skalholm. It had been a small town a few hundred years ago, but when the dungeon was discovered it brought a surge of people and wealth to the area. It had been overwhelming to see just three new people after so long. Wyatt wasn't sure what his reaction would be when seeing a whole city full of them. Marie found what she was looking for in one of the bags of holding, pulling out a dark green tunic.

It only took a few minutes of adjustments until she had it sized perfectly, using her skills from her seamstress class. She looked proud of her work as Wyatt tested his new clothes, so much so that she had only flushed a little bit as she watched him change. Once dressed in his new outfit, Wyatt asked something that had been on his mind ever since he'd heard Marie's class.

"Marie, could you teach me about magic? I'd love to learn some if I could." Marie turned to him, surprised. But then her face lit up, and she seemed gratified.

"Sure! I'd love to —" Marie coughed, covering her mouth and toning back her excitement.

"I mean, of course I can. Um. What do you know of magic? Just so I have an idea of what I'm working with." Wyatt had smiled at her quick assent, eager to find out more about something that he considered just as amazing as classes and skills, but then he hesitated. He decided just to be honest.

"Next to nothing, actually. Only what I've seen, and that isn't much."

"Really? Nothing?" Marie seemed taken aback, but not so much that it pointed to Wyatt's ignorance being impossible. She sighed, running her fingers through her thick curls.

"Oh, I thought that — Well, I can give you the basics, but I have to warn you, it's probably not worth it." Wyatt was a little disappointed to hear that, but he kept it from his face. Instead he bowed, somewhat theatrically.

"I'm grateful for anything you can tell me, teacher." Marie's face turned pink, and she laughed.

"Oh wonderful, you're just as serious as Raek! Okay. To start with, magic is all around us."

"Is that theoretically, or literally?" Marie looked around, and then sat down on one of the larger pieces of firewood, using it as a makeshift chair. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"I mean literally. Not everyone can feel it — sense it, I mean. Some places are more magical than others as well. This dungeon, for instance, has a lot more ambient mana than outside of it." Wyatt grabbed his own piece of wood, rolled it over in front of Marie, and sat down. Kit was laying on her side on a nearby bedroll, but she appeared to be listening as well.

"And having more ambient mana makes a difference?" Marie nodded.

"My spells are more potent here. Easier to cast." Wyatt took that in, thinking for a moment. He raised his hand to Marie's amusement.

"You said that people can feel mana — what does that feel like? Is it like a … tingling, on your skin? I felt that I think, when I first came here."

"Yes! That's it exactly. And you felt it? That's great! That means you can sense mana at the very least." Wyatt smiled, but his thoughts were racing. He had noticed something different as soon as he'd woken up in the dungeon. Something that he hadn't felt even once in the forest, though he'd been in there for almost two weeks. Why was that? Even when he and his squad had received skills and classes, there had been no indication that magic or spells had been possible.

There had obviously been something supernatural about that endless twilight forest — the beasts that lived there, the strange glowing lights … but he'd never sensed anything, not like when he'd come to the dungeon.

"Marie, why are some places more magical than others?" The [Hedge Mage] shrugged.

"Some places are able to generate mana above what is usually there."

"So places that don't generate mana … there's no magic there?" Marie frowned.

"Why would you think that? Of course there's still magic. It's just not as rich in mana, and you have to work a bit harder for the same results. I can still cast spells outside of the dungeon."

"Oh. So there is no such thing as a place without magic?" Marie shook her head, then hesitated. Her brow wrinkling.

"No! Oh, well … technically there is, but not in the way you were saying."

"What do you mean?" Marie bit her bottom lip as she thought.

"Well, Wyatt, there are places that basically eat magic. It's like an enchantment that utilises the ambient mana as fuel. It's fine most places, but if it's in an area that has low mana regeneration to begin with, then it's possible to create a place that is magically null."

"So those aren't common? Are there any places like that around here?" Marie gave him an odd look, and her voice slowed as she looked consideringly at him.

"We are getting a little off-topic, but … yes. There is one place near here, you've probably heard of it. It's the Gateway Woods. Which is a stupid name really, since it makes it sound like a small wood that's easy to traverse." Wyatt felt a chill as Marie continued. The [Hedge Mage] took on a slightly lecturing tone as she warmed to her subject.

"Yes, the Gateway Woods. It's more infamous than famous, since everyone avoids it. Anyone that ventures inside are never seen again. The trees are massive, even on the outskirts of the woods, and they stretch unimaginably high. Most animals seem to avoid it. Horses won't go near it no matter how much they are coerced. Losmer said he went there once, and it made him feel lost — like he was forgetting why he was there. He won't go anywhere near the place."

Wyatt forced his voice to remain even, though it was a struggle.

"Oh yes, I think I know it now that you've described it." Marie nodded.

"Yes, you see? So that's an example of a magically null place. Spells are difficult to cast even on the outskirts, like it's eating magic somehow. At least, that's what I've read. But there aren't too many places like that in the world." Wyatt smiled and nodded, but inside his thoughts were racing. That really sounded like the forest he had been in. And it was close? That meant he hadn't teleported far when he'd landed in the dungeon. As to why the dungeon and the forest was linked, that he did not know.

But did that mean that the settlement from Earth wasn't far away either? Just how big was this Gateway Woods? Wyatt really needed a map of this world. The last thing Wyatt wanted to do was to venture anywhere near that strange and dangerous forest again. He didn't want to risk it, didn't want to get lost. But … could he really not try at all? Sam and the others might still be inside, wandering and cut off.

The problem was that even if Wyatt went to the forest, went inside, and somehow found his squad, could he even get out again? Wyatt's thoughts were interrupted by Marie clapping her hands together.

"Alright! Enough history. Let's start the practical lesson." Wyatt blinked. He hadn't expected to get that far straight away, just to learn about magic.

"What, really?"

"Of course! Maybe if you were at a stuffy institution you'd have to sit through weeks of lessons, but that's boring don't you think?" Marie's eyes were twinkling, and Wyatt couldn't help but smile at her.

"What do I need to do?"

"It's really simple! I'll guide you through casting a low tier spell — if you can feel what I'm doing you at the very least have potential. If you can follow through all the way to the end —" Wyatt couldn't help his eagerness.

"I can cast magic?" Marie's mood fell slightly at Wyatt's obvious excitement. She held up a hand in caution.

"Oh, sorry, Wyatt. I got ahead of myself. You can sense magic — that's a good sign. But having potential and being able to learn proficiency in spell casting is another thing entirely. Not everyone takes to it. So I don't want to get your hopes up that you'll suddenly be able to sling spells around. You might not be able to do more than conjure a small flame." Wyatt just shrugged, still smiling.

"That would still be pretty awesome." Marie blinked, then grinned.

"I like that attitude! Okay, let's get to it. So most people start with being tested with fire — but I taught myself, so I did it a bit differently. And fire magic isn't my strength; you saw the size of my [Conjure Flame]. I'm better with plants."

"Oh, is that why you're a [Hedg—" Marie held up a hand, smiling sweetly at Wyatt." If you make a crack about hedges, I will hit you." Wyatt mimed buttoning his mouth shut, and Marie's lips twitched in amusement." Okay, let's start. Let's kneel facing each other — yes, like that. Now, give me your hands." Marie took hold of Wyatt's hands in hers, and brought one over to her chest, resting it over her heart. The other she held in the air between them, her hand on top of his, palm open, fingers spread. Facing the earth. Her voice softened and she closed her eyes." Now close your eyes too. I want you to listen to what I say as best you can." Wyatt did as instructed, trying to ignore the fact that Marie was holding his hand against her chest. He could feel her heart beating, rhythmic and steady, beneath his fingers. Marie continued to speak softly, her voice taking on a pronounced lilt, a peculiar cadence." Feel it, feel the mana. That tingle on your skin. Focus on my heartbeat. The warmth under your hand. It's connected. Concentrate on it. All your attention on my hands. My heartbeat, my warmth — it's the same as what you can feel in the earth, in the plants on the ground between us. Yes, right there. There is mana there, pulsing. It's collecting now, can you feel it? Coalescing. Gathering …" Wyatt's brow wrinkled as he extended his senses. He thought he could feel it, feel what Marie was describing. There was something building under his hand on her chest. The same something that he could feel under his other hand as he held it over the ground between them. Marie continued." I'm willing the mana to form, telling it to move. Try to follow what I'm doing …" Marie leant forward, pushing Wyatt's hand down until it was resting on the grass between them." The plant life under our hands. There is already mana there, it has its own cycle, its own flow. Feel it. Can you sense the plants pulling it from the air itself? It is moving, flowing through the plant, and out into its roots. Spreading out in the ground beneath us." Wyatt could feel exactly what she was describing. It was similar to what he was already used to doing — making himself smaller, lesser, in order to pay attention to the world around him. Marie's voice got even softer. Her fingers tightened on the back of his hands." Yes, that's it. Feel the flow, the cycle of it all. Now — I'm telling my mana to move down into the grass. You do the same. Yes, Wyatt, just like that. Don't force it, will your mana down, join the natural flow. You're feeding the grass, nurturing it. Now … tell the grass to grow." Unsure if he was supposed to say it out loud or not, Wyatt did so anyway." grow." Wyatt almost lost focus as he felt energy surge out of him and into the plants below. The grass beneath his hand suddenly swelled, rising up around his palm, pushing between his fingers. Growing up and up, twining around his and Marie's hands. Wyatt's eyes slammed open and he stared down at the dense patch of greenery, perhaps a foot hight." Did — did I do that?"" You did! Congratulations!" Marie cried out, flinging her arms around Wyatt's neck in a tight embrace, knocking him backwards. From off to the side, Kit chattered angrily in a series of barks, but Wyatt didn't have time to look at the little fox as he was toppling over onto his back, Marie on top of him. She was still laughing happily as she propped herself up on his chest, looking down at him. The sun was behind Marie's head, silhouetting her, and she absently ran a hand through her hair, tucking an errant curl back behind her ear. She smiled impishly, leaning down a little closer, one hand splayed across Wyatt's chest." You can learn magic, Wyatt! If you … want to?" Marie's tone changed as she spoke, lowering in volume. She leant down even closer, her body shifting into a more comfortable position. Wyatt was incredibly aware of every point of contact between her body and his. The moment stretched out, Marie licking her lips, and …" What exactly are you two doing?" A teasing, mock-scandalised voice broke the moment into pieces. Raek and Losmer were back, the former grinning widely down at the two of them as they lay in the grass. Marie's face went beet-red and she squeaked, scrambling hurriedly off of Wyatt to her feet. Marie stammered, not meeting anyone's eyes." I was — we were just — I was teaching him magic!" Raek sighed, shaking his head as if in consternation. He gestured at Losmer, woeful." Is that what we are calling it now? Kids these days — can you believe it, 'Los?" Losmer was already pointedly stepping away from Raek." Don't drag me into your mess, Raek." The [Swordsman] looked confused." What do you mean, my — wait, Marie. Hey, calm down now, alrig — woah!" Raek ducked, then started to run as Marie raised a shaking hand, and started to cast spells at him. The moment of Wyatt learning he could learn magic, was overshadowed by the chaos that happened next. By the time that Raek had apologised to a fuming Marie, enough time had passed that they had to get moving or they'd be spending another night in the dungeon. Kit was pointedly ignoring Wyatt for some reason, refusing to ride on the back of his pack like she usually did, and was instead trotting along a few paces behind him. For Marie's part, she was still obviously embarrassed somewhat, and strode along with her back ramrod straight. Raek had said sorry to Wyatt as well, but the implication of his apology made Wyatt feel decidedly awkward. Losmer had just shaken his head, washing his hands of it all. So it was a more sombre group than usual as they followed one of the paths through the winding greenery of the first floor of [Anwyn's Redoubt]. Wyatt felt like he had to break the mood, so he pointedly broke the silence, asking Raek about their destination." Is it far? To the exit, I mean." Raek looked grateful for the question, but he sounded puzzled all the same." You don't know, Wyatt?"" I guess I got turned around a bit since I've been here." Raek laughed." Some [Survivalist]! No, it isn't far, we'll be out before the sun sets. So … another few hours? Marie, is that right?" Marie sniffed pointedly at being addressed by Raek, but after a moment her shoulders relaxed and she answered." Yes, about that. It's pretty much a straight line from here to the exit." They passed one of the structures that dotted the landscape, this one appearing to be some kind of small wooden watch tower. Wyatt gestured at it." I've been meaning to ask, did someone build these for a reason?" Raek was just looking relieved that Marie seemed to have calmed down, so he answered Wyatt absently." Oh, do you mean if people have been adding to them? Maybe. But there are so many random buildings scattered about. Apparently on some of the other floors there are entire towns, standing empty." Wyatt blinked. Did that mean everything was part of the dungeon, constructed along with it? Or had people once lived here in truth? Losmer grunted, joining in the conversation for once." There's that fortified castle on floor five — no one's been able to clear that for decades now. It's full of monsters."" What kind of monsters are there on floor five? Raek scratched his head, thinking." Pretty much everything, I've heard. Evolved forms as well. If Silver and Gold ranks haven't been able to clear it yet, that tells you everything you need to know." It really didn't, but Wyatt couldn't exactly say that. However, before he could ask a leading question, it happened. A tolling alarm echoed through Wyatt's head, so loud it almost drove him to his knees. Without conscious thought, he shrugged out of his pack and quickly brought his weapon up to the guard position. Wyatt turned slowly on the spot, eyes scanning every horizon, spear at the ready. Trying to pinpoint what had alarmed him. Trying to work out what was making his [Danger Sense] scream at him louder than it ever had before. Rookies though they were, the three Adventurers had reacted quickly to Wyatt's change in behaviour. Raek was quietly cursing as he readied his shield. Losmer was hurriedly stringing his bow, and Marie was clutching her staff tightly. They were wide-eyed as they tried to work out what was wrong. Raek licked his lips." Wyatt, what's wrong? What's —" Wyatt spoke, his voice flat. His heart was hammering in his chest, and everything in him was telling him to run. But he didn't know what the threat was or where it was coming from." [Danger Sense]. Worst I've ever felt it." Marie sounded nervous, but her movement was sure as she turned about on the spot." But this is just the first floor — there shouldn't be anything here that would be dangerous." Losmer looked grim as he finished stringing his bow." Wyatt, which direction?"" I don't — I don't know! But we need to go, we can't stay here. The herd of Galvadeer wasn't as bad as this!" The three adventurers went white at hearing that. Raek shivered." Okay, let's retreat. Back to the campsite. If there is something out here, it's most likely that we are stumbling right towards it. So let's quickly —" Kit suddenly yelped. She darted in front of Wyatt, standing stock-still with her tail lashing the air. She growled, her fur puffing out, trying to make herself look bigger. Wyatt followed the little fox's line of sight, and was the first one to see them. He lifted a finger, pointing." There." Stepping out of a copse of trees by the path were two figures. One was shrouded by a heavy cloak, carrying some kind of staff, the other a hulking shape almost as wide as it was tall, wearing heavy armour and holding a long two-handed sword. Both had deep green skin, and as soon as they had locked eyes with the Adventurers and Wyatt, they let out an audible growl, bellowing words in a language that Wyatt didn't understand." Is that — are those goblins?" They looked different to Wyatt, not least of which being much larger. They were almost as tall as he was, and their features looked slightly different. They had two pronounced long teeth coming up from their bottom jaw, jutting out like a boars tusk. He couldn't get a good look at the one with the cloak, but the one in armour had thick legs and arms, rippling with pronounced muscle. Raek's voice was shaking, but he still moved into the front of the group, setting his shield before him." No. Those are orcs. But there shouldn't — there can't be —" The orcs roared again, the armoured one pointing his sword at them in a clear threat with only one hand, handling the weight of the weapon with ease. Wyatt's skill, [Natural Affinity - Monsters] activated, and he got a sudden rush of emotions from the two beings. Grief. Rage. And below it all, a burning desire for vengeance that was so all-encompassing that it made Wyatt feel sick. There was no warning, no attempt at discourse. With one final bellowing roar, the two orcs charged.