Chương 19: Orn The Mage

"Ah, so this is where you have been." Calder says as he strides into the room.

"Honestly, I should've guessed you would get lost here."

"Calder? Whatcha doing here?" I ask, shocked more about why Calder came to find me rather than his sudden appearance. He laughs, "I need you for something, of course. Plus I just wanted to check up on you after a week. We did kinda just bring you here and set you free to figure shit out."

"Wait, a week?" I stand up.

"There is no way, it's only been like, four days at most."

"Didn't you feel the magic at the library door? Whoops, perhaps we should've warned you…" Calder asks with an amused expression.

"You clearly noticed the spatial warping, but you also should've noticed the focus enchantment. Not that anyone knows how such a thing works, just strange magic of that damned librarian."

"So, I've been in here for a whole week?! That would explain why I've been able to read books so fast." Calder scratches his beard and then pulls a small object from his storage.

"Here, take this. It ain't anything fancy, but it'll help you keep time." He tosses the object to me and I catch it.

"It's called a pocket watch." I inspect the item and find it is just a small clock. Somehow they got all the bits to fit easily in my palm. Damn, this world sure is awesome.

"So, what did you need my help with? Now not to brag, but I am a water mage now or something."

"Interesting, Simir was certain that you would pick up light magic first. You clearly have the ability for it." Calder says.

"Wait, I do? I don't really know how to check, so I've just been trying to cast every type… light was my next one, and the last I figured I would try." Calder guffaws.

"Geez, boyo. Well that is one way to do it. Figuring out elemental affinities can be tricky. Affinities are typically inherited, so if a person's parents are mages, they just learn whatever their parents have. Most never figure out if they have anything else. It is odd, as it kinda gives mages outside of families an odd advantage if they figure it out."

"That is interesting." I say, pondering the concept. I guess most people don't just have access to information on all sorts of spells and such. Reli's token thing must give me access to the entire library or something, which the average person simply doesn't have.

"What magic types do you have? If that isn't like, rude to ask or whatever. I never saw you use any in our grand escape, I don't think." Calder smiles.

"Nah, it isn't a big secret unless one has something really rare. Like your spirit magic for instance. Definitely don't go telling people about that. Though most experienced mages will figure it out when you attack them, so not much you can do. As for me, I specialize in metal magic. Don't know what you know about the types, but it's a mix of fire and earth." Metal magic sounds sick. Especially as it seems so much in this new world is made of metal. I bet Calder is really powerful.

He does rule a city after all, and that must require a decent bit of strength.

"As for why you didn't see it, that is because I was controlling really small fragments of metal. They are virtually undetectable unless the enemy is prepared for it." Calder finishes explaining.

"Huh, neat. So, uh, about this ball of water." I say and gesture to the water that is still floating in the air.

"How might I get rid of it?"

"<Dispel>" Calder says, and I feel a slight wave of mana head towards the spell. Instantly, it is like it collapses upon itself and ceases to exist.

"Don't neglect universal magic, it is very important for any mage. Now that you've seen it, you should have an understanding of <Dispel>. Fundamental magics are ridiculously simple, after all." Surely enough, moments later, the notification appears. I pull up the description. <Dispel> A fundamental tier spell that every mage should possess. With a chant length of a single word, it is crucial for aborting spells that would otherwise go awry.

While combat use is possible, the caster must be at least two tiers higher than the spell they wish to dispel. The greater the disparity, the less mana it costs to dispel. Oh right, I remember reading something about that tier system now. Each spell has a tier associated with it. As you use the spell more, the tier increases and the spell gets stronger and stronger. The book said there is an unknown amount of tiers, and that only seven have ever been recorded.

Those being; Fundamental, Initiate, Apprentice, Graduate, Master, Grandmaster, and Archon. The book highly implies that tiers beyond exist, but never confirms any. Which is interesting, to say the least. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The book also explained that as one gets stronger spells, they get traits that make spells of that tier and below easier to learn. As well as all sorts of other buffs dependent on the affinity.

Hence {Initiate Water Mage} suddenly appearing. Right away, I set out to test it out. Calder doesn't seem to be in a rush, after all. So I cast Water Ball again. I control the mana a bit better this time, and only use a dozen points. The ball is much smaller, but is still fucking cool. Casting Dispel turns out to be really easy. I just say the word and the system somehow interprets my intent. With a bit of difficulty and far too much mana, I manage to Dispel the ball.

"Good work." Calder says from a few steps away. I hope he didn't expect me to fail spectacularly.

"Now, I hate to cut your learning short, but some inquisitors have arrived to ask you a few questions. Oh, and a 'welcoming' party from the council has also arrived to see you." I frown. I don't like the sound of any of that. It sounds like there will be lots of people that want to heap attention onto me. It isn't like I hate people. It's just that I would hate that much attention being on me. I am just a humble smith at heart, after all.

"Don't suppose I can pass?" Calder smiles.

"Felt like you would say that. We sectioned them off. So if you happened to have important business to attend to right after speaking with the inquisitors, you could leave. Though you do have to speak to those fellas, as they are the ones responsible for charging Lord Cathartic and all that."

"Sounds complicated."

"Not really. They will just use a diviner to determine whether you are telling the truth. Given it is damn near impossible to fool them, they will take you at your word." Calder explains and then gestures to the door.

"You can just leave the books there and The Librarian's magic will deal with 'em." Intrigued at the thought of this divination magic, I get up and follow Calder out. I may have put a few dozen of those cakes into my storage first, though. I wonder if Calder could hook me up with a supply of them, I will have to ask later. As we leave the room, I swear I hear a deep sigh come from the room. It must've just been the wind though, as there was no one else in there.

Calder moves us through the library like he has the whole place memorized. Which he might, given what that book said about stats making remembering things really easy.

"So, what level are you up to now? Five? Ten maybe?" Calder asks as we ride the escalator up.

"One is at ten, the other is at sixteen."

"Sixteen?!" Calder near-shouts.

"Didnt you only hunt for like three days? Damn kid, guess you do have the spark of an adventurer after all."

"Huh? Isn't that a pretty normal rate of progress? I fought quite a few monsters. At the start they gave lots of levels, but then I partied up with someone I rescued from a nasty monster and my leveling slowed a lot."

"Ha. While it isn't abnormal to level fast, especially at low levels, it isn't common. You must've been fighting monsters a bit above your level, which isn't easy. Most people struggle against those of equal level, let alone any higher. Even those considered talented don't often stray more than five levels higher than their own." Calder explains, basically calling me a freak of nature.

"I was told that my hero-ness might make my development weird. So maybe I'm just leveling a lot right now because of that? I've never been a risk taker, and those monsters were definitely difficult. Is it bad to do so?" Calder ponders the questions for a moment.

"Perhaps. Heroes are strange after all. Legends exist, but none in this realm likely remember the last ones. Some higher realm beings probably do, but they almost never venture downwards. As for leveling fast… it isn't bad per say. But do be aware of your limits and learn to gauge what you can actually fight."

"I guess that makes sense. Some day I will simply have to find those beings and speak to them, then. They can give me answers. Though I feel like I will figure out most of it by the time I get there." Calder stops in his tracks and bends over. Laughter ripples through him. Seconds pass before he recovers.

"Sorry, just the casualness that you speak of ascending the realms. With that attitude, I don't doubt that you will actually manage it, too. Gonna leave me and everyone here in the dust pretty soon, I'd guess." That is a good point that Calder makes. I imagine not many people grow that powerful, especially starting as humans. All of the texts I have read seem to confirm the fact that even reaching one star is rare for a human. They also were almost completely lacking in knowledge of higher realms.

Does that mean I will be forced to basically restart in every realm? All of the friends and such I make will still exist, of course. But I can't imagine traveling between realms is very easy, even if I am allowed to. I am also a hero, which obviously confers a lot of bonuses and whatnot. I can't expect any person I meet to be able to keep up. Though maybe if they were like, mega talented and stuff. But at the same time, even if they were, would I want to drag them with me?

Perhaps another hero would work, but I have no clue what the others are like, let alone where they are. The Goddess warned that the path of heroes was not an easy one. Would it be a good idea to drag people into it with me? Naturally, some amount of that seems like it will happen anyways. Heck, just my appearance in this world has certainly already started many things beyond my understanding. Calder and I don't talk after that bit. He realizes I have a lot to think about, and just lets me do that.

By the time we reach the library's main door, I have come to realize that this whole hero thing might just suck. The Goddess did say I could just ignore it all and just do whatever. But, I don't want to do that either. On one hand, I just want to be Orn The Magic Smith. But on the other, I do want to help save this world from malice. Agh, this is all too much to think about. So it is a good thing that the automobile we got on is almost at whatever estate the inquisitors are at.

Existential problems can be thought about later, for now, I have to ensure a jerk gets into some big trouble.