8 Chapter 6.5: Smirf!?

"Oh, this is fun..." Laughs evilly.

Khoola, Author of War

While writing Chapter 4.5, 2020Y 04M28D 0000H

*It was 4.5 at the first draft...

. . .

The Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Central

1821Y 02M24D 1000H

Mat had accepted Luci's terms of the contract and started journeying towards the Warbeast nest. Acki's group decided to tag along.

"Lucii, ain't this nice, we all going the same way." Happily exclaiming. "Don't mind them, love. Anyway, looks like there is something you want to of me."

"Why ya decided to help us?"

"Well, ya ask, didn't ya?" Imitating Smirf.

She fluttered "That ain't fair Lucii." She laughs hard at her reaction. "Well, the truth — what Captain offered sound better and more reasonable than running around blind in the sewers." Looking at Mat ahead of the group.

"I believe in him." Held her chest and gave a faint smile. "I know love." She smiled and tap Smirf at the back. "Ow," then they both laugh. "Lucii, Acki is really strong too."

"Yes, but Acki's strength is different from the Captain's."

Smirf spaced out.

"Love, Acki built himself to be able to deal significant damage to anyone; Mat built himself to be able to defend against anyone."

"Kay, I kinda get it. Ah think." Smirf scratching her head.

"So, if by chance they sparred. The Captain would just shrug off his attacks, the same could not be said to Acki."

"Why!?"

"Because aside from being impregnable by normal means, he also has the ability to launch a counter that could devastate any assault." Luci explained. Smirf got sparkly!

Luci tilted her head towards her companions behind. "Love do you see those three lowlifes behind us?" Smirf looked back."Them three lo..." Luci put her finger on her lips before she could finish. "Bad girl, never say those words."

"But..."

"No, buts... Okay"

"Kay, Lucii"

"As I was saying if we can get those — peasants to work for us. Taking down that Warbeast or even the Guardian would give us much comfort." Luci guaranteeing her. "Are ya sure? Ah should go talk to em." Turned around but Luci grabs her immediately. Got her close and whispered. "Let me handle that part, Love." Smirf nodded. "They're that strong."

"They will be." Smiling evilly. "Baby is our mid-range fighter, very dextrous, accurate, and agile. She fights by her summon Ca'li." Luci started leisurely talking to Smirf. "Yes, she's so graceful, dancin' round the battlefield."

"Acki excels at close range and can deal good damage while also being tanky..." Luci smiled then chuckled. ".. and Menan, believe or not, Love. He's the second smartest person in the guild. Jack of all trades." The statement made Smirf pause. "Real — ly!?" Didn't even try to hide her shock. This made Luci laugh harder. "Shiro is already on our side, and Shiro is Shiro."

"And yours truly..." Luci bowed and gestured to herself. "Ya'r made to be beautiful and awesome!!!" She threw her hands up and exclaimed it.

"Hahahaha, that is why I love you so much." Hugs her tightly.

A few hours later, Smirf was seen with Luci both laughing evilly.

. . .

"Smirf, Love. You need to develop a way to at least protect yourself." Luci sitting by the campfire. "Kay, Lucii." With a determined look, while holding tightly her ladle. "Aside from, the frying pan, ladle and driving like crazy on the battlefield." Pointing at each respectively.

Smirfs suddenly spaced out.

"I see —." Taking a deep breath then snap her fingers to get Smirf's attention. "Tell me, love, what do you not understand about developing spells or armaments." Smirf spaced out again. Luci claps her hands. "Ok, let us start with the basics rules."

"The Philosopher's Stone serves as our energy source." Showing the book chained at her hip. "Ah, but that's a book, Lucii." Smartly pointing that out. "Ah Yes, it is a book." She took it off and showed it to her. "This gem in the middle is the Philosopher's Stone; The book is a catalyst." Showing her the decorative blood-red stone. Smirf looks all sparkly and amazed. "That's so amazin' Lucii"

"Not yet, Love." Just smiled. "Once you embed a Stone in a catalyst it becomes a conduit we call a driver."

"A driver..." Staring at the book intently. "Love, only two can be wielded by any human being safely, but you can have any number of catalysts." Showing Smirf her wand and glove. Smirf looked more sparkly and amazed.

"Yes, you can have as many ladles as you want... as a catalyst, but we will absolutely NOT gonna make your ladle as a driver." She strictly told Smirf. "I ain't gonna..." She fluttered at her. "Put the ladle down, Love." Tapping her hand. Smirf sadly put the ladle back to the pot.

"Let's go first with my forte... Spell Development." As she moves away and looks towards a huge boulder. "Spells is as simple as manipulation of energy. You need to set specific parameters on your driver in order for the energy to take shape."

Smirf took out a small book, pen then started jotting down the lecture.

"Parameters are activated by commands it can be anything, but the basics are verbal and gestures or both at the same time."

"How —," trying to compose the question.

"For example." Luci reading into her. "Mage Art," Pinkish vapor started to come out of her eyes. "This is a verbal command, this tells my driver to open up my energy circuits for a spell or just telling it to be ready to kick some ass." She then pointed her wand on the boulder. "This is a gesture command, this activates the set parameters to direct the energy towards my catalyst." The tip of her wand started to glow.

"Pink... Great... Arrow." A pink beam blasted the boulder shattering it to pieces. "Pink Great Arrow is three separate commands, Pink its color, Great says how much Mana the spell needs then Arrow what shape it will take." Smirf started to look like a Christmas tree.

"Most important thing you need to learn." She then whispered to her ears. Rules are made to be broken.

Luci opened up a console and sent her something. "Here Love, a gift."

"What is it?" Looking to what looks like a scroll. "Its a spell scroll, this houses all the parameters, configurations; activation commands of my spell Mage Art." Showing her the myriad of equations forming the scroll. "Do with it as you like."

A few hours later, Smirf was seen practicing spell casting while cooking...

. . .

"Baby," Smirf shyly called out. "Yes, Hermana come closer. What is it?" She asks. "Lucii, said that, ah need to develop a spell or armament, but ya don't seem to use any." recalling how Baby fought the mutants unarmed. "Ah, you see I mostly have gesture commands." Baby signaled the metallic sphere to come. "That's why it looks like I am not casting anything."

"I see, ya mean, ya cast with ya body."

"Ya... yes, I mean that is correct but I also have some verbal commands."La Muerte." Suddenly the skull mask girl emanated from the sphere.

"Ain't she — the prettiest." All sparkly.

"Gracias, the verbal command La Muerte summons my armament Ca'li." Introducing her to Smirf. "Hey ya, Ca'li." Smirf waving her hand. Ca'li held her skirt then graciously bowed at her.

"My class is called 'Summoner', most of my class stay back from the battlefield and let our summons do the fighting but I consider my self a fighter." Baby swayed her hands gracefully, Ca'li dual-wielded crossbows and fired at a tree. "Ca'li can also dual-wield swords and fire specialize darts if need be."

"Whoah," Smirf sparkling.

"Fighters like Acki and Menan also have their verbal commands like. Hmm... Acki's Ocean Splitter which commands his driver to boost his physical strength and support his stance. Of course, he practices his swings every day." Baby pointing at training with Menan by the clearing. "Ya mean, it's like a super skill." Smirf swinging her ladle. "Sí Hermana,"

Baby rolled her eyes. "Menan is quite unique. His Render skill copies a person's skill or spell. For example, his Grand Splitter skill combines Luci's Pink Great Sword and Acki's Ocean Splitter. Enhancing his physical skill and turning his straight sword into a great one by emanating light energy on it."

"He can do that!?" Smirf shock. "Guess, Lucii ain't joking when she said Menan was smart." Smirf deep in thought. Baby laugh so hard, Smirf had to calm her down.

"Remember, drivers, catalyst, spells, and armaments can come in various shapes and sizes." Baby taping her at the shoulders "T'anks Baby, Ah learned a lot." then she quickly ran off.

A few hours later, Smirf was seen working with her wagon.

. . .

"Azi!!!" Running towards Azaleah."What you want Cat."

"Ah — was just wonderin', what are ya..." Tilting her head in confusion. "A driver, catalyst, spell, or armament."

"None of the above," Azaleah answered annoyed.

Smirf space out.

"Geez, I am an Artificial Intelligence Mat made years before diving into the Proving Grounds." Steam started to come out of Smirf's head as Azaleah explained it. "Cat, is that a poor attempt to copy Luci's Mage Art spell?" Starting to get really annoyed, but Mat gestured her to help... from far away. Seriously!? How do I...

Azaleah look back at Smirf. "Let's make it not about me." She pointed towards the wagon. "Your wagon has an Artificial Intelligence — of a dog, for example."

Smirf regained her senses. "Oh ya, Lando is very smart, Look!" she threw her ladle towards a huge boulder. She gestured magnificently towards it then said. "Fetch." Her wagon immediately ran towards it, destroying the boulder in the process.

Azaleah slaps her face as soon as she saw that it has no means to retrieve the ladle. "Am still figurin' that out." She proudly declared.

Azaleah looking like all life just got drained out of her, said. "Cat, as soon as we get to the weapons lab, we will make something better... Okay?" Azaleah almost pleading. "Kay, Azi" nodding energetically.

A few hours later, Smirf was seen running towards Mat.

. . .

"Mat, can I..." Slowly walking towards him. "Here," Mat giving her a glove. Smirf all sparkly. "Like Luci's glove? Can it shoot lasers?"

"No." Taking the glove and putting it on Smirfs right hand. "Take your ladle."

"Huh!? Eh, what ladle." Trying to pretend she did not understand and look the other away. "That ladle, now go." Putting a little force in his words. Smirf hurriedly grabs the ladle.

"Now hold it tightly." He ordered. "Kay," as she did the ladle started to turn charcoal black.

"That's a Reinforce spell, the current command activation is holding any non-organic item firmly. "He held Smirf's hand then swung it towards a nearby tree. "This can make anything you hold a weapon or shield."

"Thank you," she said, looking intently at his hand. Mat looked at her ladle then said. "Your welcome,"

A few hours later, Smirf was seen doing absolutely nothing.