Chapter Fifty-Seven: Magic Basics

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Magic Basics

Ive got my notes as prepared as they can get. I still dont know how magic works, which can be a big wrench in my plans. I have a couple gues- I mean theories on some of it, but Ill need to talk to my two Residents to get any actual information. I probably should have tried to talk with Old Staiven about this, but if any of my ideas actually work, it could be way more dangerous than a dungeon with a mana battery.

Dungeons dont get up and walk around, after all.

When Aranya wakes up, she can feel the anticipation in the air, and even looks over at my core. Teemo just tells her to have breakfast, and that I want to talk to everyone after. Well, to her and Yvonne, at least. I would include the other scions, but Im paranoid enough about this to want to keep it in the secret base, at least for now.

After a period of time somewhere between a blink and an eternity, its time to have a chat.

Thedeim wants to know about magic, says Teemo simply, and my Residents look confused at that. My kobold speaks up first.

Neither of us are mages. I dont know how much we can teach him? Yvonne nods, before Teemo speaks up again.

He says he doesnt know anything about magic. Anything. He says he needs babys first magic talk, relays my Voice, giving my core a weird look at my choice of phrasing. No sense sugar-coating how little I know. I need the basics of basics here.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Yvonne slowly speaks up. Well everyone has magic. At least a little, she starts, looking to Teemo to see if shes managed to insult me. She hasnt. Shes confirmed one of my theories, even. Teemo smiles and nods for her to continue.

Everyone has an affinity that is part of who they are. And their class can give them an extra affinity. Some dedicated casting classes even have a minor affinity for all magics.

I mentally smile at that, and relay my reply through Teemo.

So most dedicated casters, like Rhonda and Aelara, focus on their innate affinity, and use the class broadness to give them more utility with protections, healings, and such?

The Residents nod, and Aranya speaks up. Most classes that use weapons will give kinetic affinity, which they use to help land and avoid blows. Yvonne nods and continues.

Ragnar actually has life affinity as his innate, and kinetic from his class. If a foe doesnt take him out in one strike, itll have difficulty taking him out at all. Ive seen him handle some ridiculous hits.

Thedeim was going to give them as normal gifts to you two as something cool to have. But after that trio today Aranya looks confused, and Yvonne sighs, the fun of a new toy slightly soured by the memory of the day.

A group of delvers showed up and picked a fight with Poe. Then they tried to pick a fight with me. Poe didnt appreciate it, says my birblady with a grin at the end. Thedeim has them in a cell right now, and has an interesting punishment for them, too.

Teemo nods as Aranya looks concerned. The Boss wants you two to be able to defend yourselves, and those swords are part of it. He doesnt know if you two are very good with swords, but he would ask you try to train with them, at least a little.

Aranya quickly nods. Of course! Ill never be a master of a sword, but I can at least get good enough to hit someone. If one hit with the spikes can paralyze, I dont have to actually be all that good with it for it to actually work.

Yvonne nods as well. Im better with a bow, but I had been meaning to get better with a sword or something else in melee. Arrows are terrible for stabbing with.

Teemo smiles at that, my relief showing in his relief. Good. The Boss just wants to keep you two safe. Which comes to the next thing he wants to share. He gives Aranya a sideways glance. You asked if he knew the secrets of creation. He says he does in a way.

The red kobold gasps and focuses entirely on my little Voice, and he tries to pop her enthusiasm. He says he doesnt know the whys. That falls under philosophy and such, and he says you need to mostly find your own answers there. What he might know is some of the hows.

The Residents look confused at that, so he tries to explain. The Boss knows a lot of weird things, but hes not sure if they translate. But if they do, he says he should be able to expand a lot of affinity things. He says Fire and Ice are the same thing, and Kinetic is closely related, too. Space and Time are closely related, and a lot of other things that honestly go right over my head. Hes going to start explaining them to Fluffles, since he has Kinetic affinity, and he says even my spatial affinity could let me do fire and ice stuff.

He looks to my Residents. So, what are your affinities? Hes pretty sure he can help you expand on them, once he knows.

Yvonne speaks up first. Mine is Fate.

Aranya starts at that, causing Yvonne to give her a confused look. What? My True Strike lets me feel the best moment to release an arrow for maximum effect.

Aranya speaks up. Mine is Fate, too. When I first found Thedeim, I was desperately following the feel of my affinity. That earns a look from my ranger, but my high priestess continues before she can comment. And as Thedeims High Priestess, I know what his primary Domain is. Its also Fate.

The three all exchange glances, and I wish I had eyes to join in. None of us are exactly masters of magical knowledge, but it doesnt take a genius to understand three Fate affinity people probably dont just accidentally get drawn together.