Book 2: Chapter 66: Heeth and Mental Pain

Book 2: Chapter 66: Heeth and Mental Pain

The leading guard knocked on the door to the warden's office briskly but with respect. "Fox's 'ere!"

"Ah, right on time. Please let him in and only two guards come with him, please," came the order of Warden Zilben Hesgresind.

"By yer will," the dwarf replied as he opened the door and jerked his head to signal Lone to move.

Doing as instructed, Lone entered the cosy little office and placed himself in the same chair from yesterday.

Seated across from him was not only the warden but also a robed dwarven man well into his later years on account of his white hair and countless wrinkles.

"This is the one?" the old dwarf asked softly.

Zil nodded. "Indeed, Stoner Heeth."

'Stoner? You've gotta be fuckin' with me. I mean, I totally get it,' Lone thought. 'They worship the Stone and dwarves are rarely born with the ability to awaken their mana organs so them having a unique title makes sense. Those lucky few must be called Stoners instead of mages or something. It makes complete sense but fuck me if it ain't hard to crack a joke only I'd understand.'

While wondering if Altros had crazier versions of the Devil's lettuce and how legal such substances would be along with how much they might cost, Lone reached out his shackled hands towards the Stoner.

With a charming smile donning his lips, Lone greeted, "It's a pleasure. Your existence makes my time here far more bearable. I'm actually really happy all I needed to do to avoid a constant escort while outside is just signing a magical contract with you. That's what you do, right?"

The old man raised an eyebrow in interest as he carefully shook Lone's hand. "Yes, ah s'ppose it's ah contract o' ah sort. Warden, is 'e unawares or 'as 'e just got ah helluva set ah nuts on 'im?"

Zil tilted his head in consideration. "I suspect both. I also suspect you don't wish to be here for hours, yes, Lone? This will take a while, so let's begin as soon as possible. The first one always takes the longest since it's only tweaks and maintenance after that."

Lone nodded as he let go of the Stoner's hand and relaxed into his seat. "That's fair."

About half an hour passed while the details of the contract were hammered out. Lone was never told of what magic exactly would be used on his but he'd learn soon enough when it was used on him and he could obtain it himself.

"This looks fine to me, Lone," Zil said after having gone over the contract. "I assume you're fine with it too? Consent matters a lot here."

"Ah, that's good to know. Can we add one more clause though?" Lone requested.

Zil glanced at the Stoner who nodded. "It's within ma capabilities tae make the spell ah little bit more complex if the warden permits it, aye."

"That depends on what else you want to add," Zil said. "This is the framework for every other time you'll need the spell placed on you, after all."

"Nothing crazy. I just want four days holiday every time I do a request. Two before leaving, two after I successfully return - which'll be every time. I need to relax, spent time with my lover, have a proper shower and meal. Y'know. Downtime. I'll pay for everything I buy during those four days, of course."

The Stoner boomed a laugh that didn't match his frail elderly frame. "Ah was right! Fecker does 'ave some set ah nuts on 'im! Lad, ah ken ye think yer hot shit but lemme fill ye in, ye're naw. Warden, let's proceed as-is, aye?"

Zil shook his head. "I'll allow it. Add the clause."

The old man's expression dropped. "This'll conk me oot fer the rest o' the week, ya ken 'at, aye? A clause like 'at needs at least 26 sub-clauses tae make sure 'e doesnae dae anything we dinnae wan' 'im daein."

Lone smiled warmly at the warden. "Zil, I really like you, y'know? It feels good to finally meet someone who is immediately aware of my value."

"Thank you for the compliment," the gnome replied. "Stoner Heeth, word may not have reached you yet but this Foxkin was able to injure an X-ranker during his trial despite only being a D-ranker. That is why he is even here at all and not buried somewhere right now. His claim of being able to succeed every time isn't one of pure bravado. I have a good feeling this small kindness will go a long way in seeing the tasks on our board disappearing rapidly. Is that not right, Lone? Particularly the ones of major concern and the ones we've had for years now."

Lone nodded. "Kindness begets kindness."

'I mean, I was gonna do hard requests regardless since I want new skills and those sweet, sweet sentence reductions, but yeah, this gnome sure knows how to make friends, not enemies. Prisoners; ya gotta use 'em, not abuse 'em, right?' he surmised in thought.

Stoner Heeth sighed. "Fine. It's 'is feckin' funeral an' yer the feckin' boss. If ah blow up 'is brain by mistake, ah'm nae liable."

"I've got it on good authority that he's also rather durable," Zil said, clearly having knowledge of Lone's public fight with Hamish.

"Look on the bright side. You won't level your skills without pushing them, right?" Lone offered a sympathetic look to the old man. 'Not unless you're me, that is.'

The old man stood up and approached Lone. "There's nae bright side doon 'ere where the sun doesnae shine, smartarse."

The Stoner placed his hand on Lone's head and squeezed slightly. A sadistic grin then made itself known on his face. "I hope ye've got Mental and Physical Pain Resistance, lad. If nae, ye'd better pray ya earn 'em real quick."

Power flowed through the elderly man's body from head to toe. A power Lone recognised. It was mana but in a form he had never seen before.

It seemed as if an ancient scripture had sprung forth from the Stoner's skin and wrapped itself around him. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of characters swirled around all of his limbs leaving Lone in awe.

Suddenly, these mystical letters flowed from the old man right into Lone's mind, giving him the jolt of a lifetime.

Lone chuckled alongside her before he brought up his notification log with a keen eagerness.

The host has developed the scripture magic skill: Enforcement Scripture.

Scripture Magic Skill: Enforcement Scripture

A skill that allows the host to weave magical scriptures into an act of enforcement that cannot be broken by the subject it is placed upon.

An end condition must be included in the scripture. The scripture must have 1 primary enforcement action. A scripture may contain up to 10 clauses and up to 25 sub-clauses.

The scripture is permanently active until the end condition of it has been fulfilled.

All MP costs are tripled if the subject is unwilling and there is a chance of failure that varies depending on the subject's level of resistance.

Cost:20,000 MP (Additional 2,000 MP per clause and 1,000 MP per sub-clause.) Mastery:Beginner Level 1

Congratulations! The host has developed an affinity for Scripture Magic.

'This... is an incredible skill. It's also incredibly restrictive. That MP cost alone is frighteningly high. This clearly isn't a skill you learn immediately upon realising you've got an affinity for scripture magic, huh? Or magic at all for that matter. I bet it takes decades to learn this. Hell, decades just to get the needed MP for a normal person,' Lone thought as he moved on.

The host has developed the passive skill: Scripture Magic Resistance.

Passive Skill: Scripture Magic Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of Scripture Magic.

When resisting Scripture Magic, it will have a 5% higher chance to fail on top of the host's natural resistance.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Beginner Level 1

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 2.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 3.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 4.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 5.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 6.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 7.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 8.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 9.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 10.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Scripture Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 1.

Passive Skill: Scripture Magic Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of Scripture Magic.

When resisting Scripture Magic, it will have a 15% [+10%] higher chance to fail on top of the host's natural resistance.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Intermediate Level 1

'What a perfect resistance skill. It's almost an active skill since it doesn't trigger if I don't resist. I am gonna milk Stoner Heeth fuckin' dry for this bugger,' Lone grinned internally.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Mental Pain Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Expert Level 6.

Congratulations! The host's active skill [Meditation] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 3.

Congratulations! The host's active skill [Meditation] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 4.

Congratulations! The host's active skill [Meditation] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 5.

'Wow. I've finally found a way to level Mental Pain Resistance.' Lone felt ecstatic. 'And three levels for Meditation? My intuition paid off in spades there. Good job, me.'

He found it easy to ignore the scornful looks and whispered words of ill-intent being thrown his and Soph's way after having checked his notification log.

It was confirmed. This little stint in the slammer would be a veritable gold mine.