Vol. 4 Chap. 9 Hammered Out

Vol. 4 Chap. 9 Hammered Out

Three spells to choose from. First- Earth Folding Step. Direct combat utility was more than zero, but not a big number. More tactical than direct damage. The ability to instantly close and retreat would be an enormous edge, as would the ability to directly scram out of combat. Or run down fleeing targets. Actually, it would also make your ambush range ridiculous. Launching an assault from outside their patrol range was very spicy indeed. As was the strategic effect. He was a nightmare to pin down, but evading roadblocks was already hard and likely to get harder. With this, he could just walk right past them.

Then there was the Doomsday Book. This was, to his way of thinking, a real change in lifestyle. If he did actually want to lead a revolution, this was the number one, no question, top pick. To have a mental catalog of everyone you have met, their connections immensely useful. There were a lot of business spells that did similar, of course. Even his servant Niles had a spell like that. This sounded a bit more profound. Not just mental catalogs but webs of meanings. Guiding him to make connections that might otherwise be invisible. Would it be compatible with Incisive? The possibilities were astonishing.

Lastly was Thunderchild. He was instantly enchanted by it. The sudden explosion of energy, of speed and power! He already moved amongst the masses like a ghost. How much sweeter would it be to do the same with powerhouses? His battles would be one sided slaughters. And, sure, he would have to run like Hell afterwards to find a safe place to hide out for a few days, but to strike as quick and hard as lightning? To move faster than thought? To be a child of celestial thunder upon the battlefield? He could feel the shiver running down his spine. The spell was called Thunderchild, but in his hands, he would be a War God.

Three very different spells. One mobility spell, one managerial, and one offensive. Each multifaceted, with enormous requirements to use, and even more enormous growth potential. And each would need to be immediately dropped into a spell slot. No experimentation would be possible here. They were just too big and too hard to learn. So he would have to choose, now, in this room, how he wanted his soul to grow.

Funny. Ever since I learned about Nascent Souls I- His eyes flicked up. Did the lights just flicker?

Yes. Merkovah glanced around and quickly pulled out an obsidian mirror. He made a few passes over it with his hand, then shook his head.

I wondered before, but I think its confirmed now. The taboo is still in effect. Maybe not as powerfully as it once was, but it is still there. I would strongly advise not testing the limits of it. Especially anywhere a bolt of lightning could easily reach you.

Ill do that. Truth nodded fervently.

Besides, I think I can guess what you were trying to say. I have been doing some very high speed self reflection since you explained it. We all did, I think. It changes a great deal. Perhaps not everything, and there is a real question about causation in there, but it certainly changes how we as teachers must think about our tuition.The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbj)n((.))co/m

They both fell into reverie for a moment. I keep thinking of the kids in my technical highschool. They would have learned the Jeon Universal Spell, all of them. I dont know that modern magic is a permanent bar to developing to the next level but I have to imagine it makes it a lot harder. Makes the thing a lot weaker. But thats not the worst of it.

Merkovah tapped the table softly. The worst of it is that it makes you etch your soul with a single truth- I am fungible. I am a completely interchangeable part in the stream of industry, and my value is determined by the person using me. I am only valuable because I am not unique or special.

Almost every major country has a similar spell, doesnt it?

Yes, and always have, as far as I know. For once, thats not a Starbrite innovation.

They lapsed back into silence. After a few minutes, Truth spoke first.

I mean, we always knew every spell changes who you are, in a manner of speaking. It changes how you approach problems. In Jeon, it was like gravity- you were your spell which was also your job. Nobody needed an explanation for the obvious. It just was.

And then someone goes and figures out the math behind orbits, and it turns out there was infinitely more there there. Merkovahs mouth twitched into a quarter-smile.

They lapsed back into silence.

Take off your hats for a moment. Truth stirred, leaning forward. Your spymaster hat, teacher hat, whatever hats. Which would you choose? Who would you want to be?

Because when I think about my life, the happiest I have ever been was racing around the Free State on my iron horse, and traveling with you, Etenesh and Jember. Even now, I really enjoy seeing the different parts of Jeon, seeing Onis, trying new foods, and hearing new music. There are all kinds of practical reasons too, but thats the biggest thing.

He smiled. It crept across his face, as though a little shy about being so open. I like to travel. How could I turn down a spell that lets me roam as I please?

Merkovah nodded slowly. I thought you might go for it, though honestly, my money had been on Thunderchild.

Truth held up his thumb and index, a bare millimeter apart.

It does suit you. Completely ignores the boundaries set by the other humans and the world itself. As you progress to higher levels, you will be able to step through walls, through mountains, even. Or so the spell claims. Ive never seen it done.

Incredible!

And, of course, its another reality manipulating spell.

It is? Truth thought about it for a moment. Of course it is.

Merkovah gave him a sardonic look. I am over here, but if I take a single step, I am over there. Somewhere in between here and there, at some point in that step, reality has changed. He shook his head.

To be clear, you dont vanish from this reality and pop up again elsewhere. As best we can tell, you remain here and travel through the same space that everyone else inhabits. Its just that, for you, the intervening obstacles between Here and There, including but not limited to distance itself, are simply temporarily abolished. Suspended, perhaps, but only for you. The fact that this also includes other people is frankly alarming.

I can see that. This sounds stupidly powerful. Is this another one of those All the high levels have this spell, the juniors just dont know about it, things?

No. This is Anyone not real enough and without enough magic power reserves trying this turns into something quite hard to look at, and harder still to describe without advanced mathematics and a strong stomach.

Not real enough?

Merkovah spread his hands. You know that, as a rule, the more cosmic energy is in something, the more real it is. You also know, or ought to know, that two people at the same level may not have the same amount of cosmic energy in them. The size of the apertures, how much energy their body can hold, any body cultivation they may have done, special potions, inherited bloodlines, these things all have an effect.

Sure. I know I hold a lot more energy than most.

Yes, shockingly so. But I am forcing myself not to investigate, so let's move along swiftly. The short version? You can be high enough level to cast this spell, but still not real enough to survive the process of altering reality around you. You just lack that energy density. Likewise, you lack the reserves in your apertures to bull through any resistance you encounter.

But since I have a TON of energy, and I have been practicing the Meditations of Valentinian which do nothing but reinforce my own reality

You ever see a tiger with wings? Merkovah smiled like he was watching Harban burn already.