The air around the guild hall / tavern was thick with the smell of ale. It brings back memories of the time I'd been here with my father. He said that the barkeeper was actually alcohol-aligned, and uses his power to attract people in for a drink. I'm pretty sure that he was just messing with me, and the alcohol-alignment doesn't exist, but I have no proof.
I resisted the urge to stop by for a drink first (mainly because I don't have any money, and don't know how to crystalize mana yet) and strolled up to the IGAG desk. There were only two people behind the desk at this time of night: an orc lady, and a human male. The human was helping another party turn in their quest, so I approached the orc.
She was lounging in her chair, back facing the desk, and reading a book. Without looking up, before I even had a chance to call out for her, she spoke. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah. I recently got my powers, so I need to register. Also planning on joining IGAG."
"Fill out the registration sheet over there. Since you just got your powers, we can skip the rank verification test. Unless you've already had a breakthrough?"
"No. At least not that I've noticed."
"Oh, you'd have noticed," she laughed.
I sat down at a barstool while I filled out the paperwork. I answered honestly for most sections, but I vastly oversimplified and left out most of what I knew about my specialization. Humans, Dwarves, and Elves have come a long way since the war of humanoid equality, but their desire for knowledge and expansion can still cause issues. Such an unusual specialization like mine may attract unwanted attention.
'
Name: Sylas Terrarium
Age: 18
Race: Half-Dryad
Rank: E
Class: Blue Mage
Alignment: Space
Specialization: Transformation
Deprivation: Original body
'
I turned in the form, and she seemed to be reminiscing over something when she looked over my sheet.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“Not really. Just remembering the old days, back when I was an adventurer. I used to know a Terrarium. Any relation to Hald?”
“He’s my father, actually.”
That got her attention, and she finally stood and faced me. She was tall, almost eight feet tall, but rather skinny for an Orc. But the skinniest Orc is till buffer than most people of any other race. Her hair was in a long pony-tail, black with a few specs of gray from age. Her skin was light-brown. Like most Orcs, she had red eyes and two underbite fangs.
“So you’re Hald’s son? It feels like only yesterday that he gave up adventuring so he could get married. How has he been? Has he talked about us?”
The orc in his party was... “You’re Roshanee, yes? He’s told stories. We came looking for you when I was here a few years ago. Nobody mentioned you worked here.”
“I only started last year, actually. I’m too old to adventure now. But I’ve got this sweet gig. Decent pay, great benefits, and no constant fear of death. Well, maybe there is. These useless daily meetings will bore me to death, I swear. But anyways, I see you’re following in your old man’s footsteps. What made you choose IGAG?”
“The benefits, freedom, and lack of registration fee. I kind of didn’t prepare money before leaving home, and I don’t have any education on my powers and whatnot.”
“No education? But you’re already 18!”
“I’m kind of a late bloomer. Just got my powers a week ago, actually.”
“I see… Well, if you want education, our system works on credit. Do community service, or finish a quest, and you’ll be eligible for a class at least. Since you’re Hald’s son, I’m guessing you want to skip the usual progression of schooling before adventuring?”
“Crap, am I really so like my old man? Yes, sign me up as an adventurer now. I still want to learn, but I need to make up for lost time. I’ll drop into a few classes every once in a while. Hopefully when I find a team, they’ll be okay with taking time off every once in a while.”
“Actually, you might be in luck there. We offer mentoring services to certain qualifying individuals. Usually those who can’t find a team on their own, or have other special considerations. As I’m sure you know, Blue Mages often have their own… circumstances, and therefore qualify for it. Normally we’d put you with a random instructor, but I think I can get you someone special. As a condolence for having to deal with Hald’s shit all those years. Just make sure you stop by from time to time to give me those juicy details of what shenanigans he’s pulled over the years.”
“Really? Thanks Roshanee, you’re a lifesaver! I’ll make sure to stop by occasionally. I'll kind of have to, considering this is where the job board is.”
We continued talking for a bit about her good old days, and the story of how Hald told me about the alcohol-aligned bartender, and my 8-year-old drunken tirade. She confirmed it was true that the bartender was alcohol aligned. I don't believe her, either.
I also asked her if she knew anything about the second cataclysm. She either had a very good poker face, or she didn't know anything. Likely the latter, or else there would have been a lot more panic in the streets. I'm not sure why Rhannu or my parents would be privy to such important information, but maybe it has to do with being close to a high ranking seer.
Afterwards, she told me to return in the morning for my adventurer’s card, along with an introduction to my party and mentor.
I left to go find an inn to spend the night at, but they all threw me out due to my lack of currency. I tried to find an alley to sleep in too, but each time I did someone found me and told me to go to the slums with the rest of the homeless. Eventually, I complied.
The slums were built at the western wall of the city. Apparently, whoever made the city wanted their poor, homeless, and destitute as far away from the average citizen as possible.
The first thing I noticed about this area was the lack of light. Unlike the rest of the city, not a single person had produced a ball of light to illuminate this part of Aurelia. It was obvious why. Nobody used their powers here, as no one here had any powers.
There was always a use for a powered. Even if their specialization was worthless, they still had their class and alignment to provide them value, or they could get by on crystallizing their mana. But a powerless? They couldn’t even provide enough value to justify spending taxes on homeless shelters. Sure, the city had programs to house minors who wouldn’t have manifested powers yet, but by the time they were 18, they were kicked out of their orphanages and told to find jobs. But who would hire them? To the city, and those who inhabit them, they were worthless. Burdens. Powerless.
The politicians and citizens considered them an eyesore. A stain on an otherwise great city. But people couldn't justify throwing them out like the elves had during their “great cleansing” during the Age of Armies. And so, rather than find a use for those without skills, Aurelia decided to outlaw “loitering” outside of this one designated area.
I had parents to shelter me, so even without powers, I would have been fine. But most powerless are descended from other powerless, and they had no such hope.
I shut my eyes, and tried to ignore the poverty around me. I am no saint nor savior. I can do nothing for their struggles but sympathize, for all the good that does.
Just before I fell asleep, I felt something strange. I couldn’t quite describe the sensation, but it felt familiar. Not something I’ve felt before, but close to it. Light? Photosynthesis? Mana? The realization jolted me awake, and the feeling went away. Was it just my imagination? Why would I have suddenly felt mana, and why did it feel so different?
The only time I’d been able to differentiate between different types of mana was when I was in the Barbearian’s form, and when Gweledydd worked her magic on me. Hold on, why could I detect magic only at those times?
The only times I’ve sensed my subspace before were when I was in a state close to sleep. When I first detected the Barbearian’s mana, I had just transformed, which usually knocks me out for a short period while it happens. Gweledydd put me to sleep as well. So maybe that state is linked to my mana detection. It all fits together.
I once again closed my eyes, and tried to fall into a state of near-sleep. Every time I got close, I would sense it for a moment before losing it. The harder I concentrated, the less I felt it. Just another sensation that will take time, I suppose. One of many, but at least I have a start to this one.
It’s a bit unusual for a blue mage to be able to gain the powers of another humanoid, but if I can take his body, of course I can take his mana detection too. What else can I do?
The simplest thing to test was Rhannu’s spear-arm. I tried reaching out with my right arm, but that wasn’t working. I need to pump mana into his body like a warrior does, but I haven’t done that before. Transforming myself or phasing, both parts of my specialization, are instinctual. The portal took time, effort, and luck to learn to make, and I didn’t have any control over the Barbearian’s mana, which just constantly pumped out mana.
I really have to get a handle on controlling my body’s mana, though that’s just yet another of the many things about my powers that I have to figure out. But at least I’m heading in the right direction with mana detection. Maybe that one should come first?
Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be doing it in Rhannu’s form. All other forms are expendable, but I can’t do anything to risk Rhannu.
That reminds me. Maybe I can’t do anything to help these Powerless that inhabit the slums, but there is one person that I can help. No, one person I must help.
Comments (0)
See all