Chapter 25: Skills

  Mercedes was welcomed back to the classroom with little fanfare as Nicodemus congratulated all of the Initiates on successfully completing their first [Mystical Meditation] training session. The Sparrow returned to her desk and sank into her seat. She found it hard to focus when her thoughts constantly circled back to the giant Basilisk she had just spoken to.

  ‘What exactly is an Ancient Guardian? I remember the primers covering Elders, Matriarchs, and Guardians, but nothing about ancient mythical creatures. And where was that underground lair? It can’t be under the Academy. The Citadel is a floating island.’

  Taking advantage of the brief break between the first and second periods, the Sparrow decided to examine the other skills she had yet to check out in her Mystic Profile.

  [Would you like to access your current Skill List?]

  ‘Okay. Not bad. It sucks that my Harbinger Spell is locked, but I’m looking forward to getting to test out Malevolent Manifestations.’

  ‘Okay, it's kind of terrifying to think of going up against sentient monsters with all these abilities…’

  ‘Blood Empowerment makes sense. I’ve definitely used that to win a fight before. And Hybrid Perception explains why I never get lost in the dark.’

  Rather than completely closing the skill panel out, Mercedes used the [<<] back button at the bottom of the screen and returned to the Optional Information panel, where she focused on the section below.

  ‘I know one of them is the Malevolent title I earned yesterday. I wonder what the other one is?’

  The Sparrow selected the Achievements menu and blinked at the two displayed titles.

  She stared at the panel and then closed it with a faint laugh. ‘At least they’re preset to be invisible. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. A Primordial gave me the Malevolent skill and title. I suppose Nyxus did the same when he made me his Harbinger.’

  The albino shook her head and straightened as the Professor returned to the class, signaling the end of the break.

  “Let’s continue,” Nicodemus said as the ginger Disciple placed three Inferior Crystals on each of the Initiates’ desks. “In summary, [Mystical Meditation] is a tool that will help you learn to sense and control the magic essence within your power core. Mastering this ability will enable you to cast spells with as little effort as breathing.”

  “While energy that flows naturally throughout the Mystic Realm can be manipulated to power certain spells, it is often a poor source of Magic Energy replenishment because of its unrefined status, which leads us to our next Active Training Skill.

  “[Mystic Essence Absorption] is a skill that allows a Mystic to sense and control magical energy from external sources. It also enables a Mystic to extract energy from naturally refined essence-enriched objects like magic crystals. While Common, Rare, or Superior crystals are much easier to sense, the energy they contain is harder to manipulate. So we will begin your training with Inferior Crystals until each of you reaches the rank of Novice.”

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  Mercedes picked up one of the small, purple-gray crystals and felt a familiar tingle of energy pass through her fingertips as she examined it.

  “By now, most of you will have used up at least a quarter of your magic energy during your earlier meditations. However, to ensure optimal results for today's training, we will be draining your remaining energy to just below 10% using this magic tool.”

  The Sparrow raised a brow as the Professor summoned a curious device shaped like a bizarre writing utensil, its head shaped like a spindle.

  “If you would each remove a glove, I will be with you shortly,” Nicodemus said as he approached Dimitri’s desk. “For those of you who have never experienced burning through an energy resource before, the effects of the magic energy drain can be quite dizzying. If you become lightheaded or nauseous, take a few deep breaths and try to follow along with the rest of us when you can. When a Mystic’s magic energy becomes low, their power core will naturally absorb ambient energy from its surroundings, so bear with this temporary discomfort as best you can.”

  Mercedes raised a tentative brow as she watched Dimitri flinch before sinking forward to lay his head on his desk with a groan. Hestia fared slightly better, remaining upright but visibly swaying in her seat. Lorcon, on the other hand, barely reacted to the strange device as he refocused on the waiting inferior crystals with an apparent eagerness.

  “Your hand, Initiate,” Nicodemus said as he approached her desk.

  The Sparrow complied and watched as he placed the magic object against her palm. The spindle-like head whirled while the crystal gemstone at its center lit up with a dark purple color. The effect was almost immediate as the albino felt an aching chill run over her body, followed by a disorienting tingling numbness that made it difficult to think, much less focus.

  [Status Update! M.ENG Reserve Exhaustion Detected. Your Magic Energy has dropped below 10 percent!]

  ‘Yup. This sucks. Note to self. Don’t let your magic energy get this low.’ A quick glance at the system's external representation of her power core showed a flashing red light at the core’s center.

  “Alright. Whenever you’re ready, select your first crystal and begin. Remember, you are not just sensing the magic essence it contains but attuning it to the energy in your power core. Concentrate on the flow and intensity of the essence in each crystal, then try injecting just a little bit of the energy from your core into them. Once a connection is made, your power core should absorb the crystal’s energy very quickly.”

  Mercedes shook her head as she attempted to focus on the three crystals. The room around her seemed strangely dimmer, which only illuminated the magic essence swirling inside the transparent gem. She picked up the crystal she had examined earlier and felt an immediate tug from her core before the purple arcane light seeped through her fingertips and quickly spread toward her center.

  [Astra System Update! 300 Magic Energy absorbed from Inferior Arcane Crystal]

  ‘Already?’ The Sparrow blinked as she examined the now dull gray crystal. She rechecked the system’s power core and confirmed the flashing red light was gone before opening up her Astra information panel.

  ‘That was easier than I thought. And 300 Magic Energy? I could easily keep fighting if monsters drop at least one of these inferior crystals.’

  Mercedes turned her attention to the other three Initiates. Her brows furrowed as she sensed the swirling flow of arcane essence flowing around the younger Mystics, who continued to pull the illusive energy from their first crystal.

  Lorcon finished a few moments later and exhaled with relief before similarly checking his classmate’s progress. He blinked in surprise at the Sparrow’s empty, dull grey crystal, then offered her an encouraging smile. Dimitri finished third and Hestia last, each sagging against the chair in turn as they set aside the empty crystal.

  ‘Weird. I thought they’d be much better at it since they’re true Mystics.’

  “Take a moment to recover, and we’ll move on to the second crystal,” Nicodemus announced, watching them from his seat by the fire hearth, where he appeared to be making notes with a hovering scroll and floating pen.

  Dimitri and Hestia exchanged worried glances before sitting forward as the Professor rose to drain their magic energy once more. They repeated the process three times, with each of the younger Initiates demonstrating greater fatigue as they struggled to absorb their third Inferior Crystal.

  Mercedes finished first yet again and blinked sluggishly at the notifications as her vision blurred slightly.

  [Astra System Update! 300 Magic Energy absorbed from Inferior Arcane Crystal]

  [Notice! Essence Fatigue Level 1 has been triggered. -1 STA debuff has been applied.]

  ‘Wait? Only level 1?’ The Sparrow frowned as she recalled the information in the Potion section of the Mystic Emporium. ‘Drinking three Common Potions triggers a Level 3 Essence Fatigue. So, if you opted to use crystals instead, you could recharge your Magic Energy with fewer penalties?’

  She opened the mystic store to confirm and scoffed at the 400 Magic Energy a Common M.ENG Potion offered. ‘I don’t get it. Why bother with potions if—’

  “Finished!” Lorcon panted quietly, dropping the empty Inferior Crystal onto his desk before he pushed it aside and leaned forward to massage his closed eyes and temple.

  “Well done, Initiate,” Nicodemus commented as he made another note on his scroll. “Don’t worry. With plenty of practice, the absorption process will become less straining.”

  Mercedes raised a brow as she closed the Mystic Emporium to scrutinize the remaining Initiates. Dimitri looked far from well as he trembled in his seat, sweat pouring down his pale face as his cheeks ballooned with the effort to breathe. Hestia, on the other hand, looked constipated. Her body curved forward over the crystal she held pressed against her abdomen as if that would allow her to absorb the energy faster.

  ‘On second thought, maybe potions are a better option for Mystics in combat.’

  Hestia and Dimitri were still pale and sluggish as the four Initiates followed Raimund to the Dining Hall for lunch. Lorcon seemed the most improved, though he appeared more intrigued by Mercedes's progress.

  “You absorbed the crystal’s energy like it was nothing. You didn’t even struggle,” the brunette boy whispered as they merged into the cafeteria line. “How?”

  The Sparrow shrugged. “What about you? You barely flinched when the Professor drained your Magic Energy.”

  “That’s because I have plenty of experience with energy drain. All artisans learn to manipulate magic energy from a young age. We inject the energy from our power core into our work to increase the crafting experience we gain from it,” Lorcon explained with a shrug. “Still, I’ve only ever used potions to resupply my energy. But higher level Artisans prefer to absorb energy from crystals because of their purity. You won’t believe how many Epic and Legendary magic crystals are required to create Tier IV, V, and VI armor.”

  Mercedes nodded absently. She was looking forward to testing her new training spells with her other new abilities later. Perhaps even try absorbing one of the Common Arcane Crystals she had in her inventory.

  ‘But first, food.’

  The Sparrow’s hungry gaze searched through the wall of mist behind the cafeteria displays. She sensed the Gorgon’s presence long before the Chef appeared and presented the albino with two covered jars.

  “That should hold you up a bit longer,” Hiasa observed dryly as the Sparrow eagerly grabbed her next meal. “But you should check out the Enchanted Bazaar in the marketplace. The shops there are pretty well known for the specialized food and ingredients they offer. It's best to start exploring now before you become too reliant on the Academy.”

  “Thank you,” Mercedes replied before moving on. ‘She has a point. If staying well-fed will keep me from doing something stupid, I should find a separate supplier. Plus, I’ll be a lot more comfortable eating anything strange in the privacy of my room.’

  The Sparrow and her classmates took their usual seats at one of the center tables while Raimund remained by the cafeteria line, conversing with one of the other Disciples.

  “I can’t believe they serve Spellbound Sorbet here!” Hestia exclaimed as she grabbed the dessert off her tray and quickly dug into it. The rest of her meal comprised a creamy soup mixed with vegetables, a succulent roast, and grilled exotic mushrooms.

  Mercedes glanced at the two covered jars on the table before her and sighed. She focused on injecting her magic energy into the emerald ring and smiled when the magic inventory opened before her.

  “Not hungry?” Lorcon asked as he watched the albino store her meal for later.

  “Not really,” Mercedes said with a shrug, only to be betrayed by the muffled growl of her stomach.

  “You should try to anyway. I’m guessing that [Vitality Essence Absorption] will be our next lesson, and you can’t train that on an empty stomach.”

  ‘Good point.’

  “If you’re not comfortable eating with us, you can always return to the classroom,” Hestia suggested with a note of sympathy. “I’m sure the Professor wouldn’t mind.”

  “That’s—not a bad idea.” The Sparrow turned in Raimund’s direction, but the ginger Mystic was still caught up in his conversation with the three Disciples gathered around him.

  “We’ll let the Disciple know where you are,” Lorcon said reassuringly as she hesitated.

  “Thanks,” Mercedes mumbled with a quick smile as she rose and moved toward the dining hall door. The bustling sound of the cafeteria faded behind her as she walked past the inner courtyard toward the hallway between Classrooms A and B. The brilliant light of the mid-day sun bathed the water fountain and its surrounding garden in a warm, welcoming glow that—annoyed the Sparrow in the same way her classmates' unexpected kindness did.

  Aside from Dimitri’s continued sense of fearfulness around her, Lorcon and Hestia had been nothing but considerate and encouraging.

  ‘I don’t get it. What could they possibly want from me? Or is this some attempt to build camaraderie until we complete the tutorial dungeon as a group?’

  The Sparrow had made temporary alliances before in her old world, where relationships were little more than contractual agreements with an expiration date.

  ‘I didn’t feel much different than humans then. We all did what we had to do to survive and make the most of our miserable existence. But things are different here.’

  She shook the complicated thoughts from her mind and focused instead on the future she was most looking forward to experiencing: Dungeons. Mercedes couldn’t wait to kill her first monster in this world, but she dreaded the idea of working together with the hostile Priestess and Soul Reaver.

  ‘Still, with any luck, we can continue to avoid each other as much as possible until then.’

  The sound of footsteps and voices raised her gaze further down the hall. She froze at the sight of a familiar Priestess accompanied by four Divine Mystics standing outside the Basilisk’s Door.

  “They’re not here. They must have gone to the Academy’s Dining Hall—” Karissa’s turquoise blue eyes widened as she turned and noticed the albino. “Oh. There she is now.”

  ‘Shit.’

  The Sparrow stepped back as the other four Divine Mystics, three men and one woman, turned toward her.

  “You!” called out the taller man, dressed in majestic armor that stood out amongst the other Mystic’s robes. “Initiate. Come here.”

  “I was just looking for the Professor,” Mercedes said, her voice tight with anxiety as she continued to retrace her steps back toward the Dining Hall.

  “We can wait for him together then,” the woman said with a cold smile as the Divine Mystic in armor strode after her. “Do not be afraid. We only want to ask you a few questions about your old world.”

  ‘That sounds like a terrible idea, especially since none of you look like Novices, much less Initiates.’

  “Stop squirming. There’s nowhere to go,” the tall Mystic snarled as he snapped his fingers.

  “Oww!” The Sparrow hissed as she jerked away from the blazing wall of energy that burned through the shoulder of her uniform on contact, cutting off her retreat.

  [Alert! You have sustained 242 damage from [Warpriest’s Bulwark].]

  “Careful, Disciple Jedrek,” the female Mystic who had spoken earlier cautioned.

  “Relax, I only used an immobilizing spell,” Jedrek retorted scornfully as he closed in on the cornered albino. “You, Initiate Mercedes, are coming with us.”

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