I made my way down from my position behind the portal stone, my legs still shaky despite the energizing effects of gaining a level. The chamber echoed with the sounds of cleanup crews and medics tending to the wounded, but there was a palpable sense of victory in the air. The earth mage who had originally crafted my defensive position understood what was needed without me having to ask. Once again, his magic flowed through the stone, commanding it to yield and create an opening where the protective alcove had been. As the last of the rock melted away, I could finally descend and rejoin the others below. General Reed spotted me first, his weathered face breaking into a rare smile. "There's our portal-breaker!" His voice carried across the chamber, drawing nods and raised fists from nearby soldiers. "That mana drain on their general turned the tide. Brilliant tactical thinking, son."
Lady Moira stepped forward, her usually stern expression softened with appreciation. "Indeed. Sometimes the smallest actions have the largest consequences. You've proven that today." I tried to respond, but only managed a painful croak. My throat felt like I'd swallowed broken glass after maintaining the songs for over five hours straight. Lady Moira noticed my discomfort immediately and stepped closer, pressing her cool hands against my throat. A gentle warmth spread from her fingers, accompanied by a sensation like honey coating my raw vocal cords. The pain melted away, replaced by blessed relief.
"The loot teams will be cataloging everything once the crystal remains finish dissolving," Reed continued, clapping me on the shoulder. "But I think our portal-breaker here deserves first pick when they're done. Consider it a thank you from all of us."
I took this moment to now check what I gained from my new level.
Name: Brendan
Title(s): Guild Novice, Portal Defender
Class: Virtuoso
Level: 7
HP: 52/52
MP: 34/34
Strength: 10
Finesse: 10
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 13
Free Points: 2
EXP: 690/4000
Gold: 265
Resistances: AVG 6.8%
Title: Portal Defender
- Gained from successfully defending Night's Hollow from the portal invasion
- +2 to all defensive rolls when within 10 metres of any magical portal or gateway
- +5% mana regeneration when maintaining defensive songs
- sense active teleportation portals within 100km
I received the title "Portal Defender" for my role in the battle, which granted me some useful abilities - particularly the ability to sense active portals and enhanced mana regeneration when maintaining defensive songs. With my new necklace, I was now regenerating 1 MP/Turn which I am currently happy with. Charisma is going up every other level, so I will leave that one alone. I enjoyed my dual wield training with Koren and the gang, so I think it is time I helped that skill, so I put a point into Strength and Finesse.
Strength: 10>11
Finesse: 10>11
Base Attack: 10>11
Finally, it was time to check for a new song slot, keeping my fingers crossed.
You sing Wellspring of Arcana!
[ADD] / [REPLACE EXISTING] / [DECLINE]
You have selected ADD
Excellent, so far the patter is holding of a new song every odd level.
Now that I had looked after my new level, it was time to get down to some grunt work.
You sing Rise of the Iron Will!
I gathered volunteers from among the lower-ranked soldiers and those who lacked physical might. Under the influence of my song, our enhanced strength made the grim work a bit more manageable. Though my muscles protested, there was a rightness to working alongside these soldiers who had borne the real burden of battle while I sheltered behind the portal stone. Each piece of debris cleared, each fallen comrade respectfully moved, felt like a small repayment of the debt I owed to their sacrifice. Hours passed as we worked together. Finally, Sgt. Thane called out that the loot sorting was complete. The surviving mages had carefully arranged everything in neat rows–gleaming weapons, shimmering armour, exotic magical artifacts, and more treasures than I could count. The air practically hummed with magical energy.
Everyone gathered around, their eyes bright with anticipation, but waiting respectfully for me to make first choice. The guilt in my stomach twisted tighter. Lady Moira gestured broadly at the impressive display. "Choose well, young one. There are enchanted blades that could cut through dragon scales, armour forged in the heart of a dying star..."
"There are too many magical items here for me to search through myself," I explained to Lady Moira and the other mages. "But I know exactly what I need. Could you help me find a bag of holding and a mana regeneration item?"
They nodded and spread out among the collected artifacts. It didn't take long before Lady Moira called me over, but my eyes had already found what I'd dreamed of since my first day of training–a simple leather bag, its mouth somehow deeper than its outside would suggest, and a delicate silver pendant thrumming with mana restoration magic. "Just those two," I said quietly. "The bag of holding and the mana regeneration amulet. That's all I need."
General Reed's eyebrows shot up. "Are you certain? There are artifacts here worth a king's ransom."
"My thoughts drifted to those moments behind the portal stone, how close we'd come to disaster. 'While others bled, I stayed safe. Taking only what's needed to better serve next time feels right.'" Lady Moira's expression softened with understanding. She picked up the items herself, her slender fingers testing the pendant's enchantment. "This is an Amulet of Mana Renewal. We found a Greater one as well, but it's attuned only to dedicated spellcasters." She gestured to the empty bag of holding. "We've already emptied this and all the other storage items we found—anything valuable has been added to the main pile." She handed them to me with a gentle smile. "Your humility does you credit, but remember–sometimes accepting rewards inspires others to earn their own."
Name: Wanderer's Bottomless Satchel
Material: Enchanted Leather, Mithril Thread
Weight (kg): 0.5
Description: A sturdy leather bag that seems to swallow items into its depths like a hungry musician at a feast. Finally, a bag that can handle your growing collection of instruments. Wait, you still don't have any, and you call yourself a bard, shame on you.
Name: Resonant Mana Pendant
Material: Silver, Blue Quartz
Weight (kg): 0.1
Description: A teardrop crystal that pulses with a rhythm that makes your mana want to dance along. It's like having a tiny conductor for a magical orchestra hanging around my neck!
I asked Lady Moira more about both items, as my identify spell showed only basic information. She examined them carefully, cast a spell, and shared the details.
Name: Wanderer's Bottomless Satchel
Uusage:
- Equip Location: Shoulder/Back
- Purpose: Dimensional storage for adventuring gear
Effects:
- Primary Use: Can store up to 500 kg or 2500 litres of items in an extradimensional space
- Limitations: Cannot store living creatures or other magical containers
- Special Notes: Food/water created with Babel's Harmony is an exception and can be stored in the container
Name: Resonant Mana Pendant
Effects:
- Primary Use: Increases mana regeneration rate by 25%
- Secondary Uses: Provides a soft blue glow in darkness
- Limitations: Only works for users with natural mana regeneration ability
Additional Information:
- Special Notes: The crystal's pulse synchronizes with the wearer's natural mana rhythm after 24 hours of continuous wear
- Storage/Maintenance: Should be cleansed in moonlight once per month to maintain optimal performance
You receive: Wanderer's Bottomless Satchel
You receive: Resonant Mana Pendant
My hands were practically trembling with excitement as I emptied my old knapsack into the Wanderer's Bottomless Satchel. Each item disappeared into its magical depths with a satisfying little swoosh that made my heart sing. The bag accepted them all without gaining an ounce of weight. I couldn't help but hum a cheerful tune as I worked, the melody matching my soaring spirits.
"Goodbye, old friend," I murmured, tossing my worn knapsack onto the pile of discarded equipment. That faithful companion had served me well, but its days were finally over.
The Resonant Mana Pendant settled against my chest, and I nearly gasped at the sensation. It wasn't just warmth–it was like the first chord of a perfect harmony, resonating through every magical fiber of my being. Its gentle pulse found my mana rhythm and embraced it, amplifying it in a way that made my previous understanding of mana regeneration seem like a child's toy drum compared to a master's war drum. The borrowed items that had sustained my marathon performance of Mana Dissolution - five gruelling hours of maintaining that crucial spell - had been like crutches, temporary props to keep me upright. But this? This was a transformation.
My mind raced through quick calculations, the numbers dancing like notes on a score. One mana per turn. I almost laughed out loud at the realization. Songs that once left me drained over time I could now flow endlessly, their magic sustained by this constant wellspring of power. My simplest performances–the foundation of my art–would cost me nothing. Nothing!
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A twenty-five percent boost to mana regeneration wasn't just a number - it was the difference between a street performer's panpipes and a royal symphony. I touched the crystal with trembling fingers, hardly believing that something this powerful was now mine. This pendant, this masterpiece of magical artifice, was worth more than most nobles would see in a lifetime. And somehow, impossibly, it was singing its song for me.
I patted the pendant one last time, drawing strength from its steady rhythm, and turned to face one final task. My own borrowed items–the trinkets and talismans that had helped me maintain that endless song of disruption–still hung heavy around my neck and wrists. Each one had played its part in the symphony of our survival, but they weren't mine to keep. My joy sobered as I approached the surviving mages, returning their loaned treasures one by one. Each return was met with a grateful nod, a moment of shared understanding. But the hardest part was handling the items that belonged to those who hadn't made it.
"Sergeant Thane," I called softly, approaching the gruff veteran with an armful of magical implements. "These belonged to..." My voice caught slightly. "They should go to their families."
She nodded gravely, accepting the items with calloused hands that showed more gentleness than one might expect. "We'll make sure they find their way home, lad. It's what they would have wanted."
You returned: Circlet of Mana Flow
You returned: Pendant of Arcane Rivers
You returned: Ring of the Wellspring
You returned: Waistband of Energy Flow
You returned: Bracer of Mana Recovery
You returned: Small communication crystal
After returning the borrowed items, I wiped my sweaty palms on my tunic and looked at the sprawling collection of otherworldly treasures laid out across the cavern floor. My throat tightened–not from exhaustion this time, but from opportunity. Here before me lay hundreds of artifacts, each humming with its own magical signature, each waiting to be understood. And I had time.
I found a spot against one of the cave walls where I could see everything without being in the way. The Resonant Mana Pendant at my neck pulsed steadily, its rhythm matching my excitement. This wasn't just about watching others claim their rewards–it was my chance to transform loss into learning, to honour our fallen by understanding the very things they died fighting against.
"Take your time, lad," one mage called out, noticing my intense focus. "We'll be handing these out for hours yet."
I wasn't alone for long. Word spread like a favourite tavern tune through the cavern–here was a chance to learn, to understand the very treasures we'd fought so hard to claim. Soon, other adventurers joined me along the walls, their identification spells creating a subtle harmony of magical resonance. Fighters who could barely cast a cantrip sat shoulder-to-shoulder with scholarly mages, all of us learning together as we watched our comrades claim their rewards.
Each time someone stepped forward to receive their item, a small chorus of cheers and whistles would echo off the stone walls. The joy was infectious–every warrior's face lighting up like a child at Christmas as they held their new treasure. Even the most grizzled veterans couldn't hide their wonder at some of the more spectacular pieces.
My new pendant pulsed warmly against my chest, its steady rhythm matching the beating of my eager heart. Here was my chance to turn this victory into something more than just survival. Each identification would be another note in my growing song of understanding, another thread in the tapestry of knowledge we'd need for the battles to come.
I focused on a crackling spear, its energy still dancing across the cavern floor:
Name: Storm Spear of the Thunder Rider
Type: Polearm
Quality: Epic
Material: Storm-forged steel, crystalline capacitors
Description: A deadly spear crackling with captured lightning. The shaft houses crystalline chambers for storing electrical energy.
Just as I finished reading these basic details, I felt that familiar surge of magical understanding course through me:
Identify Reached (Uncommon 5)
Identify (Uncommon 5)
- Can identify Rare tier items with limited detail.
- Reveals quality of the item (e.g., "Quality: Rare").
- Requirement Uncommon 6: Identify 5 Epic items.
The rush made me gasp softly, drawing curious looks from those nearby. When my vision cleared, I looked at the spear again, and suddenly I could see more information:
Name: Storm Spear of the Thunder Rider
Type: Polearm
Quality: Epic
Material: Storm-forged steel, crystalline capacitors
Weight (kg): 3.2
Description: A deadly spear crackling with captured lightning. The shaft houses crystalline chambers for storing electrical energy.
Cast after cast, I identified everything I could see. Common items, uncommon treasures, even a few rare pieces - each one adding to my understanding. Most revealed only basic information, but every identification was another chance to improve. The sounds of celebration and wonder filled the cavern as warriors claimed their prizes, and I kept working, determined to learn all I could.
A ripple of excitement drew my attention to a corner of the cavern where several mages were clustered around what looked like shimmering armour. Through the gaps between their robes, I could see its surface moving like moonlight on water. The same armour I'd glimpsed on their elite soldiers during the battle.
My fingers twitched with anticipation as I cast identify for what must have been the hundredth time that night:
Name: Drift Maker's Resonance Armour
Type: Full Plate
Material: Phase-shifted metalloids, void-touched crystals
Quality: Epic
Weight (kg): 18
Description: The armour's surface shimmers with an ethereal quality, its metallic plates seeming to flow like liquid mercury caught in starlight. Void-touched crystals pulse with a subtle resonance along the joints, creating an otherworldly ripple effect across the entire suit.
The armour's secrets sang to me like an unfinished symphony, begging for deeper understanding. And just then, as though the universe itself was keeping time to my magical rhythm, I felt that familiar surge building again:
Identify Reached (Uncommon 6)
Identify (Uncommon 6)
- Reveals Effect of the item
- Requirement for Rare 7: Successfully identify 10 Epic items
The wave of understanding crashed over me like a tidal wave of sound, each note of knowledge finding its perfect harmony in my mind. When I looked back at the armour, new secrets revealed themselves like verses in an ancient song:
Name: Drift Maker's Resonance Armour
Type: Full Plate
Material: Phase-shifted metalloids, void-touched crystals
Quality: Epic
Weight (kg): 18
Effect: Allows partial phasing through physical matter
Description: The armour's surface shimmers with an ethereal quality, its metallic plates seeming to flow like liquid mercury caught in starlight. Void-touched crystals pulse with a subtle resonance along the joints, creating an otherworldly ripple effect across the entire suit.
This revelation startled me - being able to directly perceive an item's magical properties was a tremendous bonus. My identification abilities until now had always shown me simple things like materials, quality, and surface-level details, but actual magical effects had remained frustratingly opaque. Now, the armour's phasing properties appeared to me as clearly as its physical description, like notes in a musical score I could suddenly read. This evolution in my skills opened up entirely new possibilities - no more guesswork about enchantments, no more risking dangerous magical backfires.
The night was still young, and hundreds of artifacts remained to be identified. Each one was another chance to learn, another piece of the puzzle that might help us survive what was coming. I settled back against the cool cavern wall, picked my next target, and began casting again. Eventually, the familiar magic surrounded me.
Identify Reached (Rare 7)
Identify (Rare 7)
- Reveals value of the item in gold pieces (e.g., "Value: 500 gold").
- Can identify Rare tier items with detail.
- Requirement for Rare 8: Identify 2 Legendary item.
Name: Drift Maker's Resonance Armour
Type: Full Plate
Material: Phase-shifted metalloids, void-touched crystals
Quality: Epic
Weight (kg): 18
Value: 8,500 GP
Effect: Allows partial phasing through physical matter
Description: The armour's surface shimmers with an ethereal quality, its metallic plates seeming to flow like liquid mercury caught in starlight. Void-touched crystals pulse with a subtle resonance along the joints, creating an otherworldly ripple effect across the entire suit.
My new understanding of values swirled through my mind like an unfamiliar melody - 8,500 GP for a single piece of armour. The implications were staggering, but as I reached to identify another artifact, my vision blurred slightly. The next level of mastery would require identifying 2 Legendary items and those weren't exactly scattered around like copper pieces in a tavern.
Twenty minutes later, the shouts of celebration drew my attention to where the mages were carefully handling a crystalline shard that had broken from the enemy general's armour. It's pulsing light cast dancing shadows across the cavern walls, looking for all the world like an audience swaying to an otherworldly symphony.
Name: Sovereign Shard of Command
Type: Command Artifact
Quality: Legendary
Material: Living Crystal, Bound Lightning
Weight (kg): 2.5
Value: 175,000 GP
Effect: Enhances the power level of nearby allied forces through crystalline resonance
Description: A fragment of the Supreme Commander's control matrix. Pulses with otherworldly energy.
The value made my fingers tremble - enough gold to buy a small keep. That explained the difference between their scout forces and this army - the general's presence hadn't just been about leadership. He'd been literally amplifying their strength through this crystal matrix. Even this broken shard hummed with residual power, making the air itself feel thick with potential.
Just as I was about to call it a night, something caught my eye - a subtle gleam from the sorting table where they were cataloging the smaller artifacts. Among the rings, pendants, and other trinkets lay a crystal orb no larger than an apple, but there was something about its gentle pulsing that drew me in. The surface patterns shifted like notes dancing across sheet music, and with a start, I recognized it from the battle - it had hung at the enemy general's belt, easy to overlook amid his more imposing crystalline armour.
"Be careful with that one," Lady Moira murmured as she passed, noticing my interest. "Small things often hold the greatest power."
My identify spell flowed forth, eager as a new song waiting to be sung:
Name: Sovereign's Focus Core
Type: Command Focus
Material: Pure Matrix Crystal, Bound Storm Core
Quality: Legendary
Value: 175,000 GP
Weight (kg): 0.5
Effect: Magnifies and extends the range of command enhancement abilities
Description: A deceptively small orb of living crystal that pulses with barely contained power. The surface patterns match the command frequencies used to enhance entire armies.
My breath caught in my throat. But it was the realization of what this innocent-looking orb had done that truly shook me. This tiny sphere had been the heart of their command structure, the catalyst that turned their general's presence from inspiring to overwhelming. How many other secrets lay hidden in humble packages?
With two legendary items found, I could feel another surge building. This was it - the next breakthrough in my understanding waited just around the corner.
Identify Reached (Rare 8)
Identify (Rare 8)
- Reveals charges if the item has limited uses.
- Requirement for Rare 9: Successfully identify 1 Mythical items.
The world seemed to shift around me, magical auras taking on new dimensions I'd never noticed before. On instinct, I cast identify on the Focus Core again, and gasped as new information crystallized in my consciousness:
Name: Sovereign's Focus Core
Type: Command Focus
Material: Pure Matrix Crystal, Bound Storm Core
Quality: Legendary
Value: 175,000 GP
Weight (kg): 0.5
Effect: Magnifies and extends the range of command enhancement abilities
Charges: 37 remaining uses before requiring crystal matrix realignment
Description: A deceptively small orb of living crystal that pulses with barely contained power. The surface patterns match the command frequencies used to enhance entire armies.
Charges! I could see how many uses remained in enchanted items now. The knowledge felt like discovering a hidden verse in a favourite song - it had always been there, waiting for me to grow skilled enough to perceive it. Each charge represented another potential army enhancement, another battle that could have been twisted in their favour.
My hands shook slightly as I lowered them. Everything we'd faced today - the enhanced troops, the coordinated attacks - could have been repeated thirty-seven more times. The implications made my throat go dry.
Now to see how my improved identification works on people. I focused the spell on myself:
Name: Brendan
Class: Virtuoso
Level: 7
HP: 52/52
MP: 34/34
Strength: 11
Finesse: 11
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 13
Speed: 13
Base Attack: 11
Base Defence: 15
Damage: Shortsword = 1D6
Free Points: 0
EXP: 690/4000
Gold: 265
Resistances: AVG 6.8%
Special Attack(s):
- Harmony of Blades
- Quick Jab
- Riposte
- Rhythmic Strike
Special Defence(s):
- Nimble Footwork
- Dissonant Defence
- Sidestep
Around me, the sorting and celebrating continued, but my mind was already racing ahead to what this new level of perception might reveal about the challenges yet to come. First values, now charges and combat abilities - each new insight was another weapon in our arsenal. Being able to see an enemy's special attacks and defenses before they used them could mean the difference between life and death in our next encounter. Whether they stepped through portals or rose from the shadows, we'd be better prepared to counter whatever they threw at us. Through the haze of exhaustion, I realized I'd been casting identify for hours. My stomach growled, a reminder that I hadn't eaten since before the battle, and the general's meeting was only a few hours away. The thought of appearing before Reed with my mind fuzzy from lack of sleep wasn't appealing.
"Heading out?" asked one mage who'd been identifying items nearby. His own eyes were rimmed with red from hours of magical focus.
I nodded, patting my new Wanderer's Bottomless Satchel. "Need to grab some food and rest before a meting. Mythical items will have to wait for another day."
The word 'rest' seemed to trigger something in my body, and suddenly every muscle ached with the day's tension. The adrenaline that had carried me through the battle, through returning those borrowed items, through hours of identification - it was all fading like the final notes of a lengthy performance.
As I made my way toward the cavern entrance, the sounds of continued celebration and wonder echoed behind me. But my thoughts were already drifting toward bread, bed, and whatever challenges tomorrow's meeting would bring. Sometimes even a bard needs to step away from the music and let the silence sing.