Smiles of anticipation bloomed among Pax and his crew at the idea of all the power suddenly available in their immediate future. If they did things right, they could find themselves in extremely powerful positions leading the rebellion.
Titus shook his head and guffawed. “You’re a bunch of battle hobos, if you smile like that over the idea of what we’ll be facing soon. You do know we’re in a war, right? Plus, there are hordes of beasts waiting to kill all the survivors.”
His words didn’t diminish their excitement at all. They’d lived with the prospect of death all their lives. The prospect of success and power, not so much.
“Just think about it.” An earnestness filled Rin’s expression as she tried to explain to Titus. “No more hiding and pretending to obey orders for us. Do you even know how amazing that is? We’ll finally be able to fight with all our abilities and companions out in the open.”
“We’re going to roll over everything in our way.” Amil’s tone had just as much awe and excitement in it as his friends’ had.
Well, we won’t make it far if we sit out here and share all our secrets in front of a big audience. Tyrodon’s droll words snapped them all back to reality.
Pax flushed and gave Tyrodon a grateful nod as he led them across the space to their private workshop. Once the doors closed behind him and they headed toward the comfortable central meeting area, he let himself relax again.
To his delight, Amil pulled out a stack of familiar-looking, mismatched chairs to give everyone a place to sit.
“Are those from our base back at the academy?” Rin sounded impressed.
“Waste not, want not,” Amil said with a smile.
Once everyone settled and quieted down, Pax found all eyes, including Titus’, turning in his direction. In the past, it would have flustered him, but he found he was growing much more comfortable taking charge. Thank you, Charisma. It also helped a lot that his crew and friends were quick to offer suggestions or feedback to keep him on track and making the best decisions for everyone.
Pax stood and looked over the large group as he thought about their next steps. Someone had made sure to let the rest of their friends know they were getting together for a meeting. Most of Team Tribal and all of the Vipers were here, looking eager for an update.
Pride and a sense of friendship and family swelled inside him as he considered how best to make them all as strong as possible. “First of all, we gave the committee an ultimatum. Either they add us to the committee or the rebels don’t get all the amazing benefits we have to offer.”
Pax heard a few sharp intakes of breath and Turgan frowned, worry clear on his face.
“Obviously, we need to work with the rebels if any of us are going to have a chance against the empire, but none of us like our chances of success if we get stuck at the bottom of the pile following orders.”
“They obviously have no idea how light magic or half of the crazy stuff you can do even works.” Titus nodded. “I’m sure they’ll come around. At this point, they can’t afford to turn down any advantage.”
“Exactly,” Pax said with a grin. “And while we’re waiting for them to come to their senses, we’ll be working to make sure everyone here gets as strong as possible.”
That got a much more positive response as his friends exchanged excited looks.
Pax turned serious. “We all know there’s crazy danger headed our way, and it’s insane to hope every one of us survives, but I just wanted to be clear that that is my goal.”
There were nods around him, but he couldn’t help noticing the more pragmatic expressions on Titus’ warriors.
Still, he had to try. “That’s always been my goal from the start. Keep me and mine safe in this dangerous world by getting myself and all of them as powerful as possible. The first place we’ll start is by getting everyone a companion who wants one and a new element for each of the mages. I’ve also got plans to learn more from the littles in case we can figure out a way to awaken them without a fancy artifact.”
Eyes widened and excited whispers flared up in the listening crowd.
“But starting tomorrow.” Pax held up a hand. “It’s been a very long day for everyone here. So, how about we all take a moment to review our recent gains so we’ll know our starting status?”
There were a few disappointed looks, but everyone complied, spreading back out to find a comfortable place to sit and check their menus. Pax let out a tired sigh, sat in a padded chair and took a look at his own menu.
***
Name: Pax Vipersworn
Race: Mixed Human (monster-touched)
Age: 16
Bound Location: Light Mage Guild Headquarters (Interim Commander)
Class: Mage
Element: Light (Hidden)
Specialization: none (Hidden)
Primary Paths of Understanding: (Hidden)
Flame: Level 4 - 122/400 (+5)
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Air: Level 4 - 117/400 (+17)
Water: Level 4 - 79/400 (+4)
Earth: Level 4 - 109/400 (+6)
Secondary Paths of Understanding: (Hidden)
Lightning: Level 1 - 46/100 (+7)
Ice: Level 1 - 56/100 (+6)
Nature: Level 1 - 53/100 (+6)
Magma: Level 1 - 36/100 (+5)
Level: 3
Mage Leveling Points: 40/45 (+9)
Health: 113/113
Mana: 48/146
Attributes:
Strength: 13
Agility: 15
Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 17
Insight: 15
Charisma: 13 (+1)
Skills:
General Active:
Identify Level 4 (Common) - 27/400 (+3)
Altar Interface Level 1 (Epic) - 8/100 (+8)
General Passive:
Skinning Level 3 (Common) - 174/300
Butchering Level 3 (Common) - 191/300
Clubs Level 3 (Common) - 33/300
Shields Level 2 (Common) - 147/200
Battle Strategist Level 3 (Uncommon) - 153/300 (+46)
Unarmed Combat Level 1 (Common) - 48/100
Mage:
Universal Mana Projection Level 4 (Epic-evolved-2) - 14/400 (+23) (Hidden)
Light Mana Sight Level 4 (Rare) - 93/400 (+23) (Hidden)
Elemental Meditation Level 3 (Common) - 73/300 (+19)
Light Healing Others Level 2 (Rare-evolved) - 154/200 (Hidden)
Instinctive Runes Level 2 (Uncommon-evolved) - 41/200
Mana Merge Level 3 (Epic) - 125/300 (+14) (Hidden)
Illuminate Level 2 (Common) - 33/200 (+9) (Hidden)
Universal Beast Tamer Level 4 (Rare) - 79/400 (+8)
Companions (2/2)
1. Talpa: Level 3 Earth-based Talpasauria Shade
2. Whisk: Level 4 Polymorphous Vorax
Spell Shaping Level 1 (Epic) - 43/100 (Hidden)
Spells:
Light (5/5):
Haste Level 2 (Common) - 167/200 (+20)
Hallucinate Level 2 (Rare) - 47/200 (Hidden)
Flashbang Level 2 (Rare) - 13/200 (+12) (Hidden)
Extrasensory Sphere Level 2 (Legendary-evolved) - 131/200 (+24) (Hidden)
Ghostlight Illumination Level 1 (Legendary) - 63/100 (+19) (Hidden)
Water (1/1):
Water Blade Level 2 (Common) - 81/200 (Hidden)
Air (3/3):
Chain Bulwark Level 3 (Elite-evolved) - 27/300 (+16)
Windscale Shroud Level 1 (Elite) - 65/100
Aeroshift Reservoir Level 1 (Epic-evolved) - 62/100
Earth (1/1):
Earth Skin Level 2 (Rare) - 10/200 (Hidden)
Flame (1/1):
Scorching Touch Level 1 (Uncommon) - 80/100 (Hidden)
Lightning (1/1):
Overcharge Level 1 (Rare) - 59/100 (+18) (Hidden)
Ice (1/1):
Ice Mirror Level 1 (Uncommon) - 49/100 (+9) (Hidden)
Nature (1/1):
Animate Flora Level 1 (Elite) - 16/100 (Hidden)
Magma (1/1):
Primordial Golem Resonance Level 1 (Epic-evolved) - 34/100 (+13) (Hidden)
Class Evolution Points Unused: 13
Inventory: 6/30 available.
Coin Count: 14 Gold, 70 Silver, 7 Copper
Quests:
Crew Quest - Strengthen the People’s Rebellion (multi-part)
***
The hidden tag next to a lot of his menu items caught his eye and, for a moment, he wondered if he should toggle them all off. But he didn’t know where he’d end up in the next weeks and months during the war and keeping his skills secret seemed prudent. It was enough that news of his light magic would spread quickly. He didn’t need everyone to know exactly what he had in his build.
Scanning over the totals, Pax grinned and shook his head at all the gains he’d made. All that showing off for the committee had counted almost like a battle, giving him points in his Mana skills, Strategist, as well as small boosts to his various paths of understanding. And that wasn’t counting the various boosts he’d earned fighting the hive, helping Titus Tame Astra and claiming the altar earlier.
He was drooling at how close he was to the next mage level. But he didn’t need to push it, knowing the plans he already had in place would quickly earn him the needed five points. After that, they needed to put all their focus on finishing the quest, which would net him the full 80 points needed to advance to level 5 immediately.
It was still a reward he had a hard time believing. It was no wonder his other friends were jealous. He made a mental note to see if he could share the quest with his friends or possibly get the Solanis to create new quests for them. And it wasn’t like the rebels could really complain about the quest, because each of the objectives focused on strengthening the rebellion as a whole or the base they all depended on.
Pax expanded the quest menu to remind himself how far they still had to go to earn the bonuses.
***
Quest Givers: Magetwentyninth and Magefortyfifth Solani
Quest Name: Crew Quest - Strengthen the People’s Rebellion (multi-part)
Current Status:
Part 1: Unlock minor mana types in rebel mages - 3/100
Reward: +1 level to all mana skills for each member of the crew who aids in this process.
Part 2: Help rebel mages and warriors Tame adult beast companions - 4/100
Reward: +1 level for each crew companion and +1 to the Taming level for each crew member who aids in this process, along with a bonus choice from all possible system evolutions for the skill.
Part 3: Learn how to unlock secondary mana types for rebel mages - 0/4
Reward: Each member of the crew who assists will receive a crystal mana battery that can store a single elemental type and be linked to their personal mana storage even while in inventory.
Part 4: Restore critical sections of the headquarters to minimal function - 1/3
Reward: Each member of the crew will receive a Map of Knowledge skill scroll, which shows friends and foes in their vicinity with a cost and cooldown that improves as the skill levels.
Part 5: Awaken rebel children to their new classes without the empire’s help - 0/5
Reward: Each member of the crew will receive a new skill or spell to assist with future Awakenings based on their contribution to completing this part of the quest.
Upon full quest completion, each member of the crew will receive:
Enough leveling points to reach the next level in their class
Penalties for Abandoning Quest:
One month cooldown before attempting another student quest.
Diminished rewards offered for the next accepted quest.
***
Pax still felt giddy reading over the reward waiting for them. If he timed it right, he could reach Mage level 4 soon and then use the quest to pretty much skip right to level 5.
Still though, it didn’t look like much progress. Restoring the altar counted as one of the three critical sections. The four beasts he’d helped rebels, including Eldan and Titus, Tame made some progress on that line item. Once the committee quit delaying and let them work unimpeded, both the Taming and element unlocking numbers would go up fast. That left figuring out the secondary mana thing as well as how to awaken the littles. Once Pax got those working, they’d be in business.
Now it was time to sleep.
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