—Chapter 19—

—Primary Magic and Focus—

Sen had wanted Kellan to focus on body magic. While it had merits, Kellan just felt a defiant edge that wouldn’t let him take it. Maybe this was my “low wisdom” speaking, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of being right, he thought.

Metal magic…

Eclipse magic…

The shadows had protected Kellan during the fight, and since he was running out of time, he went with his gut instinct. Eclipse magic. He didn’t care anymore. He spent his five arcana and a surge of power flooded his body.

Kellan’s new maximum mana went to ten.

With the first mana he recovered, he healed himself, but at the same time, his mind and vision were flooded with a new option. A focus.

A focus.

What did that mean?

More information. More words whispered into his mind from some sort of helpful source. What was a “focus?” It was a magical ability Kellan needed to pick once now that he was D rank. He would only ever get one—something that would guide his choices through magic as he continued to rank. The focus would empower him, even now.

He only got one…

And then he saw them. Since he had ranked in eclipse magic, he would need to take an eclipse focus. Kellan somehow knew he would never be able to pick his focus ever again. What would he take? What would be the most useful?

He didn’t have anyone to ask…

Eclipse Focuses

The Thug

The mage’s sentient shadow gains the “menacing” property, and can stun opponents for 6 seconds if they fail their willpower check. Gain the title “the Thug.”

The Hidden

The mage may become invisible without mana cost, but any quick or violent actions reveal them. The mage is also considered 2 ranks higher to avoid divination, and their stats are also concealed. Gain the title “the Hidden.”

Shadow Warrior

The mage gains “Sentient Shadow, rank II” for free, gains +1 effective rank to sentient shadow, and the shadow gains an additional attack per round, at either base damage or rank + mage’s occult, whichever is higher.

Light Warrior

The mage gains +6 light damage to their lasers, increased accuracy, and may use “Flash,” if possessed, as a reactive action to being attacked by a melee or brawl attack once per round.

Shadow Master

The mage gains the C rank power “Shade, rank I” for free (creates a shadow-copy of the mage with half stats). The mage also gains +1 Shades at all times, and all “Shades” are considered a rank higher.

Void Agent

The mage gains the C rank power “Shadow Stretch” for free (the ability to step into the shadows, move their full distance, and then exit the shadows). Diving into the “void” of darkness only lasts 6 seconds, but the mage may travel anywhere that a shadow could fit through.

Dark Paladin

The mage gains the ability to have his shadow wrap around him as armor, and to also form a sword. The mage may do this without spending mana, but once the armor and weapon are destroyed, the mage must spend 4 mana to rebuild them. The armor grans +4 armor rating, and the sword deals strength + 4 damage (all shadow blade ability can stack onto this).

Living Shell [Eclipse/Body]

The mage’s “Sentient Shadow” has life equal to his combined ranks in body and eclipse, and heals at half the mage’s self-healing rate (or one per day).

Demon [Entropy/Eclipse]

The mage gains a single additional shadow attack for sentient shadow (does 3 damage or as base, whichever is higher), and gains “Entropic Tentacles” for free. Everything rotted by the mage’s shadow is considered to have been killed by the mage. The mage can sense nearby red arcana.

A combination of magics?

Kellan gave serious thought to taking the eclipse and body focus, but his mind went straight for the “Void Agent.” A small part of him liked it only because of the word “agent” in the title. When he had been younger, he always wanted to be a secret agent. It led him to joining Delta Force, though he never admitted his childhood fantasy to anybody.

Stepping into the darkness… and moving through it…

Kellan knew that mobility was crucial in warfare and combat. Those with the mobility advantage often won.

Invisibility also seemed tempting…

Although he wasn’t an expert on magic, the faint whisper of information told him that the higher rank he was in eclipse magic, the more powers and abilities he would have access to. Even if he didn’t take invisibility as his focus, he could use arcana to gain it later.

Void Agent.

Kellan picked it without another thought or regret. That was what he wanted, and he didn’t have any time left to debate. Once selected, he gritted his teeth as cold power seeped into his body, like icy rain penetrating his skin and chilling him to the bone.

But then the sensation left him.

He had chosen. Eclipse was his primary magic, and Void Agent was his focus.

With a heavy breath, Kellan pushed himself off the ground. He was still very injured—only two health, and four mana. The Tyranny Worms weren’t going to help him for a while.

The little boy stared with his odd eyes, one so milky it seemed blind. The little girl tugged on his arm.

“We should run,” she whispered. “Now that he’s better, he might hurt us.”

Kellan picked up his rifle and slung it on his shoulder. “I’m not going to hurt you. Take your… family… and get out of here. It’s not safe.”

“You’re an outsider?” the boy asked, his tumor practically giggling as he spoke.

Kellan nodded once. “Sorry, kid.”

“My father thinks you’re a good man.”

A simple question struck Kellan. “Why was… your father's arcana gold?”

“Red arcana means it was taken by force. Gold arcana means it was freely given.”

The little girl patted her ratty hair. “Gold arcana cleans the soul,” she said like she was reciting a nursery rhyme, “Red arcana takes its toll.”

The boy repeated her little song. “Gold arcana cleans the soul, red arcana takes its toll.”

Although Kellan would’ve loved to get more information on this, the laser light show overhead was bothering him. He leaned down and met the gaze of the little boy. “Hey, you live here, right? Do you know the fastest way to the Lightning Line?”

“You mean the Lightning Lift?” the boy asked with a tilt of his head.

“Yeah. Whatever. The Lightning Lift. Do you know where it is?”

Both the kids nodded their heads. Then they held hands—the boy keeping his grocery bag filled with arcana close—and headed for another alleyway. Not the one Sen had gone down. Kellan chased after the kids, using two more mana to heal some of his injuries as they ran.

He didn’t have a watch, but he knew he had spent more than eight minutes fighting Griss.

If I make it in time, it’ll be another goddamn Christmas miracle.