《Modern Age Online Book 1》Chapter 42 - A Quiet Ride
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“All passengers please wait the train comes to a complete stop. Thank you.”
Kaleb swiped his wrist band over the automated turnstile and passed through onto the platform. He covered a yawn as he stepped onto the train. It had been a thankfully quiet morning, all things considered. The Magical council had contacted him to let him know the materials Derana had promised him were being prepared and would be delivered to him by the end of the day. Afterward Farrah gave him his electronic ticket and departure time.
Kaleb had wanted to take Daivor but the little gnome was already hard at work building something. He couldn’t tell what the Builder Gnome was up to and when asked the Gnome just brushed him off.
“It’s something that will be helpful when you finish that book.” Daivor said. Pushing the Enchantment book toward Kaleb.
Kaleb had picked up the book and said. “I’m not sure if I want enchanting to be my first Domain as a Wizard.”
Daivor glanced up at him. “I didn’t think you were a Wizard. You smell like something different. Besides Enchanting is a craft skill, remember.”
Kaleb smacked himself in the head remembering that Enchanting didn’t take a domain slot. It just needed Magic to work.
Daivor sighed at the look on Kaleb’s face before he went back to his work saying over his shoulder. “Also, you should remember that just because the humans define Magic into three schools doesn’t mean that there are ONLY three schools of Magic.”
Kaleb questioned the little gnome about those words until he had to leave for his train. But, the tiny gnome was tight-lipped about the different schools of magic. The system was obviously hinting at something or was he maybe reading too much into the hung-over gnome’s words. The Gnome was already a big surprise, but did Daivor have even more secrets? Great repositories of knowledge. Kaleb thought remembering Amos’ words about the gnome. He stared down at his bag near his feet that held his magical books and pondered his decision to be a wizard.
He hadn’t used the system to pick his magical archetype yet so all he had was one Domain. He could learn Shield Magic and Enchanting and still continue to be a Hedge Mage. But would choosing Shield Magic as his first choice cut off other avenues of magic? What were the rules for these secret Archetypes? Kaleb groaned internally as he continued to think about it. On one hand, he had the power and resources of the Wizards, on the other he had the words of a half-drunk gnome. He couldn’t really see a reason not to just pick Wizard and move on. But, his gamer sense was tingling.
He was mid-sigh again when Farrah spoke up. “Would you stop? What the hell are you sighing about so much.”
Beta Tester. Kaleb thought to himself. “Hey, Farrah, do you know about archetypes other than the three Magic archetypes players are given?”
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“I’m pretty sure that falls under the NDA I signed.” Farrah replied.
“I signed an NDA.”
“Your NDA was about the Handler secret. I still can’t tell you about things that happened in the Beta.”
Kaleb nearly jumped out of his chair. “SO it happened in the Beta?!”
He heard Farrah sigh from his wrist. “It MAY or MAY NOT have happened. I can’t say anything else. Now shut up and read your books.”
Kaleb smiled to himself as Farrah went quiet. He figured her silence was tantamount to an admission, wasn’t it? He reached into his bag and grabbed his Enchanting book and got reading. Maybe there was another Magic archetype, Hedge Mage had been a surprise. As that thought crossed his mind he thought about Jar-lock and the others; How would they have known about picking a different class? If a game offers such a choice how could they have figured it out?
Could they pick one later? Or did they have to reject the three choices like he had? Kaleb wracked his brain as the train started up and began slowly gaining speed. Kaleb looked around at the nearby seats noticing for the first time that besides himself and five other people the rail-car he was in was almost empty. Thinking back to when he boarded he remembered thinking the train was a little small. He guessed if you could use a Teleporter who would choose mass transit?
Kaleb shook his head free of all thoughts and glanced back down at his book. He didn’t have to pick an archetype right this second, he could play Hedge Mage for a while and see what happens. Nodding to himself he started to read his book on Enchanting.
Introduction
Greetings beginner, I am Cornelius Bolvan, and I welcome you to the wonderful world of Enchanting. My wife Matilda and I wrote this book to help novice Enchanters understand the wonderful art of Enchanting and it is an ART. The first thing you should note is that while Enchanting can be easy, it can also be time-consuming. Enchantments, either by Rune or by Magical imprinting, take time to set. This can be a good many hours or several days depending on the methods used and how powerful the enchantments.
Runes are the ‘quick and dirty’ method. Need a flaming sword? Write the rune for fire on your sword, pour magic into it and you are off. How about a floating chair? The same principle applies, write the rune, pour the magic. But remember, while Runes are quicker, they do still take time to set, so writing them during a battle is a quick way to die.
Magical imprinting is a slower, more permanent option. Here, the exact words or shapes transcribed onto the sword, gun, armor or what have you, don’t matter so much as the intention of the Magic user doing the enchanting. If you cast the magic for a fire enchantment while thinking about ice, not only will the enchantment fail it will most likely explode. Therefore Enchanters decide on an image to imprint onto the metal, wood, leather or whatever material you are working with. The image serves as a placeholder for the Magics as you are enchanting.
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There is debate about the effectiveness of imprinting the design versus just making a temporary drawing on the materials. Some Enchanters say etching the design into the materials helps it set quicker. While others say the magic will deteriorate the materials when the magic saturates too much of it. I have not found either case to be truer than the other. I recommend that novice Enchanters start with runes and then transition into what feels best for you and your art.
Now, within these pages we will go over the current Runic Library as set by the Magical Council, we will explain about Forbidden Runes: What they are, why they are forbidden, etc. We will also touch upon layering Runes while also going over the dangers of such. In the later chapters we will move away from the more restrictive Runes to the more creative art of Imprinting. We will go over the precautions one should take, finding your artistic style, and the temperament required for such work.
I remind beginners that this book is not a replacement for an actual class and that those interested in the art of Enchanting should join at least one class at a Wizard college. My wife, teaches holographic lessons online at very reasonable rates. Those interested can find her information at the back of this book. With all that being said, let us dive in.
Kaleb cracked his neck and yawned as he looked up from his book. The sound of an automated drink cart was audibly moving closer. Thanks to Daivor he had missed his morning coffee. As he waited for the now visible cart to glide next to him, Kaleb read through a new notification.
*Congratulations*
Your studies have granted you the Enchanting skill.
You have been awarded 5 SP
*Enchanting (SP: 0)*
The magical art of Enchanting; Fire swords, Poison daggers, Shielded codpieces. It truly is an art unto itself. Assign SP to raise bonuses.
Magical Channeling (SP: 0) Reduces Mana cost of enchanting. One SP until level 1.
Runic Comprehension (SP: 0) Unlocks Tier 1 runes. One SP until level 1.
Enchanting speed (SP: 0) Reduces time it takes for Enchantments to set. Two SP until level 1.
Artistry (SP: 0) How beautiful and artistic your designs look when Imprinting. One SP until level 1
Kaleb bought himself a coffee and snacks from the automated drink cart as he closed the notification window and opened his status screen. He looked over his new skill, noticing the differences to his Mundane skills. Enchanting didn’t have a level, instead he had to spend SP to raise the bonuses separately. He also didn’t think it was a coincidence he received the exact number of SP required to raise all of them to level one. He leveled everything instead of trying to min/max. At least for now, he couldn’t see a point to Artistry but maybe it helped with his enchanting somehow.
After he confirmed using all of his SP to level everything up he froze in his seat. Hundreds upon hundred of Runes were suddenly downloaded into his brain via the in-game system. As the moment quickly passed he tried to review the new information only to realize that while he had the Runes, he didn’t know what they all meant. The game must want players to learn them themselves. In a way it made sense that much information all at once had to be jarring to players.
Kaleb sipped at his coffee as he went back to his book. Luckily the very first chapter was about the Runic Library and almost immediately he was identifying Runes and associating them with their meaning. He tore through the first chapter fairly easily although he suspected that the authors left Runes out. But he couldn’t figure out why. He shook his head as he dove into the chapter about Forbidden Runes.
For such an ominous sounding chapter title the whole section was pretty tame. He detailed how a group of Enchanters had agreed to never use various Runes because to their barbarity or perverseness. Such as one Rune that would eat the clothes off of anyone using the item the Rune was Imprinted on. There was another Rune that would turn a person’s blood acidic. Kaleb shook his head as he turned the page and continued reading.
He found the whole book fascinating. Especially the parts about combining different Runes to get various results. But, as he continued reading he realized how much an art form it truly was. Once you moved away from the standard Runes and began Imprinting the entire process depended on the image you held in your mind. One had to be incredibly focused or one distraction could screw up hours of work. Kaleb agreed with the Authors assertion he would need an actual class if he wanted to at least get the basics of Imprinting.
Kaleb finished his coffee and rested his head against the window. Slowly digesting everything the book had gone over so far. Even with the systems help the amount of information reminded him of his real world college days. He watched the trees zoom past his window as he held the open book on his lap. He figured that after finishing his business in Galveston he would look at classes in Enchanting. Maybe convince Varlin to join him. School in a video game couldn’t be as bad as real life, could it?
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Goblin Artist
Cover Art by the talented SocS (https://www.royalroad.com/profile/84137) Even if I grow in strength and somehow avoid dying during a hunt or some moronic tribal war, how long can I really expect to live? Twenty years? Ten? Is this my fate? To struggle to survive every day, only to die after a dozen odd years? Rhys awakes to find himself trapped in the body of a young goblin. In his previous life he was a successful artist, but now he faces a strange new world reduced to the most pitiful of dungeon dwelling monsters and with no survival skills to aid him. His only hope comes from a single sentence he hears during the advancement ceremony: “Some attributes exceed the limits of the current race.” Now his goal isn’t just to survive. He will push through the boundaries of his species to evolve further. The path ahead is long and arduous. Especially for a young goblin trapped in a small dungeon of a dying town. In order to succeed, he will have to forge bonds with those around him and rise to the challenges waiting for him. But will stepping further into the path of a monster really bring him closer to regaining his lost humanity?
8 127Yin-Yang
Mages in North America seem to have it all – typically from well-off families, and able to manipulate their environment in ways most of the world would never believe. They don’t even have to bother with the mundane details of life like housework, thanks to their sensitives, who also make a useful source for extra magical energy. After all, sensitives have no use for it themselves, and if mages weren’t meant to make use of it, then the sensitives would obviously have some way to prevent that. That a mage can transform a sensitive physically, with no restrictions beyond overall mass and basic biological viability, whereas magic tends not to work directly on any other living thing, is only further proof. And look at the way they live on their own, barely a step above animals. It’s better for them to belong to a mage. Sensitives in North America live on the edge of society and survival – typically so paranoid they avoid hospitals and anything else that could lead to being tracked, many of them with little or no education and no legal identity or existence. Mages exist, and mages want sensitives for some reason, but no one ever comes back to explain what that reason is. Waiting every day for the hunters to notice them doesn’t lead to much motivation or hope for the future. And once they’re captured, they’re the property of someone with a terrifying amount of power over them. Anything is better than capture. Mages are born to be the masters, and sensitives are born victims. Or are they? Jax’s life is turned upside-down when he’s caught by the hunters and sold to a mage. Andreas is still mourning for his previous sensitive, though, unconsciously creating a difficult standard for Jax to live up to, all the more so while still struggling to come to terms with this new reality as Andreas’ sensitive. A runaway sensitive isn’t what Van expects at the mental health centre. Is this a hunter trap, set for him and the rest of the Donovan family by the hunters? The hunters would, after all, love to see them cross the line openly and finally do something they can be charged with. Either way, Miranda’s genuinely in trouble, and he can’t just abandon her to it. Snatching a sensitive out from under the hunters and hiding her is odd behaviour for a mage – but then, Catherine is an odd mage, living in disgrace in the old servants’ quarters of her grandmother’s house, responsible for cooking and housework. Lila owes Catherine her freedom; is there a way to help Catherine achieve her own, and at what price? Tension is building between traditionally-minded mages and those advocating change, and something has to break. *** Yin-Yang includes a small amount of profanity and no graphic sex or on-screen physical violence. However, sex and gender roles and relationships within the mage/sensitive subculture are non-traditional in mainstream North American terms. The key criterion in a primary relationship is not relative sex or gender, but the pairing of mage and sensitive; given the transformation of sensitives by their mages, physical sex is non-absolute for a sensitive, and gender identity can vary as in anyone else. *** *** The way mages treat sensitives is extremely varied and, in some cases is outright abusive. The struggle against that is pretty much the point of the book. It is NOT grimdark or misery-porn! However, if you will be triggered by this, please, don't read Yin-Yang! *** Complete stand-alone novel, 153K words! Also available on Scribble Hub and as a free ebook.
8 151Devoid of Luck
When misfortune is a daily routine, death is just a loading screen and immortality is worse than a curse. Did you ever feel you're the unluckiest person in the universe? Well,then you haven't met this guy yet.Ever sat in a literature class and was thinking that """"There is no damn deeper meaning, the author said it a blue potato, because it was a damn blue potato!"""", well, my story actually has a deeper meaning, but not everything does. Lets see what explanations you guys can come up with.
8 157Gods of Arkanoth
The hunter has been betrayed, left alone in the streets of a lugubrious district. Only one goal appears in his eyes: to avenge himself. In his quest to avenge himself, he'll encounter an enigmatic scientist who seems to hide his true nature, a savior pretending to be a God, and the terrible truth of those words, bringing him against something he'd never thought he'd have to affront. This is the odyssey of the hunter, in a quest to put a long overdue end to a war between two worlds. // What to expect:The beginning will surely be intriguing, most of what's happeing won't be directly explained, although there will be some hints about their true roles, but do not worry about some subjects never leaving that misty fog that is unanswered questions! The novel is divided in two parts, the first focusing on uncovering the well-hidden secrets the city of Arkanoth hides, be it concerning its making or its inhabitants. As for the second part, it will be an expedition into the unknown, we could, in a way, say the true start of the journey our three heroes will undertake! I won't say anything more about the second part or else I might tell you an important detail without realizing... As for magic, because yes, there is magic! Although you might not see the shadow of a spell in the first chapters, it will appear in later chapters and will be one of the main subjects of volume 2. There are three heroes, yes, but they will not appear directly. While the first two protagonists appear in quite the beginning, the third will take his time, taking some stroll in the Districts of Arkanoth while we focus on the story of the hunter. But that does not lessen his importance in the story a bit, trust me. What about these three heroes, you say? Well, they all have their own issues, from their character to their torments, and as the story progresses they will have to come clean with their past (character development is to be expected) and will find their reason for fighting, braving all odds. I draw my inspiration from mythology, more precisely Aztec mythology. I want to stay true to a certain extent about it and all the relations between the gods and their role, however I will still change some things to my liking, so do not expect for all of the mythology to be respected to the letter. Finally! I have to say English is a foreign langage for me, so I might not choose the best words or straight-up miswrite something, if it bothers your experience, just tell me in the comments and I'll look into it! It is also my first time writing a book, so some parts might seem sloppy, but I hope I will be able to improve throughout this journey so as to give the most enjoyable reading experience to you. // Who might enjoy this story: Firstly, if you like deep lore and stories in which past plays a big role, you will like how everything unravels to show the hidden truths of the world. However if you do not appreciate not instantly understanding what's happening or who - or even what - this person might be, then you might not appreciate the story. There will be disturbing and gore descriptions, so if you're sensitive, don't like reading about someone being beheaded and such, you should probably pass this one. There is strong langage, although I won't abuse it, I won't be lying saying no insults will appear. Finally, the heroes will not always win, they will sometime lose battles, be it important ones or unimportant, and they will, most of the time, not come out unscathed from those. // Time Schedule : once every two sundays at 7:pm Ps : feel free to tell me if something is bad, or feel wrong with the book, it really helps me. I've written till' chapter 4 (in my mother tongue, so I'll still have to translate), however I'll make some minor and major changes, thus it will take some time to post them. Schedule will probably not change after releasing chapter 4, so don't worry, it won't take even longer to post a chapter than it already is. Enjoy the ride :)
8 86Rise of the Protector
As dimensions clash, various powers start leaking into the world. Beasts of unknown powers and people with strange abilities all suddenly start making their appearance. Can the protagonist come to terms with the constant threat that he and his family, friends and new found allies will be under. Can he learn to control the powers that he gained through a meeting of three. Ravok, Red and Blue all have to come to terms with living together and having their powers bound to each other for the rest of their journey, will they be able to stand against the new threats and work together to save both their own lives and those of each other or will they crumble under the weight of their new life. Updates every Tuesday and Saturday
8 129A 3% Chance for Glory
[Gacha]. A microtransaction revolution that has taken over the mobile gaming market, offering the chance to attain powerful in-game items in exchange for a small amount of money. A small chance, but a chance nonetheless. A risky gamble, to be sure, but one that costs so little with each try that it ensnares all who fall prey to its siren song. For some, the [Gacha] is a harbinger of doom. For others, it is a power that elevates them above their peers. For Brynhildr Weber, it is a form of solace. Suffering from suffocating expectations and a harsh working environment, with the troubles of being someone who looks different from her peers, compounded by an unfortunate name bestowed by well-meaning parents, Brynhildr finds recourse in the little gambles of the [Gacha], the little spikes of happiness that it grants her. But when she finds a new [Gacha] game on her phone, everything changes. She's sent to another world, a world of fantasy and magic. Moreover, she's granted a class that fits her perfectly. And so began the tale of the world's first, and only, [Gachamancer]. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tags: Isekai, Female Protagonist, All-Female Cast, RNG
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