Level Up!

That was the main thought in Michael’s mind for the entire night. And morning. And day. Level up. He had just levelled up big time. Not one level or two, but a whole bunch of them. Which was something to think about. He did notice the… voice stutter. Not that it was exactly a sound, but still. Like it tried to give him the Level Up, but failed two for the first few times. Failed until…

Until that Magical Plague got removed. Elderblight… I probably need to research that.

After all, it had affected him. It was probably the reason he stopped leveling, even though he thought it was just because levels got harder to come by as you advanced. Which was true, given what the others told him, but you know…

Right. I didn’t stop to think properly. Something to be more careful about.

And he would be. And he’d research the plague too. But he had something else to think about before that. And that was his Level! He was a Level 14 |Mage|. He didn’t get a specialized Class yet, but he wasn’t gunning for one either. And his Skills. Oh, his Skills.

|Thought Streams| did exactly what the name implied. It allowed to split his mind into multiple thought streams. Well, multiple only meant two for now, but he could open a third if he concentrated. It was just that when he did, all he could think about was simple words and concepts, just three at a time. When he only had two open, he could function more or less at full mental capacity.

It didn’t allow him to cast two Spells at the same time, which sucked. He’d tried, but he either managed to cast only one or none at all. Something with materializing the magic made it impossible as of yet. But he was perfectly capably of firing a |Bolt| and thinking about his next move at the same time. Or read a book and use his other ‘mind’ to take detailed, personalized notes at the same time. Or… basically any other two things, so long as they were mental in nature.

His other Skills were less revolutionary. His Mana Pool and his Mana Channeling went from Lesser to Middling. Which, in essence, meant that he could cast for longer periods of time or use more demanding Spells, while at the same time manifesting them faster. He also had the suspicion that his improved Mana Channeling would improve his rune-work and allow him to learn certain Spells faster. Probably other advantages too, but he still had to experiment around with it.

Yet the last part of the message he had received was arguably the best.

Unlocked Magical Affinities. Sinestra’s going to faint.

After all, if the Scale Affinity was what he thought it was, then that was the very thing which his gorgon teacher had tried to impart on him. And it was probably the lack of it which hampered his learning of her other Spells. That or…

The Rot Affinity.

Among the many things that Michael had to think off, that was one of the more curious ones. He remembered how he had managed to disgorge the two, or at least their holographic manifestations. How they blocked each other and himself in turn. And now that he pulled the two apart, he had obtained both of them as Affinities. Yet who could teach him this kind of magic? The Dryad was gone and he wouldn’t have trusted her anyway? Regitris?

Speaking off…

Michael felt a little uneasy. The old elf wasn’t exactly a fan growing things. So, his most recent magical developments probably wouldn’t make him much more a favorite of the elf. Well. That was a problem for later.

Because right now, Michael went to tell his friends about the most recent news. His cabal. Which listened and smiled and congratulated him. Before Bob asked him if he could tell Erea and Alex know? Which was a little odd, but since they were all Martials and Michael trusted the two, he acquiesced.

That was how, a quarter of an hour later, an elf shaped wrecking ball slammed into him.

“What did I do?” he croaked, breathless.

“You Leveled!” she grinned, before informing him. “I’m hugging you!”

“Who taught you how to hug? Bob?”

The elf let got, still with a smile on her face. Next to her Alex was panting, seeming to have run all the way to their meeting spot, but he had a smile all on their own.

“Congratulations on the jump. What was that, five Levels?”

“Yup. I, er, didn’t know you were keeping track.”

“Of course, we are.” Erea shrugged.

“Maybe I should explain.” Alex diplomatically intervened. “Everyone is keeping tabs on everyone. That’s just how things are and you being the star of the hour only makes everyone more interested. But the Martials are keeping a closer watch on you than the rest.”

“Uh, why?”

“Because you’re Kelunad’s favorite. Which means, yes, most if not all Martials all well disposed towards you, but they’re also interested. And since we’re the faction of the fight, I guess you can tell what that means.”

“The ‘faction of the fight’ sounds like a better name than the Martials, if you ask me.” Micah laughed.

“Don’t let the others hear you.” Melissa muttered.

“Wait. I don’t know what that means.”

“It means that they’ll want to fight you. Or at least know where you stand right now.” Erea told him.

Oh great. Really not what I was going for.

“But we have a solution.” Alex said. “I’m a Martial. And a team leader too. I know you’re not looking forward to receiving challenges left and right, which is why I’ve ran all the way here. If I challenge you first, then win or lose, the others will know where you stand.”

“Right. And they won’t challenge me right after you’re done?”

“Not without insulting me in the process. And I have enough standing in my faction to be fairy sure that won’t happen. That, combined with the fact that you are still a First Year, means that we can get over this quick and easy, instead of you having to face what most in my faction do.”

“I didn’t even know that was a thing.”

“Yup. See what you’ve missed by choosing those high and mighty losers?” Erea grinned.

This might be one of the few times I’ve been confident of choosing correctly.

“Don’t worry, I know I’m a few years ahead of you and that the odds are stacked in my favor. I won’t be going all in.” Alex assured him. “Just treat this as a practice bout.”

“But we will spar later.” Erea informed him and Michael was sure she was refering to actual fighting as opposed to bed fighting.

“There is one disadvantage, Michael.” Bob gravelly told him.

“Yeah… this challenge needs to be witnessed. So my faction will be watching. They’re already setting up a ring right outside.”

“Great. Well, at least those that’ll be watching will tell the others.”

Alex grimaced some more as Bob spoke.

“You underestimate the appetite for battle of the Martials.”

“Yeah. Sorry, Michael, I know you don’t like to cause waves-“

“Even of you always do.” Micah solemnly stated.

“but I think any Martial not in recovery will be watching. By the time I ran over, there were over twenty Martials following us. More would have gathered in the meantime.”

Great. I have to take part in a tradition of a faction I’m not even a part of and I get to be watched by the lot of them.

At least, win or lose, it sounds like I’ll get reputation with them.

Think of it like a quest, Michael. Just a faction quest for increased rep. Yeah…

“Guess it’s the only way out.” He said. “I know you’re doing this because it’s the easiest way for me, Alex. Thanks.”

“No problem.” He shrugged, smiling. “But don’t forget, I’m a Martial too. I may not be going all in, but I won’t lie and say I’m not interested either.”

That being said, they walked outside the small chamber and Michael had to stop and stare.

Somehow, the mages had managed to turn the small hallways into a grand arena. It still had corridors leaning into it, but the intersection of them into a wide-open space. Though, knowing what magic could do, odds were fifty-fifty that someone either asked Gnosis nicely or used space magic.

A magical shield had sprouted up around the, more or less, circular arena, one that was very familiar to Michael. Which was a given, since Nahil was also on the sidelines, watching. The centaur was actually looking interested. He wasn’t the only teacher either, with Sinestra and the PE teacher, who’s name Michael never remembered, also there.

As for the students, Alex spoke the truth. If the entire Martial faction wasn’t there, Michael thought not more than a handful could have been missing. Everywhere he looked, a sea or armored, cheering faces hollered at them. And not only the Martials were present. As if to never be outdone, the Ascentionalists were there two and more were pouring in, shoving at fighting for the better ‘seats’. About a third as many as the Martials were. Of the other factions, Michael saw a few Naturalists, Artificers and others, but scattered.

Of the shadowy fuckers, he had no idea if they were there. Probably, though.

It was funny, but the moment they walked out, two shouts started to be screamed.

“Alex! Alex, the Martial! The Captain!”

“Michael! Michael, the Martial! The Ward of Kelunad!”

Which was sort of true, it was slightly embarrassing, but the funny thing only came after. Because at hearing the latter chant, the Ascentionalist picked up their own, only they stubbornly replaced ‘Martial’ with ‘Ascentionalist’ and ‘Kelunad’ with ‘Regitris’.

Needles to say, pandemonium was loose.

Erea and the others took their places outside the arena and Alex walked to stand opposite of him, turning and giving him an exasperated shrug.

But then, his smile froze. The sounds became… muffled too. The crowd’s movements slowed to a crawl. Michael flinched and realized he didn’t flinch. Couldn’t. He tried to move his head and felt nothing. He was about to panic when he heard a voice inside his mind.

Crush him.

Wh- Kelunad? Is that you?

Yes, Michael.

Couldn’t you have given me a warning? And what’s with the time slow?

Not a time slow, but a perception increase. I am lending you one of my Skills.

…you can do that?

A sound like a sigh passed through is mind.

You will soon tire of this question, even if you only ask it of yourself.

Right. Uhm… can I help you?

Yes. Crush him.

Who? Wait… You’re not referring to-

I am referring to your opponent. Crush him.

But that’s Alex. He’s my friend. And a Martial.

Times may come when you will be forced to harm your friends. Better to learn this lesson now.

His voice help something like sorrow, but it went away when he spoke next.

As for him being a Martial. Remember what I have told you of him.

That… he’s not a true Martial. But, wait, how will me crushing him solve that? I don’t think I can even do it.

That you will or will not is a measure of both him and you. But only he is being tested today. Crush him. The attempt is all I ask. But I ask this in truth. Fight, with everything you have. His fate depends on that.

You want… to see how he does? To see how he fights when he’s fighting a friend?

Among other things. My Skill is ending. You have promised to help me cleanse my faction. For me and for him, Michael. CRUSH HIM!

Time renewed its normal place and Michael flinched, but the other man didn’t see it.

He was smiling.

“Let’s have ourselves a nice fight, right Michael?” he called out, smiling and eager.

“…yeah.”