- Hello Hanna, I was looking for you. – said a boy with weird tattoos on his arm. – I am interested in becoming your student.

Good joke. You will have to wait a little, weird boy.

I have been an apprentice of Hanna for 8 years. I am 19 now, and I am living with her for 10 years. Hanna took care of me when my mother died, but probably she did it only because they were pretty close friends. I wanted to study witchcraft as only I saw Hanna healing some villagers, and I asked her right away, but she refused. She took care for me and I could say I was a hindrance for her. 2 years. It took me 2 years to convince her to learn me anything.

For 2 years she was refusing a child of her best friend that she took care of, and now some random boy step in and almost demand to be treated same as me? Ohh… this will be good. I like to watch as Hanna is getting mad at somebody else… it’s such a nice variety…

- I… I think I will have no problem with that…

See? Refused right from the… WHAT THE HELL?! I looked shocked at Hanna and I have just noticed – she is trembling. SHE! Some nobility from time to time arrives here in order to be treated by Hanna… if she agree… They are begging, threatening, or trying to pay a fortune! Every time she was looking almost bored! And now trembling in front of some random boy, why? Damn, now I am curious… there are few small spells, that allows you to measure someone’s power… I just chant as quietly as I could a spell. Now the boy is standing pretty far away so there should be no problem. As I ended spell and let it fly to the boy it hit some kind of wall… it’s impossible! Completely stopping a detection spell?! Right away?

The one have to be very powerful to just block such kind of spells without a counter-spell putted on them. You have to posses sick amount of mana and be at last on master degree in mana control to stop it… Kiii! Now he is looking at me?! Did he notice?

Pov change

What the hell is wrong? Okay, villagers could be afraid of me because mages seem to be rare… but why other magicians are so afraid?! I am level 5 god damn it! As I step further into the hut and wanted to start a conversation I was given a notification

[You are being appraised. Appraisal has been stopped thank to [Wild mage Bandana]]

I turned my head to red-head ... now she is pale too… how to make a situation a bit less tense? So I said in joking manner:

- If you want to know anything about me you could just ask, you know? And I doubt there is a spell or skill that would answer if I want to go on date with you. – instead of making situation easier it went wrong. High luck my ass…

- Ruby?! What did you do?

- I..I wanted to measure his magic potential… b..but it was blocked! Completely blocked! And he does not have cloak-spell… Uncle Aaron couldn’t even do such thing! Not to this degree!

Aha, so skills and equipment which block appraisal like skills are rare… but still

- Why are you trembling? Am I this ugly or what?

- Just stop joking already… if you want to kill me then kill me already! – WHAT DA …!?

- I am done. Wherever I go there is only: “who are you”, “what do you want”, “ leave! Now!”, and now we have: “Just kill me already”… honestly… what did I even do to you?!

- Then why are you here if not…

- Told ya… want to learn a little.

- But… you have a white hair…

- Oh, you can tell?

- And.. it was probably you who was responsible for that mana explosion 3 days ago

- Yup

- And you weres putted to forcible mana awakening

- That’s right

- So you are a artificial mage from experiment from 200 years ago which was executed now…

- That’s ri… what? Okay. Here we start. You will tell me why do you think I want to kill you, and then I will be able to tell you why I don’t… deal?

Aaand there was a story, that you probably already know… a war, a lack of magicians, lets create some magicians, women – no, male – yes, 9990 dead bodies, 10 successes, 7 went down on spot, 2 gets mad, 1 gets angry.

And then a shit happens. How to say it in a way for them to don’t fear me, but not to the point where they would just get rid of some dangerous fellow.

- Let’s just start with this, that I am not associated with anyone. I wasn’t created by some mad mage that wanted an army, and blow your small world up.

- B..but the equipment is needed! The mana tanks that would pour mana under pressure… the life supporting capsules… how did you survive half a year of adjusting your mana flow without care of somebody else?!

- Well… it took less than 5 hours for me then…

- IMPOSSIBLE! It’s is simply impossible! There is no possibility that…

- Please… I have just… 2weeks ago I have just awaken is forest with no memories about this world… - I am not lying… - I just tried to survive there hunting anything I found – it’s still a truth… - then it just happened – see? You can say anything you want without lying at all and give as small amount of information as you want! – I just knew some spells… and headed here… I… I just wanted someone to help me… to understand what is happening… I don’t even know in what country we are… I don’t know any countries at all… I have no family nor friends… I am just some random witch. I am sorry that because of me you had to recall your past… if you don’t want me I will just leave… - and there was not a single lie! Things get a bit too emotional but… okay we will leave now, if everything was played well we should be stopped pretty s…

- Please wait!

..oon… see?

- We can help you a little… I have already one freeloader apprentice – the “HEY!” shout could be heard – so another one will make not a big difference… you told that you can use some spells… what kind?

- Just some basic… a little bit of Nature healing magic, but I doubt if I could heal a graze with it, I know how to create basic hex bags, but never did it before, something about alchemy… same situation as hex bags, a summoning, and thing that I am best now is setting things on fire…

- Summoning? Have you summon something already? – oh that’s right. Sebastian is not here. I have raised my arm, and send a thought to Sebastian… no, only basic orders could be given this way, like: return to me, or attack. Couldn’t say him to look for anything specific. Soon Sebastian flew through open window and landed on my arm.

Ruby seem delighted. Summoning is that hard?

- So you don’t have any powerful offensive spells? – she seem reassured… no I will not lie to her.

- Actually I do… but I prefer not to use it as I can’t control this power and I get injured in process.- great, this is exactly what you wanted to hear don’t you? You will be teaching a boy, that gained power same way like one of greatest calamities of past millennium, that can blow your hut and you in process of unleashing power… yup, that’s exactly what your face is saying right now.

- You will start from tomorrow… we have no more bed for you, so I am afraid for now you can’t stay for a night… we will solve this problem soon

- No problem for me. Looks like villagers likes me already… so see you tomorrow… master, Ruby

- Wait! What’s your name? – oh crap, looks like my courtesy was left in forest

- It’s Zariel – I smiled and left a room

Pov change

He has a name of old races… Just as I thought nothing more will surprise me today. Those were given rarely today. They have a power and many meanings. If you were not mastered in ancient language you could made a horrible mistake, there were many cases when parent wanted to give his child a powerful name like: the one protected from evil, and by mistakes it would be: the one who is bonded with evil. And it all because of one small rune. His name? it would be… wait .. Za’a’ia’e’re’el - the one raising above the stars and suns.

- What do you think about him, Ruby? – I just need to focus on something, to stop thinking.

- He looks nice… not like some cold blood murderer… even as he has an aura of such… I didn’t think he lied to us… I saw many liars… it was more like… he didn’t want to say whole truth…

- I also think this way… but… 5 hours awakening? In natural surrounding? I can’t even think of it as possible…

As I wanted to lay in bed something froze blood in my veins… his name – it could be translated as: “the silver scaled black dragon swallowing the suns and stars”… it’s been ages since last time I was using speech of ancestors… maybe I am wrong? I hope I am…

Pov change

As I opened the door to inn I was greeted in waaay warmer way. The smiles, someone even cheered as I step inside.

- How did it go, mister Zari? – aww Zari? I like it. At least it don’t sound as putting curse on someone.

- Even better than I expected. It looks like that starting from today I will be an apprentice of Master Hanna.

- Old Hanna took an apprentice? I can still remember how she was tormenting poor Ruby as she asked her for lessons… and she take you right away? Looks like she became soft with age…

- You better pray to Gods she didn’t hear you, you fool!

A nice people, if they will acknowledge you first, they are really friendly. Oh, I have free meals and bed for as long as I pleased… reason? They said that if I am an apprentice of Hanna I will help villagers, even if not right from the spot, then with time I will make some potions and will help in healing and thus I am free of charges. They will even give me something extra from time to time. A witch in the village has a pleasant life.

I walked on the floor to the room I was given… 2 person room. Why 2 person if I am but a one? Cuz I am a witch. Bigger room, bigger bed, bigger food portions, all for witches. I am in heaven. I was even asked what I wanted on dinner tomorrow, before I could act cool and say something like that: “whatever you would cook I will be delighted”, I screamed : PORK!... and I am no ashamed because of it.

The night has passed all nice. Aw a true bed… you will not know how much you love something/someone if you would not be separated from it for a long time… yes, I love you bed.

To the practice!

Ruby was looking nervous at Zariel, panting a little…

- Now… be gentle, put it in slowly…

- Y…You know it is my first time? I am a bit nervous…

- Don’t worry… I will lead you…

- Okay… I will be in your care

- Not so rough you block head! Put some feelings in it!

The atmosphere was filled with tension… he was inexperienced. Hanna? She left for few hours to check a village. Now they were left all alone.

Ding [ you have succeed while creating [Low recovery potion]]

[ you have gained 3 exp – 3 exp boost]

- I did it!!

- Hoo? First one and already a success? Even knowing the recipe it should take you some time before you would find a good amount of ingredients.

Yup. That was exactly what they were doing – learning creation of basic potion… what were you thinking? Easy. I exactly know what…

The success ratio of potion creating depends of grade of potion, skills of alchemist, and combination of wisdom and intelligence… luck could be helpful too. Oh the tools used while creating was important too, but it’s more like that you won’t succeed at all if you haven’t got required accessory. Basic potion require almost only water or alcohol and few herbs, sometimes raw, sometimes dried or sometimes putted to some specific process.

- Well, you will not cure any deadly disease with it, but it may be a bit helpful with fever or so. Remember - even a basic potion in hands of skilled alchemist can be very useful… oh and from time to time weak potions may be ingredient for stronger one. There is a cure for certain snake venom, that is based on the potion you have just created. It must first lay a week in dark place to mature and gain more condensation, and then it will be a core for next one.

Ruby is a great teacher. Oh no, Hanna is teaching me too and she is great, but Ruby has natural talent and take joy from learning others. She would be a great scholar in future. Not like she is going to be. She talks a lot about becoming adventurer in the future, but also that when she gain some more experience she would came back here.

What will I do? Get knowledge. As much as possible. Especially about politics, religions, races and so on. Looks like the Demons are living on completely different continent. They came here from time to time, mostly magicians, in order to study. There is a peace between races, for now. Don’t get me wrong. There are tensions. And racism. A lot of tensions. And a lot of racism. And humans seem to be the greatest assholes all around. They barely tolerated elves and dwarves, and they do tolerate then only because they want to use them. Dwarves has a great technology. Their armors are said to be best in world… okay, not best in world. Those would be a Godlike, Legendary, and Epic equipment. But then there is an dwarven one… on same position as demonic… okay dwarves are not all powerful and mighty, but are a way better than humans in it. And they can almost mass produce those. Elves at the other hand are – here I will shock you – great hunters and magicians! Yes I couldn’t believe in it too! Nah, but honestly, about 90% of great innovations and discovers in magic is made by elves.

How many races there are? TO MANY! Let’s just say a beast-kin. I know what are you hoping for – a cute girl with animals ears and tail. How do I know? Easy - I am hoping for it too.

After alchemy lesson we started with hex bags. And it was lesson not only for me. Ruby has a great talent in healing magic, potions, and water magic (depending on personality elements are different), but she s a bit clumsy in hex bags. And she completely sucks in summoning. Looks like her spiritualism is a bit too low and she has no natural affinity to elements, like me for nature and chaos. How do I know I have affinity for nature and chaos? 2 ways – 1. I just knew it. It is something you feel inside of you. 2. The deities. One was looking at me while I was taking a bath, another one used me as a pillow. You want an affinity? Go cuddle with a deity.

Creating a hex bags was a bit complicated… it’s not just throwing ingredients to a pot. You have to weave a spell at the same time. You have no idea how mental frustrating it was.

Ding [ You have failed while creating a [Small Luck Hex Bag]]

[ You have failed while creating a [Small Luck Hex Bag]]

[ You have failed while creating a [Small Luck Hex Bag]]

FOR FUCK SAKE! Every time, at the very end – there was a moment when I failed. While creating hex bag you have to do two things at the very same fucking time. One requiring body, another mind. You have but a small part of leather, or whatever, in what you are putting ingredients, herbs with high mana capability, some body parts, maybe some catalyst for bigger effect. Huh? Body parts? Yes. To make a luck charm the easiest way was to use… dum dum dum -> a rabbit paw!

Oh if you could see me as I heard about it. Kay, back to main problem. In your mind in the very same time, step by step, you draw a runes. Those assholes are complicated!!! And as you picture it all in your mind you have to be focused to not lost what you have already created. Those 2 thing were going all smoothly, but in the moment when you have link those 2… pure nightmare.. oh, but you will not make me stop that easy you stupid hex!!!

[ You have failed while creating a [Small Luck Hex Bag]]

[ You have failed while creating a [Small Luck Hex Bag]]

[ You have failed while creating a [Small Luck Hex Bag]]

Oh you little…

- Maybe we will stop for now? – Ruby asked with begging voice.

Ding [luck event triggered

[You have succeed while creating [Small Luck Hex Bag]]

[You have gained 10 exp – 10 exp boost]

[Small Luck Hex Bag

The hex bag created by inexperienced witch. It rises luck of the person who carry it

Luck +5]

- I … I did it… - yes it is still done because of luck… I feel like cheating…

- NO WAY! – Ruby jumped in my direction and grabbed small bag on thread that was supposed to make it a necklace like accessory… not beautiful, but useful.

- It… it is definitely a hex bag… a working one… how did you do it?! – aw that question sound more like accusation…

- I was just lucky… - I didn’t lied, but it sounded more like I didn’t want to tell her… and now she looks offended. – honestly! I was almost sure I would failed!

- If you will get used to it you will teach me… will you?

- Sure thing. You are learning me so I will be more then glad to return a favor.

She was a bit reassured. Yet I still can see that she is more than irritated that I surpassed her in any matter. You want to take a role of senpai? No problem with me.

- Oh, and by the way could you please show me the way you have created that mana regeneration potion? I still don’t get this part where… - and she turned into her full mentor mode.

Hanna came back after 4 hours. She said that there is someone sick, and he would come in an hour or some to receive a treatment. As it was nothing serious he would be in our care. Crap. You are already throwing me at deep waters (it is something I have translated from polish word to word. I have no idea if in English you have same or similar saying. If not, then please correct me. If not – it means giving someone inexperienced a hard task right from the start).

It was one of the lumberjacks that I was talking to yesterday. Christopher was his name? He didn’t looked like in some extreme pain, but he was sweating and his face was a bit pale. He was making fun of his condition, something like : “it’s in not even a cold! In worse state I was grappling with bear and won”. The fact that a bear would break you in half shall remain silence Chris…

We gave him my freshly cooked potion, by the way – he was not all that happy after he heard that he is about to drink a first potion of somebody who is a witch for four days… yup I did say it to them, and then we begin to cast a healing magic.

My mana was depleting fast. Effects were not wonderful either. Then I recalled that it was said that my health regeneration boost would work better in meditation state. How do I trigger it? Most of my spells works while I think or say it’s name, unlike in meditation. Soo… we’re going to improvise… in the worst case scenario I will make an idiot out of myself… or trigger some mana manifestation that would blow that hut away…

I sat on my own legs, placing bottom on heels. Then I took few deep breaths and cleared my mind. I putted my hands back on Chris and begin to pour mana through healing spell.

[The spell [Health Regeneration Boost] is being used in [Mediation] state.

Effects will increase

Mana consumption will decrease

Gaining skill exp will increase]

Aaaaand now waiting. Told you. Level 1 spell is level 1 spell, even if it is used with other mage who is pretty skilled with it. Looks like she is using weaker spell too. Now – why is Ruby using a low grade healing spell, if she has a stronger one, no, no completely strong, or even medium grade, but a bit stronger… answer is simple – because she is a cutie… I mean, because she is dedicated teacher. While we are using same magic type, on same target, our mana flow combines. Thanks to it I can “look” into her magic structure, and this way learn faster. She do it on purpose without telling me so I can in future boost how wonderful fast-learner I am… and now tell me she is not cute… a true teacher that enjoys when her students makes progress… of course until she is surpassed, then she is depressed.

Hanna after 3 hours of tormenting… I mean treating Chris, told us to stop and gave him a potion from table, and told him to take it before sleeping and on the next morning he will be all new…

- Then… why I was being healed by those two? – Chris was doubting in sense of our actions… well I am not surprised he did.

- Two reason youngster – first I wanted for these two to get more skilled in using healing magic, and the other reason… well, you see – this boy has a lot of mana, way more than Ruby right now, and his mana is violent. I was curious if he can control it, and if he could heal his target and not… for example blowing it in the air. – ‘kay. It was not an answer nor me, nor Ruby, nor Christ were expecting…

As Christ rushed away from hut, Hanna started to laugh loudly. Aha, it’s just her sense of humor.

As I wanted to practice my fire magic I get a notification

[Your familiar [Sebastian] has slain a [Green Forest Rat] – 1 exp – 1 exp boost]

[Your familiar [Sebastian] has leveled up [Sebastian] is now level 2]

[Your skill [Summoning] has leveled up [Summoning] is level 2]

[Summoning level 2

Monster you can summon: Raven

Number of monsters you can summon: 2]

- Would you mind if I would summon another raven?

Ruby looked completely broken, but I think I have a way to rise her affinity… kay, Hanna told she is ok with that, even more I was told every chant of summoning is different and she want to take a closer look at mine. Ki, here we go

- Answer my call, oh son of the sky,

Rise your wings, and fly in the night,

Became my eyes, I will be your guide,

We will rise to the heavens, which we shall ignite,

Your feathers are black, like the soul of thee,

Your anger is wider, then the skies and the seas,

Descend with your might, oh scout of a grief

For the war of the gods, is about to be.

Once again runes and shadows, but waaay less complicated then when I summoned Sebastian appears … Did I screw something? It’s definitely a raven… but it lack that intelligence in eyes I saw in Sebastian’s. I screw. I am sure. Now I have some raven retard… or maybe it’s because Sebastian is special? Crap.. what if… let’s check it

Familiar status open – I have said in my minds. And it worked… I am an idiot for not trying it on the spot

Name: Sebastian

Level: [2/5]

Age: 1

Race: Raven – Summoned beast

Class: Scout

Job: NA

Title: The omen of Death

Hp: [19/20]

Stamina: [142/160]

Mana: ?!(*@&^!(*&#%@^&*(!

Strength: 3

Vitality: 2

Endurance: 9

Constitution: 16

Dexterity: 41

Reflex: 37

Intelligence: ???

Wisdom: ???

Spiritualism: ???

Skills:

Tracking level 9

Hawk eye level 6

Night vision level 3

State:

Sealed form

[Sealed form

The owner of this state is a higher being that is locked in weakened body.

The power of the owner is greatly reduced because of a seal.

The owner can for short duration of time surpassed frailty of his body. If it’s done his mana source that is used to keep him in realm will greatly vanish and will be needed to be refilled by a summoner.

The owner can release his true form and power if certain condition are met:

- The summoner need to has a high spiritualism

-The summoner need to has a high level of [Summoning] spell

-The owner needs to level up and evolve several times in order to get access to his true power ]

What. Da… You are really special my dear Sebastian, are you? Ah, the other raven? Nope. Nothing interesting… looks like Sebastian was a jackpot, and this one is but a normal raven. Well, it’s is good to have a spare raven…

I don’t know if I have already said it but: living here is nice. It’s very calm. Or so I thought.

At the evening, as I was about to get back to the inn, somebody entered the hut. It was an old friend of Hanna… no, not so old, he has about 40 years. An adventurer. As me and Ruby wanted to treat him with tea, he just waved his hand to not bother ourselves, and said aloud in the Hanna direction:

- There will be a war soon.

Yea remember as I was saying about a peaceful life for now? Yup, now I have two more words to add: “Holy crap”