The library certainly was not what a classical library would be. Here spells were not written in books, but in crystals. The best description Zortex could have used was that it looked like a shooting range. There were places with crystals on display and zones where you could fire the spells. To tell the truth there was also a space full of books, with people sitting around tables reading and discussing. Even though it was still night, Travelers and NPC alike were moving around. At times a flash of light would suddenly appear from a successful spell. This was a first level library, where only primary spells could be found.

Zortex found a quiet corner, took away a bandage from his ears and started listening to the people around him. There were attendants giving away crystals for free to travelers during their trials. Only a crystal at a time, so people could not accumulate and then sell them. A new one would be given after the previous crystal was exhausted. The people in the books compartment were studying about the best way to proceed their training. Each spell may be the same, but there are many different way to use it. It could also be combined with other magic and it could be a first step to certain magic paths. This kind of theory was the most important during the trial, for it would direct the path ahead and influence the system regarding the person’s class at the end of the first month. Zortex path was already quite defined by his class, so he skipped reading for the moment.

When he thought he had listened enough, Zortex went looking for the crystals he was interested in.

“Acidic…..Shot…..Blind”

“What?” The attendant said

“Acidic..Shot…Blind” Zortex tried to increase a bit the volume of his mumbling.

“Ok Blind, but what is the first one you said?”

“Acidic Shot” Zortex felt awkward but he definitely was getting better at speaking…with male NPCs.

“Ok, so a Blind and an Acidic Shot for you. You are not on your Trial, so it would be 20 copper each”

Zortex paid and received two crystals, one olive green and one black.

Acidic Shot

By pouring mana into it, you can shoot a strong liquid acid. The amount of mana determines the strength of the spell.

Durability 25/25

Blind

By pouring mana into it, you can shoot a curse to blind the opponent hit by the spell. The amount of mana determines the strength and duration of the spell.

Durability 25/25

Good. Now starts the tricky part. I still have the magic crystal from before. So I can use that to overcharge with the full mana I have right now. That spot is free, so I can go over there to try the spell.

The training spots were situated in a central field surrounded by the building of the tower. Zortex had to admit that the structure was bigger than he had expected. On the ground there were segments of a small wall delimiting the casting spots. When a spell was thrown there were barriers which activated blocking the spell, otherwise the buildings around there would not last long with noobs throwing their first spells everywhere. Zortex found a spot to his liking and got in position. He was excited from the situation. It was his first time learning a spell….he was basically a virgin in magic, not considering the skills inherited from his class. He stood rigid and tried to calm himself taking deep breaths. When his mind was lucid enough he put in his left hand the Acidic Shot crystal, and the Mana crystal in his right hand. There were still 145 mana points in the one he had prepared. Ten more seconds to prepare his mind and he ingested the spell crystal.

Gulp. I have always hated taking pills. I need water otherwise it will stay stuck in my throat forever. How did the instructors did it without drinking anything? Ok here is my water flask.

Zortex took the water from his storage pouch and drunk from it. The crystal went down his throat and he put away the flask.

Cool, I can feel its presence in my stomach. Now it is the right moment. 3…2…1….Let’s start again. 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…..Ok this time I count from 5 and then no excuses. I need to show that I’m a changed man ready to do anything apart talking to other people. 5….4….3…2…1…Now!

Zortex poured all of his mana into the crystal tapping in also on his mana crystal, feeling the path opening up inside him to shoot the spell from his right hand. A bubble of a yellowish liquid formed on his right hand, but suddenly Zortex lost contact with part of his mana. He lost his focus and the spell failed, with the acid spouting all around him with some damage to his health. After a few seconds the situation calmed down.

I’m an idiot! I put the mana crystal in my right hand and then tried to shoot the spell from the same place. Now I’ve corroded the crystal and I will have to make a new one.

Zortex took a few minutes to calm himself and recover the mana to the limit, then he infused another raw gem and waited again for the mana to replenish. In the previous attempt he had stopped before completely destroy the Acidic Shot crystal, but he noticed that even without pouring any mana in it, it soon lost its durability and disappeared from his body. Apparently a person could not just eat crystals and use spells in battle as if he actually possessed them. He went to buy another crystal and then got back to his shooting ground.

Once again he was prepared for another test. This time he made sure to keep the spare mana in his left hand. He closed his eyes and swallowed the crystal with some water. He felt the possible path forming in his body and he poured all his available mana in that pattern of mana channels. A bubble formed on his right hand and swelled in size to be twice as big as his head. When the mana was close to be finished Zortex felt that the pattern was not over, so he flexed even more that imaginary muscle and the acid shot as bullet from his hand splashing on the barrier in front of him. The speed was not really the same of a bullet, but fast enough to be difficult to avoid for a normal person. After the exertion he felt a bit dizzy, but he tried to focus on his body while the remnant of the spells could still be felt.

There is something lingering in there. It seems quite simple compared to what I have to do when I use Tentacle. How many times would I need to try before memorizing it?

Zortex waited for his mana to recover to the fullest while he bought once again a spell crystal. He was going to charge with mana a new crystal, but he realized that the previous sensation in his body hadn’t dissipated completely.

What if I try without crystal? I can still feel the pattern, so it should work right?

He raised his right hand and sent half of his mana in that path. A new bubble formed and shot against the barrier. This time the size and the speed were quite smaller than the spell before, but he had used only half of the mana and he had not overcharged.

New skill learned:

· By using your mana you can shoot acidic substance from your body. The amount of substance, acidity and speed can be improved by the amount of mana and the level of the skill.

Wow! My first spell from the wizard tower! It feels so good to finally a nice noob skill. I finally feel the noob sensation which I missed during my first eight months in AoL. Still something seems fishy. The instructor said that it would take at least days to learn one. Dozens and dozens of attempts before grasping a superficial way to cast a spell. So why was it so easy?