8. Acquired Skill

A day later, Ardan was still struggling to process the change. Pat explained that he hadn’t really adopted Ardan, since he was already an adult.

“According to the law, I can adopt you until you’re eighteen years old, which I did. However, all it really means is that you’re now part of the Hue family, so you can legally stay in our home and live with us without needing a personal identification. It also means that I can pay your taxes under the ‘caretaker’ title.”

Honestly, Ardan couldn’t see what was in it for Pat. This just meant that Ardan was now allowed to live in the Hue family’s residence without an identification, and that Pat had to take over all of Ardan’s expenses. When Ardan asked Pat about it, he got a simple reply.

“It’s just the right thing to do.”

Standing in his cluttered bedroom, Ardan sighed. He stretched like the subject of an exorcism, knocking over a book that clattered loudly to the floor. Luckily Pat was taking Sandria to school, or one of them would’ve poked their head through his doorway, quickly asking if he was ok. He was, just like every other time they did that.

Yawning in boredom, Ardan sprawled onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. What had happened to his life? In just one day, he had nearly died. Twice. That brought up another question; why was he so weak? Was it another feature of the ‘insane’ progression rate?

“Menu.”

The familiar panel materialised in front of him, Ardan’s eyes drawn to a red ‘1’ hovering in the top-right corner of his ‘Quests’ section. Intrigued, Ardan whispered a tired phrase.

“Quests.”

Active Quests

Daily Requirements (14:40:12)

- 0/1 hours reading time

Rewards: 550 EXP, 10§

Reading? He wasn’t surprised. It seemed that the system would always give mundane tasks. Did he even have anything to read? Ardan recalled the book Summer had given him. Maybe this could be a good thing after all.

As Ardan sat up and reached for the book, his mind drifted back to the time he spent at the orphanage, his sanctuary for the past fifteen years of his life. It was now nothing but a memory. He could never go back. What if they tried to kill him again? Ardan struggled to believe that Summer, who had been his only companion in the massive facility, would ever harm him.

Picking up the book, Ardan felt its familiar weight and size. He slowly lifted the cover, careful not to tear or damage the book any further. The pages of the book weren’t as worn as the cover, instead very thin. The first few were an index, followed by a brief introduction to magic itself.

Magic is not power. Magic is a connection between the beings of Domhain and the world itself. Magic can be classified into two main categories; common magic and racial magic.

Common magic is split into two types; casted and written. Both types of common magic cause the world to react by performing specific actions. Casted magic usually consists of long chants of difficult noises and words to incite an action from the environment. Written magic is magic derived from inscriptions or drawings of a specific nature, usually made up of complex symbols. The material written magic is used on will warp or change depending on the type of rune.

Racial magic is a type of magic unique to each race. Elves’ racial magic is elemental, which is what this book is about. Dwarves have creation magic, goblins have destruction magic, trolls have mental magic and humans have adaptation magic. One can only learn the racial magic from their race.

Ardan flicked through the pages, skimming over text. The first section appeared to be magical history, which honestly wasn’t all that interesting. It was just a lengthened version of the magical history Ardan had learned in his classes.

The orphanage’s education system was strange. It taught magical history, but didn’t teach magic.

Finally, he reached the first part of the guide.

Elemental magic, otherwise known as element manipulation, can be used for many purposes and comes in many different forms. The most basic of these forms are known as the four major elements.

Water. Earth. Fire. Air.

Most people are only capable of learning one or two of these elements, but there are those who choose to learn all four at a very basic level.

Stomach churning in excitement, Ardan wondered which path he would choose.

However, it is incredibly difficult to learn an element without affinity for it, and an affinity for more than one element is extremely rare. Some people do not have an affinity for any elements.

“Wait. What?”

Exclaiming out loud, Ardan furrowed his brow and flicked the page. He wouldn’t get to choose an element, but the element would choose him?

There was also the possibility of not having any affinity.

Ardan shook his head, calming down. There was no way that could happen to him.

Reading the title ‘Water: The First Element’, he stopped. That seemed like a good place to start. Detailed diagrams were hastily scribbled onto the page, accompanying the provided images, explaining casting methods, depicting famous water elementals, and other pictures Ardan couldn’t quite make sense of.

Water is the easiest element to learn, since it’s easy to find, safe, and won’t damage anything around you. It is also known as ‘The Calm Element’. To begin, you must first find a suitable area to practice. It must have a water source and enough space for you to spread your arms. Please note that both you and most nearby objects will get wet..

Alright! This he could do.

Ardan bounced off his bed and paused in thought, wondering what would be the most suitable place. He had to stay in the house today, because he probably couldn’t depend on Sandria opening the door for him. It was also unlikely that he would get any food until dinner if he left now. There were only two options, then. The kitchen sink or the bathroom, the only two sources of water in the house. He chose the bathroom, since it was more enclosed. That was probably the best option.

Crossing over to it, Ardan wondered if he should undress. He only had four sets of clothes left, including the set on him now, knowing his affinity with water magic was more important.

Sitting on the bathtub ledge, Ardan read further.

Like other elements, there are three methods of manipulating water. These are usually only used by beginners. However, upon reaching mastery of the element, you should be capable of creating your own. Of the three pre-set for new magic learners, the first is called ‘burst’. It consists of water being released with enormous energy- but without control. Burst is all about power, and is the first of two basic abilities for every element. The second is called ‘bend’, where the caster molds water to a certain shape or form. This does not use power, only control- this is the second basic ability. The third is exclusive to water. It is called ‘compact’, compressing the water and changing its density.

To begin, you must have a pool of water nearby. Water magic cannot create water from nothing.

You couldn’t create water? That made sense. If you could, droughts wouldn’t exist in elf territory. Ardan put the plug in and turned on the tap. While waiting for the tub to fill, Ardan continued reading.

Before you can use any moves, you must first learn to feel water. Element manipulation is partly a mental process. Elves have a unique connection with the environment that is activated when performing elemental magic, regardless of their affinity for it. However, the connection between element and mind depends on your affinity with the element. The connection can be strengthened with practice.

To begin, open your palm and place it on the surface of the pool.

Ardan rolled up his sleeve and glanced towards the bathtub, which was just about half full. It would do.

Close your eyes. Do you feel that? The coolness of its surface on your palm, moving up your hand, through your arm, past your shoulder, through your whole body. Focus on that, and once you feel a connection, continue deeper.

There was a small addition beside the instruction, scribbled in ink and reading ‘continue when feeling tingly’. Not very good grammar, but he understood. Turning off the tap, Ardan placed a hand on the water’s surface. It lapped his palm, sending chills through his body. A strange sensation emerged, like something was tickling him. This was probably what the tingling sensation felt like.

Moving his hand towards the bottom, he stopped when the water was up to his elbow. The fluid wrapped around his skin and the tingling stopped, replaced by a buzzing, as if the water was alive.

If you have completed this task successfully, you should feel a powerful vibration in your arm.

- Alert! -

You have learnt the skill [Element Sense].

“Woah!”

Surprised, Ardan lost focus and flailed, almost falling into the bathtub. He regained balance before studying the screen in front of him, a strange notification. However, one thing was for sure. Learning skills was now a possibility.

“Menu. Skills.”

His first time opening the skills section, which had different tabs, similar to the stat page.

4 SKP Skills

Spells Techniques Passives Abilities Name Tier Level [Element Sense] Tier 1 Level 1

“Element Sense. What a strange name. I wonder what it does?”

As he spoke, another window appeared on top of the skill page.

4 SKP Skills

Element Sense Spell/Ability Tier 1 Level 1 Passive Effect: +2 Sense 0/1000 SXP Increases overall sense by 10% when activated Activation Cost N/A Cooldown N/A Stamina Drain (Fatigue) 3 on activation, 1/min Requirements Elf Heritage

Element Sense is a skill that can only be learnt by elves, due to their distinct nature and connection with the environment around them. It lays dormant in an elf until they attempt elemental magic for the first time. The user forms a connection with a specific element for a certain amount of time, during which enables them to manipulate the element at will. There is no mana cost or cooldown, due to it being a naturally learnt skill.

Ardan had questions, but was still excited anyway. He had made a new discovery. Skills unlocked meant even more potential for him. He was yet to identify the exact rules of ‘learning skills’ but this meant that he could potentially acquire amazing ones - which would be stored in a list here that he could always come back to check on. Would elemental magic be counted as a skill?

After reading it, Ardan was even more desperate to try out the actual magic. Dismissing the screens, he picked up his damp book and turned the page.

Now that a connection has been made, you can perform the first method of element manipulation, burst. This will find if you have an affinity for water. Focus on the water around your hand. Imagine it bubbling with energy, on the edge of exploding. Collect your thoughts around that one point and feel the water tension around your hand. Increase it while holding it still. When you’re ready, release all the tension and energy you’ve been holding back and force it into the water while you tense your arm up. If you’ve done this successfully, the water should ‘burst’ and explode with massive power. Usually, the more focused you are, the larger the explosion.

The water in the bathtub was still once more, Ardan’s hand hovering slightly above it. Since his eyes were closed, he didn’t see the new window that had popped up in front of him.

- Alert! -

You have activated [Element Sense].

Moments later, he plunged his hand into the water, suppressing a gasp at the coldness. Ardan directed the questions floating around in his head to his palm, picturing power and energy. When a few seconds passed and nothing happened, Ardan opened one eye. Why wasn’t it working? Element sense was already activated, which meant he should be able to manipulate the water. Did he have to try harder? Ardan shut his eyes tightly and tensed up his arm, trying his hardest to collect all the energy in his palm. If that was even possible.

Eventually the tingling sensation that crept up his arm started to change- it became both cold and hot at the same time, with an electrifying feeling that ran through Ardan’s body, generating a sensation like fireworks exploding inside him. It was no longer just a tingling sensation. It hurt like hell.

“Ahhh!”

Ardan clenched his fist in agony, and time seemed to slow. The water around Ardan’s hand rippled and exploded outwards, like a bomb had gone off- yet no sound came from the explosion. Water decorated the bathroom walls and Ardan’s clothes, soaking him. But he was too excited to care. At the expense of the incredible pain, probably because he used his injured arm, Ardan managed to successfully perform ‘burst’.

Perhaps he didn’t have much affinity for water, but it didn’t change the fact that Ardan had done it.

Magic. Elemental magic. Water manipulation. Whatever it was called.

- Alert! -

You have learnt the skill [Elemental Magic].

You have learnt the sub-skill [Water Manipulation].