“Teleport!” Once again Richardson cast the spell to the sound of applause. After a few jumps, he started mixing it up to entertain the crowd. He threw a ball from one end of the garden and caught it with a flash on the other side. However, after just eight jumps his head felt light and it was getting hard to focus enough to cast the spell again.

Mana 0/160

He leaned on a nearby table and tried not to give into a bout of dizziness. Seeing his face, Mehdi quickly took out a blue bottle from within his robes and handed it to Richardson as he said, “It appears you showed off a little too much, not that I’m complaining.”

Richardson just nodded and took the potion, drinking it down in one gulp. The potion was like a carbonated tasteless drink, not disgusting but far from pleasant. His mana rose point by point until it reached one hundred where the dizziness cleared away. “That was unpleasant. Is it always like that?”

“Mana deprivation, yes,” said Mehdi. “It can be quite unsettling the first time you feel it, and it only grows worse the more mana you have.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

His majesty rose from his seat with a heavy sigh. “I would like to see this magic of yours more, yet I know it would be wasteful. Yseult, escort our hero to the training field. I would like him to depart with the soldiers in three days time.”

“Of course, father. “Yseult stepped around the table that separated her from Richardson and the Grand Sage as she spoke to both of them. “Shell we be off.”

It wasn’t long before they reached the training ground on the outskirts of the city. Around five hundred soldiers were sparring in pairs in long columns. Instructors were walking up and down the line cursing up a fuss at every mistake these initiates were making. The sound of clashing wooden swords rose high, yet the yells of the instructors rose higher.

Richardson was led to the archery range. Archers stood in ten rolls, each taking a shot down range with more behind them waiting their turn. The instructor for this group seemed more downtrodden with each volley fired. Richardson began to fear that the poor man would throw himself before the archers to end his misery, although by the sight of the pristine targets he had his doubts such rash actions would work.

At the groups approach, one of the target ranges was quickly emptied for their personal use. “Your teleportation spell, as great as it may be, can only be described as a utility spell.” Explained Mehdi. “As a wizard you will need both offensive and defensive magic, however, as the King wishes for you to depart in a few days, I will be teaching you an offensive spell.”

“Why don’t you just teach me both… or better yet, just give me a grimoire and I’ll figure it out.” A dainty and boisterous laugh rose in answer.

“Sorry my boy, but keep in mind you have only so much mana. It is better for you to master one spell than to fail to understand many.” As he was done with the explanation, Mehdi took out a book from his robes. The book opened to a single page with a spell on it. It looked similar to the teleportation spell he had seen earlier, however, there was only a single rune that underlaid the page.

Richardson placed his hand upon it and a message appeared.

The spell Scorching Ray has become available

Will you accept?

Scorching Ray lv 1

You create a single ray of fire and hurl it at targets within range. Each attack has a chance to set the target ablaze.

Cast time: 5s

Range: 40 meters

Mana used per cast: 10

Intelligence required: 5

He wasn’t thrilled that the skills in this world used meters. The calculations were a pain in the ass, as it was about 3 feet for every 1 meter. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do the conversions, but much like his father, he found there wasn’t enough freedom in the metrics system.

Putting those thoughts aside, he was excited to try out his new spell. Richardson held out his hand toward the target downrange, felt the mana reacting to his intentions as his hand gave a soft tingling feeling, and spoke: “Scorching Ray!”

Only for the spell to fly forth ten feet and nose dive right into the ground. He looked at the spell than to his hand. “I think the spell is a dud.”

With the shake of her head, Yseult extended her hands and held out a wand for him to take. “While free-hand casting is possible, I would not recommend it until you are near the level of Grand Sage.”

“Quite right, Princess. The wand will help to focus your mana and to better aim at your target.”

Richardson took the weapon to begin his training once more, yet a message appeared before him.

Wand equipped.

All spells cost are reduced by 25%

A smile spread across Richardson’s face. He was already wondering how best to deal with the high cast of these spells. His Scorching Ray dropped from the cost of 10 to 7. If the cost also lowered each time he leveled up a skill, then before long he would be able to cast magic more than a few times per battle.

He spend the next half hour doing his best to land Scorching Ray on the bull’s eye downrange. Though even with a wand to help his aim, without the proper focus it was difficult to hit the target at a mere 80 feet let alone the maximum range of the spell. The first four shots went wide, but each of the remaining eight shots grew closer and closer.

“Bull’s eye!” Richardson rose his arms in triumph. It was a small victory, but one he would claim. dizziness was beginning to set in and Mehdi was already pulling out another potion.

“Congratulations, sir Hero.” Said Yseult.

Richardson took the offered potion, however, before he drink it he asked, “How much stuff do you have under those robes of your?”

“That’s a Grand Sage secret, I’m afraid.”

He drunk the potion but this one only rose his mana by 25 points. Far too low for more practice. “If I’m going to practice, I’m going to need more potions.” Richardson really hoped he would not have to buy those himself.

“My apologies,” said Yseult. “But we are still allocating the potions from our stockpile for your personal use. It will be another day at the least before they are ready.”

Richardson nodded. It couldn’t be helped. He had only just arrived the day before, so he couldn’t expect everything to be ready for him. He was just glad this Kingdom was supporting him and not kicking him out while wishing him the best of luck. “I guess magic training is over then.”

“In that case, why don’t you come with me. I can show you—

“I think I’ll get in some sword practice while I’m here.”

“What?”

“What!”

Yseult and Mehdi both looked at each other expecting the other to have heard something different. But Richardson just walked passed them and back over to the sparring soldiers. “Sir, Hero, you know you are a Wizard correct? Are you not aware of proficiencies?”

Richardson didn’t answer. Such restrictions may apply to others, but with his adaptation passive he should be able to get around those. He stepped up to two sparring boys, both of whom where likely just a bit older than himself. They stopped at his approach and looked at him. “Would either of you be willing to spar with me?” He asked. The two seemed reluctant to answer. He was sure everyone here knew who he was, especially with the Princess and the Grand Sage following behind.

The boys looked to the near by instructor who in turned looked to the Princess. Yseult gave a reluctant nod of her head and the instructor called out “Adam, take a rest and you initiate, get back into a ready position.”

Richardson took the wooden sword from the leaving initiate and mimicked the stance from the boy across from him. He held the sword with both hands out in front of him. immediately he was hit with messages about ‘lack of proficiency’ and a reduction to his damage. But he ignored it. This was just practice so none of that would matter.

“Begin!” the instructor called. Wooden swords clashed hard enough that Richardson could feel the vibration with each blow they traded. It was clear by the third pass and the initiate had only intercepted his sword that Richardson knew he was going easy on him.

In truth, Richardson had no idea what he was doing. He merely aimed for his opponents sword and tried to stay in the fight for as long as he could. After ten minutes the two of them got into a sort of rhythm where they could keep a steady pace with the strikes. Occasionally, the Initiate would go after one of his blindingly obvious openings, yet before his sword would land a hit he would pull back his strength to only tab him on the arm or stomach. Richardson would smile and they would reset and go again.

After an hour he had landed not a single blow against his opponent, but that was never the goal. Just as exhaustion was beginning to take both of them a system message appeared.

Adaptation has been activated

You have gained the trait One-Handed Sword Proficiency.

You can use any one-handed sword as if you had the required class.

Notice: Traits are not passives and are normally only gained by choosing a class and leveling up.

A servant had brought Yseult a chair and a cup of tea, and looked out of place among sweating soldiers. Upon spotting the system message she asked in a raised voice to be heard over those still training. “I trust you have gotten what you where after from this spar?”

Richardson nodded but instead of telling her he decided to show her. He held the sword with both hands and went through the motions, slashing, thrusting, upwards cut. Moving from one attack to the next until each form blended into the next. It was not perfect and he had a lot of room for improvement, yet the sluggishness from his earlier fight was gone.

“Proficiency!” Mehdi said astonished. “To think you gained that without having to take a new class.” As if trying to understand this mystery for himself he cast appraisal. After several moments the status screen closed with a hungry look in his eyes. “Hero, would you be willing to let me study this ‘adaptation’ skill of yours?”

Richardson laughed but shook his head. “Sorry, Grand Sage, but I’m a bit too tired for that. Perhaps later… if you are willing to part with some spells that is.” The Grand Sage just pressed his lips together but didn’t reject the idea.

“Well, Richardson, why don’t we head bad to the palace. You can wash away your fatigue, and if you so desire, I can show you around the city.”

“That sounds delightful.” So once again. Richardson took the hand of the Princess and followed her lead.