~Cobb POV~

I checked my status as we approached directory nineteen.

Class: Animator Name: Cobb

Titles: Prey Turned Predator, The Green One

HP: 200/268 Lvl: 33

Effects:

Race Jjerg: +10 INT, +5 END, +5 STR, +5 WIS, +10 MND

Prey Turned Predator: +25 INT, +25 WIS, +20 AGI

The Green One: +7 CHR, + Can color things under your magical control an emerald green

Animator: +20 WIS each level

Spider Blessed: +Relations with Spiders increased, +Can communicate with spiders

Malvolio's Mark: +Reputation with libraries across Twoen increased. +May influence future interactions.

MP: 291/353

SQP: 160/160 SP: 70/210 STR: 15 CHR: 17 END: 15 MND: 10 INT: 208 AGI:20 WIS: 397 ENL:160 LUK: 10 Stat Points:

Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%)

Hunted Sense - Advanced 1 (10%)

Inform - Advanced 3 (32%)

Hyperfocus - Advanced 2 (62%)

Earth Magic - Advanced 8 (42%)

Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%)

Animate (Class Skill) - Intermediate 4 (29%)

Fire Magic - Advanced 6 (37%)

Water Magic - Intermediate 4 (2%)

Wind Magic - Intermediate 1 (0%)

First I dumped 20 points into Enliven.

Rock Camoflauge (Race Skill) - Beginner 9 (87%)

When immobile and unmoving your body adapts to the surrounding rock. Your body will inherit the hardness and defensive capabilities of the rock it becomes. Sudden movement cancels the skill.

+18% chance of going unnoticed

+1.9s of lingering effects after skill cancel

Hunted Sense - Advanced 1 (10%)

Knowing the feeling of being hunted by superior predators. Their presence and intent were ingrained into your memory. Your paranoia has developed into being able to tell when you are being watched.

Effects:

+Know when being watched with hostile intent

+Know the general direction

+Know the danger the threat poses

Inform - Advanced 3 (32%)

Your inquisitive nature and problem solving attitude awards you with the inherent ability to know things. By focusing on an object or entity information is granted based upon the level of this skill. Learning new things and drawing conclusions will also develop this skill. The skill may even make connections you have not.

Effects:

+Intermediate knowledge and personal conclusions provided

+HP, MP, more in depth knowledge, personal conclusions occasionally verified

+Hidden knowledge occasionally revealed

Now that's gonna be helpful. Hidden knowledge? Thank you very much. Now it also gives me an indicator of their MP as well, not that I had encountered anything besides the Royal Water Geckans that had anything to do with magic, well I guess invisibility counted, if it was magic rather than a biological feature. All Geckans had that.

Hyperfocus - Advanced 2 (62%)

Your battle hardened instincts did not go unnoticed. Shifting from a state of joy and complete catharsis to complete control and focus is found in only those who experience battle daily.

Effects:

+Perception of time slowed by 32%

+24% increase in muscle reaction

+10% speed when Hyperfocused

Earth Magic - Advanced 8 (42%)

Your innate sense for the Earth has awarded you with ability to manipulate it. Earth magic is the most practical of elemental magics. Earth Mages are sought out often for the pure utility they bring to the table. Unlike the other elemental magics Earth is solid and with the ability to manipulate something solid comes the ability to create.

+84% effectiveness of offensive Earth Magic

+54% effectiveness of contructs of Earth

+Earth attributed creatures are friendlier by 40%

Mentally checking the progress of my skills my eyes land on the third effect of Earth Magic. Could this be why the elementals guarding the entrance conceded so easily? The Water Elemental, Posei, was the only who really could've stopped me, but when it came to the elements that I had Advanced magic in they conceded easily, the Wind Elemental just followed suit. I knew I could've beat them unless they were disguising their true strength but still all it took was a small display of power and they backed off.

And what was the talk about having a Magic skill of any of the elements? They said it was akin to having a Mastery skill with a weapon but JST and Jones have those too. In JST's case he has a skill that combines them all, are those skills perhaps rare? Maybe they are, but the elementals seem naiive I doubt they let many pass or even see that many adventurers so it wouldn't be that hard to impress them. Then again, maybe it's actually been rare but the influx of people in Twoen might change that, then again it might not. Even with all the people if these skills represent some type of stronger mastery over the magic or weapon then not much people are going to have it, but that begs the question what type of skills do other people get?

Storytelling - Beginner 6 (25%)

Storytelling is used to captivate an audience, it is an art that though may seem mundane, not many people perfect. You have taken steps into the world of entertainment and have succeeded in eliciting from your audience what many people fail to, emotion.

Effect:

+6% more emotion from the audience

Do they get things like this? This seems rather basic compared to something like Fire Magic which acts like an umbrella skill for anything you're doing with fire. Oh well, moving on.

Animate (Class Skill) - Intermediate 4 (29%)

Through various insights on the workings of life the Animator can breathe it into his constructs. Directly tied with the Enliven stat.

Effects:

+Can follow commands and orders within capabilites

+Can adopt knowledge inserted by the creator upon animation

I couldn't spot it at first but something was different in my class skill and it didn't take long to find it. It looks like the first effect changed, it used to be "Can follow basic commands and orders." but after gaining the Intermediate tier it had to be overwritten. After all being able to create something from memory leaves a lot to the imagination. I suspect that this particular class would be hard to implement for anyone else without any knowledge of what they want to create. Since the Animator is a class that requires imagination and viable knowledge as well as something to actually animate I don't think i'm going to see very many Animators, it seems too niche. I've been wrong before though but with the amount of classes I saw on the forum I think the Animator would be even less likely to pop up. If there was someone with it then I don't think we'd ever meet.

Fire Magic - Advanced 6 (37%)

The element of Fire is the most unpredictable and destructive of the Elements. Many practitioners are scarred or maimed in their early years but when a Fire Mage reaches their apex, they are near unstoppable. The number of Fire Mages has been at a steady constant for years, unfortunately practitioners of Fire are prone to early deaths but that doesn't stop young mages seeking power.

Effects:

+78% effectiveness of offensive Fire Magic

+48% effectiveness of utility based Fire Magic

+Fire attributed creatures are friendlies by 30%

Water Magic - Intermediate 4 (2%)

Perhaps the true wonder of Water Magic is the ability to conjure water, an essential to living. Only the truly calm and serene can harness the power of water. There have been many wizards, mages and magicians who prove that wrong however, somehow staying calm in the face of battle, yet seeming fierce and ferocious. Water is seen as the calm element but it can be just as deadly as Fire and Wind.

Effects:

+42% effectiveness of offensive Water Magic

+12% effectiveness of utility based Water Magic

Wind Magic - Intermediate 1 (0%)

Freedom. That is the understanding most mages have of Wind. The ability to control Wind Magic is rare. Many attain it but settle to releasing the wind in a certain direction working around the nature of the magic. When a talented mage can control the wind itself he as unlocked a weapon immensely powerful. An invisible one.

Effects:

+33% effectiveness of offensive Wind Magic

+3% effectiveness of utility based Wind Magic

After reaching directory nineteen I peered at the map and around at the circular wooden help desk, books still in hand. It didn't make any sense for the Knowlguarts to encompass the whole challenge of the library, sure the opening the books cause some problems but if you figure that out then its stupidly easy to survive. Even the things that get summoned, when they knock the books over like the Coregath did, nothing came out of it, even when they were wide open. You have to actually read the book is what I hypothesized since the Coregath didn't appear until I read it or glanced upon it at least.

But this is a library so I can just take the books out and read them then. Unless the books themselves are causing the summonings, not the library.

JST had followed me up to the directory. Orbs of water encased fire surrounded the group, throwing refracting light from the already flickering flames across the dim library.

"Dammit Malvolio. If the directories were maintained we would've known that earlier." JST said. "Look."

He was pointing to a quote that had been worn off in all the other directories, positioned at the top of the map. It read "Fend Five That The Reward Will Be Decided By."

"Oh. Does he mean to choose five books to fight?" That didn't bode well.

"Probably" he said as I moved around the directory desk.

Scrolls, parchments, maps, same old, same old. My hands moved anything familiar out of the way and ventured across the help desk, looking for something I hadn't seen before. There had to be something that lasted here but not in the other directories. Eventually I found a something engraved behind the help desk, on the employees side.

"Only defeated books are allowed for checkout." I said slowly. Well that can't be right.

What's to stop us from just walking out of the library with the books in tow? Fortunately I remembered one of skills that broke into the Advanced tier only recently.

Inform

Dungeon: Malvolio's Library (Aged)

Established by Malvolio Peren following the destruction of libraries across Twoen during the Second Dimensional Break its construction was completed and finalized shortly after the event coined the Soothing, possible only due to accelerated construction and magical methods lost to time. These methods however exist in the library waiting to be discovered. Without them much knowledge would have been lost.

The library is Malvolio's collection and harbors High Tier Spatial Magic that allows greater expansion inside the library than the structure visible by outside viewers. Measured in Leiou's Method of Magical Measures the Spatial Magic affecting the library lands neatly in the Twelfth Tier.

Adventurers, Travelers, Seekers, and any who seek knowledge are allowed access into the library upon gaining approval from the Guardian Elementals whose power will rise in response to the challenger. Malvolio's Mark is only granted to those who sufficiently impress the elementals or even defeat them. Access can also be granted when new knowledge is brought as gifts, sufficiently interesting curiosities grant access as a favor to the contribution of knowledge.

Upon entering, every book is assigned a guardian. With the thirst for knowledge comes consequence. Every book may be read but the knowledge itself will come to life and the reader must defeat it to earn the right to leave with the book. Awards are given to the entrant in the event that they live through the ordeal of five books in an effort to facilitate survival and the spread of knowledge lost in the Second Dimensional Break.

You may only leave once five books are defeated, upon completion you are brought back to the entrance room. Spatial Magic prevents inhabitants from exiting through normal means.

Hidden:

+All knowledge gleaned from books not checked out are lost, a hole in the memory, upon leaving. You must defeat the book and leave with it to retain memory of the knowledge read. This is to prevent powerful readers from disabling multiple manfiestations of knowledge and reading every book in the library. In addition when reentering the library the location of all books are randomized. Knowledge is power but absolute power corrupts absolutely.

What the fuck.

"Fuck that! How are we supposed to get anything good?" I yelled breaking the silence of the library.

I'm supposed to choose fucking five? Out of all this?

Malvolio's Mark

Signifies approval of the legendary scholar and librarian Malvolio.

Effects:

+Reputation with libraries across Twoen increases.

+May influence future interactions.

I looked around, they were staring at me. This wasn't fair, sure I could enter again but even now there was no method or system in place that organized the books, the Knowlguarts were just there to place the damn things back on the shelves. Randomizing books when they're already random, are you kidding me? Why does this library have to be so frustrating? On top of that we still need to find that damn beast.

"I'm opening this fucking book." I looked around to see if anyone would challenge me. Of course more than half the group I made and the rest were my insane brothers.

I slammed one of my books on the table and flipped it to the first page.

Contos Spellcraft: Lost Magic.

"What the fuck man?" The words betrayed his expression. He was grinning.

"Well now you've done it. What book is that?" Jones walked over and read the first page. "Well at least it wasn't the dragon one because I would've left you guys to die."

"I'm not an idiot." I said flipping through the book.

The first chapter detailed the history behind the magic and how it came into being. The whole practice was called Contos Spellcraft. It was dated back to before the Split War whatever that means. I wasn't exactly privy to the method in which Twoen kept track of history, and I didn't know anything about the history of Twoen in the first place. I did browse the forums however and this book was written even before the Second Dimensional Break from what I gather. I remember one of the races I was able to pick was the Kersooth which only came into existence post Second Dimensional Break, meaning this knowledge predates a whole race, likely more too. This is old, very old. Lost indeed.

I skipped the details for a second and flipped through the book looking at the illustrations, these didn't seem like effects a single person should be able to produce. It had notations of velocity next to some conjured wind magic scribbled into the side in short hand. That shouldn't be possible. Volume of water created, temperature of fire, density of rock manipulated, these numbers didn't seem right yet they were there scribbled down right next to the colorful illustrations. You could get these numbers maybe using industrial engines or density presses in the real world or maybe even somewhere in Twoen but through magic alone?

It seemed the technique centered on drawing mana towards three dimensional lines created by the user. The process called ambient mana towards the lines to create a lesser effect or could be fueled by the user's mana for a greater outcome, there was another listed technique that used both but its mention was short. It looks like the whole system based itself on the assumption that the reader had complete mastery of the four elemental magics, four of the five magics I knew. If anyone was looking at me they would see a smiling idiot. A magic I haven't heard of? Bravo Malvolio, bravo.

"3D magic? What the hell does that mean?"

"Shh. Over there." Jones pointed to the nearest bookshelf.

The directories aren't located in a huge clearing, instead they're nestled in the bookshelves with pathways leading away from them, only a small two meter space seperates the desk from nearest stack of books. There was a green glow coming from the nearest bookshelf.

I signaled to George, Jack, Gaius and the rest. I had taught them basic signals that we brothers used, since they were basically my creations my brothers were fine with them learning. I sent a small ball of wind whistling past them, instantly they moved closer to each other, a tribute to how close they've grown. George scanned around with his rifle while Jack positioned himself behind the guarding spartans, ready to dart out and strike the enemy. After spotting the glow they became wary of it as well. George nodded to me and Jack did the same, the spartans responded only by tucking their heads down. The whistling wind was a sign of a potential code red threat.

"I think you're about to find-" A giant pillar or earth speared horizontally through the bookshelf sending books flying and wood splinters everywhere.

Entering Hyperfocus JST and Jones had already sprung away. I had no time to launch myself to the side, my brothers weren't close enough to pull me to safety without getting out themselves. The pillar caught me on my side, sending my body into a hurricane towards the floor. I absorbed the impact on a hardened water, I went from standing upright to bouncing off the floor on my good arm in less than a second. The pillar surged through the directory and continued through three bookcases on the other side.

"Fan out!" George yelled. "Large spread attacks, don't get caught together!" The rest moved accordingly.

There a deep blue glow and large wave of water crashed down upon us. Quickly I cut into the giant rock that almost killed me, just big enough for three.

"Holy shit this is gonna be good." JST was pressed against me, shoulder to mine.

"Fuck my left is arm is broken." I only noticed the pain after I slammed into the rock. It's gonna hurt a lot more later.

"I might've preferred the dragon to this." Jones said also crammed into the impromptu shelter. "I'm gonna head for the nearest bookshelf when the water stops, see if i can find the caster."

"Alright, birds method." I told him. Alluding to our signals.

He nodded and positioned himself against the wall, poised to launch out, slowly his skin melted into nothingness but I felt him there nonetheless.

When the water finally stopped gushing forward, it didn't recede. Books floated around in the water displaced by the current but the water stayed level. The invisible presence beside left like a missle. Moments after he left I heard a small bird that basically signified that Jones forgot something. Immediately next to me Jones reformed but at this distance I could tell he was fake.

"Hey i'm back."

"He's fake." JST stepped into the water but was immediately sucked down by grasping tendrils of water. I heard him get a lungful of air before going under, two feet was enough to submerge someone when they're forced down horizontally. His thrashing disturbed the water as I walked past him to check on the rest, sparing a small amount of my mental capacity for his plight. I heard him emerging from behind me, soaking wet.

"Thanks." He said following me.

"Why didn't you let me mess with him?" Clone Jones asked waiting for JST to follow.

"I already knew you were fake." I said. "Takes more to fool me." Especially when I didn't sense Jones coming back.

"My liege." Gaius' face was stoic as I approached. I felt an absense of something.

"We took cover behind this, sir." George patted the giant cylinder. "It broke most of the tide." He said softly.

"Lucius and Marcus are dead." Jack said. "We will have our revenge or I will give up my sword. No honorable samurai would let this pass. Blood for blood." His eye's were darker, somehow. His face showed the smallest hint of emotion, but it was pure, pure rage. He pulled his smaller blade from his side and sliced his palm, smearing the dark brown liquid across his face. The significance was lost on me the cultural aspects and tradition had already fled my memory, intriguing but not important. Interesting facts like technique and combat stayed almost indefinitely.

"My liege. They would want to us grieve later. They were fools like none I have ever known, but they were my brothers." Gaius voice was soft but it burned with a controlled fire. Spartan warriors are none to be trifled with.

How many people have you met? Five, five other people?

A blast of intense fire drew our attention to above the bookshelves as Jones screamed, backflipping between shelves. The jet of fire set many bookcases on fire. The heat could be felt from here and it was probably ten shelves away from us.

I looked at Clone Jones who shrugged.

"Don't forget about these annoying shits." JST grunted throwing a Knowlguart onto its back, submerging it in the water and stepping on its throat, he held it there as he elbowed another in the jaw, setting him twirling into the water.

I never had the chance to properly inspect one, past the levels at least, so I peered at the one drowning under JST's foot. The last time I used Inform on one I only spared a cursory glance at them.

Inform

Knowlguart - Lvl 47

HP: 290/420

MP: 10/10

Tasked by Malvolio to protect his collection the Knowlguarts despise those who disrupt the order of the library. The species as whole has been stripped of their ability to read and speak, unable to gather new knowledge from their eternal burden or pass it on to someone else, they are eternal within the library. As they die their bodies remain only a short while before they return as a whole, leaving the library perfectly clean. They are guardians of the book, sentinels of the bookshelf, in the library the Knowlguart rules. They lie in slumber, each Knowlguart tied with a single book and awaken only when their bound literature is disturbed. It is said that within Malvolio's library only the Knowlguart knows the exact location of every book.

That's kind of depressing. Wait. Of course they would fucking know how the library was organized. And of course they wouldn't be able to talk.

Man fuck that.

The presence of foreign magic still permeated the pool but I had been supressing the tendrils as they came to my attention, now Knowlguarts came in hordes, the blue mass hid individuals. I wouldn't be able to juggle all this at once while also providing support and at the same time trying not to get overrun. I beckoned the group closer to me and sealed off the whole directory area in a dome of earth, I packed it densely erupted a swirling mass of spikes around the whole thing, I felt the earth pierce many bodies and shrieks and yells accentuated the success.

The group looked around shifting to a more relaxed stance from their previous tension. The danger was abated for now.

"Here's the plan." Already my mind was working in overdrive, trying its best to ignore the pain of my broken arm. "Jones should be fine on his own, he's been getting better after I helped him a bit with his magic. The main problem is the destructive power and adaptability of the magic user. Those were only two spells and even now this water wants to kill us." I let up for a second and tendrils began to form.

The animations reacted good enough, chopping at the water in a hurry but I returned my iron grip in an instant, none ever reached them. JST hadn't moved at all.

"Jesus man." George the sturdy man was gripping his combat knife, pistol drawn.

"What do you have in mind, my liege?" Gaius eyes burned and he seemed eager. I applauded his futile efforts to contain his enthusiasm.

"George how good are you with a sniper?" I had forgotten what I put into him but i'm pretty sure I went all out. I gave him a knowing look when i asked him.

"No way." Clone Jones said sounding like child who just saw something really cool.

He contemplated for a while. "I'm up there." He holstered his pistol and returned his knife. "Why?" He grinned, his smile broke through his grizzled features and scars across his face.

I smirked at him.

Immediately I moved to what was left of the directory table as George followed me. I ripped a portion of the earth from the pillar that was conveniently inside the help desk using the hand attached to my working arm. In reality I didn't really need to get all the little parts correct for the sniper to function, my skill Animate actually did it for me. I created the stock, smooth rounded edges that fit snug against the shoulder. The scope had a thin layers of dirt as the lenses, which I assumed would undergo a transformation similar to the skin of my sand people, receiving properties of actual glass instead of skin. The barrel, trigger, bipod and general body of the sniper would inherit traits belonging to an actual rifle as well. Some parts I had gaps in memory but I called back to my brother, who was a wealth of information when it comes to weapons.

Of course I created the functioning parts to the best of my ability but when it goes into George's hands the weapons really come alive, as if it was real. Of course something like a knife is easy to create but a gun? There are so many components and different materials needed for different parts that it wouldn't be possible without access to them. In essence the weapon reacts with the magic in the construct, in this case George, and becomes real. They stay real too since I remember JST using one of George's guns in the past. I lifted up my creation and moved to bestow it upon him.

"Sir, with all due respect." George said in awe. "You've got be shitting me."

I handed the gun to George who hefted it with ease, smiling the whole time. I felt a complex interplay between the magic in George and the rifle.

Boys will be boys. He looks like a little kid on Christmas day.

A blast of heat assaulted us even while encased in the dome, heating the inside walls significantly. I had the water crawl up the inside of dome which sent steam everywhere. Hurriedly I sent the scalding steam out of the dome through small holes I opened up. I glared in the general direction of the magic.

"Fuck that guy man!" JST yelped, he was leaning against the dome. "You'd think my scales would do shit." He grumbled moving closer.

"I hope Jones is all right." I said only slightly concerned.

"You're worried for Jones? Nojas?" JST hissed at his burns, turning his arm in effort to glimpse his back. "I'd be worried for the mage guy. If Jones can't kill him then he's gonna annoy the shit out of him. You know it too, don't act like you don't." He raised an eyebrow at me and pointed an accusatory finger. Honestly, I had to agree.

"Well if it's any indication he's fine Clone Jones is still here." I reasoned.

"I'm just here in case you guys need a distraction." Clone Jones said.

At the same time, another much larger surge of magic, I braced the dome with hard packed water from the inside, did the same to the outside and solidified the spikes and dome wallls. As an afterthought I brought pillars of earth up at an angle to brace the wall as well. Nothing came.

JST had moved in front of me. "What's wrong?" He said quickly not wasting any time.

"Nothing, there was a buttload of magic but it wasn't aimed here."

George had thrown his sniper over his back and pulled up his rifle.

"Jesus Christ what are you doing out there little bro?" JST said in good nature.

"My liege, what profound weaponry is this?" Gaius, seemed so naiive sometimes that it surprised me that he was bigger than George. His ripped muscles were only partly hidden by his cloak, clasped around his neck. His psuedo leather skirt did nothing to detract from the male form. I always thought of him as young, but he was almost halfway through life as a spartan, he had stubble growing on his chin and face. He walks with perfect ease and his rock cuirass and rock greaves did nothing to weigh him down, although they probably adopted the properties of the intended material.

"George you can do the honors." Then Gaius turned to George in rapt attention, momentarily free of his grief. George nodded to me under his wide brimmed hat, only barely concealing a smile.

"This my friend, is a Barrett 50. Caliber Sniper Rifle." He paused for a while thinking about how to express the power of the rifle. "This thing could rip through multiple shields, iron shields." George's genuine smile was taken down a notch as he noticed Gaius face.

"Impossible." Gaius said as his bright smile lost its luster. "Those two buffoons would've loved this." His face was stoic but was betrayed when his voice broke at the end.

"They will be avenged, Gaius." Jack's simple statement burned with passion.

"I'm sure Sir Cobb could bring him back." George said offhandedly. I blinked. Could I?

I knew who they were, I created them after all. I was never there for when they interacted with the others, not all the time. Could they be Lucius and Marcus without those memories? Would they be the same? I struggled internally but now isn't the time to even attempt it. It brought to mind Theseus' Paradox but even then the problem wouldn't be the parts of the people, rather their thoughts and very existence. Troubling.

Gaius looked at me hopeful. Relunctantly I answered him. "I can't guarantee that they would be the same." His expression still retained the hope. "If I do attempt it you'll have my word that I'll do everything to get the same men back."

"My liege." He brought his fist to his chest. "For now, what will you have of me?" He drew his sword. A spartan has to move on.

"Give me a sec Gaius." He returned his sword but the hope remained.

After applying my points to Enliven and after Marcus and Lucius died my Squad Points freed up. I had an extra 20 more than I had before. First though I looked at my constructs, I didn't need to use inform.

George (Sand Commando) - Lvl 34

HP: 299/310

MP: 10/10

A developed construct of sand given life charged with the knowledge, tactics and combat techniques of the U.S. Military. Not centered on any one branch, George has trained to a specialist's proficiency in many fields to the point where one might not call it a specialization anymore, simply aptitude in all areas. His adaptibility knows no bounds.

Squad Points: 40

Jack (Sand Samurai) - Lvl 34

HP: 290/311

MP: 10/10

A developed construct of sand given life charged with the techniques, honor and precision of a peak samurai. Jack is the epitome of samurai perfection coupled with a fearless attiude, uncanny ability to take things in stride, and immense focus to the task at hand. In the face of adversity the samurai prevails.

Squad Points: 25

Gaius (Sand Spartan) - Lvl 34

HP: 310/344

MP: 10/10

A developed construct of sand given life charged with mindset, brutality, fearlessness, and camaraderie of a true spartan warrior. Gaius is inquisitive and eager to learn, yet deadly and dangerous in combat. The power of a spartan lies not in his sword, but the ones next to him.

Squad Points: 25

The first thing I noticed was that George cost insanely more than Jack and Gaius. Discounting George everyone would have been worth 25 Squad Points which fit perfectly in the 140 Squad Points I used to have. I couldn't really think of as to why but then my eyes landed on his weaponry. Of course, Squad Points - im guessing - drain depending on the potential of the construct given its initial creation. His weapon, the Barrett 50. Cal, added its cost to him as well, but i'm gonna assume his initial cost was somewhere near 30 SQP. Of course the intricacies of Animate are lost to me but I am slowly gathering data to base my findings upon.

So, when I create them some of my Squad Points are deducted, which I assume are related directly to their potential. If i add something to the construct that brings it alive further, say a sniper rifle, that isn't real, it will intertwine with the magic inherent in the animation and something will change it and bring it closer to reality - life. The fact that a pistol and sniper had to be animated as well added to his cost. But that doesn't make sense. Why should a sniper rifle and pistol even be allowed to animate? They're inanimate objects. But then, so was George until I made him. I could assume that Animate isn't to bring things to literal life but metaphoric life. For example, an imitation of a gun wouldn't really be alive. Breathing life into it would be like allowing it to shoot and that would count as being alive. Still the nature of the magic puzzles me. I'd have to experiment when we have down time.

"Alright." I said.

The group had been doing their own prep, George had actually dissassembled the sniper on the help desk. There were pieces there that I had no recollection creating, when he heard me he already had half of it assembled in seconds. Jack was meditiating, I think. Near the dome wall where there was more space JST moved through sword forms, weaving his sword between the prongs in his shield. Gaius was looking off into the distance leaning against the help desk, which was hard since we were in a dome, yet he pulled it off anyways.

"George. What do you think about this help desk?" I gestured to the directory desk like a professor prodding his student.

"Sir, nothing interesting why?" He said looking at two halves of a circular desk. Clone Jones was kicking his feet, sitting on the desk much like the real thing.

I sunk the pillar into the ground, leaving only the portions that touched the desk. They acted as a replacement for the parts of the desk they rammed through. What was left was a perfect circle of wood and stone.

"I don't know looks like a perfect sniper's nest to me." I rubbed my chin. "Don't you think George?" I gestured to him as if admiring a piece of art.

He smiled, shaking his head and got behind the desk, already unslinging his sniper. "Sir, i'm assuming i'm gonna be really high in a few seconds, right?" JST giggled like a little girl. I shot him a look, so immature. Suddenly another surge of magic permeated the air - or rather the ground. I didn't react though.

The magic was mine.

"Oh most definitely." I said. Unbeknownst to him the dome was opening at the top as if making way for a rocket launch. JST wisely stepped back from the help desk and Jack sagely took a measured step backwards. Gaius, who was still leaning against the desk, looked at his arm, slowly removed it and took a step back as well. Clone Jones hopped down to stand by me.

"Oh go-" George broke off into unintelliglbe yelling as the entirety of the help desk rocketed upwards on a cylinder of earth.

I saluted him.

"Well now that that's done we can get move on. Getting George to cover us was the first step. " I explained to a bunch of people looking upwards.

"And the next?" JST asked.

"We need to find Jones." I said, bringing up stone to splint my broken arm. The stone crawled across my arm and became immovable as it attached to my joints. I had broken my upper arm but the splint kept in place. I had to grit my teeth as the broken bone rubbed against each other. The stone splint encircled my upper arm and stablalized the damage. "The real one." Sparing a glance at the clone.

I flexed my fingers and moved my arm once the splint was in place, my arm had been hanging loosely this entire time, it would have to do.

His face seemed petulant, still mad at being found out no doubt. Quickly though his expression changed ."Oh." Clone Jones said suddenly. "I think i'm-" Then he dissappeared in a purple poof. The dust or glitter or whatever assaulted my face and got into my mouth, I had to remind myself it wasn't real despite the phantom itch on my tongue.

Really Jones?

"Did that taste purple?" JST asked in a squeaky voice. He was always good at impressions.

"Shut up, that's not good." I said now concerned. "His illusion shouldn't have dissipated unless his imagination is somehow taxed, the strain on the brain due to mana loss might just be enough to cease the illusion. If not then he's either dead or knocked out."

"I bet you a whole pizza he's fine." JST didn't seem concerned at all. "And no chickening out this time, I mean a whole pizza. From Pizza Palace."

"Fine, but you can't purposely kill him." I glared at him waiting.

"I wouldn't kill my brother dude." He said actually offended. "Not when we're on the same team. And Jed was a fucktard anyways, he deserved to die."

"Promise?" I poked at him still not convinced. Jed wasn't that bad. JST just didn't like his mustache.

"Promise." We shook on it.

"Alright Gaius, Jack get ready to move. Dome's coming down in three, two, one!"