Damian Franklin

His days leading up to the raid had been spent on research and experimentation. Joyfully so. From Mana crystal testing to spell design, the obsidian acolyte kept himself very busy. Malachi added to his initial plans with a couple things to look into. A list of concerns that the bearded leader hoped some spellwork could solve. Damian had been all too happy to pursue the possibilities. A challenge was always fun for him.

Spell crafting came surprisingly easy to him. Barely a hassle. Damian’s previous experience modifying his spells was foundational knowledge that had already led to new spells branched off his originals. Those two things gave the obsidian acolyte the necessary insight to craft from scratch. It was only a small leap to creating unrelated spells.

The obsidian acolyte had been excited at the prospect of having new spell trees to explore. The first concern on Malachi’s list was scouting out the crevices of the upper tunnels. It took a couple tries to conceptualize the right effect, but Damian solved that concern with flying colors. He named it Seeing Eye and casting that created a violet orb with an iris. The spell acted like a drone and a camera. It required some concentration to see clearly without getting dizzy. Once you did, it acted as an independent third eye that could be directed where it was needed.

Inspired, Damian also created a technique for telekinesis. At first, it was just an amorphous blob of Mana gripping items, but a little practice allowed the formation of a serviceable hand. Unlike a spell, at least some attention had to stay on it, or otherwise, the hand would dissipate. He tried creating a spell version, but it performed with a sluggish response. Even if it stuck around easily, that wasn’t worth it to the obsidian acolyte. Precision was far more important to him.

He made attempts on some of the other concerns, like wards or communication aids. However, those were proving to be too complicated for the moment. It was very frustrating to Damian to have found a wall in his Mana skills. Enough that the obsidian acolyte had gone to the screens hoping for a new book on Mana. Strangely, there was a dearth of anything on that subject, but every book from back home you could think of.

He tried teaching the Seeing Eye spell and the telekinesis technique. Sharing it had similar results to the time with the Mana crystal harmonization. Only Anastasia picked up on either, instantly so as well. Damian believed that her Discerning Eye spell must have played a part in that. He tried learning that one from her, but only had time to grasp the principles. Not how to make it a realized spell.

Of his own concerns there was some success. Though limited by skill and tools, progress had been made with the Mana crystals. Using a dagger purchased with cores, Damian had carved sockets and channels into his staff. Communing with the crystal allowed one to transform the Mana signature, but also allowed the malleable manipulation of the structure. A little will power saw nine of the crystals embedded into the staff and connected by strands filling up the carved channels.

Between the empowered staff and the Seeing Eye spell, Damian was feeling very wizardly. When the Sixty started marching up the Upper Tunnels, it was his job to scout out the holes in the cave walls. The pockmarked stone proved to be a mix of deep pits and erratic burrows that paralleled the main shaft. His violet eye dove into the holes to make sure nothing lay waiting in the dark.

Malachi was of the mind to scour every inch of the tunnels to cleanse it of Ratsins. Not even the side tunnels would be spared. The plan was to wipe out every rat thing between the Vile Fields and however far they could get on this raid. To some, it seemed to be an overreaction, but the one-armed man promised no risks. Their leader wouldn’t allow a careless chance to exist. Damian appreciated the sentiment. Intellectual curiosity aside, the obsidian acolyte wasn’t interested in dying to a surprise attack.

Therefore, the Sixty moved up slowly as Damian and Anastasia checked a side of the tunnel each. The nervous woman would call out targets for the other acolytes since she wasn’t well suited for offense because of her spell set. Her silver eye gave off a watery light to aid their targeting and sight.

In contrast, his part of the search and destroy went like clockwork. The violet eye would dive into the darkness, arcane brilliance lighting the way. When a hiding Ratsin was found, Damian whispered quietly to his staff. A whiff of will was all that was needed to cast through it for small effects. Counting on the number found, multiple shards of violet starlight would form and dash into the pitted stone. Watching from his third eye, the obsidian acolyte guided the spells to a firm death. It was slow work, but the tunnels were being cleared out.

One benefit of checking every nook and carney Damian was happy to discover, was the vast amount of Mana crystals they were able to find. What they gathered before was just from cursory looks through the fields of blue fungus. Their slow march allowed the acolytes to make a more thorough search. Anastasia and he also found a few during their crevice hunts. When just the right angles would create a perfect place for the azure goo to pool and coalesce.

It was a wonderful bounty for more tests and also practice samples for the other acolytes. He wanted to continue the progress the others had harmonizing their own Mana crystals. Only Jorgenson had been able to completely change one and it had been a laborious effort. The green-gray stone gleamed atop her rod now. The effect on her spells was obvious. Also the effect on the other. He wasn’t sure if it was envy or determination, but Damian had high hopes that the rest of them would catch up soon.

The obsidian acolyte looked down on the new shiny Mana crystals and thought of all the wonderful things he could test out with them. He had suspicions that melee and archer types could make use of the stones too. Though, the harmonization would be much harder for them. It was that consideration that made him wonder if it was possible to create Mana crystals that anyone could use. Having the same energy signature definitely gave a boost to the effect, but a neutral Mana crystal should be useful. At least until their Mana manipulation caught up enough to harmonize on their own.

For some, the slow march was boring, and even the obsidian acolyte could see some people were antsy because of it. To Damian, it was just a lovely opportunity for practice. His control and concentration of the Seeing Eye were growing from the constant use. The task of burrow cleaning offered whole new avenues of using his spells. Like puzzles that make you rethink or consider new angles. Overall, the raid was going well for him. Though, he did want to change things up soon.

Maybe do something big and pretty, thought Damian. In his mind flashed all the different spells and tricks he wanted to do some mass testing with. I have not had the chance to go all out just by myself since my first outing into the tunnels. It would be good to stretch my muscles again.

He was called from his thoughts when the Sixty came to a halt at the next junction of tunnels. With mild interest, Damian scanned the open area. Everything was as expected. A field of blue fauna being gobbled up by hamfisted Ratsins. Knowing his part, he sent up a Seeing Eye to take a look around. A silver orb leaped up quickly after and circled left while the violet one went right. Each observed from high above to avoid detection before checking the two branching upwards tunnels.

Anastasia and Damian conferred on their findings before meeting with Malachi. “Hi, Malachi,” greeted Damian in good spirits.

Their one-armed leader gave a friendly smirk at the tone and replied, “Hello Damian. Anastasia. What’s out there?”

“The uh usual,” remarked Anastasia. Her hands were clasped nervously and shaking as she spoke. “Uh, you know, um big fucking rat monsters that want to uh um tear us apart.”

“I believe she means that there are over two dozen among the blue mushrooms,” offered Damian, head slightly tilted in confusion. “All advanced Pure Ratsins. Twenty-seven by my count. There were also some signs of the mutant variants in the holes ahead.”

“Yeah… uh death by rat fists or um a twisted maybe rat,” grumbled Anastasia.

Ignoring the theatrics, Malachi asked her, “Do you confirm what he saw then?”

“Uh yes, just like um before,” agreed the nervous woman. “Uh um the normal stuff should um work.”

“Alright, excellent,” nodded Malachi. “Take your places, we’ll start soon. I’ll let The Sixty know the plan is a go.” The one-armed man left them to talk to his designated commanders.

“Anastasia, I am happy to translate, but you don’t have to be nervous around Malachi,” assured Damian. “It is important to be clear and precise in our reports. Everyone is depending on us.”

“It’s not um him,” spat the blonde woman. “Don’t you… don’t you think this place is um creepy as uh all hell? Like we could uh um die out here!”

“O’ well, we could die just crossing the street before,” answered Damian lightly and with a small smile. “These caves are dark, but we were strong enough, smart enough to make it through.”

“I don’t um know if you uh believe that or uh um you are diluted,” said Anastasia, her face crumbling. “I uh hate this place… I don’t want to be here… but uh you all needed um my help…”

“You really do not feel safe do you?” asked Damian in revelation. “Even in the middle of all of us… and you don’t feel safe.” He looked down in thought, wracking his brain about how to solve this. To feel safe and not afraid, he thought to himself. How do I help her?

“Damian, don’t um worry about it,” said Anastasia softly and sadly. “I uh rarely feel safe or um comfortable. Uh anywhere. Even uh when I was um living at home…”

“You should feel safe, at home or with us,” declared Damian when he looked up and held eye contact with her for a moment. “I will show you how safe you are!” The obsidian acolyte turned on his heel and rushed after Malachi. The plan was about to change, he decided. Anastasia called after him in confusion, but it was too late. His mind was set to the task.

I will make sure she feels safe, his thought repeating itself.

It wasn’t hard to find Malachi. He stood in a circle at the edge of the frontline. Unbothered by the others, Damian cut in to face his leader friend. Their eyes were wide at his sudden appearance. The obsidian acolyte made sure to hold eye contact so the other knew this was important.

“Malachi, I have something important to say,” he stated to make sure it was clearly understood.

Bewildered, Malachi asked, “Did you forget to report something?”

“No,” replied Damian. Then he dove into the request. “I would like to clear out this area myself. Anastasia doesn’t feel safe and I can demonstrate that she should. That we are strong and smart.”

“Um, right,” said their leader, closing his eyes to shift gears. “It’s one thing to claim you can do it, but entirely another thing the risk we would be putting you in to allow it.”

“There is little risk and I can do it,” replied Damian.

“I won’t deny you have, likely, our greatest power at hand, but that is precisely why it would be best if you didn’t take on over two dozen Ratsins on your own,” frowned Malachi. “What if we get in a pinch and you're too exhausted? You have already been casting a lot today.”

“It is not a concern,” promised Damian with a smile. “My staff provides quite a bit in the casting. I would even say that the more often I cast the same spells with it, the easier it has gotten. Though, that does need further testing to confirm it.”

“Damian, this feels like an unnecessary risk,” said Malachi, his frown deeper. A shadow awoke in the depths of his eyes.

“It is completely, utterly, necessary,” disagreed Damian strongly. “I want Anastasia to feel safe, but I think you also need to see. Caution is a good policy, but we should not cripple ourselves out of fear. Let me show you the potential of the Sixty. I am not afraid. There is no danger when I have you all around me!”

On the last word, Damian turned in a whirl of his robe and headed to the frontline. Behind him, Malachi shouted out orders. The obsidian acolyte only listened long enough to make sure that his plan was accepted. Forcefully or not.

He dove into himself and reached for the Heartsong. Finding easily the pleasant tune of his soul. Casting spells had largely shifted over to his hands. Manuel control rather than Damian’s deeper self doing the bulk of the heavy lifting. But for this, the support of the Heartsong was needed. Safer.

The frontliners parted for him and Julia whispered something urgently to him. Too busy to really hear, Damian tried to smile to comfort her. The shieldmaiden didn’t look too thrilled, but the spellwork was too demanding of his attention. He came to a stop at the front of the Sixty. Mana flared around him and prepared itself. Reaching deep, the Heartsong rose up to meet his need.

First, the setup, thought Damian. His staff swished and chanted Starfield into existence. Small balls of violet energy formed a barrier between the Sixty and the rat things. Next, he called more Mana to him. Thickening the air around himself with it. The air became dense enough with Mana that a few of the gluttonous monsters looked up from their feast. They still shoveled the blue goo in, but their eyes rose suspiciously in the direction of the Sixty.

Didn’t matter. He had everything needed for the next part. When the obsidian acolyte had heard about the double-casted spell, he had gone frantic in curiosity. Pestered and peppered Allen with questions before doing the same to Analia. Then, both of them at the same time in every effort to understand. Their answers were too vague and only spoke of a strange synchronicity that they couldn’t replicate. Not even between the two of them.

After desperately trying to find that same effect with every acolyte, Damian finally gave up cracking that mystery. Another item to add to the list for later study. While he abandoned figuring out double-casting anytime soon, the obsidian acolyte didn’t like the idea of being outdone in power. In splendor. Meditation, contemplation, and desire led him in acquiring a new spell. A devastating spell to match his want. One he hadn’t had an opportunity to cast yet. Until now.

The words burned in his mind and escaped sweetly off his tongue.

“A Thousand Stars Shine,

Brightly Brilliant Is Their Light,

High Above Singing Sweetly,

To Every Eye A Wondrous Sight,

And Yet,

All Beauty Does End,

Even The Stars Die,

Woe To All of Us,

When Starlight Fails,

Starfire Rain!”

Violet light burst into life around Damian. His staff shone like the heart of a star. Waves of electricity the same color as his Mana boiled from the socketed crystals. Hundreds of energy orbs came into being above him before streaking like comets in an arc towards the Ratsins. The violet stars flashed and sang in single notes, both in thousands of variations. A symphony and light show

They soared through the air and fell explosively upon the watching monster. Their horrible eyes were caught in a daze by the brilliant light. Domes of violet energy grew rapidly from their points of impact. Flesh seared and the rat thing screamed as they cooked. The thick energy pinning them in place. Blanketing the blue with violet.

When each expanded to the size of a Ratsin, the light shattered like glass. Rising upwards in a great swarm of arcane shards. Half dropped back down to skewer the scorched remains of the beasts. The few that may have survived, now were certainly dead as the pieces sheared through them into the stone below. The rest swirled like a great storm before invading the pitted stone walls. The death screams of rat things echoed out to them.

Damian looked upon the results of his works and decided he was satisfied. His eyes flickered to the unused field of orbs. Causally, he struck the staff upon the ground to call them back. The violet balls lost cohesion and flowed smoothly into the Mana crystals. Turning back to the Sixty brought their shocked faces into his vision. A grin unbeckoned bloomed to full life at the sight.

It is good to do things well, but a pleasure to show your friends, he thought at the sight. The obsidian acolyte marveled, his head swiveling back and forth to take it all in. Finally, Damian realized someone needed to break the silence.

“Many of you worried about your lives, but you came out anyway, on your courage alone,” called out Damian, his grin still bright. “I wanted to show you how strong we are. How smart! I did that alone, now imagine what we can do together! Together and led by Malachi. Let us be cautious, but not forget we are strong!” The cheers came then, and naturally, their chanted battle cry followed.

“Rise for the sky!”

“Rise for the sky!!”

“Rise for the sky!!!”

“RISE FOR THE SKY!!!”

When Damian joined the crowd, he endured the pats on the back, but his attention was on finding Anastasia. To see if she was feeling better. Malachi found him first. They pulled the two of them into a huddle before anyone else could whisk the obsidian acolyte away. The shadow was gone from the one-arm man’s eyes. A new light was shining.

“Damian, my friend, will wonders never cease with you?” roared Malachi. “I certainly hope not! Allow me a moment to ask the question a leader must, how many more times could you cast that again?”

“Today?” he asked and got a nod in return. The obsidian acolyte considered his fortitude and the staff’s, silently. “Once more easily, but maybe twice… though I would be done for the rest of the day. Please remember that it takes time to set up. I can’t cast it easily.”

“Don’t worry!” exclaimed sword acolyte. “That you can do again at all is a wonder! A marvelous one! Now, go there and enjoy the praise before I ruin it with the necessities.”

They shared a grin before parting. Malachi went to make sure everything was holding together and Damian went searching for Anastasia. It was hard work, as he was often waylaid by someone else wanting to express their admiration.

Today is a good day, thought Damian, surrounded by so many he could call friends. It was a new experience, but one that could never get old.