Just because I wasn't allowed to use magic for a few more days didn't an I couldn't talk about it. I was actually only intending to do so indirectly anyway, as Izzy had ntioned sothing about her class abilities that confused . We agreed to et up together with Tylissa and Jero, since Tylissa was going to be training with her regardless. Besides, I wanted to see them again after the whole incident.
That was how we found ourselves eting up on an empty basketball court near their apartnt. It wasn't exactly private but it was the only place that had space to move around. Their apartnt certainly didn't- nor did mine, not on the level a scout needed. When I got there Tylissa was running, a pretty boring form of exercise if useful. As she got to either end of the court she would swivel around the base of the hoop, either using pure footwork or hooking an elbow around it. She didn't slow down either way, but she stumbled a bit sotis.
Around the ti I was actually stepping into the fenced area, she tumbled to the ground. She grumbled in annoyance, then growled. Her fingernails began to take the shape of claws for a mont before she got control of herself and climbed to her feet. I'd already given them what information I had on lycanthropes, but I had to admit it was incomplete. Mainly, they'd have to stay careful at or near the full moon.
"Don't worry," Izzy said from her position nearby. "You're getting better, you just have to keep working at it." She noticed open the gate, even though it barely squeaked. "There you are Turlough. We were just getting in so quick training," she gestured towards Jero who was still jogging back and forth.
"I don't think…" Jero huffed and puffed, "Mages are supposed to… have to run."
"That's where you're wrong," I disagreed. "That's one physical activity you absolutely need to be proficient in. Unless you plan to stand still and let people hit you."
Jero stopped next to , taking deep breaths. "I… suppose." He didn't actually sound like he was complaining that much. Just the normal amount for people currently undergoing exercise.
"You had so questions, Turlough?" Izzy asked.
"I have so many questions," I agreed. "For you specifically, however, there was one main thing. You ntioned training improving your abilities, including the ones you had before coming to this world."
"That's right," Izzy said.
"What do you an by that?"
"The normal thing?" she tilted her head. "They increased in ranks. 1, 2, and so on."
"Is that normal?"
"I'm pretty sure all classes work that way, right?"
"I ant, the training thing. Did it work that way before you arrived in this world?"
She shook her head, at least confirming sothing for . "Nope. I obviously got better at using things outside of the increased ranks and stuff with training- just like your Firebolts don't aim themselves just because you spent points on them. It only began when I got here."
"Did you learn anything new? I learned a new spell without spending points on it. Two and a half, maybe."
"How can you learn half a spell?" Izzy asked.
"I learned a spell and then it beca part of another thing," I said. "Light and Dancing Lights beca part of Basic Light Magic."
"I have to say," Izzy admitted. "Those nas would be super confusing together anyway. It's probably better."
"Yeah," I agreed. "But its not normal. Anyway, when I pull up my status window to look at things, all of the stuff I've learned since coming here is put after 'remaining points', whether it was the actual spells or weird abilities. And depending on how I spent points it locked combo spells to either side."
"Uhh…" Jero said, waving his hand around in front of him weirdly.
"Didn't I already tell you all this?" I asked him.
"Yeah, you did. Go on…" he said while squinting.
Weird. Maybe he wasn't a morning person. "Anyway," I shrugged. "That's how things have been working for ."
"That makes no sense," Izzy admitted.
"But you agree with that training shouldn't improve these abilities?" I asked.
"Shouldn't?" Izzy frowned, "Not sure about that. Didn't, for sure. That was just how things were. But here, training helps."
"... Mine are also before 'remaining points', is that weird?" Jero said. "Is 36 a lot or a little?"
"That's the total for level 8," I said. "Also what?" Sothing was wrong with what he said, but I couldn't quite place my finger on it. Jero was clearly not fully sure himself, a confused look on his face.
"Uh, mom?" he asked. "Could you co over here?"
"What is it?" Tylissa only took a few steps to reach us.
"Can you see this?" Jero waved his hand.
"See what?"
"You'd know. What if you, um… try to imagine a status window that has all of the things Izzy has been teaching you?"
"A status window?" Tylissa frowned.
"Cmon mom, you have to have played at least a few RPGs."
"I haven't had ti for gas since… lately," she said with a sigh. "But yeah, I saw a couple and- WHAT IS THAT?" She suddenly exclaid.
"A status window, I presu," Jero said. Then he turned to . "Just to be clear, I definitely thought about this when you were first teaching , and after I first cast a spell. Didn't happen at all."
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"So now you see status windows?" Izzy interjected, drawing our attention down towards her.
Oh, that would explain why he had been pawing at the air in front of him, confused.
"I had one since I bonded to Turlough," Midnight added. "But that should be… normal?"
"Maybe," I said. Most familiars were normal animals that were then magically enhanced. I wasn't sure if they had the right thought process to even bring up such a window, though I heard so of them got very intelligent given ti.
I nodded with confidence, "I think it's safe to assu a couple things. First, that portal went to our forr world, or one with the sa chanics, and you two got the ability to do that upon actually setting foot there."
"And for so reason," Izzy said. "We got the ability to train our abilities from coming here."
"Exactly," I said. "Except we have a weird divergence, because that is not how things work. Sure, I can accept this weird Mana Crystal Deposition thing growing on its own, and the other things but…" I frowned, finding it difficult to articulate my point. "Neither of the actual spells I learned have improved through training and it just doesn't make sense for anything to do that. That's now how things work."
"Have you practiced either of those spells?" Midnight asked.
I shrugged, "Water Breathing is kinda… specific? We've used Locate Object though."
"A couple tis," Midnight pointed out, tapping on the head with his paw.
"... A couple tis," I nodded. "Maybe not enough to be called practice. But it still doesn't make sense. Things don't just improve with training."
"Sure they do," Izzy said. "Like um… you got better at reading, didn't you?"
"That's not a spell," I retorted.
"You got stronger from exercise," Izzy said. "Even back in our world."
"Well, sure," I said. "But that's different. People can't spend points on muscle strength."
"Turlough…" Izzy sighed, "I know you aren't fond of barbarians, but what do you think they spend their class points on?"
"... Rage and damage reduction?" I postulated. Most of their features weren't relevant to mages, except the latter if we chose to fling rocks at them.
"Well, yes," Izzy admitted. "But also strength in general."
"But wait… you agreed with that training doesn't improve class abilities in our world. Not rank wise, at least. So how can they do that?"
"Uh… maybe that example doesn't make sense," she frowned. "Also can we go sit down or sothing so I don't have to crane my neck so much?"
We did that, with my back against the fence, Jero across from , and the two girls on either side. Midnight remained on my shoulder. Our height differences were still apparent with Izzy being only three feet tall, more or less, but while the proportions remained the sa the actual nurical difference was lowered.
"So," Izzy said, "My point might not quite work like I wanted, but maybe your stuff doesn't work like mine because you're… uh…"
"I'm what?" I asked sincerely.
Izzy remained silent for the mont, so Midnight took over. "Stubborn," he supplied. "Unwilling to believe sothing works a certain way."
"I can change my opinion on things!" I said.
"Sotis," Midnight admitted. "But you require proof. You were quite convinced that this was how things functioned, so it would not be strange if you ntally limited your improvents."
"That's… dumb," I said. "It's probably a mage thing."
Jero interjected again, "My window looks more like what she described," he pointed to Izzy.
"Yeah but… that's not… how… it works…" I said. My eye twitched. Sothing snapped inside my head. Warmth trickled onto my upper lip, confird to be blood as I wiped it away. Had I accidentally used magic? I still had a bunch of garbage crystal buildup inside .
"Are you alright?" Izzy asked with worry. "That doesn't look good."
"I'm not sure if I'm ever alright sotis," I admitted. "So if I were to believe you, theoretically, we could spend points on things and improve everything with training? I'm also still wrapping my head around the fact that portal powers beca proper classes upon passing through one of the portals. Though that makes the most sense because classes are normal."
"Maybe for you," Jero retorted. "Most of us only have to think about normal powers." He grinned, and I grinned back.
"Fair enough," I shrugged. "Anyway, I suppose maybe things could work that way… with the weirdness of New Bay and this world." I concentrated for a mont to bring up my status window, looking it over. "... I might be bad at understanding my powers."
Turlough (No surna)
Level: 25
Experience: 1738/1755
Storage 3
Firebolt 3
Shocking Grasp 3
Grease 2
Force Armor 6
Mage's Reach 2
Translation 1
Haste 4
Disguise
Familiar Bond 3
Enlarge 2
Energy Ward 3
Sonic Lance 2
Scrying
Shield 1
Stoneskin 1
Mana Crystal Deposition 2
Water Breathing
Variable Freedom 2
Basic Light Magic 2
Locate Object
Alter Portal 1
Gate
Remaining Points: 3
There it was, looking like it had always been that way, with everything in the order I had learned it. It was kind of a ss, actually. Just a big pile of spells and… skills? Abilities? Class Features? I supposed Izzy and most classes didn't have any spells, but mages didn't normally have class features to spend points on either. Or maybe it was hidden knowledge.
For people who really liked learning, we were either really bad at it or bad at sharing or… evil and greedy. Or maybe so of these things really didn't exist in my world, but I knew there had to be so secrets. I had so many things to do once I was allowed to use magic again.
"Well," I said, looking at Izzy. "You were right. Though I have the feeling there's more about this for each of us to discover." I sighed, looking at so of the numbers.
"What's wrong?" Izzy asked.
"I'm 17 experience short of a level and I can't use magic," I explained.
Izzy stood up, which brought her to basically eye level with . She cracked her knuckles. "Is that so? I might be able to help fix one of those problems, at least."
A wave of nostalgia hit . Her face… well, she'd definitely aged sowhat since I was a kid, but I knew that grin well. I instinctively got to my feet. Then I took a proper stance.
Midnight interrupted. "I'm not sure if this is a good idea," he said, looking between and Izzy. "Seems a bit… unfair?"
I used one hand to pat him on the head and then lifted him down to the ground with it. "I know," I agreed. "But that makes it better experience. Though if you'd like to use Force Armor on us so I don't get hurt, I'd appreciate it."
"I guess I can't stop you," he rolled his eyes then began to gather mana. Midnight took a mont to complete the spell- because it was a higher rank than Familiar Bond, I usually used it on the two of us for the efficiency and power improvents. He ford one for the two of us, and another around Izzy. "Go ahead and punch each other, or whatever."
And we would.
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