Alex woke slowly, his room dark from heavy curtains drawn across the windows. As consciousness returned, so did mories of the previous night.
Olivia had spent the evening with him, and her departure had felt bittersweet. She'd stayed late, making sure the System had truly healed him from his ordeal. Though he'd wanted her to stay, they knew she needed to return to her apartnt and pack for her overseas trip.
It grated on his nerves to think of her working alongside Rylan. While he understood the mission's importance, the thought of soone like Rylan representing the Guild irritated him.
Alex briefly considered staying in bed, claiming that he needed to rest. He knew it wasn't true, though; the System had perfectly healed both his body and mind. With a sigh, Alex pushed himself out of bed and walked over to his closet to put on a pair of sweats.
Once dressed, he headed downstairs. As he passed his office door, Valtherion heard him and slipped off his perch on the cat tree to follow. Another realization didn't quite hit him until he reached for the coffee pot and registered that the kitchen was also quiet. By this ti of the morning, Mark would normally have been awake and sitting at the kitchen counter.
Instead, his large friend was prepping to leave later that afternoon to et up with another team. The absence of Mark's friendly morning chatter seed to dampen the mood even further.
After a few minutes, the rich sll of coffee filled the air, and Alex reached into his pocket to feel the amulet that the System had given him the day before. He had tried several tis with Olivia to test different activation thods or attempt to get the golden item to interact with them in so way.
They tried different things, ranging from him putting it over his head to infusing mana into it, and nothing seed to work. He rubbed his thumb across the surface and idly sipped on his cup of coffee as he looked through the glass wall and into the courtyard.
Through the window, he spotted Sam working diligently in his garden despite the cold weather. The sight of the young healer brought a pang of guilt to his chest. Sam seed to be keeping his distance, and Alex couldn't help but wonder if the teenager was upset about the way things had gone in his attempt to combine the two skills. The mory of Sam's tears resurfaced, and Alex wasn't sure if Sam was angry at him or blaming himself for thinking that he hadn’t healed Alex well enough. He made a ntal note to talk to Sam later to reassure him he had done more than enough.
He continued to sip his coffee and inspect the amulet’s surface. Setting the mug down, he angled his body so that the surface of the item would catch the morning light coming into the courtyard window. Upon closer inspection, he could see dozens of very small and intricately carved runes etched into the surface of the pendant.
Alex sighed as he thought about what he'd recently gone through. Losing his [Ritual Insight] skill felt like a major setback for his magical abilities. He now understood what Eura ant about the dangers of depending too much on structured magic. Without the skill's ability to instantly give him knowledge, learning and changing rituals would now take much longer. He would have to study and test things the traditional way, slowly, and be careful to stay safe while doing it.
Did Eura know that skills could be taken away? Is that why he encouraged to go down the route that he did?
Frustration bubbled up as he considered the implications of losing the skill. He had made a big push with the effort to combine the use of his [Ritual Insight] and the Heavenly Eye, hoping that the two together would allow him to push his progress further and faster. The result, though, seed to be the exact opposite. Feelings of inadequacy began to creep back in as he felt like he’d taken one step forward, only to take two steps back.
But, as he looked around his new and lavish kitchen and down at his old coffee mug holding what used to be his morning lifeline, he felt the stubborn bit of determination push down on that frustration. Even in this situation, Alex refused to entertain the idea that he was hopeless. Instead, he focused his thoughts on the Runic Apprentice Amulet.
If I can unlock the secrets, it could be the key to learning the last bit I need to use runes and rituals together.
This brought him back to the dilemma he'd encountered the previous night. The amulet didn't appear to work, and he was determined to find a way to make it function.
He downed the last bit of his coffee and set the empty mug in the wide double sink. Alex imagined finding a way later that afternoon to use the training item and becoming skilled with runes, combining the two kinds of magic, and solving all of his problems. He may have lost a powerful skill, but in its place, he felt he may have gained an opportunity to create sothing unique.
As he moved from the kitchen, Alex scratched the top of Valtherion's head.
"What are you going to do, buddy?"
"I go friend!" Valtherion said before twitching his wings back and forth and giving a single powerful downward push to lift off into the air from his coil on the counter.
He's getting much better at using subjects in sentences. It's going to be crazy that soon he'll be speaking full thoughts. God help us all.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he activated [Feather Step] and, in a single stride, was at the top. He knocked on Mark's door as he heard grunts of exertion coming from the other side.
The sounds went quiet, and Alex stood patiently for several long monts before the door opened.
"What's up, dude?" Mark asked as he casually leaned against the doorway with his arm at head height.
Alex grinned, as it was obvious that Mark was attempting to block as much of the view to the room beyond as he could. "Just wanted to see how your preparations are going. Need help with anything?"
"Not unless you have a larger spatial bag for ."
Alex bent forward at the waist to look under Mark's raised arm and spotted an enormously over-packed rucksack on the bed. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he spotted the old, worn-out military-issued bag. "Well… glad you're at least preparing? Did you already fill up your pouch?"
"Well, yeah. It's got all my food in there. It's amazing that stuff doesn't spoil inside the pouch." Mark scratched the back of his head.
There was a mont of silence as Alex just stared at Mark, waiting for him to list more items that were taking up space in his spatial bag. When they just stood there staring at each other, and he realized Mark would not say any other items because there weren't any other items but food in the bag, Alex covered his face with his hand and laughed while shaking his head.
"Never change, Mark. Never change." Mark gave him a grin that stretched from ear to ear, and Alex waved while heading to his office. "I'm going to try and figure out how to get this amulet to work. Be safe out there, dude. It still makes a little nervous that Sam and I won't be there to watch your back."
Mark waved his hand dismissively and puffed out his chest. "Nah, don't worry about it. You gotta let stretch out my wings! Plus, this party I’m joining is already pretty good. Devon and three people in his party already have their class. They just need a tank. Just you wait. When you see in a few days, it'll be asking you to take a look at my class options with instead of Sam!"
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"I have no doubt! Make sure you say bye to Gabby on your way out," Alex said.
Alex moved to his desk and sat down in the comfortable chair behind it. Holding the amulet in his hand, he used [Mana Infusion] to pulse mana into the runic necklace. Just as before, nothing changed. There were no outward signs of change, and Alex couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. From what he understood about runes and enchantnts, all that was needed was to add mana, and he felt the sa should be true for an item such as this.
Tentatively, Alex activated his Heavenly Eye and attempted to use the scan function once again. As soon as he began to feel the sharp pain in his head, he abruptly ended the skill.
In frustration, he tossed the amulet onto his desk and leaned back in his chair.
There was a firm knock on his door, and Edwin stepped into the office. "Master Moore?" The butler put his arms behind his back and nodded his head respectfully. "Is everything all right?"
"I'm fine, Edwin. Just trying to figure out this amulet." An idea struck him then. "Did you happen to get any of those extra skills we were talking about?" When Edwin nodded in the affirmative, Alex's mood brightened. "Did you happen to get an analyze or scan skill?"
"Indeed, I did," Edwin replied. "I felt the various utility skills could greatly aid in my duties. Having the ability to scan not only items but potential guests arriving at the door seed like a worthwhile use of funding."
Alex nodded and waved his hand. "I wasn’t concerned about the funding. But I am impressed that you're thinking of this in such a practical way. I haven't been really thinking about my empty skill slots, but they're sort of just dead weight if they're not filled. Since we know that it's easy to replace one skill with another, I don't see a reason for us not to at least try and fill up everyone's skill slots with things that are potentially useful. Even if it's sothing a little more mundane or just for convenience. The longer-term goal, though, is going to be to find a way to do everything without the skills. For now, they can act as a crutch and a stepping stone, like Eura said…"
Alex reached over and grabbed one of his notebooks from the corner of his desk that he used to take down random notes and to-do items.
After scribbling down a quick reminder, he looked back up at the older man. "We should look into getting you and Gabby so more utility skills. Or at least I could get a list from each of you on what you might want to get to help you out." Alex thought on it for a mont and realized that he was potentially talking about directing sothing that should be extrely personal and might shape a person's future. "Oh, sorry, Edwin. Just putting the offer out there; there's no pressure for either of you to accept. You're more than welco to fill up your skill slots however you like; I know that you have a life outside of work."
Edwin raised an eyebrow, “Master Moore, I would encourage you to take more command of a situation like this. Both Gabby and I are full-ti and live-in employees. While it is generous of you not to want to control our every step of progress, it would greatly hinder my abilities if I were to take you up on your offer and get skills unrelated to my duties. After all, the reason that we were hired and Awakened was to serve the job. For us both, this is a passion and a way of life.”
Alex pursed his lips and pushed them to the side. “I get what you’re saying… I wouldn’t want you to go and get skills completely unrelated. I just don’t feel comfortable directing that for you, though. Let think on it so more. I guess the only reason I’d feel okay with it is the sa reason I just ntioned. If I have you get skills for the job that you don’t like long term, it should be very easy to switch them out to sothing that you’d like.”
Edwin didn’t say anything further, but Alex thought he saw the man’s brow tense slightly.
“Don’t worry. There’s got to be so sort of middle ground we can find that makes sense. For now, though, do you think you could use your scan ability on this? I'm still having so strain after yesterday."
It only took a few monts for Edwin to scan the item and share the screen with Alex.
D Rank Item - The Runic Apprentice
Rarity: Epic
Type: Spirit-tool: Amulet
Hmm, I wonder how a spirit item differs from a normal item.
"Have you heard of anything like this? I haven't seen a spirit item yet."
"Indeed, I have, Master Moore. Give a mont, and I will retrieve the articles we have printed off for our on-premises files." After Alex nodded, Edwin smoothly stepped out of the room.
Alex could hear his shoes clicking on the wooden flooring of the hallway. He could feel his excitent beginning to build, and he hoped that the article Edwin had saved contained instructions for how to activate the item. As he waited, he felt his phone vibrate and pulled it out to see several texts from the last two days.
He had texts from John Riley, Ian, and Elana asking about him and the fight at the Guild event. He couldn't suppress a smile and felt so of the earlier feelings of isolation begin to flee. He responded to each of them quickly, giving an affirmation that he was all right and there were no more issues. It was good to rember that there were more people who knew him and cared about his well-being outside of his small bubble.
Edwin returned with two small packets of paper and laid them out, side-by-side, on the desk in front of Alex.
"Thanks, Edwin."
"Of course, sir. I should also inform you that the contractors should be finished with the workshop in the next few hours. Did you still want to reach out to Miss Voss to inquire about enchanters?"
Alex gave it a mont of thought before shaking his head. "No, thank you. I think I'll give Evan a call in the next day or so and see what the two of us can do." He held up his hand with the amulet. "Besides, I'm hoping that this will push my learning ahead by a good margin and I can do so of it myself."
"Very well." Edwin nodded once more before walking back out into the hallway.
Alex quickly read through both articles, his eyes widening as he absorbed the information. Spirit items weren't rely enchanted objects. They contained varying levels of spiritual consciousness. The first article explained so items housed simple spirits that guided their functions, creating semi-autonomous tools. The rarer and more powerful spirit items, however, could contain fully sentient beings.
There could be an actual person in there?
Alex stared at the amulet with newfound interest. The System had called it a training item, but this opened up entirely new possibilities. If this was one of the rarer types with a sentient spirit, he wouldn't just have a tool… he'd have an actual ntor.
According to the articles, spirit items differed from normal items in just two major ways. They were both more resilient to damage, and they required significantly more mana to rouse the spirit from slumber.
Is it really that easy to wake it up? Just… more mana? How much more mana?
Alex focused once more on the pendant and used [Mana Infusion]. This ti, instead of a pulse, he poured his mana into it. He took his full mana pool of just over 700 points and steadily pushed it until he felt just at the edge of a headache, putting almost 500 total mana points into the amulet.
Alex frowned down at the small bit of tal.
Alright, ga on.
Valtherion, can you co up here, buddy?
Alex sent the thought toward his companion and felt feelings of affirmation co back through their bond. It took less than a minute for Valtherion to enter the office and wrap himself around Alex's shoulders.
"I need your help. Can you give your mana? I need to keep putting it into this necklace here," Alex said as he held up the item for his companion to see. "I'll let you pick between a cookie or so mana if you're able to help wake the spirit up. What do you think?"
"Where Alex mana? Why Val mana?"
"I'm all out! I need you to help . You have the best mana!" Alex scratched the top of his companion's scaly head, hoping that the complints would help.
"Yes. Val mana is the best mana. I help."
Alex was stunned to see the little beast nod its head up and down and send through feelings of smug satisfaction. Pleased with the help he was getting, Alex just shook his head and gave a short laugh.
As the mana flowed into him, Alex continued to channel mana into the amulet. He thought idly on what sort of spirit might be contained within the necklace and what sort of training it might offer him. Originally, he thought it would just be so sort of book set or tool, but the fact that it was a spirit item ant he could potentially have a sentient ntor, which would be unbelievable.
It took close to five minutes of constantly infusing his mana into the amulet before Valtherion was tapped out. His small, serpent-like head drooped down as if exhausted.
"Oh, co on, you're done already? Let's go get you a cookie and let you recover so of your mana. When we're both back to full, we'll go at it again!"
“How much cookies?”
“You’re ridiculous. You can have one cookie for each ti we spend your mana and then a Mana Stone when we’re finished.”
Val’s head popped up, and he fluttered his wings excitedly. From his spot on Alex’s shoulder, that ant Alex got slapped in the back of the head twice before hunching his shoulders and ducking his head, forcing the amphiptere to get off his shoulders and fly the rest of the way to the kitchen.
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