Within the Maldon thicket...
" Captain how long till we arrive?" A chubby teenage soldier dressed in light weight armor was panting heavily as he sat on a tree trunk. From a few meters ahead, " We will be there in two days." A grunt voice of frustration came from a man kneeling on the ground, grabbing a patch of shrubs.
" Why can't the baron just buy his bastard son a communication crystal?" The man complained at the great injustice.
" A communication crystal? That's funny, those cost about a 1000 gold for the lowest quality. No way he is spending that much for a bastard son." The captain chuckled a his short beard ruffled against the wind.
" Ready the horses, we have to deliver the baron's letter to the young lord. Lets hurry, we must be there within 2 days." The captain stood as he observed the path that stretched through the thicket, it was only wide enough for 2 horses. It was one of the paths spread about in the Maldon thicket, the various paths were used by merchants to avoid going around the thicket entirely.
But it was not uncommon to attacked by monsters that lived in the wilds.
In Rosewood village...
Less people we moving about, their actions hurried as a tense mood enveloped the village. Rations were flying of shelves as soldiers prepared for the expedition. The pastor stationed at the village much like Rodrick was vexed about the developing situation. With great efforts they had gathered information however it would take a while for the emerald light brigade to arrive.
The emerald light brigade was the church of Minthes' main force other than the eradication squads that enforced their beliefs. They were split into many smaller units however they were only stationed in cities like Liberia.
Nathaniel sat in his room. He was currently going over his status.
[ Name: Maxwell Beaufort
Age: 36
Rank: Mage apprentice(II)
Mana: 160
Mana recovery: 6 mana/hr
Strength: 31
Agility: 23
Endurance: 54%
Affinities: Ice (96%), Wind (89%), Lightning ( 91%)....(unknown 79%)
Spells: Ice lance, Ice spear, ice shield, ice shards, wind blade, wind barrier
Static domain, petals of life, parallel mind.
skills: Sword mastery( 55%), Tracking( 67%)]
Nathaniel analyzed this and began planning, many of the limits placed before no longer applied.
Taking his armor, he went to the guild. Taking an extermination mission he set off for the wilderness.
If mana defined the quality of a magician then endurance was the basis of a magician's power. The mana circles of magicians housed incredibly pure mana that strained the body such that if used carelessly one would die from the drawbacks of a spell.
With a endurance of 54% he could cast tier 2 spells, 1% shy of tier 3. So now he had get used to his new power, he had spent almost half a year fighting as a warrior.
He was sure to rank up to third rank magic apprentice before the sun set. From another perspective his ability to cast tier 2 spells as rank 2 magic apprentice was exceptional.
" Sense presence." Expanding his mana, he set off as a staff appeared in his right hand, it was one of the artifacts from Arneth's loot. An enchanted staff that amplified ice magic spells.
" Ice shards." Casting rapidly he sidestepped afterwards as kobold arrows "Swish." hit the ground, " Krrkykk!" enraged screams came from as a swarm of kobolds with wooden spears rushed at him.
Tapping the staff on the ground, " Frost spikes!" An arrow drew blood on his cheek before impaling the ground, spikes made from ice launched in every direction clashing with wooden spears mid-air.
"Try this." Winds blades and ice shards appeared on his left and right, he shot them out like a gatling gun.
There after...
" Double casting; crystal blades!" Two magic circles fused as crescent shaped crystal blades shot out from all directions.
A few minutes later...
" Haa-mmph-haa" taking heavy beaths his eyes lay witness to the destruction. Tens of kobold bodied lay lifeless if not turned inro porcupines by the frost spikes then dismembered by the crystal blades.
" Ice magic; static domain!" "Boom!" The wind ruffled intensely as frost instantaneously spread around Nathaniel covering the trunks of the trees within a 20 meter diameter circle . The bodies of kobolds buried underneath layers of ice. Sharp cold winds spread.
" Idiot." He cursed, " The corpses are ruined now." Taking a look once more, he set off. Checking his status he had used up about 65% of his mana. He wanted to push himself further.
He paid no mind to those that might have been following him, their greed could only grow deeper making their desperation overwhelm their self control. In such a three way deadlock he was a chess piece everybody desired yet the kept each other in line.
He would exploit it, he spent the afternoon hunting in the forest. As the sun over the horizon, Nathaniel walked out of the thicket, he was tired. He had used magic over 5 hours continuously. He had finally reached the third rank of magic apprentice. What awaited him was finally becoming a full fledged magician.
' I can finally grow stronger.' He thought. He had put in the effort when serving in the army however not all those that had slave crests were nurtured equally.
There were naturally some amongst human more talented than others be it either in magic or becoming a warrior. He was one of the ones deemed untalented thus the resources given to him was negligible. He had to fight for resources in the academy, rather than an academy it was a poison jar, where they were the poisonous insects.
A great magician was one who could depending on the situation change any spell structure to fit his needs. His aim was to get the magic spell for the summoning ritual, then change the structure and return. It was better and faster than developing his own.
Returning to the inn, " Its time to leave." Rose appeared and immediately wrapped Nathaniel in a cloak of darkness as they left the sleeping village.
3 hours later...
Standing amidst the thicket of trees, " Reach master magician before three years or else." Leaving those words Rose set off.
Amidst her return within her conscious, 'Your late! Finish your task Rose lest you suffer my wrath!' Rose stopped atop a branch kneeling. " Master, forgive me I had thought this seed would be of some use to you. Though he is weak his demise shall pave a path in your conquest." Rose said bowing her head further.
' While I admit this is a rare opportunity, his feeble kind are not worthy. Finish your tasks. Black Aegis is already marching towards this kingdom. Less excuses more results.'
" I am glad you have awoken. Sealing the space surrounding the planet must have been laborious. I will be done in a day Master." Sweat from her face nestled on atop the leaves of shrubs. ' Don't disappoint me.' Archmage Linnaeus's voice vanished.
Rose stood up setting her sight on the village, it was time to move. She could no longer delay but she felt Nathaniel was a worthwhile investment.
Some lights in the village burned their last tonight.