They didn't get far.
Barely an hour after leaving the ruins, Julian, Lira, and Blobby found themselves crouched behind a rock outcropping, watching three armed men blocking the forest trail. All wore dark cloaks stitched with a strange sigil: a cracked eye over a burning tree.
Julian whispered, "Are those cultists? They *look* like cultists."
[Statistically: 89% chance they're cultists. 10% bounty hunters. 1% extremely committed theater troupe.]
Lira narrowed her eyes. "They're waiting. For us."
"Because of the scroll?"
[Yes. The trap broadcasted a magical pulse. Think of it as a flare that said, "Hey, someone dumb enough just stole the brain bomb."]
"Great," Julian muttered. "Any chance we sneak around them?"
One of the cultists suddenly turned, sniffed the air, and said, "They're close. I can smell the magic on the wind."
Julian groaned. "And of course, they have a nose mage."
[Highly illegal. Also creepy.]
The trio began spreading out.
Lira whispered, "We'll have to fight. But I don't think they know where we are yet."
Julian's grip tightened on his spoon. "I've never actually... you know. *Killed* anyone."
Lira didn't say anything.
Julian turned to her. "You have?"
She nodded slowly. "It's different every time. But the first... it never really leaves."
Julian swallowed hard. "Cool. Motivational speech received. Let's go, I guess."
They moved quickly—Lira veering left to flank while Julian stayed low. Blobby, sensing tension, hid inside his pouch without protest.
One of the cultists stepped closer. Julian waited. When the man passed by, Julian jumped up and fired a Mind Pulse straight to the back of his head.
The cultist collapsed without a sound.
Julian blinked. "Did... I just one-shot him?"
[Unconscious. Not dead. But yes. Brain magic bypasses armor.]
"I like this class."
Another cultist spotted him. "There!"
Julian ducked as a blast of dark fire scorched the tree beside him. Lira hurled a fireball in return, forcing the second cultist to dive aside.
Julian's cloak flared out, protecting his side from a sudden slash by the third one.
Julian stumbled back, heart racing, and the attacker lunged again.
He reacted without thinking—focusing his fear into a sharp mental blade and releasing it.
The man froze mid-lunge. Eyes wide. Then fell.
Julian didn't move. Didn't breathe. Just stared.
Lira was at his side in an instant, hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?"
"I... I think so."
[You performed a focused neurological rupture. Clean. Efficient. And terrifying.]
"Thanks."
[That was a compliment.]
Julian looked down at the body.
Then looked away.
"It doesn't feel like the games."
"No," Lira said. "It never does."
They regrouped, dragging the cultists into the brush. Two were alive but unconscious. One wasn't.
Julian sat down beside a tree, breathing hard.
"I didn't want to do that."
[No one sane ever does. But you survived.]
He looked up. "How do you handle it?"
[..I'm not programmed to.]
Lira handed him a waterskin. "They were going to kill us."
"I know," Julian said. "It still sucks."
Blobby squished out of the pouch and curled next to him, like a warm blob of comfort.
Julian sighed. "I'm officially a Brain Mage now. With body count."
[Level up earned.]
He blinked. "Wait, really?"
[Check your stats.]
He did. A faint glow pulsed across his spoon, and a small window blinked in his mind:
**Mind Mage – Level 2 Unlocked**
* New Skill: *Neural Lock* – Temporarily disables target's motor function.
* Mana Capacity increased.
* Mental resistance increased slightly.
-
Julian sat quietly, then smiled a little. "Still hate this, but... kinda cool."
[Welcome to the world of consequences and upgrades.]
He stood, dusted himself off, and looked at Lira.
"Let's move. Before more sniffing weirdos show up."
She nodded. "To the next town?"
Julian glanced toward the setting sun.
"No. Let's find someone who knows what this scroll really is. Someone *not* trying to kill us."
[You'll need allies. And luck.]
"I've got a talking slime, a magic cloak, and you.
That's like... three problems and a prayer."
[Good odds.]