[Mission: Mephit Extermination
Grade: F
Description: A group of Ice Mephits are impeding the trade between two cities!.
Conditions: Extermination: Kill all enemies within the time limit
Success: +.2 bonus attribute, 5,000 Gold
Failure: -.25 random stat, -4,000 Gold]
! Kill the Ice Mephits within 5 minutes using fire to receive Item: Flame Rune - Grade: D]
'It mentioned I got a bonus attribute before, but I have no idea what it means. I can only assume I get to choose, and I have an idea, but I need Shock to work, so I need more intelligence.'
. . .
"Welcome back to the library! Is there anything you're looking for?"
"Anything on the most beginner magic and Ice Mephits."
"Ice Mephits are a rarity, so I can't promise anything on those, but beginner magic is definitely possible."
Ice Mephits: An Ice and Water Elemental
- Flying creature, like a large bat
- No physical body, only ice held together by magic, though physical attacks work
- No harvestable materials
- Weak to fire
- Small stature, flight, swarming numbers
'I can't say that's really all that useful, only confirming what I already assumed.'
Sirus had more time left after reading the short entry, so he started to read about the use of magic. To make it at all easier, he added all his bonus stats to intelligence.
[Bonus stat allocated: +.45 intelligence]
Learning magic is a series of walls to pass over, the biggest likely being the first for those without an affinity. The primary way to start is finding a good location: Any quiet place where a lot of magic is, or little is used, so mana has a chance to acclimate in higher densities. Meditation is difficult, but widely considered the best choice.
Breathe in deep, trying to fill the lowest part of your body all the way to the top, like a bottle of water. Relax as much as you can. Even if you don't feel anything happening, imagine yourself being permeable, allowing little particles into your body. Mana typically gathers around the heart, and once it gets to that point, it should be easy enough to move some of what gathered around. Before immediately trying spells, try to ensure positive flow.'
'As boring as that sounds, at least it's smart enough to know exactly what I was planning on doing.'
Sirus left the library, and made his way towards the cemetery.
'I don't know if there's dead people mana here or something, but it's definitely quiet, and there's nobody here using magic.'
Despite his bullish disposition, Sirus thought this was a necessary step to take, and dedicated his day to it.
When night came, Sirus left to eat, but soon returned to his same spot. The day after, he continued the same routine: meditating, leaving, eating, returning, sleeping, meditating.
After 3 days, there was a substantial enough result. Sirus closed his eyes, and imagined himself moving his consciousness down towards his heart, and he could see it. A small blue ball of flame, burning in a vast black void. Rainbows of particles flow into it from above, and out from above. The point had been reached where the input was greater than the output at a substantial enough level to start visibly growing the heart.
These particles flowed out, going down both appendages to their respective ends, where they grouped into the form of a bolt.
Sirus' eyes bolted open as sounds like tasers appeared before him, but was soon relieved at his own success.
[Registered Skill: Shock]
[You will gain more precise control of registered skills]
'God damn finally.'
After that point, the cantrip came to him easily, practically on command, which ensured he was right before. In the other parts of the magic book he had read before, there were teachings on cantrips, including all of the ones he had seen sold before by the Ivory Tower. The librarian said that the books purchased through the Tower allow players to incorporate cantrips into the system as Skills, instead of just knowing them.
'Just one more thing, and I'll be ready to accept.'
. . .
Sirus walked out of the city to the nearest wheat farm he could find, stealing a pencil along the way.
"Excuse me, I mean no offense by this, but where could I find the cheapest flour? Quality doesn't matter, only bulk?"
"Don't take this as me saying my stuff isn't good, I'm as cheap as you'll find. Flour is flour, it doesn't vary much in quality, and neither does its price."
"Can I buy as much as I can afford from you then?"
"Yeah, ok."
Sirus bought two 50 pound bags of flour, leaving him with a measly 50 Gold, but since he didn't need to buy anything, it didn't matter.
"My rib pain is mostly gone, I should probably be fine going now."
. . .
[Mission accepted!
Teleporting to 3984372948.]
[Players ability exceeds normal range. Increasing difficulty]
[Time remaining: 0:15]
"Fuck me, what now."
Sirus appeared on what he assumed was a frozen lake, it seemed thick enough but he couldn't tell for sure given the layer of snow.
'How am I supposed to find shit here?'
"SKKKRREEEEE"
"KKKAWWWWW"
'And there's the flying monsters.'
Around 20 flew out from behind a snow bank, a little smaller than bald eagles.
"A lot more than I expected, but not too much for me to handle."
Sirus pulled out his pencil, which he had sharpened on both ends so the graphite was exposed.
"Shock!"
A current went through the pencil as the Mephits dive bombed at him. The current heated the graphite, heating the wood and setting the pencil ablaze. Sirus tossed the two bags of flour at the Mephits, who caught the bags in their talons and ripped them apart.
Sirus spent much of his time on Earth bored. Explosions were always the peak of excitement, but the military's rules were too much, so he never joined. As such, he needed to improvise, and one of those ways is flour explosions. Flour is 35 times more combustible than gunpowder, something he often proved. Not enormously explosive, but an awesome way to make tons of fire.
Flour poured into the windy air creating a massive dust cloud right above Sirus, who threw the blazing pencil at the flour.
"VVVWWWOOOOOMMM"
Fire engulfed the air, burning each Mephit to death, and in the process blowing Sirus off his feet, singeing his hair and setting his clothes on fire.
"Stop, drop and roll! AUUUUGGHHHH!"
[Mission Complete!
Time: 1:08
Contribution: 100%
Completion Grade: S+
Due to high completion grade, more rewards will be given!
Due to the increase in difficulty, more rewards will be given!
Rewards: Bonus stats: +.4, +10,000 Gold]
[New Record Time!
Reward: Title: First Place, 10,000 Gold.]
[Congratulations: You fulfilled the hidden condition!
Reward: Item: Flame Rune - Grade: D]
[You have risen to level 3! All Stats: +.25
Your stamina has been restored.]
[Returning to Commissioner's Office]
"Impressive again. You even set a new record!"
"Thank you. Is it normal that I leveled this quickly? I've done three missions and I'm already level three."
"And you thought I was being sarcastic when I implied you were a braggart last time. Higher score gives more experience. But early levels are much faster than later; the curve is steep. More interestingly, you are now eligible for your class upgrade."