I sat at my redwood desk overlooking the book I had been left in my father's will, a book with a large golden crystal embedded into the cover and a language of some kind written all over the edges. The last thing I was given before my right to the throne was revoked and I was cast away to live on a small portion of funds in a rundown village to the south of my kingdom. Or rather, my Ex-Kingdom? Was this very book.
A sigh escaped my mouth before I opened the book to its first page.
...
There was nothing. The last of my hopes and dreams of some form of get-out-of-jail-free card was dashed! Father, how could it come to this? I'm the Prince of Eldoria! I deserve better than barely baked bread and expired milk! I cried exasperated, but in a moment of weakness, writing began to appear at a rapid pace on the page of the book that lay spread out on my desk.
[Dear Eldric,
If you are reading this, it means you have found the Ebon Grimoire, your birthright. Do not mourn for me, for I am not gone. Circumstances have forced me away from you, but know that I watch over you, guiding you from the shadows.
You are the key to unlocking the secrets within this grimoire, and in doing so, unlocking your true potential. As a Traveller, you will gain strength by venturing into the depths of dungeons. With each rank you achieve, the grimoire will reveal more about your location and the magic that binds this realm.
Choose from three spells to start your journey, don't worry too much for the other two will come later, but choose wisely nonetheless, for now is the time to begin your journey. Three spells await your choice:
1. Crimson Blade: An offensive spell that summons a blade made of blood-red sand. Propel the projectile blade through the air around you cutting down your enemies with an invisible precise hand.
2. Lumina Ward: A defensive spell that conjures a hard light halo above your head. While active, you are impervious to physical harm, except for magic.
3. Crimson Sentinel: A summoning spell that calls forth an assortment of humanoid soldiers made of crimson sand. This guardian will fight by your side until your Lumina is depleted.
Remember, each spell comes at a cost. The Crimson Blade requires a set amount of Lumina to cast and if not used as a consumable projectile will continue to drain Lumina for as long as it is active. The Lumina Ward and Sand Sentinel will persist as long as you have the Lumina to sustain them too.
Choose well, Eldric. Your first choice decides how you make the rest.
With hope and guidance,
Your Father, Ardent Von. Bloom]
The message faded, replaced by three glowing symbols representing the spells. The weight of my choice settled in, each spell offering a different path forward.
I would like to have an offensive spell to ward off any scoundrels who wish to take a blade to my throat now that i am no longer protected by the throne, but since only Travellers have access to Magic and this kingdom severely lacks powerful Travellers, the most logical option is to Choose Lumina Ward, its the perfect defensive skill that i can use in order to keep myself alive in this world. Just long enough to find out where my Dastardly, lying, thieving Father is! I can't believe the guys alive! Fuckin...
Grumble...
I can amass armies later, I Choose Lumina Ward!
And just like that the white wizard hat symbol shone brightly and I was introduced to a world of metamorphosis.
[Name: Prince Eldric Von. Bloom]
[Vitality: 1 ]
[Strength: 1 ]
[Magic: 1 ]
[Lumina: ∞ ]
[Equipment: None]
...
This was simply insane, in plane view, dead in front of me was a black holographic display of what i could only presume to be the infamous "Status" that Travellers had talked about since their first apperance. Many believed them to be tales of delusions shared among those that wielded Magic, a well known source of corruption in this Kingdom. Eldoria was known to hate practitioners of Magic for their perceived delusions and twisted ways of manipulating the world around them. There had even been a few cases in the past where a few travellers were killed or injured for using their magic in public.
The reason I myself don't harbour such 'Heated' feelings towards it is because of my father, and his heavy...heavy legacy he left behind. His name is Ardent, Ardent Von. Bloom. He was the first human in history to discover and use Magic and tame Lumina for the human body. Originally, the source of magic belonged to the elven races in the place known as Aleigesia. Hence the source of hatred the Eldoria Kingdom has for Magic, especially Human Spellcasters.
But wait, why are all my stats 1? and why does my Lumina Status say nothing but a strange symbol instead of a value? How- What a strange anomaly.
As iv been living in a rather rundown thatch house made from cobble and wood my life of luxury has more or less come to an end. There is but one path for me now, and thats the path of a Traveller, just as my Father suggested. A Traveller can enter dungeons without fear, and slay the beasts within to have a chance of obtaining Spell Books, Skill Books and Items or Loot. This is the only viable path for someone like me, a backwater Prince with no assets nor allies.
Another defeated sigh leaves my breath but my hand clutches my chest and I smile vigilantly. Since I have to figure out the problem with my Lumina status I may as well head into the clearing in the forest nearby. Luckily when I was relocated I was given the option to choose a house, and since this came with both a study, fireplace and comfortable living quarters I chose instantly, but soon I discovered it was also on the outskirts of the village, just a minute or so walk from the edge of a vast expansive forest known as The Nubia Wood.
After walking for around 15 minutes I came to the clearing I had found just a few days ago.
Time to test my first Spell! I can't believe I'm going to cast a Spell! Magic! This is Magic! I howled in joy, I widened my stance subconsciously, somewhat resembling a son of a knight ready to hold their fathers sword for the first time and swing their first rep.
[Lumina Ward] I thought and just like that it activated. I felt a warm glow above my head, and the heat from it was very almost tangible, but something told me it was an illusion, I looked up and to my amazement, just like the Servants in the fables, the servants of the gods themselves, he had a Circular Halo floating above his head. But something was strikingly different to the depictions I had seen all those years ago. While Angels typically had smooth golden halos. I have a crimson, crown shaped halo. And though it emits a warm red glow, it secretes a subtle crimson mist that cascades down from it and over my body where it acts as some kind of repellent.
Interesting! I feel a little warm, and a little cold at the same time. I wonder how thats even feasible. How peculiar!
And just like that my curiosity was satisfied, the spell was brilliant, but I couldn't possibly test it of course, that would require danger! As a prince I am obligated to-
ROOAARRR!!!!
I spun around in a daze and to my horror discovered a large, black bear glaring right at me from the other side of the clearing. My heart began to race, Infact it felt like the race had been lost some time ago, now there was a lump in my throat that refused to budge and a deep swelling dread amidst my stomach.