Eldrinn Voh Armeliayth.
Despite his title of being a "Crazy Bastard", he had one undeniable merit to his name.
He was a genius in magic.
Which meant that I, by some twisted cosmic joke, inherited both his magic and the skills that came with it.
"Status."
—---------------------------------------
Name: Eldrinn Voh Armeliayth
Title(s):
Archmage of the Sevenfold Arcana
Prodigy of the Aetherium
Level: 89
Class: Archmage
Subclass: Aetheric Artisan
Health (HP): 3,120 / 3,120
Mana (MP): 46,700 / 46,700
Energy: Stable
Attributes
Strength: 75
Agility: 67
Intelligence: 99
Vitality: 88
Charisma: 95
Luck: 30
Skills
Core Magic Skills:
- Aether Manipulation
- Arcane Bindings
- Elemental Imbuement
Utility Skills:
- Runic Script
- Mana Vision
- Spell Copy
Support Skills:
- Mana Well
- Elemental Adaptation
- Arcane Focus
Signature Abilities:
- Luminous Cascade
- Temporal Ripple
- Echo Bolt
Resistances
Fire: 70%
Ice: 85%
Arcane: 100% (Immunity)
Void: 40%
Physical: 10%
—---------------------------------------
"As expected…"
I had reviewed his status for the course of a week but I still couldn't believe it.
Those weren't normal stats and skills for a mage.
That too, for someone at the young age of twenty-six, when most archmages over fifty struggle to have one properly mastered core magic skill.
And it wasn't just his intelligence or mana that stood out. His strength and agility were higher than most mages, making him more versatile than he had any right to be.
With a bit of effort, he could've done well being a combat mage like Nephista.
Instead, he chose the path of a crazy bastard.
"Haa…"
I sighed as the carriage rolled past pastures of green fields and glistening lakes.
Cofrenn was just as beautiful as it had been in the game.
Had circumstances been different, I might've stayed here longer. But an expulsion from Saira Thy'var meant I was effectively banished from all of Cofrenn's academies.
I glanced at the phoenix symbol glowing faintly on my wrist.
It shimmered under the sunlight filtering through the carriage window.
It was a delicate yet damning reminder.
The Restrict.
Despite its elegance, it was essentially a magical parole anklet.
It basically screamed to everyone, This guy is trouble, keep him on a leash.
"Tsk."
As long as I had the Restrict, no academy in Cofrenn would hire me.
Moreover, the Restrict wasn't bound just to this kingdom, but it would follow me everywhere until the Orders Court decides to expel it.
But.
Whether or not they decided to expel it was another thing that I wasn't planning to confront.
In the case that a mage doesn't show up for their trials, it's either postponed to a different date or is kept on indefinite 'compensation' mode, which means I'll have to keep paying the court a hefty sum every month until I finally choose to show up.
The hefty sum was equivalent to ten-thousand locs, which was more than enough to afford yourselves for a three-month vacation in Cofrenn.
In short, I was royally screwed.
With no job and only skills at my arsenal, I should've been the diamond in the rough for academies in and out of Cofrenn to recruit.
But every academy worth its salt would see the Restrict and turn me away.
Eldrinn, you pathetic bastard.
I internally cursed myself.
In the game, even with a route of his own, Eldrinn's significance in the game was close to none, and he was one of the least popular characters.
Considering main routes, he was merely a minor character that died at the opening scene for 'Anna Sommervault.'
Died.
The thought sent shivers down my spine.
I haven't experienced it yet, nor was I planning to, but Eldrinn's death in the game was… brutal.
And to get rid of that tragedy, I was currently moving to a different location altogether.
Somewhere far from Cofrenn.
Even if Eldrinn wasn't a "Crazy Bastard" but simply a genius professor, I would have still gotten out of that place.
'Staying in Cofrenn in this timeline was dangerous…'
Phase 1 of the game's main plot starts in three months.
After those three months, this kingdom and the neighboring ones will be affected more than the Zenith Empire could account for.
Though I could gain some benefit from this early on, if I plan to sell information to the Secret Intel Agency of the Empire, I don't have to.
After all, a 'Saintess' with the ability of "Foresight" will soon show up.
Even with the predicted outcome, and all preparations done during the upcoming months, half of the western part of the Empire would be destroyed and the remaining in trouble to recover.
'Maybe…this is for the best.'
I consoled myself, thinking of the positive outcomes I got out of the expulsion.
With this, my escape from death was held off for a while.
Though 'Anna Sommervault', one of the main characters of the [Hero's Ascension Chronicles] existed, my chanced encounter with her was zero to none currently.
She was located in the North of the Empire, and since I was initialized on my route in the West, there is no real reason for our paths to cross.
"Hoo…"
With that, some of my worries are off my chest.
But.
What am I going to do now?
Penniless. Jobless. And stuck in a damned game.
Sounds a lot like my previous life.
"..."
I leaned back against the carriage seat, staring out at the passing scenery.
Haa…I'm screwed.