Monster Seven - Options

Monster Seven - Options

[Congratulations!]

[Through your actions you have unlocked the potential to obtain the following classes:

Acolyte of Darkness

Lesser Cultivator

Do you wish to learn more about these classes or accept them into yourself?]

Two new classes, both added to my growing list of classes I could learn, both of them sounding kinda weak.

That was the sum total of the rewards Id gotten from two weeks of hard work, from practicing and studying until my eyes went blurry.

Well, no, there was one more reward, but it wasnt from my studying.

[Congratulations!]

[You have unlocked the title:

Touched by the Dark One

Do you wish to equip this Title?]

When I poked at the title, all I got was a description that wasnt all that helpful.

Touched by the Dark One

Your soul itself brushed the Dark Gods. You have felt her essence, and have shared, for a fleeting moment, her will and that of the world.

You will find Disgust and Loathing, both within yourself, and without.

I pouted at the description, but it didnt help any. What the heck did that even mean?

Of course, I equipped it. It wouldnt do not to experiment a little, and this was the first thing I could do with my system that Luciana hadnt warned me against. Equipping the title did nothing obvious. Removing it did much the same.

I even had a notebook out to take notes and everything! It was very disappointing. I did leave it on. It was, in a way, a gift from Luciana

I found that most of my days post-magical awakening werent any different to my days before. I spent a lot more time studying magic now, but most of the books I found were very advanced, talking about techniques and spells and powers people could use. There were plenty of texts that warned people of over-emoting--apparently over-using one kind of magic in quick succession--but not one book I found taught the basics.

You seem irate.

I jumped in my seat and looked up from the manual I was reading. It was about the more esoteric emotions and their possible uses. Things like remorse being somewhere between loathing and sadness, and being able to fuel spells from both emotional domains, but not very well. Very interesting.

Not as interesting as finding Luciana hovering over me. Hi! I said. And, uh, yeah, a bit.

Are you having difficulty?

I hummed, then rubbed at my chest, the spot where shed touched me, where our souls had mingled, if the Title was to be believed. I think so, yeah. I was thinking that Id find a guide on how to unlock my magic, but I havent found anything yet.

The Dark Goddess nodded serenely. It is doubtful you will. There are many ways to find out how to use magic. Most involve careful study and meditation, cultivating your emotions and their power within yourself. Usually focusing on only the one initially.

Oh, I said. Okay.

Okay, you want to hear the price? she asked.

No, Ill accept it.

Luciana stared at me for a moment longer. Without hearing it?

I shrugged. I trust you.

For a moment, her mask cracked and she looked genuinely confused before her emotions returned to something more normal. I see. Then... one year of servitude for every path unlocked.

A year! I said. Thats... so many chores.

I was thinking more than chores.

I flopped onto the desk. Do I still get to stay in the library?

Certainly, when your... chores arent keeping you occupied elsewhere.

So, did I want magic now, or in a decade or so? Yeah, alright, Ill do it.

She nodded, not surprised this time. It may take some time to prepare it all.

Oh, well, less than a few decades, right?

Indeed. Now, there is one use to having your magic unlocked that you may not yet be aware of, though Im certain what youve read may have referred to it in passing. Follow me.

I jumped out of my chair, set all of my notebooks together to the side, then skipped after her. One of the librarians would probably look after things if I left them out too long. They were alright with leaving books out during lunch, but if I left a book on a table overnight, Id always have to go looking for it again the next morning.

Luciana went up instead of down. That was neat; Id never been to the higher floors.

I regretted it four flights of stairs later. My legs were aching and I felt like I needed a rest, but Luciana wasnt slowing down, so I grit my teeth and caught up.

When she finally stopped, it was on a floor that only had a little alcove next to the stairs, and a single door.

It opened onto a round room, with a tall ceiling and some windows on three sides, all of them way up and far from the ground. There wasnt anything there except for one chair, and a monster.

[Barbatius The Soft Lesser Servant of the Dark Goddess]

Monster of Swinging Fists

This is Barbatius, Luciana said.

The monster in question was short and squat, not even as tall as I was. It had wide shoulders and long arms, like some sort of ape, maybe, though its face was a bit squished, and it was covered in thick white scales that looked almost like hair.

Barbatius here will be fighting you. Its time that you learned how to defend yourself. And its a wonderful way to learn how to use your magic to lessen blows and harden your body.

Uh... what?

And then Barbatius roared and leapt at me.

***