Chapter 124: All of Them?

Chapter 124: All of Them?

I dont get it, Stryg mumbled.

Its pretty simple. You were taught two languages, Loh leaned back in her chair. Im just not sure why. How old were you when you learned to write?Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

About 10, I think?

You were too young to be recognized as a mageborn Why would someone teach you?

I dont know, he took pity on me, I guess, Stryg looked away.

He? Who taught you how to write exactly?

The memory of the eccentric goblin crossed his mind. His loss still pained Stryg more than he had realized. ...He was one of the older hunters in the village. His name was Sigte.

Was?

He died. Dire bear mauling. Stryg swallowed and cleared his throat, Most of the tribe didnt like him, he was an outcast like me. Although Sigte was a strong hunter, so people respected him. He didnt have to be nice to a disobedient little kid like me, but he was.

Im sorry for your loss, Loh said quietly. What mage rank was Sigte? Master? High-Master?

Stryg shook his head, Sigte wasnt even a mageborn. He was really good with a spear and was a pretty decent shot with a bow too.

Loh furrowed her brow, Are you telling me that a savage hunter without any magical background had an extensive knowledge of the arcane language?

Sigte was not a savage, none of us are! Stryg yelled.

The pain from the past had been dredged up to the surface and all it took was Lohs words to ignite it all ablaze.

Everyone here thinks the Sylvan tribes are a bunch of feral beasts that cant control themselves! My people are ruthless and unrelenting because its the only way to survive in Vulture Woods. Weve simply learned to adapt to our environment. We have rules and structure just like Hollow Shade, but that doesnt matter to any of you.

Stryg looked down, I can hear the other magi whisper amongst themselves when I walk by. What they think of my kind and me. All of them believe theyre better than me just because Im a Sylvan goblin.

Stryg, I didn-

Stryg shot to his feet, Well, theyre not! None of you are! Hollow Shade sacrifices those who go against them to a bunch of monsters at the wall and enslave the rest. Undead sentinels hunt down Hollow Shades own people at night, simply because they forgot their damn nameplates at home. And you call us the savages!?

Loh watched quietly as Stryg heaved.

She waited until he caught his breath, Stryg Im sorry, I was not careful with my words. I admit I always saw some of your mannerisms as strange, but I never thought you might see us the same. Heh, maybe even worse.

Stryg stared at her, the anger slowly deflating from his face. He plopped down on his chair and refused to meet her gaze.

None of it matters, not anymore, he sighed.

It does matter. What you think matters to me. I care about us, Loh raised her silver bracelet and pointed at Strygs matching set. This represents a lifetime bond. Youre my apprentice And how you feel concerns me as a mage and as a friend.

Stryg met her eyes with a spent gaze, Lunis is gone, her people forgotten, and Im one of the few goblins in this entire city who knows. So, what am I supposed to do? Can someone as weak as me do anything?

Stryg, whats Lunis? Loh scrunched her nose.

...Nothing, never mind, he squeezed his eyes shut.

Stryg

You wanted to know about Sigte, right? I dont really know much of his past. Sigte wasnt originally from the Blood Fang tribe. He was from another tribe, they were nameless.

Nameless? What do you mean?

When one of the Sylvan tribes is found guilty of the vilest of crimes, they are condemned by the Lunar Elect and are stripped of their tribe name.

Are the Lunar Elect powerful?

They are the council that oversees all the Sylvan people. Their word is the law.

I see, that doesnt sound promising for the nameless. What crime did Sigtes tribe commit exactly?

She gave him a strange look, Your knowledge just became one of the most valuable assets in the entire city, maybe the Realm. You have no idea what magi could be capable of if they had full access to the arcane language.

Thats pretty cool, he grinned lopsidedly.

No, it really isnt. Its very dangerous. You may as well be sitting defenseless on top of a mountain of gold in the middle of Dusk Valley. People would come after you if they knew about your complete arcane lexicon.

Oh... Im fucked, his eyelids drooped.

She grabbed his shoulders, Not if we keep it secret. This stays between you and me, Stryg. So long as we dont reveal the true extent of your knowledge well be fine. I think.

Okay, I can do that. Secret. Got it. I wont tell anyone, Stryg nodded repeatedly.

Good, and that includes Feli. I know you trust her, but theres no reason she needs to know. We cant risk this getting out.

I understand.

Good, she nodded. On that note, it wouldnt be bad to show off some of your skills.

Huh?

~~~

Today we will be practicing red magics ward spell-form. For your sake, I hope you have at least an inkling of talent for ward magic. Elzri sat on a chair in a stone courtyard.

Stryg is more talented than you give him credit for, Loh patted his back.

Stryg nodded silently.

Loh had convinced Elzri to give Stryg another lesson the next day, but this time in ward magic. Elzri had reluctantly agreed. He had led the trio to his private courtyard on the academy grounds.

Loh tells me she has taught you about arcane sigils when it comes to curse spells, yes? Elzri asked.

Yes, Stryg said.

Good, ward spells are similar. They too require writing sigils in the air and creating a specific effect. The difference being that ward spells form shields around the caster. The more complex the ward the more powerful the shield, the more mana efficient, and more adaptive. But complexity also comes with a cost, it creates a greater mental strain to maintain the shield.

What do you mean adaptive? Stryg tilted his head.

Wards are very specific. The more specific you can make them the stronger they are. On the other hand, certain attacks may get through if your sigils did not cover them in the ward spell. Simply put, the more complex your sigils the more powerful your ward. The difficulty for a red mage is the amount of time it takes to write a ward mid-battle. A single mistake in a sigil will cause the entire ward to collapse. Not to mention every time a ward stops an attack it drains mana. So, the more kinds of attacks the ward blocks the quicker your mana reserves will be drained.

Complex wards are difficult, got it, Stryg nodded.

Elzri paused and stared at him with a steely gaze, ...Yes, something like that.

Well, enough talking, why dont you start already? Loh smiled wide.

Elzri narrowed his eyes and glanced between the two, ...Very well. Since your master is so eager to interfere in my teaching method, why dont we just begin? Start with a fire ward. Or did your master not teach you the arcane word for fire?

Stryg didnt bother to respond and instead began to write. Red mana came easier to him today than it did yesterday. For once he felt very confident in his magical abilities and his mana reacted to the feeling.

Stryg drew the sigil for fire but continued beyond it. His focus condensed into one singular task. Today, he would not fail.

Stryg drew a complex pattern of words composed into a defense of flame, light, and heat. He wrote several auxiliary words to enhance the overall strength of the ward. He included ways of heat dispersion around the shield and light diffusion, he even wrote a few words regarding wind in order to block the smoke and fumes.

Stryg didnt know how long he was writing, only that his arms burned with the after-effects of large influxes of mana. Sweat dripped off his brow, he was out of breath, but he felt alive. A bright red shield covered in floating sigils formed around him.

Stryg glanced at Elzri, Is that good enough?

The archmages eyes were round, his forehead creased, mouth slightly hanging open. ...That will do, yes, that will do.

Stryg smiled in relief.

Elzri looked him over, It seems you are finally living up to your potential as a prodigy. I can work with this. You have hope yet, Stryg of Ebon Hollow.

Loh stood behind Elzri, the largest smile Stryg had ever seen stretched across her face.