NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: My Eyes Hurt
Leo did the math in his head. "The chance of having five magics is one in ten thousand?"
"No," Hugh said, staring over Leo's shoulder. "To get to more than three magics is like one in a thousand each time. Four is one in a hundred thousand. Five is one in a hundred million, like one in a continent. And there has only been one six-magic person ever, Angeline."
"In other words, there are probably only over eight hundred people with as many magics as I have? One for each of the truly ridiculous number of continents the world has?" Leo asked, fascinated. "That's why I'm so rare?"
Hugh snorted. "I guess that is one way to look at it—you do have eight hundred or so peers."
"And it makes me super powerful somehow? Because I haven't really been feeling my strength, you know? We've run, like little girls I might add, from every single fight we've been in at this point."
Hugh snorted again. "I guess that's true, kinda. Although we did do a lot of damage first in both cases. Still, you have a way of putting things in perspective, friend Leo. And I guess I was overhyping it. Most people only get one ability per level, like I said, so I guess five magics isn't that much better than one magic. But a lot of rarer and stronger magical abilities only exist for dual and tri-magic individuals. Although a lot of rarer abilities also exist for people with higher magical qualities and good perks as well."
"Are there four-magic abilities?"
"No idea," Hugh said.
"So, really, having five magics doesn't make me super powerful. It just makes me extremely versatile, and maybe slightly more powerful?" Leo asked. Figures.
"Yeah, I think that's a better way to put it."
Leo groaned. "All right, well, what abilities should I take?"
"Abilities?"
"Yeah, I get three."
"Three?" Hugh parroted.
"Stop repeating what I say and just tell me why that's weird!" Leo said, exasperated again. "Pretend you're a workplace safety video and give me the incredibly dry version!"
"What in the…?"
"Never mind," Leo said. "Just please explain."
Hugh scratched his scales. "Sure, buddy. Calm down. You get one ability per level, normally. You must have some amazing perks. Three, well… That's an actual, real increase in power."
"I only get three abilities for Level Two, I get one for the other levels. So I need to make this good. What should I take?"
"I have no idea. I have Earth magic, not whatever-you-have five magics!" Hugh said, returning the snark. "And, on top of that, I level a lot slower than you, on account of my magical nature. I will most likely just wait till I age to gain more power—it's easier. I mean, after I get the hoard, of course."
Huh… That seems like a lazy and terrible decision, considering his goal of keeping said hoard, but get through this first and talk to him about that later.
"Okay, how should I decide how to level up?"
"Well, whatever you select opens up new powers in the future. So, if you take, for example, Earth magic hardening powers, you get more advanced versions, or odder ones, like maybe spikes on your skin or something. Just find things you think are really cool and think about where they might lead so you can get a powerful build."
Leo examined the list again. "What does 'occult' do for me? And what is it?"
"It's a skill, like sword use, but it's for using magic powers."
Interesting…
"And affinity?"
"It's a focus on a single magic, improving that magic. But your Magic stat sets the maximum affinity you can normally have. And think about your perks. You should always lean into abilities provided by your perks."
"Thanks." Leo pulled up said perks.
Birth Perks
Race: High Elf
-2 to base Strength, Endurance, and Toughness stats
+2 to Agility and Magic stats base
Increased chance for Being magics and Wyld magic. Gain an additional ability at Level 2, 10, and every 10 thereafter from one of those magics if possessed.
Lifespan average of 400 years. Maximum of 3 perks positive and negative each, with standard chance of inheriting or acquiring at birth.
Rank: Natural
May obtain Level 80 without ascension, access to extremely rare or upgraded magical abilities.
Graceful Body
+4 Agility, +2 Dexterity, +4 Appearance
Predator
+4 Agility, +10% critical chance, +.5 critical modifier
Line of Stardew
+4 Magic. Always start with Wyld, gain 1 additional Wyld ability at Level 2. Auras for Wyld are gained 10 levels earlier and this can exceed maximum level. Two higher maximum Wyld affinity.
*Genius
+10 Intelligence, increase magic ability access. May gain +2 maximum Mind affinity.
*Being Arcane
With the appropriate prerequisite abilities and stats, upon obtaining Level 30, may gain any or all of the Arcane abilities: Kinesthetic, Cognitive, or Empathetic.
*Aura Mastery
May gain auras as if 10 levels higher, including access to auras that are beyond maximum level once reached.
Acquired Perks
Low-Self Esteem
-2 check to resist despair effects. Failure, especially significant failure, can lead to further negative perks.
So, I can clearly gain increased power to Mind magic, and my Genius ability would synergize well with rapid gain of Occult skill… Perhaps I should focus on either psionic damage or Telekinetic damage? I could also get Cognitive Learner and really work the Mind magic angle… those would also synergize extremely well with the occult skill gain.
But then he examined his Stardew Line and elf stats. He would have to pick one of his abilities in Wyld, but he gained Wyld affinity easier on the flip side of the coin. And Soul adds to the Magic stat. And what is 'Arcane'? Each of the Arcanes listed—Kinesthetic, Cognitive, and Empathetic—is clearly tied to Body, Mind, and Soul magic, especially with the 'Learner' abilities.
"What's arcane, Hugh?"
"What? I have no idea what that means."
Joy.
This is the basis of my entire powerset on this world, and maybe once I get back to Earth, but I'm supposed to just make this choice half-blind?
My gut is telling me that the arcane is important, but all it says is 'prerequisite abilities and stats,' with no explanation.
And do I want to lean into a magical build and remain kind of pathetic physically forever, or go for hybrid? I mean, if this were a game, I'd go for a min-max build, but since it's my life, I feel awkward about having a pathetic body forever…
Leo went over his choices and perks again. One ability had to be Wyld… Perhaps I can split the difference and take a stat gain as well, but… wait a minute.
"Why are they called 'Level Stats' and 'Non-Level Stats,' Hugh?"
"Because every time you level, you can add two points to one of your Level Stats, dumb-dumb. Why else would they be called 'Level Stats'?"
Son of a…
Leo mulled everything over. I want to become a powerful Mind mage. I think I want the Telekinetic abilities more than the Mind-frying ones. Feels like I'd be a badass Jedi, and moving stuff with my mind has a lot of other applications, like in construction. Maybe I'll get to use my civil engineering degree after all. And for sure I am going to want analyze.
Leo was tempted to take those abilities now, to give him more of an edge in this world. But in his heart, he knew he couldn't pass up the powerful long-run build. In order to be the best I can be, I should take two of the three Learner abilities and also take a single Wyld ability. I should take Mind, to focus on it, and Soul so I can get the magic-increasing powers. And in both cases, they do add to the gain of occult skill as well.
But what to take for the Wyld ability…
I would like to bond with Mystical Wolf Buddy, if I see him again. It would be awesome to have a battle dog, both here and back on earth.
And the breaking of the nature pact is sad, and feels important, somehow.
None of this helps me here and now, but my gut tells me it'll be key to a powerful build in the long run.
Leo made his selections and pulled his status sheet up again.
Leonard Emmanuel Evans
Level One
Body, Mind, Soul, Wyld, Metal
Health
10
Stamina
9
Essence
10
Level Stats
Strength
8
120 base pound-lifting capacity, -10% melee damage, -6% running speed
Agility
20
-50% enemy hit chance, +50% hit chance with all weapons, +18% running speed, +.5 critical modifier
Dexterity
12
+10% base success for crafting and physical skill success rate, 20% chance to raise base weapon damage roll by one step
Endurance
8
-2 base Stamina, -20% Stamina Recovery Rate, -20% base Health Recovery Rate
Toughness
10
+0 health, +0% base health, +0% base stamina
Perception
10
Connection
10
+0% Essence Recovery Rate
Capacity
12
+0 base essence, +0% base essence
Appearance
14
Handsome
Non-Level Stats
Intelligence
20
+100% skill acquisition rate, may gain rare and difficult skills.
Magic
16
+24% Magic Effects. +1 Maximum affinity.
Charisma
10
Luck
10
The Fates neither dislike nor care for you.
Secondary Stats
Birth Perks
…
…
Skills
Level
Effect
Athletics
12
+36% to run speed, +12 to check to climb or avoid obstacles
Level 10 Special Skill: Burst Fighter: For up to 6 minutes, all stamina expenditures are halved.
Business
2
+6% to expected income, and -2% to expected costs, for operating any business
Dodge
8
+24% to dodge incoming attacks
Instruction
4
+2% increase in learning rate of someone learning from you per point of difference in your skills
Melee Weapons
1
+1% to hit and damage with any handheld weapon
Mixed Arts Fighting
8
+16% to hit and damage with fists, +8% to dodge, +4 to trip, pin, or incapacitate and avoid the same.
Natural Sciences
19
Extremely detailed understanding of the non-magical components of the world and how they work.
Research
8
+16% base rate to discover information in archives, +16% to daily chance to discover something new while researching, modifying Intelligence rate
Seduction
1
People find your attempts to seduce them 2% more favorable than baseline, compared to what they are looking for
Abilities
Effect
Mind
Cognitive Learner
+1 Mind ability at Level 10, and every 10 Levels thereafter.
Soul
Empathetic Learner
+1 Soul ability at Level 10, and every 10 Levels thereafter.
Wyld
Animal Companion, Rank I
May have 1 animal companion. It gains +2 to all physical stats.
Leo smiled to himself. This is a bigger long-run bet than when I decided to work with Audrey. I hope that this one pays off better than that, since I just took no powers that can give me an immediate edge.
I wonder how Audrey is doing, and where she is. Is she okay?
A thought struck Leo.
"Hugh, buddy, how long have I been looking at these charts?"
"I don't know," the dragon replied. "Maybe thirty minutes?"
"Shit."
Thirty minutes is twenty-eight minutes longer than Princess needed to water the bushes. I'm a terrible companion.
"I'm going to go see what Lily is up to, okay? She's been gone way too long."
"Sure," Hugh said, stretching out. "Scream if you need help."