The Ruby Magician

Wyn stood, holding his left forearm. He had decided to apply his mark on his inner arm so he could see it when he wanted but hide it fairly easily with a coat or sleeve. The mark wouldn’t be large, at least, though Daniel told him it could be as big as he wanted, such as on his chest or back, or small if he wanted it on his hand or face.

He wondered why in the hells someone would’ve wanted it on their face, but then he thought about people and how strange they are.

Daniel went on to explain to him that the mark allowed the casting of magic and using skills in the setting of the tower, outside of more complicated means throughout the rest of the world. “The mark acts as a focus,” he had told Wyn, “and magic needs a focus to transfer raw energy into purposeful casting.” Wyn followed, or at least he thought, though it wasn’t easy. He needed Daniel to explain it again or a different way several times.

He was glad it was only part of his class as a Ruby Magician and didn’t make up the entire class. If he was a different Magician or Sorcerer, which were completely focused on magic, he knew he would need much more time to study it to be useful.

Daniel told Wyn that runic circles help make up the components of a spell, and that they serve as the foundation for the specific creation. They can have multiple layers of varying designs and complexity. If letters helped formed words, then runes and their variations helped form spells. It made up the language of magic to cast what was intended. Basic spells only needed basic runes, and higher leveled spells needed more circles of runes that added to their complexity.

That made sense to Wyn, though he knew it would get complicated fast. Training wasn’t just going to involve physical improvement, anymore. He’d need to train his mind as well.

Daniel and Wyn were in a private room in the training hall. Apparently there were many of them for more specific studies or meetings. This room was large, almost as big as the guild hall where they shared breakfast, and he figured it was because it helped contained and allowed the casting of magic.

The area was lit by multiple torches set in sconces on the right, and windows on the left wall shined bright from the midday sun. Wyn wondered how there were windows in here when he felt like he was in the middle of the building, but he didn’t dwell on it.

There was a small desk beside a bookshelf with various books, a large table for writing and making notes, and targets at the other end of the room. The table had several stacks of pages, mostly blank, a few quills and ink wells for notes, and many smooth stones for paper weights.

“Magic is not nearly as easy outside the tower,” Daniel said, continuing his lesson, “but we don’t need to discuss that now. The mark is your class mark and matches what was provided to you on your parchment. Can you set in on the table?”

Wyn obliged. He unrolled his parchment and set it down. Daniel then placed some of the stones on the edges to keep it from rolling back up. There, at the top right, was the symbol of the Ruby Magician with a runic circle behind it. There were four small circles set within the runic circle at each corner, so if you drew a line to connect them a square would be formed inside.

“The runes behind your class mark are specific to you. It is your foundation for performing skills and casting magic. The combination of skills is different for each person, and you can choose any sort of spells allowed by your class.”

Wyn nodded along, understanding some of it, but didn’t want to interrupt. Not yet, at least.

“Your Ruby Magician skills come from the same pool as mine, though we obtain them at different points based on our experiences and performance in the tower. The runes on your mark allow those skills to be more basic or more advanced, no matter when you obtain them.

“For example, you have the skill Lucidity. That is a special skill, and one that you should study further. But for now, at your beginning stage, it only allows you to accumulate mana. And slowly, at that.”

“Wait,” Wyn said, deciding it was time to interrupt him. “I have several questions. Mana is the energy we have for magic, right?”

“That is correct.”

“And, from what I read, it’s a pool of energy that is finite but can grow as I grow in my class. Different from my energy to move or swing a weapon, too.”

“Yes! Your pool is different from anyone else’s and will increase in time. Our magical energy pool is different from our physical energy, such as what we need for our muscles or organs to function. It’s also different from our spiritual and mental energy as well.”

“That… seems complicated.” Wyn rested his arms on the table, still standing but quickly growing impatient. His head hurt.

“As I said, it can be. And honestly is! But just trust me on this. When you’re tired physically, your muscles ache, your joints hurt, and you want to rest to recover. Or eat,” he said, patting his stomach and smiling. He then patted his coat higher up and grabbed his flask. He took another drink, this one longer, and sat it openly on the table.

“I know that all too well,” Wyn said. “The military made sure to make that energy pool seem never ending. Or at least make us get used to the pain of when it was empty.”

“So your physical stamina is high. That will serve you well, as I’ve said before! When you’re tired mentally, you have difficulty focusing, your emotions are less in control, and you can develop headaches.”

“Like I have now.” Wyn rubbed his temples. His mental stamina wasn’t near as impressive as his physical endurance. He ran, fought, and worked out constantly, but he wasn’t forced to read or study in the military.

“Mana is similar. You will know when your pool is low, and your mark will tell you, too. Not everyone recovers mana passively like you with Lucidity. It takes food, rest, and a mental break.”

Wyn nodded along but didn’t respond. He was getting more and more mentally drained.

Daniel smiled and laughed that chirped sound again. “Then let’s move this along.” Daniel walked over to the desk and opened its top drawer. He pulled out a strange stick and ink well. It had a diamond at the base and a sharp point at the other end. The ink well was glowing.

Wyn perked up immediately. He didn’t like the looks of that.

“The mark, unfortunately, is a magical tattoo of sorts. I’ll need to place this on you for you to channel the tower’s magic.”

Wyn, excited but reluctant, rolled up his left sleeve. He pulled out a small stool from under the table to rest and laid his bare arm on the tabletop. He sat and thought about what he could focus on to distract him. Plenty of soldiers got tattoos during service, and he accompanied them more than once for support. This was no different.

Well, this was completely different and no ordinary tattoo.

Wyn wasn't helping himself during the situation.

Daniel sat the tools on the table. “It won’t take long. I don’t have to stab you repeatedly for it to take like a regular tattoo, either. I just have to draw it on while the magical ink and pen do the rest.”

Wyn exhaled loudly, relief leaving him in a rush. “Okay. I’m ready.”

Daniel grabbed the pen and ink well to ready them for the mark.

“Wait!” Wyn shouted, startling Daniel. He nearly tipped the magical ink well over. “I almost forgot. What about the skill Lucidity?”

“What about it?” Daniel snapped back at him. He checked the ink well to make sure none of it spilled. “You nearly made me drop this!”

“I’m sorry!”

Daniel took a calming breath. “It’s alright. What about Lucidity?”

“You said it allows me to accumulate mana. How? And it can do more than that? Not to mention I don’t even know how to use a skill!” The moment of relief from before vanished and anxiety quickly replaced it.

“So many questions,” Daniel said, and sat the diamond-studded pen down on the table. “Lucidity, at its most basic form, allows mana accumulation slowly while the skill is being used. It’s a passive skill, so it’s used at all times. You activate skills by focusing on them and using your mark, similar to a spell. You’ll see.”

“If you say so. I still don’t fully understand.”

“That’s alright. You’ll figure it out in due time! Now quit putting it off. I figured you for more courage than you’re letting on.”

Wyn shook his arms and stretched his neck. Daniel was right - he needed to get over this fear of the unknown and act. He placed his arm back on the table and braced himself, tensing. Daniel said it wasn’t bad but he saw how his soldiers reacted when actually getting the tattoo. It wasn't a sight you forget.

Daniel chuckled, taking another drink from his flask. “You won’t need to do that. Just watch.”

Wyn gulped, hoping Daniel wasn’t getting too drunk to do this right, but had a feeling his tolerance was much higher than the average person’s.

Daniel traced the mark on Wyn’s parchment with the pen. He did this carefully and slowly, and Wyn figured he was practicing so he wouldn’t mess up on his arm. The diamond began to softly glow white while he was tracing. He then dipped it in the ink, and the point changed color to a bright red glow. He took it to Wyn’s arm and began to trace the mark, slowly but steadily.

Wyn still winced when the pen touched his arm, but realized immediately it was a blunted tip, pointed for accuracy and not for piercing the skin. Daniel was just drawing on his arm like he said. No sharp needle or stabbing involved.

As Daniel worked over his inner forearm, Wyn noticed the drawing was slightly crooked and lopsided. An intrusive thought entered his mind about him not being able to use his skills or magic from this drunk man's shitty mark as the lines would be wrong. Thankfully the magic was truly magical, and the lines corrected themselves into a smooth and perfect copy from the parchment.

It only took Daniel a minute before the mark was finished. The symbol of the Ruby Magician, in all its glory, was now stamped on Wyn's arm. He felt power rushing through him. His adrenaline spiked.

His parchment and mark began to glow in unison. It was the same shade as the point when it magically connected - blood red.

“What’s happening?” Wyn looked at his parchment closer, and the glow slowly faded, including his mark on his arm.

“The mark took, connecting itself to your parchment. Remember that parchments are pieces of paper directly from the tower itself. This is how magic is so easily used inside Alistair as a connection was formed between you and a literal piece of the tower.”

Daniel grabbed some other pieces of paper on the table and drew on them with the same pen. Wyn saw he was drawing his unique mark in the top right corner at the same location as his piece of parchment. Daniel copied it onto four total pieces of paper. They all gave off the same red glow before dulling down to resemble a perfect red stamp.

“These will guide you as you climb the tower. Thankfully there’s seemingly no shortage of extra sheets from Alistair for Climbers to use.” He wrote titles on all the pieces of paper - SPELLS on two of them, then CLASS and ITEMS on the others. “As you collect items, equipment, weapons, or anything, really, it will magically appear here. It’s tied to you now, evidenced by your mark stamped into the paper.”

Daniel shuffled the papers neatly and handed them to Wyn. He grabbed them gingerly, not knowing what to do with them.

“I’ll give you some beginning equipment and help copy a few spells. It is our job as mentors, after all, to start you off properly. Fold those papers up with your parchment and keep them on you at all times.”

Wyn followed his instructions.

“Now,” Daniel continued, “I want to give you a few basic spells to start.”

Wyn's heart was racing. “That’s very kind of you, Daniel. Thank you. I honestly have no clue where to start with magic.”

“Yes well, it would be a disservice if you didn’t have any starting out. All classes who cast spells start with a few given by their mentors. You may find a few more in the tower to use but most are here in spell books. You’ll want to choose your own, of course, based on your group and preferences, but these will serve you well for now.”

Daniel walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a book. He hefted it back and plopped it on the table. Wyn read the cover - Beginner Spells for Tower Alistair. It was a simple, unassuming book, but if it gave him spells to use, it was one of the most powerful objects he had seen yet.

Daniel casually flipped through the pages. They were covered in runes and magic circles and contained paragraphs of information. Wyn wasn’t reading them too carefully, but he could tell they weren’t overly complicated. Nearly all the spells he could see at a quick glance were made up of a few runic shapes and circles at most.

He wondered what the more advanced spells looked like. They probably held pages and pages of information per spell, and he shuddered at the thought of sifting through them for study and use.

Daniel stopped flipping through the book towards the middle. “This book holds dozens and dozens of spells, but you can’t hold too many. Not yet. We have to select our spells wisely as Ruby Magicians, but know you can change them out if needed. All it takes is a spell book where the runic foundation is held. I have a few copies in my room of this book, and you’re free to take this. I’d encourage you to look through it when you have the opportunity.”

Wyn was shocked. Which was shocking in of itself, because this entire experience held one surprise after another. Here was a spell book, an artifact of untold value, which was just given to him. He could hardly believe it.

“Let’s discuss a few that would be most beneficial to you. It’s easy to change out spells but time consuming. You need several hours of focus followed by practice to use a spell efficiently, especially for the more complex spells.”

“This is amazing,” Wyn said quietly, almost at a whisper. “I’ve never dreamed of anything like this. But how do I know how many I can use at a time?”

“That’s a good question. Ruby Magicians would be too powerful if we could use as many spells as other Magicians or if our mana pool was as large. At least I'd like to think so… But your mark and parchment will tell you how many you can prepare and store at a time.”

“How?”

Daniel pointed to Wyn's magical pieces of paper. “Hold your new parchment labeled SPELLS. It will react to your mark.”

Wyn eagerly picked up his new piece of parchment. It began to glow at his touch, and he noticed there were four spaces for spells. At least it looked like there were four places he could copy a spell, though it was more intuition than certainty. It wasn’t obvious, and he wasn’t sure how he knew - but in his gut he knew he could prepare four spells.

“I’m not entirely sure how, but I think I have room for four.”

“Intuition of your mark. You’ll find that occurs more as you gain experience, too,” Daniel said as a matter of fact. “But that’s great! So we should find four spells that suit your needs most. What do you feel you could benefit from?”

Wyn thought on that. He knew his combat ability was more than qualified, but was limited to close range. Maybe something at range would be helpful? Then he thought about improving his physical ability, too, to make himself even more capable. There were so many avenues he could take it was almost overwhelming.

Daniel gave Wyn some time. This wasn’t an easy decision.

The older Magician took his flask and drank from it. His face scrunched up from the liquid’s taste. Then he did it again. He tapped his fingers on the table waiting for Wyn to decide. “May I give some suggestions?”

“I don’t know the exact spells, but I know what would be helpful. Something to improve my combat ability. Something to stay alive, of course! Something to help my teammates, too.”

Daniel’s face relaxed into a wide smile. “Excellent ideas! There are several spells you could use. Cure heals wounds, Arcane Aura protects you, Magic Weapon improves your weapon’s damage and durability. There are damaging spells as well, which would be beneficial for ranged ability, too.”

“Won’t most other magical classes have those and use them? Aren’t I looking for something helpful but different?”

Daniel thought on that a second. “You have a point. Yes, any Diamond Magician worth your time will prepare several variations of healing and protection magic. And the other elemental Magicians will have damaging spells galore, either direct or indirect.”

“So something that’s similar but not exactly the same. It would admittedly be easier after forming a group. But can we look at the different spells together for now?”

“Of course! And I know you’re still wanting to join the introductory climb today. We have only a brief amount of time to find, select, and copy your spells before you’ll need to go.”

Wyn agreed. Daniel showed him the book and explained to him different spells - sections of the book for different categories of spells, their descriptions, and occasionally different variations of them. It was hard to narrow his list down to just four. He thought of changing it in the future, and knew he would several times, but for now he wanted a good variety.

It took about thirty minutes, but he finally found the ones he wanted.

“Are you sure?” Daniel was tired but satisfied. It had been a long day already. It was invigorating teaching again, but he wasn’t used to it, not to mention he was reaching his peak drinking alone time.

“I am. So I need to add them to my parchment next. I just use the pen and ink and my mark will do the rest?”

“In simple terms, yes. You just write in the spell by copying it! In the tower you say the spell and your mark will do the rest. At least for now.”

Wyn thought about how much time he had. He checked the lone clock in the room over on the desk. The climb was at three in the afternoon and it was currently one. “I’ll need to copy these quick. The climb is in two hours!”

“Go ahead, then, and I’ll gather some things for you while you work. I’ll be back in an hour.”

Daniel left the room and it was suddenly very quiet. The only noise came from the torches, their flames crackling like sharp whispers in the dead of night. It was oddly comforting, reminding him of the various camps he and his soldiers endured throughout his service.

Wyn began right away. He wanted to make the introductory climb today. He needed to. His family couldn’t afford for him to wait much longer. It was a fast decision when he left his military company only last week, visited home, then came to Alestead to pursue climbing the tower. He knew it was the only option to help his family and refused to allow any time to change his mind.

He felt hopeful that these spells would help, but his anxiety continued to grow. He still wanted to practice them, too, but knew that would be cutting his time close. Combat was known to him - fighting and killing. He hated it, but convinced himself before he came that killing monsters in a magical tower would be easier than men in a war.

Magic and spells, though? It added tools to his belt, sure, but he didn’t like the thought of being unprepared in a deadly place. It weighed on him like a suit of armor that didn’t fit.

Still, it didn’t overcome his desire to climb, and climb quickly. He would learn on the fly and do what he could for now. That was something he was good at, at least.

The magical papers on the table didn’t deter him. He grabbed the sheet labeled SPELLS and started copying.