Chapter Twenty-Two: Level 106


    I wake up sore, obviously, at midnight. With the intense training I did the past two days, my body aches for more rest. Plus, I’m still wounded, and I know I should probably stop and let myself heal.


    But the tournament is so close. I need to be able to help Yue if she needs it, and in the hospital I won’t be able to do anything.


    So it’s time to leave.


    I need to do it without the nurse finding me. Or anyone else, for that matter. I tuck my book under my arm, and get out of bed, clothed only in my undergarments and bandages. IF anyone sees me now, they’ll think they’re looking at a drugged, homeless man. I open the door to my hospital room, fully expecting to see an empty hallway with more doors to the other rooms.


    Instead, I find myself looking at the pudgy nurse’s face, frowning up at me.


    “What are you doing out of bed, Zade?” Mistress Haley asks softly.


    “What are you doing outside of my room?” I retort. She walks in.


    “I’m not outside.” She grabs my arm. “You need to sleep:”


    “I’ve slept enough. I’ve rested enough.” I move to leave, but she pushes me back.


    “You cannot leave yet,” She whispers. “You will only hurt yourself more.”


    “I need to do so many things,” I respond. “You have to let me go.”


    “I am sorry, that is not possible.”


    I sigh. I guess it’s time to try something I’ve been meaning to these last few days. I close my eyes and focus on my core. It invites me to use it. I smile and try to locate Mistress Haley’s core. It takes me a good minute, but I find it. I can hear Mistress Haley telling me something, but I ignore her. I then use my core to use Levitation on her core. I think that should do the trick.


    A squeal erupts from Mistress Hale’s throat. I open my eyes to see her rising in the air slowly. She releases my arm, and I shrug at her.


    “I’m really sorry, Mistress Haley, but I need to do this.” I limp off, hearing Mistress Haley shouting behind me. I shut the door to my room, and her screams are muffled.


    I feel a little bad for her, but I needed to do that.


    — — —


    I put my book down on the desk in my room and lay on my bed for the first time in the last few days. I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.


    I wake up to an incessant knocking on my door. I groan and get out of bed, wincing at the pain. I limp over to the door and open it. Xavier has his hands on his hips, glaring at me.


    “What the hell are you doing here? Did the nurse let you out?” He demands.


    “Well, I kinda let myself out,” I respond, grinning cheekily.


    Xavier sighs. “You should go back to the hospital.” I shake my head fervently.


    “No. There’s too much to do.”


    “Fine. But if you get hurt, it’s on you.”  He turns and walks off to the cafeteria.


    I close the door to get dressed.


    — — —


    I hobble down the streets of Magefell, Astil and Xavier in tow. I’m determined to buy some crutches here so I can walk better. Or at least, limp easier. Astil constantly asks if I want any help walking. I refuse. I’ll be fine.


    I notice how overflowing the city feels. There are people already arriving to participate in or watch the tournament. It feels suffocating almost. People are everywhere. It makes the Magefell of one week ago seem deserted even though it was anything but. There are already plenty of different cultures here, and probably many shops already offering different varieties for those cultures.


    I’m jostled by some people walking in a different direction than me, and I realize how easy it would be to get swept up by the current of people and get lost here in the Magefell market. I can barely even see the shop signs. I pass an inn with a sign saying No Vacancy and my eyes widen a little. It doesn’t even look very comfortable, but if even an inn like this is running out of rooms, I don’t know if everyone who’s coming for the tournament will be able to stay. It’ll be way too crowded.


    I pass by the alleyway where I usually find Yue and walk a couple more blocks before I notice what I’ve done. I backtrack and when I reach the alleyway, I check my pockets to make sure no pickpocket took anything. They’ll definitely be about, especially this close to the tournament.


    Yue is already there with her friends. There are only two others here, though, which scares me a bit. Poli is here, and that annoys me slightly, since I don’t like her and her association with Artemis. The other man I don’t recognize. He seems to be a bit older than me, with jet black hair cropped somewhat short and a warm smile plastered on his face. I think his name is Xander. I like him already.


    Yue hugs me softly as soon as she sees me, and I react surprised before wrapping my arms around her too. I cringe a bit at the pain, but it’s not too bad.


    “I’m so glad you’re okay,” She tells me. Suddenly, she releases her grip and glares at me. “Why did you go forward with your stupid plan? And why the hell are you out of bed? You should be…”


    “Resting, I get it,” I laugh. “You don’t know how many times I’ve heard that word in the last few days. It’s good to see you, Yue.”


    “It’s great to see you too,” She replies. “Hi, Astil. Hi, Xavier.”


    “I assume that’s Xander?”


    “Oh,” Yue exclaims in surprise, “You haven’t met him yet! I totally forgot. Xander, this is Zade. Zade, Xander.”


    Xander nods respectfully at me, and his eyes seem to smile at me.


    “So, anything new? Where’s Alyx? And Neena? And…the others?” I ask, momentarily forgetting their names. There are just too many of them.


    Yue cringes a bit. “They’re fine, mostly. Except for Neena, she’s… Not ok, right now.”


    “Tell me everything. From the beginning.”


    Yue nods.


    — — —


    “I hope Neena’s alright,” I comfort Yue, “I’m sorry you had to go through that. You said you fought a mage?”


    She nods. “Much stronger than you, no offense.” I wave the comment off. “He could do things I didn’t imagine. And it told me one thing. We need a mage in the Vanguard!”


    “That’s not what the Vanguard is for,” I reply. “Isn’t it supposed to be an elite army of warriors for emergencies?”


    “Yes,” She replies. “But think what just one mage could do!”


    “A lot,” I admit. “But I don’t think you see the point. If the Vanguard is ever needed, I’m sure that the mages would join with you. You won’t need them because you’ll already have them.”


    “I suppose,” She says, thoughtfully.


    “So, what are you gonna do now?” I ask. Xavier and Xander are locked in conversation, and Astil is listening to my conversation with Yue. I don’t know what Poli is doing, and I don’t really care.


    “I don’t know. I don’t have any suspects now. Thankfully, the Wolf is coming back today, so maybe he can help. I don’t know how I’ll find the murderers. They really are escaping me.”


    “So you’re sure it’s more than one?”


    Yue shrugged. “Relatively sure. What else could it be? We eliminated every suspect possible. The murderer had to be part of the Vanguard. It had to be more than one person. The idea scares me, though. It could be any number of people. Maybe it’s a ring of people who didn’t necessarily murder them, but knew about it and didn’t tell me. It’s such a big issue, and there’s no way for me to solve it and..:”


    “Hey, hey,” I tell her. “You’re doing more than I could ever think of doing. You’re not only looking for the murderer, but you’re also in charge of the Vanguard right now, while also having to prepare for the tournament. That’s a lot of work. Just the fact that you’re able to do all this is insane!”


    Yue smiles shyly. “It’s not as hard as it sounds.”


    I gape. “Yeah, it’s harder. I’m sure Xander could confirm it. You want to ask him?”


    Yue shakes her head. “It’s not necessary. I get it. But still I want to do more. I need to do more, you know?”


    “I understand that. I have the same feeling a lot of times. I just want to be able to fight the Cult. But I’m too weak. I tried, and I suffered. Horribly.”


    “Don’t say that.” Yue berates me. “You already do so much.” Her eyes widen. “Oh, I get it now. You trapped me into that thought, didn’t you.”


    “You did, technically.”


    Yue scowls in mock anger. “You’re really annoying.”


    I bow. “I try.”


    “Have you seen how packed Magefell is?” Astil asks.


    Yue nods. “I’ve never seen it this full.”


    “Me neither,” Astil responds. “The closest it’s gotten was the last year of the Magefell Festival.”


    “I remember that,” Yue exclaims. “It was hard being part of the Vanguard then.”


    Astil chuckles wryly. I cock my head at them.


    “What’s the Magefell Festival?”


    “It was a festival that used to happen every year,” Astil responds. “Mages came and did tricks, and there was plenty of food and games. It was a great time. Sadly, riots broke out last year and they canceled any other festival.”


    “Why were there riots?” I ask.


    “Just drunk people acting drunk,” Yue says. “It was a right mess to clean up, I’ll tell you that.”


    “I imagine,” Astil tells her. “Someone broke my dad’s arm there. Kept saying things about my family. I’m a little glad they didn’t bring it back.”


    “Same here,” Yue commented. “I don’t miss rounding everyone up.”


    “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen with the tournament,” Astil says.


    “Speaking of, what are we gonna do during the tournament?” Zade asks. “I know we have to be ready in case the Cult tries something, but does that mean we should watch every game in the tournament?”


    “I don’t know. If we did, we would probably have to stay there all day every day.” Yue thought for a second. “I know I have to stay there most of the day considering I’ll be fighting. I guess you only need to stay there during my matches or the ones the others have. Also during the final games. Those will be very important.”


    I nod. “That sounds good. Maybe me, Xavier, Astil, and Th’ul can alternate watches during the other matches.”


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    Yue shakes her head. “Not Th’ul.”


    “I know you don’t like him, but so far he’s only been a good friend and a great source of information.”


    “A good friend?” Yue exclaimed. “Really? You think so?”


    I sigh. “I understand your concern. But he was just doing what he thought was best. You can’t blame him for that.”


    “Yes I can! The Cult might be doing what they think is best, but that does not mean they are right. Or that we should befriend any of them.”


    “Yes, but Th’ul is on our side. He knows more than us. He’s an invaluable man to our team.”


    “But I don’t want him on our team,” Yue tells me. “I think he’s only going to make everything worse. If he could trick you like this, what else is he doing?”


    Astil butts in. “It’s not as bad as you think, Yue. Th’ul is growing, just like the rest of us. He regrets what he did. He won’t do it again.”


    “And how do you know?”


    “We just have to trust him.”


    “After what he did? I can’t?”


    “You need to let him earn your trust, Yue,” I say.


    “I’m sorry, but I can’t. At least not for now. You can be friends with him if you want, but keep him away from me.”


    “Fine. But I really wish you would give him a chance,”


    Yue shakes her head. “No. And I have to go. I need to check up on Neena. I need to see if she’s woken up.”


    “You go do that,” I tell her. “I’ll see you in two days.”


    “See you.”


    — — —


    The Fireball whizzes forward and strikes the levitating dagger. Nightwielder blocks the flame, which surprises me a bit, but I guess the dagger really is special. As the flame flickers out and the dagger falls to the ground, my lips curl upward.


    I can multitask with some magic now. It’s something I hadn’t tried before, but now I know I can do it. I look proudly at Master Thul, who beams at me.


    “Good job. Hopefully, soon, you’ll be able to focus on many things at once without breaking your focus. Multitasking is one of the most important lessons a Mage learns. Never underestimate the importance of focusing on one task at a time, but don’t forget that sometimes you will need to do more than one thing at a time.


    “Sometimes, a Mage needs to do more than one piece of magic to make something work. For example, to put an enchantment on a book like yours, not only do they need to infuse the book with a little bit of their core, specifying what they want, but they must also put the core of a long-dead mage in it at the same time as infusing it with their core.”


    “Cores stay after death?”


    “No,” Master Thul responds. “Or at least, not usually. Sometimes, a Mage might ask for others to preserve their core after death. I did, for example. That is why I am now infused in your book.”


    “That’s so cool. It’s like life after death.”


    Master Thul shakes his head. “Not so. I only appear when you need it, and, even then, I have my memories but I am not me. I am here to teach you, but I have no magic in me. No free will.”


    “Do you wish you weren’t here?” I ask, worried. Now I feel like I made a big mistake. Like I enslaved him. Slavery was outlawed throughout the world only a hundred years ago, so I have never experienced a world with it. I’ve heard of the horror of it, though.


    “No, I do not regret it. No need to worry,” Chuckles Master Thul. “I think this is a perfectly fine way of preserving me. I am happy here.”


    I sigh in relief. “Thank God. So, you were talking about using more than one kind of magic?”


    Master Thul nods. “Exactly. Another example of this would be creating an illusion in someone’s head. Not only would you need to locate their core, but you would then need to take over it in a specific way for a time, then you would need to infuse it with your illusion. It takes only two or three seconds for an expert Mage. but in that time, they have wrought something so terrifying that you would piss your pants just thinking about it.”


    I shiver. “So you want me to practice doing more Magic at once?”


    “Exactly. Try locating cores and putting a shield around yourself at the same time. It should be an easy transition to other forms of multitasking.”


    I bow. “Thank you for the lesson. I promise to practice a lot.”


    “I know you will. I’ve seen you practicing recently.”


    “You have? But you’re not here.”


    Master Thul shrugs. “I live in your head. I can see everything.”


    With that strange yet comforting last statement, he disappears, and I get to training.


    I try to make a shield around my core and it appears immediately. While I do that, I try to locate another core. It’s difficult work, trying to do both at the same time, but I know in the end the payoff will be great. Eventually, I can locate the core of a fly while finally expanding my shield enough to cover my body.


    I feel powerful. And I’m only Level 3.


    I know I’m not very strong in the world of Mages. I’ve got a long way to go before I become truly powerful. But this definitely a start. I’m advancing at a pretty average pace, on the same level as Xavier and Astil, although Xavier tells me he’s on the verge of Level 4. I wonder how long it’ll take me to get there.


    Hopefully, not too long.


    High Mage Aegon is definitely a powerful mage. I could probably learn something from him: maybe I should ask. He probably has a high level.


    What even is a high level?


    I mentally call up Master Thul and ask him my question.


    “Hm. That is a good question,” He responds. “Three hundred years ago, the Level system was invented. Before then, people did have Levels but no way to compare them. Since this system was invented, some historians debate whether us mages have gotten weaker or more powerful.


    “I was a powerful mage during my time. I was a Level 95 when I died.” At my blank stare, he coughs. “It’s a lot. You start to level up slower the higher you get. I know that the average level for my time was about 50. Now I think it would be a bit higher because of the wonderful schooling you mages-in-training get now. High Mage Aegon is probably somewhere near Level 80.”


    I nod. “Who had the highest level count ever?”


    Master Thul shrugs. “I’m not completely sure. The highest I ever heard about was 106. I don’t think anyone has gone higher than that, but it is possible.”


    “What can you do with 106 levels? How many skills and how much EXP could you have then?”


    “Skills and EXP don’t have much to do with levels. I had friends who were in the 60s in terms of level, but had really low EXP and only one or two skills. On the other hand, some Mages with only 20 levels might have a lot of EXP and maybe eight skills.


    “And to answer your other question, you can do basically anything your mind can think of with 106 levels. Your imagination is the limit then. Most people don’t even reach 75. With 106, you could conquer the world, and only every other Mage combined could stop you. If that would even work.”


    “Sounds amazing,” I say, and Master Thul disappears.


    I imagine what I would do with 106 levels. I would take down the Cult for once. Make sure Judgment day never comes.


    I would help my friends too. They all need help with things, and I would provide it for them.


    I would end all the world’s issues. With unlimited power there''s so much I could do.


    But I probably shouldn’t think about that. I probably won’t get there in my lifetime. I should focus on where I am now. I need to focus on my training.


    Speaking of, I think I may have skipped sword training. I’ve totally forgotten what day of the week it is.


    I didn’t like sword training last time, though. Does it have anything to do with the duel I had with Raakhshas right at the beginning? Yes, it does. I don’t know if I want to go back. I don’t want to see or talk to Raakhshas ever again.


    I have seen him around recently. Sometimes, I see him walking around the cafeteria or playing in the game room. He never looks at me and I try not to look at him. If I do, I start to feel an intense rage.


    I’ve never hated someone like I hate Raakhshas.


    I can feel myself getting more agitated the more I think about him so I force myself to calm down and forget him. I need to train more.


    — — —


    “I unlocked a skill today!” Astil exclaims.


    “Really?” I ask. “Wait, isn’t a skill unlocked in moments of great emotion. Then how…”


    “You were with Anni, weren’t you?” Xavier says.


    Astil blushes. “Maybe.”


    “What skill was it?” I ask.


    “I don’t know what it means. It’s called Core Boost. Any ideas what it can be?”


    I shrug.


    “I have no idea,” Xavier says. “That could be anything. It has to do with the core for sure.”


    “Wow,” I reply sarcastically. “How did you figure that out?”


    “I asked Master Samuel what it means, and he didn’t know either,” Astil says, “But I did figure out that my core seems bigger and brighter now.”


    “Well, have you tried to do any magic since?”


    “Yes,” Astil resplies, “And I didn’t notice any difference. It was just as easy or hard depending on the particular bit I wanted to do. I think I got a useless skill.”


    “No skill is useless,” Xavier says. “You just have to figure out what it means. You could definitely figure it out in the library.”


    “That’s a good idea,” Astil tells us. “How about we go there after we finish eating?”


    “Sure,” I say. Xavier nods.


    “Sounds good.”


    I look over Astil’s shoulder. Raakhshas is at a table across from me and he’s glaring at me. I try to ignore him but I feel his piercing gaze. I start to feel a little uncomfortable, and finish my food somewhat self-conscious.


    “All right, are we all ready?” Astil asks.


    “I’ll catch up with you guys,” I tell them. “I have something I need to do.”


    “What?” Xavier says suspiciously, “This better not hurt you more.”


    “It won’t,” I reassure him. “I promise.” He glares daggers at me but in the end walks away with Astil.


    I turn towards Raakhshas and walk over to him.


    “What the hell do you want?” I growl at him.


    His eyes bore into me. “Nothing.”


    “Then why were you looking at me?” I ask him forcefully.


    “Just thinking about how you were limping. They really did you dirty, didn’t they? You deserved it.”


    The punch hits him square in the jaw. He reels back from the pain and shock and I punch him again. He stumbles back and stands up.


    “You shouldn’t have done that,” He screams at me, wiping the blood already coming off his nose. I can see people starting to stare, but I don''t think about them. This is between me and Raakhshas.


    He swings at me and I duck, stretching my arm out to try to grab his hand. As my hand connects with his arm, he brings it back, and I tumble to the ground. He attempts to kick me, and I grab his leg and pull it hard. He falls to the ground, head banging on the floor. I can hear a crack.


    Raakhshas groans. I can tell he’s hurt. There’s blood pooling on the ground near his head. My leg starts to ache. It was hurt badly enough, but I think when I fell I landed wrong.


    Many mages-in-training are gaping at us. To them, this must have lasted only five seconds. To me, it lasted an eternity. My chest is heaving up and down rapidly as I look at Raakhshas’ prone body. He’s not dead, but maybe he has a concussion.


    I turn my back to him, and start to slowly limp my way towards the exit of the cafeteria. I grab the crutch I brought after I talked to Yue. It’s already being a lifesaver for me. As I reach the exit, gasps from the cafeteria make me stop. A warning shout solidifies what I thought.


    I turn around and unsheathe my sword. Just like I expected, Raakshas is rushing towards me with a dagger inlaid with silver. He skids to a stop when he sees my sword.


    “That isn’t fair,” He growls at me.


    “It wasn’t fair when you attacked me in the alleyway. It wasn’t fair when you kicked me when I was down. How dare you think I’d be fair with you. You don’t deserve it.”


    He scowls. “Funny you think you can win anyway.”


    “You seem to think so,” I respond. He roars and launches himself at me. His dagger thrusts dangerously in my direction, but I have the advantage. My sword swoops in, cutting his hand, and he yelps, dropping his dagger. He picks it up immediately, though.


    “I wouldn’t keep going, if I were you,” I tell him. “You could get hurt.” He hangs his head in surrender, and once again I turn my back on him. This time, I know he will try something. So when I feel a whoosh, I move to the right.


    The dagger embeds itself in the wall inches from my face. I turn towards Raakhshas.


    “You really think…” He’s gone. He ran away. He’s a coward. I laugh, leaving the onlookers giving me concerned glares. But I don’t care. I just laugh.


    I won. Not only did I win, I shamed him. He ran away.


    — — —


    “Do you know what the Core Boost is?” I ask. “We looked in the library and got no answers.”


    “I do not know what that skill is,” Master Thul responds. “All skills are unique in some way to their person, but most have a specific quality that many other skills have too. I am assuming that skill boosts the effects of his core on the magic he uses. If I am right, then not only will his magic waste less Mana, but he will also be able to learn magic faster than normal.”


    “Sounds great,” I say enviously. “I wish I had a skill.”


    “I wouldn’t say that;” Master Thul winces. “The first skill I got was after my best friend died of a sickness. It was a devastating loss, one I would''ve definitely sacrificed my skill for.”


    “That sounds horrible,” I reply, “But I still want a skill. It could improve me so much.”


    “Focus on what you have,” Master Thul tells me. “Don’t focus on what you could have.”


    “I know, I know,” I say stubbornly. Suddenly, I get an idea. “Is there a way to send someone a message magically?”


    “Yes, there is,” Master Thul smiles. “For Jade, I assume?”


    I nod. “Can you teach me?”


    “Yes, I can. But not today.” My heart sinks in disappointment. “You need to sleep. Tomorrow, I will teach you how to send someone a message across thousands of miles instantaneously. Deal?”


    I yawn. “Deal.”


    He winks out of existence, and I hold my excitement in. I’ll be able to talk to Jade again! Or send one way messages anyway. That’s almost as good. That’s all I could want.


    With that thought in my head, I go to bed and sleep easily.


    I will finally be able to talk to my best friend again!


    I love magic.