Agnisotra: Origin Tails

We went to rest a bit in a small park. Ted Raishin and Shania had fun while Gregory and I were resting on a bench. Who would have known that Raishin would get a girlfriend like that? And a hot one on top of that, she does seem to have assassin-like skills but not good enough to deceive us, I think she’s safe.

That is reassuring. I do wonder though why she is alone though. Well, if she has an assassin-like skill set she probably prefers to move alone, it’s easier. I wouldn't be surprised that this was common under adventurers.

Ted told you about that magic weapon offer you got right? Are you planning to become an adventurer and take that merchant up on his offer? Hmm, I don't know, crafting magic weapons is indeed extremely hard, I might have the skills for it but not the experience, moreover, I want the best materials for it, I need to first know how and what I'm making and of course the first things would be weapons for all of us first, not for some dumb adventurer I will never meet.

Hmm, I can understand that yes, you probably would also be stuck in this city if you do. Yeh, adventurer I can do but magical weapon blacksmith? Not really. What about you? I’m sure they could use your skills too.

Hmm, I don’t know, I probably would have more freedom than you if you would go blacksmithing for them but our end goal is to go back home so I don't want to make any long-term commitments. Fair point, so what do you think will happen to them if we find out how to go home? I gesture toward Shania and Raishin.

To be honest I have no idea. Do you think he will choose to stay down here and stay with her?

If he doesn't screw up before that and she leaves… He might. Hmm… I spotted one lone minor water spirit in the pond of the park. What is it doing here? I don’t know if it’s a power spot but even if it was, he’s alone. I got up and approached him. I asked him what he was doing there. It seems that this place used to be a lake before this city was built and he is the only water spirit left ever since. I asked where the others went. It seems they ran out of energy and returned to the spirit world. I asked him why he didn't return.

He told me that there is an energy here that prevents spirits from returning when they want, only if they completely run out of energy. But since this lake lost its power spot status after the city was built it was something he couldn't control. I asked him if I could help him but the only answer he could give me was to help him get rid of all his spirit energy so that he could return to the spirit world.

The fact that this was the only way I could help him. I confirmed that he was serious and sucked out his spirit energy with frost magic. He thanked me before he disappeared. I had no idea how to feel about this but it wasn't a pleasant feeling.

“What is he doing?” Oh, Agnis sees everything! There was probably something there. You make it sound like I’m crazy! But you are!

Hey! So, what is the plan?

We go nap? Where is your usual energy?

Unassisted [Boss music] is draining! I mean, he is probably right, I am confident in my mana manipulation but that thing that Agnis did honestly scares me.

“Is it that hard?” Well, I have to make each of my fingers do independent actions while making sure the beat and multiple instruments flow while I also came up with that music on a whim, I need to send the precise forms of lightning magic through the wires and also make the ice columns vibrate at the correct rate and frequency, and I kinda made it harder for myself by manually playing the piano… All in all, it's a lot of mental gymnastics, mana control, and dexterity. Then why did you add the piano then?

For style points of course! Of course... Why did I even ask…

“Hmm, that sounds challenging indeed, why don't you just use normal instruments?” Are you crazy? I don’t know how to play any of those! Besides a bit of piano. Sadly, this is the most logical argument you can come up with…

But it’s true… I can’t even read music notes… Agnis, you're such a weirdo!

“Is this normal for you guys?” Unfortunately, yes… Right, let's get us registered as adventurers and then Agnis can take a nap. You know what, napping sounds lame, I’m interested in that adventurer stuff!

Agnis, I swear if you’re over-exerting yourself again, I will make you sleep! Meh, empty words it's not as if you can catch me anyway!

Getting cocky now, eh? Oh, you want to give it a go? If you can catch me before I reach the adventurer's hall, I’ll go take a nap!

It’s the Adventurer Association and sure! You don't even know where it is! Hah! You forgot what I can do! I don’t even need to use my eyes! Gregory facepalmed.

Did you forget that he has clones sneaking around and that he recently learned [Shadow Swap]? Oh shit! Hasta la vista noob! I used [Shadow swap] and swapped places with a shadow clone that located the Adventurer's Association and stepped inside. It was quite busy and it looked like I stepped into a different city. I saw things that looked like teleport gates. How wealthy is the organization that runs this? I saw some stores but I assume I need to be an adventurer and have a certain rank to buy these. I located the shop that sold magical weapons.

“A lot of young kids visiting today.” Ah right Raishin and Ted were here earlier today.

“Oh, the guy with blonde spiky hair and the muscly guy with brown hair? Are you possibly the blacksmith they talked about?” Hmm, yeah, these specifications, don't they seem… a bit weak?

“Excuse me?” This dagger, I'm not sure how the power of it gets decided but even if this is a model if the model is accurate in its dimensions and the material it’s made out of, I don’t understand why it would be so weak.

“I’m an appraiser, not a blacksmith... I don’t know, I’m sorry…” If I gave you a dagger I made, can you appraise it and compare it to the damage value you have on this dagger?

“Uhh, sure.” I took out one of the better daggers I crafted a while ago. I handed it over to the appraiser. “Give me a second…” He took out some magical device but also focused mana into his eyes. He looked at my dagger from various angles and wrote stuff down. He seemed to be amazed. “Did you make this?” Yeah, I made it 3 months ago.

“This dagger even though it is just a regular dagger has about 65% of this magical weapon's attack power… which is quite absurd for a normal weapon… It almost makes it the status of a legendary weapon… now these can’t compete with magical weapons but… and the materials you used to make it don't seem to be that special either… Hey, do you want to work for us? We will pay you handsomely!” Hmm, I’m sorry I’m not sure if I will stay here, my friends and I have goals. You can keep the dagger, by the way, I have many more like those. I showed off 10 more daggers I had hidden.

“Can you at least register as an adventurer? So that in case you change your mind things will go smoothly? Here, give me a second, I will get you a recommendation.” Wow, I feel like I’m cheating through life.

“How much do you want for this dagger?” It is yours, I’m not hurting for gold, so in case I do make up my mind think of a way to entice me that’s not related to getting paid in gold, bye!

“What a difficult guy…” I stepped outside of the scam shop and saw my buddies and Spania step in. So, what do I get for winning Ted? Ugh, I will show you to this place I found. I don’t know exactly what it is but it has these things called Sushi and it has fish in it, I’m sure you will love it. My mouth started to water.

Beating you was totally worth it! Where do we go to register?

“Over there! Follow me!” We followed Shadie and… “Agnis my name is Shania.” I jumped back. You need to stop doing that!

“Only when you remember my name!” Guess you'll have to deal with that forever hehe. Hey, stop being an ass my memory isn't that bad! Ted, Raishin, and Gregory looked at me skeptically. Screw you guys!

“Shania! How did you bring even more guys!” Who’s that? You 2 kinda look alike don't tell me her name is Tania or something hehe.

“Ewww how do you know!” Wait what? How is this even possible?

“Hahaha, you guys are hilarious, Agnis, Gregory, this is Tania a good acquaintance of mine and the daughter of the vice president.”

“So Agnis is the name of my stalker, eh? I’ll make sure Daddy puts you in the ground!” Hehe, not If I bury him first! Agnis! Ted smacked me.

What? She started it!

“I’ll make sure you'll never become an adventurer!” Abuse of power, so is there anything you can do without Daddy’s power? Oh no…

“Ha! I might not look like it but I’m a D-rank adventurer!” D for, Daddy’s power. D? I don't see D cups. Shania smacked Raishin and Ted smacked me.

Stop provoking her! So, Daddy’s pow… D-rank so what? I dodged Ted who was trying to smack me again.

“I can turn you into dirt myself! I don’t need to bother Daddy to smoke you!” What is it with people my age and smoking, I don’t think you’re allowed to.

“Agh! You! Me! Arena in 10 minutes!” I guess smoking too much makes your grammar terrible. Ted and Gregory looked at me disapprovingly while Raishin and Shania seemed amused.

“It seems you finally got my name correct” What! Are you sure you aren’t a mind reader?

“Who knows?“ Shania said with a mysterious smile. So where do I beat that midget up? You don’t hold back, do you… She’s your friend right Shania? Aren’t, you offended?

“Hmm, she isn’t really my friend, and I find it quite amusing, I haven't had this much fun since I came to this city.” Yeah, Agnis is a genius in pissing people off. Hehe, I know right? Now time to embarrass her!

Make it as spectacular as possible! Where did I go wrong in raising you two…

Hehe in thinking you can control us! Go get her Agnis! Shania made Gregory and me go through the registration process and I slapped my recommendation on the counter and I got the rank of a D-rank adventurer.

Heh, D rank is easy, Tania is a scrub. I shouldn't be surprised but regrettably, I still am… Shania led us up a flight of stairs and we got to the 4th floor and to the sections with the arenas.

Hmm, how am I going to embarrass her?

“What are your specialties? Raishin told me you also have rogue-like skills like me.” Hmm, that is true but I don’t think that is going to embarrass her the most, I have an idea. Hehe, this is going to be fun, Shania let’s get some popcorn quick! Raishin and Shania ran off to get some popcorn and Ted, Gregory and I looked at some other fights that were going on. To me, they seemed like low-level fights but maybe my perception is warped. I inspected them with Elgards eyes and it didn't seem to improve my impression. What rank are they? It seems quite… low level…

I was thinking the same, maybe they’re all F-rank. Such scrubs! Hey! We’re F-rank too!

Hehe, scrubs! Raishin and Shania came back with a lot of popcorn.

“I think you should go over there! I think I saw Tania walk somewhere over there.“ We walked toward a part that looked like a VIP section. Hey, are you sure?

“Oh, I see you didn't run away Agnis! I reserved a special arena to humiliate you!” I guess courtesy of Daddy’s power. This is quite fancy! We got inside and the rest sat down where the spectators would sit. There seemed to be some older men sitting down in the front VIP seats. I guess her Daddy came to watch. If he does something funky, I will assassinate him.

I got led to a preparation room by an employee. I got the basic rules no killing bla bla. And he needed to scan my adventurer card. I stepped into the arena and it was quite large. It was made out of dirt and there was a moat filled with water. Probably to help out earth and water users. There were some obstacles but the area was relatively flat and empty.

“Hehe, struggle as much as you want! Daddy is watching!” A screen lit up and showed our names specialty and adventurer rank. Because I was new, I didn't have any specialty. She’s good at lightning magic, eh? What even is a Crimson Eagle?

“What!? You’re also D-rank?! I thought you were a newbie!” Getting D rank was easy, get rekt! Tania got visibly frustrated. The sign to start got sounded and Tania started forming various lightning magic circles. She was certainly stronger than Donkey and faster. She shot multiple lightning bolts at me but she missed. Well, she didn't miss but I evaded with minimal movements so it looked like I didn't move from my spot. I moved the water out of the moat and made 9 [Ice balls] float behind me.

“Ha! A water user! Not only is water weak it has a poor matchup against lightning! You were destined to fall by my hands!” I formed mirrors out of the water balls and sent the lightning back. I pulled more water out of the moat and used it to cast [Frozen ground]. I made her slip. She tried to dispel it but guess what! All this water is real water, I didn't modify its volume with magic so the [Frozen ground] is here to stay until it melts. Which I prevented by gradually dropping the temperature.

“Hey! Why isn't this working?!” I used almost all water in the moat so I guess I will have to use water like a normal water user. I created [Water bubbles] which caught her lightning and popped in her proximity bombarding her with her own attacks. Whenever she tried something big, I caused her to slip again.

“Aaagh! You're supposed to be a weak water user!” She started a complicated lightning cast but she made sure she wouldn't slip. I made the ice under her turn so that it turned her around the moment she fired the skill. Hey, I’m over here!

“Grrrr! So, vexing!” She made 2 cats made out of lightning and sent them at me. I tried to make them slip but that didn't work. She looked quite skilled with her lightning but it was all white lightning, I doubt it would hurt but I didn't want to find out. I made ice pillars shoot up from underneath them, launching the [Lightning cats] and caught them into a triple-layered bubble.

“Hey! My cats!” Don’t worry you can have them back! I sent the bubbles flying at Tania. She tried to run but she slipped and I froze her pants to the floor.

“Why can’t I dispel this!” Because it’s just water. The bubbles hit her and she got zapped by her own attack. It seems she covered herself with some lightning to reduce the damage.

“Ugh, fine! I underestimated you! You are strong!” I didn't do much though, you did most of this yourself.

“Grrr! How vexing!” she did something and it made her float. Ooh, impressive! She flew at me and shot a [Lightning ball] at me. I caught it with a [Water ball] and sent the electrified [water ball] back at her.

“Stop making all my attacks useless!” She dodged the electrified water ball and tried to kick me while augmented with lightning. Her pants were slightly ripped from when I froze her pants to the floor so I can't say this was a good idea. I covered my hand in water and blocked her kick.

“What!? Why aren't you getting zapped?!” Well, this is pure water, and pure water doesn't conduct lightning, people who think lightning magic is strong against water magic have never fought any competent water user. She backed off and blasted me with lightning. I covered myself in pure water and was unscathed.

“Grrr! So, vexing!” Right, let me show you the cruel reality! I moved some water and created a [water ball] around her head, again didn't alter its volume with magic so this was real water. She wouldn't be able to dispel it. She tried to move it off by pushing it away but her hands just got into it. I made sure to remove it the moment she passed out and pulled the water out of her lungs.

Wow, that was brutal. I got declared the winner and some people came to check out if Tania was ok and they gave the sign that she was ok. This makes sense because I made sure to stop the moment she passed out and pulled the water out of her lungs. I saw Daddy get up from the corner of my eye and approach me with some other men. I activated my Elgards eyes but it seemed there was no ill intent.

“That was marvelous! A bit vexing that my daughter lost like this but I have never seen a water user so skilled!” Uhm, I didn't do much, and if this is skilled. the water users have a serious problem…

“I am curious though, what is your specialty? The way you fought didn't seem like any popular style, I paid close attention but you did not once attack my daughter, even that [Water ball] you used to ‘drown’ her does technically not count as an attack.” I just used the least mana possible and turned her movements and attacks against her. Just some CC here and there. Tania’s Daddy looked confused but one of his friends or whatever explained something to me.

“Ooh crowd control, yeah those people are extremely rare, unfortunately, we don't have a role name for that, who knows when you become more well known the role will be named after you!” Ehh, I don’t really need that, so can we go now? You are not here perhaps to take revenge for your daughter, right? And what happens if I beat you up? Will her grandfather come and challenge me? One of the men seemed to take offense but Tania’s Daddy started laughing.

“And a good sense of humor, my daughter doesn't have any rivals of her age besides Shania, ever since she turned 16, she has been encountering less and less skilled people at her age. I hope you can stay her rival.” She’s 16? Uhm, I’m not her age, I’m 12… Tania’s Daddy looked at me.

“Huh, 12? And this strong? Interesting. I’m expecting much from you!” He talked a bit to his lackeys, picked up Tania, and carried her away princess-style. This guy was quite cool actually. My buddies came to me and congratulated me.

“That was quite an interesting style you have there, do you mind if I request a spar?” Sure, I have a question though, Shania how old are you?

“15, why?” we looked at Raishin. You do know he is 12, right? I will be 13 in 2 days!

“Hmm, I didn't know that but I’m not surprised.” You didn't tell her how old you were? You need some scolding! This is criminal! I feel like Shania is getting duped in this deal…

“It is fine, so how about that sparring match?” Uh, sure. We got ready and Ted dragged Raishin back to the spectator area while scolding him. The big screen again did the same, Silent Night? What are these weird terms?

The start sign was given and Shania instantly dashed at me with a dagger in hand and shadows spread out from underneath her. Ah, right she was an assassin type. Since the shadows she wasn’t using weren’t racial skills I interrupted them and they disappeared. She seemed surprised and I met her dagger with a dagger I made out of ice. I did a leg sweep and shifted my body to go for an improvised body throw. She was agile so she used the momentum but didn't fall. I used [Frozen ground] and tried to make her slip. She was unsteady but didn't slip.

This was all I needed though. She tried to dash at me but I created an ice pillar in front of her so she had to evade to the side. This made it easier for me to make her slip. She did slip but didn't fall down. I have to say she is quite skilled. I interrupted more shadow magic and she started throwing light skills around. I formed some ice mirrors and deflected them and sent some back. She made an illusion with light magic but that was useless in front of my eyes. I did pretend to fall for it and made the illusion slip. I tried to play that game too so I used the moisture in the air to refract light and also create an illusion. She attacked my illusion which blurred and faded.

“What?” I froze ice blocks on her legs to slow her down. She tried to dispel it but again it was just water.

“Hmm, this is quite smart.” I sent some bubbles at her which she tried to evade but with difficulty because of the ice blocks on her legs. I succeeded in making her slip and made an ice pillar and froze the blocks on her legs against it causing her to hang upside down.

“Ugh, I lost” You’re quite skilled.

“I am more impressed that you beat me without attacking.” It’s not perfect but it seems nobody is used to fighting against someone like me.

“It seems to require patience and precision, not something even Silent Nights want to attempt.” What is this Silent Night thing? Shania explained to me that rogue-like fighters get the role name Silent Night, ranged magic casters get called Crimson eagles, A tank would be called an Iron Wall, someone who fights like Ted an Unstoppable Beast, quite fitting, and Defensive support like Gregory would be called Hard Light, Offensive support Grumpy Blowfish, Healer a Golden Angel, and a ranger or scout Hawkeye. Some names make sense others don’t but their origin seems to explain why.

Also, why there is nothing for CC because hardly anyone does this, and if they do they suck.

“So uhm Agnis, can you let me down now?” Oh sorry! I let Shania down.

Stop beating up my girlfriend! Did you want me to disrespect her and lose on purpose? Ehh no…

“This match was very educative.” Now that we’re adventurers time to nap! Well, it's nearing dinnertime, Let's eat at a restaurant and retire for the day. We had dinner together at a restaurant and split off from Shania. It seems she lived in an apartment in the Adventurers Association. She also said she needed to arrange to do something. We went back to our hotel and we went to bed. We spent that day preparing for Raishin’s birthday.