Black Magus

After only three days of after-class training, a sudden change came about in the halls' ambiance in the halls. The students had long since been structured and disciplined. Of that, I was sure; their one outburst after I made my intentions known to them notwithstanding. Now, however, there was an undeniable air of respect they openly displayed to each other. Even the weaker bookworms were shown respect by the more attractive or popular or powerful students who used to look down on them. A display of respect; I noticed, that was starkly similar to the way their attitudes changed towards my vassals after the challenge I imposed on them.

The change was particularly notable whenever Toril was present. He already had a reputation of being the strongest in the class from years ago and maintained that title today. His falling into the groove of leadership seemed to synergize perfectly with his clout, working to form a deep connection between him and the rest of the class. In less than a tenday, Toril O’Connell went from being seen as a rival to envy; to being viewed as a sort of big brother. Though that wasn’t to say my other vassals weren’t much the same.

Unlike the days following my arrival, most of the 6th Years’ domain was eerily empty during lunchtime. Leaving an invasive feeling of loneliness to wash over me as I drifted through the floors. Instead, nearly the entire class was located on the 53rd floor, sparring against one another, running the O-course, or attempting to jump the gun and mimic the few instances of elemental fusion they’d been shown to date.

“I see the training has gone well.” I grinned at Toril and the others as I appeared from the shade near our dining area to settle into a seat across from them.

“Very.” Toril proudly nodded. “They are to continue their training in combat and elemental practice until the weakest person is up to standard. Then, we’ll move on to fusion.”

“An efficient plan.” I nodded, then evenly distributed my attention to the rest of them. “Perhaps tomorrow or even tonight, my Great-Grandfather will take us to Odissi to acquire some arms and… armor.” I sighed. “Now, I’m certain it’s already the case, but be aware that I’ll put my all into acquiring the best equipment possible for the lot of you. I’ll buy them myself if I have to.”

“Surely, Your Grace, that isn’t necessary.” Jaimess humbly shook his head. “We have more than enough to-”

“But it is.” I retorted, forcing him back in his seat. “Being knowledgeable and physically capable is only half of the equation. In the same way that a smith can’t forge a weapon without an anvil and hammer, you all need proper tools for your jobs.”

Jonet placed her hand on the table in front of Jaimess before regally leaning towards me, smiling as she shushed him. “We understand, Your Grace.”

“Good.” I reclined back into my seat. “ Now tell me, are you all using the same weapons as before?”

“I now use a shield.” Came Toril’s quick reply.

“As do I,” Jaimess added. "And I have also begun learning to dual-wield weapons."

“I’ve started to use needles.” Jonet cheekily explained, capturing the undivided attention of the three of us. “I’m told His Imperial Grace, your Father, also uses needles?”

“He does? I’m only founding out just now.” I tilted my head in surprised confusion. 'But... how interesting. It seems there’s still much I don’t know about my dear old Dad.’ Shrugging the matter aside, I rose from my seat and assumed the Wraith Form, breaking my way into the wordless conversation that’d broken out during my silence. “Very well. If they aren’t given to you all as a result of your status, I’ll purchase your gear myself. I’m going to confirm everything with my Great-Grandfather. I’ll return after to share my findings.”

After making a small detour to my room for a meal, I made the short trip to Grandpa Lich's office and found him sitting behind his desk; either meditating or sleeping. Or... perhaps he was dead. More dead than he already was, at least. It was hard to tell sometimes. So I just stood there for more than a few moments, awkwardly staring at him, the vast landscape beyond the window, and at the many subspaces comprising the expansive office around me until he sort of shook himself awake, hastily straightened himself, and regally clasped his arms atop the desk before disgruntledly asking. “What do you want?”

“I have questions.”

“Why am I not surprised.” He grumbled and waved for me to sit across from him. “Ask away.”

With a small bow, I settled in place, focusing every sense on his every reaction as I asked. “What can you tell me about forced expansion?”

His face instantly dropped in sheer bemusement. “Forced what?”

‘It may not be the right name. But you’re not fooling anyone, old man.’ I sighed before giving my explanation. “I’ve repeatedly seen and heard mentions of a way to increase the capacity of an individual's mana well through external means. I have a theory on how it is done. I refer to it as, Forced Expansion.” I leaned a bit closer; eyed him a bit more suspiciously as I awaited his response. In truth, I wanted to ask him from the start. But my skeptical mind couldn’t ignore the possibility of him lying to me. Or worse...

“Ask your mother.” He flatly waved his bear paw of a hand before dismissively turning his gaze aside.

“W- what?” I stammered.

“Your mother is a drow, Amun.” He bluntly blinked. “A drow older, even, than me at that. She has knowledge of things that will never be told to the likes of us humans. But you Amun, have elven blood within you. I am sure you can understand the rest.”

“I can.” I nodded with clear dissatisfaction. Then pressed on. “Besides that, I’m curious about the wares sold at our destination. There are a few things I wish to buy.”

“Such as?” He slowly squinted in much the same way that I had at him.

“Enchantments, equipment, and weapons for both myself and my vassals.” I amiably shrugged. “A few potions. And external mana wells, if I can find any.”

“Hah!” He slammed his massive paw onto the desk, nearly muffling his maniacal cackle. “Good luck finding a mana well that’ll suit you.”

I raised my brow at him and remained silent, prompting him to explain. Thankfully he did. But only after a long, long period of strained silence.“To use… ‘forced expansion,’” Grandpa Lich eventually said with a sigh of disgust. “Requires you to first be in possession of a particular potion, and then for you to possess a mana well greater than or equal to your own. Only a well from an elf, demon, or divine creature will do you any good, Amun.”

“My vassals are a different story.” I splayed my palms outwards as I countered his rock-solid point. “Jaimess, Jonet, and Toril have Ice Wells in the Eighth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Grades respectively. The vassals I’ll be choosing from here are bound to be far weaker than them. As you yourself said.” I paused. “We need to be as prepared and capable as possible if we’re going to fight in Ulai. We need every advantage we can get our hands on. Even if that comes with risks.”

“Mmm.” He grunted, stroking his beard in contemplation. “Weapons and items are an easy matter.” He eventually sighed. “External wells are another matter entirely, I’m afraid- Not that they’re out of stock.” He quickly assured me with raised palms. “Only, they’re low in supply and high in demand. I’m afraid they simply can’t be given to you. And they fetch for a high price.

“I have no issues with paying for the wells myself. If that’s what you’re implying.”

“Very well then, Boy.” Grandpa Lich sneered. “If you accept the risks and conditions, we shall take a slight detour after our arrival in Odissi. We depart at dawn.”

“Thank you.” I politely bowed before turning to leave. Then, turned to glance back at his massive frame sitting comfortably behind his equally large desk. “What…What were you doing before I entered?”

“Visiting and communing.” He cryptically replied. “And... how do you know the size and densities of your vassals’ wells?”

“I’m half-drow,” I replied in turn, then descended to the lower floors, echoing my snickers through the shadows of his office.

---

“We’re a go for tomorrow.” I declared to my vassals after settling in my physical form on the 53rd floor. “We’ll be leaving at dawn. So make sure to get some rest tonight.”

Following their nods, I turned to the crowd of expectant students and summoned doppelgangers to encourage them to continue training during our absence. Then owned up to the words I just threw at Grandpa Lich by returning to my annex to take the first step down the path of mana spell development with a basic infusion spell.

Once fully attuned to the energy, I began willing the supercritical fluid towards my body. Drawing it to coat my frame in the form of the second skin I imagined. The result of a few minutes of mental effort was a sort of warm or loving embrace surrounding the entirety of my being. Or rather, a gentle embrace around my skin. A gently volatile embrace that felt like taking asylum in the hand of a giant on the verge of sneezing. Successful though it was, the Mana Skin was inconsistent and lumpy. Like a field of plasma took a liking to my body. Thus I worked and strained to refine and compress the technique until it became a dense sliver of mana. Then, and only then, would I test it. Preferably against Grandpa Lich. Though, if my hypothesis was correct, this would do little in terms of negating physical damage.

I managed to make some progress. With constant practice, however, came increasing waves of mental exhaustion that forced me to take far more meal breaks and rest periods than I otherwise would have. Thus I relocated to the terrace a few hours later to peer over the ledge at a thick patch of vegetation far below. My landing zone, in the event of my failure. One always aimed for the bushes, after all.

After reaffirming my intentions, I hurdled over the terrace while gathering as much air as possible underneath me. The sudden change in velocity and orientation was like a shockwave to my inner ear, forcing the sickening feeling of vertigo to come over me just as the ground appeared to magnify. Then, I began flailing. Panicking. Fighting to right myself and fire twin torches from my feet before I made a mess of the garden.

The rate of my fall surely slowed but hardly came close to a suicide burn. So in a last-ditch effort, I cast aside elemental manipulation entirely and oriented myself feet first to allow the enchantments in my clothes to grant me seamless entry into my Shadow Pocket. As if I’d dove off a cliff, I plunged into the umbral realm and came to a floating halt next to the burrow of solid shade, wherein I saw Roger wading out from his hold to give me an expectant look. Although I was frustrated, I gave him a small smile before swimming through the darkness to step back into reality to display a bit of insanity until sundown.

Instead of constant deathmatches, however, he guided me into his office for a bit of practice in recovery magic and my continued necromantic lessons. “We’ll take it easy tonight.” He returned his feet to the floor with a sigh. “I shall teach you a single, simple spell tonight. Though, it’s far better to show you.” With no further explanation, he kicked off the table and slammed his open palm into my unguarded sternum, sending me rocketing across the office.

The world spun in that instance, yet the pain was distant; if not nonexistent. Presumably at first, due to the sudden shock to my body. Squinting through the tumbling landscape, however, I saw Grandpa Lich's massive figure in the distance. Kneeling. Holding… my body. Guiding it to a gentle rest as if I’d died on the spot.

‘The fuck?’ I immediately peered down to my body; if it could’ve even been called such a thing. Like the souls trapped in the Under, my ‘body’ was but a near-transparent silhouette of my visage that freely floated around and in between the wide variety of furniture set within the office. Only a thin thread of silver connected me to my body. Otherwise, I was like a ghost. Otherwise, it was like. “Astral Projection,” I said to both name the spell in my grimoire and affirm its nature.

“Aye.” Grandpa Lich nodded. “While your body remains stagnant, your mind, spirit, and soul can move freely. Naturally, only those who can see spirits or souls can see you in this form. And while its range is unlimited, it is wise to not go far. Else you will find it increasingly difficult to find your way home.” He grimly warned, then cast me out with a dismissive wave. “Remember this feeling, Amun. And get some rest. “We have a long journey tomorrow.”

With but a nod and naught a word, I returned to my body and descended through the floor with not a single intention to rest or meditate for at least a few hours. On the contrary, I allowed myself to unravel- to relax in the comforting embrace of the quiet night and lose myself in perfecting the Mana Skin and elemental flight techniques until the mental exhaustion became too much for me to bear. Wherein, I descended through the lower floors to spend the remainder of the night in one of my favorite establishments.