NOVEL NEXT 2.65 - The Power of the Pen(cil)
They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but I bet they've never tried to have a sword fight with one. Trust me, you'd rather have the big pointy metal stick than the tiny one
-Overheard in a tavern in Nirodas
The rest of the journey home was rather uneventful. Everyone cheered when the coast of the Emerlan Isle came into view. Even Rose was in a good mood.
Her artistic endeavours had borne great fruit. She had been rather inspired after the events of their journey and had drawn some fantastic pieces, leading to a big jump in her skills and occupation.
She was in the midst of browsing her status, wondering what sort of occupations might be available to her after completing Apprentice Scholar.
Name: Rose Everblue
Blessings: Blessing [Sylack]
Race: Human
Occupation: Apprentice Scholar 77
Title: Quintessential Skill
Available Titles: Slaughterer, Apprentice, Quintessential Skill, Ambitious Harvester, Godtouched, Traitor, Arcane Adept, Divine Sculptor
Bound Items: Sunsplitter 51 (Damaged), Divine Serpent's Lure ★27
Skills:
[General]: Cleaning 12, Fishing 26, Butchery 10, Cooking 8, Herding 2, Crafting 12, Sailing 17, Arcane Field Medicine 4
[Cerebral]: Reading 22, Writing 28, Focus 21, Drawing 37, Appraisal 3, Precision 13, Whispers of the Deep 4, Arcane Engineering 3
[Physical]: Swimming 10, Endurance 16, Athletics 20, Climbing 6, Stealth 8, Acrobatics 5, Toxin Resistance 13
[Martial]: One Handed Weapons 11, Blades 31, Pistols 12, Firearms 6, Unarmed Combat 11, Dual Wielding 17, Two Handed Weapons 4
[Arcane]: Arcane Attunement 32, Light Attunement 22, Arcane Resistance 27, Water Attunement 16, Frost Resistance 1, Beast Attunement 6, Electric Resistance 5
Traits: Sensitive Line, Deft Hand, Good as New, Tunnel Vision, Endless Inkwell, Quick Consumption, Knot my Problem, Reliable Duelist, Steady Slash, Smooth Strokes, Agile, With the Grain, Ambidextrous, Thick Skin, Energetic, Inventor, Seductive Lure, Keen Eye, Radiant, Acolyte, Favoured Strike, Studious, Worldtouched, Arcane Body, Anti-toxin, Amateur Pugilist, Lifeblood, Arcane Shield, Steady Grip
She remembered how when she'd first set out on this journey she'd thought those elders of her village with four or five traits were impressive. Looking at the extensive list of her own, she realised how little information was spread about the tide.
Rose wondered why its workings were so hidden or why so many people failed to grasp its power. She had thought it was simply a matter of exposure, but perhaps her divine parentage gave her an advantage that others didn't have.
Certainly, access to divine energy had drastically transformed her physical prowess and the ease with which her energy flowed through her body. Since accepting that it was a part of her strength instead of rejecting it, she'd advanced in leaps and bounds.
There were many changes to her strength and body that weren't necessarily reflected in her status. Things such as the level of her core and the changes brought about by divine energy.
They were hinted at with skills such as arcane and divine attunement, but not explicitly stated. It led her to wonder whether the tide was simply a guide that allowed people to more easily develop their innate skills, rather than granting them skills they wouldn't otherwise be able to possess.
Whatever the case, she could only continue as she'd been going. Facing every challenge with a smile and never backing down.
Her next challenge would be less violent in nature. She needed to go with Everyn in order to meet his father. She hated all these stuffy meetings, but given the role she had taken in the country's defence, it was necessary.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
They left the ship in Daniel's care once more. He promised he was working on even more upgrades to the engine and weapons, having had plenty of time to examine the workings and see how his previous tinkering affected it.
***
Admiral Valynor stood on the prow of his ship, letting the salty sea water spray across his wrinkled visage. The stillness of his form and the position he stood in might have led one to mistake him for a decoration on the prow, yet the way arcane energy thrummed around him made it clear he was anything but a statue.
His flagship was sailing at the head of a fifty-strong fleet, sailing on a direct route to the Emerlan Isle. They were not following after the ruffians who had assaulted Eastfel Bay, but instead sailed around the southern coast of Derridas.
He had been informed that both Zoria and Derridas were talking of an alliance against their great nation, but he didn't care for such gossip. Even if more weaklings banded together, what difference would it make.
It had been a while since he last set sail, but now that he was leading the attack, the only outcome would be total victory. In his over a century of life, he had never once failed in a mission. He didn't plan to start now.
Malthax had told him that all he needed to do was escort Elmer Saff's new weapon near the coast and the old geezer's technicians would do the rest. He was loath to sit out of the action himself, but his old bones were glad for the respite.
He was lithe for his age, but he only had a few good years left and going too wild would shave a couple off that. He'd lived a great life, but he didn't want to lose any time with his cute great and great, great grandkids.
He'd visited Elmer before setting sail. It wasn't that he didn't trust Malthax, but the old fellow had a tendency to exaggerate when it came to Saff's creations.
Valynor never used a weapon or ship without being certain of its limitations and abilities. The talk had been quite eye opening.
"Malthax told me this weapon was the deadliest ever created. Not that I don't have faith in your weird creations, Elmer, but give me the lowdown. What can it really do?" he'd asked his old friend over a mug of firewine strong enough to kill someone without an awakened core.
"Valynor, when I tell you that even I don't know quite how destructive this thing is, I'm not lying. I wasn't able to test the full extent of its power because I didn't want to risk damaging my homeland. Your mission will be the first time it's set off at full blast. You must record everything so that I can improve it afterwards," Elmer had said, before descending into passionate rambling about his latest creation.
Valynor tuned most of it out, but even he was left a little nervous after that visit. Elmer had always been a crazy pyromaniac, so for him to say he was scared to test the weapon meant it was truly devastating.
Frankly, Valynor would've have enjoyed attacking Derridas and Zoria on the way to the puny little Emerlan Isle, but Malthax had been quite clear that they wouldn't make an open declaration of war on the other two nations of the Bluestone Sea until those countries did so first.
Minenblum's end goal was the complete conquest of the Bluestone Sea, but their strategy was to keep their enemies separate as long as possible. Striking the first blow would lead them to unify immediately, making the conquest much more difficult.
Not impossible, of course—nothing could stand in the way of the navy Valynor had created—but there would be more losses. Every Minenblumian life lost was a tragedy.
His men were lined up in orderly rows on the deck of his flagship, The Valiant Conqueror. None of them moved a muscle, remaining at attention during the day and only resting at night.
He had trained them well.
Valynor led by example, staying still as a statue on the prow the entire journey. As they neared their destination, his blue blood began to flow with the flames of battle.
He never felt as alive as when he was slaughtering the ants that opposed his nation. His life's purpose had been to raise Minenblum as an unopposed powerhouse. That was a goal without end, but he was nearing a level of accomplishment that would leave him satisfied on his deathbed.
If Elmer's weapon worked as advertised, the stain of the lesser nations would soon be gone from the world, leaving only Minenblum in a pristine blue sea. As it should be.
***
Rose's legs dangled over the edge of the cliffs as she sighed in frustration. Even though the tide begged to differ, she felt as though her recent drawings were poor attempts at artistry.
Skill up!
Drawing 39 > 40
Precision 13 > 14
Your occupation has advanced!
Apprentice Scholar 79 > 80
Luckily for her, she wouldn't have to stew with her annoyance for long. Footsteps on the stone behind her alerted her to the presence of the crown prince.
"Is it time?" she asked Everyn.
"Yep. I don't know why you're so nervous. He loved you when he met you last time," the crown prince said as she stood up and put away her sketchbook and pencils.
"You mean when he tried to use the divine power of his blessing to overwhelm me and show his dominance?" Rose said with disbelief on her face.
"That's just how he shows affection. You should hear about the things he did to teach me how to fight. Gods, when I was just seven years old, he…" Everyn began to regale her with the brutal tales of his childhood education as they made their way to the palace in Greengate.