Nox wanted to express his anger at Michelle and Ernest for hiding the truth from the party. However, he had no leg to stand on. Fortunately, none of them had seen Lillin's unusual durability during the fight. Gravity magic wasn't enough to explain why her clothes had so many tears and blood stains, but no scratches or scabs remained. Nox's healing pills were excellent for surface wounds but sti...
2023-08-02 07:58:01 +0000 UTC View PostLillin didn’t hold back. No one would see her in the horde. She knew Nox wouldn’t appreciate her letting loose her true mouth and eating her way through the crowd. However, that didn’t mean she couldn’t use biomass to develop subdermal armor. The worm lord she devoured during their previous delve could sacrifice flexibility for protection. Lillin hadn’t mastered the ability yet, but s...
2023-08-01 20:28:05 +0000 UTC View Post“Why did you agree to Wilson coming along?” Lillin asked once, sure they were alone.
“Because he was going to accompany us either way,” Nox answered. “I’d rather appear willing than guilty.”
“Now it's going to get difficult for us to find the boss and devour him. I could’ve received a nice boost, and you’d also get a push to journeyman.”
“It’s not too...
2023-08-01 16:11:58 +0000 UTC View PostThe dungeon studies department’s office had plenty of rifts for the party to challenge. No palms needed greasing, and the Oakheart name went unmentioned. The number of rifts around the city had multiplied over the past month. Diviners assigned most of them a danger level of orange. A handful apparently leaked yellow light through the spatial opening, and there were also a few greens.
De...
2023-08-01 16:11:21 +0000 UTC View Post“The gods weren’t satisfied just making our lives miserable. They meddled in other dimensions, too. When planewalking mages attempted to help them, the locals mistook them for gods, too. It wasn’t the worst thing ever. The people of these realms jumped at the opportunity to reproduce with individuals they mistook as the divine. As a result, arcane blood populated their worlds and gave...
2023-08-01 16:10:40 +0000 UTC View PostNox struggled to sit still during Beginner Dungeon Theory. He often wished the professor would let students take the written exam early. After a lifetime of studying dungeons in the Golden Isles’ library, the course’s contents felt like basic, introductory knowledge to him. Nox’s research focused on Sundarshahar, its surroundings, flora, and fauna. However, before understanding the machin...
2023-08-01 16:10:03 +0000 UTC View PostNox’s arms were tight the following morning. The discomfort felt focused around the banded scars on his forearm. The tattoos stretched out on either side of it, extended up his triceps, and then met between the shoulder blades over the spine. Even though no Aether Ink covered the warped skin, the extensive design existed to bridge the three inches of damaged mana channels.
Nox’s stoma...
2023-08-01 16:09:20 +0000 UTC View PostBrewing aether ink was an easy process when compared to Nox’s recent alchemical challenges. It used a handful of rare ingredients and required micro-management and constant attention after the halfway point. Most journeymen alchemists would be hesitant to attempt such a brew without assistance or a senior present, but Nox had made it enough times to know what he was doing.
After class, ...
2023-07-31 13:40:19 +0000 UTC View PostKris, Lillin, Pudge, and Vys showed up at Annabelle’s quarters the following morning, just after dawn. The professor got word of what happened as soon as she woke. First, she looked for Nox at his apartment, where his friends told her he had never come home. They had found out about his plans from the parlor assistant the day before. The woman had stopped to gossip and flirt with Pudge when d...
2023-07-28 15:34:06 +0000 UTC View Post“Spirits are a curious existence. They can move freely in the physical and ethereal realms. Most prefer to stick to one, while others can phase between them simultaneously. Spirits gave humanity access to magic long before Ygg and the druids came to our world. One needed to befriend the mysterious entities before gaining their strength and favor. Spirits were common. We lived alongside th...
2023-07-28 09:45:36 +0000 UTC View Post“I should’ve expected as much.” Annabelle sighed as she and Nox strolled through the streets of the Aristrocat’s Quarter. Unlike the market ring, it featured a lot more open space. Gardens and courtyards with sculptures of fountains lined the street. “It’s my fault. I should’ve been ready in time.”
“It wasn’t too bad. The man appears to respect honesty. It's probably h...
2023-07-28 05:47:06 +0000 UTC View PostThe amount of gold Annabelle had at her disposal disturbed Nox. She casually threw around money on mundane items Nox considered luxuries. Even though he needed clothes for one dinner, she purchased three silk shirts and matching tailored trousers. The young noblewoman also picked out two vests and evening coats. She ignored Nox’s protests and also bought black grack leather shoes with heavy, ...
2023-07-27 16:44:51 +0000 UTC View PostIt was Seventhday—Nox’s favorite day of the week. It was too early to call it a ritual, but he and his friends met at the eighth-morning bell for breakfast. Initially, it was just Nox, Annabelle, Lillin, and Pudge. Caitlin and Alexander joined them after the assault. They were an excellent addition to the gatherings.
The female half of the Woodson siblings were quiet and only engaged ...
2023-07-27 08:59:12 +0000 UTC View PostOn the first Sixthday of the third month, Kris summoned Nox to her apartment for another mentor-apprentice meeting. He didn’t think it possible, but her apartment was messier than the first meeting. The professor had several chalkboards littered around her office and living room. Some contained mathematical formulae and spellforms Nox couldn’t begin to understand. Others listed Dungeon Lord...
2023-07-27 08:58:47 +0000 UTC View PostThe second month of the semester ended with a gross profit of hundred-and-fifty gold coins. Twenty of which went to Annabelle for repayment towards her investment. He paid Pudge the same for his time and use of his beasts. Unlike cosmetics, live subjects were essential for testing contraceptives. The brew was nowhere near ready for human trials. Nox didn’t want to scar someone permanently or ...
2023-07-27 08:58:20 +0000 UTC View PostQuestions kept Nox up for several nights following his meeting with the Beaufort siblings. The university, especially Kris, appeared to treasure Michelle despite the taboo surrounding her magic. After their meeting, when he got some time off, he spent an hour in the nearest library looking up the Imperian Mages Guild and the Imperian Inquisition. It took him a while since the library index didn...
2023-07-27 08:57:53 +0000 UTC View Post