Chapter 14
The species of Gnomes is a minute but powerful species. Hailing from the realm of dreams, forced out by an unknown species, they are a great power in the world of magic. Their life span is based on their desire to learn. A Gnome child can grow to adulthood in a matter of months and live for centuries or die in just as many weeks as it took them to grow to maturity. The species is few in number and breed very rarely, but they have an immense level of power in manipulating myst should they live only enough to discover their talents. With their exotic colors of skin and hair, they stand out even in the densest of crowds. The only fragment of the history in the Dream Realm is only mentioned in hushed whispers of the title Dream Eaters in tones of fear.
Day 33, Temporikday
I lashed out with all of my strength against the opponent across from me. I aimed for the Orc’s head with my two-handed blade. The green and brown-skinned brute that was Brecken deflected the blow with ease, swept his blade below my guard, and jabbed me in the gut. The strike was hard enough to force the wind from my lungs, along with no small amount of spit and bile. I staggered back, gasping and wheezing, clutching my abdomen even as Mystagogue Kellennar stepped up beside me.“How about you not overextend yourself, skavy taint-blood.” He sneered as he adjusted my training blade with the tip of his own weapon before striking my ass with his own training blade. “But if you die, it doesn’t dull my blade.” he said with grim amusement as he stepped by.
I rubbed my ass with my free hand even as the mass of muscle across from me bared his teeth and tusks in a brutal grin. Moments later, he lashed out with his own overhead strike. I tried to block, but the blow broke my guard and collided with my shoulder. I let out a wail of pain that was only drowned out among the many. With clenched teeth, I snarled at the tusked nog before taking a renewed grip on my hilt with both hands. I threw a sweeping strike aimed at his knees with as much strength as I could muster.
Brecken looked surprised for only a fraction of a second before he blocked my strike, forced it away, and, cleaving the blade back, struck my chest. I cursed my lack of talent with every pained breath I took. The Mystagogue was right to call me a skavy taint-blood. I truly was a worthless and talentless Darkling.
I silently vowed for the hundredth time that I was going to be a warrior, even if it killed me, as I pushed a thrust aimed at Brecken’s chest at top speed. The mass of meat sidestepped my attack and slapped me across the caff with his weapon in a teasing blow. I drew back and swung again.
“Today is going to be a busy day.” Master Mystagogue Mallock said with a mad grin on his lips. “Today, we will discuss the Core Compound Elements AND the levels and qualities of Myst Crystals. I hope you’re all ready for one hell of a class!” His voice told everyone just how giddy he was to dump all of this information on the class. In all honesty, it excited me to learn about all of this. The more I knew about magic and technology, the better things I could craft to help me in the field.
He set out several crystals of varying colors on his desk, each no larger than his thumb. He waited a long moment, letting us notice the glowing crystals and inspect them from a distance before he took striding steps across the room to open the classroom door for the most oddly intimidating Mystagogue to enter.
A tiny Gnome entered the room, her skin an orange-bronze tan, her hair a vibrant pink with the texture of a dandelion head, and her eyes were a blue-green of the sea only moments before a storm and almost seemed to glow. In her black and red robes of office as Master Mystagogue, she was an odd mixture of cute and utterly terrifying. As a Gnome, she was only a third of the height of any other master at most. Despite her tiny stature, she emanated enough power to leave the class speechless with fear.
“This is Master Mystagogue Neckar. She oversees all studies in the Sect of the Blackened Crown. Put simply, she is the headmaster of the sect of casters and scholars. She is here to display just what can happen when mixing elements.”
Mystagogue Neckar stepped up beside the desk, her hands folded behind her back, her posture rigid as stone. Mystagogue Mallock shuffled up beside her.
“Now you may ask why I didn’t invite her during our last class. My answer is simple. The element of electricity is volatile and erratic by nature. I felt it best to introduce you to the most volatile element to catch your attention while holding it in an enclosed environment. I feel that now it is time to show you what a real Mage can do to show you the combination of elements.”
Mystagogue Mallock stepped back behind his desk, picked up a brown crystal, and held it beside a gray-green crystal. He held up the brown crystal, proclaiming it as “Earth” before he pointed it towards the gray-green crystal that he proclaimed as “Air.”
Mystagogue Neckar held her hands together with a space of about six inches between them, and a clear bubble came into creation between her fingertips. Mystagogue Mallock set down the crystals and produced a simple stone from within his desk, and set it atop the desk. He raised his mechanical left arm over his head and brought it crashing down to turn the stone into pebbles and powder. He then stepped up beside Mystagogue Neckar and slammed his fist against the globe with no effect. After this display, the elderly Mystagogue stepped up to the holo-board to flip the hidden switch to reveal the small bunker-like room just behind it. In the small space was a crash test dummy, one of the models designed for moving on its own with only the simplest level of intelligence. The dummy stood there as the Gnomish Mystagogue turned towards him, shifting her hands slightly so they both pressed wrist to wrist behind the clear sphere of energy. As soon as she did this, the bubble popped, and the energy holding it together was released and directed toward the mannequin. A wave of kinetic force blasted the dummy against the wall, cracking the composite plating on its chest. After a few seconds, the crash test dummy stood back up, unphased by the abuse it had just taken.
Mystagogue Mallock spoke with a sideways grin in response to all of our shocked faces. “When you combine the solidity of Earth to the element of Air, the result is Kinetic Force. The technical term is Evulsion Kinetics and Static Kinetics. Kinetics is a force that can be used to stop attacks or can be used as an attack in and of itself. Evulsion Kinetics is a common choice for attacks when physical force is needed. Static Kinetics can resist incoming physical forces, making it ideal for repelling weapon attacks and even repelling Evulsion Kinetics if enough Vells are used to counter the force. With precision, one could even use it to interact with objects like opening a door or pressing a button. One Vell equals twenty-five foot-pounds of force. That’s enough to push an unprepared man off his feet. Defensively one Vell would stop twenty-five foot-pounds of force, and while any force stronger would push through the object or energy passing through, would still face the resistance and be slowed to a degree.”
Next, he held up the same brown crystal and pointed it towards a blue crystal of the same size, proclaiming it as “Water”.
Mystagogue Neckar pressed her hands together, merging two energies, one blue, the other brown. The result was a thick black substance. The Gnome Mystagogue sprayed thick black fluid across the floor of the blast chamber. In response, the manikin tried to take a single step forward, only to find its feet stuck fast to the floor.
“When you apply the solidity of Earth to the element of Water, it becomes Trapp Tar. This magical element is not like naturally found tar. This Trapp Tar manifests traits based on the will and desire of the caster. It could be even more adhesive than standard tar, or more liquid, or dry more quickly. We use Trapp Tar in a wide range of fields. In industrial practices, it's used as an adhesive for short-term purposes. Trapp Tar, just like any magically conjured material, has a half-life, meaning that it will break down into ambient myst after a set amount of time. The more Vells used to keep its state stable, the longer it will last. Because of this, Trapp Tar is used as an instant, if temporary, binding agent while a mundane binding agent takes hold and dries. When the element is put to use for combat or defensive means…” He gestured to the immobilized manikin. “I think the answer is evident.”
Master Neckar released a jet of hot water into the blast room, thinning and dispersing the tar to flow into drainage grates in the floor as the class laughed at Mystagogue Mallock’s humor.
Master Mallock picked up the very same brown crystal from before and pointed towards a burning red crystal he had freshly picked up. The moment he did so, Master Neckar pressed her hands together to release a spewing vomit of molten stone and metal into the blast room. The jet of molten stone struck the manikin in the right shoulder, slagging the arm and separating it from the dummy’s body.
“When you combine Earth with Fire, you get the result of Scorriomagmic Slag.” Mystagogue Mallock said even as he pressed a hidden button under his desk to trigger a fire extinguishing system. Gray powder shot from holes in the ceiling to smother flames and absorb the heat. A small mound of black rock with a half-melted mechanical arm lay on the floor of the room. “Now you might, after witnessing Master Neckar produce raw molten material seemingly from thin air, think this could be a source of infinite resources for metalwork. You’d be wrong. Scorriomagmic Slag, or Mage Slag, is only useful in its fresh and superheated state. It, like Trapp Tar, has a short half-life. Even when it’s been designed to stay for long periods of time, it is not malleable when reheated, dissolving instead. Even if it’s poured straight into molds, items made from Scorriomagmic Slag do not have the durability of natural iron or steel. What it is used for is deforestation, material destruction, temporary patch welds, and combat.”
Mystagogue Mallock made a show of tossing the elemental crystal of Earth over his shoulder like it was mere trash before he picked up the gray-green crystal of Air in the opposite hand and pointed it to a blue crystal. “I’ve already shown you what happens when you combine Air and Fire Myst. If I need to remind you, the result is Lightning, or the technical term, Voltreonic Current. But what happens when you apply the traits of Air to Water?”
There was a long silence as the class seemed to think all at once. When no answer came, Mallock answered. “When you apply the mobility of Air to the element of Water, you get the magical lubricant simply called Zero Oil. Now, I’m sure you’ve picked up on the pattern this far, and Zero Oil, or Mage Oil, isn’t like natural oil. Like any other magically conjured material, Zero Oil will dissolve after a set period of time. Like Trapp Tar, this substance can have its traits altered and set by the caster.”
Neckar discharged a stream of Zero Oil across the floor at the crash test dummy’s feet, fluid, black, and slick. The automaton tried to take a step forward, only to lose its footing and fall yet again. “This element is well known to be the best lubricant for vehicles and machines due to its total zero-traction trait, hense where it got the name Zero Oil. This substance is used in almost all forms of machinery and industry. Because of its limited life span, the substance needs to be replaced regularly, much like natural oil, only there is no waste product.” As Master Mallock gave his little speech, Master Necker loosed a geyser of water again, the Zero Oil washing away.
Mystagogue Mallock set down the crystals only to pick up yet another set, pointing a red crystal towards a blue. “When you combine Fire and Water Myst, you get Devorrick Acid.”
On cue, Master Neckar loosed a small jet of acid into the blast room, melting the pile of cooled molten stone and metal. The clear dark gray-green fluid ate away the dark mound, then ate through the poor dummy. Within moments, everything that had been in that room was flowing down the rain, even what was once stone, metal, and circuits. Strangely enough, the room was still undamaged. I made a note to ask about that sometime later.
Mystagogue Mallock watched the magical acid dissolve and wash down the drain, helped along by the Gnome Master with yet another jet of water. Then Mallock turned around and continued his lecture. "Devorrick Acid, just like Zero Oil and Trapp Tar, can have its chemistry specially tailored by the caster upon conjuration. It can be alkaline or base, which gives it a special role when used in combat or other dangerous situations." He pulled four things from his desk: a lighter, a vile of water, a stone, and a whoopie cushion of all things. "The Core Elements can counter each other like a four-option game of rock paper scissors. Water beats Fire, Fire beats Air, Air beats Earth, and Earth beats Water. While that is a gross oversimplification of the truth, the example holds with the Compound Core Elements. Zero Oil beats Devorrick Acid, Devorrick Acid beats Scorriomagmic Slag, Scoriomagmic Slag beats Voltreonic Current, Voltreonic Current beats Static Kinetics, Static Kinetics beats Evulsion Kinetics, and Evulsion Kinetics beats Zero Oil. But just like how Kinetic energy has two places in this example, Devorrick Acid would too, as you can technically counter either alkaline or base Devorrick Acid with the opposite type, but only if it is of equal potency and volume or more than that of what you're attempting to counter.
Mystagogue Neckar stepped forward, drawing the eye of every class member with her dominating presence. “I feel that before anything else is said, I should provide you a warning now that you’ve seen what the Core Elements can do. Be aware and be forewarned. Should you use too much of any one element, be it of the Core Four elements or the Dualities, you will be affected. You will become cursed and forever changed to be known as an Elemani. Your body, mind, and personality will take on traits from the element. Overuse of any one element can result in this change, so use your magic sparingly lest you fall to such a curse.”
With that decree, the Master Mystagogue took several steps back and almost seemed to flee from the room. I didn’t know about the rest of the class, but I had images running through my head of me getting blue skin or literal flaming hair. In my mind, the process of that change would not be pleasant.
Mystagogue Mallock let out a low, slow whistle as he clasped his hands behind his back and strolled out from behind his desk with over-exaggerated steps. “Well, I was planning on breaching the Elemani topic at a later date and with a lighter touch. Don’t worry about spontaneously changing. I will say it takes years, if not decades, of regular and frequent use before you need to worry about the transformation.” The instructor scooped up the Myst crystals off his desk and plinked them one by one into a leather bag. “Now, how about we talk about something a little less scary? Let’s talk about nice, safe crystal classifications.”
As half of the class bemoaned the new topic and the other half seemed to let out a unified sigh of relief, the Mystagogue dropped a larger leather bag on his desk on his way to close the blast door to access the holo-board. Without a second glance, Mallock tapped the holo-board, then tapped the therra-node on the side of his head. As he stepped back to his desk and opened the bag there, a grid was automatically taking shape on the board.
“Let’s start with size classifications. The first and smallest is the fragment.” He held up a glowing blue shard the size of a fingernail. He set the fragment on the desk, and a similar fragment appeared on the board display. “Next comes shard.” He pulled out a crystal the size of half a grown man’s thumb and pressed it onto the desk. Again, an image of a crystal to appropriate scale with the class compared to the last appeared on the display. “Next largest is the gem.” Mallock pulled free a crystal that could fit into his palm. “The last size class for commercial use is the cluster.” This last crystal that was pulled from the bag was the size of a man’s fist, protrusions sprouting from a central mass.
The Mystagogue pulled from seemingly nowhere behind his desk, a brick of crystal, almost a foot long, half a foot wide, and half a foot deep. “This is classified as a battery. Obviously, we aren’t talking about the kind of batteries you put in kids’ toys or even power tools. This here is the kind of battery that powers cars, small boats, and the like.”
He stepped back around the desk. “There is one size class larger called a core. Cores are used to power war machines, cruise liners, airships, and other large mechanical contraptions. Something to note is any size crystal can be any shape and can be grown based on what it is designed to power with a frame mold.”
“Now, there are more factors than just size to consider. There are varying classifications of potency: least, lesser, moderate, greater, and grand. Potency classifies how much power the crystal can put out consistently or per-use.”
“The last factor to keep in mind is quality. Raw, flawed, refined, honed, and flawless are the levels of quality. A crystal’s quality determines how much power is stored in it or how many times it can be used before depletion.”
I diligently took notes as the Master spoke. This information, every scrap of it, was going to be critical when I was designing my gear and tools. I had no doubt that the rest of the class was bored by this mundane lecture after such a dramatic and exhilarating display of elemental combinations. But I was devouring this information, every statistic, measurement, and law. The more I knew, the more complex equipment I could craft. I may be a skavy fighter, but I just might be able to compensate for that lack of prowess. I was coming to terms with the fact that I would never become a master fighter. But if I had anything to say about my future, I was going to be a warrior, even if it was through cheating with gadgets. And I loved gadgets.
