RSK 7

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Oberon POV~~~~~

One of the benefits I was vaguely aware of was the lack of need for sleep. It was probably past midnight, but I felt just as energetic as during the day. I might have been more energetic. I was currently studying the magic behind the system that now governed the world. I had to give the person that thought of this his due, it was amazingly complex and seemed to be adaptive to the changing world. 

The magic was in a structure I never considered before, rather than a circle that could grow continuously, it was broken into block sections that seemed to govern one part of a spell and the sections could come together to form an even more complex spell. While both systems would technically work, the block section allowed for more control over the interlocking framework. I planned to take my level of magic to a whole new level using this system. 

A red dot vanished from the screen next to me, and I felt a rush of EXP a moment later. It was only a drop in the bucket, but every point counted. The banshee was hard at work hunting down monsters. While she started at level one as is the rule of this world she was quickly moving up the ranks and surpassed me already. She was even able to summon some helpers now, as her constant hunting had leveled the crypt up as well. 

While it only allowed for two more spirits of lower quality to join her, the added forces meant more monsters were dying. Then there was my squad of skeletons. They appeared to have gotten into a race with the banshee and were trying to kill just as many monsters as she was. At least they had coordinated enough to hunt monsters they were each good at killing. Wouldn’t want my skeletons to get wiped out by a giant brute while the spirits could kill it in moments, and vice versa, with my spirits. 

I settled back in my throne and continued to study this new magic as much as possible. 

~~~~~

Town of Guil, Adventurers Guild

It was a calm evening at the adventurers guild in the town of Guil. Everyone was back from their hunts and some people had managed to turn enough profit to eat and drink for several days without anymore work. It was essentially the end of the work week for the people gathered here. 

Suddenly the doors burst open and two men fell to the floor as they lost their balance. They were clearly dehydrated and had seen quite a bit of sun. The guild receptionist rushed forward with some water as some of the people nearby stepped over to help the two men out. Once they were seated and with a few moments to catch their breaths, someone finally asked the question that was burning on their minds the whole time. 

“What happened?” an older adventurer asked. He had been through several wars and monster raids. He was the only veteran this little branch of the guild had, as he was retired here. He just liked to keep up with the younger pups and help them along their journey. 

The skinnier of the men took a deep breath then began to explain, “We were chasing one of the Cursed Family,” as soon as the words left his mouth nearly everyone in the room snapped their attention fully to the men. The Cursed Family were those related to the World’s Curse, many nobles paid a pretty coin to get one of them as a slave. The two men were somewhat annoyed to let this information go but continued nonetheless, “we had her cornered at the oasis to the west,” again this information caused a stir as females go for even higher coin, “right before we caught her, a city rose from the sand! Walls that rose ten meters into the air if not more! Monsters were thrown into the air!” The man said with large gestures as if trying to paint the scene on canvas. 

“A city? In the desert?” people whispered suspiciously. Some began to think this might be some form of scam.

“I know what you all are thinking, but a chunk of the wall landed next to us,” the shorter of the men said as he pulled his bag open. A slab of stone was set on the table, there was a symbol that was well documented and very feared in the history books. A black Phoenix that was burning the rune for magic into the background. As if a mockery of the past, there were the runes that represented all the races that surrounded the phoenix, but they were all disfigured with cracks.

“The World’s Curse!” everyone shouted nearly at once. The next few minutes followed with everyone trying to talk at once. 

“Quiet!” a woman’s voice called with tremendous force. 

Everyone looked to Helena Callwind. The guildmaster of this branch. She was rumored to be level 70. Quite high for humans that only lived a hundred years. She was particularly over powered for this area, as everything, monster or otherwise, was 40 and below. 

“What do you propose, Guildmaster?” one of the receptionists asked.

“We’ll treat it like a dungeon,” Helena said after thinking for a good five minutes, “I need a C rank party with members being at least level 20 for an investigation request. With at least two D rank parties to serve as backup.”

C rank was about the best this area could offer. If she were to put a request in it could take a month or more to get a higher rank party out this way. With at least three parties worth of people working together, the chance of success would be much higher. 

Everyone grew quiet. This could be a tremendous opportunity but it could also lead straight to their deaths. The World’s Curse wasn’t feared because he was evil, he was feared because he was considered the most powerful being of the time. He cursed the entire realm, so many people wondered what would have happened had he survived. 

“We’ll go!” A man yelled from the side of the room. He was Jack Hul, leader of the Golden Wing party. They just reached C-rank a week ago, and he was looking for something to get them on the path of glory. What should fall in his lap but a link to the World’s Curse. The man’s party all nodded in excitement. 

Helena looked them over, she of course knew what they were thinking, she was young and stupid once before. The only problem was no one else volunteered, the smart ones wanted to wait and see, the cowards wouldn’t take the requests without a guarantee of success, and so on. All she could do was her job and let them take the request. If not for the non-interference law that basically bound Guildmasters to their guildhalls, she would go herself. 

“Very well, if no volunteers for the D-rank support parties come forward then the request will be assigned to those in need for their C-rank assessment,” Helena announced.

No one stepped forward so she nodded, “be that way. I will be assigning it tomorrow. Golden Wings, I recommend your party prepare themselves before heading out.”

“Of course, Guildmaster,” the leader said with a smile and a bow. 

Everyone in the guild was animated for the rest of the night as they talked about what it could possibly be that the two men found. The World’s Curse controlled one of the largest militaries in the world at the time, not to mention, his prowess with magic. Two of the five floating islands that still remained in the sky were automated forts that were left behind from those times. They were regarded as dungeons now, but none of the Cursed Family were allowed within fifty kilometers of one. 

In a room, down the street from the guild. The Golden Wings sat around a table discussing their plans. 

“I’m telling you, this will be an easy payday!” Jack said to the rest of his party. 

“Still… now we’re honor bound by the guild to go. You learned about the World’s Curse in school just as I did,” another man said with worry tainting his tone. He was Dauz Lin, the co-leader of the Golden Wings and Jack’s best friend. 

“Go we will! I have a feeling it was just the Cursed Family member that was making their way through the desert and something reacted to her. If that is the case, what are the chances that she will be able to use whatever it is. In fact, she probably is staying there and we’ll be able to catch her while we’re investigating this ‘city’ and have a double payday.”

“I agree with Jack, this could be the break we need to make it big in the adventurer world,” a woman added. She was Lizabeth Fere, the party’s mage. She was probably the most interested in going because it could give insights into magic she never considered before. Like most adventurers she wanted to be rich and famous, this town was only supposed to be a stepping stone for her but the party has been stuck here for nearly four months.

“I as well,” another woman added. She was the cleric of the party, of the Juin faith. She used water to heal injuries, while it was harder in combat the healing was more thorough in the end. She was interested in this place that was apparently related to the World’s Curse. 

“Good! We just need to wait until Guildmaster Helena can arrange for the support parties, either have the two men guide us or have them mark a map for us, and gather the supplies needed to get through the desert and we’ll be set,” Jack said punching his hand in excitement. The rest of the party nodded in agreement, even if  Dauz a bit reluctantly. 

Alessa POV~~~~

Having trouble falling asleep, I rolled over to get out of bed then quickly dressed. Vaunn was standing outside my door like always when I peeked out into the hall. Being a golem, I guessed she never needed to rest. I pushed the door all the way open and walked into the hall. I was amazed at how it seemed to improve every time I saw it. The tapperings and furniture were still very much ruined, but the hall’s floors and walls were no longer cracked and were shining with a sheen.

“Vaunn, do you know where Oberon is?” I asked her, so I didn’t go wandering the entire castle. 

She pointed towards the throne room. I nodded in thanks then walked that way. Glowing light met my gaze as I approached the room. I peeked in to make sure I didn’t interrupt anything dangerous before going in. Like last time the runes were floating around him crazily, but something in me told me there was a sort of order to the chaos. 

“Come in, you won’t bother me,” Oberon said suddenly, catching me by surprise. 

I walked in slowly as I watched the beautiful play of lights in front of me. I couldn't help myself and asked, “What are you doing exactly?” 

He paused to look me over and I blushed worried that I upset him. He turned back after a moment and explained, “You saw me use three spells yesterday. Fireball, magic missile, Storm of blades. Two of those are basic magic, one is advanced magic. Normally, or at least as far as I can tell, you would need to have mastered basic magic before being able to use Advanced magic.”

“That’s right, I was able to learn that before I was found out in a school,” I said with a bitter smile. 

“I see. Well, when I was alive I used magic almost as much as I breathed. The world at least recognized that much and allowed me access to bits and pieces of all my skills from before. So, I was able to use Storm of Blades even though it was locked. Right now, I am trying to see if I can ‘work’ my way around these rules set by the world.”

“Fascinating. I wish I knew how to use magic…” I said idly. 

“...” Oberon stared at me when I said that and I wasn’t sure what to say. Finally after a long silence, “Really!? I’m the best mage this world has ever seen and you don’t even bother asking me to teach you?!” he nearly shouted at me. 

“But, you’re busy with… you know… undeath and what not…” I said weakly which caused Oberon to break into laughter.

“I think I can spare some of my immortal after life to teach you some magic,” Oberon said when he finished laughing. 

Joy bloomed in my chest at the thought of learning something so amazing. I had always been jealous of magic since I was a child, but magic lessons weren’t cheap. Even more so when my family was trying to keep a secret that could ruin their lives. 

I rushed forward not even bothering to hide my childlike expression, “when can we start?!” I asked excitedly. 

“I would say in the morning, but I have a feeling you’re too wound up to sleep,” Oberon said looking me over and I nodded enthusiastically, “I guess we can start tonight, but I am going to have you learn necromancy as well. One of the best ways to learn a new magic is to bounce ideas off someone else. I have my ways, you have yours. Together we might make it even stronger in the end.”

My enthusiasm dropped a few points at that, but I decided whatever, if I got good with necromancy I would never be alone anymore. I nodded then said, “where do we start?” 

“At the basics,” Oberon said patting my head.