The Dive: Birth of a Wordsmith Page 26

  “What about you? How far on the scale is your magic?”

  She grinned to me, “I can use grand magic, yes. But I don’t think anyone ever achieved the level of divine since the first Archmage, because magic that strong would be able to change the entire world in a single spell. Let me put it this way… the contract that binds the angels and the demons is on the upper end of Royal Magic. Much stronger, and it would be Grand Magic.”

  “So, what would be an example of Grand Magic?”

  “Hmm… think of calling down a meteor to wipe out an enemy’s entire army. That would be a Grand Magic of earth. People that can use that level of power are the types told about in legends.”

  “And to get a Grand Magic, I’d have to master a school of magic… Well, I’m a long way from doing that.” I let out a sigh.

  “Hey, don’t get so down. I’m sure that you’ll get there, given how persistent you are.” She smirked to me.

  “Thanks. I don’t suppose you know a way to train my magic without throwing spells around, do you?”

  “Oh, they don’t teach you? Well, that’s a shame… there’s actually a really easy technique that most people--well, demons-- use.”

  “They might have taught it to regular students, but I was only in the classes for a few weeks. So, what is it?”

  “Okay… basically, just sit down, and focus your mana into a ball above your hand. Then, change that ball into various shapes. Push yourself on the speed and accuracy, and that will train your control over your magic. Once you’ve mastered that, your spells will grow in strength much faster than they have been.”

  “Thanks. Seems kinda obvious now that you explained it. The master has become a student again.”

  She tilted her head back and laughed. “Oh nonsense. You’re still pretty good. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone make a new rune, especially as quickly as you did. You should be proud of yourself for coming so far so quickly.”

  “Thanks, again. Oh, that reminds me. What do you know about the Deific Dictum?”

  “Those old grimoires? They’re still around?” She tilted her head, surprised.

  “Yeah, apparently that is the reward for becoming a mage among the humans.” I pulled my spellbook out to show her. “I was told that I needed to get the blessings of the four main surface races, as well as various other hidden races.”

  “That’s right. And before you ask, yes you can get the blessing of demons. But.. do you want it? While you’re carrying around an item marked by the underworld, you won’t be able to associate with any angels.”

  “You’re… asking me if I want to give up the blessing so that I can be friends with a bunch of jerks who took the first chance they saw to work around their treaty?” I looked at her as if to say that was a stupid question.

  “Fine, fine. Hand it over. I’m not sure what power it’ll give you. I’ve never really blessed one of these before.”

  “Huh? You mean it’s another first for you?”

  Lilith let out a small giggle. “I guess so.” When I handed the book to her, she put her hand on it. “In accordance with the ancient customs, for services rendered to me and my kingdom, I, Demon Queen Lilith, grant the blessing of demons to this tome.” A red light with black smoke emitted from her hand, wrapping around the book. After a few seconds, the light and smoke both faded away. “Go on, tell me what it did!” She thrust the book back to me with an eager expression.

  Jin’s Grimoire has been enhanced!

  Rarity: Unique

  Type: Accessory

  Value: --- Gild

  Earned through excessive studying, this spellbook is the proof that Jin achieved the rank of Mage. All spells are automatically recorded in this book as its owner learns them.

  Intelligence +20

  Wisdom + 20

  Barrier: As long as this book is carried, the magical energies contained within it wrap around the book’s owner, forming a barrier that negates damage based on the owner’s remaining mana. Once per day, this can change into a barrier which substitutes health for mana. In the event of an attack that could kill the owner, this effect activates automatically.

  Worldlore: After receiving the blessing of the elves, you are now capable of gaining information of all the world’s inhabitants at a mere glance.

  Once per day: By studying this book, the owner can increase their effective Magical Talent level by 1 for one day.

  Lesser Creation: After receiving the blessing of the demon queen, you are now capable of creating nonmagical items from your mana. The quality of the item depends on the mana used, but the item can not be used by anyone else. Likewise, you are automatically treated as being competent with the created item.

  Requirements: Magical Knowledge 10, Mage title

  I blinked at the pop up. “Oh.. wow… now that is a blessing.”

  “Show me show me show me!” Lilith was practically bouncing on her heels, and I had to pull my eyes away from her bouncing chest.

  “Oh… right.” I held my hand out in front of me and closed my eyes. Five hundred mana should do.

  After channeling a massive amount of mana into my hand, I felt steel form in my fingers, the handle of a sword. When I opened my eyes, I was holding a jeweled saber, the handle wrapping around my hand like a silver shield.

  “Oooh… that’s really cool!” Lilith exclaimed next to me, reaching out to poke the sword. “Ouch, sharp!” She pulled her finger back and sucked on it as a small drop of blood was released. “Explain, now.” She smiled to me, her finger apparently already healed.

  “Uh, the book gained a power called Lesser Creation. I can make any nonmagical item out of my mana, and be considered an expert with it. Though, I doubt it will give me the reflexes to effectively use a sword like this for more than attacking. And the more mana I pour into the item, the better the quality.”

  “And… you felt you had to pour so much into this because..?”

  I looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “Was that a lot? It was a bit less than a third of my total.”

  “Uh, yeah… Since you aren’t making them magical, you could use half the mana you used and still get a really good weapon or armor.”

  “Let me try something..” I dismissed the weapon, and surprisingly the mana all came back to me rather than dispersing. Huh, neat. I set that note aside for late, and raised my hand again. Alright… focus…

  After concentrating on the image I wanted, I felt a piece of paper fall into my hand. I only used about twenty mana this time, but all I needed was a sheet of paper. On the paper was blurred writing, which was not what I had in mind. “Okay, need to practice before I can make instant documents.”

  “That exercise I told you about earlier should help, since it’s about shaping your mana!” Lilith quickly exclaimed, clapping her hands together like she was proud that she was useful.

  “I still say you don’t act much like a demon queen.” I joked with her, and she puffed up her cheeks in protest. “Too cute for a demon queen.”

  I could hear her mumble under her breath, “Demons can be cute too..” But she didn’t argue too much, seeming to just like that I said that about her.

  “Okay… first, the rune. Then, I can work on this. There are a lot of things I want to try making.” I smiled to her, patting her head again as I sat down. “Okay, help me out here. I need a rune that acts to target all of the components of the contract that are identified. What would the proper definition be for something like that…”

  “Uh.. Well, you’re already selecting them with the detection magic. It’s just a matter of making a rune that will apply to all of them so that you don’t miss any.”

  “Right… so, rather than the Twin rune, where I targeted multiple objects of the same origin, this one would be to target multiple pieces of the same object.” I smiled, closing my eyes and focusing on the definition. Parts of a single structure. I had th
e image in my mind, and had just finished drawing it out when it dawned on me. “This rune won’t cover the spell to put the contract back into you. I’ll need to make a third one after all.”

  “No you won’t~.” Lilith smiled to me, wrapping her arms around my chest and leaning over my shoulder. “Demons already use contract magic that can do that. You just seemed so intent on making it unique I didn’t mention it earlier. Just these two runes will be plenty.”

  “Think so?”

  “Yup. I’ll cast the merging spell myself, so it won’t be a problem. Just don’t put anything weird in the contract before I do, okay? I don’t want to end up as a mere plaything.” She winked playfully to me.

  “I wasn’t going to do anything like that, don’t worry. But, I’ll need to wait to choose what edits to make until the ritual is being cast. If we’ve only got one shot to get it right, I don’t want to waste it.”

  “I understand~. Do you want to cast all of the other spells yourself?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure I have the energy for all of them. The only one that I absolutely have to cast is the spell to rewrite the contract. Everything else I can write out and trust your more experienced casters to handle.”

  “Yeah.. this is a really big spell you’re changing. In a way, the ritual is like a Grand Magic spell, though each part is no greater than an Adept spell. How they come together and amplify their potentials to rewrite such a powerful contract, that’s no small magic.”

  “Yeah, about that.. I was thinking..”

  “Hmm?”

  “Well, after we do this, I’m going to be targeted by every angel that realizes I changed the contract, right?”

  Lilith nodded slowly, frowning. “Yeah.. probably.”

  “Well, how about this? What if one of the changes I make is so that neither side can harm, by any definition, the representatives of the other faction? With your blessing on the grimoire, I am practically your representative already. After the alteration, neither the angels or their accomplices would be able to attack me.”

  She nodded quickly. “Yeah, that would be good. Though, we wouldn’t be able to attack their representatives either.”

  “Ah, but you see, you don’t have to attack them. You said that to get into Hell without a demon guide is impossible. There were traps and monsters waiting for people who tried. You don’t have to hurt them, just don’t help them. Let them hurt themselves.”

  Lilith slowly grinned to me. “Are you sure you’re not a demon in disguise?”

  “Well, I did mention being your representative.”

  “You did… and, I think I need to give you something to make that more official than just a simple mark on your book. Something that nobody would be able to deny came from a demon.” She slowly had me stand from my chair and turned me around.

  “Oh? What did you have in mind?”

  “Close your eyes, silly…” She blushed a bit while looking me in the eyes, but I did as requested, and closed them. I could feel her breath over my lips just a few seconds before she kissed me, holding us together like that for several seconds. But, this wasn’t just a normal kiss. I could hear system messages popping up all around me, just waiting for me to open my eyes. “There..” When I opened my eyes, I was dumbstruck from the messages waiting for me.

  You have unlocked a hidden title!

  Emissary of the Underworld

  You have received the favor of the Demon Queen herself, and achieved the highest honor a mortal can reach in the demon court. It is now possible to speak directly to any demon you know, regardless of distance. Mana + 200, Fame + 500

  New Talent Unlocked!

  Infernal Magic-- This is the magic of the demons, utilizing darkness, hellfire, and various other unholy aspects.

  Infernal Magic has increased to 20

  Hellfire bolt has been added to your spell list

  Summon Hellknight has been added to your spell list

  Open Pit has been added to your spell list

  Hungry Shadows has been added to your spell list

  Grasping Darkness has been added to your spell list

  Hell’s Gate has been added to your spell list

  Hellfire Aura has been added to your spell list

  Salvage Soul has been added to your spell list

  Possess has been added to your spell list

  Soul Storm has been added to your spell list

  All Infernal Magic spells have risen to Advanced rank.

  Okay… motherlode of all rewards. I blinked reading the messages several times, before looking to Lilith, who was blushing and looking away. “Is… is it really alright to give me all of that?” Not only did I get the title and a new field of magic, but that field of magic immediately became as high a level as all of my other magics put together.

  “Do.. you not want it?”

  “Of course I want it! I was just worried that you’d get in trouble for giving something like that to me.”

  She let her shoulders relax, and sighed. “It’s alright. You’ve helped us more than any human in history, and you aren’t even done yet. If anyone argues with my ruling, they can take it up with me.” She winked to me and finally let go of me, taking a step back. “Just remember… now you’ll be bound by the contract too, as a representative of the Demons.”

  “Eh, I never really felt like going to the city of angels anyways. Especially since you told me the big man doesn’t really run the show there.”

  “So… you’re alright with it?” She smiled hopefully.

  “Alright with it? Lilith, the magic you gave me is literally more powerful than any other attack spell I’ve made so far. Though, I’ll have to check out what some of them do later. I noticed you gave me the spell Hell’s Gate. I assume that will let me make a temporary gate to come here whenever I want?”

  “Yup! You can summon a gate that will last until you close it. And when you leave here, you can choose to either leave to the same spot you arrived, or exit at any of the permanent gates.”

  “Well, that will be useful. Could you give me a map of where the gates are? Being able to jump between them could save weeks of travel time.”

  “Why do you think we spread them out so much?” Lilith grinned to me. “I’ll give you the map later today.”

  “Thanks. Give me just a second.” I smiled to her, and opened up my character sheet. I had gotten twenty levels just from the infernal magic, so that gave me everything I need to hit my benchmark for Wisdom.

  Your Wisdom has risen to over 200. A new Wisdom-Related skill will be granted based on your style of play.

  Calmed Mind - This skill grants the user a resistance against status effects that would cloud or control their mind.

  Lilith had her head tilted to the side, seeming worried as I allocated my stat points from the sudden level increase, but then I grinned and she relaxed. “Don’t scare me like that!”

  “Huh? What do you mean?”

  “I thought you had gotten upset about being marked as my emissary.”