Point out any mistakes please
________
The groups head flew to look at me as Ais and I walked closer. They'd mostly gathered back together, only Yarld's knocked out body resting against a bolder. He wasn't bleeding much so they weren't in a rush.
The party huddled together in a defensive formation, they were tired and injured, their mage was almost out of magic, their tank was still down for the count, their frontline was mostly fine while their archer was still capable of continuing.
Looking at their defensive stance I giggle a little.
"Pfft" shaking my head I raised my hands in mock surrender "Don't worry, we're not your enemies. I actually saved you earlier."
Twirling my finger a red barrier appeared around the group, the exact same one I'd made around their leader just a bit ago.
"And if I wanted to attack you all… Well, you'd already be dead."
The inside of the barrier formed spiked Javelins and instantly shrunk where the Javelins were just out of reach of touching the party.
Their eyes widened in horror at how easily I trapped them. I could tell just by their eyes they realized the situation they were in. Well not really, I don't plan to kill them or anything, I only did that to look cool.
Waving my hand, the barrier swiftly dissipated.
The group looked between each other, sending several confused and concerned looks.
After a moment of their silent conversation they nodded together and holstered their weapons.
Their leader, Simon, spoke up shortly after.
"Ehem, what is it that you want?" He asked awkwardly.
Lowering my still raised hands I answered "Just to ask a few questions."
"What could someone from the Loki familia want to ask us?" He asked again, his eyes drifting to Ais.
Shaking my head I said "What I want to know is not something anyone in the familia can answer, this is something only an average adventurer party could answer."
Being called average clearly stung him a bit from the twitch of his lips and bro but he knew it was the truth. Nodding he said "Go ahead, what are your questions?"
Clearing my throat I started with my first question, "First of all, how does this victory feel? was hard fought and you all had a few close calls."
Simon answered first "Honestly, completely invigorating, even though I had us fight it, I wasn't confident we'd even make it out alive. And that would've been the case for me if you weren't here, thanks by the way. I knew we couldn't let the opportunity go though, so I had us risk it. Now that we've won, I don't even know how to express this complete satisfaction inside me."
His words made his party look at him with a stink eye but they also smiled, also feeling immense accomplishment in this situation.
I nodded, mostly satisfied with that answer.
Onto the next one then.
"At most, 3 of you will level up from this battle. And I have a prediction of who those three will be. The mage, the Archer, and the swordsman, the tank is a maybe at best. So this is a question to the spear wielder, how does it feel not even being in the running?"
The parties gaze shifted to the subject of the question.
His arm reached up a scratched the back of his head. Releasing a sigh he answered "It's a bit annoying but I didn't do much so it's fair."
Answering back immediately I asked "But isn't that simply because the opportunity to do something was taken from you? You were asked to take care of the downed teammate were you not?"
He shook his head slowly "While that may be true, we are a team fighting a foe beyond something we've ever attempted before. We know each others skills and what we're all capable of doing, I was simply the best choice for it."
Nodding, I accepted that answer.
"And Now, the final question." I said dramatically, " I assume you guys aren't apart of the same familia, and your familia's are likely pretty small, once you level up you'll likely be straddled with new responsibilities where you won't be able to party with each other anymore. What do you guys plan to do now?"
My question seemed to hit them like a loaded truck, it was like a movie scene the way their expressions instantly froze over.
Oh? So they didn't think about that?
"Wait, Simon what actually will happen? All our familia's only have a maximum of 3 level 2's, yours only having 1." The mage girl asked, I think her name was Chloe based off the shout I heard during the fight.
"..I…I don't know… I didn't think about that." Was all Simon could answer with.
"You should be worrying about yourself Chloe, don't you remember? Our familia has been waiting for a mage to reach level 2 for a while now." Lenard said causing Chloe's eyes to widen.
"Ah." She let out a sound of realization. "I completely forgot." She said.
Looking over to his other party member Lenard said "What about you Trell? Your familia only has 1 level 2 as well right?"
Trell nodded "Yeah, my Goddess has been complaining about me not partying with the rest of the familia too. If I really do level up, I don't think I'll be able to brush those complaints off anymore." She explained with a frown on her face.
They stood in silence at the realization, not really knowing how to process it all.
Oh what drama!
"That's enough for now." Simon said gathering the attention back to him.
"This is something we should discuss on the surface, we won't know the full situation until we do end up leveling up." He continued.
Walking over to the now awake Yarld, Simon helped him stand up.
Looking back at me he asked "Do you have anymore questions? We should really be heading back."
Giving it some thought I shook my head "Nah, that is basically all I wanted to ask."
Flicking my hand I dropped the larger barrier I had created around the area to prevent monster attacks during the little interview.
"Good luck on your way back up." I said
"You too, and thanks for saving me, I truly appreciate it." Simon said slowly walking towards the slope to the higher floors, Yarld's arm over his shoulder as he helped his tank walk.
The other party members nodded or responded with a casual "you too."
Watching their backs disappear to the upper floors of the dungeon I let out a sigh.
.
.
.
"Hey Ais." I said catching her attention
"Hm?" Ais intoned casually.
"Am I weird?"
"Very."
A smiled bloomed across my face, "Yeah, I think so too."
____
It didn't take us long to reach the surface, I no longer had much interest in the monsters on the upper floors so I let Ais deal with them and only attacking periodically. I didn't know exactly why, but I assume the mutation of the Kobold was my fault so, I don't want to cause too many mutations. At least not too quickly.
It was already a couple hours past noon by the time we'd finally come back dungeon, I'd guess it's around 4pm.
Since it was getting pretty late we decided to head back to the familia home, deciding not to head to the guild first. We, or at least I, had other things I needed to do today. The line is probably long right now anyway.
We did stop to buy some empty books for my testing later though.
Arriving at the familia home we were greeted with several others just arriving back as well.
"Oh Camellia! We've been waiting for you!" A voice called out, one I didn't particularly recognize.
?
Looking over I see two girls a girl with short straight hair that reached just in the middle of her neck. Her outfit a bit strange, her white sleeves were large covering both of her arms completely, they weren't even connected to the rest of her outfit. She wore a pure black body cover thing that covered her upper chest and upper back with a white piece of cloth covered her stomach and lower back. The rest of her outfit just being shorts and shoes.
If this wasn't a fantasy world, I'd question it far more than I already am.
The second girl stood next to her in a full black dress with the sides of the legs cut for increased movement. The weird part was that she had on bracers on each arm, armor that covered her chest, and breasts, then just one shoulder covered.
…Why?
"And who may you two be?" I asked, I didn't recognize them at all.
They paused for a moment, probably just remembering that even though they may know me, I don't know them. I am still new after all.
The first girl awkwardly coughed "Oh yeah, sorry about that. I'm Sharon and this is Liza, we'd made an appointment but we were told you were at the dungeon today so we've been waiting…"
Oh, it just about that.
Holding up a hand in a stopping motion I said "Hold on, let me clean up before all that."
"Oh yeah sure, we can wait a bit longer." Sharon replied.
__
After my quick bath we were now at in my office. Ais decided to follow along as well, I didn't ask why, but she was probably just feeling bored.
"So, what magic do you want?" I asked looking at Sharon, choosing her as the first one to go.
"I'm a close ranged fighter and I use gauntlets as my main weapon. I'm pretty good at it but I don't have anything for long or medium range. I'd just want something to help me catch opponents are medium to long range that also works in close range. Preferably something with maybe a weakening affect?" Sharon explained her idea.
A mid to long range weakening spell that can also be used at close range Huh? Not totally unheard of but that's pretty rare.
Those type of spells usually fall under the curses category.
Although… she never specified what type of weakening so I do have an idea that could work.
An art from Tensura called Chaos eater, it allows the user to create head shaped red tendrils that they can launch at enemies at mid to long range while also being usable at close range. These tendrils corrode the body and potentially the soul of the attacked opponent, alongside this, it's able to drain the strength of the target away from them while they are being corroded.
Opening the book I've been using to keep track of spells I've given, I open a new page and Jot down the details of the spell. I left out the corroding the soul part of course.
Reaching over the desk I hand book to Sharon "Is that to your liking?"
She looked over it and her eyes widened in what I assumed to be excitement.
She nodded and said "Yes!" Confirming my assumption.
Taking back the book I flipped to a new page "What about you?" I said looking at Liza.
"Nothing too extravagant, just something that can increase the firepower of my lance."
Not giving me much to work with at all, broad isn't always good you know?
Eh whatever, you take what you get.
There are a few spells I could think of off the top of my head but I'm feeling petty so I'm giving her this one.
Weight up, a spell that increased the weight of you and any object you're holding or touching. It's from some random manga I read.
Writing it down I handed the book to her. Reading through it she nodded simply, satisfied with what she got.
Better be.
Getting up I walked around the desk and towards them. Taking the book back I place it on my desk.
"Just remain sitting." I instructed.
Standing over them I placed a hand just above each of their heads and began the chant.
"For it is through knowledge we achieve competence."
My mana lit up the room its crimson glow encapsulating the three of us. Both of theirs being the normal blue.
"Through this, we declare our right to strive forth to the source of all possibility."
My mana swirled around them like a whirlpool, much of it focusing around their heads.
"With this, I embrace you in my infinite competence."
The swirling mana instantly poured its way into them piercing through their own mana with no trouble whatsoever.
Removing my hands I went to my desk and sat back down.
"Have fun with your new magic." I said as they stood from their seats
"We definitely will, thank you!" Sharon said puffing up her chest with her fist on her hips.
"The guys won't know what hit em." Liza said with a smirk.
They both walked for the door but right as they were about to leave I remembered something.
"Oh! Before you guys leave can you do me a favor?" I exclaimed.
They stopped and looked back "huh? Oh sure, what is it?" Sharon answered.
Picking up a pen and a few loose sheets of paper I floated them over to the two girls on a a flat tray made of my destruction.
"Can you tell the ones waiting to write what they want on those sheets of paper for me? I have some things I need to test." I explained
They looked between each other for a second, probably expecting something else, I wonder what that could've been.
"That's it? No problem at all." Sharon said
"Thanks" I said as they walked through the door.
I looked over at Ais who sat quietly on the couch at the right side of the room. She looked back at me with a raised eyebrow and all I could do was shrug.
____
How should I go about doing this? Should I just make something up like I did for bestowing? Or should I just ball out?
I swayed my body side to side in indecision, having options is a blight on the indecisive.
.
.
.
F it we ball.
Grabbing one of the empty books I begin channeling mana into the book, my crimson mana flaring up around the book.
When it comes to magic, at least for me, the most important aspect is intent. At this point My mana follows my every whim with no issues but due to my magic affinity being destruction it by nature is very chaotic. So without specific intent it simply does whatever it wants. The only intent behind this is to enchant the book.
The book in my hands engulfed in the crimson mana suddenly flew open, its pages flapping randomly and erratically. In the next moment it violently shut closed causing a slight gust of wind. And in the blink of an eye the book flapped open again, this time however, words filled its many pages.
The pages flipped from front all the way to the back, each page filled with indecipherable words and sentences. As it reached the final page, the book closed itself. With one final glow the mana settled fully and dissipated.
"… okay then." Is all I got out at the spectacle.
Looking at the cover of the book nothing seemed to have changed about the books outward appearance and I didn't get any relevant information on what just happened from my skill so I have no idea what that actually did.
"Well, whatever, what's the worse that could happen?"
Saying that wasn't my smartest move but hopefully I didn't jinx it.
Taking a deep breath I opened the book
.
.
.
"Huh?"
The instant I opened the book I felt my mind grow hazy then now I'm in this weird looking place.
It was an ever expanding crimson ocean but somehow the sky remained the normal blue coloring.
Taking a step the crimson water below me rippled, acting like regular water.
Taking a few more steps I start to simply walk around while looking to see if I can find any clues on how to get out of here.
.
.
Looking around more I realized that although there was light there was no Sun in the sky. It felt as though the Sun was beaming down on me just as in the real world but no such thing existed here.
Another thing I noticed was that nothing seemed to exist in the crimson sea, I haven't noticed any movement whatsoever.
Well, not though that's surprising by any standard. It's quite obvious as to what this place is by now. A mental world created by the grimoire to pass its knowledge.
"Hmm?" I wondered as I suddenly felt something on my leg.
Looking down I see that it's a tendril made from the crimson water.
Without warning and a quick force I felt myself get pulled into the water.
??
"Hhaaahp!" I instinctively drew in air as I was pulled down, then I realized as quickly as I did it that it was unnecessary.
Under the crimson sea I could still breathe just as easily when I was in the surface.
Closing my eyes I Instantly felt information begin to flow into my mind.
It consisted of how the spell worked, its primary function, its use cases, and other general stuff like the name of the spell and chants to boost its power.
The spells name is Destructions Edict: Wave of Calamity.
The spell consists of me sending out my power of destruction in a watery appearance in the shape of a large wave. If the wave itself doesn't end up killing the enemy then what comes after will. The left over water can be used and manipulated to create extremely sharp tendrils capable of stretching extremely far.
Alongside that, while submerged in the destruction water I am able to traverse it extremely quickly. If I had to compare it to something it would be similar to Haku's ice mirrors from Naruto.
Reopening my eyes I noticed I was back in my office, well, I didn't actually move from it at all.
Closing the book I blast it with a bit of destruction, erasing it.
Grabbing another empty book I focused once more.
"Now to practice with actual intent."
________
This is late as hell, there are a few Legitimate reasons but it's mostly because I was feeling lazy.
Anyways since it's so late I wanted to just get something out, this is what was intended but several parts of it felt weird and didn't feel like it flowed properly, while writing several parts feel very flat so I'll be coming back to edit this another time.
Anyways, see ya'll in the next one. (Should be sooner than this one was.)