Chapter 6 - Downtime

“I can’t believe it!” Sol yelled as he threw his hands in the air, a display of grandiose irritation “You just walked out of the adventurer’s exam! The adventurer’s exam! Why would you do that?”

This rant had been going on since they left the adventurer’s guild. Only now that they had returned to Brann’s bar for the evening did Clint feel worn down enough to reply. “Don’t trust the government.” he stated before opening the door, relieving himself from the evening air and allowing himself to bask in the warm glow of the tavern’s lamps.

Sol fell to his knees in sheer frustration “They’re literally the good guys!” Luna patted him on the shoulder.

“He can do the quest now at least.” she reassured Sol. “Though I’m still not sure I understand what you’re saying. Maybe wherever you come from the government isn’t trustworthy but I can assure you that Gallia is ruled righteously and fairly, our mother and father make sure of it.”

“I don’t know ‘em, I don’t trust ‘em.” Clint reiterated. “Especially with all that magic stuff.”

“The stat cards? Come on, those are hardly magic.” Sol hopped to his feet. “They're enchanted but it’s real basic stuff. Anyone with a bit of mana can do it.” He reached out, gesturing for Clint to hand his over. He obliged.

Sol ran a finger over the card, orange embers dancing at its tip as he began to weave words from nothing. Like swarming ants the embers gathered into beautiful cursive letters. “There!” Sol smiled, returning it to its owner.

The name section had been filled out; ‘Saint Charlemagne Von Villenue IV’. Clint looked up from it, thoroughly unimpressed. “Since we don’t actually know your name I just put the coolest one I could think of!” Sol beamed.

“Come to think of it, you haven’t told us your name. Have you forgotten it?” Luna leaned over, reading the name for herself. “Saint Charlemagne Von Villenue IV would certainly be a fine replacement if you have.”

“I already got a name.” the cowboy protested, stuffing the card into his pocket “It’s Clint.”

“Clint?” Sol questioned.

“Weird name…” Luna maligned. “Are you sure you don’t want the other one?”

Refusing to entertain them any longer, Clint finally pushed his way into the tavern.

He settled in quickly at the bar, sharing a drink of honey mead with Brann once more. Surprisingly, he liked the bartender. It was a rare occurrence for Clint to so naturally get along with someone when first meeting them. Hell, it was a rare occurrence he got along with anyone at all.

“How was day one as a bonafide adventurer, Clint?” He asked.

Before he could reply, Sol pulled up his own stool, inserting himself into the dynamic. “Wait, you already knew his name?”

“Sure. He told me right away.” Brann shrugged.

Sol looked at Clint with sad puppy dog eyes. The cowboy just sighed and returned to his drink in response. “‘S fine. Easy work.”

“How many’d you get?” Brann asked mid-swig.

“Two.” Clint shrugged. “Spent most of my time watching these two fail.”

“Fail is a strong word” Sol protested. “Today was merely training. I’ll get it tomorrow.” He declared, casual but confident as he took a cup from Brann and drank.

Across the room, Luna and Renee had huddled together. Clint tuned his ears into their conversation. They spoke calmly but passionately, each word carefully chosen but spoken fast. “Maybe it’s your spell choice. Are you sure Munditia is the right attack to use? Seems a little overkill for slimes…” Renee began.

“No, no. It’s an issue of power.” Luna disagreed. Renee nodded along eagerly as she listened. “Even if I used a weaker spell, I’d still output it at maximum power. No slime could handle even a simple Bolt from me.”

“I suppose if that’s the case, you might as well use a high power spell like Munditia. How are your mana reserves after casting multiple?” Renee’s ears twitched from side to side as she spoke, as if bouncing her thoughts between them.

“Totally fine. The total mana isn’t the problem, the amount being put into the spell is.” Luna continued her analysis. At this point Clint ceased eavesdropping. It was all Greek to him.

“How’s all this magic work anyway?” He asked Brann offhandedly, hoping for a layman's explanation.

Unfortunately, Renee’s perked ears had caught his words. She jolted to her feet, tail swishing with excitement as she leapt at the opportunity to show her expertise. “You need an explanation on magic? Let me!”

Clint looked to Brann pleadingly. The other man just chuckled. “Short and sweet, if you could.” Brann said.

“So! Magic begins with mana! Mana is… Okay no, let’s start from the beginning… In the beginning, there was nothing, but there existed the potential for there to be something. The Goddess took that potential and moulded it into the world we know today! That potential is what we call mana!” She smiled, proud of her explanation of the esoteric concept. Clint only really paid attention to the last part.

“All of us have different amounts of mana within us, the maximum amount of which we can expunge is what we call the ‘mana cap’, which I’m sure you’ve seen on the stat sheets!” She displayed her own to illustrate her point.

“Class: Healer

Fortitude: 20
Physical Power: 25
Swiftness: 70
Precision: 80
Intelligence: 90
Magical Aptitude: 100
Mana Cap: 300”

“You see, it varies from individual to individual and is influenced by multiple factors, age, race-” She yapped on until Brann waved a hand toward her, snapping her out of her trance. Renee cleared her throat, beginning again: “If mana is potential, magic is the art of using that potential. Transforming it into primordial elements, reconstructing body parts for the injured, even altering the minds of others! It’s potential is truly limitless!” Renee grinned at the end of her lecture, were she not a healer, she’d make a fantastic teacher.

“The magic you saw today was Munditia.” Luna added, matching Renee's energy, though less explosively. “It’s an attack of pure mana. By depositing mana into an enemy, it pushes their own mana pool over capacity, destabilising the balance between body and spirit and dealing devastating damage.”

“I can cast Fireball.” Sol added.

“Yes, Prince Sol does have magical capabilities too.” Renee nodded, moving swiftly on. “But! Princess Luna is a specialist. Where Sol has inherited the earth-shaking strength of King Terra, Luna has inherited his unbelievable magical potency! This is what enables her to use high level magic like Munditia, even as a beginner adventurer!”

Brann patted Sol on the back, his head hung and forlorn at his spellcasting ability being snubbed. Although he instantly bounced back when his strength was praised.

“It doesn’t seem all that good.” Clint simply shrugged. “Can’t even kill a slime.”

Renee went to defend Luna, only to find the Princess’ hand raised, silencing her. “I do have to concede my performance today was poor, but please, do not dismiss this power I’ve been blessed with.” She spoke sternly, but not strongly, like a plaster wall that could serve as a foundation, but would crumble at a strike. “When it comes to pure magical potential, I’m the strongest there is.” Her voice wavered at the end. Unlike her brother, she wasn’t a good liar.

“You can prove it tomorrow.” Clint was neutral in his reply. He knew she didn’t believe her own words, but had no desire to shake her foundations.

Luna nodded, quickly taking Renee by the arm to continue discussing strategy.

As the cowboy turned away, he finally noticed Sol staring expectantly at him. “Aren’t you gonna ask about Fireball?” His eyes shone expectantly.

“It’s a ball of fire.” Clint surmised, finishing his drink and rising to his feet. He turned to exit, but Brann stopped him.

“First door on the right upstairs. There’s a bed for you.” He declared, arms crossed.

“I can’t pay.” Clint began.

“You haven’t paid for any of these drinks either. It all goes on your tab.” He smiled, picking up one of his twisted mugs and cleaning it.

Clint begrudgingly followed orders and made his way upstairs, laying claim to the room Brann had laid out for him. It was dreadfully basic, wooden walls and wooden floors, undecorated and barren with a shabby single bed at the centre.

He laid down on the bed. It felt unbelievably soft against his back. So often did he spend his nights pressed against hard earth, he had almost forgotten how it felt to lay on a mattress. Even with his lithe weight, he sank into it. Although it was ugly, it was warm, inviting and incredibly comfortable. When he lay in it, he felt he could let the tension he had built up in his many days of wandering fade, that he could allow himself to for once, for just a short time, let his guard down.

He stared at the ceiling. Time started to slip away. Consciousness felt distant. All the mind bending insanity of his day could be forgotten and dismissed as a dream. So long as he just let himself fall asleep in that wonderfully soft bed.

Clint slept on the floor that night.

Current Party: Clint Morgans, Sol Dragoneart, Luna Dragoneart