Chapter 15: Comparing Notes

         Pages turning are heard through the sounds of the candle flickering in the archive, Rowan closes another book regarding the different methods that Magi's of old have used, summoned magic. He comes to a conclusion that he if he is able to use magic he needs to establish a grounding foundation of mana expenditure. Leaning back, head resting on a pile of finished tomes, Rowan stares at the ceiling, "I could take a page from one of my table top RPGs and try to treat magic akin to spell slots."

Spell slots is a term that relates to varying levels of magical power in table top RPGs, ranging from levels one to ten. As your character levels up, your spell caster can use higher level magic with more complex function and destruction. From lighting a camp fire to igniting a town in a blaze of glory. With that idea in mind Rowan tries to come up with a few hand movements, preparing for the day he will a cast a spell when his mana well becomes ready.

Rowan massages his temples trying to retain all the information from leaking out of his head. He then stands up and starts moving the finished books to an empty spot on a bookshelf. There are a few shelves that have empty spots, so Rowan at least designated this shelf behind the stairwell to all the tomes regarding magic and rune craft. As he was putting the last arm full of books away, Vashti steps down the stairs dressed in their robes this time, to see the task complete. The Magi whistles in amusement, "This is great, nice work Rowboat, I expected you to drag your feet on this." They take a brief stroll through the archive admiring the work done.

With the last book in place and put away Rowan dusts himself off, "I finished awhile ago, so I thought I could at least do a little bit of reading." Vashti poking their head out of from one of the rows of shelves, "You have done a good job, I've noticed that at one point you were trying to place them by theme." They knock on one of the row of shelves, "You could do better by sorting through the alphabet, but that is the limit regarding the reading runes." Vashti confirms the theory, "It may translate Ligtarrey to your language but our letters are not the same. What could be the starting position of your alphabet will be different from ours" They think about it some more, "I know, how about this, the first letter in our alphabet that we teach is ẞ, what's yours?"

Feeling a flash back to his world, Rowan remembers hearing that sound from when he took a German class in high school. The sharp double "S" sound that he had a hard time to pronounce that was not really apart of the alphabet. But more like a byproduct. Rowan blinks back to the present and responds, "From my world we have multitudes of languages but my native language starts with "A"." Vashti silently trying to sound out the letter A, then put an imaginary pin on it. "Well with this task complete I could give you a reward."

Vashti thinking long and hard on a proper prize for the job well done, "Ah, I know, I can submit a letter of recommendation to Alphis. I can say it's his turn to deal with your constant questioning." Crossing their arms feeling proud of their decision they then reach their hand out, "Ready to return?" Rowan looking on that hand and preparing his stomach for the trip ahead. With a sigh he reaches for it and is immediately feels that rush sensation like last time as he blinks out and in of existence.

The room is dark, the air is much more stale than the archive that he was wishing to be more accustomed to. Vashti sounding off like an announcement, "Thanks for everything, have fun!" With a slap to Rowan's hand the petite Magi disappears. Soon a familiar flame from Fion's palm illuminates the cell room, Rowan sees the relieved faces of his friends and others in the room. Rowan explains the task that he underwent and the new rune he received allowing him to comprehend written languages.

He asked his group if they been sent on some tasks today, outside of Kiri with her visit from the prince. Rowan was the only one from their group, others from the cell have been sent out and returned. Eribella and Igan made sure they were doing alright, or at least recovering. Eribella fears that the others were used for summoning another person from another world, but the new person has not arrived to their cell yet. Kiri theorized that they could have been sent to a different cell, Rowan fears that they might still be under the inscription process.

Rowan does mention to Kiri that while he was working in the archive he got a chance to read the tomes regarding magic. Him and Kiri compare notes from what he has read and cross referenced it to her modern understanding. While she is versed in the traditional arts her foundation of summoning is to literally summon elemental beings and command them through mixed martial arts. Rowan now wondering why they have not broken out already, Cyon explains that the walls and doors have an absorption property to mana infused materials and spells. Cyon demonstrates by trying to freeze the metal door, the temperature in the rooms drops but the metal door still remains unaffected.

Looking back to where the corpses of their rune mutilated friends were laying, Rowan tries to look for the claw marks that were left behind. He only sees the carved stone floor and walls as if they repaired themselves automatically.

The familiar words are heard, "Heel." The sadistic Magi Braxen opens the door and looks in the room. He adjusts his monocle and looks towards Rowan's group as well as another group of prisoners. Braxen calls out a series of numbers most are from other groups then reaches, "24568, 24571, 24601," to come forth. Rowan, Eribella, Igan, and a few others leave the cell to be escorted by guards and Braxen to the lower floors of the prison. Once the group reached the summoning chamber Eribella heart sinks to return here so soon, Igan puts a hand on her shoulder as they approach the room.

The ushered group is stopped before a display of dead people circling around a figure. It's back facing the group stands in the center of the summoning circle, Braxen chuckles, "Tonight is the night, to see the fruits of your labor realized! We have here a perfect specimen that will be the catalyst to your awakening!" Rowan pushes through the shocked crowd to see the figure turn to face everyone.

This "specimen" looks to be a 6 foot tall man with shredded clothes as if his muscles bursting out caused them to turn to rags. While humanoid and standing on two feet, he has the head of a goat with dear like antlers. Runes are seen glowing all over this person as they pulse his head twitches drool overflowing from the mouth. Braxen and the guards stepping aside the group and leaving the room, "Your task for tonight..."

"Is to survive by any means necessary."