Published at 16th of February 2024 2:22 pm

Chapter 70. Quiet In The Library

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Nox brewed another Tincture of Sigil Awakening.

The regular brewing and Shaping caused his Sigil of Artisan to tingle regularly. The sensation had grown in intensity off-late. The tattoo would hum a couple of times a day. At first, Nox thought it was the last of the temporary mana channels fading, but the sensation continued even after the last of the aether ink had disappeared.

Brewing the concoction a second time was significantly easier than the first. It wasn’t just he had more experience. The modified Mage Hand he devised for Sorlin Stasis Solution significantly reduced the difficulty. The resulting concoction was of much greater quality, and Nox stashed away several vials for personal use or sale.

When Nox consumed the tincture and returned to the dreamscape, the pillar housing the sigil beckoned to him. It shone almost with half the luminosity of the Sigil of Immunity. The difference didn’t surprise him. New sigils grew rapidly initially, but then their development slowed to a crawl. Nox also Shaped and brewed more often than he exposed himself to toxins, disease, or mana burn.

He expected the Sigil of Artisan to overtake its neighbor in a couple of years. It grew with experience and life energy. Since Nox heavily relied on alchemy and his magic involved constant Shaping, the arcane tattoo would receive continuous exercise.

The sigil’s main body Arcane Acuity shone with blinding silver. Nox focused on the latter first. The three sets of runes that grew out of Arcane Acuity were still dark, but the stone around it exhibited a soft glimmer. When he focused on them, their names appeared in his mind’s eye.

“Shaper. Alchemist. Essence Master.”

Nox knew what the first two meant but needed to learn about the third. He used and manipulated essences in Shaping and brewing. However, he never considered wielding the arcane energies as an artisanal discipline. Focusing on the rune set filled Nox’s mind with flashing images. Not all of them made sense to Nox, but he derived one key piece of information. If he picked Essence Master, his intent would be enough to destabilize essence glass. Galvanising Touch would become redundant. More importantly, his Shaping and other techniques with raw essence would grow significantly. The decision wasn’t a difficult one. He picked Essence Master and moved on.

Sigil of Artisan had gained enough energy for a second discipline. Nox already knew what he wanted. Since he relied heavily on archery, Eye For Detail would prove invaluable when aiming from afar or looking for a particularly dangerous target in a horde of enemies. However, the sigil had three options for him, and he couldn’t help but check all of the possibilities.

“Nimble Fingers. Eye For Detail. Artisan’s Library.”

Nox’s heart skipped a beat. Even though he knew what the growth would provide, he focused on it for clarification. Artisan’s Library turned the sigil into a storehouse for all of the users' recipes, blueprints, spell scripts, and the like. Besides ensuring no one ever stole any of his intellectual property, Nox foresaw its value in Finesse Shaping and spell weaving during combat. He could devise or learn spells relevant to a variety of essence and store them in his sigil. It would save him time and mental strain. He finalized his decision and tried exiting the dreamscape.

Much to his surprise, the Sigil of Immunity chimed. Because it glowed with only half the initial luminosity of its neighbor, Nox didn’t give the pillar much attention. Now that the Sigil of Artisan’s light had returned to normal, it looked brighter than ordinary. It had room to grow but not by as much.

Nox’s Mana Burn Resistance had grown significantly. He guessed Aether Ink played a role in the development. The tattoo application put his body through enough trauma, almost on par with mana burn. There wasn’t enough development for the sigil to offer him anything new. However, Nox hoped it meant the likes of Edward would have less of an effect on him. His new mana channels would also probably face less resistance as they grew. As a result, Nox’s mana zone would grow.

Even though Otis had proven invaluable, there was no denying that he was limited and weak as far as familiars were concerned. Even the lowest companions fulfilled more than one purpose. Detection-focused spirits often came with emergency magic like an ink cloud, nauseating vapors, or a minor electric shock. Alternatively, they had enough intelligence to fulfill minor tasks for the contracted mage. Otis did neither. Besides his detection abilities, he had no function besides being a comfy handwarmer.

Once Nox had a larger mana zone, he hoped to get a new familiar with magic similar to Otis but bigger. Pudge claimed there were spirits with similar abilities and greater intellect. Some could also change size. Even though it was unlikely, Nox liked the idea of a familiar that could carry him. Such a creature would need significant investment and probably an entire planet. It didn’t hurt to dream.

When the pillars didn’t call to him further, Nox exited the dreamscape for a night of sweet dreams and uninterrupted sleep.

“So it’s like cheating?” Lillin asked. “You don’t have to memorize all this theory. You can just store it in that damned tattoo?”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Nox replied. “Artisan’s Library won’t help me memorize theory and random texts. However, if I were to take more specialized alchemy or spell weaving courses, I’d have a leg up on the rest of the class.”

“If I were you, I’d take things a step further and get into a warding,” Annabelle said. “It’s an in-demand discipline and very lucrative.”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider the option,” Nox said. “However, learning the elements and mastering their application are two entirely different challenges. If the combat applications weren’t so limited, I’d give the possibility more thought. The time commitment is far too high. Perhaps, I’ll consider it in the future when my growth mana system’s growth slows down.”

“It’s something to consider for the future.” Annabelle reached across the table and fixed a stray lock of hair hanging over Nox’s face. “It might be a nice expansion for Noxian Brews if you ever destroy Sundarshahar or decide to walk a different path in life.”

The trio sat in a quiet reading corner amongst the library’s stacks. The university had many structures dedicated to preserving texts and giving students private study areas. Nox had picked the one in the most disrepair since barely anyone visited the building. It gave them decent quiet and privacy, and all reading materials were close at hand. All three of them had one exam left. Nox had Intermediate Mana System Theory in a couple of days on Sixthday. The war magic department left its theory tests until the final days of the exam fortnight. Annabelle was looking forward to getting Intelligence and Investigation out of the way.

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Meanwhile, Lillin was dreading the theory element of Beginner Essence Manipulation. Unlike Shaping, the discipline relied on intent-driven spell casting or complicated scripts that executed a set function or movement. Gravity Spiral required one such collection of lines and runes. The professor didn’t need the spellform completed for the course, but his written exam required the display of accurately memorized scripts. Making a sphere rotate on an axis and orbit an invisible locus were functions he expected all Manipulators to know by heart. If Nox took the course in the coming semester, his new sigil would make the written exam a breeze.

Since Nox hadn’t studied Beginner Mana System Theory, he couldn’t help but feel nervous about the exam. There were several topics from it that the intermediate course only skimmed. According to Annabelle, the professor cared little about the possibility and expected students to be proficient in all the relevant material. Some of the topics intrigued Nox, and he ended up diving deeper into subjects than necessary.

Warlock pacts and how they affected mana systems especially intrigued Nox.

“Do you know any warlocks?” he asked Annabelle as they took one of their many hourly breaks.

“Only a couple,” she answered. “Why do you ask? Are you looking to become one?”

Nox shook his head. “I find them fascinating, that’s all. It’s not just their star’s unique foci but also their relationship with their patron. The give-and-take relationship can be something great or terrifying. There is no way for us to know for sure. We have no choice but to take them at face value.”

“That’s not always the case. There are some warlock families amongst the nobility. Some of them use living weapons from the age of the gods, and others pass on their pact from father to son. The details have become public knowledge over the decades.” Annabelle said. “Roque was due to inherit a halberd that demands quarterly hunts and feasts in its honor. It grants the wielder speed and strength, much like Professor Wolfhammer’s weapon. I hear it especially loves being used for decapitating beasts.

When I was a little girl, my father hired a new graduate from the research department to renew the wards on our estate. Diya recommended him. I remember he did such a fantastic job, Father wanted to hire him full-time and make him a part of the household guard. House Oakheart courted him hard, showered him with gifts, and even offered him a piece of land. Father was starting to get frustrated with the repeated rejection. The refusals were starting to get insulting.”

“Why insulting?” Lillin asked.

“He was a commoner with no family or money. When someone with no social standing, background, or commitment to other powers rejects repeated offers from the aristocracy, its deemed an insult. Doubly so when the offers are as good as they were.” She paused as a library assistant passed, pushing a rickety trolley overladen with books. The young woman appeared too young for her job or the coat she wore. Then just as her book cart was about to tip over, a copy of her made out of paper appeared. Its assistance helped her pass the nook and disappear around the corner. “Anyway. The ward crafter didn’t go into details but revealed he was a warlock. His patron demands the hunting and disruption of Dungeon Lord cults. I don’t know if that was true, but I hear he is a war hero now.”

Nox flipped through the ancient tome in front of him. “It's interesting how their magic evolves with the pact’s progress. The relationship is starkly different from a summoner and their contracted partner.” Both Annabelle and Lillin yawned as he spoke. The former’s eyelids had grown heavy, while the latter appeared comparatively alert. It was close to the tenth bell, and they had come to the library straight after dinner. “Perhaps in a few semesters, when I’m struggling to meet the minimum course load, I can take research courses on binary star systems and warlocks. It would be for my personal edification, of course.”

“Or you could just get into warding, as I said.” Annabelle yawned even harder as she rose from her seat. “I’ve had enough for today. It's time I go to bed.”

“I’ll walk back with you,” Nox said. He closed the books in front of him and neatly stacked them on the edge of the table. The library assistant would collect them the next time she passed. “Are you going to be okay on your own, Lillin? I don’t think I’m going back to the apartment tonight.”

Lillin didn’t answer. When Nox glanced back at her, he found the woman face down in a book. Drool streamed out of her mouth, dampening the old, stained page. Before he could jostle her, Annabelle stumbled. Nox reached just as the woman’s knees gave way.

“Careful, there! Are you—”

The noblewoman felt limp in his arms. Nox’s breath caught in his throat as he checked her pulse. She was fast asleep. He shook her and flicked her forehead. Lillin didn’t respond.

“Why the blight is he awake?”

A dozen cloaked figures appeared out of the stacks. They carried daggers and clubs. A couple had hand crossbows, too. Unlike last time, all weapons glowed with runework and mana gems. The attackers were significantly better equipped. Since Nox had Annabelle in his arms, he couldn’t react without hurting her. He doubted he’d be able to respond in time before bolts peppered them. Nox cursed himself for releasing Otis. The gremlin liked time alone to hunt insects and eat moss.

“I don’t know.” The voice sounded familiar, but Nox failed to place it. “We accounted for Oakheart’s Danger Sense and the other one’s absurd physiology.”

“Was it an alchemical sleeping agent?” Nox asked.

Several crossbows rose, pointed directly at his chest. Nox considered conjuring his pyramid barrier defense but doubted it would do him much good now. He was significantly outnumbered and vulnerable. After the attacks ceased, he thought the campus was safe, especially the space inside its buildings. Kris thought the chances of them picking up again at the end of the semester were high. She was right but got the timing wrong. The abductors and attackers weren’t waiting for the post-examination revelries. They wanted the staff and students to be busy with examinations and lulled by their period of inactivity.

“You’ve got a Sigil of Immunity, don’t you?” the familiar voice asked. The man held a crossbow, too. Nox struggled to recognize him through the hood and mask but was sure he knew the slender, androgynous frame.

Nox could only think to nod as his mind raced through his options. There were none, but that didn’t stop him from trying to buy time.

“How could you miss that?” A woman hissed. “We hired you just because of this bastard.” She sighed before approaching Nox. He smelt the familiar scent of his skin-nourishing ointment in the air. “You’ve got two options, Nox Ratra. We can beat you black and blue, hog tie you, and then carry you out of here. Or you can come with us willingly and end up relatively unharmed.”

“Are there any more choices?” Nox asked. “I don’t like either of those options.”

“This doesn’t end well for you either way,” another man asked. He approached Nox holding a heavy black rod with lightning-blue runes running along its length. “Ask yourself whether you want to be comfortable or in incredible pain?”

Nox sighed. His brain refused to cooperate. The attackers undoubtedly knew of his fighting style, so surprising them was out of the question. It would end poorly for him and his companions. Nox’s eyes drifted to Lillin. She lay motionless. Her physiology could shirk off most damage and toxins. However, she needed conscious knowledge of them to fight the effects and remove alien substances from her body. Whatever sleeping draught the attackers used likely acted too quickly and suddenly for her to react. If she weren’t unconscious, they’d have a chance.

“Place your weapons and tools on the table.” The slender man approached and poked Nox with the sharp bolt sticking out of his weapon. “Then step away from it.”

Nox complied after carefully placing Annabelle in a chair. The rod half of Ratra’s bow and his pouch of pellets and vials went with it. The attackers patted him down but, fortunately, didn’t check his sleeves particularly well. Then an invisible force took hold. His fists clenched shut and stuck to the sides of his torso.

Annabelle and Lillin rose like stiff marionettes. Then a pair of robed figures marched the trio out of the stacks and through a small door at the back of the building. They lowered their hoods and removed their mask. Since Nox had limited control of his body, he struggled to get a decent look at their faces. The library assistant saw the group. She looked away and continued with her job like nothing had happened.

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