Spell Books are an interesting field in vast universe of magic. They, like many other magics, are a niche and valuable asset to any growing mage. Provided the cost of such a book is reasonable, they can change the dynamic of one’s class and potential for future classes. Being able to cast spells in which someone has no practical knowledge of opens many doors. Most theories are that Spell Books are a product of the system rather than any formation of magic.

There are very few ‘magics’ that can steal spell, and even less people that would be willing to unlearn a spell. Maybe that is why Spell Books are quite rare. They cost a substantial amount and the creator has to be willing to depart with their hard work. Simply writing the instructions for a spell was not enough. The creator has to will imbue their memories of a perfect cast into the teaching, removing it from their repertoire. This does not mean the creator is unable to relearn the spell, in fact many use this practice to create enough for a rich living.

The issue arises of competition and increasing downtime. If a certain Spell Book becomes overly popular, the spell is going to be stolen and copped. Often times at a lower price. Now, an oversaturation effects the market and no one profits. This, among other reasons, are why Spell Books are regularly regulated by the Mage Guild. Their price and potential economic division are simply too substantial to leave untouched.

But what about the dangerous and vile spells? What if a spell is intentionally named to be unassuming, causing a potential mage to learn a banned spell? The Guild has protocols in place in such a case. It is not unheard of for a delving adventurer to learn a spell of a desolate catacomb, cursing themselves in the process. The Vast Empire and their Books of Pestilence were actually the cause for such protocols to be made. But after seeing the success, the higher up of the Guild started making more widespread changes.

In Max’s case, Raging Construct was something of a black hole. A spell created and left behind by a [Water Arch Sage], one that uses spatial magic as a crutch. He didn’t know who the creator was or if their spell was legit, but the same person left behind Emi’s egg. Emi was one of the best things to happen to the Earthling during his time on Nava, he saw no reason not to trust the Spell Book.

For a while he considered it being a Book of Pestilence, or something similar. But as time went on and more and more Divine coincidences partook his time in Esmel, he figured this was another one of their ploys. Neither Tiodepth nor his mysterious sense for the vile, told Max the book was evil or a trick. In fact, Tiodepth’s silence soothed the young man’s nerves. The Leviathan was an asshole in Max’s eyes, but an asshole who was keen on his protection.

The time to learn a Spell Book was mainly based on the accompanying spell. A simple spell could be learned in as little as 30 minutes while massive artillery spells may take days. It was common for the days before a military march to be silent as mages and hybrid classes learned attacks for the upcoming battle. These days were deemed, Reading Days.

But when Max woke the next morning, Emi still asleep on his chest, he worried the spell didn’t take. But as new knowledge swam through his mind, his worries relaxed. From a cursory glance, the Lost Lord could tell using Raging Construct was above him. Maybe even above Vel. As the magics unraveled themselves in the form of a disembodied memory, a small understanding formed. The spell’s focus was nearly entirely imaginative. The stronger image of the spell, the stronger the spell. A simple but equally difficult concept.

Congratulations you have learned the spell Raging Construct (Unique):

Create a detailed construct made of water. The strength of the construct grows with the detail provided by the caster.

Caster may connect an Anchored Portal site.

Cost increases and decreases based on the detail and size of produced construct.

Warning: Creation of powerful constructs may fall from the casters control.

Congratulations you have learned the spell Anchored Portal (Epic):

Anchor portals between space. Portals will remain in place but otherwise closed unless fueled with sufficient mana.

115 mana for initial anchoring.

25 mana to open.

Two spells? Max asked himself. Raging Construct seems strong… But Anchored Portal? That seems like the real value.

“Icarus?” He asked aloud.

“Max? I thought you learned a Spell Book?” The owl said after appearing.

“I did… I learned it already…”

“That fast? I thought you said it was going to take a while?”

“I thought so… But…”

“Tell me,” Icarus said. “Is this spell primarily manipulation based? That may be why.”

“I think so? How do I tell?” Max asked.

“Ah, just send me the spell box, there are key words to look for in the description.”

Max did as the elemental asked.

“What in the eight hells is this?” Icarus screeched.

Leftovers were always hit or miss for Max. Either cold pizza was better than when it was fresh, or it was near inedible. The once light and fluffy golden brown hush puppies from the previous night’s dinner, was the latter. Now the corn fritter was nothing more than a dense mass of carbs. The lacking breakfast was also accompanied by a spiteful Emi. She peered at her partner for the better part of the morning, communicating to Max her immense level of disgust. She did not appreciate being left out from events such as learning a Spell Book with unknow effects and reading time. But eventually the others filled the seats of the table and removed Emi from her horrid mode. A quick explanation later, and Vel and Bishop regarded Max in a strange manner.

When Max had originally told his peers about Raging Construct, it had been said nonchalantly off handed. While his lesser experienced teammates thought his words to be meant as a joke to lighten the tense mood, his mentors took him at his word. They pondered the existence and reason of the spell along with its creator. Finding nothing, they eventually dropped the matter. But as they read through the spell, Vel couldn’t help but laugh.

“Boy, I don’t know why you have this spell, but I can tell you it is going to do you no good in your current state.” She said.

“I know.” Max answered with a smile. “I can see how it should function and I know I have no hope right now.”

“What interests me is the fact that it is a unique spell.” Bishop interjected.

Max shrugged. “This is not the first spell of mine that is unique.”

“Oh really? Show me.”

Max slid Bishop the box for Accelerate. The Drake quickly shook his head. “No, this isn’t unique. The term ‘unique’, in relation to spell rarity, is slightly misleading. Over the years many tomes and journals were translated and translated from the translations. Words and terms got overlapped and miss interpreted. Making a new spell, otherwise known as a signature spell, is not truly unique. When the spell is sent to be reviewed, the reviewer has to first learn the spell, meaning there is more than one copy of the spell.”

“Oh, I see.” Max said. “Unique means that only I have it… But how did it get past the review stages without anyone learning it?”

“Someone might of. But many things could have happened to them. The reviewers are often powerful beings, but even they can die. Just like the Gods.”

“So, you are saying that I am the only living being with this spell, making it unique. Is it likely that at point multiple people knew this spell?”

“Yes.” Bishop said. “This is a common phenomenon in old clans and cults. One way or another a spell lived on while the patron didn’t.”

“Patron? You mean the reviewer?” Max asked.

“Indeed. Not just anyone can review a spell. It has to be someone powerful and well regarded in their respective field. If a new healing spell was created, Subuntu would most likely be one of the reviews.”

“Who do you think reviewed my Accelerate spell then?”

“Most likely Sahhgen, Goddess of Space and the Infinity.” Bishop said.

“And the reviewer for water spells does not have Raging Construct?” Max asked, his mentor nodded. “Who’s the review for water then?”

“Lord of the Seas, Rilis. Which also helps the theory that the previous reviewed died, as Rilis is a rather new Divine Prospect.”

“Alight, alright.” Vel interrupted. “Enough nerd talk. Max, can you test out a small Raging Construct? Without using an Anchored Portal… Whatever that is.”

“I can try… I don’t think it’s going to come out correctly…”

“Just pick something small and something you are familiar with.”

Max shrugged and formed a small ball of water above the table. His mind filled with the exact instruction of how to cast the spell. His mana whipped through his body, attaching itself to the suspended water. Rather quickly, the water morphed and contorted, building muscles and legs. Small scaly fins and a long thin tale, formed before the construct was recognizable. It was a near exact copy of Emi. Following its creator’s command, it walked along the table towards the original sea monster. The real Emi perked up with a sudden interest and batted at its watery clone with a hesitant paw.

The water suddenly bust as a particularly hard pat descended against its head. The three [Water Mages] in attendance gathered the flowing water before it damaged anyone’s stale breakfast. Max breathed heavily, mana exhaustion pounding away in his head. A mana potion and a few minutes of silence later, the young man was as good as new.

“That was… Rather interesting.” Admitted Vel. “I take it that it cost a lot to maintain?”

“You could say that.” Max cursed.

“Try it again but use a less accurate image of Emi.”

Max shook his head but proceeded anyways. The once chiseled muscles and distinct stubby fins were now nothing more than smoothed hills or valleys. The construct moved with the same crisp motions and easily used three or four times less mana.

“I would be willing to bet that the mana cost primary scales with the detailed of the image wither than the movement or control of the construct.” Vel said.

“I would have to agree.” Bishop said.

“Now then, Max.” Vel turned serious. “I forbid you to use this spell alone. Either Bishop or I must be present. Do you understand? Spell warning are rare, and spells that can act on their own are even rarer”

Max nodded. “Don’t worry. I know I’m not ready. Besides, I’m going to have my hands tied with classes and the portal spell.”

“Portal spell?” Bishop asked.

“Sure, Anchored Portal. The second portion of the Raging Construct Spell Book.”

“You got two spells from one Spell Book?”

“Yes.” Max said, but as he saw the hesitant looks his teachers were giving themselves, he decided to ask, “Is something wrong?”

“Not particularly…” Vel said. “But I’ve never heard of a Spell Book giving two spells…”

“I have” Icarus said, who had been silent up until this point. “A book Lester received just after becoming a [Light Mage]. He said he bought it from an unassuming bookstore in Renloc, and that he did some research into dual spells afterwards. Spell Books that give multiple spells can only be made by a dying mage. One who knows their death is eminent and allow the book to consume more of their memories to allow their legacy to live on.”

“What are you saying?” Max asked.

“I’m saying that the Spell Book maker left his legacy to who ever could open that box. Emi and Raging Construct. A spell and a highly intelligent bond. Who ever they were, they were strong.”

Hidel’s Hideout, the largest criminally run city in all of Salarin. Located in the Locan deserts southwest of Salae, the city is home to a multitude of organized and unorganized crime. A city made of thieves and murderers, anything and everything could be bought, sold, or stolen. The strong ruled and were overthrown as often as not. Drugs filled the streets, affecting most of the residents while for hire [Assassins] moved in the shadows.

[Bandits] and [Thieves] muse around in gangs, bullying and fighting any and all who stand in their way. Internal wars were common, as well as explosions and death. One such place that was considered ‘safe territory’ was the trading hall, Plimoth’s. The trading hall was special and old. It is said that Plimoth himself was banded together with the cities founder Hidel. Together they looted the southern region of the continent, causing terror and stealing millions of gold worth of items.

Plimoth’s trading hall had a multitude of protective wards, discouraging any and all fighting or stealing. No one knew exactly how the wards worked, just that anyone caught trying to cheat, steal, fight, attack, or kill, would find themselves targeted by the building’s automated golems. Ironically, one of the safest places in a city full of thieves was a trading hall, however many of the clientele miss the humor in the situation.

Currently, a Dark Elf trudged through the crowded halls, killing time as his order was being gathered. He inspected necklaces, rings, swords, paintings, deeds, and even convened with a few information brokers. His order was large, he knew, even if the item itself was quite small. It was the potential for danger that made his purchase quite… Memorable.

Certain magical items, even in Hidel’s Hideout, raised an eyebrow. Their uses, while usually bountiful, were often used for a few dreadful causes. The ‘leadership’ of the city were currently in discussions of if such an item could be sold to the Dark Elf. But the Elf didn’t worry. His record was clean, at least it was now. His magic ability, while painfully poor in combat, had its uses.

Eventually a representative found him deep within the trading hall and brought him to the room where his item was being stored. Two scarred and scaly Drakes flanked each side of the pedestal, in their hands were steel halberds. A twisted and twitchy man stood from his seated position and approached.

“Here is your order. I have been instructed to escort you outside city limits once the item is in your possession.” The twitchy man said.

The Dark Elf touched the item, causing it to fall into his inventory ring. “Thanks, but that will not be necessary.”

Mana pulsed once from the Elven man causing the others in the room to foam at the mouth. Ethereal outlines of spectral beings briefly could be seen stabbing needles into the spines of the attendants. A hushed moment filled the air as the Dark Elf confirmed that the wards of the building remained silent. He soon left, hiding in the shadows, and remaining in the city. A pulse of mana flickered again when the man found his dwellings for the evening, and the same spectral beings appeared. This time removing the needles from their victims, causing them to return to their normal selves. No alarms were sounded that night, as only one remembered the events that just unfolded. The rest vaguely remembered escorting the Dark Elf to the sandy border. A runic item began to shiver, and a distinct figure of a woman began to form out of sand.

“Dugal. Is it done?” The woman of sand asked.

“I have the item.” Dugal, the Dark Elf spoke.

“Good. Return to me, there is not much time before the start of the coalition meeting.”

“Yes… Madam.”

The image of the woman fell away, returning the communication device to its natural state. The woman sat alone in her castle. Her throne positioned her below vaulted ceilings, and beyond the ruins of her kingdom. She sipped deep red wine, and slowly tapped her long nails against the golden chalice. With a flick of her wrist, the court doors swung open. A man who looked to be melting limped forward, a small trail of goo followed in his footsteps. He stopped a respectful distance from the woman.

“Nix.” The woman spoke. “It has been to long. I can see that your body is falling apart. Shame what happens when [Doppelgangers] ingest poison. Tell me, why should I not kill you?”

Nix’s throat giggled with exaggerated and blemished movements before sound screeched out. “Be-cause, I kn-ow of a new L-ost Lorddd…”

“Oh? Do tell.” The woman leaned forward.

“Lest-erwood. Human fr-om Eart-h”

An unruly smile filled the woman’s vile lips.

[Magic Emperor] Rizja wrote that life as they knew it would be forever changed. Progress, innovation, cost of living, survival rate, everything would change as magic became a household phenomenon, rather than the elitist foundry it once was. Rizja single handedly started the Age of Magic, and single handedly ended it. His death sent a shockwave through the lands, discouraging mages while invigorating others. Some experts agree that Rizja’s death was the true start of the Age of Magic, for his teachings became more widespread and positively regarded.

The [Magic Emperor] wrote the structure for the main eight schools, or branches, of magic. Evocation, the power of destruction and formation of mana into attacks. Abjuration, the brother of Evocation, the power of defending through use of mana. Transmutation and Enchantment. Hand in hand these two schools account for nearly all magical items. Divination, the magic of seeing. Often referred to as future sight or foreseeing, Divination is the least studied school. Illusion, tricking the senses through mana. Conjuration, the magic of summoning and familiars. Lastly, the school of Parlous. Acts of magic that have uncertain or unsavory outcomes.

Using these main branches, Rizja was able to classify all spells and classes. While some spells fall in between two schools, most classes do not, at least after tier one. As classes upgrade or evolve, they breach into specialties. An attack focused class may have multiple paths a mage may take. They could go one route and focus on Evocation spells, or they can step into the route of Illusion. Overall, the mage will be able to kill their target, but the spells and strategies they invoke will change based on their specialty. But, as the class for the individual reaches new heights, an Illusion focus may not slay the enemy, but instead allows the taming of the opposition and potential slaughter by allies.

Through the standardization of the schools of magic, casters were able to divide work up more efficiently. No longer were Abjuration mages attacked while Conjuration mages sneaked through the shadows. On the same thread of thought, subcategories began to surface. Elemental Conjuration and Demonology were among the first, quickly followed by material Transmutation.

As the Age of Magic continued, the mages learning under Rizja’s tutelage began forming sects and cults, finding power in the Divine and worldly powers. Rizja warned of such forces and the discrepancies they would cause to the eight schools. He stated that power unbeknownst to man may fall victim to tampering or agenda. Was the spell a God gave to their followers true in heart? Or was it devious and wrong? A spell that claimed it could defend and attack while changing the battlefield was nothing more than a fool’s game. No one could be that powerful, even the Gods, Rizja said. Spells that seemed to break his categorical system were Parlous in nature and they were to be-

Max abruptly stood, interrupting his Intro to Magic class. He apologized to the teacher while nodding gravely at Celenia who sat besides him. He scooped up Emi before running out of the class. The hallway was clear, allowing him to teleport with out witnesses. He arrived in an outlying village, while citizens running around in a panic. Distant howls sounded in the nearby forest, explaining to Max that he still had time.

“EVERYBODY GATHER UP!” He cried, using mana to augment his voice.

The panicked villagers stopped dead in their tracks, all turning to the unknown stranger who was actively sipping a glowing potion. A black haze encompassed the stranger, before dissipating and revealing a one-armed man clad in battle robes and a small blue monster attached to his shoulder. In his single hand he carried a long wooden staff, one that seemed to create water out of the air. Soon a pool was formed, and the villagers began to remember just who this man was. He was a Mage Guild representative, and he was there to help.