“You want to learn magic from me? Why me of all people?”

“Because Le0n said to get your rump out of bed and be useful. Plus you can direct people and I can tame creatures. I also really don't think that the other magical users in the guild are related to what we do.”

“Very well then I KING, amazing man of rock and roll. Newest member to your party. Shall repay my arigony by teaching you the ways of spellcraft! By using the power that comes from deep within all of us! Let us begin!” King exclaimed standing up and placed his foot on the seat, flipping his cape over his shoulder.

“This is mainly from my experience with this craft, but I hope the method is the same for both of us. Our first step, we meditate! You may want to sit down for this.” Instantly King fell backwards rolling into the lotus position on his bed.

KING_OF_ROCK_N_ROLL used the skill ‘guided meditation’ on you! Accept? Yes / No

Accepting the request, he felt a falling sensation. Then just as he’d had seen so long ago he saw his soul. In a black empty space. His soul was a gray, white, and blue foggy ball with an orbit of a dark gray fuzz ball. Both entangled with strings of gold and rings of quartz.

Except that they were no longer alone in this space. Now the blank black horizon was now dotted with small fingernail sized orbs each one a different color. With only two of the orbs being a third of the size of the gray, white, and blue foggy ball. Which was presumably him.

“Woah, that's cool.”

“Yeah it’s like a star-y night.”

“But with polka dots.” The two of them sat there quietly enjoying a world which they could see. Eventually getting bored of it and moving onto the task at hand.

“First my Galaxy Guy, bless you. You’ll want to condense this puffy cloud junk. Think about it shrinking, sort of like putting a grasshopper into a jar. You can’t really touch it but you can guild it with your hands. Then after that make it spin, and use as much force as you can. Like playing beyblades.”

Using King’s weird analogous Marlow got to work. He looked at his mana and willed it to pack together. He felt his mind reach into the cloud of colors. It’s wispy edges of the calming energy began to smooth and shrink.

Delited, he pushed harder. The fluffy cotton ball started to take on a spherical shape. Misty tentrals fell into place as it compressed smaller and smaller, also becoming much brighter as the ‘mana’ was forced together. When it was nearly half the original size, now as big as Opal’s soul? Marlow found that it wouldn’t get any smaller. So he let it rip. Rolling it like a giant boulder covered in water at amusement parks.

Spell gained: Coalescence (Novice I). You have taken the first steps on the path of the mind! By collecting your mana in an orderly fashion, you'll be able to pack more mana into a single punch, with far greater effect. +1% spell efficiency and +1% mana regeneration per skill level. Wisdom +1. Increase your wisdom to coalesce your mana to a higher degree. (Maximum 50% spell efficiency.)

“WOOHOO! Wait, a second, what is spell efficiency?”

“Oh that makes spells cheaper to cast.”

“That’s so cool!”

“Are you ready for the next step?”

“Yep.”

“Cool beans, step number two! This one is usually harder because people don't have enough control over their mana yet. But let’s try it anyway. Grasp some mana, but keep it attached to your mana pool like a yarn ball, and start pulling it along these tunnels like you're walking an old dog. Just walk and pull. If you bring a lot of mana with you, the better your bonus will be at the end.”

Surely enough as King pointed out there were caves in the empty space. They were just so far away he didn’t realize they were there.

“Alright.” Marlow attempted to hold onto some of the cloud, but it was… well… a cloud. Nothing really to grab onto. He tried to pull it along with his mind like he did when he made coalescence. But nothing happened at first, but after focusing harder his mana refused to move. That was until the dark gray fuzz ball moved.

Pain immediately shot through Marlow and King’s body like they both had been tased. As Opal decided to help out, by pulling on both of their mana. She pulled on Marlow mana pool in the general direction Marlow wanted the mana to go.

Marlow's condensed ball elongated like a ball of dough. Already putting Marlow's latest spell to the test. Grunting, Marlow with the help of Opal. Slowly they coaxed as much of the energy along as possible. Then they started gilding along the twisting tunnels with his mind. The hep pulled by Opal followed Marlow, as King guided him along the swirling tunnel.

He was very lucky that King knew where to go, else he would have been lost fifty times over. Looking back, a trail of light followed Joe as far as he could see. He turned another corner, and his mana pool was back in sight.

“We’re not lost my Galaxy Guy, bless you. We’re just stretching it out like a muscle. As more mana passes through it that stronger it will become, like lifting weights. Now just hook it back to your center and you’ll be done.”

Spell gained: Mana manipulation (Novice I): Where others are content to throw unseemly amounts of power into a spell–swiftly fueling their own destruction–you use a lighter touch. -30% mana. +1% mana and +1% spell efficiency per skill level. (Maximum 25% efficiency). Intelligence +1.

“Hey King, I have a spell called Knowledge Transfer. It requires me to be meditating when I do it. Could you show me how to get back here on my own?”

“Oh yeah, sure, it's really easy. Like barely an inconvenience.” Then in a blink of an eye they were out of that galaxy place. Back in the game world with Opal resting on his lap.

“Are you ready?”

“Um, yes?”

“Great, these steps are simple. Just sit down, relax, close your eyes, and picture yourself there. Then to get out just do the steps in reverse.” Blinking he did as he was told, finding himself there in that galaxy place. With everything as he left it. Retracing his steps he was back in the game world.

“The greatest part about these spells. Is that when you go to sleep they’ll still be active, slowly grinding away.”

“That’s really cool, King. Thank-” Horns blared from outside. Followed by someone shouting loudly. Moving to the window Marlow opened it.

“Guild meeting in fifteen minutes. Guild Meeting in fifteen minutes. In the food hall. Guild Meeting in fifteen minutes.” A person shouts out of sight from this window.

“Well I think we should go see what all the commotion is?” King said, getting up from his mattress. Stretching before waving a goodbye while going out the door.

With a moment of peace all to himself Marlow wanted to go lay down and try to sleep away his feelings. But had a feeling that it would be better if he went and checked up on his other champions. He just had a feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong.

Making his way down the spiral staircase he nearly fell several times. His body just felt so heavy and numb. He was just so tired, even after sleeping for so long. Meanwhile Opal patiently and quietly helped him, acting as a crutch of sorts. Her soft feathers betrayed how strong she actually was.

Finally getting to the stable he found that Gwaner and Buttercup were as he had left them. That was in her stable and in the rafters. Their carts on the other hand had been ruffled with.

All the tools his rat had ‘borrowed’ were gone. Every spare piece of fabric was missing. The only things left on the two carts were the safe and various bags of his coins. Which were being safe guarded by his remaining rats. Who survived their trip from the manion.

With a sneaky suspicion that whatever was going happened at the meeting. The adventuring parties would be sent out back into the woods to go clear out the dinosaurs and panthers. So better be prepared, as his father had said so many times.

After hooking Buttercup to the cart with the safe he double checked her hooves and shoes still finding them in good condition. Wouldn’t want her keling over from gangrene or from some other foot related problem. Perhaps he should maybe go learn how to make horse shoes after the meeting today.

Checking around he found no other animals in the stables which was odd. Because he could have sworn that there was another horse and a few cows. Guess they were just wandering around. They couldn’t get far anyways with the gate being shut. In Fact there was no one around at all. That ment everyone must be at the meeting right now.

“Better not be late.” Turning the corner Marlow saw an unusual sight. There were a few people by the gate. Not a lot but probably enough to get it open or keep it closed.

“They were probably already told the news.” Marlow reasoned with himself. As he went inside the castle. Finding the food hall was easy since people were pouring out of it. Well it was more like standing close by the door, but you get the point.

“-I believe it is our safest option for all of us to grow in this new world. We have already seen that our adventuring teams can’t handle everything for us. Even though they are above level five they still have a hard time fending off these monster’s in our woods.” L0le yelled into the mummering den of people. Who apparently didn’t know what silence was.

“So as Head of adventuring, tactics, and combat. I L0le guild commander of Thunderdome will declare a siege on Warwood in one month's time. Whipping out this town will help us set a foothold in the area. If you wish to participate in this raid you may claim your own house or room in the castle after. I know that most of you have been sleeping outside since we don’t have enough rooms here so I hope that those people at least participate.” L0le crowed, as she hushed the mob of people to more whispered levels.

“It is also rumored that Warwood has an increased skill progression area, so we must keep this siege quiet. Else the enemy might take up arms and strike us down first. When we push these people we can finally begin building up something the rest of humanity doesn’t have. Security and safety. How many nights have you woke up in this world fearing for your life? Worrying that something will come lumbring out of the dark to wipe away all the progress you’ve done? So I beg of you people of Thunderdome. Help me accomplish this one task, so that we begin making a safe haven for us. Away from the things that go bump in the night, so that we don’t have to fear some monster taking it all away from us! Help me so that I can help you!” L0le finished her speech leaving the crowd stunned. Then the den erupted with noises of joy!

“A house Kim we can finally-”

“-A bed all to myself I can’t-”

“-place to myself that doesn’t sound-”

“-Down with Warwood, let thunder fly!”

“Down with Warwood! Down with Warwood! Down with Warwood!” The gathered people chanted, raising their fists, weapons, and whatever was in their hand at that time. In sync with the rhythm.

Only for the chant to be broken by a high pitched note. Followed by the person known as the Rat Man to the guild with his three foot chicken. Who Entered the food hall. Sending a wiggle of fear into the hearts of people who saw the match between the Rat Man and the Music Man a few days earlier.

“What of the good people of Warwood? L0le? What are we going to do with them?”

“Did you not hear me boy! Warwood threatened us! They said they will march on us in three months. If we didn’t move further away!”

“May I see it?”

“No you can't, it burnt up after I read it. Some hocus pocus of sorts.”

“That’s so weird, I’ve been to Warwood they were rude, but never out right threated us while we were there.”

“Your right Marlow, they never out right threated us while we were there. But they did give us nearly impossible tasks. Such as knowingly sending us out into the woods. Aware of the fact that if we began chopping down a tree it would summon the forest’s boss monster. Or that fact that they tried to tie us to their village with their apprenticeships. So we couldn’t leave.” Le0n said climb up onto a table to be seen.

“Le0n, what are you doing?”

“I’m telling the truth. For everyone to hear. The only way for us to escape was to lose reputation with the town. I was certain that you understood that, but you didn’t Marlow. So I took matters into my own hands. I sabotaged the smithy, the baker, and their grain store. I had to get everyone distracted so that we could leave without being noticed.”

“That was you!? Why?”

“Of course it was. Which is why we’ll move in one month. We’ll let them make all the repairs then we’ll swoop in and take the town.”

“But you’ll be killing people!”

“You’ll? Are we not good enough for you? You don’t want to rise and get everything you want?” L0le said rejoining the conversation.

“If you are not going to join us? Then I guess you won’t really be helping either?”

“That's right.”

“Guards take this Mocher away and throw him in the dungeon. TO WHOEVER GETS OR TO THE MOST PEOPLE TO LEVEL TEN FIRST WILL GET THEIR OWN HOUSE AFTER THE SIEGE!” Instantly the room broke out of their trance and took off running. For their chance to get their own house.

Marlow on the other hand was suddenly being manhandled by a pair of guards he hadn’t heard of. He hadn’t even heard coming. His shoulders and arms were forced behind him. As he was wrestled to the ground.

“We can’t let you go now that you know our plan.”

Turning his head Marlow saw Opal being bear hugged. She flapped her wings, kicked her feet, and pecked at the hugger. To no avail since that guard was wearing armor. Metal armor.

Twisting his neck even further he saw that his guards were also wearing metal armor. Attempting to bring up memories from long ago Marlow with a few failed attempts, mainly really bad raspberries. Until he whistled a familiar note. One note that Jazz and Le0n were all too familiar with.

Rats, much like Bees and Birds often find themselves in unique environments. Often using what’s around them to build nests and hives. So when Marlow’s rats had a full night to explore their new playground they shared what they’d found with each other. Such as tunnels, secret rooms, rat holes, which floor bored were loose enough to use as doors, and how to get around quickly. Which makes information travel fast.

So when the note played to ‘fetch’ all of his rats went to retrieve the most valuable thing their Master had left behind. Including but not limited to; The Master himself, the Master’s bird, his socks, his favorite shiny stick, that weird pointy stick, the fluffy head rester, the body rag cover, and other shiny things that Master would probably like.

A few rats descended from the ceiling landing on or near the shiniest things in the room. Including the guards armor. Rats on their own usually scared most people, but when they had long serrated claws and a wiggly body. Most people thought twice before attacking them.

Which however was all the time Marlow and his rats needed to get away. With his rats using their sharp claws and small bodies they wormed their way under and began scratching. Causing the guards to let go. The second Marlow felt them let go he bolted for the door. Scuttling on all fours he booked it. With his rats in tow carrying whatever they picked up along the way.