–Mystic arts is not a system of brute force.–.
I instantly imagined the author to be an old man.
–It is not fueled by endless meditation, bloodlines, or an ever-expanding reserve of energy.–
"Energy?, is that some sort of cosmic force"
–Mystic Arts is the study of language.–
I flipped the page, my intrigue growing by the second.
–Reality itself is written in countless mystical languages, and every Mystic Artist spends their life learning to read, write, and eventually converse with the universe.–
"This was exactly what I was after."
Mystic arts?... I continued reading.
–Power is not measured by how much energy one possesses, but by how deeply one understands their chosen language.–
–The greatest Mystic Artists are not warriors.–
–They are scholars.–
I knew it was an old man writing this.
---
–Every human soul is compatible with a single Origin Law.–
–Although one may choose which Origin Law to pursue, once chosen, it becomes the language through which they interact with reality.–
The known Origin Laws are:
- Ocean
- Storm
- Blood
- Steel
- Sun
- Ground
- Chaos
Each represented with their colours.
Blue
White
Red
Silver
Gold
Black
Violet
I thought back to the palm of the umbrella woman, the markings were red, and...
I looked at the floating symbols in my line of sight.
[ ₹_£№♪′℅Ωμ√. ]
They were purple.
I knew this was a language, do these floating words hold the secret of my resurrection?, and this mystic arts university..."
I flipped the page.
–Mystic Arts as Language–
–The journey begins with a single word.–
–A beginner learns words such as "∆√Ωμ" translation: fire–
–Using a Cosmic Energy Stone, the student inscribes this word onto a compatible material.–
–If the inscription is correct, the material responds.–
–As knowledge increases, so does complexity.–
–A Mystic Artist progresses from–
–Words → Sentences → Paragraphs → Entire Laws–
***
"So it's like writing a phenomen but in real life.
***
–Eventually, language becomes so sophisticated that reality itself obeys.–
–Earth Rank–
–[ ¥£π√√Ππ•μ ]–
–«"Fireball. Travel forward."»–
–Sky Rank–
–[ ✓√ΩΠμ§π√¢€¥¢¥£₹¶∆£∞ ]–
–«"Let this fireball travel forward with the speed of a bullet, exploding upon contact."»–
–Star Rank–
–[£π√√Ππ•μ ✓√ΩΠμ§π√¢€¥¢¥£₹¶∆£ ]–
–«"Let this grand fireball, hot as a hundred suns, tear through distance like light, targeting my enemies within five hundred meters, flying true and righteous while harming none who are undeserving."»–
*Oh, so it's like a progressive system.*
I turned the other page.
–The spell itself becomes intelligent because its instructions become complete.–
---The Ranks---
–Mortal Rank, Students–
–They understand the language but cannot independently command mystical energy.–
–They require Cosmic Energy Stones to activate their inscriptions.–
*I flipped the page, sipping my black coffee*
---Earth Rank, The Scribes.
"Scribes?, that's a very interesting term".
–Earth Ranks write Mystic Arts upon compatible materials.–
–Every talisman, weapon, relic fragment, or enchanted object originates here. They remain dependent upon physical media.–
---
I thought back to the confrontation with Mrs beyfong, "She used that talisman stuff, was it a physical media?– if so, what rank is she?"
–Sky Rank, The Living Grimoires.–
–A Sky Rank learns to inscribe Mystic Arts directly onto their own body. Their flesh becomes parchment. Marks remain active for several spells uses before fading away. This allows repeated casting without constantly rewriting spells.–
"This book was clearly made for beginners"
My mind thought about the woman with the umbrella.
–Star Rank, The Speakers.–
I flipped the page, but it was torn off.
"What!?"
I flipped again.
–The Fourteen Paths, Origin determines one's language.–
*What about the star ranks?*
I touched the page. "It was ripped out, was it ripped out by Mrs beyfong, or someone else?."
Your paths determines one's profession.
The known Paths are:
- Sorcerers
- Warlocks
- War Bishops
- Summoners
- Hermits
- Unshadoweds
- Magicians
- Pathfinders
- Apothecarys
- Priests
- Oracles
- Bards
- Weavers
- Dreamers
Thus two Sun Mystic Artists may possess identical Origins while following entirely different Paths.
I closed the book.
That was fast but I realized something. And that was you couldn't learn an Orign law on your own, you need some sort of teacher. That further confirmed my suspicion that there more to miss beyfong than I thought. That lady with the umbrella was she part of the blood sisters?.
I checked the back of the book, and saw the professors name.
*Written by professor Rudolf Alfred of the mystic arts university of Orign law and arcane sorcerery.*
"Published by the faculty of ancient studies, and entomology"
Is he even still alive?. The author of this book.
I asked myself.
Sigh I have a feeling my life is going to take rough turn.
****
The next few days were spent looking for a house for me to crash.
I let out a breath and knocked on the door greeted by the house agent, Miss Seline, very refined lady. She showed me about.
The apartment was what I called a comfortable space, with a front porch, two bedrooms, considerably large palor and a good kitchen with no rats.
That was good enough for me.
She asked me how much I liked it.
I responded by paying for five months in advance, which totalled up to 215 kronen.
At this rate my bank account would be the next body on my case file.
I moved in immediately, but there wasn't any furniture to sleep on.
The money on me left totalled to about 585 kronen.
If I stared buying appliances my wallet would be as lifeless as the bodies I keep coming across. Ack, that was dark.
The next days were filled with me advertising myself in all bulletin boards I could find in the area.
I had to make money somehow.
-Private detective
-Exterminators
-Mechanic
-Plumber
-Painter
-Electrician
-Carpentar
-Novelist
-Editor
-Private bodyguard, hell even a
-therapist
30% of the jobs I listed I haven't done before, but hey, you never know till you try right?.
That's how I survived in the orphanage for years.
When your age reaches the double digits, the sisters (nuns) begin to take care of the younger ones more, leaving you to fend for yourself, the orphanage I grew up in was built by the church. so Im well versed in all this mystical shit, although I didn't believe it back then. So basically I was a businessman from the age of 14, shining the shoes of the middle-class in the same city I treasured for almost a decade.
I worked as a paperboy, a plumber, a therapist and so on. So I'm well versed in making money in these streets.
I stood at my porch and watched the furniture company squeeze the massive furniture into my apartment.
There's really no need for a new identity, but there is a need for new bank account. I have to come up with a new signature.
As I thought of this, one of the worker told me the work was done.
I entered my apartment, white marbled floors, fluffy couch, and a massive radio stationed on the table.
My palor looked good, but my wallet resembled a goblin.
I sat on my couch and decided to listen to one of my favorites shows.
A radio was still a luxury reserved for government offices, ships, and the wealthy. Ordinary people entertained themselves with books, newspapers, cafes, theatres, or a gramophone if they could afford one.
This radio costed me 320 kronen, more than the price of a small apartment. But my dad had one and now I'm addicted.