City of Fallen Souls: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 3) by Jez Cajiao (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📕

after my shop was robbed,” She glared around the room at large, “I had decided to take some time away, maybe go to the wilds for a bit and increase my alchemical abilities, learn some new potions, and so on. I named a village hardly anyone’s heard of, Dannick, as my destination, so don’t worry.”

“Dannick?” I asked carefully. “Ruled by a ‘Reeve’ called Lorek?”

“You know it?” she asked curiously. “I got some strange looks when I mentioned it. Said I had a niece living there; why?”

“Do you?” I asked slowly.

“No; I said ‘I said’ I had a niece. Think I’d be telling the world, when they could figure out I’m involved in all of this? I’ve no living family, boy, or I’d be already gone from this toilet of a city. Now, explain why that matters.”

“A ship raided the village of Dannick for slaves a week or two back; timing’s a bit of a blur. They live in the Tower now, as free people. I sent one of my ships to recruit from Dannick while I’m here, and well, the ‘Reeve’ is a prick…”

“They always are.” She shrugged dismissively. “A Reeve is too low to be powerful, too poor to be rich, and too stupid to realize that buying a rank like that out in the wilds is going to solve none of those problems. They always end up as miserable shitbags, until someone kills them and the Lord of the city sells their title to another poor fool.”

“Oh, so I basically just did what always happens?” I asked, confused.

“You kill them?” she probed shrewdly, watching me.

“No, I rescued them. When I found that he and his helpers were walking turds, I kicked them out of the Tower with a pack of supplies and a knife and pointed them in the direction of Dannick. I’m betting it’ll take a few weeks of hard travel to make it…”

“…If they live,” she finished for me, and I nodded. “Well, if he’s a Reeve, ain’t nobody going to miss him, no doubt. Now, what’s this idiocy about learning from Spellbooks?” she asked, bracing her hands on her hips.

“Well, we need some more spells. I’ve got these books, so why not use them?”

“Why, indeed…” She sighed, shaking her head and looking at Oracle, who’d stayed quietly perched on my shoulder this time. “You not explained the issues with Spellbooks to him yet?”

“I have, and I know you mentioned them before as well, but he needs every edge he can get,” Oracle retorted.

“Good point. I’d forgotten I did that. Anyway, boy, Spellbooks fill your mind with information, true, but it’s mainly rubbish. I’d recommend you learn the proper way: experiment, be taught by a real Mage, or better yet, ask your Goddess for help. They’re all better methods than absorbing a Spellbook. That’ll mess with your mind, dumping unearned information in like pouring water from a pitcher.”

“You know of any Mages who can teach us, that we can get here in, oh, say, half an hour?” I asked, raising one eyebrow.

“I can teach you a healing spell or two, but beyond that, you’ve got this boy here. Learn some of his spells and teach him some of yours. No point in using a book, when it can be avoided…”

“Have we got time?” I asked, looking at Arrin and Oracle, then back to Nerin.

“Time for my spells, at least. I’ll teach you both two, if Oracle can form a bridge between us all?” She asked and Oracle bobbed uncertainly.

“I’ve done it between Jax and I, and we did do it that way with Ame, but that was in the Tower…” she said cautiously.

“Bah, you’re a wisp. Should be as simple as breathing for you. Reach out and touch our minds, all three at once. Feel what I offer, and channel it for them; you’re a conduit by nature’s will. It's why your kind were hunted to the brink of extinction.”

“I’ll try it, then…” she said, and both Arrin and I moved to sit close to Nerin, who considered us carefully.

“I’ll teach you a healing over time spell, and a weak ‘Cleanse’, as they can grow to be hugely useful. Now, think: if you both teach each other one spell, what will it be?” she asked, and Arrin grinned at me.

“Magic Missile. It's saved my life so many times already,” he offered, and I grinned in acceptance.

“Yeah, it’s an awesome-looking spell!” I said. “I’ll give you ‘Weak Lightning Bolt.’ You’ll get the basic version, unfortunately, but I’ve already evolved my own into ‘Stunning Lightning Bolt’, and it’s pretty much Oracle’s go-to spell. Add it to water, which I can provide, with the fountain…”

“Oh yeah…” Arrin cackled gleefully. “I love that combination!”

“Okay then, we’re all agreed?” Nerin said, and both Arrin and I nodded. “Excellent. Oracle, if you please?”

Oracle shifted into her full-sized form, standing amidst the three of us and reaching out to lay a hand on each of our foreheads. I frowned at the weirdness of her suddenly having three arms, then shrugged as I felt a need to close my eyes.

I felt a connection as Oracle drew me into a link. It was different to our normal bond link, which felt almost like an embrace. This time, it felt very different; instead of her warm arms around my mind, she felt like a bridge, with each of our minds stretching out to join with her, then the information passing from her to us. Oracle’s presence formed a safe buffer for us all, preventing access to the others’ minds.

Nerin went first, and I could see the effort she put into it, despite her pretending it was a simple thing. For the ‘Cleanse’ spell, she composed a structure of magic that felt like rainwater, cool and fresh, rinsing away impurities. It was built like I imagined the rain cycle was; slow, gentle, but inexorable as well. Once it began, it seemed unstoppable, building steadily, rising until whatever it was targeting began to crumble. It started gentle, much