Chapter 3: Bullying is Bad

"Seriously? And you're going to, what, beat me up for that? How much are you getting paid?" Wait, I'm C-five. Do I have an Abrupt Jaunt…? Yeah, I do. Preparing that as well, I casually looked over my shoulder. Two more students, thinner and dressed in robes, looked back.

"You're smart, aren't you?" He raised his club. "I wonder if you'll still be smart when-" Seeing the wizard behind me whispering the words for a Silence, I shouted "Cloud of Bewilderment!" as I Abrupt Jaunted forward, diving and rolling while the bruiser coughed and hacked in the noxious fumes. Scrambling to my feet and sprinting away, I heard the coughing suddenly cut off as the Silence took effect. Well, that worked out. Knowing that there'd be at least a few seconds before they could get their act together, I ran to the corner before slowing to a walk, trying my best to blend into the crowd. As the irregular footsteps behind me reached what I figured was about the corner, I risked a glance back. Hah. Looks like he breathed in the cloud - shouldn't be able to run much for a bit. Smirking at his coughing and confusion, I made my way towards Spell Tiers and Categorization.

Arriving early despite the short detour I took to ensure I wasn't followed, I was waved in by the instructor. "Zander, right? I was hoping you'd get here early - I'll get you started on the exit test early so you'll have time to start scribing higher level spells right away. Take a seat here, please..." Well, I guess that's good? Making my way over, I obliged and waited as a few sheets of parchment - huh, fancy - floated over and placed themselves in a neat stack on the desk. "Go ahead and start - I doubt you'll need the full time but it's technically ninety minutes. It'll go where it needs to when you're done, and some general spellbooks will get to you. Alright, ready?" I nodded. "Start!"

Looking at the first page, I almost laughed at how easy the questions were."How many tiers of spells are there?" Nine, obviously.

"What are the five elements of destruction?" Fire, Ice, Acid, Electricity, Sonic.

I sped through two pages before even starting to think. After a bit, questions started getting more difficult, but I was fairly prepared. "Name and explain three ways a wizard who has no study in a school of magic can utilize magic of that type." Universal spells, as they use raw arcane energy, the Spellpool, as it uses complete spells and transfers them mentally, and learning magic in an alternate fashion, such as becoming a Mystic Theurge.

Slowing down a bit, I started checking my work, and before long, other students started entering. About forty minutes into the class, I finished the test, and looked up. Immediately, it disappeared in a puff of blue light, and a thick tome replaced it with a soft thump. Looking around, nobody seemed to notice, but then, two pairs of eyes stuck out from the crowd. Malicious, hateful eyes. Those guys again? I should get some combat spells ready…

Looking through the table of contents of the spellbook and quickly flipping through pages, I soon found the first spell I needed. Taking a breath and focusing, I peered into my mind and reached upwards through the tiers of arcane layering within. Finding shiny, new openings, I withdrew, then grabbed a few spell components from my pouch and started the assorted arcane intonations needed to prepare Summon Monster III. Chanting under my breath, I placed a tiny leather bag and an equally small candle on the table, watching in satisfaction as arcane energies flowed in. Returning to thee mental storage, I held the prepared spell firmly in my mind and fitted it into one of the third-tier openings, rewarding me with a satisfying click as the spell integrated itself into the arcane matrix. One down. Glancing at the clock, I noted that five minutes had passed. Okay, twenty-five minutes left. Taking a deep breath, I returned the spell focus to my pouch.

Checking my spell slots, I noted that I had a first and second tier spell left, as well as two third level ones. Probably won't get all of that done… I'll just get the important ones. Flipping to Dimension Step, I focused and prepared that as well, going through the incantations and preparations to nearly complete each one before storing it - though these were slightly easier, as without a material component, only mental action was needed. Lastly, I took out a small package of skunk cabbage leaves, and the notes I took on Shape Spell, and using the energy-efficient paths described, prepared a Shaped Cloud of Bewilderment. Huh. I just realized - this is functionally the same as a Shaped Nauseating Cloud, but a tier down… Might have found something to write about. Interesting. Putting that information aside for now, I packed up just as I heard the chime to dismiss the class.

Looking with the corner of my eye, I saw the two malicious mages give me a second death glare. Didn't expect to use this so early, but, whatever. Pretending to be working, I discretely pulled out the bag and candle I had prepared earlier, and as the two left, I got up and started walking. Humming as softly as I could, I soon came across a point where it was magically silenced. Trying to be smart, hm? Let's see, the source must be twenty feet from here... Muttering the finishing incantation, I felt the energy from my mind and from the spell focus coalesce into a tiny form - a Coure Eladrin. Pointing towards the door and mouthing "incorporeal", I walked into the Silence.

Immediately, the door was slammed shut behind me, and the two mages from earlier, plus two jet-black, smoldering wolves - summoned fiendish wolves, I thought - attacked. Grinning, my new ally floated out of the ground, causing the wolves to bounce off the magic barrier surrounding the fae creature, a warding circle ten feet wide. Meanwhile, I dodged a bolt of fire before vaulting over the wolves and smashing my staff into the bridge of a mage's delicate nose, grinning as he dropped his spell components. Then, dashing out of the reach of the second mage, I touched the gear of my staff onto the ground and shouted, "Create Trap!"

Instantly, holes appeared in the ground and sharp darts stabbed into flesh, while the Coure fired off a pair of Magic Missiles, knocking the two wizards unconscious. Okay. Now - oh crap, I forgot about the wolves. The snarling Fiendish wolves, now having a target outside of protection, leapt at me… and promptly disappeared. I grinned, shouting, "Hah! Take that, short durations!" The Coure, now back to her faerie form, giggled and mock-saluted before disappearing as well. "Okay. Um. I think I should… Tell a teacher? Yeah, wouldn't want them to bleed out…" Opening the door and walking into the classroom, I called to the teacher. "Errr… I kind of just got attacked, but I dealt with it. There's… kind of a couple guys bleeding out over there. Do you think you could…?"

The teacher just sighed. "Yeah, I figured those guys would give you trouble. Glad you dealt with it though. Here, shove this down their throats…"

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that standard procedure around here for when someone attempts murder?"

He just shrugged. "It happens to kids like you. Usually you're the ones who come out on top, so we figure the near-death experience is punishment enough. The third potion's for you, by the way."

"Fair enough." I plucked the three floating vials of pinkish solution out of the air and walked back to the unconscious figures, pouring the liquid into their mouths. Soon, the wounds stopped bleeding, though they remained out cold. "Well, that was exciting. Now, next class…"

…

A few less-than-interesting classes and a practical magic use test later, I was done for the day. Trudging back to the dorm, fairly exhausted, I collapsed into a chair. Soon after, Victoria walked in half-carry Gareth, looking somewhat bruised but victorious. "Well, you guys look like you had an exciting day. Did random thugs try to jump you, too?"

Gareth raised an just nodded, apparently too tired to talk. Victoria set him down and raised an eyebrow, but nodded as well. "Yeah, though it looks like you got out better than us. Still, you should see the other guys."

I chuckled and pulled out the unused healing potion from the teacher. "Here, I got this when I asked the teacher about the people I left bleeding out. If you want it."

Victoria hesitated, and then declined. "No, better save that when someone actually is bleeding out. Still, that would have been helpful... Maybe next time we should go to a teacher as well."

"Yeah, he was pretty helpful. Said that apparently, this is pretty normal for 'kids like you', so I guess they keep some minor healing potions around for that reason."

"Well, I'll be sure to ask. So, you any good at cooking?"

"Uh, not great, but I'm sure I can figure things out. Or, I could just flavor it with Prestidigitation..."

"Well, there should be some food on the counter over there, which is generally filling enough, but it doesn't really have any taste - probably made by spells. If you want to try to make something, there's some salt and oil and such in a cupboard, which might save you a few spells. Regardless, I'm going to go take my armor off."

Shrugging, I walked over to the "kitchen", which was really just a counter with a toggled magical flame, as Victoria went to the bathroom. Huh. I guess she just wears it during the day. Looking through the various ingredients there, I found a loaf of bread and a chunk of cheese. Shrugging, I looked into the cupboard, where I found a small container of oil and another of salt. Eh, good enough. Let's see if I can work without Prestidigitation... Putting a pan on the fire, I sliced the bread and cheese, making a sandwich, then poured a small amount of oil on each side. Putting one on the pan, I let it sit for awhile as I got the next sandwich ready, then flipped it, smiling with some satisfaction that I managed to not burn anything. After another couple minutes, I slid the sandwich onto a plate and took a bite. Not bad! Awesome! After making two more sandwiches, I brought the plates over to where Gareth appeared to still be sleeping, just as Victoria walked in, now unarmored and with her hair down. "Looks decent enough!" Sitting down, Victoria took a bite and grinned. "Better than I was making. Guess you're the new cook."

I chuckled, joking, "Dang it, if I knew competency would mean more work, I would have messed up! Oh well, missed opportunities."

Victoria laughed, though she still looked tired. "I guess you'll just have to suffer. Anyway, how were classes for you?"

"Boring enough, though I got to test out of most of them and catch up to my C-level in spells. People tried to 'teach me a lesson' for being smart, twice, though I got away the first time and ended up teaching the lesson the second. How about you?"

"Something like that. People were making fun of me and Gareth for being unintelligent, though at first I just told Gareth to ignore them. When they started casting things in the halls, though..."

"You let him beat them up?"

At this point, Gareth chuckled. "I started to, but they focused me and I got knocked out. Victoria took out the rest - they didn't seem to take her seriously until she started cracking skulls."

Victoria smiled. "You did fine. I had plenty of healing after that, so even after I spent some minor spells healing them it wasn't so bad. It was the second time that really hurt - they focused Gareth again, and I could only heal him so much."

Gareth grinned back. "She didn't waste anything on them that time. We did leave one of 'em conscious so he could bandage the rest, though. On that note, he was using this, which you might like, Zander..." A thin golden headband emerged from Gareth's bag, with a tiny sapphire embedded in the center.

"Oh man, is that a headband of Intellect? That guy must have been pretty rich!" I immediately put it on, and started grinning like a maniac as I felt the magic effects surge through my mind, like a sudden awareness of all manner of things. Suddenly a little guilty, I took it off. "I can't just take this, it's like two thousand gold pieces at market price..."

Gareth waved a hand tiredly. "You can use it better than either of us. I'm sure we'll find some nifty armor or weapons on some "Practical Experience" quest later that you won't have a clue how to use, so don't worry about it."

I hesitantly put it back on, then smiled. "Well, thank you. It's great."

Victoria smiled. "I'm glad you can use it. Of course, it's not entirely altruistic - Gareth wants your newfound intellect to help him with his work."

"Hey! You did too!"

I chuckled, nodding. "Ah, now it all makes sense. Well, I'd be rude not to, so let's see this work..."

...

A couple hours later, after helping Gareth get started on his arcane pronunciation and Victoria with channeling arcane energy, I decided to sleep early to take advantage of my temporary lack of schoolwork. A few "Goodnight!"s and a few minutes of getting ready for bed later, I lay down, staring at the ceiling. I wonder if I'll have nightmares again. Hardening my gaze, I closed my eyes. Bring it on.

...

Again, soon after my vision faded, chaotic colors swirled into existence. Oh, joy... Trying to turn around, I discovered that I was having difficulty actually moving, almost as if I was being levitated. Hm. Let's try... Focusing my mind, I willed my body to turn, and... It did. Mentally cheering, I turned in a circle, surveying in all directions, until I found a shadowy blotch in the distance. Urging myself forward, I approached the shadows, getting closer and closer until it became a huge, humanoid shape. "Hey! Shadow guy!"

The shadows turned around, gazing at me with huge, glowing red eyes. Meddler. You are here earlier than expected.

I grinned. "I guess I'm just that good. So, did I pass?"

An appraising stare. Yes. Perhaps you will do. The shadows reached out with a hand, picking me up. You are likely ready for the next step. Prepare yourself. And, without further warning, his hand closed, and I felt my consciousness being drawn far, far, away...

...

A brief eternity later, I landed with a thump on a sandy arena. Walls circled around the area, and four stone pillars, ten feet tall, formed a square within. Looking around, I saw only one other entity - another shadowy figure, but appropriately human-sized. I stood, grabbing my staff off the ground - When did I get that? - and faced what seemed to be an enemy. "So... are we fighting?"

"Yes."

"Err, right. Is there like a signal to start?"

"No."

"So... we just go at it?"

"Yes."

"Are you waiting for me, or something?"

"No."

"Well then..." Closing my eyes and searching my mind, I found... Holy Boccob. I found no tiers, no spell slots, nothing - just endless, endless energy. Grinning, I flew upwards, upwards, upwards... Once I started straining, I reached out, seized an amorphous blob of energy, and descended at breakneck pace. My eyes flew open and my hands crackled with energy as I blasted - Wait, where'd he go? I looked around, the energy still charged at my fingertips. Nowhere. Which means... Looking up, I saw a tiny blot in the sky. Too easy. With a snarl, I blasted straight upwards, a massive column of energy shooting into the heavens, obliterating the enemy. When the light cleared, my foe was nowhere to be found. "Well, that wasn't so bad."

As if in response, a second form flickered into existence. "Oh, is this like level two?"

"Yes."

"Joy."

I charged up a second blast.

Author's Note: While technically there's been some change to Zander's sheet, it's pretty much just him preparing the spells mentioned, so there's not much to change. Also, links to Zander's character are in my account now, since that's supported. Thanks for reading!