"So, Barry, let me get this straight," Daren says. "You're saying your trinket amplifies your physical attributes, which is powered by magic you can invest in your 'stats' like points?"
"Right." I answer.
"And this device also lets you communicate with animals, like the two deer that brought us here?"
"Correct."
Daren, Kate and I are sitting on the rocky floor of a dimly lit cave. Kate is sitting close to the cave's opening, looking wistfully into the forest. Daren has gotten out of his heavy armour, wearing more comfortable clothes now.
"Kate, could you knock some sense into—"
"No. Not because I am not bothered, but because I know Stat boosters are a real thing. I have known about these devices for a long time, so what he is saying is true. This doesn't mean I fully trust him, though." she says, looking at me rather scornfully.
I proceed to show my Stat device to Daren at his request, and he seems to show particular interest in it.
"I intend to maximise my Observation Stat," I say. "If we are going to travel together, there needs to be someone that can detect illusions, and I doubt either of you are proficient at it."
Daren lightens up, probably amused. "That is exactly what I was going to say! You are surprisingly sharp, Barry. No wonder you could figure out my weakness in just a few minutes after first meeting me!"
Kate's ears perk up as Daren talks about me, despite having shown little interest in the conversation so far.
"That said, Kate, you are here looking for a friend, correct?" I ask her.
"Yes."
"But you have no idea where she might be?" questions Daren.
"No, unfortunately not... But I am certain she is somewhere on this Continent."
"Well, worry not, we will probably run into her on our way, this island can't be that big, can it?" I say and Daren nods in agreement. Kate gazes at me momentarily, before turning back to what she was doing before.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," says Elaria as she approaches. "I thought you might be hungry after such a long journey."
"No, nothing important in particular." I say.
"I'm never going to get used to hearing him talk like that... " I hear Daren mutter as he sits down to start eating. Kate comes closer to take her share of the food.
Many outsiders might not even be able to discern that animals in Varathia can actually talk at first glance. They have their own language, much like humans do, but theirs is much more ancient than the 'Common' we humans speak. Daren's reaction right now was only natural.
It seems like I managed to retain some information that I learned through the Stat device or through some other means last time. Information that I would have to acquire by spending a certain number of points now require fewer points. Like, learning the animal tongue would usually require two points in the Ancient Languages Stat, but I only needed one to be able to speak the language fluently this time, probably because I had managed to pick up the basics of the language from the Stat device in my previous life as well as from the tutoring session Flower gave me once when my Stat device was malfunctioning.
This is good to know. I don't know if such changes will crop up in my other stats as well, but I sure do hope so.
I see a little fawn looking at our group from behind a rock shyly, unbeknownst to his mother. I smile at him.
YOU ARE READING
Magium: The Chronicles of Varathia
FantasyMagium - The most ancient of artifacts, believed to be the source of all magic. At long last, Barry had acquired the one thing he had looked for his entire life. In his hands was the key to achieve his lifelong dream - the grand prize for his victo...
