Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Skills and Socializing

Nathan shook his head. He’d considered technology and how it could be directly applied on Davrar, but it was time to answer the question of skills.

Nathan knew a lot - about a lot. Was there anything esoteric he could make a skill or Talent out of? He’d already used some of his best tricks - memory encoding for [Enhanced Memory], and all of his biology knowledge for [Regeneration]. Meditation had gotten him [Focused Mind], and what he knew of human perception had helped him get [Notice]. His guess at a nuclear reaction in Dalo’s spell had netted him [Identify].

Was there anything else like that? Nothing jumped out at Nathan. But he wanted to go through it systematically, so he ran through the classes he’d taken. He considered himself well-versed in physics. He'd taken classes in mechanics and electricity and magnetism, including a large unit on optics. He’d learned a lot more about optics and interference later, when using diffraction-limited microscopes. He’d taken electives in special relativity and quantum information because they hadn’t had awful math requirements and Nathan had been interested. They’d been cool. But they weren’t particularly relevant. Special relativity ignored gravity and was mostly useful as a platform for understanding other concepts. Quantum information had been more about how a theoretical quantum computer would be programmed, and what was and wasn't possible with qubits.

Nathan was proud that he had a pretty good understanding of what superposition really meant. And why faster than light travel was mathematically equivalent to traveling backwards in time. But that didn’t help him with Talents now. Could he bullshit something about quantum tunneling to let him teleport? No, he absolutely could not. Quantum shenanigans happened on the atomic scale, not on the Nathan scale. He had no significant wave-like properties unless he got better at breakdancing.

Moving on… He’d done a bunch of chemistry, from kinetics & thermodynamics on through organic & analytical before going to the true best chemistry, biochemistry. It would probably let him figure out all sorts of useful skills if he’d be doing a lot of chemistry. Maybe he should suggest some things to Poppy later. But Nathan wasn’t planning on doing a lot of chemistry in the near future. He was planning on doing a lot of ignoring people casting magic on him and then punching them.

To get a Talent or skill, it seemed that Davrar required you to do the thing without assistance. Then you would be rewarded with the Talent or skill to do it better and more consistently, as well as the potential to Develop the skill or Talent farther than you could ever go without it. Nathan had gotten Regeneration because he knew so much about the system, and because Stamina was a resource whose purpose was to give control and enhancement to the body. For [Magic Resistance], he'd somehow come to Davrar with antimagic in his bones.

So, was there anything Nathan could do, by himself, that might give him a Talent related to physics or chemistry? Probably not. Nathan couldn't normally generate light from his fingers, or absorb energy into his skin. If he took his [Regeneration] Development and modified his body to innately do those things - maybe that could serve as the basis for a Talent like that.

But he didn't have anything like that. There were probably things he couldn’t think of now. His past life really hadn’t done a lot to prepare him for martial conflict.

All in all, he was happy with how he was using his knowledge. He had a plan to develop [Regeneration], he was building new weapons for Sarah, helping Khachi develop his Divine mana use, and teaching Stella how electricity worked. He was empowering himself and others, to help protect what Nathan was rapidly considering to be his new home. One step at a time. He made a note to keep an eye out for some way to help Aarl out. Nothing obvious had come to mind, so all Nathan could do was look for an opportunity.

Nathan sighed, then poked his head outside. He was early for dinner, but none of the other Heirs were around. So he walked down the corridor to the dining hall.

He exchanged a few words with the cook, who hoped Nathan would enjoy the food. Nathan responded that he always did, then grabbed a plate and walked back to the Heirs’ table to eat it.

A few minutes later, somebody slid in across from him. It was Simla, the black-skinned guy who was on a different team. The one who’d been arguing with Khachi on the first day Nathan was introduced. The one who thought Sudraiel’s changes were bullshit.

“Nathan, yeah? Seems a time to get acquainted. You’re from far, it seems. Inscribe the meeting n’ all. I’m Simla.”

Nathan took the offered hand, shaking it across the table. Simla had a firm grip and stared Nathan straight in the eyes, somewhat challengingly. He wasn’t bad-looking, with golden eyes and jewelry that contrasted beautifully with his skin. It was a striking look, and the shaved head and well-defined muscles certainly didn’t hurt. He wasn’t a hulk, but gave off the impression of a corded whip, ready to snap out in any direction. The young adventurer was wearing a light breastplate and elaborate vambraces. There were shortswords balanced on each hip and a shortbow was peeking over his shoulder.

While Nathan examined him, Simla was examining Nathan right back. Nathan was wearing cheap but tough clothes, meant to be ruined in a fight and potentially repaired later if possible. He’d left his new spear back in the room, since it really wasn’t Nathan’s primary armament.

Simla’s lips quirked up a bit. “Funny seeing you on a team with those adamant statues. They’re all coasting on their parent’s money and Insights. But you’ve come up the hard way, yeah? No backers, just grit and steel.” He held up his hand, clenching his fist in front of his face in a gesture of solidarity.

Nathan frowned a bit. It seemed like Simla was trying to butter him up a bit, establish some camaraderie. Nathan wasn’t opposed, but he didn’t want to be roped into shit-talking the Heirs and his other supporters. So he took a middle path and nodded to the young man across the table.

“Indeed. I've had a lot of support - the Giantraiders got me into the training, and Sudraiel and Jolba gave me the chance to prove myself. You can’t deny the Heirs are powerful teammates to have.”

Simla shook his head, grinning with shockingly white teeth. “Yes, they’re some real young Dragons. But you come in and prove yourself their equal in so short a time. It’s inspiring to see somebody raise themselves up, to stand an equal to the Heirs of the greatest adventurers in Gemore.”

He paused for a moment, then launched into the second part of his spiel. “But, you aren’t committed to them. You can follow your own path after you swear the Adventurer's Oath - escape these new practices the Guildmistress is laying down.”

Oh, I get it. Recruitment pitch time!

You are reading story Ends of Magic: Antimage LitRPG at novel35.com

“People change teams all the time - if you want more freedom with what you do, the jobs that you take on, you might consider other teams. Not just mine, though we’d take you. We’re planning on diving dungeons as soon as we can. Focusing on dungeoneering thing, a quick way to earn the metal jangle.” Simla cocked his head, waiting for Nathan to reply.

Nathan picked his words carefully. No need to make enemies - and honestly, he was happy to learn more about other Adventurers and how they did things. He knew that there was a faction that was opposed to Sudraiel’s changes. Simla seemed to represent them among the trainees, and Nathan was interested in getting the other side of the argument.

“I’m interested. As you say, I’m from far away. There’s much I don’t know about Gemore and the opportunities for Adventurers here. If I stay with the Heirs, what will I be missing out on?”

Simla chuckled, leaning back in his chair and giving Nathan a secretive smile. “Well, that’s the question, isn’t it? I won’t claim that you’ll find people more powerful than the Heirs, at least at our age. But what you will find is people willing to make sure the rewards get distributed equally. Suppose you get into a dungeon and find a blasphemously bright sword, a real relic of the past. If you’re with the Heirs, that’d get reported to the Guild, and if the Guildmistress decides it’s important it might get snatched away from you with just some coin for your trouble.” Simla waved his hand as if dismissing an unfortunate possibility.

“But if you’re with another team, then there’s no need to talk so much about it. Keep what you earn. We’re Adventurers. We’re the ones who take the risks, the ones out there making the decisions. Seems like it’s not too much to ask to make our own decisions. Here in Gemore the only thing that matters is victory, and sometimes that means not following all the rules. Do you read what I’m writing?”

Nathan nodded, inspecting the table. “I get the reasoning. How ‘bout the villages? Seems like that’s a lot of the job, keeping the roads open, the fields clear and mines working.”

Simla shrugged. “Yeah, and they’re jobs that need to be done. But those aren’t the jobs that made Gemore Adventurers into what we are, no matter how the Guildmistress has us hopping to every whim of jumpy villagers.” He shook his head sadly, continuing.

“My great-granddad made the Bhola name clearing dungeons around Old Gemore. He’d not be pleased at the trouble you have to go to just to get into a dungeon these days. Used to be you just let people know, then went on your way. Now if you don’t get approval you’ll get other teams sent after you to bring you back.” The young man sighed regretfully.

“Gemore Adventurers are going soft, worrying about the villages more than the roving monsters and dungeons. If we want to keep leveling we gotta challenge the big dangers, not just help some farmers cower behind their walls. They need us, but we don’t need all of them so bad, there’s way more villages than Gemore needs to stay fed. We could get by with eight, not the twenty-two we got.” The young man had gotten into a groove, and was definitely recalling some familiar arguments.

“I say we cut back the protection of the villages. Let Adventurers go hunting, delve for some relics of the past - wherever that might take them. We got the strength to do it, and to survive things goin’ wrong. Then when we got the levels, we got the loot, we can crush Gianstsrest. Make Litcliff drop their tariffs. When you got the magic sword you get to dictate the terms. And there’s magic swords lying all around us.” Simla spread his hands wide, indicating Gemore and the ruins beyond.

Then he sat, waiting for Nathan’s response. After a moment he got impatient. “Well, what do you think?”

I mostly think you’re full of crap. You need excess food as a buffer against things like a village losing a harvest, or slavers coming across the mountains. And letting people freely delve into dungeons seems like a bad idea for a dozen reasons. Sure, you might end up higher level at the other end, but you’d end up with ten adventurers where you started with a hundred. With more villages you get more Adventurer levels without having to risk the dungeons. It’s not as glorious, but it’s more certain. I think Sudraiel’s building for the future, and you’re wishing for the past.

But Simla was obviously a firm believer in what he’d said, and if Nathan was earnest with him, he’d probably make an enemy here. An enemy with connections and support among Gemore’s adventurers. So Nathan once again tried to take the middle path, but found his disparagement for Simla’s suggestions sneaking through. He was angry at what Simla's suggestion would mean.

“Yeah, I get your point. We gotta get stronger.” Nathan lifted his arm and tensed it. Nathan was himself impressed at the resulting flex.

Damn, did I get swole! [Regeneration]!

“And the dungeons are a good way to do that. But the dungeon I saw? That seemed like a quick way to die, not to level. It’d killed dozens of Adventurers before by encouraging them to look away while constructs snuck up on them from behind an illusion.” Nathan looked around the mostly-empty room. There were a few teams sitting on the outskirts of the cafeteria-like space. They seemed like teams that were mostly from the villages, who were in the dining room now because they didn’t have any local tutors to guide them.

“And how many of the Adventurer trainees are here from the villages? Seems like at least a few teams. Wouldn’t have as many of those without as many villages.”

Simla scoffed. “Not real Adventurers. No real Insights to their name, just here to learn and go home to farm, maybe feeling a bit safer with the sword they take back.” He scowled around, daring anybody who overheard him to take issue.

Oh, now that wasn’t a comment fit to endear yourself to me.

Outwardly, Nathan shrugged. “Maybe. But I’ll take a team of village Adventurers over no team at all. And in thirty years, if those Adventurers protect their home and get some levels? If we have thirty villages and twice as many Adventurers as we have now? I think that’d give Giantsrest pause the same way twenty adventurers at level 500 would. You end up stronger if you help other people and then rely on them to help you instead of enhancing solely your own power.”

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