EFate: An MMO Story

With a frustrated look, Eric watched as the runes in front of him shattered into shards of violet light, the mana structure falling apart for what must have been the thousandth time in the last four hours.

"Again? For f.u.c.ks sakes," Eric swore as the familiar feeling of mana rebound washed over him, a sense of tiredness filling his mind. "How many times is that now? A thousand?"

"Four-hundred and twenty-two actually," Eleanor chimed in helpfully from her perch atop his head, where she'd nestled herself roughly an hour into his experiments.

"Not helping, Elle."

"Sorry."

Eric sighed, reviewing the steps required to create a new spell in his mind as he waited for the mana rebound to disappear. The creation of new spells relied on what was known in Nasvencia as 'Rune Theory'. The study of runes, their uses, and how they worked. From what he'd read, the basics of rune theory relied on one of two major categories of runes.

Runes could be broadly split into two different categories, vessels, and modifiers. Vessel runes were the runes that gave spells their shape. The Strike and Dart runes were both considered vessel runes as it was these runes that gave the spells their distinctive shapes once cast.

Modifier runes were runes that modified the properties of a spell. The most common form of modifier runes were elemental runes, which converted the arcane mana into mana of that element.

It was the vessel rune or runes that were considered most important when creating new spells. While modifier runes were important for the final spell, most spells didn't care when the modifier rune was added, as it would not interact with the vessel runes with regards to creating the spell. A vessel rune with no modifier runes could still produce a perfectly good arcane spell, but a modifier rune with no vessel runes would simply result in the conversion of mana to whatever the modifier rune denoted.

Where am I going wrong? He wondered helplessly. The theory behind the spell he wanted to create was somewhat complex. It relied upon the interactions that allowed the Multi-linked Flame Strike and Wind Dart to work, linking together multiple vessel runes to create a spell that was stronger than the sum of its parts.

Let's see if I can identify the issue, Eric decided, raising his arm once more. With steady strokes, he began to draw patterns in the air, arcs of violet light tracing the form of three different runes as his fingers danced in the moonlight.

First, the Bullet rune. Use that as the basis of the spell, and then reinforce it with the Strike and Dart runes, Eric told himself as the runes took form. A large teardrop formed the base of the rune. Inside the teardrop, two more runes could be seen, a circular rune at the base of the teardrop, and a narrow reverse V whose point merged with the tip of the teardrop at the top of the formation. Satisfied with the runes themselves, Eric let out a low breath as he began the critical process of infusing mana into the formation. Concentrating intently upon the mana circulating inside his mana paths, he willed the mana into the runes, guiding his mana into the formation in accordance with the principles of magic he'd learned from Lucy.

So far so good, Eric thought nervously as the Bullet rune that formed the foundation of the spell was completed, briefly shimmering with a bright violet as he ceased providing it mana. Next is the Strike rune, I need to make sure I don't overload the mana where it connects with the Bullet rune. Both runes need to be balanced in order for the Strike rune to fill the Bullet rune with its power without disrupting the spell itself. Carefully, Eric infused his mana into the formation, his mana pulsing as he circulated it quickly through his mana paths before sending it into the Strike rune hanging motionless in front of him.

With another bright shimmer, the Strike rune lit up. Now, two of the three runes were alight, leaving only the Dart rune to glow dimly in the night air. Alright. Just the Dart rune left, Eric told himself nervously. This was where he'd failed so many times before. Unlike the Strike rune which was used to provide more power and stability to the quick Bullet spell, the Dart rune was being used to both provide the spell with more penetrating power and also as a lattice to tie the three runes together. Ideally, the three runes would combine to create a spell that had the power of the Strike spell, the speed of the Bullet spell, and the penetrative ability of the Dart spell. Ideally.

Unfortunately, the Dart rune was not a rune that enjoyed being used to modify another vessel rune, especially not one of a different type than itself. Whereas the Strike rune formed the basis of all attack magic and could thus be easily incorporated into other spells, the Dart rune was part of a different branch of attack magic than the Bullet rune. This made creating a stable spell formation difficult, as the mana inside the Dart rune rebelled, refusing to cooperate when Eric attempted to meld it with the other two runes in the formation.

No. You don't get to refuse my commands. You're my mana, and you will obey me! Eric roared mentally, engaging in a battle of wills with the rampant mana as he forced it to settle into the path he'd devised for it. Come on, just a little bit more, Eric panted, sweat flowing down his face as the mental exertion took its toll on his body. Slowly, ever so slowly, the mana continued to flow through his mana paths, circulating quickly as he directed it into the spell formation.

As he neared the last section of the formation, Eric's concentration was strained to its limit. All he needed to do to complete the spell was to coax his mana into the last few strands of the Dart rune that were still incomplete, and yet, despite his best efforts, he felt the mana beginning to slip away, running rampant once more even as he desperately attempted to rein it in. With a defeated gasp, Eric's control over the mana failed, the spell formation collapsing into motes of violet light as he slumped back against the fallen trunk. His mana bar was flashing, indicating that he'd spent all his mana in the attempt, with only his exhaustion and an array of quietly fading violet lights to show for it.

"You were close," Eleanor consoled him, eliciting a sigh from Eric. He'd been close several times now, but each time he failed at the last, critical junction. Theoretically, the spell should work, all the principles were in accordance with the laws of spellcraft, and the rune formation obeyed the rules of rune theorem. Was it him that was the problem? While Eric was confident in his mana manipulation, perhaps the spell was simply too difficult for a Journeyman mage to cast.

Firming his resolve, Eric abandoned the triple-linked rune formation for now, resolving to come back to it later when he had the time. And once I've consulted Lucy, he admitted to himself with a quiet chuckle. While he wasn't sure how Lucy would react upon learning that he was attempting to create attack spells, this was simply a question of magical theory, something she was always more than happy to lecture about. She wouldn't possibly blast him across the manor for that, right?

Choosing to ignore the likelihood of his teacher using him for target practice, Eric began to think of new rune combinations, this time limiting the number of runes he would combine to two. Unfortunately, despite his success in merging the two runes together earlier, combining Bullet with Strike was out. While a more powerful Bullet would be a nice spell to have, the Dart rune already filled the same purpose, and he was nearly at the Journeyman level with it. Switching to another similar spell now would only hinder him in combat. However, if he didn't have use for a normal anti-personnel spell like Bullet, then what type of spell did he have use for? Eric wondered.

Idly, Eric conjured a strand of wind mana, allowing the magical breeze to play across his fingers as he pondered the question. Seeing this, Eleanor flew down, spreading her wings to take advantage of the wind and using it to catapult herself backwards. Giggling, she returned and did it again, treating Eric as a living amus.e.m.e.nt park ride. Unable to contain his own smile, Eric broke out into a grin as he watched the diminutive fairy enjoying herself with the small breeze he'd conjured.

Suddenly, Eric's eyes lit up. "Elle, you're a genius!" he swore excitedly, runes flashing through his mind as he began to filter through the possible ways to accomplish his new idea.

"Of course I am!" Eleanor responded proudly, sticking out her c.h.e.s.t and raising her chin. "But, uhhh… Mind refreshing me on why that is?"

"I think I've figured something out. It might take me a little while to put it into practice though."

"That's good! Anything I can help you with? After all, I am a genius," Eleanor informed him with a smile.

"You've already done more than enough. When we have time, I'll take you to a huge river that we haven't been to before," Eric promised her.

Eleanor giggled at this, flitting back up to rest in Eric's hair as he set to work. He wasn't entirely sure if this idea would work, but if it did. It would be a spell that suited him uniquely. Humming softly to himself, Eric resumed his magical experiments, filling the clearing once more with arcane light as the moon watched on from above.