Project Seraphina [LitRPG, Magitech, GL]
3.20 Glitter and Gems II
I can tell two things from the moment that Zackary guides me toward the back shelf where a collection of dazzling gemstones rests in an array of display cases. First, that I’m going to get absolutely fleeced of every penny in my pocket and most of the hefty balance in my bank account. And secondly, despite knowing I’m going to be ripped off by every objective measure, it’s all going to be completely worth every penny I spend.
The first gem I’m presented with is a brilliant pearl that glows. As in, it radiates light on its own. I can make out the [Light] glyph traced very finely into the base of the pearl, but I don’t see any glyphs that would match the effect of my Ether absorption array. Or, really, any other glyphs I recognize. There’s something else etched within, but the specifics elude me.
“So, how does it work?” I ask. “I can see the [Light] glyph, but nothing else.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have a general theory on glyphs the way you do. My Skills do most of the heavy lifting.”
“So how does that work? Are you limited to a certain collection of spells that you can infuse into your gemstones?”
“More or less. My class is considered a spellcaster class, meaning I do have a slate of spells that I’ve learned as I gain in level. However, I believe they are somewhat general spells and weaker than a class that focuses on a single field of magic.”
“So, you get some protection spells, a few various cantrips of different magic schools, and so on, instead of getting increasingly more powerful healing and protection spells like I do?” Chloe interjects.
“Pretty much.”
I can see the appeal of his class, which is a bit like mine in a fashion. Because he can store spells in his gemstones ahead of time, he has a massive amount of flexibility, assuming he properly prepares ahead of time. The main difference, of course, is that while I can craft more powerful weapons, armor, and accessories for myself, he can store massive amounts of different spells and unleash them all at once, overwhelming all but the sturdiest defenses.
A part of me wonders if his class— and the unknown glyphs his Skills are inscribing on these gems— might hold further insights into the nature of glyphs more generally. I know there were strange and unrecognizable glyphs in the Skill Books Chloe and I used earlier this morning. And if there are, in fact, multiple glyph languages, or at least dialects, that would be incredibly important information. Especially if I can figure out why that’s the case and take advantage of the different effects and purposes of these different glyph variations.
I’m excited
for the possibilities.
“So, how do these work?” I ask. “In a more practical sense, that is. I don’t see any glyph arrangements that would be used for collecting ambient Ether to power the remainder of the spell.”
“Ah, well, as you might have suspected,” Zackary starts, “These gems are single-use. Once the spell contained within them has expired, the gems fall inert. Of course, I can always recharge them for you.”
“For a price, I presume,” Chloe says.
And there it is. The real sales pitch. It feels like a bit of a scam, getting these spells that I can only use once before having to recharge. I could probably learn to replicate the spells contained within, but my [Ether] is slow to recharge, and in the midst of battle, having some one-off spells can’t be a bad idea. I’ve gotten to a high enough level where I can use my [Glyphcasting] more than once without completely draining myself, but it’s still not nearly as efficient as System-created spells.
With that said, I’m not convinced that I couldn’t learn how to recharge the stones myself. If they already possess all the glyphs needed to represent the spell— and it appears that this one does— then I might be able to do so just by infusing them with my [Intermediate Ether Manipulation].
“And how much would these cost?”
“This one is a pretty weak spell. Just a simple [Light] glyph to light your way in dark passageways. As for the cost, it’d be $200, plus tax of course. Though, most of the cost is in the actual gemstone material. Once you’ve bought the spell, I’ll be able to recharge it for $40.”
“I don’t think this is particularly useful for us,” Chloe messages. “I can see in darkness just fine, and I think you still can as well?”
“Yeah, my [Archangel’s Gaze] doesn’t seem to be blocked by a lack of light. Though it might be a useful focus for that [Piercing Beam] spell you used against the wyvern the other day.”
“I’d like to see what else he has.”
And we do. His selection is already quite expansive. Rubies containing spells as rudimentary as a simple [Warmth] and as grandiose as a [Wall of Flame]. A sapphire which can conjure a [Spear of Ice], an emerald with the ability to cast [Silence]. The [Silence] spell seems particularly useful to us now that Chloe and I can use telepathy, and for $1,400, I’m resolving to always keep at least one of these charged up and ready to go.
Chloe finds an interesting spell— an onyx containing the power of a [Darkness] spell. And unlike the [Light] spell in the pearl from before, this is actually useful to us. I’m not sure how many creatures rely on seeing with their eyes and lack some sort of [Ethersight] or heat sensing or other form of perception that doesn’t rely on the visible spectrum. More than anything, I expect [Darkness] to be useful at dealing with human combatants in a less-lethal manner. And for that reason, I prepare to shell out another $800 to buy two of them.
We find several other spells that we’re potentially interested in. There’s an opal containing a [Limited Invisibility] spell, but if we’re already getting a [Darkness] gemstone, then there’s not much use in having both. Especially because the ‘Limited’ part of the spell sounds… less than enticing. The last thing I want is to have to strip to use it effectively, or find out that I can’t use it at all because my cybernetics aren’t made invisible.
[Create Water] is a spell that does exactly what it says on the tin. I can replicate the spell with my [Glyphcasting], but it’s useful enough that spending $300 on it is worthwhile. If I get incapacitated somewhere away from civilization, having access to the spell can buy Chloe that most crucial of resources.
It’s not until we get to the end of our tour of the shop that Zackary pulls out a pair of diamond brooches from a small lockbox behind the counter. Now I’m intrigued.
“What are these?” Chloe asks.
“This is a new spell I just learned a couple of days ago. It’s a Shielding-aspected spell called [Last Resort]. You wear it on your armor, and whenever the spell detects that you’re about to take mortal damage, it fires up a shield that absorbs 5,000 damage. It only works for a couple of minutes, but it’ll buy you that crucial time you need to get a healing spell off, or extricate yourself from an otherwise lethal situation.”
In other words, it’s not quite as powerful as Chloe’s [Saintess’s Cloister] now that our [Angelic Bond] doubles its effectiveness. But having such a shield is invaluable, and I sure as the nine hells don’t want to have Chloe in danger without one.
“And how much?” I ask.
“I’m planning to charge $3,500 apiece for them, but just for the two of you, I’d be willing to come down to $6,000 for the pair. I think you’ll agree that money is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that such a powerful spell can provide you.”
“And how much to recharge them later?”
Zackary grimaces. “Unfortunately, the spell consumes the diamond entirely on use. If you manage to find some diamonds, I’d be willing to charge up the spell for say… $800 each.”
I shudder at that knowledge. Not only is $3,000 each a steep price, but it’s even worse by the fact that the diamond shatters when used. But for what the spell provides, it’s a price I gladly pay. I’ve come too close to death once already in this life, and I have no desire to repeat it.
“Are you okay with getting these, Chloe? I’d feel a lot better if we both had one.”
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea”
“We’ll take those, the [Silence] emerald, the [Create Water] sapphire, and the [Darkness] onyx.”
“Wonderful doing business with you,” Zackary says, his eyes practically glistening with all the money he’s making off the two of us today.
With that, my wallet looks deflated in the literal and metaphorical senses alike. In just the past two hours, I’ve spent enough money to pay for a year’s rent at a cheap apartment. And yet, I feel like we should be getting so much more. With any luck, the rest of that check should get verified in the next day or so, and we can come back for more goodies. But for now, I finally feel ready to take on the Tower Gauntlet. Or at least, make an attempt at the earlier floors.
Chloe and I stow away our wares, with the exception of each of our [Last Resort] pendants, which we clip onto our clothing in accordance with Zackary’s instructions. I don’t know how they supposedly detect a lethal attack, but I do want to find out— that knowledge is simply too useful for my own crafting.
We fly back home, but hardly make it off the ground before the sky echoes with an ear-splitting roar.
“Dammit,” I mutter to myself. “Chloe, I’m sorry. Seems another creature has decided to interrupt what should be our date time.” I tap her with [Angel’s Grace], knowing that the surge of additional stats will help her survive the trial we’re about to undergo.
Chloe turns toward me and smiles. “Well, it might not have been how I imagined our first few dates to go, but I have to say. Sera, a day with you is never dull. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
We ascend higher into the skies as fast as we can— I even disable [Overland Flight] to maximize the chances that we can intercept whatever it is that’s heading toward us. Chloe struggles to keep up, but she doesn’t complain; if we’re about to fight another dragon, we’re going to need to be quick.
More roars follow, from deep, bellowing cries that rumble across the landscape to high-pitched shrieks that pierce through my defenses and assail my eardrums. I take no damage from either, but with the unpleasant drill-like sensation and tinnitus I continue to feel as the wail ceases, it sure does feel like I did.
More cacophonous cries follow, and across the western sky, I see exactly what we’re dealing with. Harpies. Or at least, I have to assume. These ugly creatures with feminine figures, bird-like talons, and feathered wings for arms are so similar to the common portrayal that they may as well be. And worse, there are hundreds of them, each about seven feet tall from head to the tips of their talons, with a wingspan of a comparable length.
Just as we reach the swarm’s altitude, we’re greeted by Alana and another woman I don’t recognize. Like Alana, this woman is tall, muscular, and heavily armored, with wings that look very similar to Chloe’s. Unlike Alana, this woman has long, dark hair tied up neatly in a bun, and her skin is of a tan complexion.
“Sera, Chloe, good to see you both,” Alana says. “Time is short, so I’ll give the abbreviated introduction. This is Jasmine, a fellow soldier and [Valkyrie] that I’ve taken under my wing. Jasmine, the girl with the robes is Chloe, she’s a [Saintess] with powerful healing and supportive magic. And the girl in the dragonscale armor is Seraphina. Hybrid spellcaster and gunner class would be the best way to describe how she fights.”
I nod.
“Well, I’d love to have longer to chat and get to know each other better,” Jasmine says, unsheathing her sword and letting it glisten in the light of the sun high above. “But it seems our friends have arrived. Let’s give ‘em hell, girls!”