Emerilia Series Box Set 4

  Want a bigger map of Emerilia and the continents? Check out http://theeternalwriter.deviantart.com/

  Character Sheet is located in the back of the book for reference.

  Emerilia

  Beyond All Expectations

  Chapter 1: Beyond the Expected

  Dave looked upon the Weapons of Power vault. As the various fighters had made their way in, he and the other dwarven master smiths had also ventured into the room to look upon the items that they and past masters had worked on, as well as look for inspiration for later projects.

  Even as the dwarven master smiths smiled and talked in excited tones to one another, there was a shadow in their voices and eyes. They all knew what opening this vault meant, the impact that it would have on the world.

  Dave heard a commotion as a few items were knocked over.

  “Where is he? I can sense him!” an old voice said. Just by the tone of the voice, one could tell that the person speaking was slightly eccentric.

  A staff flew out from between the racks.

  Dave’s eyes widened at the staff. With his Touch of the Land, he could sense the Mana that seemed to pour from the staff.

  Its body was made of crystallized Mana. Along its length, there were carved scenes from every Affinity: flames, waves, bark, smooth as polished metal and rough as raging air currents Light glowed out from it symbolizing the final affinity. These six different surfaces all intermingled together, coming to form six different pillars that extended out of the top of the staff, turning into red, green, black, white, blue, and gold to create a cage around a perfectly spherical gray crystal.

  This staff halted in midair, pausing before it rushed toward Dave.

  “You’re not him! Who are you?” An old voice filled with suspicion came out of the staff as it stopped in front of Dave. It revolved around him, studying Dave.

  “A talking staff?” Dave muttered to himself, looking at the creation in front of him.

  “Archmage Jekoni, this is Dave Grahslagg,” Kol, who was nearby, said in a respectful tone, seeing Dave at a loss of what to do.

  “Why can I read Jung Lee’s Mana signature on you?” A light was emitted from the staff. A wizened old gnome, about five feet tall with a classic wizard hat and robe, floated up to look at Dave face-to-face.

  Dave’s eye twitched at the gnome’s appearance.

  The robe was much too long and the gnome, although trying to be serious, had to flip his head so that the tip of his well-used wizard’s hat didn’t fall in his eyes. “Even in my damned spiritual form, this hat can’t stay straight!” The gnome pulled the hat off and threw it on the floor. “I’ll deal with you later!” He pointed at the hat. It started to use the brim to try to escape!

  Even the damn hat’s animated!

  Dave looked to Kol in confusion.

  “So—Jung Lee? Where is that medicinal nut?” Jekoni asked.

  “Umm, er, well, we rescued him from the Six Affinities Temple,” Dave said.

  “Rescued him?” Jekoni frowned.

  “He was trapped there with six different Free Affinity spirits fighting for control of his body,” Dave said, recovering from the shock.

  Just then, the hat started to climb his leg, as if hiding from Jekoni. Dave shook his leg, but the hat clung on for dear life.

  Jekoni’s face was dark as he stroked the faint hairs that made up the wisp of a beard he had. “Well, let’s go see the old bugger. Been awhile since I was able to talk to anyone from my time period! Those old elves have always been an uppity and boring bunch. You dwarves only got interesting after the last couple of centuries. Quite the improvement, if I do say so myself!” Jekoni announced.

  Dave looked to Kol.

  “Best to go take him to Jung Lee. He’s harder to reason with than an enraged goblin,” Kol advised.

  Dave made to open his mouth.

  “We can handle the rest here.” Kol waved down his words.

  “Well, let’s be about it! Also, have you got any soul gems? Old charge is a bit low,” Jekoni said.

  Dave sighed, feeling something on his shoulder. The hat now rested on his left shoulder, seeming completely happy with itself.

  Dave pulled out a grand soul gem and passed it to Jekoni.

  Jekoni didn’t make any sign of taking it. Instead, a force pulled the soul gem to the staff. The glow of the gray crystal and blue staff became brighter as a stream of multi-light was pulled from the soul gem.

  The soul gem was exhausted in a few moments.

  “Hmm, interesting, a rechargeable soul gem. Holds a bit back to maintain the structure of the soul gem. Smart, that. What is this? Magical Circuitry, or some kind of variation?” The soul gem rotated in front of Jekoni as he stared into its depths.

  “It’s called magical coding, a simplified version of Magical Circuitry.” A smile appeared on Dave’s face at Jekoni’s words.

  Jekoni made an impressed noise. With a wave of his hand, the soul gem disappeared. A ring around the shaft of the staff glowed. It was an integrated spatial ring within a smooth area on the staff that someone could hold onto.

  Dave was impressed with the staff. Even with his current skills, making something similar would be a massive undertaking.

  “Lead on to Jung Lee! Been in here too long.” Jekoni’s eyes moved to the hat on Dave’s shoulder. “Hat!” Jekoni said in a firm tone.

  The tip of the hat moved from side to side, giving off the feeling of a petulant child saying no to its parent.

  “Hat.” Jekoni snapped his fingers as his voice lowered.

  The hat resisted for a few moments before reluctantly leaving Dave’s shoulder and floating over slowly to Jekoni. It seemed to pout the entire way before it landed on Jekoni’s head.

  Jekoni settled the hat on his head when the tip of the hat promptly fell down in his face. “Hat!” Jekoni flicked the tip out of his face, only to have it come back and fall on his face again.

  Jekoni mumbled some angry curses and promises before the hat reluctantly flipped the peak backward and out of Jekoni’s face.

  It seemed to be amused with itself and Jekoni’s reaction.

  Dave sensed Jekoni’s annoyance and moved to leave the vault. The staff floated next to the gnome, following Dave.

  Dave nodded to the dwarven masters guarding the door. Their looks turned slightly fearful as they saw the staff following Dave. These Hidden Masters who could have been the top fighters in the dwarven tournament shivered in the mere presence of the staff and accompanying gnome.

  They quickly moved back through Aldamire. Jekoni looked around the mountain, an unreadable expression on his face.

  Dave also looked around. The city within the mountain was suspended on wires, much like the dwarven Benvari Mountain.

  Refineries added a deep orange glow to the lowest levels in the mountains. Greenhouses coated the inner walls of the mountain; light was reflected through a series of mirrors and tunnels into the light globes, which were glass spheres with metal fragments held within. They created miniature suns that lit up the inside of the mountain.

  Unlike Benvari Mountain, there was a greater number of armed shield bearers wandering around. Aldamire might be the greatest stronghold of the dwarves, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t run without the support of a dozen warclans.

  If one was to look closely, they could see where the massive dwarven artillery rested, hidden within the mountain so that they couldn’t be seen by approaching armies.

  Aldamire had one of the longest histories on Ashal. Few people could live on Ashal without being overturned, either by a beast horde or an opposing force.

  “Things have certainly changed while I’ve been relaxing in the vault, going over the dwarves’ i
nformation,” Jekoni said. Instead of sounding pensive, he seemed excited, as if once again returning to a world filled with new experiences and adventure to be grasped.

  Dave looked at Jekoni with interest as their elevator stopped. A large corridor led to the exterior of the mountain and the areas where the final arenas were located.

  “It is indeed a strange and wonderful place.” Dave walked forward.

  Jekoni floated alongside him, the staff to his side.

  As the doors opened, Jekoni’s eyes seemed to shine with joy and the corners of his lips turned into a smile. Realizing his facial expression, Jekoni’s face changed once again into a gloomy expression.

  Dave smiled slightly and led Jekoni toward a restaurant that Party Zero and their friends said they’d be eating at. There were people all over the place, partaking in the festivities at the end of the dwarven tournament.

  Dave passed through the crowds, people remarking about Jekoni and the staff as they passed. Although some coveted the staff, seeing Dave’s necklace that displayed his status as a dwarven master smith made them quickly avert their eyes. Dwarven master smiths were rare and revered people among the dwarves. Taking something that belonged to a master smith or their friends while within a dwarven mountain was just asking to get your ass kicked.

  Dave’s smile grew wider as he heard Dwayne, Josh, Kim, Alkao, Steve, Anna, Gurren, and Lox all in a loud argument about the last fight in the dwarven tournament.

  They sat outside, enjoying the warm early summer weather, half of the table in quiet conversation and nibbling on food, while the other side argued and counter-argued about how the fight could have gone differently or how it would have had the same result regardless.

  Jekoni’s eyes thinned, looking through the group before his eyes fell on Jung Lee’s back. He raced forward, a mischievous smile on his face. His staff followed.

  Jung Lee frowned, making to turn around as he heard a voice from behind.

  “Where is that homework, Mister Jung! I thought you said you’d have that thesis on the combination of medicinal formulas and strength increase over time on my desk three centuries ago!” Jekoni said in a furious tone.

  Jung Lee whipped around, spilling wine that he had been drinking. “Archmage Jekoni?” Jung Lee’s eyes latched onto the floating gnome before he let out a hearty laugh. “Looks like your spiritual integration worked, you gnarled sapling!” Jung Lee pronounced. His proper manner of talking disappeared in front of the gnome.

  The gnome let out a laugh, his lined face breaking into a smile. “Was a right pain in the flesh, but once I started, I finished!” Jekoni’s eyes narrowed as he looked over Jung Lee with interest. “It’s as the boy said. I can sense all of the Affinities and none of them within your body. Seems that you’ve kept your youth!”

  Dave’s appraisal of the gnome went up slightly when he heard these words. Even though Jekoni knew that Jung Lee had every kind of Affinity within his body, much like Dave, he couldn’t sense their power or type.

  It took not only mastery of arcane sight but arcane skills to be able to see Jung Lee’s Affinities.

  Jung Lee simply nodded and scratched his head awkwardly.

  “Looks like you suffered greatly to command that power.” Jekoni’s tone softened.

  “It was a long time,” Jung Lee replied with a sad smile. “What great things do not come with great suffering?”

  “Hmphf. Sounds like you’ve become a bit more refined in your time away. Bit too boring for my tastes!” Jekoni said.

  “I’ve spent enough time in one place. If it was not for this upcoming event, I would be wandering freely. In fact, my friends have been helping me to understand what is going on in Emerilia.” Jung Lee waved to the people at the table.

  Jekoni had a thoughtful expression on his face. “I have heard something of this event.” Jekoni’s tone was dark.

  “It will indeed be a battle, the kind of which we have not seen before.” Jung Lee’s face was solemn, though there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.

  Jekoni tugged at the corner of his mouth, a fire in his eyes as his staff started to vibrate with power. “Well, I couldn’t let you have all the fun. It’s been some time since we went into battle. Shall we do it again?”

  “You’re a spiritual body,” Jung Lee said, confused.

  “I’m also a Weapon of Power.” Jekoni smiled as runes started to glow over his hat as it went upright.

  The hairs on Dave’s neck rose as Mana gathered in the air. People looked over in interest as a glow started to envelop the magical staff.

  The cage of different-colored Affinities opened, releasing the gray sphere. As it separated, a domineering feeling of wild Mana filled the air.

  Dave recognized this feeling—it was the same as his own Affinity! Wild and Affinity-less Mana.

  The staff shook as the crystal started to move and change shape, as if it were a liquid.

  The staff formed into the shape of a sword with only one sharpened edge and curved at the end. It looked like a thicker katana, with no guard between the blade and hilt. The blade was covered in a sheath that matched the hilt. Where there would have been a string for a grip, now there were six different threads, each the color of a different Affinity as they reached for the end of the weapon. The six pillars that made up the gray sphere’s cage extended as the gray sphere turned into an ovoid, inserting itself once again into the cage, embedding itself into the blade’s hilt within the six pillars.

  The sheath made from crystal dimmed as there were three lines on either side, each showing the same symbol of the threads.

  Jekoni looked much older after the light dimmed and the sword moved to Jung Lee.

  Jung Lee received the blade with both hands.

  “Well, what do you say?” Jekoni asked, his breathing hard as the runes on his hat dimmed and the peak slowly started to fall backward.

  “Are you sure?” Jung Lee asked.

  “You were a good student. Even though you didn’t aspire to be a mage, you went further than many who underestimated you to develop the field of alchemy. I am an archmage who has practiced with gray Mana for three lifetimes. Where am I going to find another student able to learn how to control all of the Affinities with ease and with the drive to persevere?” Jekoni asked in a soft voice and a smile on his lips.

  Jung Lee’s hands tightened around the sword, Jekoni’s life’s work and the container for his spiritual body. “If you would teach me, I would be honored to be called your student.” Jung Lee held the sword out as he got to both knees and bowed his head.

  Jekoni smiled and coughed; Dave saw the flash of emotions on Jekoni’s face before he was able to hide them.

  “Get your knees out of the dirt, will you,” Jekoni grumbled, but even his serious tone couldn’t hide the glow in his eyes.

  Jung Lee rose to his feet.

  Jekoni’s hat flipped over and fell in his face.

  “Oh, you damn hat! I’ll recircuit you, I swear!” Jekoni yelled, pointing at the tip of the hat, cross-eyed as he looked at it.

  It flipped back over as people laughed at the comical sight.

  Jekoni glared upward, an annoyed expression on his face.

  Jung Lee laughed, his eyes filled with mirth.

  “I can’t believe you added in that hat to your spiritual body. I knew that you couldn’t part with that thing.” Lee grinned.

  “Damned nuisance is what he is!” Jekoni said.

  The tip of the hat stood up from its slumped position, as if arguing with the indignant words of its owner.

  Lu Lu squawked, as if agreeing with the hat.

  Jekoni’s eyes swept through the bar, looking at where the noise had come from. His wrinkled face went flat as his jaw dropped. Faster than one could blink, he was next to Suzy and Lu Lu.

  “A lightning phoenix. I only heard of this in lore passed down by the Pantheon and the Grey God!”

  Jekoni looked over Lu Lu; the phoenix eyed the spiritual body of the gnome in con
fusion, her head cocked to the side.

  Jung Lee smiled and shook his head. He pulled out his old sword from his waistband. He smiled and put it into his pouch of holding.

  He pulled the new blade free from its sheath. Its blade looked as though it were from a soul gem. It glowed with moving motes of light. There was a sharpness and strength to the weapon, despite its beautiful and fragile appearance.

  Many people around the Stone Raiders’ table looked on in envy at the magnificent blade held within Jung Lee’s hands.

  Dave pulled out a couple of grand soul gems as Jung Lee studied the blade, weighing it in his hands.

  Jung Lee looked up from his daze.

  “Looks like it could use a charge.” Dave smiled.

  “Would you do me the honor?” Jung Lee returned the smile.

  “Are you sure?”

  “We both know you’ve wanted to study this blade as soon as it was made.” Jung Lee laughed.

  Dave didn’t try to deny it as he held out his hands. Jung Lee passed the blade to him. Dave looked it over, a screen appearing in his vision.

  Blade of Gray

  Formed from the Staff of Gray, this Legendary item was created by Archmage Jekoni from his own spiritual body’s container. This weapon is best suited for a six Affinity user, or gray Mana practitioner.

  Quality: Weapon of Power

  Abilities:

  Can retain spiritual body of holder. Current spiritual body: Archmage Jekoni and companion “Hat.”

  Increased command of all Affinities making up the sword (+20%)

  Wielder’s Willpower increased (+25%)

  Spells are 5% more powerful when used with the Blade of Gray. Affinities stack. (ie, using 2 Affinities=10% power increase. All Affinities=30% power increase)

  Grows in power through use

  Soul Bound

  Two as One (Legendary ability)

  Charge: 15,700/1,000,000

  Durability: 1,247/1,247

  Dave looked at the blade in shock. Even with his mastery as a blacksmith, he wasn’t able to understand the material that made up the blade. He saw elements of heavy metals as well as soul gems and Mana. It was as if someone had taken solid Mana, and melted it together with a soul gem to contain the power and heavy metals to direct it. He shook his head.