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A Soldier's Life - 153 -
🕑 Added 2024-03-03 03:47:24 +0000 UTCChapter 153
Maveith’s question hung in the air, “Who?” Not a simple question for me to answer.
I was going to have to reveal to him that it was not void magic that helped me kill the monsters. I probably should have prepared him better for this and taken this final step in trusting the goliath earlier. “You know how you thought that I had powerful void magic. Well, I don’t have any void magic. I am able to remove part of the creature by placing it in my dimensional space.”
Maveith’s face was an unreadable mask as the large iron pot bubbled in front of him, giving the air a fruity scent like candy. “Maveith?” I tried to get the attention of the goliath, who was still processing.
It was minutes before he started to stir the syrupy hot jam. “I do not know much about magic,” he finally said, “but your statement seems too fantastical.” Okay, I was never going to tell Maveith I was an Other Worlder. He seemed a little broken, just trying to fathom the extent and power of my spell form.
I opened my dimensional space and rearranged it slightly to make the elven tablet reader appear next to him. It was seven feet away from me. Maveith jumped a little but eyed me slowly, putting the pieces together. There was a long period of silence while he stirred the pot slowly. Every once in a while, he would look at me or the table. He finally said, “So if you can pull a part of a monster into your dimensional space, you can pull an entire monster—or person into it?”
I nodded and confirmed, “Yes.”
I let Maveith think on it before he asked a question, “Could you put me in your dimensional space?”
“Probably. If you were sitting down,” I said, cracking a grin. Partially for him to think the space was smaller than it actually was, and it was also just a jab at his immense size.
“So, who is in there now?” Maveith finally asked, moving the cauldron off the thermal stone.
I winced slightly, having to tell this story. “Back in Macha, when the Bartiradians attacked, their griffon riders crashed into the city. I was sent with some of the company to make sure they were dead.”
“She has been in there the entire time!” Maveith exclaimed.
I winced. “Well, no. I put her in there when she was casting a fireball at me. I released her and the fireball at an enemy a few days later. I thought the explosion from it had killed her,” I explained.
Maveith shook his head, interrupting, “That is not how magic works. You cannot steal another’s magic and store it.”
“Really?” I asked, confused. “That was how it happened.”
Maveith seemed uncertain, “I don’t know. I just never heard of anyone doing that. So, she is in there now, burned and suffering.”
“Time does not pass in my dimensional space,” I reminded him, and he nodded. “Actually, I left her in Macha, and she was healed by her people. Then fate brought her into my path again. She was with the summoner’s student when we caught up to them. Sebastian’s drake crushed her in his jaws and slammed her into a rock. I put her in my space to save for later.” That sounded just as bad out of my mouth as Maveith’s face scrunched in disgust.
I tried to explain quickly. “To use the collector on her. Konstantin and Sebastian were close, so I couldn’t reveal the collector. I learned if I store dead bodies, I could get the essence later.”
Maveith seemed somewhat placated, and I wondered just what he thought of me. He asked, “How do you know she is alive?”
“My aether bottomed out. She resisted being placed in the dimensional space. That means her aether core is still active. At least, that is what I am guessing,” I told him truthfully.
Maveith nodded, and we started to eat. We used the hot jam to dip everything in before it jelled. As we finished off the loose rations, Maveith asked another question, “How is the mostly dead elf going to help us? Do you have another healing potion?”
I dipped some jerky in the fruit sauce and savored while chewing, “No, I don’t. I was hoping to find another healing potion before. But you can see why I am hesitant to bring her out. She is not going to be very happy with me.”
“I wouldn’t be very happy with you either,” Maveith said, chewing on some hard cheese. “Is she a good fighter?”
I thought back to our encounters. She was good with her blades, and she had magic. Magic that could easily be turned on me. I suddenly thought about being fire balled in the back and reconsidered this idea. “Yes, she can fight and cast fireballs.”
Maveith seemed to consider, “Perhaps it is best if I try to reason with her when you release her from your imprisonment.” It seemed Maveith had already decided it was a food idea.
I sipped on some wine from the bottle, “Maveith, that is a pretty harsh way to describe it.”
“You placed her there against her will and held her without chance of freedom. It describes it aptly,” his deep voice was strong in disapproval. Then I remembered the orc slavers had killed his sister and I was sort of enslaving the elf.
“I could have let her die,” I countered his disapproval.
He seemed to consider it for a long time, “Sorry for being upset. You were enemies. You did nothing wrong. And now you plan to save her to make amends.” The tension in the room lessened greatly.
We were soon making our way to sleep. I had the amulet in my hand. I needed to reference the books Castile had created in the dreamscape. “Maveith, the amulet is in this hand. If you need to wake me, just take it.”
Maveith’s eyes studied the amulet, “Can I?”
“Next time we sleep,” I confirmed. I entered the dreamscape.
Searching through Castile’s books proved extremely useful, as one of the books was on an arcane script from dungeons. The other potion I received from the red bear was an aether restorative potion. I knew these potions were extremely rare and valuable as alchemists had trouble brewing stable versions of them. Even the simplest aether restorative required a tier-three alchemist.
It took time to find a reference table for essences. The book had a whole section on the history of the collectors. The first collector was found in a dungeon thousands of years ago, and they were extremely rare. The First Legion saw the immense value in them and focused on recreating the devices with their artificers. They produced hundreds of them, but the master artificers capable of crafting them were assassinated in the subsequent wars. So, the number of collectors was limited and rarely found in dungeons.
I matched up the essences with the chart to see what I had in my storage:
Minor Essence—azure blue with white swirls – air affinity
Apex Essence—azure blue with white swirls – air affinity
13 x Minor Essences—dark green – quickness attribute
2 x Apex Essences—rainbow swirling colors – illusion affinity
2 x Major Essences—rainbow swirling colors – illusion affinity
Apex Essence—black with swirling red and orange – fire affinity
Apex Essence—pale yellow – insight attribute
I had compiled quite a collection of essences in the dungeon in a short time. I was eyeing the minor air affinity essence. When I took the apex earth essence, I had zero affinity, and it was painful to add the new affinity to my aether core. Maybe the minor air essence would not be as horrific.
Castile left a lot of books, but I focused my time in the dreamscape on learning the runic script. It was a headache as it was basically memorization of over seven hundred symbols and their rough meanings that only became clear when you chained them together. The patterns were intricate as well. Fortunately, most potions only required a sequence of three of the symbols to identify the contents. Within the symbols, I could also see a lot of geometric patterns in the spell forms I had imprinted on my core. Dungeon script was the language of magic.
I was not going to be able to draw the symbols, but I could at least study them to recognize them. I created flashcards and worked for almost eight hours. I cleaned up the dreamscape, moving everything to the scorpion room and sealing it away. Maveith was going to use the device next, and my level of trust with him was reaching a point where I would let him use it without my presence.
I left the dreamscape to find Maveith already awake. He seemed in a cheerful mood, “I used the reader. Can you read it to me?”
I moved the reader and tried to teach Maveith the Elven numerical symbols as I read it off. Fortunately, they were in base ten as well. As expected, his magical affinities had not changed, and his potentials remained the same.
Strength (+3/+0) 80/107
Intellect (+0/+0) 20/38
Aether Pool (+0/+0) 9/10
Power (+4/+0) 64/90
Reasoning (+0/+0) 34/46
Channeling (+0/+0) 19/30
Quickness (+2/+0) 40/55
Perception (+0/+0) 29/40
Aether Shaping (+0/+0) 15/16
Dexterity (+0/+0) 23/40
Insight (+0/+0) 15/30
Aether Tolerance (+0/+0) 22/25
Endurance (+3/+0) 47/90
Resilience (+0/+0) 19/34
Aether Resistance (+0/+0) 9/21
Constitution (+1/+0) 40/101
Empathy (+0/+0) 48/67
Prime Aether Affinity Earth
Coordination (+0/+0) 23/33
Fortitude (+0/+0) 30/50
Minor Aether Affinity
“This is great! It looks like your body is recovering after being starved for so long.” It had only been just over a day, and a few meals, but Maveith’s physical stats were rising rapidly. I figured mine would be doing the same. He paid close attention to the numerical symbols, and I thought he would be able to read it on his own next time.
I stood and started to help with the cleanup. I was not going to use the reader as he might want to know what mine were and my magic affinities needed to remain secret.
We had almost five gallons of jam! I just moved the entire cauldron to my dimensional space to store the apple-berry jam. I put almost everything in my space, and we both just had small packs of items we needed quick access to.
I was the most well-rested and satiated I had been in weeks. It felt weird because I was trapped deep in an extremely dangerous dungeon. We walked to the chamber with the shapeshifters, and I felt great relief wash over me as they were nowhere in sight.
“How long has it been since we killed them?” I asked Maveith.
Maveith was still scanning the room, “Just over half a day. They are shapeshifters, though. They may be hiding as something else.”
“They can do that?” I also searched my memory to try to place anything that appeared out of place.
“I don’t know. But anything seems possible after what you told me yesterday,” his voice echoed in the room.
We studied the room for fifteen minutes before stepping in, and nothing happened. The shifter bodies had not vanished and were just over the rise in the moss but already desiccated. The bushes were full of tiny berries, replacing what we harvested. We quickly refilled the water barrel and moved into the corridor towards the fire bear.
Oddly, I was disappointed in not having the chance to talk with the shapeshifters. They had given us good information, and I hoped to tease out more knowledge, even if the dungeon didn’t want them to cooperate. We would see them again if we had to return to the safe room.
The fire bear was eating apples off the tree when we approached. Maveith was already excited, “Such a majestic creature. The fur would make a spectacular cloak. And that was some of the best bear meat I had ever eaten.”
The fire bear was eyeing us but not really concerned. I studied it for a long time, “It looks smaller. Actually, I am sure. The last one was larger. Maybe it is not the same one? That would be different from when the dungeon revives the shapeshifters.”
“Don’t damage the pelt. I want it in one piece,” Maveith’s eagerness was more on harvesting the bear than my suppositions on how the dungeon worked.
“Wait here,” I stepped into the room, immediately drawing the shimmering red bear’s attention. It cocked its head, its eyes getting a deeper red as it charged. I removed its head at fifteen feet away and sidestepped it as the body slid forward on the soft earth.
Maveith stepped into the room, his jaw open. He walked to the bear that was spilling blood in a steady stream onto the soft ground. Seeing he could not speak, I told him, “You can start harvesting the bear. I will check the reward chest.” I pointed to the stone chest on top of the mound. A moment later, I was shattering the thin stone casing and was relieved to see the two familiar potions among the silver coins. The aether restorative and the greater healing potion.
Maveith had found his voice after being stunned at my display. “Eryk, come over here, and I will show you the proper way to harvest a bear.” I sighed, gathering up the coins and potions to join Maveith. I would send them to my dimensional space when my aether was sufficiently recovered. With the healing potion, releasing the griffin rider was a viable option now.
Comments
Fortunis
Sure but it's still farmable. At this point he has nothing to lose by doing it.
PatronTurtle
There seems to be limite on how fast a room restores. The instant refill is probably from the dungeon being unused for so long
Fortunis
Ok. If that bear room gives a healing potion every time I'd absolutely farm it for a couple days to have spares.
Fortunis
Not necessarily. She hates the Empire. She doesn't know he's not from their world. He's also refused to kill her twice now. That's gotta count for somthing.
anthony corrado
Personally, I'm hoping for kinky elf sex.
Lite Fractal
Sorry, Karnnie, I don't agree. I think it is very a interesting plot point with a lot of potential. If I had to bet, I would expect that Eryk will have to flee to the elves once he flees the empire. This is how that door gets opened. And the reason they are hostile is because their countries are hostile. I don't think that if they had met in other circumstances they would have hated each other. So, it should take work, but be possible. Survival is a VERY strong motivator. I have not addressed some good points you brought up, but just wanted so put some opposing arguments. I'll also add that I have lived in multiple countries and am aware of how ingrained cultural biases can be. Again, I point to survival being a VERY strong motivator. I wonder how Eryk and Goliath are going to 'convince' her.
Karnnie
I have to say that while I love this story, the subject of the elf woman is the most unbelievable thing that has happened in this world that you have created. No one is going to revive an enemy and convince them to help and/or befriend them. An enemy that has been bested and humiliated multiple times, that HATES humans and anyone in the empire. IF they revive her and she does not try to stab them in the back AT EVERY TURN, I will probably end up losing interest in this story as that will be a point in which I can no longer believe this story. I was a soldier for many years and I spent time overseas, I understand turning an enemy but she is not wavering with the right and wrong of who or what her enemy is, she is a dedicated soldier and I just do not see her being turned and willing to help, it would be more believable that she fights them as soon as she is able until they are forced to kill her or that she agrees only to stab them in the back at the very first chance she has.
BlaueFeder
Maybe not her, but an elf is certainly the best option as a partner for him, now that he will live for many centuries.
Leonard Rosebrink
What! I tought the author killed of the elf girl their relationship does not seem realistic Erik should just get her essence
Abdul Shaikh
^
M Schweibold
Just curious where is ch 154 on?
John DeWarr
I am glad I am not the only one thinking, healing her is a really bad idea. Get the info out of her and keep her in storage until you need a distraction.
Dash Marley
Yes, I just checked it on a different chrome profile, and on the app, in each the whole chapter text for the most recent two chapters added to the collection are in italics, the previous ones are not. https://www.patreon.com/posts/99632045.
Erick Thiemke
the text is? I don't see it as italics on my screen
Dash Marley
This too is in italics for me, just a flag.
Daniel Staub
Not using the collector on the bear?
Erick Thiemke
. I probably should have prepared him better for this and taken this final step in trusting the goliath earlier. “You know how you thought that I had powerful void magic. Well, I don’t have any void magic. I am able to remove part of the creature by placing it in my dimensional space.”
Erick Thiemke
thanks - corrected on the master
Rocky Tkacz
You know how you that I had powerful void magic. Well, I don’t have any void magic.
Rocky Tkacz
Typo
Blorcyn
Cool, thanks.
Erick Thiemke
it would increase if the convergence affinity was increased as well but he is already on the path of diminishing returns on most essences
Blorcyn
Thanks for clarifying. Obviously that's still miles better than most people consuming essences Eryk's gonna meet. Is this something that would be improved by increasing convergence infinity on the multiplicative scale that's been discussed before. So, from 256 to 512 at the top end, if he eats convergence essences? Such a big multiplication would have a big effect on essence variability by affinity (high 90s are still very hard for all, lower than 20s possibly even easier)/or a flat effect on all essences +2/+2? Or is it something that won't be relevant ultimately to the story? Sorry, if spoilers. Obviously, happy to wait and see if it's not something established yet.
Erick Thiemke
apex essences had been giving him +3/+3 but after a few it will drop to +2/+1 and then fall off quicker. It is still a little arbitrary as there are different grades/densities of the apex essences which I think was only discussed once - maybe not even in the story, i don't remember
1536539
You are exactly correct, according to our current understanding of the natural world, momentum and in fact all forces and phenomena cannot exist if time equals zero.
1536539
Yeah me too, this story is great, it’s currently my favorite story
Erick Thiemke
Good POV
Erick Thiemke
It was mentioned he got a bonus for unlocking the earth essence. Normally I person unlocks an affinity always at one. It was a way to jump start magic affinities for the author
Blorcyn
Random unrelated question. I was just thinking. Eryk got 6 from the apex earth essence, right? I think that’s more than usual, though we’ve few examples for actual affinity bonuses if they’re different to the standard three columns. But, we know that as you get closer to 100, even with convergence essence spell form, it gets harder to raise an affinity. Does it invert for opening affinities? A minor air essence is I guess normally going to give maybe plus 1 or 2 at most? Under 10, do you get more for your essences, in the way you get less for being near 100? I’m trying to figure if the opening an affinity consumed a lot of the apex essence, or whether it was all a big bonus for being 0. If he opens with the minor then had the apex, could we be looking at ten in air?
Roberto Dias
From Erick POV... She is in deep debt He saved the elf-girl's life. Twice. 1 in Macha he rescued her from behind enemy lines. The fall from the griffin was her falt, she got the too close to a tower full of archers. The burns were self inflicted, was her fireball. 2 in Sobral, from drake bites. Both times she was in the offensive side. 1 in a siege. 2 in guerrilla attacks against civilians (climate/monsters) Both times she was pridefull and hostile. Both times he asked for surrender. She owes 2 rescues
Erick Thiemke
i thought it was Silver beard that asked if air disc shield should be part of the Air Affinity and not Protection. I think I said it was in both Spheres of Magic and if he learned it in both Protection and Air they would reinforce each other. but i have no idea where that stream of comments is located
BubblyGhost
Time and space stationary
Silver Beard
@Bubbly ????
Silver Beard
That'll be a nice incentive for the elf maiden. Nice planning Author.
Erick Thiemke
he gets it at the start of chapter 154 - major fire affinity essence
Silver Beard
the supposed 'strong air shield' wouldn't be any stronger, but it would be mobile, flexible after placement; assuming he could get two abilities to synergize.
Silver Beard
That wasn't me. I know I'm likely the top commentor; but there are others with good ideas and impressions.
Silver Beard
He didn't harvest the bear's essence! Getting a little too cavalier! Collector should be coming out the second it's dead... not 'whenever'
Reid
I can see the mutual survival pact play out for like 2 days until they get to the easier parts of the dungeon and then they just wouldn't need her. The conscript otherworld angle doesn't have much to offer considering that she probably HATES him specifically and hate is pretty blind when you love your country and the person in question killed your countrymen. I can't think of any reason besides the opportunity to betray him as a selling point for any pact or agreement because she obviously loves her country more than her own life given the fact that she almost died twice for it unflinchingly. She gains too much and Eryk gains too little from her being alive for an extended period of time.
Erick Thiemke
yeah the believability is a hard sell. i am thinking on a mutual survival pact with the goliath serving as the honorable intermediary. what about the angle he is a conscript and otherworlder? think that would play out in the process of befriending? i don't think love interest is in the cards. i thought about a Ygritte angle (you know nothing Jon Snow) but still not sure how it will play out. that is why I have you all as Alpha readers for the plot
Reid
My suspense for disbelief is nearing a breaking point with the elf chic. The MC is literally about to bring out an heal an enemy insurgent who has multiple grievances with him. Grievances that may include helping to destroy a city that may have lead to the deaths of her friends and maybe some distant relatives, killing her griffin, kidnapping her and having her shoot a spell at friendly forces, killing the mage who she was charged to protect, and aiding in the grievous bodily harm she currently endures while being kidnapped for a second time. From what I'm tracking this female is pretty hard-core for her people and hates their enemies which would include our boy. She should absolutely hate him and under any circumstances should try to betray and kill him. That shit just doesn't go away with a couple days in a dungeon and a full heal. She should be the furthest thing from an ally in the MC's mind for these reasons even if he doesn't hold any animosity towards her. If this doesn't end with her death or Eryk's treason to the Empire and her betraying him anyway than the only reason why she's even there is to be a very forced love interest, cause I know if it was a he and not a she this conversation wouldn't be happening.
Erick Thiemke
kinetic energy has velocity in the equation and velocity has delta t in its equation so it could zero everything out. for the simplicity of writing, i am going to say momentum/kinetic energy is completely lost
Da Worst John
I think for the equation you're thinking of, the force would be exerted all at once instead of over a period. It could be like how Blorcyn mentioned and magic is a true disruptor to known physics that just throws all formulas out the window. It could also be magic is just another type of energy which has a higher energy equivalent, that using mana is basically doing nuclear creation already and to throw in the kinetic energy of a moving object is just a drop in the bucket.
Erick Thiemke
I dont know but if force equations have a time factor in them and time = 0 in the dimensional space then wouldn't all kinetic energy equations equal zero? been a while since i took physics
Blorcyn
If we have an example of it not being conserved then the law doesn’t apply, right? Firstly. Just because it doesn’t happen for us doesn’t mean it doesn’t here. The other thing is that we know very little about inside the space, if it is preserved. It doesn’t preserve time. Does it exist beyond his boundary and his boundary is what his mana and affinity decides? Do all spaces share a universe, arbitrarily far apart? Eryk doesn’t seem the man to look for these answer but he might stumble upon them with mages or the Adventurer’s more academic guild members. I’d be curious to see what theory underpins what they do, but it’s a lot to ask of an author and then might open them up to criticism of exploits here and there.
Da Worst John
So does the energy go anywhere? Even though there's magic in this world, I imagine the law of conservation of momentum still applies. Does the MC have to counteract the kinetic energy with more mana?
Erick Thiemke
I think that is the plan. Stash her away if possible before they find the company. He just thinks they are too far away from anyone else right now.
Erick Thiemke
No it is not. Kinetic energy is not preserved. Otherwise heads of charging bears would be flying everywhere when the MC took the, out
Da Worst John
Question about the dimensional space, is momentum preserved? I.E. if Eryk place an arrow flying at him can he pull it out for it just to go flying?
Mortamir
Highest I paid for Patreon sub because of A Soldiers Life. It's awesome
Roberto Dias
Ok Maevith will smooth-talk the elf-girl. But.. Castile?? He will show his new girl friend? Or he will re-stash/smuggle away?
Blorcyn
I keep forgetting his air shield isn’t from air. Also, even though the respawns don’t create Apex essences they’re still dope. A renewable stock of major essences is a treasure anyone in the Empire would give their left nut for. Unless? If he keeps killing the bear again and again will it eventually stop respawning? Dungeon will stop it?
BubblyGhost
Air Shield evolves into *Strong Air Shield*!
Erick Thiemke
Healing would probably be faster healing, air shield would increase the duration and strength. Silver beard had an interesting thought of learning the air shield again under the air affinity , supercharging it by using two affinities to cast it
Silver Beard
Know it's a distraction from his kill method; but still good info to have. Needs constant practice with blades, etc. to raise his useful attributes
BubblyGhost
Ooooo, I was thinking it was static at the time of adding it to the core, neato. So for say his air shields/healing would that be an efficiency increase or some such?
Silver Beard
Thanks for sharing.
Erick Thiemke
Yes the spell form gets stronger ….space affinity essence would increase his dimensional space for instance
BubblyGhost
So, after Eryk has inscribed one the the spell forms to his core, there's no real reason to increase said corresponding magical affinity any higher anymore is there?
Erick Thiemke
damn nice catch! will edit. I just didnt want to be posting so many tables.
1536539
How did Mavieth understand the language on the reader to know he recovered his attributes? Did Eryk teach him how to read the numbers?
Erick Thiemke
yeah - i wanted to get impressions on the forthcoming return of the griffon rider and if it made sense. but I have to finish a chapter on World Sphere now!!!
1536539
Yay two chapters in a row!!!!
