Curselock

Chapter 5: Presents

Lunch was simply a no go. Being covered in blood, while fun for a warrior, was not appreciated by restaurants or the common civilian. So the three boys split up, each heading home to wash up.

Leland walked by himself, the others having already split off to their own respective streets. As he walked, he thought about magic and curses, what his Gift could mean, and immediate plans for the future. While the topics were heavy and, if he was being honest, boring, he still felt a lot hinged on what his next few moves would be.

The obvious answer was to gain new curses and spells, ranking them up as he went. Leland smiled at the thought, his boyish ideas were finally coming true. He only wished his parents were around to watch. It was the quiet walks like this that really made him think of his family. Was it greedy of him to wish his parents were home rather than off on some adventure saving lives or capturing bad guys?

Leland watched a small child try to take her first few steps. A short distance away the mother and father cheered the young girl on, urging her to separate from the lifeline of the wagon wheel she clutched onto. Eventually she did, wobbling a few steps before falling right onto her butt. Tears started forming like early morning dew, but her parents were there with hugs and soothing voices of praise.

Leland’s own eyes became wet at the scene, so he quickly looked away and strolled off down the street. The town of Pinefield was always quiet, its proximity to the frontlines was far grander than that of the monster delving strongholds to the north. Luckily it was Trihoof mating season, which always brought a large enough boon to the adventuring economy.

Defending the town walls, scouring for herbs, hunting for reagents, whatever the case, adventurers always had work this time of year. Work that Leland was going to take full advantage of. After all, he and his team had just come of age – at least he had, the others received their Legacy some months ago.

Leland returned home with a mindset to shower and rest, a nice cup of coffee would do wonders right about now… He paused when he saw it, a letter. It slightly glowed in a pulsating fashion, no doubt a spell cast by his father. Forgoing his shower, Leland ripped open the paper envelope and scanned over the words.

Dear our beautiful son,

We are so sorry that we cannot be there for your birthday or Dream Ceremony, but we know both went well. Call it a parent’s intuition. So, now that you have your Legacy, the whole world opens up to you. Don’t worry about the house, if you choose to leave Pinefield, that is your choice. We suggest you team up with Glenny and Jude, but we are sure you are well ahead of us.

Or, conversely, if you choose a more research heavy path, let us know. Some people owe us a few favors, and getting you into any mage college will be simple. That would mean leaving your friends, so think it through. True friends only come along once.

In any case, your father and I are so proud of you and we wish we could be there with you today. The Queen has us running errands for her, which is less than stellar. In about seven months we will be in the major city of Ruinsforth, along with Jude’s parents and Glenny’s father. We’d love it if you would visit.

With all the love in the world,

Mom and Dad.

P.S. In our closet under the floorboards is a chest. Take anything you want from it. Happy birthday.

Leland wiped the tears from his eyes, smirking. He had received a letter like this for most of his birthdays, but something caught his eye about it. Always before his parents would tell him when they would be back in Pinefield. This time, however, he was requested to visit them. It was a small difference, but one that made his heart flutter.

It was time to leave the nest, but not before raiding his parent’s chest of presents.

The chest was under the floorboards just like they said, although they did not warn him about the spiders. Hundreds of them, all scurrying away at the sudden light. Leland suppressed a shudder, heaving the wooden box with all his strength. He blew off the dust and opened it.

Inside was a folded set of mage robes, no doubt hand-me-downs and appropriate for his rank. Anything too highly ranked and he wouldn’t be able to receive the effects. Anything too expensive and they would most likely be destroyed on Leland’s first real quest. He put them off to the side for the moment, finding a book and ring box hiding underneath.

Opening the ring box first, Leland found a golden finger ring woven around a slightly glowing red ruby. A ring of regeneration, he recognized, slipping it on. Instantly he could feel the effects, every fading bruise or slight cut burned with a benevolent passion, healing significantly quicker than under normal means.

Lastly was the book, and after brushing off the dust and reading the title, Leland’s face fell. Encyclopedia of Legacy of Magic spells, by the Inquisitors Silver.

A book about a Legacy he didn’t have, written by his parents. Leland sighed, flipping through the pages. Flash Bolt is obtained after reaching rank five in Electrify… he stopped reading after the first line.

Well, I guess my path is truly going to be my own, he thought, closing the book.

Just then, the tattoo on his hand vibrated. He frowned, squinting at the crow seemingly having a seizure. Then the crow pecked him, causing the skin on the back of his hand to bead blood. Leland recoiled, the damage already scabbing over with the help of the ring of regeneration.

“Uhh…”

It pecked again, this time a bit harder.

“Okay, okay. I get it, I get it.”

Leland pulled his grimoire out of his hand, finding the book already open. Page three was much like page two, a spell page. He paused, reeling back. Why had the next page unlocked? What did he do to receive a new spell?

Jude only had to jump to unlock his next ability… did I do something that the grimoire liked? Leland thought, eyeing the Legacy of Magic encyclopedia.

Just then a crow landed on the nearby windowsill, cawing like a starving puppy. The sudden noise caused Leland to jump a bit, kicking up dust and sending the spiders into another frenzy. He eyed the bird, finding its appearance quite strange. It glowed blue, highlighting and dimming with each breath, while the scenery behind it never was fully obscured.

It tilted its head at Leland before fading from existence.

Leland slowly nodded, thinking himself going insane and returning his attention to his new spell. The new curse, however, stopped him in his tracks.

Crow Massacre:

Type: Curse

Rank: 1 (C)

Call upon the ethereal familiar of the Lord of Curses.

Summon 4 ethereal crows to attack a target.

Leland turned his attention back to the windowsill, finding it empty. He frowned, wracking his mind for information planted by the Legacy of the Lord of Curses. How to activate the curse came to him, along with the powerword and hand gesture.

“Well,” he said, eyeing a spider that had isolated itself from its arachnid family. “Here goes nothing.”

Purple power came to his lips, blooming like a deep lipstick. He whistled once, sending the mana into the open air where it dissipated seamlessly. Then he whispered, “Maul,” while his focus was on the spider.

Four ethereal crows, much like the one moments ago, sprung to life from nothing. They came in flying, their wings flapping through the boundary of reality and slicing a hole from their home to Leland’s. Each landed quizzically, eyeing the spider then Leland himself.

They stared at him, somehow conveying their irritation. Leland swore he heard the word “Seriously?” echo in his head. After a brief staring contest, one of the crows turned to the spider. It pecked at the arachnid, a quick unceremonious attack. Then the four crows faded from existence, but not before cawing at Leland one last time.

The human’s eyes were wide and his heart was racing. Sweat beaded along his forehead not because the curse was difficult, but because he had never heard of such a spell. Summoning spells, while well known, were only for the best of the best. And now Leland had one? One that seemingly had a mind of its own?

Leland pushed a hand through his greasy hair while breathing out in a slow tired way. An unintentional giggle came after that, then another, then another. Eventually he had fallen to his side, laughing like a maniac. He was glad no one was around to see-

A knock on his window yanked him from his celebration. Jude and Glenny wore funny expressions, each watching their friend. Instantly Leland reddened, coughed once, then stood and opened his window.

“Something funny happen?” Jude asked, wiggling his eyebrow.

“Get attacked by an invisible tickle monster?” Glenny mused.

Leland rolled his eyes. “New spell was… a bit different than I thought it’d be.”

“Uh huh,” Jude smirked. “Are you going to let us in? We need to start discussing our plans for the future.”

“Oh right… Come in while I shower real quick, then we can get lunch?”

Glenny groaned. “You haven’t showered yet? I had to skin an entire wolf, wash my armor, and shower, and I’m ready before you.”

“Sorry,” Leland nodded to an open letter. “Got a letter from my folks. They will be, along with your guy’s parents, in Ruinsforth in seven months.”

Jude’s eyes lit up. “What are we waiting for then, let's get on the road as soon as possible!”