A Mystery

Standing to the side of the domelike building they had just exited, Jake was looking at the things they had bought together which was on the floor. Instead of spending the five hundred credits individually, Jake, Smith, Kevin, Diane and Max had joined their credits together making it a total of two thousand five hundred (2500) credits.

They had bought more food and water which cost three hundred (300) credits, two pulse grenades which cost five hundred (500) credits, a pair of daggers at the cost of seven hundred (700) credits and a pair of brass knuckles with claws at the top which they bought at eight hundred (800) credits.

They had been told that the weapons had been made with some of the beasts essence brought by the soldiers. The weapons Jake and his group bought were made with the beast essence of a primary ranked beast and they were told it could have magic of its own.

"You just need to know how to use the magic." the seller in the shop had said to them. "Not everyone knows how to use the magic of the weapons and teaching it is barely helpful. It's one of the things that needs to be learnt through experience."

"I'm taking the daggers." Jake said and picked up the pair of black and gold coloured daggers.

"Why should you get to take the daggers?" Kevin asked.

"Because I'm the one who bought it and I'm the strongest amongst the five of us, so the daggers will be put to better use in my hands." Jake said.

"He has a point." Max said. "Who should take the brass knuckles?"

"Let Diane have it." Smith said shyly.

"Me?" Diane asked. "Why me?"

"Because Max has force field magic which he can use to protect himself, Kevin has possession magic, Jake is practically the most protected in the group and I don't want the weapons." Smith explained. "So you should have it."

'Smith is really smart.' Jake thought. 'He explained his reason to Diane without telling her the actual reason. Diane is the weakest out of all of us and her magic doesn't help in improving the situation so it's only right that she at least has a way to protect herself.'

'New system messages?' Jake thought, surprised at the system messages he just saw come into his line of sight. 'I'll check it later.' he thought then removed the messages with his mind.

"Thanks." Diane said as she picked up the blue brass knuckles and immediately put them on. "Wow. Do you feel it?" she asked Jake.

"I do." Jake said. "It's like the weapons are giving us a kind of boost."

"Yes." Diane agreed. "But does it work on our magic too?"

"I don't think so, try using your magic." Jake said and brought up his system screen.

[Jake Cayden]

[Level: 4]

[Health:140/140]

[Species:Human*]

[Strength:33]

[Speed: 34 +2]

[Endurance:41]

[Mental Moxie:19]

[Mana:29/29]

[Magic:28]

[Element: None]

[Ability: Magic mimicry]

[Exp: 653/800]

'There's no increase in my magic, but my speed is getting a little boost. This is nice. What messages did I receive earlier?'

[Condition to mimic magic has been met]

[You have successfully mimicked Fatal Strike]

[You will lose mimicked magic after 24 hours at your current level]

'Whose magic did I mimic? I'm absolutely sure I haven't touched anybody since we went into the shop so why would this message appear now. I've been very careful about the people I touch because I don't know how to control my magic yet. I was busy learning how to fight someone who's invisible because of my duel with Duke which didn't even happen.'

"All third year students are to proceed to the exit of the haven immediately." a voice was heard from multiple speakers at the edges of the haven. The haven is what the soldiers called the civilization they had made on the various planets. "A roll call will be done to ensure that all students exit the haven and remember, don't go past the boundary.

Heading to the exit of the haven which was in front of them along with two towers by the side, Jake kept his daggers into his dimensional ring. Smith and Kevin had taken the two pulse grenades while Max had nothing but his magic to protect him, though he was the only one with two hundred (200) credits remaining, the rest had no credits left.

"They didn't even tell us what the boundary looks like." Diane said.

"We'll probably know it when we see it." Jake said.

"You nervous?" Kevin asked Smith, seeing the way he was shaking.

"A little bit." Smith answered.

"Nothing to be nervous about, we're just going to kill a few beasts." Kevin said.

"And that's not enough to make someone nervous?" Max asked.

"Jake's not nervous." Diane said.

"That's Jake." Max said.

'I haven't seen Cat since yesterday.' Jake thought as he reached the exit and walked through a metal frame then heard an automated voice call out his name. 'I hope I meet her on the expedition. At least I know she's safe with Sasha in her group, and she's also not weak.'

Exiting the haven, Jake looked back at the walls which surrounded the people and buildings inside the haven. The walls were at least eight inches thick to prevent anything from easily getting through. There were soldiers standing on the walls and in the towers which were at every exit of the haven.

The towers were square-shaped and there seemed to be a mechanical device of some sort which was on every tower around the haven.

"This place has good protection." Jake said. "From the look of things, these towers will be able to take down beasts from over thirty feet away."

"How can you tell?" Max asked.

"Because of those devices on the towers." Smith answered.

"Yeah." Kevin said. "I think they're some sort of blasters. And shouldn't we get going? Other students haven already gone hunting."

"Let's go." Jake said and began walking away from the haven.

***

Walking through the door to the house that was glowing with a blue colour, Kalvrie was a little bit nervous. 'Why would he call for me now? Maybe he just wants to find out if I carried out his order successfully?'

Stepping into the living room, Kalvrie saw Lumian sitting on a long sofa with his legs stretched out in front of him. "Sir Lumian, you called for me?" she said after walking to the side of the sofa and bowing her head.

"I did." Lumian replied. "Were you able to complete what I said you should do?"

"Yes sir. I sent someone to Veda and she was able to register as a third year student in Dicenview Academy." Kalvrie said.

"That is the school Andrea's sons go to, correct?" Lumian asked.

"Yes sir."

"Did she follow the students on the expedition?"

"Yes sir." Kalvrie answered. "She is currently on planet Soran with the rest of the third year students and they have begun their expedition. She knows what her mission is."

"It's a good thing you sent this person on time." Lumian said. "The sudden announcement of the expedition was expected but not this early. You may leave. And Kalvrie?"

"Yes sir?" Kalvrie said as she turned to face Lumian after walking a few steps away.

"Good job." Lumian commended.

"Thank you sir." Kalvrie said and exited the building.