The Storm Approaches (1)

A/n: For future reference, a cantrip is the lowest tier of magic possible. A zero-level spell that costs nothing to cast. Things like {Prestidigitation} and {Ray of Frost} for instance are cantrips.

Also, I'm not going to leave a description for every single spell, as it's quite tedious. Some are rather self-explanatory, however, like { Greater Invisibility} and {Pass Without Trace}.

Additionally, some spells require little to no actual control to use. {Teleport} for instance just needs a very strong mental image for it to work that, however, will change with time and practice. { Raise Dead}, {Cure wounds}, and other healing spells are in a similar situation since it doesn't have a real consequence to underpowering, or Overcharging the spell.

Finally, if you have questions about how spells or other aspects of his magic work, like his magic item creation, feel free to ask. Though I retain the choice to not answer if it's gonna be a spoiler. Also if you have suggestions about what kind of spells he should cast, go ahead and suggest them. I'm pulling mostly from the 3.5 SRD and sometimes the 5e SRD when it comes to Alex's spells so there are plenty I have missed. [The Spell compendium] book has plenty of additional spells for instance.

Now then! On to the chapter!

....

~ Gotham: Monday, 9:20 pm~

Locking the door behind me, I throw the bag holding tonight's loot on my bed before walking into my kitchen.

My Kitchen, like the rest of my apartment. Isn't exactly large. With it only being a small side area of the rest of my home.

Opening my fridge I let out a sigh of disappointment at its contents, or rather lack thereof.

" I need to go grocery shopping," I murmured to myself as I grabbed the single bottle of Root Beer in the fridge.

Closing the fridge I moved back over to the bed and sat down before opening my drink and taking a sip. I let out a subsequent sigh of satisfaction as the refreshing taste of my second favorite drink sloshed down my throat.

Putting the bottle to the side I reached up to my ear and activated the {Telepathic Bond} spell I had cast earlier, one of the few higher-level spells I could cast confidently.

Feeling it connect I said " Lexi, how's everything on your end going?"

' Oh! Hi master! Everything is going just dandy thanks to the necklace you gave me!' Came the immediate response from my overly cheerful dog.

I did, however, have to withhold a wince at the reminder of the necklace I gave Lexi.

My earlier hypothesis on magic items was correct. They are extremely expensive. The[Necklace of Invisibility] I gave her took a sizable chunk ( Two thousand dollars) of material costs to create despite it only containing the second-level spell {Invisibility}.

' I guess Cantrips cost nothing because zero times anything is still zero.' I mused as my mind wandered to the task I gave Lexi.

Lexi's task was fairly simple, she was to observe Bane and his gang and periodically report back to me her findings. It was a simple job that was made trivial with the use of Invisibility.

Originally, however, I planned on summoning another monster to help me in my endeavor. But I quickly realized I simply did not have the space for any more summons.

I live in a small apartment building, I would need more space and a proper base of operations before I 'recruited' more members. So for now I would simply observe and wait for a moment to strike.

" Anything to report?" I asked while I pulled out the ruby bracelet from my bag.

' Nope! Well, besides Bane being grumpy about Man-bat and Bird Guy 'busting', whatever that means, his stuff.' The celestial Dog said with excitement.

Pausing mid-casting of a spell at her words, it took a second for my mind to process who "Man-bat" and "Bird Guy" were before I let out a hearty chuckle.

"You mean Batman and Robin?" I asked with amusement.

"Oh, yeah, them!" responded the dog happily.

Shaking my head I silently cast {Bull's Strength} and {Cat's Grace} to prepare to take the rubies out of the bracelet.

A sudden rush of raw strength flowed through me, enhancing my physical strength and dexterous abilities to peak human levels. My muscles bulged, my body felt more limber, and the lag between thought and action decreased.

The enhancement-type spells that I have are exactly the same as their tabletop version, except it didn't add to your strength, it multiplied it. By four times to be exact.

Shaking off the momentary rush, I quickly plucked the rubies out of the bracelet, careful not to damage them or the diamonds lining them.

Once I was done I dismissed my spells, slightly laminating the loss of strength.

"Alright, Lexi, I'll check up on you later," I said as I put the now empty bracelet on my computer desk near my bed.

'Okay! Talk to you later master!' Lexi shouted over the bond before it ended.

Turning my full attention to the two rubies in my hand I readied myself for the most delicate and difficult part of my preparations, the filling of the gem with necrotic energy.

Closing my eyes I slowly willed my energy to the palms of my hands. Then with a breath, I cast {Chill Touch}. I felt as the familiar sensation of necrotic energy washed over me.

Cold, lifeless, dark, and powerful.

Ignoring those feelings I moved the now necrotic energy fueling the spell into the gems. Without even opening my eyes I knew the rubies once red exterior was slowly turning a chilling black as the energy made contact.

That's what I did for the next hour. The process was slow, very slow. Both Gems took thirty minutes to fill with magic without rushing and risking the gems blowing up.

Opening my eyes I glanced down at the gems in my hands and smiled.

' Part one complete,' I thought happily.

That was honestly part that required the most skill in the ritual. I could have easily broken or shattered the gems by pumping the rubies with magic too fast or too much.

The biggest downfall of my magic was that while I had the knowledge and ability to use it, I lacked experience and more importantly control.

' Thankfully I practiced this beforehand.'

Apparently, you could infuse magic with any object if you tried hard enough.

'Though in the case of all but one of my pencils it didn't go so well.' I thought with a wry smile as I remembered all the pencils that exploded.

Putting the gems in a box I had prepared in advance, I silently stood up from my spot on the bed and stretched. Slight popping accompanied the action.

" I should probably get something to eat," I said to myself as I picked up my wallet and apartment keys.