Main Quest Update (Pt.2)

One week later...

Lucian now spends most of his day with Siegfried in the forge or watching him run the shop. Lilith worries about how little time they spend together catalyzing this new routine.

Siegfried now stands over an anvil hammering out the last details of the knife he has been working, commissioned by the craftsman earlier that week. Lucian sits a few feet away on the chair next to his father's workbench.

"Ting!"

"Ting!"

"Ting!"

Siegfried grunts as he places his hammer down, raising the blade to the light for inspection.

A few moments later.

"Finally!" Siegfried roars in triumph.

Siegfried walks over to where Lucian sits, clearing the workbench of clutter and placing the blade upon it.

"Move, boy." Siegfried beckons, waving his hand.

Siegfried pulls out a triangular object made of intricately weaved metals. A bright red stone sits embedded in the center of the metal. Runic engravings circularly surround the stone. One end connects to vertical runes leading down towards a point. The point of the object looks awfully similar to the tip of a fountain pen.

Lucian looks curiously at the object.

'That looks interesting. I've never seen him use that before.'

"Come here, boy. This is where the magic starts." Siegfried waves Lucian closer.

Lucian walks closer. Siegfried hoists him up, gently placing him upon his lap.

"Now, don't interrupt. This is a sophisticated business. One mistake, and it could all blow up in our faces." Siegfried says this putting a finger over his lips to hush Lucian.

Siegfried now holds the runic pen in his right hand. His thumb reaches up, pushing the stone deep into the metal. The pen surges to life, all of the runes ignite with red energy while emitting a low hum. The pen's tip then begins to channel the power of the stone. A faint point of red mana soon turns laser red, coating the entirety of the pen's tip.

"This is a Rune Reservoir. Blacksmiths like me use this to create enchantments on items." Siegfried says.

'Sounds like Magic is a thing here. Not surprising considering demons are a thing.'

'Ding!'

'1 New Quest has been added.'

'Quest: "Basic Magic"

Earn a basic understanding and proficiency in magic.

- 0/100

Rewards:

New Stat: "Magic" will be added.

10 Stat Points

'Damn, that's a lot of points compared to my past quests and a new stat? I'm guessing this is going to be a hard one. But being able to use magic is a game-changer.'

Lucian's mind floods with thoughts of spells and magical battles.

"zzzzzt!"

Lucian snaps back to reality as Siegfried begins using the pen to carve the first rune into the knife.

10 minutes later...

Siegfried has finished carving the first rune into the blade. Raising the tool from the blade, faint arcs of red lightning surge from the new rune.

"Now, where did I put that book?" Siegfried says, placing Lucian down and standing from the bench.

"Stay right here, okay? I'll be right back." Siegfried begins walking towards the front door of their home.

The Rune Reservoir rests upon the table.

'Now's my chance. I need to get a good look at this thing.'

Lucian jumps back on the bench. His boosted stats give him the physical stats of a child a few years older. Allowing him to quickly hoist himself on top of the table.

Now sitting on top of the table with his legs hanging off the edge. Tool in hand, Lucian begins his inspection of the magical device.

'Just like I thought, I have no idea what any of these runes mean. But this thing is strong; I can feel the mana coming off of it even after it's powered off. Maybe that's a side effect of it just being used, or it's just that strong.'

'He started it like this, right?'

Lucian pushes on the gem.

Nothing happens.

'Is this because I have no magic yet? Wait, mana would be the correct term. I remember that from the few fantasy games I played.'

The sounds of a door banging closed can be heard.

'Crap, I need to get down from here before he gets suspicious.'

Lucian jumps from the table, landing gracefully upon his feet.

Siegfried turns the corner, a book between his hands.

Arriving at the forge, Siegfried places the open book next to the knife. Sitting back down on the bench. He grabs the Rune Reservoir while taking a quick look at the book.

'I can't let this chance go to waste. I need to get a look at this book. Maybe it'll tell me more.'

"UP!" Lucian yelps loudly.

Siegfried looks down at Lucian. His yelp seems to have caused him some annoyance.

"Not now, boy. Go back inside to your mother." Siegfried replies angrily.

'Dammit, maybe I should've been more graceful. He usually never says no.'

Lucian walks back inside.

Later that night...

Lucian lay in his crib, his parents still fast asleep, and a plan laid out in his mind.

'Alright, he placed the book in the living room on his desk last I checked. I just need to get out of this cage of a crib and walk over there.'

Lucian rises from his bed and begins the process of hoisting himself over the crib walls.

The process goes smoothly due to his higher stats. He nimbly falls to the floor below. Not a sound is made.

'This should be a piece of cake.'

He begins walking towards the bedroom door. The floorboards creak below his feet.

Reaching for the door handle, his hand falls short.

'Curse this body's height!'

Lucian jumps for the handle. Grabbing the handle, he barely misses opening the door.

'Again!'

Lucian jumps again, opening the door on himself.

"Creaaaaaaaak!" The door loudly creaks open as he bangs back down on the floorboard.

'Freeze.'

The sounds of his parent's sleeping continue. Siegfried's snoring reaching its peak.

Lucian gently closes the door behind him, his escape successful.

Walking into the living room. The book still rests upon his father's desk.

'Thank god, I thought this all might be for nothing.'

He grabs the book.

Walking over to one of the sitting chairs. He mentally prepares for the most challenging task of his life.

Upon opening it, he is greeted by an unfamiliar language.

'Fuck! I forgot I can't read here. I still can't read or write!'

Throwing the book back on the desk. Lucian begins his solemn walk back to his crib.

'Starting tomorrow, I'll ask Lilith to start reading fairytales or something childish to me. All I have to do is watch her read and listen to what she says. That should quick start the process since I already know how to speak the language. Plus, I'm a kid, so she'll make sure to enunciate every word. She's a smart woman. Hopefully, she knows how to read. I know most commoners can't read, but she shouldn't be one of them, right? Otherwise, I'm screwed.'

His plan was concocted. Lucian stealthily enters the bedroom and jumps into his crib.

'Once I gain magic, nothing will be able to stop me from freeing Atrioch. My knowledge of the modern world will put me lightyears ahead of everyone else.'

Lucian spends the rest of the night rehearsing his plan and scouring his memory about everything magic. From games to books.

Lost in thought, he slowly drifts off.