System Modification

On the drive back to school, Jake decided to sit with Smith and Kevin.

"Look who finally remembered us." Kevin said when Jake sat down with them. "I thought you were gonna follow Cat all day long."

"I could have." Jake said. "But I didn't feel like. What kind of magic did you guys get?"

"I got healing magic." Smith said with happiness. "According to Dr. Thomas it's supposed to be a supportive type of magic, he said people with healing magic were one of the most important people during the battle against the Werts."

"That's great news Smith." Jake said. "I'm happy for you. Now what's left is to learn how to control our magic and make it stronger. How about you Kevin? What magic did you get?"

"Possession." Kevin answered. "I can go into another person's body and control them."

"Whoa. That's some scary stuff, remind me to be extra careful around you." Jake said.

"Whatever man. What magic did you get?" Kevin asked.

"Magic mimicry."

"So you can like, mimic the magic of other people?" Kevin asked with his eyes open wide.

"Yeah, basically."

"Wow Jake," Smith said, "that's so cool."

"I know. I'm gonna start practicing at the first chance I get."

Leaning back in his seat, Jake brought up his system screen to read the messages he had received after he had gotten his ability.

[Hidden Quest Completed: Obtain a magical ability]

[Reward: one level up]

[Congratulations you are now level 4]

[You have been rewarded with +1 to all stats]

[System will now be modified due to the acquisition of magic]

[Jake Cayden]

[Level: 4]

[Health:130/130]

[Species:Human*]

[Strength:23]

[Speed:16]

[Endurance:23]

[Mental Moxie:16]

[Mana:18/18]

[Magic:13]

[Element: None]

[Ability: Magic mimicry]

[Exp:110/800]

[You have successfully made direct contact with sunlight for 1 week]

[You have received 95exp]

[Exp=205/800]

'These are a lot of system messages. And the system is now modified? Why didn't my magic show in the 'elements' stat though? Does it mean the magical abilities and magical elements are different? But their both still magic so I'll definitely be able to mimic both of them. The exp I get from staying in the sun has reduced, will it keep on reducing until I no longer get exp from it?'

A lot of thinking was going on in Jake's head right now after reading the system messages, these were the most number of system messages he had received since he had gotten the system.

"Jake are you alright?" Smith asked.

"Yeah I'm fine. I was just doing some thinking."

"That's dangerous." Kevin laughed.

"Haha, very funny Kevin. But seriously, we have magic now, don't you think things could get a lot perilous from here on out?" Jake asked.

"Stop it dude."

"Stop what?"

"Stop over-thinking this, how can things get perilous?"

"Well for starters," Jake answered, "how about when one of those egotistical morons wants to show off his new magic?"

"Jake, we can't live life worrying about every single thing. We can't control the fact that there are bad people among us. Okay so because of these morons you're talking about, we shouldn't get magic?"

"Jake I hate to say it but, Kevin's right." Smith said. "I know I am part of those who will get bullied by other people and my magic doesn't help matters either, but I can't say we shouldn't get magic because some people are going to misuse it. If we don't get magic how are we going to defend ourselves against the Werts when they attack again?"

"You're right Smith." Jake agreed understanding the meaning of what they were both saying. "And don't worry, anyone who tries to mess with you is going to have to go through me. I don't care what magic he has."

"Thanks Jake." Smith said.

"Of course you won't care what magic the person has," Kevin said, "you're just going to copy it."

"Look who's talking, the person who can possess other people. What's to stop you from possessing any one of us?" Jake asked.

"Uh, the fact that I don't know how to use my magic yet. And besides you can also copy my magic if you want to."

"That's true."

"Is there a limit to how much magic you can copy Jake?" Smith asked.

"I don't know. I'm just waiting for us to start learning how to control it."

At the back seats of the Seetle, the students were gathering a student who had managed to turn three of his fingers invisible.

"How'd you do it?" a student asked.

"What does it feel like?"

"Can you do it again?"

"Hey." Kevin said touching Jake and Smith. "Let's go check out what's happening over there." he said pointing at where the students were gathering.

"Sure, why not? It's not like I'm perfectly fine with sitting here and doing nothing." Jake said while getting to his feet.

"You whine a lot, you know that?" Kevin asked Jake.

Walking to where the students were gathering, they could see a student who had three fingers missing. On closer look, they could see the student was Duke.

"Is it just me or does he have only two fingers?" Kevin asked.

"I can see it too, where did three of his fingers go?" Jake asked.

"That's his magic." a student answered them. "Invisibility."

"Oh crap. Why would someone like Duke get magic like that?" Jake asked. "He was bad enough without magic, now imagine not even being able to see him coming."

"Literally." Kevin added.

"Don't worry guys." Smith said after seeing the concerned look on Jake and Kevin's face. "I'll be alright. No matter what Duke does to me I'll be able to heal myself. Healing magic, remember?"

Looking up, Duke saw Jake standing in his front looking at him. "Hello there Jake." Duke said with a smirk on his face. "Guess I'm really talented, am I right? Being the only one to have manifested my magic in a Seetle full of students, that certainly shows talent doesn't it?"

"Sheer luck Duke." Jake said. "Don't think you can now beat me in a fight simply because you learnt how to play with your new toy."

"You are so full of yourself, and people say I'm cocky. Why don't we do something interesting?"

"What do you have in mind?" Jake asked folding his hands.

"Jake what are you doing? Kevin asked.

"Yeah Jake, what are you doing?" Cat asked finally joining the people who had gathered.

"Nothing Cat." Jake answered. "Everything's alright. Duke, what do you have in mind?"

Looking at Cat, Duke was smiling like a predator who had seen its prey.

"Don't get any ideas you fool." Cat said to Duke when she saw the smile on his face.

"Cat," Duke said, "why you gotta be like this?"

"Sorry. This is how I am to fools such as yourself."

"Hahaha." Kevin laughed. "Good one Cat. You know, I like a girl who can stand up for herself." Kevin said moving to her front and fluttering his lashes at her.

"Hey hey." Jake said. "What are you doing?" he asked Kevin as he went in between him and Cat.

"Chill out man." Kevin said. "I'm just having some fun."

"It better be just fun. Duke, you're a joke. I'm out of here." Jake said already walking away and going back to his seat.

"A duel." Duke said in a hurry.

Turning around, Jake was intrigued. "What duel?" he asked.

"I challenge you to a magic duel three weeks from now, by then we would have learnt how to use our magic."

"What do you get out of this?" Jake asked.

"I get to humiliate you in front of a crowd, anytime I want."

"Okay, but when I win you don't lay a finger on Smith and any other student I mention. Deal?"

"Deal. It's settled, we fight three weeks from now." Duke said.