Side Story - Eyn and Weavy - Chapter 1 Eyn, the mind mage apprentice

Author's note: Hey all. I thought hanging out with the necromancers would be the logical step for a side story. Eyn (previously called Ein) is the apprentice mind mage to Weavy, the demon mind weaver brought back to Elos by Ilea.

I will focus on this guy for a little while but am open to any other side story ideas you might have :). Let me know what you think!

Chapter 1 Eyn, the mind mage apprentice

“You are wrong demon. The necromantic magic enhances its muscles, it doesn’t degrade them.” The old man said, his sunken in eyes closing before he sighed. “Must we discuss this again.”

“We must. Do you not taste the freshness compared to the rotten abysmal taSTE?” Weavy replied, falling into his high pitched screech on the last word.

He gets iffy when food comes up, only meat. Eyn noted. His master was of course right, he had tasted both freshly summoned and killed Blackfish from the Great Salt as well as revived and then killed Blackfish. He had the worst stomach ache for a whole week when he had eaten that. Maybe not the worst but it came close.

Indra left the room, murmuring about imbeciles and affronts against the unlife. Eyn didn’t really understand, the demon seemed perfectly acceptable for any undead. He even looked like a monster.

“You’re disagreeing on the fish again?” Walter asked, looking after Indra as he entered.

“Yes.” Weavy said. “I try to explain to him that humans taste better than undead but he refused to try them.”

“Cannibalism isn’t something most people like to participate in. That’s just a human thing you know?” The man asked, glancing at Eyn who looked down quickly, his hands shaking a little.

“It’s a WASTe.. you bury them in the earth, feeding worms instead or even worse you BurN them.” Weavy shook his head and looked at Eyn, sending a questioning emotion his way.

“Well done.” Eyn sent to the mind weaver, commenting on the gesture he had learned a week ago.

“I agree. Bodies should be used for more. Undead, experimentation, medical appliances or others.” The barkeeper said. “But you have to understand that burning or burying is done precisely because most people dislike the other uses.”

“I do not comprehend your logic.” Weavy replied.

“Not logic necessarily. It’s based on emotions and sometimes fear.”

“Fear of you?” The demon replied.

“Or you. We practice magic here that most of the human kingdoms and empires forbid, some punishable by death even.” He explained.

Eyn opened his mouth but closed it again quickly. Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Walter motioned to the stacks of fish.

“That’s enough for a while. We lack the space to store them and Lucia doesn’t feel like enchanting even more chests to keep them fresh.”

“I understand.” Weavy said, nodding his head. This time Eyn sent an approving sentiment his way before he even asked.

“How are you doing boy?” Walter asked as he looked to him. Eyn took a step back and felt his heart rate go up, just a little. It was getting better but he still couldn’t look him in the eyes. “Someday I hope you’ll be able to talk to me.” The man said and turned to Weavy. “Don’t be too harsh on him, he’s been through a lot.” He said and left again.

“Through a lot? What does it mean? You have grown up here on this luscious world abundant in resources, meat and even… snow.” Weavy asked and looked at him with his deeply dark empty eye sockets, sharp teeth showing near the hole that was supposedly his mouth. Eyn looked at him and smiled.

“He doesn’t know what he speaks of master.” He said telepathically.

“Yes… that seems to be true.” The demon replied and took one of the dead fishes before he walked away, doubtlessly going to his room and eating it.

Eyn sighed and steadied his hands.

‘ding’ ‘Fortitude reaches lvl 3’

Closing his eyes he concentrated and smiled, feeling the relief flow through him. Checking the skill, he didn’t find a change.

Passive: Fortitude – lvl 3
Your magic allows you to resist and process traumatic events and attacks on the mind much easier than others.
Category: Mind magic

I probably need a lot more levels for the effects to improve. He thought but didn’t quite know how he would level such a skill. With many of the others he knew what to do. If only…

He balled his fists and took a step towards the door but stopped, scraping on the ground with his cloth shoes. Nearly biting his tongue he instead decided to turn around and study the runes. Several of them had been placed in a circle on the ground. They looked weird to him and whenever he looked closely, his sight would get blurry and his head would get heavy. It offered some benefits of course but he didn’t like the pain coming with it. Better than master.

The runes felt wrong to him, painted in blood drawn from his own body his master had reassured him nothing bad would come of it. Of course he had been right, bringing the amazing fishes from his homeland. The blood a small price to pay. Eyn carefully touched the first rune, concentrating on it as his eyes grew teary, a pulse starting to manifest in his head that he suppressed as well as he could. Waiting for the moment that felt right, he activated another skill of his, one he had gotten the last time he leveled his class.

Acceleration He thought, his understanding of the rune growing right before a blinding headache made him wince and reel back. “Ow…,” He exclaimed and held his head. Eyn was sure he had gotten close, close to something but he didn’t know what. Sighing, he stopped the tears coming to his eyes. This is what you wanted. To get away. He told himself. To become the pupil of a demon. He thought and chuckled at that, checking quickly if nobody had heard him. He allowed himself a small smile as he checked his status again.

Name: Eyn Howard

Unspent statpoints: 0

Class 1: Mind Mage – lvl 25

- Active: Mind Rupture – lvl 3
- Active: Telekinetic Shield – lvl 2
- Active: Suggestion – lvl 1
- Active: Acceleration – lvl 3
- Active: -
- Passive: Fortitude – lvl 3
- Passive: Mana Sense – lvl 4
- Passive: -
- Passive: -
- Passive: -

Class 2: None

General Skills:

- Elos Standard language - lvl 8
- Identify - lvl 12
- Meditation – lvl 8
- Pain Resistance – lvl 5
- Mental Resistance – lvl 5

Status:

Vitality: 50
Endurance: 33
Strength 24
Dexterity 24
Intelligence 81
Wisdom 77

Health: 500/500
Stamina: 315/330
Mana: 770/770

Seeing the numbers gave him some confidence. He had a class now and skills. Enough to fight. Thinking back, he instinctively held up his arms again, curling up in a position as small as possible before he slowed his rapid breathing. You’re here now. He thought and slapped himself. “You’re here now.”

“You are loud.” He heard his master’s voice reverberate inside of his head.

“Master. I apologize.” He replied, standing up and walking over to Weavy’s room, knocking on the door.

“I am feeding.” Weavy said.

“You are always feeding.” Eyn said to him seriously.

“You may enter.” The demon said and he did, closing the door again behind himself. The demon looked feral, like a monster his mother had told him about when he was still a boy. Blood covered the teeth and chin of the demon as he feasted on the fish but Eyn wasn’t bothered by it. Perhaps its unnatural look even made it seem more sympathetic to him, he didn’t know.

“May we train?” He asked and bowed, sinking to one knee.

“Why do you always do that? What does it mean?” Weavy asked, not stopping with the wet meal, his teeth ripping through the flesh and organs.

“It shows my devotion to you. A respectful gesture to my master.” Eyn explained.

“Ahhhh, good. You have my approval. We may train as you call it.” The demon said, Eyn bracing himself before an assault of pain and pressure came to his mind, his feeble attempts at defending broken in an instant as the incredible power of the mind weaver racked through his mind, leaving him babbling to himself and quickly falling unconscious.

‘ding’ ‘Mental Resistance reaches lvl 6’

‘ding’ ‘Telekinetic Shield reaches lvl 3’

‘ding’ ‘Wisdom +1’

The messages were floating in his mind like painful clouds raining down acid on every single cell of his brain. How many days this time? He asked himself, opening his eyes to find himself inside of a bed. An improvement compared to the stone floor he usually slept on.

“You can’t keep doing that. The boy was close to death. He will be working with everyone from now on.” Walter’s voice was barely audible outside the room.

“You weak humans. Death is reached when he fails. To keep him balanced before it will make him stronger than any of your foolish race.” His master replied.

“Perhaps. But power alone is not what being human is about. You will not make him into one of your spawn. I forbid it.” Walter said, Eyn feeling the magical power seeping into the room.

“I shall honor my promise to the unreasonable warrior that brought me here. Yet I must tell you that you are hampering his growth.” The demon said before leaving. Eyn heard a sigh outside of the door before Walter entered.

“You’re awake. Good.” Walter said and stopped walking, Eyn gripping the blanket and holding it higher to his chin. “I won’t hurt you. Neither will the others. The demon’s training will break you.”

“M… master knows what h… he does.” Eyn said.

“So you can talk. I guess I was too considerate.” The man said and sighed again. “He knows how to make monsters, not how to train an apprentice. I will be training with you for two hours from now on, every day. At least so you can use your skills and get more familiar with them. You will work and get to know the others as well, each giving you tasks and teaching you about their magic.” He said and turned to leave. “Our first session starts after supper. Do you understand?”

Eyn shivered a little but nodded.

“Good. Recover for now and sleep some more.” The man said.

Eyn rested his head again on the straw pillow and fell asleep quickly.

He was woken up by pounding on his door. “Wake up little one.” He heard the man speak, the loud voice enough to nearly shake off his blanket as he jumped up form the bed. Checking himself, he found the same clothes on him, some blood and spit had dried on his chin but there was nothing here to clean it with. Using the blanket to get most of it off quickly, he turned to the door and opened it, only to be met by a massive fist that nearly hit him in the head.

“Hahahaha. You’re awake. Good. Come, supper is ready.” Harthome said, the hammer smith one of the few people here he was somewhat comfortable with. Mostly because he talked rarely. Following the man, Eyn soon stood before the common room, hearing the music and talking from within. His hands started shaking a little but Harthome held his arm and smiled at him, the big man ducking below the door frame and lightly tugging on him.

“To keep the monsters at bay… to keep them far from home.” Walter sung while Theo played on his harmonica. The song ended and people cheered and clapped, Harthome laughing and joining a table while still holding on to Eyn. The boy sat down quietly next to the massive man and gulped.

“Hey Ein, done with your near death experience?” Celene asked before sipping her ale. “You’re staring by the way.” She added and smiled, his gaze immediately going from her chest to the table. “Don’t worry, I think it’s flattering.” The woman added and laughed.

“Eat boy.” Harthome said and pushed a plate with roasted pork, cooked potatoes, carrots and celery towards him.

“I’m seventeen.” Eyn said quietly.

“What was that boy?” Harthome asked and laughed.

“Nevermind.” He said and quietly ate, very aware of his shaking hands whenever he lifted the fork to his mouth. Nobody seemed to care though, making him breathe out after a while, relaxing a little on the bench while Theo told a story from his adventures in the west.

“… and there it was. The most majestic elk I’ve ever seen. Level fifty and antlers as big as any knight’s sword.” He said, holding his fingers up to his head. “It looked at me before a light enveloped me and my wounds started healing.”

“Really? A healing elk?” Lucia asked. “Stupidest shit I’ve ever heard.” She laughed before the man downed his drink.

“I ain’t no liar missy.” Theo said, smiling and sitting back down.

“You can’t deny that they taste delicious.” One of the initiates suggested to which he just snorted.

“Humans do too according to Weavy.” Walter said and chuckled, the demon looking up from his fish at the mention of his name.

“It is true. You all should try… what was the word?”

“Cannibalism.” Walter supplied.

“That. Yes.” Weavy said and continued eating.

How many of those fishes has he consumed at this point? Eyn asked himself and smiled a little. For all that fish his master had barely gained a single pound. Maybe it gets teleported somewhere.

“Do you have a stomach?” Indra asked as he watched the demon eat.

“I thought you were not interested in demonic anatomy?” The demon asked.

“It’s more a curiosity. You’ve been eating a lot.”

“I have studied some humans now and found your lacking ability to store resources for longer periods of times disturbing. You must starve by the thousands.” The demon said.

“Not us though.” Theo said and lifted his mug.

Not us. Eyn thought and smiled.

“Help me clean up first.” Walter said, hours after their daily supper finished, most of them returning to their work or duties. Eyn nodded and started moving empty plates. Enchantments in the kitchen behind the bar allowed for water to flow, Eyn scrubbing the dishes and glasses before putting them aside to dry.

“You have mind magic skills I assume. We can start our training right now. Tell me what they can do and use them on me separately.” Walter said as he stepped to his side, grabbing a towel and starting to dry.

Eyn looked through his class and skills, debating how much he should share with the man.

Mind Mage

Vitality +10
Strength +2
Dexterity +2
Intelligence +25
Wisdom +25

Mind Magic is improved by 100%
Casting Spells of the Mind Magic type requires less concentration
Your mental fortitude is enhanced

Skills: Mind Mage:

Active: Mind Rupture – lvl 3
Send a destructive force of magic into an opponents mind to disorient and damage them.
Category: Mind magic

Active: Telekinetic Shield – lvl 3
Form a Shield before you that protects against physical and magical attacks of all kinds.
Category: Mind magic

Active: Suggestion – lvl 1
Enhance or reduce certain sentiments and emotions of your target.
Category: Mind magic

Active: Acceleration – lvl 3
Use mana to enhance your mind for a short duration, allowing greater understanding and perception.
Category: Mind magic – Body Enhancement

Passive: Fortitude – lvl 3
Your magic allows you to resist and process traumatic events and attacks on the mind much easier than others.
Category: Mind magic

Passive: Mana Sense – lvl 4
You perceive magic around you, to understand its flow and intricacies. This effect may be deactivated and activated at will.
Category: Body Enhancement

“I have the Mind Rupture skill. It’s a damaging attack.” He said, the man next to him nodding. “I also have a shield, it’s called Telekinetic Shield.”

“Good. Use it on me then, your attack.” Walter said, making him a little uneasy. He stopped the shaking of his hand that threatened to start again and concentrated on his spell. Focusing his mind, his mana concentrated and a pulse was sent towards Walter.

The man nearly dropped the mug he was drying but caught himself. “Not bad. My Mental Resistance isn’t very highly leveled.” Walter said and smiled. “Do that again until you’re out of mana.”

Eleven more attacks was all he could muster, his vision starting to blur after the last use of the spell.

“You’re out?” Walter asked but he didn’t have the energy to reply, making the man chuckle. “Don’t overdo it or you’ll fall unconscious. Retreating and meditating is the better approach. In a real battle you should pace yourself as best as possible not to get into such a situation.”

Eyn nodded weakly. “Sit down and meditate, we’ll test your shield in a couple days. Just use your attack again.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Walter brought Eyn back to his new room. Ilea had brought Weavy to them and asked the brotherhood to take him in. It was hard enough and the demon seemed quite persistent that the boy was his apprentice but Walter knew he was sleeping on the ground. Seeing him nearly die from their training convinced him to finally intervene.

The boy was at level twenty five, reached through sheer determination it seemed. Of course the demon wasn’t wrong with his extreme training methods. Walter was sure Ilea had reached her heights in a similar fashion but there was extreme training and too extreme training. He would give the boy some guidance before the demon shredded him again. Perhaps he can grow into a passable mage in time. He thought. Pretending to be startled by the mental attack was the first step in giving the kid back some confidence.

Whatever had happened to him, he was past that now. The reason Walter even agreed with the continued training from the demon was that he knew mind mages had incredible mental fortitude. But to have a seventeen year old kid here with us bloody outlaws. He shook his head and dried the last of the mugs.

“Thinking about the boy aren’t you?” Lucia asked when he came out of the kitchen, the woman sitting on the bar. “I think what you did today was right. I saw him smile once.” She said and held up one finger.

I hope it was. He thought and kissed her.