Chapter 29: Temple Of Kolas

The first ascendent spell-circle is the start of your journey in becoming a true mage. Simple, yet affective, it is a simple two layer circle with equidistant runes. These runes are placed following the linguistic structure outlined in the Karzian principle. Transformation or stillness into identity, and finalized by desire.

A simple fireball is a prime example. Transformation (as fire always requires), into fire, and finalized by the modification of the projectile symbol. The circle gives these runes boundaries they must follow, creating an apprentice’s first fireball.

Weak, yet effective.

The second ascendent spell-circle is far more complicated. The mark of a Novice

• Ik’thar, Lav’sun, translated by Shar.

I look at the map created by my skill, turning us towards the doorway, and start walking.

I pay careful attention to our position while Shar scouts ahead, making sure we’re avoiding as many undead hotspots as we can.

Soon enough I find it.

It’s a simple church, a mirror of the one in the frontier city, except this one has its windows shattered, its towers felled, and greenery growing through the ancient stone. My Find Ruins skill had told me that there was more to the place beneath the surface.

I look at the sky, and frown. There’s only an hour or so of sunlight left, and we need to set up camp.

I take one last look at the ruined church, then turn away and lead Keve towards a clearing I’d spotted about fifteen minutes away from the temple.

I set up the angel statue under an ancient oak tree.

Keve gathers wood and gets our fire started. Shar keeps an eye out for Keve as he gathers wood. I’m safe enough in the barrier.

I pat Jasper on the nose, and hand him a large branch which he happily chews down on, then pull the tent off of his back.

Keve returns, a rabbit in his hands, and we get started on our dinner. While he cuts and prepares the rabbit, I pull out the small wooden bird figurine he’d given me.

I think I’m starting to understand how to work with mana circuitry, and the more I learn, the more grateful I am for the one profession ability I’ve earned so far.

Inscribe Mana Circuits.

The end of my finger glows as I trace it along the edge of the figurine. Where I touch, hazel lines are left, forming into something semi-solid, like a thick, dried ink.

The books tell me that this creation process would normally be far more complicated, with the solidification of mana circuits taking years to master, and special tools being needed to help the process.

I twist the figurine, following the basic pattern that I’d memorized from one of the books. I’m not sure how long I lose myself to the inscription, but it’s fully dark by the time I look up, and there’s a plate of charred meat and potatoes cooling on the ground in front of me.

A wing moves, then the other one. The wooden figurine attempts to fly, then falls to the ground, and stumbles.

Right, I still haven’t learned the circuits needed for something to fly, although I’ve seen mention of it.

The wooden bird turns its head, and meets the blue eyes of Cat-Shar.

The bird stumbles backwards.

“Well done, Leo. You’ve made your first Automaton.”

“I thought you were called golems.”

“I am a golem.” Shar pads around the wooden bird, as it hops around on its feet, “I am alive. This is an automaton, it only follows the rules you’ve inscribed into it, and has no soul.”

I look at the tiny wooden figurine, then shake my head and grab the plate of meat Keve had prepared.

The Vishten warrior is watching the wooden bird with a small smile.

I take a bite of the rabbit meat, and close my eyes in happiness. Keve had gotten some of the spices from our supplies, and seasoned it to perfection.

I enjoy the food until the little wooden bird stops moving, the mana exhausted from its circuits. It’s not self-sufficient like Shar.

I pull a book from the private library, and hold up one of the light stones. Keve stands and begins his evening practice, while I read.

I stay up far too late reading.

***

The gates hang wide open, rusted and overgrown with brown vines.

I walk through them, Keve a step behind me and Shar flying above us.

The temple itself is mostly standing, the architecture having lasted surprisingly well for being abandoned so long. Architecture from before the mana disturbance was robust, even without the assistance of Angels.

One of the walls is partially collapsed, and half of the roof is gone off the main building. We walk into the building, and I pull my mana detector out. The left half of the temple is covered in snow, while the right is shielded by the half of the roof still standing.

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It’s rare for temples to be trapped, especially in the upper levels. No, it’s underneath where we’re going to have to be careful.

A statue stands half destroyed in the back of the temple. Time has weathered away many of its features, but I recognize the likeness of Angel Kolas. Two long daggers are at his waist, a quiver on his back, a book in one hand, a cube in the other. The runes that covered his arms are mostly gone, but looking closely, I can still see a few.

I step closer to the statue, grateful for the other temple delve I’d made with my mentor.

I’m hoping that the stairs down will be in the same spot.

I place my hand against the daggers at the statue’s waist, and my mana detector starts to vibrate. I grunt as I put force into it, and one of the daggers turns.

A mechanism echoes out, and the stone at our feet rises ever so slightly.

Thank the Angels. Last time we had to get an Earth Mage to break open the door.

I step to the side, then motion for Keve to help me. Together we lift the stone door up, revealing a dusty staircase leading into darkness.