Mark of the Fool

Chapter 746: Fire and Steel

Alex and Bjorgrund came at each other at least a dozen times in an hour, each time the giant was moving a little faster, reacting a bit more aggressively.

Alex continued using the Mark of the General, seeing his speed and combativeness increase in bounds. The last three years spent battling monstersdodging and foiling attacks with dance moves that translated to fight positions, time spent learning anatomy, and even longer perfecting his abilities in the kitchen, all came together. Those skills blended, taking him to a new path of using offensive attacks, adding them to his well-honed defensive ones.

A strong body that had grown accustomed to defending itself, was quickly learning how to take the fight to an opponent, and quicker than hed thought possiblethe sword felt more natural in his hand, like the natural extension of his own arm.

The Mark of the General was helping him learn, and he was taking to the lessons well, continuing to read Bjorgrunds body language, eagerly watching and predicting his moves. Openings were now easier for him to take advantage of.

The General of Thameland was creating a new fighting style all his own: one combining the flourish and agility of dance, the knowledge of different types of anatomy, and the precise strikes involved in carving a carcass.

And, Alex Roth was feeling high from all of it.

I can fight back! If Im attacked, I can finally fight back! he thought. I don't have to only dodge, I can hit back! Now, Ican be the one doing the attacking! And its about bloody time!He screamed in his mind.

Feeling of moving his body through the motions of battle felt good, like a natural extension of what he'd been doing all alongbut as the sparring went on, he was noticing something changing.

The Mark was honing his fighting style each time he and Bjorgrund fought, and he was getting stronger and more precise with his strikesbut Bjorgrund was also improving.

Hed stopped holding back, enthusiastically striking at Alex the faster and more aggressive the young wizard became, yet, the giants blows were becoming harder to dodge, though Alex had met deadlier opponents before.

The young giant was attacking with full force, but he was having trouble matching Alexs blows. Bjorgrunds smiles and laughter abruptly stopped, his eyes fixed on his opponent.

His rune began glowing.

He soon began catching Alex, improving steadily.

His strikes were faster, more exact. His body language was harder to read. Tactics and responses began changing, the giants skills growing.

He was using his natural advantages better; strength, toughness and reach more effectively. The giant turned offensiverune blazingbearing down on the young wizard.

Alex was still growing, but it was now harder to reach the giants vital points. The General was sweating, weaving around Bjorgrunds blows, coming closer to being hit. He danced around the massive axe, but the young giant used his reach to keep him away, backing him into a corner of the room.

The two fighters grew together, but a problem still remained.

For all the young wizards speed, grace and agility, the giant had trained in hand to hand combat for many years and had a far greater reach that was at least twice or three times that of a humans: things that Alex lacked.

As Bjorgrund began to recognise Alex's moves, it was harder for the wizard to close with him.

He jumped back, calling for a time out.

Hold on, hold on! Alex said. You're getting really good, holy shit! He took a deep breath, sweat dripping down his face.

The giants massive chest rose and fell; his eyes were shining as a grin spread across his face. I tell you, Alex, I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Not since I reached a point where I could outpace my father.

Yeah, I guess you haven't had many sparring partners, Alex panted.

Only father. So, what are we doing, stopping for the day or just taking a bit of a break? the giant asked. I'm good to keep going! You've gotten so much better and so have I! Id like to see where we can go!

Yeah, progress is addictive, isn't it? Alex said, frowning. But Ive got a problem. Your arms are too damn long.

And?

Look, I'm not going to be offensive here. Or at least I'm going to try not to be: you're good Bjorgrund, very good, but the kind of foes we have to fight are on a completely different level, Alex said.

The young giant made a face. Well, I'd be lying if I said I could keep up with that First Apostle guy, so, I see the problem: if you're having trouble closing on me, you're gonna have lots of problems with someone that much faster and more skilled than me

Yeah, the young wizard said. Normally, I'd solve the problem by just using magic on myself like flying, or even teleporting. But He looked at the sword in his hand. the entire point of learning how to fight hand-to-hand is to be ready if all my regular tactics fail, and to have a surprise or two waiting for the enemy. If I go back to old tactics, then I'm not going to have an answer if the First Apostle gets through all my spells and defences. It'd be better if I could keep a distance even if he closes inand have a way to strike him through his guard.

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He looked at Bjorgrunds long arms. It's hard for me to get close and hit youyou kept striking me whenever I tried to get closer. If you were faster, itd be hard for the First Apostle to ever hit you with his much shorter reach. Hmmmma longer reach.

He remembered the long-hafted weapons Cedric, Claygon and the mercenary, Kyembe, used. Alex looked down at the Travellers sword in his hand. Im thinking a longer weapon would work better with the dance positions I use for fighting: after all, it's called the Spear-and-Oar Dance, not the Sword-And-Oar Dance. I kind of wish that Hannah had used a spear or some kind of other pole weapon rather than a sword. Hells, I wish I'd gotten a chance to look at Kyembes weapon: with a simple pull of his hands, he could turn that sword of his into a long sword-staff.

I never met that guy you just mentioned, but spears are pretty handy, Bjorgrund said. And turning a sword into a sword-staff sounds powerful. Too bad you can't do that with your stuff.

My stuff?

I mean, the giant said, nodding to the aeld. You've got a swordand a staff. Too bad you can't just stick one on top of the other to make a sword-staff!

Alex blinked once.

Then twice.

Then he looked at the aeld staff and back to the sword. Oh by the Traveller and every single god or goddess in the worldBjorgrund, youre a genius.

You keep telling me thatnot that Im complaining, the young giant grinned.

You totally are! Alex grinned back, getting excited. The First Apostle isn't gonna know what hit him! And Ive got a new alchemical project to tackleplus all the equipment I need to pull it off.

He laughed evilly.

The staff gave off waves of confusion and concern.

I think I'm going to let this cook in my mind for a bit, but speaking of cooking He looked at his spell-guides. There's one last thing I want to do before we quit for the day.

What's that?

So far, with the Mark, Ive learned quite a bit about how to enhance my spellcasting, and Im learning how to defend myself in hand-to-hand combat. Now, it's time for some combat magic. Alex sheathed Hannahs sword and rubbed his hands together. I think it's time for me to cast a fireball for the first time.

Oh! Can I stay and watch? Bjorgrund asked.

Sure, it'd be even better with an audience, Alex said, walking over to the books and picking up the third-tier spell guide. He ran a finger down its spine. This should be interesting.

Big, fiery explosions do sound real interesting, Bjorgrund laughed.

No argument there, but, I mean because I've never learned a combat spell before. Well, I guess learned force missile way back, but never really could cast it, and force missile's certainly no fireball. Itll also be the first time Ill be learning a spell since I got rid of the Mark of the Fool, so I want to see how many tries it takes, He said, with a mixture of excitement and nerves.

Cracking the book open, he ran his fingers over the diagram of the magic circuit. Unsurprisingly, it was very different from any other magic circuit hed ever learned. He had to focus, channelling mana in quick pulses, igniting flames from nothing.

Alex checked every word of the incantation carefully, studying each one, quickly committing it to memory.

The spell-array is very different, but it looks simple enough. Its certainly a lot less complicated than a sixth-tier summoning spell, he thought. Maybe thats because itssimple to learn? He shook his head. No, You shouldn't give yourself false expectations, Alex. This is going to be your first combat spell! Dont trivialise it!

The young wizard conjured Wizards Hand with a few twitches and a single syllable, and paused, appreciating how quickly the spell had formed.

It's gonna take me a while to get used to how easy spellcraft is now, he thought, willing the glowing Hand to pick up a notebook and flip it open. He conjured a few more Wizards Hands, had them take up a pen and begin recording a progress note.

First Combat Spell Attempt.

Fireball.

Progress through spell array: 0%.

Attempt 1.

He speed-read the rest of the spell-guide, focused the Mark of the General on the task of memorising the words and diagrams in it, then faced an empty corner of the large room.

Bjorgrund, you're going to want to get behind me. I don't know how this is going to go, Alex said, getting ready to teleport them away if the explosion was too big.

The giant quickly stepped behind the wizard.

For a moment, Alex thought about Selina. If I learn fire spells, I'll be able to help her with them when I get back to Generasi. Whenever that is. His mind went to the First Apostle, the Ravener, and other enemies. Seeing them all dead will be worth the world to me and combat spells are going to help make that happen.

Alex took a deep, steadying breath and, for the first time, began casting fireball.

It felt strange, different from other spells. His mana had to flow in ways it never had before. The incantations syllables were largely unfamiliar.

He focused on his skills with languages, letting the Mark guide him through the pronunciation of each word of the combat spell.

While the Mark did help, he soon realised he had no need to call on it.

The spell was easy.

It was unfamiliar, yet simple in comparison to all magic hed ever cast before. Syllables were effortless to pronounce. The three magic circuits came together, with no difficulty. No interference from the Mark of the Fool, and the spell flowed; with no interruptions in crafting the spell array.

The final details of the magic circuits completed.

Suddenly, magic blazed to life.

In the palm of Alexs right hand, a tiny bead of orange light appeared, flickering like a firefly.

His jaw dropped.

He could already feel the power in that tiny orb of light blazing, churning, threatening to explode. The young wizard threw the bead across the roomfar from himself, Bjorgrund, and his supplies.

Trailing orange light, it sailed through the air, bursting a safe distance away.

A blast of heat suddenly erupted in the corner, radiating searing light and crackling flame, filling the air; the fireball exploded.

Wow, that's incredible! Bjorgrund cried. I wish I could do that, you made it look so easy!

II suppose I did, didn't I Alex murmured.

He was numb, yet full of excitement.

Again! the young wizard cried.

He cast the spell again, focusing the Mark of the General on applying his language skills to the new spell.

Another fireball exploded on the other end of the room, this one forming faster.

He cast it again.

It appeared even faster, another fireball exploded.

Then another, and another.

In minutes, the new General of Thameland was casting fireballswith the twitch of an eyebrow, and a few quick syllables, watching them explode in a flurry across the room.

He was able to cast a third-tier combat spell faster than some people could throw a punch.

Alex welcomed the new power.

He could use it to fight with.

To improve with.

To make it his own.