Inflame (The Completionist Chronicles Book 6), Dakota Krout [free novels to read TXT] 📗

aspect solidified into an actual physical object, though it was practically weightless. He was about to create a simple Novice-ranked Circle, but thought better of it. Perhaps it would be better to see how many aspects he had first? Calling up his crafting tab, Joe was pleasantly surprised to see what had been stored.

Aspects gathered

Trash: 1,001

Damaged: 712

Common: 238

Uncommon: 210

Rare: 80

Special: 0

Unique: 51

Artifact: 0

Legendary: 0

Mythical: 0

Core energy: None bound

Feeling better about the sheer amount of aspects that he could access, at least for Novice-ranked things, Joe drew out a simple circle and let it sit on the ground. Major General Havoc watched with great interest and tried to figure out what exactly the circle was supposed to be doing. Joe let him study it for a long moment, but before the Dwarf was forced to ask, Joe activated the ritual and stepped back.

The circle lit up, glowing a deep red light, slowly shifting to blue and back again. Havok waited for an explanation, but Joe was watching the circle happily. “This is very nice, sure… but just tell me. What does it do?”

Reductionist Class experience gained: 1!

“It makes pretty lights. This thing is the equivalent to a cantrip, only technically a Novice ritual, and they really don't do much. Also, it looks like I figured out how to gain experience. I need to use the aspects that I collect by making something out of them,” Joe answered easily, a huge smile on his face. With every bit of acquired information, the more and the faster he could grow. “I'm just happy because I didn’t have to add any other components than aspects. I used to have to break out silver, small carbon filaments, and very thin glass for this ritual, so I never bothered to make it. Essentially, I’ve made a magical version of a glass light bulb.”

“You mean a Nixie tube?” Havoc ventured after a moment, trying to translate Joe’s explanation into terms that he understood.

“You have light bulbs?” Joe gaped at the Dwarf, who seemed affronted at the surprise in the human’s voice.

Havoc harrumphed and glared at Joe through his thick mirrored goggles. “Our technology has been at your level of modern for literally thousands of years. There's not much you can't do when you have magic and science. The things our magitech can do would make you fear for your sanity. Anyway, what's the point of this light? Why did you make it?”

“I made it to show that I could make it,” Joe explained after a moment of contemplation. It made sense that their technology was more advanced than he was used to; they did have various golems and other technological wonders. It was just hard to rectify people who used crossbows and hammers in combat with people who were technological savants. That, and the only people he had met were… Legion. “I also explored how to work with enchanting, alchemy, and blacksmithing. I should-”

Joe paused, horror on his face. “I forgot to figure out how to make buildings! Son of the abyss! I… wait, no. That is just rituals. I'm okay.”

“Calm down, human. Was there something in that coffee you drank?” Havoc muttered disparagingly. “Or is this just a normal human thing? Questioning yourself out of nowhere and panicking for no apparent reason? You talk aloud frequently.”

“Yes, that is a very human thing.” Joe nodded seriously. Havoc winced at the thought of an entire race having anxiety for no good reason. “I learned that I can break down pretty much anything into aspects, and use that energy directly in the crafting of other materials, goods… basically anything, as long as I have access to the needed ranks of the discipline.”

Havoc took a short pull from his cigar, which was burning down to a small nub at this point. “I could see a few uses for this. Let's talk this out. You have six months to complete your quest for Officer Candidacy. It sounds like you want your big goal to be wiping out a few Elven forts, but if I may make a suggestion… there are a few other things we could really use as a Dwarven Oligarchy. No one ever said that you had to do one big thing; if you did a bunch of small things that added up over time… things that help the nation…”

“I can reach nobility by doing small things?” Joe didn't buy it. The quest clearly stated… actually, no it didn't. It hadn't said that only one thing counted; it simply let him know that everything would be tallied. All of the positives, all of the negatives. If his net positive was enough to help the entire race of Dwarves, that was how he would gain nobility. “I see. What did you have in mind, Havoc?”

“You remember that mana potion that I gave you? I mentioned that we have only one Alchemist for our entire people?” Havoc waited for Joe’s nod. “The reason behind that is that alchemy is a specialty of the Elves. People who are good at it are seen with suspicion, unless they are so good that they can produce enough to help everyone. Actually, let me amend my previous statement. When I say we only have one Alchemist, I mean only one who will practice publicly.”

“You want me to… what? Make alchemical goods? I can't do it; I only have access to making ritual specific potions and whatnot.” Joe was going to go on, but Havoc raised a hand to slow him down.

“Your class; not your current one, your previous one, the builder. Rituarchitect. I have read about that in our records. That used to be something that was a fairly common class, but it died out. Not sure why. You can create buildings and such, yes?” Joe responded in the affirmative to Havoc’s question, so the Dwarf hurried to finish his train of thought. “Our Alchemist is working in a Common Alchemist workshop. If you could benefit him enough, make his production go through the roof,