Mage Among Superheroes

I was vaguely conscious when the barn un-collapsed from on top of Hammerfist and me, with my consciousness improving when I was un-tackled through some of the supports in the barn. Things continued to reverse, with my bones un-snapping as the fight rapidly progress backwards until the beginning, where I stood across from the old woman in a perfectly normal barn that wasn't even a little bit on fire.

I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, but fortunately that was answered by the other new person in the area shouting at us. "As a reminder, you need to stop fighting now!" called a voice from outside. "Unless you like nearly dying."

I didn't, particularly. Except as far as it gave me experience. I looked down at myself, feeling my definitely not shattered shoulder. "What happened?" I asked.

"That's Reset's power," Hammerfist explained as we walked out of the barn.

"I thought he was a healer?"

"No. He's just why we don't need a healer here."

"Yo. Did it work?" Shockwave abruptly- as usual- appeared in front of my face. "Tell me it worked. Otherwise this is all a waste."

"Did what work? I'm alive and stuff…" I frowned. My thinking was a bit confused though. Probably a result of time flowing the wrong way for a moment.

"Experience, man! The whole point of you being here. If you un-experienced all of that, it's kinda pointless. But you should remember, right?"

"Oh!" I checked my numbers. "Yes, I got almost twenty points from that." I also noticed that not everything had gone back to the way it was. My mana reserves and lack of Force Armor spoke to that. "Am I supposed to still be low on mana?"

"That's the source of your power, right?" Reset nodded. "I can reverse the effects of things, but I don't restore people's power or most effects of their power. Though it often looks like I did." Reset shook his head, "It's… situationally useful, but often just a pain in the ass. But if you got what you needed out of that fight, it's good."

"I did," I nodded. Along with the experience number, a brief but impactful combat was a good way to be more effective later. And it made me think of some important things. First, I still needed more mana. There wasn't that much to do about that one except keep training. Second was that I really needed a stronger offensive spell. Getting by with just Shocking Grasp and Firebolt was fine for people who would be taken out by a single one of those, but people with powers- and bruisers like Shockwave's grandmother Hammerfist- would require something more. Higher level spells started off more efficient in damage per mana, but that was only if all that power was necessary. Overkill was just wasted mana and unnecessary collateral damage.

Maybe I should buy a good offensive spell and upgrade it a few times? I could do that. When I had points again, but I had 0 at the moment. Which was what got me this whole special training thing, so it was fine.