Chapter 38: Narrowing Choices
Compared to her other courses, which ranged from grimly impossible to wildly violent, Suria was always happy to return to Combat Perception. Her enjoyment was beginning to decline as she became aware that her time in this cycle was running out. The others seemed to view that as a signal to relax, but it just made her conscious of the fact that she was going to be thrown back to the beginning again.
At some point she would need to think through her strategy for the first hour, but right now she viewed her goal as building as many tools as she could for that time. More perception spells could be a significant part of those preparations, if she could figure out the best path.
"That's an interesting question," Orinyan was saying to another student. "I'm not convinced that making 'illusion' its own department is worthwhile, but I have to admit that everyone that makes 'divination' a separate discipline is really good at it. That's what they do in the Shantic States, and the Akrashic Union is basically doing the same thing with their 'informatics' discipline."
As usual, Orinyan was following the trail of questions wherever it led, and while the day's discussion over the exact definition of Perception magic was interesting, it didn't get Suria closer to any of her goals. She wanted to just approach Orinyan and ask what he would advise, but had to remember that in this loop, they hadn't spent all that much time together. He was friendly, as he was with all his students, but she couldn't take his support for granted because she had less of a relationship with this version of him.
The longer she was in the loop, the more Suria was going to have that problem. But thinking about that definitely didn't help her get closer to any of her goals, so she forced it out of her mind and refocused.
When there was a lull in the discussion, Suria asked her prepared question: "What would be the best perception spell for analyzing mages stronger than you?"
"Depends on how strong you mean," Orinyan answered smoothly. "I mean, you're a new student, so that's most people. Basic spell analysis inscriptions will cover you just fine in most cases. If you're talking about double-seal specialists or archmages or all that, even before you consider their shielding or stealth glyphs, you probably can't do much."
"How exactly do all those ranks work?" someone else asked.
"I mean, do you want a lecture about the ranked seal system?" Orinyan asked. "You probably know the details, but it gets fascinating once you really get into it."
Suria did want to hear that lecture, but she recognized that it wouldn't help. Before she could think of a good way to shift the conversation back, someone else spoke up.
"Are seals that good a ranking system?" the man beside her asked. "I mean, I understand that getting a half-seal is important here, and obviously someone with a Perception seal is going to be better at Perception than I am. But when a mage has three or four seals, doesn't it entirely depend on which fields they studied?"
"Of course it does." Orinyan leaned back in his chair and slung one leg over the other. "An artisan mage and a soldier mage are obviously going to be entirely different. But there's a meaningful difference when someone has mastered several different disciplines... when we call someone with four or five seals a battlemage, it's not just an arbitrary title."
"They could be mostly in Alchemy and Medicine or something."
"And you shouldn't underestimate them, even if they aren't going to be casting lightning bolts. There's a different step up to anyone who has a double seal, because that usually requires a whole host of skills. And earning enough seals to become an archmage basically means you have to be a master."
That was Suria's opportunity. "Would it be possible for us to analyze an archmage?" she asked.
"Honestly," Orinyan said, "if you end up against an archmage, I suggest you just run." That got a laugh from the class and Suria pressed forward, not letting herself be embarrassed.
"I meant learning from them," she insisted. "So many professors here are so impressive, I have no idea what they're even doing. Even you... would you be classified as a battlemage?"
"Depends on where you draw the line, but maybe. I see your point now." Orinyan leaned back further, thinking for a while, then tipped forward and grinned. "That's actually a great question. If I can find the right book, I can show you all some good inscriptions for analyzing spells in action..."
That got the class where Suria needed, and by the end she had several options as well as another book to read. Given how poorly things were going in Magical Analysis, she would prioritize this one. While the class was underway, she instead tested out the initial inscriptions that Orinyan showed them, trying to figure out which would be best for her.
She was particularly interested because she thought that she would soon break through to a runic capacity of nine, which would open up new possibilities. Specifically, she could create a runic pentagon with two augments: since one augment was required for the sensory component, the second was her first opportunity to really customize her perception spells.
Before reading the full book, Suria thought that she basically had two optimal choices: a spell that would give her a strong awareness of spells being used around her, or a spell that would allow her to analyze more powerful spells so long as she focused on them.
Obviously she wanted both. But as she tested them out during the class, she realized that these weren't simple inscriptions that she would be able to internalize in a few hours. It was possible that even if she abandoned her other responsibilities for the rest of the loop, she couldn't master both spells, not well enough to use them after everything reset. Instead of running the risk of failing, she needed to choose one and leave the other for the next loop.
After agonizing over the decision, Suria decided to focus fully on the inscription that would let her analyze stronger spells. In direct combat she was still outclassed by most mages, and a better perception spell wouldn't change that. But so many mysteries were entangled with archmages that a method that let her understand more of what she saw might bear meaningful results.
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Would she ever return to the basement during the first hour and see what she could learn? The risk of death seemed high, potentially even soul death, and she would need to avoid the final wall of gray or she'd risk losing an entire loop. At the moment it just seemed like reckless behavior.
Depending on the choices made by others, she might not have a choice. All the more reason to focus her efforts.
Suria left the class with lots of notes on Perception augments she would need to research later. While she was on her way to the library, however, she saw Wynchard storming across campus, and when she tried to shift her path, he angled to intercept her. He didn't seem angry at her specifically, but anything that had him in this mood still seemed like bad news.
"Did you know about the library attempt?" he asked tersely.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Suria answered honestly. "What happened?"
"I just thought... because Jeilin went with them..." Wynchard grimaced and then ran a hand through his hair. "A whole group of us sneaked into the Sequential Library last night, ignoring my advice. Now there's evidence that they're all dead."
"You mean... dead for now, right?"
"Most likely, but you can't be too careful." Wynchard reached out to grip her shoulders. "Don't let them pressure you into entering the real forbidden sections, no matter how many favors they offer you. Last time we barely made it out, and that was with Adwyrma and me along. It's important, but we're just not ready."
"Who all is gone?" Suria asked.
Based on the list of names, it was mostly the four loopers from the Republic of Junn, plus Jeilin. Suria usually forgot that he was Junnite, even though to a lot of people those politics were the most relevant part about someone. Since she was from a backwater, no one seemed to think her nationality was particularly important, which let her ignore all of it.
"Oh, and be careful about the necromancer," Wynchard said as he started to leave. "When I checked the library for them, I'm pretty sure someone else got there first. Maybe it was just a professor, but... I don't know. There's someone else lurking around our business."
Right, there was the mysterious necromancer to add on top of all the other threats that Suria had to face. All she could do was go back to her room and study as hard as she could, which didn't feel like enough.
~ ~ ~
Comparing the length of the loop to the schedule, Suria expected this to be the very last class session of Magical Analysis In Depth. As before, it was just her and a few straggling students, though not exactly the same ones as the previous loop. The list of books had been different, and whatever the reason for it, the result had been a different set of grueling examinations and continual disappointment.
"That's all for now," Professor Huen told them. "Reread the texts and you might do better next time."
Others filed out of class, but Suria headed to the front before the professor could disappear. "Excuse me," Suria said, "but I'm obviously struggling. Could you recommend another book that provides a better foundation? Maybe I can't make it in this class, but if I study the basics, I can take it again next term."
Professor Huen stared at her for a second, perfectly manicured eyebrows rising, then turned away. "I've already recommended the best books on the subject," she said. "Reread them if you're having trouble."
Then she was gone in a flash, leaving Suria alone in the classroom. There had been no personal moment between them this time, as well as no clue for another attempt. Obviously many variables had been different, not least the series of books, and Suria wondered if it was her fault. She had pushed harder this time and it might have made the professor less sympathetic.
On the other hand, it was also possible that the more personal conversation had been a low probability event that couldn't be easily recreated. The idea of repeating everything in a loop was simple, but actually executing it was challenging, when people could pick up and interpret slight differences in pauses or emphasis. And that was even before considering the variables changed by other loopers.
Apparently that was all she had been able to accomplish for Magical Analysis in this cycle. Based on how much the books had changed, Suria didn't bother to read the last list and just focused on her remaining classes.
She managed to get through an entire range of elements for Practical Elemental Enchanting, which felt nice even though Eortrax agreed that none of them were particularly right for her. Just mastering the inscriptions enough to do the exercises had forced Suria to learn basic spells of every common element, which could be useful in many different situations.
Her top objective was mastering her new analysis spell, and with Orinyan helping her every class session, she felt that she had it down. When he demonstrated some more advanced magic, she gained an instinctive sense of what he was doing, sometimes even a sense for the runic shapes involved... whether or not that technique would translate to archmages was another question, one she was afraid she would have to answer whether she liked it or not.
There was one more thing she definitely wanted to do this loop: check in on Maut-mai. On the last half-day, when it still hadn't happened by accident, Suria specifically sought out her old roommate, even asking about her since it was too late to cause strange rumors.
Eventually she discovered Maut-mai slumped at one of the work tables, a broken combat gauntlet lying in front of her. She had bags under her eyes and was just staring at it, seeing so little that she didn't seem to notice Suria. Overall, she looked terrible: her makeup was old, she was just wearing simple earrings, and her entire body moved like it was too heavy for her.
Of all the outcomes Suria had imagined, none of them really resembled this dejected Maut-mai. It was hard to believe that this was the same woman could become her roommate or a cruel member of the Water Society. Apparently she really was at a crossroads in her life, changing in entirely different ways depending on which direction random chance moved her.
What exactly did that mean for her, and for what Suria should do? She didn't have an answer, even as the final hour ticked away.
Recognizing that she wasn't going to get anything done, Suria walked out to the field and climbed up the side of the twisting staircase. When she walked to the edge, it was surprisingly easy, and she realized she would have no problem stepping over the side. There was probably no point doing so - better to keep thinking about her strategy for the beginning of the next loop.
"Hey there, what are we doing?"
"Gah!" Suria jumped when Xuhriha popped up behind her and then flailed to prevent herself going over the side - she felt foolish for that a second later, since it probably wouldn't matter soon.
"These final hours are always strange," Xuhriha said thoughtfully. "There's no point starting anything. Like the last hours before leaving for a trip, but so much worse."
"In the past I've tried to do something I couldn't do otherwise..." Suria's gaze went over the side and Xuhriha understood immediately.
"Ooh, are we committing suicide? Let's jump, let's jump!"
"I already did that last time."
"Aww..."
"I want to test myself, to harden my nerves..." Suria pulled out her fire talisman and stared at the structure, which she was going to lose so soon. Just before the end, she had finally increased her runic capacity to ten, which meant she could add a third augment...
"I know what you're thinking!" Xuhriha took a step away from her. "I'll see you on the other side, okay? Maybe we can be roommates?"
"Yeah, I'd like that." Suria smiled as the other woman backed away, then looked down to her talisman to prepare her final action.
With three augments, she could create a highly empowered spell, but turning that on herself could be very painful. She wanted to test intentionally acting against herself, just in case it was necessary later, but she didn't want to torture herself. So she put together three explosive augments, ones that created a wildly dangerous spell.
That was probably the best she could do and she felt the loop closing in on her. Suria sent her mana into the talisman and let the flames consume her.