Chapter 322: Cantrips

Over the course of the next few days, the changes became more obvious.

Everything in the world was adapting to a higher mana level on the planet, including the humans. Training schedules were changed, as bodies were adapting faster than ever, and multiple points were being awarded with the day’s missions.

That alone was leading to even more of the level zero members gaining Classes.

Getting the twenty points wasn’t all that difficult, it just took ten days, unless you could get some extra missions in. But getting your stats up used to be the hardest part, as you had to really work at it.

Now, there were people getting two and three points in a stat instead of just one with the daily training mission, and that was pushing the newest of them up to the minimum standard in no time at all.

Now, if only it would improve intelligence or mana affinity.

Building a strong body and picking a combat skill was a great way to become a warrior, but Marimgar was not short on warriors, and not everyone was interested in that sort of physical combat role.

However, becoming a mage involved much more, and they were missing most of the resources that might make it easier to attain the Class.

The study of the magical circles had drawn a lot of attention from those who were interested in the Mage’s profession, and there was some hope that as they studied it, they might unlock a new skill option which would allow them to awaken as mages.

They already knew that training in medical skills could help you awaken as a healing class.

So, if you studied magic, you should be able to become a mage.

There were also others studying animals, sustainable farming and lumbering practices, as well as horticulture, hoping to become druids. There were a few of them already in the city, and they were a very versatile class.

Of course, not everyone would get what they wanted, but the more you studied, the better that your chances were to get something more than just the basic warrior class that seemed to be the default.

Even getting Rogue gave you a bit more versatility, as they had stealth and trap setting skills that could be used to defend the city, and give them an advantage on scout teams.

Rogues also got higher agility bonuses as they levelled up, and that put them first in line for jobs like the flight suits. Many of the residents of Marimgar were hoping that Kalli would expand those teams until they had hundreds of flying defenders around Marimgar.

Becoming a helicopter pilot just wasn’t as cool as becoming a flight suit pilot.

Marimgar might not actively be under attack right now, but the flight suit pilots were much like fighter pilots of the world’s old military forces. And what young man didn’t want to be a fighter pilot or an astronaut at some point?

The job just had a cool factor that couldn’t be dismissed.

Those small factors added up to hundreds of thousands of people doing their best with the resources Marimgar provided to help them awaken a better class. Not everyone, many were happy just to get a class and the status that came with it. But enough that putting off the skill selection until you had trained yourself into a new option was becoming an accepted thing.

A few weeks ago, that would have been unthinkable. But now? Everyone wanted the very best future that they could get, and the sense of urgency, the need to advance to survive, was fading.

Not gone, but willing to wait for the longer term gains.

How much longer was questionable, especially with the recent day’s changes. But they were waiting and that was enough.

Then, the mages finally made a breakthrough.

It wasn’t grand, or not as grand as they wanted. But they managed to make a functional spell out of portions of the defensive magical circles that they had been studying on the walls. It was simple in function, it locked or unlocked a door when you put mana into it, and it would only recognize the caster’s magic.

So, they had a new spell that every mage in the city could learn, and they had the ability to make magical locks for high value items.

They could cast the spell on a box, and make it tamper proof.

Or, they could upgrade the locks on secure rooms, and keep anyone from entering them when a delicate project was underway. That was something that keypad locks were designed to do, but doing it with magic was much more satisfying.

And now that they had learned to make a new spell, they could learn to make more.

Not big things, at least not at first.

But the cantrips that everyone wanted, the ones that would create a light, sweep up debris, or even create pure drinking water in a cup, were all within reach. The spells were simple, if you made them small and focused enough.

Though, the one to sweep the floor proved to be surprisingly challenging. The broom had a mind of its own if you did not focus well enough, and it would try to "sweep" anything that it came near, and wouldn’t cover anything resembling the whole floor.

However, it did prove to be an excellent exercise in mana control.

The spell to make light was the easiest, and it was one that they were teaching to all the aspiring mages, as it was considered so simple by the System that you didn’t even need a class to do it.

Though, once you had one, there was a good chance you wouldn’t be able to do it anymore, if you ever could.

They hadn’t been able to test it yet, as everyone who was learning basic magic intended to be a mage, and not a warrior, who was heavily restricted in the abilities they could use. After all, why put in all that work just to end up right back where you started?