Book 2 - The Usurper from the Wilds: Chapter 4; Dangerous Accumulation

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 4; Dangerous Accumulation".

It opens, still in the headmage's office, but now after the fight.

As Grim complains "Hey, Headmage, what's the deal? What does fightin' ghosts got to do with blot?" But Crowley simply answers "Direct your attention to the magestone on your collar, Mr. Grim."

He then looks down at it as there's that same type of black liquid inside that looks like it's covering a decent bit of the outside. Grim looking at it shouts "Myah?! My magestone looks all grungy now." Before he then tries to wipe it off but quickly realizes something as he exclaims "...MYAH?! It won't rub off!"

The headmage says "Precisely." Then explains "That inky black stain is the byproduct of spellcasting known as "blot."

Deuce then takes a look at his and exclaims "There's some grime on my magical pen, too!" as he shows it, and although there isn't as much as Grim's it's still there.

Grim then stops holding his magestone as he yells "Ewww! This is capital-G, Gross!"

Yuu then asks an important question "Is there some way to get rid of it?" Of which the headmage answers "Yes, of course." Grim asks next "Like some kinda special soap or somethin'?" But the headmage explains "With sufficient rest, blot will vanish from your magestone. This is why a magestone is so valuable to magic users. Not only does it aid in your casting, it also serves as a lightning rod of sorts, to prevent blot from accumulating within the caster."

Deuce says "I see. So when our magestones start to get cloudy, that means it's time for us to ease off." The headmage tells Deuce "Correct!" Before giving a bit more explanation into how to properly clear blot "Eat well and get plenty of sleep, and most of the blot will clear away." Grim says "Gotcha. So when I become an even greater mage, I'll be able to fire off spells left and right! Pa-PEW! After all, I do plenty of sleepin' and eatin'."

But everyone ignores Grim as the headmage continues to explain some things "People vary greatly in their capacity for magic. However, save a few key exceptions, there is little variance in most mage's tolerance for blot."

Grim asks "What's that mean?" The headmage answers "In essence, it means that those who possess a great capacity for magic must be meticulous in their efforts to avoid accumulating blot. Like Mr. Rosehearts, for instance."

So Ace tries to restate what Crowley said to make sure he got it "So folks who know their way around magic gotta lay off once in a while. Seems simple enough." The headmage tells him "Correct."

Before speaking to all of them "That said, it isn't anything that mages at YOUR level need to worry about. How very fortunate for you!"

But Yuu couldn't help feeling that he's wrong about that, and that they will have to continuously worry for stuff like that. Even if not for themselves, but for others around them.

But Ace rhetorically asks "I…guess that's only kind of an insult?" But Grim says "Anyways, I think I get it." Before stating what they just learned in caveman terms "Use magic, get blot. Blot bad. Sleep and food good."

But he then asks "But is that really all it took to make Riddle activate berserker mode?" So the headmage tries to explain "The accumulation of blot is significantly affected by the sorcerer's mental state. Anger, fear, panic, sorrow… Harboring those sorts of negative energies hastens the accumulation of blot by a significant degree. This, in turn, leads to the dreadful state known as "overblot." Deuce then mumbles "'Negative energies.' huh? Interesting…"

He then asks them "Do you recall the giant shadow that appeared behind Mr. Rosehearts?" Yuu then remembers.

The shadow monster thing was at least four times the size of Riddle. It was mostly black and red with a tint of gold at the top of the jar like head with black ink, or blot dripping out of it. It seemed almost as though it was wearing a dress with a red glowing ball beneath it which then became an inky blackness. It was also holding a rosebush as a weapon, and Riddle, being attached to the thing, seemed to be able to fully use it as a means of attack. Yuu also noticed it was strangely similar to that creature or monster in the mines.

The headmage then further explains "Such manifestations are believed to be the result of a fusion between blot and negative energies." Before sadly telling them "I'm afraid that's the extent of what current studies have revealed to us, however. There remain many mysteries surrounding overblot. After all, there are not many opportunities for study and observation."

And Ace snaps back "Let's hope it stays that way!" Yuu then has a bad feeling that Ace had just jinxed them and the entire school.

The headmage tells them "It is fortunate that we were able to snap Mr. Rosehearts out of it so quickly. If it had been allowed to continue…"

…

He then screams "AAAH! It is a prospect too terrifying to consider!"

This surprised all of them as Grim yelled "GAH! W-what's your problem?! Yellin' outta the blue like that!" Crowley clears his throat as he apologizes "Forgive me. I lost my composure."

He then continues along, as he finishes his lecture "In summary, the use of magic is always accompanied by a certain degree of risk. And I expect you all to keep that in mind." The first years then answer all at once "Yes, sir."

He then says "Thus concludes your special lesson from the headmage himself! How wonderfully kind of me. Now, back to your classrooms with you."

As he tries to wave them off, but Yuu stops and raises an eyebrow, asking him "Aren't you forgetting something, sir?"

He then tries to think of what it is "Ahhh, yes…" Before remembering and saying "A means to send Yuu home. Right, right."

Yuu crosses her arms and taps her foot as the headmage tries to justify saying "I have been diligently searching for one, of course. I have certainly not forgotten!"

As Yuu rolls her eyes and thinks 'Such a bad liar.'

Crowley then comes up with an excuse telling her "It is merely that I've been quite busy of late!" Grim also picks up on it saying "Your eyes got all shifty all of a sudden."

Crowley continues trying to cover it saying "I-I'm certainly not lying! The October interdorm Spelldrive tournament is consuming a great deal of my attention at the moment! In fact, I've a meeting with the assembled housewardens immediately after this."

Grim then asks "What's a "Spelldrive tournament"...?"

As the screen fades to black as "To be continued" plays before fully turning off.