Potentiomagicometer test

The sun was rising over Velmoria, bathing the city's cobblestones in golden light. The streets were beginning to come alive as Erd and Dune walked at a leisurely pace towards the adventurers' guild.

- We should register as adventurers, shouldn't we? said Erd.

Dune nodded.

- Yes. It'll be easier to get official quests and earn gold.

They turned a corner, but Dune stopped suddenly.

Her piercing gaze swept the dark alleys to their right.

- Trouble?" asked Erd, intrigued.

Dune sighed.

- Yesterday's adventurers are waiting for us further on. They're planning to ambush us.

Erd raised an eyebrow.

- Are you serious? They think they can steal from us after what they saw yesterday?

Dune smiled in amusement.

- Humans tend to underestimate what they don't understand...

Without another word, she turned away and walked calmly towards the ambush.

- Hey, att- started Erd, but she'd already gone.

Behind a pile of crates, four men were hiding, their weapons ready.

- When they're in the shade, we'll take them from behind. The other idiot's probably got some rare objects on him..." whispered one of them.

- I can hear you, you know," said Dune.

The four adventurers gasped.

Dune raised a hand.

- Sleep.

An invisible wave washed over them, and in a second the four men collapsed, unconscious.

Erd came trotting up behind her and raised his eyebrows.

- You knocked them out with one word?

Dune crossed her arms.

- Do you want me to wake them up so they can explain?

Erd shook his head.

- No, no, it'll be fine...

They set off again, leaving the unfortunate brigands unconscious.

The Potentiomagicometer

The guild was as busy as the day before.

When the receptionist saw them enter, she gave them a polite smile.

- Oh, you're back!

- We want to sign up to the adventurers' register," said Erd.

- Of course!

She guided them to a room at the back of the guild.

In the centre was a massive black metal machine, engraved with magical runes.

- This is the Potentiomagicometer," explained the receptionist. It evaluates your magical and physical levels to determine your rank.

Erd put his hand down first.

The device lit up... then a red alert flashed:

[ERROR]

The receptionist blinked in surprise.

- Er... strange...

- What does it mean?" asked Erd.

- Erd. "I don't know.

- Let me try," said Dune.

She put her hand on the device.

[ERROR]

There was silence.

Then the door to the room opened suddenly.

An imposing man entered. He had a long grey beard and piercing eyes like those of a predator.

- I am Regnar, the master of the guild," he announced.

He looked sharply at Erd and Dune.

- What exactly are you?

Erd immediately activated Telepathy.

- (Dune, please don't say you're a Divine Creature!)

- (Understood, Master.) she replied with amusement.

Erd looked at Regnar and shrugged.

- We're just adventurers who are a bit... out of the ordinary.

Regnar squinted.

- Very well, then. But you should know that the Guild will be watching your every move.

Then he grabbed two metal badges.

- Rank B for Erd... Rank S for Dune.

Erd opened his eyes wide.

- What?!

Dune took his badge without surprise.

- That makes sense.

Erd turned to her.

- How come you go straight to S rank and I only go to B?

- Your skills aren't developed enough yet. See for yourself.

Erd opened his status.

A new skill had appeared.

[Sanctuary]

Allows you to manipulate anything at will and apply effects to a given area.

Erd blinked.

- What the hell is that?

Dune shrugged.

- A super-powerful skill, but you haven't mastered it yet. That's why the guild ranked you B.

Erd sighed.

- Well... I'll have to improve.

They left the room, and Erd looked at the quest board.

- Here, a mission to exterminate goblins. Would you like that?

Dune smiled.

- Why not?

They took the quest and left the guild, watched fearfully by the other adventurers.

The mission: Goblin extermination

The plains outside Velmoria stretched as far as the eye could see.

They soon reached the goblin-infested area.

- I'm going to test my new skill," said Erd.

Dune frowned.

- Take it easy, Master. You don't know it very well yet.

Erd clasped his hands together, then jerked them apart.

An immense translucent sphere spread out around him.

Dune's eyes widened.

- Master, wait...

But Erd ignored her and activated Sanctuary: Glaciation.

In a second, everything froze.

The goblins, the grass, even the air seemed frozen in ice.

Erd looked on in shock.

- Oops...

Dune, who had moved away in time, stared at him with a mocking smile.

- Congratulations, Erd. You've just proved that you're more dangerous than the goblins.

Erd lowered his eyes.

- Well... I'll only use it in an emergency.

Dune laughed softly.

- Good idea, Master.

Erd sulked.

- Stop laughing at me...

Dune approached and gently patted his head.

- Let's go and collect our reward.

Erd grunted, but followed his partner.

The mission was over, but one thing was certain...

Their adventure was just beginning.