Just a Guy and a Gate to the Multiverse - Chapter 30 (Patreon)

Chapter 30 - Are you mad? Is he mad?

Am I just stupid?

Maybe?

Nah, Tenga is just a shitty teacher.

“Clear your mind and feel everything you want the magic to accomplish.”

That is some Professor Snape-level instruction right there, and now that I have to deal with it myself, it is far more annoying than reading about it in a story.

What the fuck is up with those simple instructions? And yet, they make so much sense. It is just a lot harder to do than it sounds. I managed to cast spells silently without the Ancient Language before, but it takes a lot of concentration out of me. It almost feels like meditation, where I try to think about what I want the magic to do without letting my thoughts stray, so I don’t cause any negative effects.

Which could be deadly.

But just feeling or intending the magic makes sense. It would be much faster than trying to think about everything. Unfortunately, just because I know what I theoretically want to do doesn’t mean I can actually do it.

I have been at it for days, and that old hermit doesn’t care.

“You know everything you need to know. Just do it,” he says.

Just do it and blow yourself up.

At least the two spells I wanted to learn have been much easier to manage. They only needed the right idea, power, and proper words in the Ancient Language. And they added two more sub-abilities to my Multiversal Gate skill.

Interestingly, while I always said my Multiversal Gate needs Space-Time abilities to upgrade, I can confirm that theory now. Before, I only had space-related abilities. Now, I have added my first time-related one to it.

[ Multiversal Gate Lvl. 5: This Skill allows the User to open a Gate from their current location to any place and time period in the Multiverse that the User can think of. At its current level, the Skill has several limitations. First, it has a cooldown of one year, and only 16 people can pass through. The User can now expand the size of the Gate up to a radius of 3 kilometers and 40 meters.

Sub-Skills:

Teleportation: You are a Jumper possessing the Ability to freely teleport according to your Body’s capabilities inside a Universe.

Rift-Transfer: Rip a Hole into Reality and send something through Space-Time to another place in that same Reality.

Pocket Space: Create a pocket of Space bound to you that can store physical Objects.

Accelerated Perception: Manipulate Time to accelerate your own perception. ]

Aren’t these some really useful abilities? I have an inventory now!

Sure, it is nothing too fancy, since it constantly drains energy, and the drain gets bigger with size. But up to 1,000 cubic meters is easily doable. A space of 10 meters in every direction can hold most of my possessions if I squeeze them in.

Or some really cool vehicles, like a starfighter. Of course, I would need to adjust the size of my inventory a bit. After all, 10 meters in width and length is a bit short, while the height is far too much. But I should be able to hold something like an X-Wing.

And then there is Accelerated Perception, a small form of time manipulation. It doesn’t accelerate time for my entire body or anything, but it pretty much lets me perceive the entire world in slow motion.

That grants me amazing reaction speed. It also works really well together with my Teleportation.

It also seems like after picking an upgrade, the next option always doubles in improvement. I could be wrong, but so far, the data fits. Last time, I picked a 1-kilometer addition to the portal radius. This time, I could pick two, bringing me to over 3 kilometers.

Which means a total diameter of over 6 kilometers. Or, in other words, it should be big enough to take one of my dreams with me through the Multiverse. At least, I hope so. The sizes are always a bit debatable.

At least if my skills grow like before with their level-ups, it should double again, which would be 100% big enough. And I am confident that it will do so again.

As far as I can tell, my skills seem to grow and develop in the direction I want them to, so I can do the things I want. They don’t give me whatever I want instantly, but they seem to be aware of my goals.

I believe the ROB responsible for granting my prize from that lottery designed them with my desires in mind. Which I find strangely competent. Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected that from a ROB. Usually, power corrupts, and I was expecting some lazy, half-assed job.

Which still doesn’t change the fact that I fail to properly grasp intention-based magic!

I don’t exactly need it. I can’t use it outside of this world either way, and I don’t think it will integrate with either of my two skills. But it would be useful to have for upgrading my body.

You know, I am currently working on a super complicated spell in the Ancient Language, explaining in minor detail how I want to improve my body beyond its current “human” limits, while hoping that I won’t forget anything or make some mistake.

Wouldn’t it be much easier if I could just use a spell based on my intent? Like the dragons did to Eragon?

That is at least the idea. Yet I am having a hard time with the first step.

“Matt?”

“Hm?” Not having expected to be interrupted by a voice that isn’t Tenga’s, I turn around, only to spot Eragon in a set of traveling clothes, with a big pack on his back.

Right, that would also happen this time around.

“Eragon, how are you? How do you feel after avenging your uncle and saving your cousin’s wife? In my opinion, good riddance to those Ra’zac. Anything whose dietary needs consist of humans or another intelligent race should be exterminated,” I greet him warmly.

He should be on his way back from killing those Ra’zac now.

“How do you even know— Right, your mysterious foreknowledge that you never bother to explain.” Eragon sighs as he shakes his head.

“If I did, it wouldn’t be as much fun to pretend to be mysterious!” is my easy reply. Honestly, I am running out of certain predictions. My existence should be affecting the timeline by now.

This is an event I can still predict with confidence because Eragon’s cousin’s wife was kidnapped months ago. And since Eragon feels responsible for this, since the Ra’zac were after him, he would of course help his cousin Roran save Katrina.

“Only you are having fun.” Eragon shakes his head helplessly. “What are you doing out here? What even is this place?”

“An old Elven outpost. And I am learning magic from my new teacher!”

The young Dragon Rider looks at me with confusion. “New teacher? Is there someone who can teach you anything the Elves don’t know?”

“Of course. There are many things the Elves don’t know.”

“Like what?” Eragon challenges.

“This!” In a move of dumb overconfidence, or maybe genius inspiration, I point my hand at a stone a few meters away from me, like I have done several times in the last few hours, and it suddenly shoots into the air.

Of course it would work when I wasn’t even seriously trying. Every time I did it before while having an empty head, nothing happened. Maybe that was the point. Not trying, but just doing it?

“Are you insane!?” Eragon blurts out as he stares at me with worried shock. “Have you forgotten how often Oromis warned us about everything that can go wrong while using magic in silence? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

“Like I said, there are many things the Elves don’t know. I didn’t even use the Ancient Language in my head. This was pure intent-based magic. Admittedly, it is the first time it worked this way.” I give him a sheepish look.

“You are mad…”

Suddenly, I feel a sharp burst of pain on my head as something hits me.

“What are you lazing around for, apprentice? Get back to practice! One coincidental success is far from having truly learned it.”

Tenga has somehow appeared beside us. Eragon instinctively enters a combat stance.

“Yes, Teacher…” I grumble. “It would be considerably easier if you stopped giving me brain damage by hitting me with your stick every time I annoy you.”

“Then how are you supposed to learn? Pain is a good teacher! Or simply stop annoying me.” Tenga laughs before his eyes land on Eragon. “And you? Who are you?”

“I am Eragon, son of Garrow.” He shot out instinctively.

Tenga grunts in reply. “Tenga, son of Ingvar. No freeloaders here. If you help me finish my work in the garden, there is a free meal waiting for you.”

Eragon just looks confused at the ancient man, but he nods and follows him.

Hah, that sucker got roped into being free labor.

———

It takes a few hours until Eragon heads toward me, literally sneaking out of the tower.

“Wasn’t the food to your liking? Or what got you into such a hurry?” I chuckle as I watch him. I have moved on to working on my enchanted items, since there is no point in sitting in front of a stone all day while trying to force the magic out.

It is not something that can be forced, only felt.

“That man is mad. Ignoring his careless use of magic, have you listened to his ramblings?” Eragon shakes his head as he stops beside me.

“Oh, absolutely. You don’t get to his age without going a bit mad. But trying to find answers to his questions isn’t really madness. You know his apprentice, Angela, right? Wasn’t she trying to prove that toads and frogs are one and the same when you first met?”

“Yeah, turns out not all frogs are toads, but all toads are frogs,” Eragon replies instinctively.

I give him a look. “And that doesn’t sound mad to you?”

“Fine, so he is Angela’s teacher. I should have guessed. How old is he even supposed to be? The elderly don’t usually turn mad.”

“Well, most of them don’t reach the limit of their lifespan these days,” I counter. It is medieval times with a tyrant ruling, so elder care is not much of a thing around here. Most people don't get old enough to develop dementia or anything similar, “But yeah, he is unusual. He is older than Oromis.”

“What? How?”

“No idea. I didn’t ask. He still seems to age quite a lot. Not a method of immortality I would be interested in,” I reply honestly. While I considered asking about his immortality, I decided against it. There are better methods. If I were after immortality in this world, I would just become a Dragon Rider. “How old is Angela? Ask her.”

“Fine, just accept the immortal mad hermit and don’t question him. Sounds totally safe to learn from him,” he replies dryly. “So what are you working on? A box?”

“He is a good teacher, that’s all I care about. As long as I don’t get killed.” I laugh. “I am trying my hand at enchanting. This box is meant for crops.”

“Crops?” he repeats in confusion.

“Yes, just fill it with seeds, and the enchantments will take energy to enhance those seeds, making them resilient, filled with vitality, and able to produce as much as possible.” I explain the simple application, based on the same principles the Elves use to sing their food into growing. Only here, the magic will be infused into the seeds, and they can be planted afterward.

It may not be as fast, but it is a lot faster and more productive than normal crops.

“Why would you need a box that enchants crops to grow faster and better?”

Valid question.

“For one, I am practicing. Secondly, I wanted to see if I could do it. And thirdly, wouldn’t that be a good product to sell? Farmers would throw themselves at such an enchanted item.”

“Maybe, but they would still need to be able to produce that amount of energy. A normal human can maybe enchant a few seeds, but an entire field’s worth? Enhancing them to a point where these seeds bypass what takes a few seasons to grow?” Eragon points out.

“Oh, this box will just take what it can without killing. Multiple people can contribute their energy one by one too. It is still really useful.”

And I don’t actually mean to sell it. It is one of the items meant for my own use.

I have plans for it. That is why I am creating them in the first place.

Just think about what I could have done with such seeds in the wasteland of the Fallout universe. Non-genetically enhanced, perfect food crops growing at a supernatural speed thanks to Magic. Perfect for any world with food shortages.

With my Philosopher’s Stone, providing the energy is no problem. And even without it, I am not reliant on my own energy. Anyone can provide it, one by one, and charge up the box.

Admittedly, it is just one of my creations. I am working on a ton of enchanted items, ranging from simple functions like a protective shield or some healing to far more complex applications for cases I may encounter in the future, but that the people of this world can’t even imagine.

They have no idea how overpowered the Magic of their universe truly is. It is pretty much a programming language that can rewrite reality as long as you have enough energy to provide. And it can be bound to an object.

I am just hoping that I can come up with enough ideas for enchanted items I could need in the future. Thinking of everything beforehand is hard. Honestly, I get new ideas every day.

“You do you. I already accepted that I won’t understand you.” Eragon shakes his head. “How is your so-called master plan against Galbatorix progressing? The war is seriously starting now, and I have no idea how I am supposed to even defeat Murtagh.”

“It’s coming along.”

“And?”

“I will have to wait for the right moment,” I continue, not giving him any details.

“Do you even have a plan?”

“I do. The next step is for you to complete your lessons with Oromis and Glaedr. There, you will learn the secret of Galbatorix’s strength. Oh, yeah. And you will find some brightsteel below the Menoa Tree to forge your own Rider blade.”

“We already figured as much. But the problem is still that Rhunön-elda has sworn to never forge another blade…”

“…with her own hands. Just let her use yours.”

“That… makes sense. But I won’t be able to beat Galbatorix with just a blade.”

“Well, Solembum already gave you your pointer. You and Saphira will need to figure out your true names and then head for Vroengard. You will find the Rock of Kuthian there. Another name is Moraeta’s Spire. You will find a surprise there. It will give you hope and a power-up.”

“Fine, then keep your secrets. I just hope you are right.” Eragon grumbles in annoyance.

“I am. Don’t worry too much. You will manage. Anyway, you should head out. It was not your brightest idea to travel through the Empire alone, no matter the reason. Arya is already looking for you. We wouldn’t want something to happen to her.”

“She is?”

I give him a deadpan look. “Of course she is. What did you expect would happen? You are probably worrying the shit out of everyone. Their greatest hope all alone in the middle of the Empire?”

“Uh, I better head out.” He nods.

“Safe travels!”

[ End of the Chapter ]