spirit.
You have 18 stat points to allocate.
Not bad. The archmage's level was much higher than mine, which meant I was getting only a fraction of experience when grouped with him. Still, that fraction was enough for six levels.
Archmage Altus has removed you from his group. You have lost the two-hour buff, Archmage Altus' Blessing.
That's right, it's up to me now, I thought on the way to the corpse. The pain had abated, but the smell of ash and ozone had likewise succumbed before the stench of the giant carcass so unbearably foul that I couldn't help but hold my breath as I walked. The fumes blended with the smell of scorched, dead flesh. At least it doesn't cause any damage, I grimaced to myself.
I stopped ten yards from the brown boulder and sighed, examining the pile of human bones—turned yellow with time and partially covered with soil. The skull wore an enigmatic smile, eyes turned skyward.
"A wretched sight," said the archmage, gazing at his remains from behind me. "No need to drag this out. Go on, get the signet ring."
I leaned over and touched the bones.
Champion of the Order of the Red Flame's Signet Ring.
Quest item. Cannot be stolen or traded. Does not disappear from inventory with the owner's death.
I was holding a massive ring made of some strange metal, orange tongues of flame intertwining on it in a peculiar pattern, eerily lifelike. The ring was radiating heat. Clutching it in my hand, I turned to the archmage.
"So it ends," he spoke solemnly.
You've completed the quest, Duty Calls II.
You have gained a level! Current level: 18.
You have 9 talent points to allocate.
You've earned the title, "Archmage Altus' Apprentice," which grants a one-time bonus: +5% to all magical actions.
You received a one-time bonus: +20% to maximum resistance to mental magic.
You have 9 talent points to allocate.
Racial bonus: +1% to resistance to dark magic, +1% resistance to light magic.
Class bonus: +1 to intellect; +1 to spirit.
You have 21 stat points to allocate.
You have gained a level!
…
You have gained a level! Current level: 67.
You have 58 talent points to allocate.
Racial bonus: +1% to resistance to dark magic, +1% resistance to light magic.
Class bonus: +1 to intellect; +1 to spirit.
You have 168 stat points to allocate.
I stood there with bated breath, jaw dropped to the floor, watching the lines of text scroll before my eyes. In truth, I'd estimated as much—a quest designed for a raid of level 170+ characters, killing a boss that not a single guild was capable of taking on, and reaping all the benefits. Fifty levels of experience despite the fairness coefficient. If not for it, the quest would have probably catapulted me to around level 200.
"Students have waited decades to earn the right to be called my apprentices, so you'd better appreciate my trust," declared the archmage. "But this will help you find a common language with my team. You should know that Raena is a cast first, ask questions later type of gal."
"This is a great honor," I said, trying to preserve the solemnity of the moment.
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "By the way, I noticed that your mental magic resistance is kind of low, and you're going to need every bit of it, trust me. So, I've adjusted it a little for you."
You've accessed the quest: Duty Calls III.
Quest type: hidden.
Find the door to the vault, sealed with the Seal of Bel , and open it to release Archmage Altus' free squad and the knights of the Order of the Red Flame.
Reward: the sword of the slain Champion of the Order of the Red Flame, a truesilver case with an unknown artifact.
"Tell Saverus to take command of the troops. He knows where the documents are hidden. Return the signet ring to Kan Shyom. Then again, don't—neither he nor any of the Foxes should wear it just yet." The archmage pondered the matter for a moment. "Play it by ear. Take Lars' sword and the case from Kan Shyom.
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