Jakob felt the energy flow from his chest he pushed it towards his fingertips and with his hand made the motion. As his incantation finished, he felt the energy leave his fingers and travel toward the orc. The all-familiar symbols encircled the monster's body. Jakob had successfully sealed off the orc's skill that threatened the rest of his party.
"Thanks Jakob, we got it from here," Silas called out. He readied his sword and started to run towards the orc. As he neared, he sidestepped an attack from the orc, the orc's speed slowed, and his dexterity hindered. The black symbols flashed any movement the orc made.
"Leave some exp for me too," Aiden shouted. He leapt behind the orc and plunged his lance into the orc's exposed back. The orc writhed and growled. As the orc tried to turn and attack Aiden, Jakob forced the symbols to activate, and the orc growled once more, the symbols restricting it, as it collapsed on its face. Aiden and Silas took the opening and landed some fully charged blows. Aiden landed the final blow activating his torrent strike skill. Water flowed around his lance and formed an icy point before it easily rended the orc's flesh.
The party gathered as much loot as they could, Silas claimed the orc's large club which Silas wanted to sell for some gold. Aiden claimed the orc's waistcloth and wore it himself, it granted some good defense and seemed to be blessed somehow. Finally, Jakob removed the orc's incisors, its pronounced teeth would help him control the bond skill he had used. Jakob placed them on his rod, the monster parts always helped control the magic the party needed to take down big monsters.
Having taken all, they could from the orc, Jakob and his party decided to find an inn for the night. Jakob was out of mana; the orc's large body needed more symbols than Jakob would have liked to spare. The sun was setting and without a strong spell the party could easily find themselves overwhelmed with monsters.
"This club is huge!" Silas exclaimed. The group had to walk to not leave him behind. Silas needed to drag the thick club in order to move it. "This will be worth way more than just an inn."
"Hey, if you spend it all on mead then we won't have enough for the next day." Aiden ridiculed. Silas had spent most of their money doing some not very heroic things in bars before. It had often cost them. Be it paying for failed bets or trying to smooth things over with the men in the bar. Jakob and Aiden agreed that they would take some of the profit of the club, so Silas did not lose it all in a bar. Silas did not agree but He never had to deal with himself when he had gotten drunk Jakob thought to himself.
As they neared town Jakob played with a symbol on his hand. The practice of magic, especially sealing magic was always handy, be it ensuring a deal was held fast to or to force something on somebody else, regardless of it was a good addition to the party. Jakob was glad he still had some symbols left to use; it gave him something to do with his hands.
The party found an inn and booked a room for the night. Jakob and Aiden decided to retire for the night, and without surprising his friends Silas took some money to spend at a bar next-door.
As the two sat in the three bedroom, Aiden noticed a rather concerning crack in his lance. Aiden promised to come back soon and left Jakob alone to himself. Jakob never talked much, he found he would rather do his work in actions and not promises. It never seemed to bother his friends which Jakob enjoyed.
With not much to say he found he could meditate rather easily. Meditation was practically useful as it allowed Jakob to recover more mana through his sleep. Jakob assumed the position on his bed and slowly let his thoughts fade.
How long it had been, Jakob did not know, but soon a loud banging and shouting was heard outside the door. Jakob stood to open it when the door was forced open. In the doorway stood a man with his leg still in the air. He stepped into the doorway and following him was another man who was dragging Silas.
"Fuck, what did Silas do this time," Jakob thought to himself. He swept his foot under the staff that stood propped up against the wall. Jakob reached out and caught his rod. Jakob spun the rod facing the intruders. "What do you want?" Jakob asked.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, we don't need any of that. We've just come to take what's due." The man said. "My name's Jack and we just wanted to collect what we've won. Your friend over there lost bad. So, you're Ginna give us your belongings and then your body."
Jakob had heard enough. He could feel he only had a little bit of symbol age left. Whatever the limit Jakob just needed to take these bastards out. He decided elemental magic was the way to go, a binding spell would need more symbols than he had ready. He readied the ice spell forcing he symbols into the rod. The crystal at the tip shone and he started the incantation. The icicle shot spell was not lethal but if successful it could cause some decent damage.
As the sharpened ice sped towards its target, the unnamed man dropped Silas and jumped forward but in vain. The icicles struck the intruder, they did not pierce deep, but Jack doubled over. The other man put his fingers together and Jakob recognized the tension. This was a high-level attack. Jakob realized there was no way he was going to be able to dodge the huge wall of fire that shot towards him. Jakob used the last of his symbols and more, but he produced a stream of symbols which disarmed the assault.
"Shit, I am out of symbols entirely." Jakob panicked to himself. His opponent was capable of more attacks than that. Jack pulled each icicle out of his chest, each one landing on the ground with a tinker.
"You bastard! I'll make you pay." Jack yelled. He lunged at Jakob pushing his arms against the wall. Jakob's staff landed with a clatter. Jack's breath stunk with mead. Jakob started to panic. Suddenly Jack fell back releasing his grip on Jakob. Jakob looked to see Aiden with his lance.
Jack stood unsheathing his axe, Aiden's weapon already leaving him at a disadvantage. His trident could easily be beaten from his hands. That did not stop Aiden's effort. As Aiden swept Jack down, he prepared another tempest lance. As he readied himself his body suddenly recoiled. He doubled over straining to get up.