[ENTER THE PALACE]

[warpweft]

[You find yourself with a sensation like floating in water.]

[Above, the sky is dark. You can occasionally see things shifting, like gusts of wind, or perhaps waves of water. Is it…even a sky above you? Or is it some kind of giant ocean? Whatever it is, you can’t make it out very well. All around you, you appear to be floating in what appears to be water. It looks like a great, wide ocean of…space in every direction around you, with stars and lights twinkling in the distance. It looks like water and feels like water, but it doesn’t make you wet. You can reach your hand into it and pull some out, the purple and violet water and the tiny points of light inside it will even rest in your hands if you cup them to carry it, but once you’re not trying to hold it anymore, it’ll flow off of you, not a single drop remaining behind. You feel something similar if you go underneath the surface. The “water” doesn’t touch your eyes, mouth or nose when give the chance, it merely drifts around you, allowing you to breathe and see unabated. And you can see for a great distance, the twinkling stars illuminating the ocean of space all around you. Though perhaps less dark and empty, it feels every bit as vast as the sky above. You feel like you could swim forever and never reach the edge.]

[It’s quiet, here, with little noise around you but the starry ocean’s waves crashing back into its surface. It’s peaceful. In another situation, it might even be comfortable.]

Comments

[cosplayed_out]

There's nothing confusing about the magic of cosplay!

[voidhearts]

As far as I have gathered, you're disguising yourself, not to get the drop on unsuspecting prey, but simply for the sake of pretending to be something else.

It's fine. I'm not asking any questions. I don't need to understand it. If it will help you, then that's enough for me.

[cosplayed_out]

No, a perfect reproduction. Perfect reproductions are exactly the same as the original. With my full power, I can cosplay the entire world!

--Not unlike this! Really.

But, that's fine. What else should I know?

[voidhearts]

Congratulations.

[She still looks like she doesn't understand and doesn't want to.]

Your next lesson is about increasing the damage of your spells under certain circumstances.

[Lesson 03: Critical Damage]

[Zarya twirls her wrist. A knife appears in her hand. She uses it to strike the Esmau dummy. It bobs back and forth, but, no more than when Tsumugi was popping it with the Pulse Bolt.]

Under most conditions, an attack like this will inflict no more damage than any other basic spell.

[She throws something at the ground. A puff of smoke bursts around her and she vanishes from sight. Suddenly, the Esmau dummy is stricken from behind and dramatically pitches forward. Zarya appears again, having been standing behind the dummy when she attacked it this time.]

But while invisible, I can strike my opponent's weak point, inflicting significantly more damage.

[When certain conditions are met, spells can inflict Critical Damage. Each element has its own way of inflicting critical damage, for example, Void spells have Invisibility.]

These conditions can be difficult to meet, but if you prepare your spells properly, that difficulty will be worth it. Different spells have different ways of achieving these conditions. My capability to become invisible and strike an unsuspecting opponent's weak point is a simple one. If you know anybody that can become invisible, they would be as good of a place as any to start.

If you acquire spells of any kind that can inflict critical damage, bring them to me. I'll show you how to use them.

[cosplayed_out]

...Oh! That's really neat. I plain wasn't expecting that.

[voidhearts]

Yes. It is "neat".

As you are, it will be difficult to find ways to inflict critical damage. But after your empower your Spark, it will become more attainable.

Shall we move on to the next?

[cosplayed_out]

I'm still wondering what this 'spark' is... is that next?

[voidhearts]

The Spark is the magical energy existing within all witches that allows them to cast magic. Nessa, for example, was born with a Void spark. Right now, due to your injury, yours is neutral. When you infuse it with the power to take on an element of its own, you'll gain access to a great deal more power. I'll be able to teach you more about the things it can do, once you empower it.

Next is defense.

[cosplayed_out]

...I have to worry about defense?

[voidhearts]

You must worry about defense as much as anything else I teach you. Esmau is an incredibly deadly opponent that will make every attempt to strike you down that she is able to.

[Zarya punctuates that sentence by producing a staff, jabbing it at Tsumugi's stomach, then sweeping it at her legs, attempting to knock her off her feet.]

[cosplayed_out]

[Tsumugi has the reflexes of a stick and crashes to the floor with a 'Kyaa!']

[voidhearts]

[Tsumugi: 90/100 HP]

[Zarya holds a hand out to help Tsumugi up.]

Being attacked unguarded like that by Esmau will be devastating. I, on the other hand, was holding back. Now, be on your guard and get ready for another.

[Zarya takes a couple steps back.]

When I attack, brace yourself as best you can. Stand and do your best to take it.

[She lunges forward again and swings the staff at Tsumugi. When an opponent attacks, you can choose to Guard.]

[cosplayed_out]

...All right. I'll try it!

[Tsumugi guards!]

[voidhearts]

[The staff bonks against Tsumugi's arms as she Guards herself.]

[Tsumugi: 85/100 HP]

Guarding won't prevent you from being damaged, but it will mitigate the worst of it. If you have no better options, it can be best to just cut your losses and brace yourself for the incoming damage to prevent it from being much worse. There are also spells to make Guarding more effective, to the point where taking damage via Guarding becomes manageable over the course of a long fight.

Now. Try to take no damage at all. DODGE!

[That's the only warning she gets before Zarya thrusts the staff at her. When an enemy attacks, they roll to hit you successfully. By Dodging, you apply a penalty to this roll, making their attack less likely to hit you.]

[cosplayed_out]

Substitution jutsu!

[She... ducks!]

[voidhearts]

[Roll to hit: 14]
[Roll 1d20-4: 17-4=13, miss]

[Zarya's staff whooshes over the top of Tsumugi's head as she ducks.]

Good. You're getting it.

Bear in mind, if you try to dodge and fail, you'll take full damage, obviously more than if you had chosen to Guard. It can be risky, but if it works, you'll take no damage at all.

Now.

[Zarya plants her staff on the ground.]

Come here and try to attack me.

[cosplayed_out]

[It's inevitable, but no less surprising.]

Then I'll start with...

[Pulse bolt!]

[voidhearts]

[Zarya knocks away Tsumugi's hand with her own as she tries to cast the spell. She then bonks her on the forehead with her staff. Lightly, at least.]

[Tsumugi: 84/100 HP]

You can also attempt to parry an attack. Parrying fully neutralizes an incoming attack and responds with a counterattack. It's a great way to turn the tide of a battle in your favor.

Now, try to parry me.

[Zarya rears her staff back and swings again. You can attempt to Parry by rolling against your enemy's attack roll.]

[cosplayed_out]

...Okay!

[She'll square up and try it.]

[voidhearts]

[Zarya swings at Tsumugi and...!

Zarya: 15
Tsumugi 20!

Zarya's staff is deflected away from Tsumugi, opening her up to be blasted several times in the stomach with the Pulse Bolt. She stumbles backwards, one hand over her stomach. She props herself up on her staff, a little more winded by that than she expected to be.]

Huff....I think you've got it. Well done.

[Apparently someone agrees because a little spotlight shines on Tsumugi and an applause sound effect surrounds her for a couple seconds as purple coins rain down.

You preformed a feat that resonated through Nessa's heart! Congratulations! You earned 100 NessaPoints!]

[cosplayed_out]

Oh... thank you!

[100! She's already contemplating if she should spend them like quartz or hoard them like megalixirs.]

I'll try to remember! But... what if I don't, theoretically? Do I die forever, or do I respawn at the inn with half of my points?

[voidhearts]

If you take too much damage to continue inside the palace, I believe you will wake up somewhere inside the palace.

Don't be too cavalier. The damage you take inside the palace may wear on you once you leave.

[cosplayed_out]

Ohhh... Freddy Krueger style. Got it.

I understand, I'm not waking up with this still in me!

[voidhearts]

In the meantime, if you wish to rest and recover, I believe there is a place to do so in the West Wing.

There are one or two more things you should consider for your defense. Certain spells can aid your defense, depending on what kind of spell it is. Some spells require you to get close to use them, while others allow you to attack from a distance. Close-range spells can help with Guarding or Parrying, but ranged spells may make Dodging easier because of the distance involved. Bear in mind, Esmau is a vicious opponent and is extremely dangerous in close range herself. You will need to be on guard at all times if you get close to her.

[If the last spell you cast on your turn has a defense bonus, it will be applied to you until the start of your next turn. Spells will be either Melee or Ranged and will have a different bonus depending on which kind. Be careful, if you end your turn with a melee spell, you may leave yourself open to a Reaction Attack.]

It will be some time before we even figure out a way to practically apply any of this. As of right now, Esmau is still invincible, so the best way to deal with her if you see her in the halls of the palace will likely just be to run. But be careful - she's not above attacking your back if you give it to her. If you can, try to stun her first. If you can't, do what you must to get away, including taking damage if need be.

[cosplayed_out]

This is... this is a lot to take in... but I think I understand. I have to beat the four generals before I can face off against the main villain.