Arnie, the Druid

Chapter 1 - Unexpected Paths

The bowl was too large and heavy for Arnie to carry with a single hand. Berry must have done it on purpose. Arnie looked at his right arm, skeletal from elbow to fingertip. Literally skeletal. He had lost all the flesh on that arm while studying necromancy as a child.

Yes, necromancy as a child.

Arnie's curiosity always got the better of his caution. The accident was awful; he dreaded even remembering it. The years after were terrible enough. The present was terrible enough.

After realizing the arcane arts were unlikely to heal his arm back—either that, or his masters were unwilling geezers who would punish him forever—he decided to study other forms of magic.

His first thought was religion. He read a few tomes. They definitely held the power to fix this mess, although it wouldn't be a simple task. Arcane accidents had unique lingering effects. He was intelligent, though. He could manage whichever magical project he put his mind to.

"Religion requires faith. Faith is believing without knowing. Without ever knowing. Can you do that? Can you simply accept the power of gods that most likely aren't real? Religious scholars have posited that the source of magic is the individual's own soul, a belief so strong that it manifests itself into reality. You are too rational for this path of belief, Arnie."

Like that, with a brief argument, Master Vermillion ruined his chances of succeeding in religion completely. He could have performed the spells; they were proof enough of the existence of gods. Not now. Now doubt had been sown into his mind. Now he would never believe unwaveringly. Fuck.

He left the hall frustrated, not directing a single word to Master Vermillion. Later that night, he found a note and a book on his bed.

"I deeply wish that you remain in our tower. Yours is one of the greatest minds I have had the pleasure of instructing. Arcana will contain alternative solutions to your mishap. Magical arms, of energy and power, are not beyond the realm of possibility. However, should you leave us and seek to restore flesh, to restore nature, there are other paths you haven't fully addressed. May this book enlighten your pursuit. V."

Disentangling the Druidic Arts, by Master Orvail.

A treatise on druids and their connection to natural magic was exactly what Arnie had been searching for. He followed that path instantly.

That is how he found himself in his present situation, preparing to feed Elder Berry's newest beast.

Druid (Main)
Adventurer's Pets

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