Freelance Heroics Read Free

his wine and Glacier chuckled like a volcano about to erupt.
    “That was great!” said Scraggly between laughs. “I don’t know why yer bothering talking ta those guilds. This kind of thing is way more your style!”
    “Thanks, but it’s not really a problem we can violence our way past,” said Gavi.
    “That’s not entirely true,” said Mazik. He sighed as Raedren’s magick numbed the pain in his skull.
    “What do you mean?” asked Gavi, frowning.
    “There is one plan I’ve been working on, sort of as a last resort. I wasn’t going to mention it yet, but since I can’t seem to think that well anymore”—Mazik shot Gavi a glare—“I guess we might as well give it a shot.”
    A familiar feeling crawled up Gavi’s spine. It was dread. “Would it help if I said you could have a beer?”
    “Nope, but I’ll take it,” said Mazik as a beer slid in front of him. “I say we go with the crazy plan. I think you’re gonna like it.”
    “Somehow, I doubt that,” said Gavi. Raedren nodded.
    *      *      *
    Mazik, Gavi, and Raedren were in a bar. They were relaxing after a long week, and had been there for some time. A third beer had turned into a fifth as they discussed how they became casters, and the sixth beer had just arrived.
    “What did you major in again?” asked Gavi.
    “Me?” said Mazik.
    “No, Rae. I know what you majored in, you maniac.”
    “I resemble that remark!” Mazik grinned.
    “I majored in protection,” said Raedren.
    “Really? I always thought you did enhancement, because of the regeneration clinic job.”
    “I thought about it, but decided against it. I think it was near the end of our first year. . . .”
     
     
    Mazik flopped onto his cheap dorm room bed. “So, what are you going to major in?”
    Raedren set aside his textbook. “Not sure. I’m still trying to decide between enhancement and protection.”
    “Really? Enhancement surprises me.” Mazik sat up. “I know you’re good at it, but I don’t see you getting much use out of it. Now, if it was possible to enhance mental traits, I could see that. I know you’ve always wished for a real brain.”
    “That was terrible,” said Raedren.
    “I know. I wasn’t really trying. What’s your conundrum?”
    “I’m probably better at protection magick, especially hard barriers 5 , and I can get a job using those. Mostly it would be defense work, though, and I’m not sure that’s what I want to do.”
    “You could specialize in binds 6 ,” said Mazik.
    “That would lead to what, city guard work? I’m not sure about that either,” said Raedren. “I think I want something a little more quiet.”
    “How is enhancement going to help with that? It’s the most common major. Even if you’re better than everyone else, you’ll have lots of competition.”
    “But I could minor in rejuvenation or healing,” said Raedren. “Rejuvenation would be cool, but there aren’t many good jobs for helping people boost energy back temporarily.”
    “I like it for last-minute studying,” said Mazik, grinning.
    “Healing would be good, though. There are a lot of good jobs at hospitals and regeneration clinics, and I think helping people regrow limbs and stuff like that would be really rewarding.”
    “It probably doesn’t matter what you major in, to be honest,” said Mazik. “You’re pretty powerful. You could do either one and probably get the job you want, or get a general casting job, or something else entirely. Or you could double major.”
    “Maybe,” said Raedren. “How about you?”
    “Evocation!” said Mazik.
    “Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
    “I want to make things explode!”
    “What are you going to do with an evocation major?”
    “Er—I’m not sure, actually,” admitted Mazik.
    “What about alteration? You could get some good jobs using that,” said Raedren.
    “Hmmm, I suppose.” Mazik leaned back in his chair. “Moving things without having to stand up or touch them is cool,