Tower mage 3 a litrpg is.., p.1
Tower Mage 3: A LitRPG Isekai Fantasy, page 1
TOWER MAGE 3
A LITRPG ISEKAI FANTASY
THE NINE MAGICS
BOOK 3
DAVID BURKE
Copyright © 2023 by Royal Guard Publishing LLC
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
CONTENTS
The Story So Far
1. An Army?
2. A Decoy
3. Masium’s Finest
4. Goodbye Masium
5. Echoes of the Forbidden
6. Trumpets of War
7. Careful What you Wish For
8. Whip & Lash
9. Aftermath
10. Trade Deals
11. Fucking Snow
12. Tami
13. Creepy and Crawly
14. Creepy and Crawly Part 2
15. New Champion on the block
16. Burn, Baby Burn
17. Snowed in
18. Friends in Dark Places
19. Kubaha
20. Cleaning House
21. Any Port in a Storm
22. Help is on the Way!
23. A Fox Among the Fishes
24. Full House
25. Fracture
26. Wave Five
27. Deals in the Dark
28. The Orc's Hips
29. The Tables Turn
30. Mason party of Seven, Plus One
31. New Kids on the Block
32. Strange Bedfellows
33. The More, The Merrier
34. Meeting of the Mighty
35. You're a Grandma, Mr. Mason!
Afterword
To Learn More…
THE STORY SO FAR
To Mom:
So… Hey Mom. I miss you a lot and try to ask about you whenever I can. I figure you’ll want to hear about me so let me tell you what I’ve been through since the last letter. I’m still on Loral. The first letter said how I arrived, made some friends, found love, and built a home. I, uh, Mom, I’m stubborn. Like an ass sometimes. A certain benefactor told me that I was never supposed to win, and I refused to give up. The issue was, I didn’t listen correctly, which, yeah, it’s me.
Instead of dwelling on that, let me tell you what’s new.
Odessia became a prisoner and it hurt like hell to watch her vanish. Naturally, I wanted to scream to the gods in frustration, but a lot of people rely on me, look up to me, so I went right to work. I found out that a nearby station point was being held by the damn Shrezen. Those slimy mer-folk are the reason I’m here and it felt good to give them a good ole southern whoopin. Not everything went smoothly though. I lost Hubert during that fight, the man died to a very lethal ambitious… shit I can’t delete typos! Amphibious monster that I call a mer-orc.
We spared some centaur people and eventually became allies for a bit. Now that I look back on it, Axini is a survivor, and he should be a leader of his herd because his actions were spot on.
After I conquered that station, I gained a new friend: Orenx. He’s a mix between a wingless small dragon and a raptor from those dino flicks. He’s savage and wonderful all in one. Not long after I made friends with him, I left for Caspi.
Caspi is a majestic city with so much space behind the walls it took hours to fly over. Most of it was magical farmland, but boy oh boy did I enjoy the towering skylines filled with gothic type buildings. Of course, my visit was not about sightseeing.
I went into the sewers, which were mostly clean, and I sorta boiled the nearby sea until the depths of Caspi were purged of threats. I met three lovely ladies to add to my harem. Which, yeah Mom, I’m madly in love with multiple women, and we find a way to make it work. Sometimes it’s not perfect, but we are a very strong family.
Tami joined us as an officer and an astute warrior. She’s a human woman, which I call all the female species women, it sorta would be weird to not, but eh, it's me. Tami never fit in during her upbringing, so I stuffed her heart with loyalty. What! Sorry, Tami snorted at that line and yeah, my phrasing was less than ideal. The point remains, Tami found a home with our family, and she is over my shoulder tearing up at how close we’ve become.
Amelda joined us too and I spent a long time just enjoying her presence and small talk. She’s a dryad with the prettiest hair adorned with beautiful flowers that I think would amaze you. You’d adore her for her sweetness too. She was raised to distrust the sea, but as a team, we conquered her issue and showed how great she was on the water.
Noli and I are close. I probably talk to her more than any other woman I interact with. She’s a former shipping magnate who’s highly skilled in managerial skills. Uh, I hope I spelled that right. Noli has a son, Lathan, and not only is she a wonderful mother, talented organizer, but she’s strikingly beautiful.
I never try to rush love because I always want to ensure everyone is loved. Speaking of which, not long after we arrived back from Caspi, a few things happened. Leah, Hariet and Odessia are pregnant! The important news – You're going to be a grandmother!
Hariet has been a bedrock for me. She’s been at my side, and I always feel like it's more give than take. She doesn’t ask for much… I’m not writing that to my mother. Shit, I wrote that while talking. If you can’t tell, they’re really distracting me in all the right ways. Alright, fine. We have a very healthy relationship, and I’m the best man she’s ever met. I check on her, am sweet when needed, and make her happier than she ever expected. You did a good job, mom. They’re all nodding now and talking about how you must have been a strong woman. I agree!
Odessia escaped a prison deep within the enemy’s territory. She fled to our home in record time and when she returned, it was pure bliss. I never really missed someone so bad it hurt like that… Well, except with Dad. This was different though, and when she came back into my life, I felt complete.
Leah finally was able to step back from the insane amounts of work I sorta forced on her once Noli arrived. The wonderful woman busted her butt helping us to make ends meet that I instantly helped her transition into a saint. A literal saint Mom. She provides life while I deal in death as the protector of our people. I dote on the children in the orphanage when I can, but I mostly try to support everyone.
After returning from Caspi, I did exactly that. I built homes, moved goods, and worked where work was needed. Not long after, I got to sail the seas again, and I continue to recall the time fondly. We even captured an orc-controlled vessel full of slaves that we freed!
On a personal level, I’ve grown a lot in many ways. Loral lets me increase my raw attributes. I’m bulking up, lean as ever, and faster than… Well, I’m fast. Lethal too. Even sword masters struggle to best me. Well, they can’t, but yeah. I’m not trying to brag, I’m just not that same man I was when you saw me last.
I weigh decisions more heavily now. There’s a literal crown on my head and people call me a king. I figured I’d struggle with the burdens of leadership, but in reality, I’ve grown into them. I’m different, Mom. Not all of it is positive.
I have zero issue killing someone. I did spare an orc I didn’t have to, the greenskin kind, but I sold him to his own kind after he rowed my boats around for a bit as a chained prisoner. He lived at my whim though. Kinda scary to admit or think about.
Now the worst news. I fought like a god damned honey badger to defend my home and my family. I slew Shrezen in the thousands, but it wasn’t enough. The problem was, unless I became a god, there were too many of them.
Sadly, I write this letter on the road, running from my ruined home.
I do so with my family around me, my people are healthy, and our losses were minimal. I’m upset, Mom. I really am. I put a ton of work into that home. However, I saw this coming and made some plans for it. More importantly, we survived where many will not.
By the gods do I hope to write you a third letter. I fully intend to. I travel away from war to prepare for the coming fights. A far western kingdom has given everyone in our region refugee status. I can’t say more than that, and I hope this makes enough sense when paired with my first letter.
I love you, Mom. I hope you enjoy your farming shows and find happiness. If I can somehow manage sketches of your grandbabies, I’ll do that. I think that’d make you happy. If I never write to you again, know that you were the best mother a boy could hope for, and I promise to keep making you proud.
Love Rico.
Sincerely, the child who took your dragon dildo to show and tell in the 2nd grade thinking it was a dinosaur bone replica. My bad, but now you know it’s me writing this.
CHAPTER 1
AN ARMY?
JARGU
I folded my arms, staring eye to eye with Kamria as she delivered the intriguing news. A siege of Masium, one of the largest cities in the region, was a step I would have taken in the Arishi's oversized boots.
Intriguing might be the wrong word. It could either be worrisome or beneficial. There was still a great deal I had to figure out. Currently, we stood on the main road to Masium, right outside Jargu and not far from where I slew a company of orcs in the early spring.
The weather had shifted since then with summer waning into fall. The sun dipped towards the horizon, the cool wind brought an actual chill, and a flock of tiny ducks flew north for the changing season. Our sm
Turning almost five hundred residents and two hundred plus soldiers into a stealth unit was almost impossible to pull off. People cycled in and out of the stations with the mood a bit buoyant since some of the soldiers used their profits to free prisoners from King Draxton’s army. I let the new arrivals and weary travelers rest a bit longer than normal since I wanted a proper scouting report, which now that I’d received one, I was a bit suspicious.
A part of me didn’t want to believe her, another part of me knew she was honor bound by the gods to help me. I just couldn’t shake the fact I felt the outcome in Hexen would have been very different if she had transformed into her full size. A massive cyclops was a weapon beyond compare. I should know. My first encounter with her had been at full-size, and I’d been lucky to escape with my life. Before I could focus on the news, I had to ask about our last battle. It felt like it could have gone differently.
“During the Battle of Hexen, what did you do?” I finally asked.
The cyclops snorted with a slight hint of anger spreading in a tiny sneer. “I healed you, I helped lead the southern cliff battle, and I saved lives as towers fell. If you think I’m dying for your cause, I’m not. The gods didn’t lie. I can’t get large, and you restricted my ability to cast a whole lot of magic in a short amount of time.”
“I suppose limiting your access to magic was using too much precaution. It just feels like you could have turned the tide,” I said with a sigh. “Like the gods came to you and let you become a giant for just one fight. There are so many what-ifs running through my mind.”
Kamria picked at her teeth with a finger. While she paid attention, she clearly found no fault in her actions. Me scapegoating her for our loss was a bad idea in general.
The cyclops realized I wasn’t going to say more. “We both know there was no turning that tide. But yes, if I’d converted into a towering cyclops I may have smashed some catapults and stomped some troops. Two things. Their mages would have killed me quickly and stomping on things hurts, limiting how much damage I would have done. There’s an irony here. All the small species see us as these massive war machines but in reality, like I told you before, we’re not that great in giant form. Well except we make really great targets. So if your plan had been to have all eyes focused on me so you could sneak around as I died, that might have worked, once.”
“Why did they limit you? Why make you help to only make you half helpful. I get it, you’re angry, so am I. I needed a swarm of dragons or an army of cyclops to save the day, and I got nothing. It feels like a cosmic joke has been played on me, or maybe just a classic bait and switch,” I said with a grumbling sigh.
“Bait and switch?”
“Yeah, you know where you get offered one thing but then something else is what you get. I was told I’d have all this power and a tropical island. It sounded like paradise, but this has been a shitshow at some level from the very beginning.”
Her single eye blinked a few times as if to prove a point. “That’s how life works, Rico. Deep-down you know that. Now, if you’re finished, are you ready for my full report instead of shushing me after the big news?”
“General Yarvo is laying siege to Masium again. I heard you. He’s your old boss, and yes, you blocked a blow from him for me, your report just seems too good to be true. Ultimately what you’re saying is that their army is a fraud, and we have a chance of ending the siege here and now,” I said.
“It’s a ruse put on by a cunning ogre! The Nine aren’t the smartest, and who the hell is leading Masium with the nobles on the run?” Kamria said.
“Probably Poom, he should have arrived a few days ahead of us,” I said.
Kamria shrugged. “I’m telling you, there are forces sieging the gap of Masium. It’s only a few hundred troops pretending to be thousands in the trees. There’s another relic shield, and they hide their numbers under the forest canopy. They lob rocks at the wall repairs, keeping the crews back for now, which means the Shrezen will get an easy win.”
I glanced up and down the long line of the caravan, knowing my decisions involved them. The general mood amongst the people was positive, and yet, none of them knew what I intended to do. I did need to get inside Masium though. Not only that, I needed to get out unimpeded.
“Tami!” I bellowed, coming to a decision.
Near the front of the caravan, a small group of soldiers hurried towards where the Jargu gate once rested. Tami’s light leathers weren’t her heavy armor, telling me she wasn’t on shift at the moment. That was about to change though.
“Yes, your grace,” Tami said.
“Assemble the army. Cavalry only, I want to stay mobile. Group outside the system station with lances. Kamria says there's a ripe target, and I want to hit them hard and fast,” I commanded.
Tami glanced at Kamria, then me. “As you command, my king.”
I headed to the system station, somewhat scared to see the results of my recent fighting. I only managed three steps when Kamria asked, “And me?”
“Screening. I trust you Kamria; it doesn’t mean I’m not upset. Moreover, I’m upset with the gods, good gods, bad gods, all of them. Seeing you just reminds me of the raw deal I got so let me brood for a bit,” I said, continuing to walk away.
She shrugged. “It isn’t your most endearing trait.”
I turned and walked away as I replied, “Noted.”
Right as I neared the system door, Noli caught up to my side. If I had to guess, she’d been watching for me to go into the system. The dragonic woman took her job as administrator very seriously. I yanked the door open, gesturing for her to enter.
She flowed into the station with me right behind her. A deep vibration rumbled through the small room until we sank below the surface. Noli shifted into the seat with her back straight and wings tucked tight. Her purple eyes glanced up at me questioningly.
“Right to it then,” I said.
“Right to what, Rico?” Noli asked.
I bit a chunk of fingernail off and spat it onto the floor. “Notifications.”
Noli tapped at the screen with my icon in the corner. I folded my arms, bracing for the impact of the notifications.
You have slain 1407 Shrezen in the battle of Hexen. 195,403.332 Chi Coins awarded.
Hexen has been destroyed.
Hexen has been conquered.
Jargu is now the capital of the Hexen nation.
“Well, that was far less painful than I thought it’d be,” I said.
Noli sighed. “No bonuses, though.” I nodded in reply as she asked, “How shall I spend this?”
“You don’t, I’m going to free Masium from a siege here soon, then I will allocate some funds to help with the travel,” I said with a gruff tone.
I paced for a bit, letting the notifications sink in. “I needed to see what happened, now I need to clear my head and then strike back. They leveled our home, and for that, they’ll pay.”
“Shall I tell the others?” Noli asked.
“Please do. I’ll withhold information at times, but this is one that is best delivered while they’re safe and on the run.” I locked our eyes. “Noli.”
“Yes, my king.”
“We’re going to lose Jargu, and I’ll just be Rico, like you said earlier.”
“I like to humanize you. We’re peers are we not?”
“Most certainly,” I replied, kneeling down so I could face her. “I’d be lost without you. If something happens to me, I want you to support my family.”
