Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension, #1)

by Andrew Rowe

“You will read — nay, study —” she actually said nay? I aspired to that level of pretension,

I briefly entertained the idea that I was holding some sort of legendary sword that could only be wielded by a chosen hero. “That sword is marked with a terrible curse.” Yeah, that sounds more like my luck. Of course it is.

Mages, unsurprisingly, loved researching new and exciting ways to explode things just as much as anyone else.

It meant I could focus on more important priorities, like not dying. That was one of my favorite hobbies.

Meltlake doesn’t really teach air spells.” He looked sheepish. “Or lightning spells. You know how a lot of people don’t live up to their name? Yeah,” his voice cracked as he drew out the word, “she’s not one of those people. On the plus side, I know lots of ways to light things on fire.”

Headaches from using my attunement? I could deal with them. Existential terror at the possibility of destroying my own mind? Pretty much routine at this point. Doing paperwork for the government? Now that was brutal.

Ah, the most traditional of all boasts. Not exactly creative, but it was a classic. Much like stories of heroes being killed by the Tyrant.

Promises are so much easier to make than they are to keep.

“I’d gathered that from the fact that you look like you just found a group of assassins in your breakfast.” I nodded sagely. “Delicious, but suspicious.”

Oh, the sharpness of my wit. Truly it cuts me more deeply than any other.

I value my home over yours. And, if need be, I’m willing to sacrifice your home in order to save mine. Maybe that makes me just as much of a monster as the people I’m fighting. Maybe it’s just human nature.”