Spell Thief: A Deck Building Progression Fantasy

SPELL THIEF ©2023 J PAL This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of the authors. Aethon Books supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. 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CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Thank you for reading Spell Thief Groups LitRPG CHAPTER ONE Anyone who says investing in a good pair of boots will save you money in the long term has clearly never been poor. Udit ‘Diya’ Sen had heard parables that said otherwise more times than he cared to count. It was mostly his father who parroted them whenever he returned home, with holes in his boots or cape. Unfortunately for him, delving into Gaia’s Ark had proven a more expensive affair than he expected. Supplies, weapons, and tool maintenance took up the bulk of his meagre earnings. In his two years of exploring the tower’s ground floor, Diya had purchased three pairs of boots. Given the damp seeping into his current set, he guessed it wouldn’t be long before he used his scant savings on a fourth. As he felt more of his left shoe’s sole come away, he wondered whether the endeavour was worth it. He wasn’t sure whether he’d seen anything. However, if the climb proved fruitful, it could win him power and access to the tower’s next five floors. Gaia rewarded individuals who unlocked her secrets. Barely a couple of minutes had passed since he climbed above Cragstone Valley’s canopy and a chill already threatened to creep into his bones. Diya didn’t just need to invest in a good set of boots, but also a decent cloak or coat. He was no stranger to climbing and could deal with the cold. However, wet clothing made everything heavier and traversal much more tiring. Diya paused when a strong gale buffeted him. The wind caught his cloak, swinging him and the rope around wildly. The wet hood stuck to his face, however, and folded inwards, reducing his range of vision. Baba and Lord Boleyn had both offered to outfit Diya, but he had rejected their offers. They came with hidden costs. Utpal Sen, his father—the man he called Baba—had made a name for himself in New Calcutta as a sword master and one of the best tutors in the city. While a dependant in his care, Diya had spent years serving as a training dummy and sparring partner for Baba’s many students. Accepting the offer would result in a debt and a return to the dreaded position. Meanwhile, accepting Lord Boleyn’s offer would cause a major change to the current dynamic. Baba served as the Boleyn household’s arms master. As a result, they lived in the lesser noble house’s compound. Even though Diya explored the tower’s ground floor with Lord Boleyn’s three children, he wasn’t technically an employee. The current dynamic let him treat Alexander and Victoria Boleyn as friends. He explored Gaia’s Ark with them on his terms, not theirs. The damp and cold left Diya questioning his resolve. Since he didn’t need to follow orders, he had the freedom to leave his post, explore, and, as a result, expose himself to the rain. His only responsibility was to the party and their current objective—setting traps for Akarai, the giant man-eating wolf. When Alexander and company returned to the valley, with the monster—hopefully—on their tail, they’d alert him. Till then, he could do whatever his heart desired. It took a quarter of an hour to complete the climb. Diya’s lips split into an ear-to-ear grin once he stepped into the opening on the cliff face. His eyes hadn’t deceived him. “I knew it,” he whispered to himself, running a hand over the conical stone marker. Pictograms reminiscent of Egyptian hieroglyphs and almost-Norse runes covered it. A previous visitor had tied a rag just below its peak. It was probably once red, but time and the elements had turned it a dull, faded pink. There was no telling how much time had passed since a previous visitor left