I think this is the halfway point of the first arc. Invasions and the problems of the city are not going to be resolved in one arc. There's more hints about the true nature of the Hero System and the Hero Summoning. I hope I got the numbers on the stats right for once >.>
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Garnet realized her one fatal weakness was her physical strength. In terms of physical strength, she was weaker than most people. She was not sure whether it was due to the poor living conditions of her old self or something else, but she was physically weaker than most soldiers. This was what she needed to overcome the most. She decided to stop using magic when she could and focus on what she could do with her short sword alone.
As she cut her way through the Wild Boars, she focused on moving faster. There were of course a few dangers when it came to speed, but her special skills more than made up for it.
Level Up: Speed (Level 5)
Level Up: Reflex (Level 3)
Level Up: Physical Resistance (Level 2)
Level Up: Mana Shield (Level 2)
Her goal was to be able to fight someone like Klarth in a straight up fight before Zedd could have her train with the other guards. But, that was a tall order. There was over 20 levels of stat differences between them and that was not something to overcome, especially if the other person was also an experienced warrior.
Stat Increase: Strength +1
Stat Increase: Dexterity +1
Stat Increase: Vitality +1
Stat Increase: Agility +1
Garnet had gotten some stat ups from her fighting, but people like Kirk and Klarth were experienced fighters. "Their stats would be far higher and they would have gotten a lot more from their fighting," Garnet thought to herself. She continued to push faster with the goal of becoming stronger. She occasionally got hit, but it did not hurt at all thanks to her Mana Shield. It was a frightening ability with her high mana regeneration.
Level Up: Enhanced Body (Level 2)
New Effect: Resistance to abnormal status effects, such as poison and paralysis
New Skill: Double Slash (Level 1)
A diagonal slash downward followed by an upward slash, hits twice
Effect: +50% Attack Damage per hit
As Garnet pushed her way deeper into the forest, she found something. It was a cave that led underground. It was not noticed before because the rest of the ground was flat. It was the only part that sloped downward.
New Quest: Explore the Cave
There is a strange cave in the forest outside of the East Gate. Investigate it and find out what is inside.
Reward: Experience
"Call: Skeletal Dogs!" She summoned her Skeletal Dogs to lead the way. She followed just behind them. Even though she was alone, it was a decent team. The only problem, it was too dark to see. She channeled mana into her fingers "Lightning Bolt!" A small spark of lighting floated at her fingers and lit whatever she pointed to.
New Skill: Light (Level 1)
Provides light in darkened areas, but only a small radius around you
Effect: Provides sight in dark areas within 5m
As Garnet made her way deeper into the cave, she saw something move. She removed her light and sent her Skeletal Dogs in. CLICK CLACK. It was the sound of something moving. There was something there. "Light!" Garnet pointed her light in the direction. It was a skeleton with a sword! It was a cave with undead monsters. She observed the skeleeton
Name: Skeleton
Level: 5
Class: Undead
Sub-Class: None
Stats: ???
It was also a stronger monster, meaning that she could get experience from it. With little knowledge, she did not want to get close, so she resorted to magic again. "Fire Bolt!" BOOM. The skeleton was blown to pieces in one hit. Garnet's magic power was frightening, but she still had to be careful.
She continued to make her way through the cave with her dogs leading the way. They could sense when there was an enemy near by and ran to it. This allowed Garnet to see which way they were coming from.
UWA. Something was moaning deep in the cave and it echoed outwards. Garnet made her ways towards the sound that was coming from deep in the cave. With her Skeletal Dogs leading the way, it was very safe. She blasted more skeletons out of the way
You have leveled up!
Level Up: Call Skeletal Dogs (Level 6)
She was getting a lot of skill ups as well against the new enemies. When she arrived at the end of the cave, it was a large room. As she pointed her light in their direction she saw it. People with green and grey skin. They were zombies!
Name: Zombie
Level: 8
Class: Undead
Sub-Class: None
Stats: ???
They were much stronger than the Skeletons. But, they were weak to magic. She channeled her mana into a single Fire Bolt. "Fire Bolt!" BOOM. It drained half her mana, but the explosion wiped out most of them.
Level Up: Fire Bolt (Level 4)
Stat Increase: Intelligence+1
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
The Skeletal Dogs did clean up and finished what was left. Garnet decided to invest points into Agility instead of Intelligence for higher speed in case she needed to run or avoid something she could not beat.
Level Up: Call Skeletal Dogs (Level 7)
However, there was nothing in the cave. Just lots of undead monsters, so Garnet left.
Quest Update: Explore the Cave
Report to Zedd
Reward: Experience
"Report to Zedd?" Garnet thought. "Does Zedd know something about the cave?"
Level Up: Speed (Level 6)
Garnet headed back to Antium to talk to Zedd about the undead in the cave. However, he was not at the workshop. He had gone out again. It was only Kirk and Klarth. They had gotten used to Garnet running out in the middle of the night and stopped bothering to try to catch her since she was so fast now.
"Do you know where Zedd went?" Garnet asked Kirk.
"He went to the castle again," said Kirk. "He went early and said something about a meeting with a noble."
"Was it Duke Wellington?" Garnet asked. Whenever Garnet mentioned this name, she felt a strange mixture of emotions. She did not know what it was, but it was clearly someone who was important to the old Garnet.
"He didn't say," said Kirk.
Garnet helped Clark to sell the Boar Meat again in the afternoon and waited for Zedd to return to his workshop. The Boar Meat had attracted other merchants back and slowly, there was some trading going on, but they would need a lot more in order to improve the conditions of the town. Sadly, people like Baron Gray undermined their efforts. Until Garnet could use her abilities to persuade a powerful noble, such as one of the Dukes, it would be impossible to make great change.
It was evening when Zedd finally returned. He was carrying a large box with him. "Oh good you're back," said Zedd.
"I have a few questions," said Garnet.
"What is it?" Zedd asked.
"I found a cave outside of town filled with undead," said Garnet.
Quest Complete: Explore the Cave
Report to Zedd
Reward: Experience
You have leveled up!
"So you found it..." said Zedd.
"What is it?" asked Garnet.
"It is where the people who have been disappeared by the nobles go," said Zedd.
Garnet was shocked. The people who were taken by the corrupt nobles often disappeared and no one knows what happens to them, but they were being fed to the undead, which might have been why there were so many zombies in the cave at the end of it.
"Doesn't anyone do anything about it?" asked Garnet.
"Like I said, people are afraid to take action," said Zedd. "But luckily, that might change."
"How?" asked Garnet.
"You managed to start the economy just a little, but now you must meet with Duke Charles Wellington," said Zedd.
"When?" Garnet asked.
"Tomorrow night," said Zedd. He took the box and gave it to Garnet. "Open it."
Garnet opened it. It was a blue evening gown. "It's a present from the Duke," said Zedd.
"Why would he give me something like this?" Garnet asked.
"I don't know," said Zedd. "When I told him you wanted to meet with him, he said to wait for a few days. He came back with this and told me to give it to you and meet him tomorrow at the guest room that you were in before at the castle."
"He must want me," thought Garnet. She remembered that she was a prostitute. Duke Wellington might have been one of her customers, but she could not remember his face or any of the time that she spent with him. It was something very puzzling and something that she did not understand. However, this was a chance to meet with the Duke. It was a chance for her to use her ability to make him enact change and hopefully save Antium from its collapse.
"In the mean time don't get distracted from your true goal," said Zedd. "You must remember that you are trying to save this city and eventually, this world. Duke Charles Wellington is the most powerful of the Dukes, so you must gain his support no matter what."
"I won't," said Garnet.
"You must become stronger for all of us," said Zedd.
"But aren't you already strong?" Garnet asked.
"By this world's standards, I might be strong," said Zedd. "However, I don't have the power or mentality that is needed to save this city or the people who live in it."
"What do you mean?" asked Garnet. "You seemed to be good at making decisions and planning ahead."
"Only because it was something that I was tasked to do," said Zedd. "My planning is often poor and I am unable to see patterns, which is why despite all my knowledge and skills, I have failed to develop a single original spell or magic circle. The only thing I am good at is offering an opinion."
"Are you entirely loyal to the King?" asked Garnet.
Zedd looked around and closed the windows before continuing. "No," said Zedd. "The King is incompetent and will doom us all, but the only person who can legally usurp the King is a Duke who can challenge the King's claim to the Throne."
"So the Duke has to kill the King to replace him?" asked Garnet.
"No," said Zedd. "There are some rules about inheritance. For example, if the King does not have a legitimate child and passes away, the leadership then passes to the strongest of the Dukes in terms of territory and military size, which would be Duke Wellington. If the King had a child that was not of age, then the Dukes will appoint a minister to oversee the country until the child is of age."
"Which do King Caligula fall under?" Garnet asked.
"The King is someone without a legitimate child," said Zedd. "He has a few bastards here and there, but since they were not conceived when married, they are not considered legitimate."
"So that means I have to gain the support of a competent Duke and see that the King somehow has to give up their position," thought Garnet.
"Duke Wellington is your best chance," said Zedd.
"What do you mean?" asked Garnet.
"The Duke is considered one of the two nobler and kinder Dukes of Antium," Zedd explained. "They're more willing to listen to reason and act on logic rather than for selfish reasons."
"So I just have to convince the Duke to support lowering taxes and rebuilding the wall?" asked Garnet.
"Yes," said Zedd. "You just need to persuade him, so it might be wise to do as he asks."
Garnet took a look at the dress that was given by the Duke. She had no choice if she wanted to convince the Duke. He was the only noble that Garnet had access to at the moment, and she was lucky that he is one of the highest ranking nobles, meaning that he held a lot of influence and power. "I guess I have to do as he asks then," said Garnet.
The next day, Garnet did not go hunting nor sell Boar Meat. Whenever the name of Duke Charles Wellington was mentioned, she had a rush of emotions, but could not remember why and it made her scared for the first time. It was something that she did not understand. It was definitely connected to the memories of the old Garnet, but for some reason, nothing clear popped into her head. She wanted answers and the Duke was the one who had them.
In the evening, Garnet changed into the blue evening gown and was escorted to the castle by some of the Duke's guards. They wore his trademark red emblem. It was not as extravagant as Leeroy's but it was something that marked them as special. She was escorted into the guest room where she waited for the Duke. Garnet was being treated as an important person, not some kind of prostitute that the Duke was trying to sneak around. "What does it all mean?" Garnet simply could not connect the dots and put everything together. Something important was missing, but she could not figure out what.
Garnet sat on the bed and waited. KNOCK KNOCK. "Come in," said Garnet as she got up.
In came a man she did not recognize. He wore a red jacket and white shirt with black pants. It was like a suit but with a red jacket instead. He was very young and appeared to be the same age as Garnet.
Name: Charles Wellington
Level: 60
Dual Class: Duke / General
Sub-Class: Commander
Stats: ???
"He has two classes!" thought Garnet.
"I can't believe it!" he shouted as he ran up to Garnet and hugged her. The force had caused her to fall back down onto the bed.
"Hey, wait!" Garnet shouted. "What are you doing so suddenly?!?" She felt his arms wrapped around her. However, the feeling that the Duke gave was not like those men who abused the old Garnet in the past. It was something different.
"I missed you so much," said Duke Wellington.
Garnet noticed. The Duke was crying, but his hug felt warm. She was someone very important to him, but she still could not remember. "I don't know you," said Garnet.
"But I remember you," said Duke Wellington. He looked closely at Garnet's face. "You're looking much healthier now. Have you been eating well? Sleeping well? Has Zedd been taking good care of you?"
"Wait one question at a time!" shouted Garnet.
"I've been worried about you for a long time," said Duke Wellington.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Garnet asked. "When I hear your name, I feel a strange mix of emotions, but I don't know why. I don't remember you at all."
"You had your memories of me sealed," said Duke Wellington.
"Memories sealed? How?!?" shouted Garnet.
"You asked for it four years ago," said Duke Wellington.
"Why?" asked Garnet. She was confused. Why would her old self do such a thing? What happened between the Duke and the old Garnet.
"That is because you wanted to erase all evidence that you gave birth to our daughter," said Duke Wellington.
"I have a daughter?!?" shouted Garnet. This was the most shocking thing she had heard. She knew that Garnet was a prostitute and that she had connections with the nobles, but what she did not expect was that she had a relationship with one of the Dukes and was mother to a child she does not remember "How? When? Why?" She was more confused than ever.
"I was surprised too when I heard that you were sold," said Duke Wellington. "I made sure to have someone pay so that you would stay at the brothel and that I could visit when I wished."
"That must have been when Zedd bought me," thought Garnet. "What can you tell me about me or how we met?"
"Five years ago, I met you at a brothel," said Duke Wellington. "I had just inherited the land from my father who passed away and someone introduced me to the brothel, but I only wanted to talk about my worries. I wasn't looking for someone to vent my frustration on or to satisfy my urges. They recommended me to you, who seemed to have a talent for talking to people. At first, you were kind of grouchy, always telling me to hurry up with my sappy stories and move on. But, as we talked, you began to listen and talk as well. And, I came to see you more and more. Eventually, you became pregnant with my child and wanted her to grow up better than you did, so you asked me to take her away. I had the people who helped to deliver the child and have their memories of it wiped too."
"What can you tell me about my daughter?" Garnet asked. She wanted to know very much.
Duke Wellington took out a small book with pictures. "I wanted to show this to you," said Duke Wellington. "I put it together hoping that you would one day be able to see it. Her name is Ruby and she is currently four years old. I named her after you."
Garnet looked through the picture book. It was a young girl with black hair. She had a brown eye and a blue eye. Heterochromia just like her. "I want to bring you to meet her," said Duke Wellington. "She really wants to meet her mother, but I can only say that she is a very busy woman. I was too afraid to tell her the truth."
"Maybe someday," said Garnet. "But I have a lot I have to do here."
"I understand," said Duke Wellington. "I can't ask you to just leave and come live with me. But I would really appreciate it if you would come to live with me. I believe Ruby needs you, her real mother in her life. No servant can take that place away from you."
"This is just too much to take in," said Garnet as she began to cry. The emotions from the memories of the old Garnet were overwhelming her. Even though the memories were sealed, the emotions that Duke Welling evoked were leaking through. "What else can you tell me about me? There's so much I cannot remember."
The Duke saw that Garnet was depressed from the story and stopped talking, so he decided to change the topic. "I know there's a lot more you want to know, but it's better to deal with it a little at a time. Too much at once is bad. Besides, I heard you wanted to see me for something important," said Duke Wellington. "What for?"
"I almost completely forgot," said Garnet. "I need you to convince people to lower the tariffs and taxes in Antium and rebuild the East Wall."
"Why?" asked Duke Wellington.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"This city is dying," said Garnet. "The King is clueless about the conditions and the nobles don't want anything to change. I managed to convince some people to voice some disapproval, but I cannot get anything done without the backing of the nobility."
"I can lower the ones in the territories under my control," said Duke Wellington. "But convincing the others to follow or changing the city's policies won't be that easy."
"Why not?" asked Garnet.
"Even though I am a Duke, the city is managed by several nobles who work together," said Duke Wellington. "I alone do not have the influence or power to make them submit to me. Even some of the lands under my control are managed by lower ranking nobles."
"What would it take for change?" asked Garnet.
"Something that you would be unwilling to do," said Duke Wellington. "But I will still do what I can to help you."
"Really?" said Garnet. "Just like that? No tricks?"
"No tricks," said Duke Wellington. "Take this too." He handed Garnet a card that was colored red and silver with the Duke's Crest on it.
"What is this?" asked Garnet.
"This is something that you need to hold on to," said Duke Wellington. "It is proof that you are in the service of my family."
"Thank you," said Garnet. "But what about this?" she asked as she showed the Duke her five petal slave mark.
"It doesn't matter," said Duke Wellington. "You are a slave under my personal service, if someone gives you trouble, send someone to get me or one of my officers."
Garnet hugged the Duke. "With this, I feel like something is finally being done," said Garnet.
"Actually, one trick," said Duke Wellington. He grabbed a hold of Garnet and laid her down on the bed with him.
"I no longer do that kind of work!" shouted Garnet.
"Just let me lay here with you for a while," said Duke Wellington. "I need to think of a way to persuade at least two of the other Dukes and this helps me think a little. Besides if you really want true change, you would need to marry me."
"How would that change anything?" asked Garnet.
"If a slave were to marry a noble, it would override your status as a slave," explained Duke Wellington. "I would get some flak from the other nobles for it, but because of my power, there's little they can actually do about it."
"Okay," said Garnet as she laid there. This was the first time she was this close to a man since she arrived in this world. The old Garnet's memories of him were gone, but her body still remembered something warm and comforting about him. She felt a little something between her legs. She was being aroused. "In the future, I need to take care of that myself," she thought.
Garnet fell asleep in that position. When she woke up, Duke Wellington was still in front of her with his face right in front of hers. "Should I?" she thought. She moved her head closer to his and touched her forehead against his. "Mind Read."
Garnet wanted to see what the Duke was thinking about. What she saw was the Duke's memories of Garnet. All of them and it was overwhelming. She could feel the intense emotion behind each and every one of them. "Stop!" shouted a voice. Garnet regained her senses and moved her head away from the Duke. She looked around, but no one was there. "What was that?" she thought.
Garnet felt a sharp pain in her head. She quietly got up and left. It would be bad if they were seen leaving together. As she left the castle, she heard the guards whisper about her.
"Who do you think she was with?" asked the first guard.
"Probably some Baron," said the second. "The other ones probably could not afford her and the ones above that would not want to be caught sleeping around and gossiping about the things they know or plan to do."
This was apparently a common occurrence. More proof that there were numerous problems with the ruling class. "However, the Duke seemed to be an exception based on what he said," thought Garnet. "I wonder if he will actually follow through though."
Garnet made her way back to Zedd's Workshop. When she arrived, only Kirk and Klarth were there. "Where's Zedd?" asked Garnet. "Shouldn't he be here?"
"He's been busy working on some top secret project," said Klarth. "He doesn't want to tell anyone about it until it is done."
Zedd was busy going around trying to convince people like the guards to spend time training with Garnet, but to little success. He only had managed to help Garnet meet with Duke Wellington, which was already something big.
"So what are we doing today?" Kirk asked. "More selling?"
"No," said Garnet. "I want to see if there's any progress on the East Gate."
As the group of three made their way to the East Gate, they noticed a group of soldiers coming. It was Baron Gray with his guard. "If trouble comes, make a run for the East Gate," said Klarth. "We cannot do anything to stop him, but there's nothing we can do if you get away from us and him."
"Okay," said Garnet.
"Well look at what we have here," said Baron Gray. "Our little tax evader."
"I don't owe anyone taxes," said Garnet.
"But you worked at the market, so that means you must owe something," said Baron Gray. "If you cannot pay, then you must go to jail like the rest of those people until you can pay."
"That makes no sense," said Garnet. "You can't pay it off if you're in jail."
"You just have to work it off in jail then," said Baron Gray.
There was no way for Garnet to argue her way out of this. Baron Gray was intent on either extorting money from her or sending her to jail. She had one thing though. She took out the red and silver card that Duke Charles Wellington had given her.
"That's Duke Wellington's!" said one of Baron Gray's guards. All of a sudden the expression on Baron Gray's face changed as well as the guards.
Garnet watched as the guards suddenly backed off. "What are you doing? Get her!" shouted Baron Gray.
None of the guards were willing to take a step forward once they saw that card. Garnet looked at Kirk and Klarth who were standing near by and even they had a surprised look on their face. The red and silver card given to Garnet by Duke Wellington held an enormous amount of power in Antium. "I'll be on my way now," said Garnet.
As Garnet walked forward, the guards that were with Baron Gray backed off and opened a path for her. She watched as Baron Gray had a furious look on his face. She had outsmarted him. As long as she held that card, most people would not interfere with her because they were afraid of Duke Wellington. "Thank you," she thought. Without the card, she would have probably had to flee the city.
"How did you get that?" Kirk asked.
"Duke Wellington gave it to me yesterday," said Garnet. "But I didn't want to have to use it."
"You do know what that card means right?" asked Klarth.
"Duke Wellington told me that it means I am a servant of his family," said Garnet.
"No," said Klarth. "The card's border was silver. A brownish color made with bronze, copper, or other lower quality metals means you are an important servant who is operating in the name of the noble. The silver color means you are a member of his family."
"What?!?" shouted Garnet. "I'm a member of his family?"
"Did you know why he gave you that card?" Kirk asked.
"He just told me to hold onto it and it would be helpful if I got in trouble," Garnet explained. She immediately put the card away for safe keeping. It was extremely valuable.
The three continued on their way to the East Gate. It was there that Garnet saw Leeroy, the guard in red that was employed by Duke Wellington. He was with six other men who were waiting.
"Excuse me," said Leeory. "But I'm afraid you must leave."
"Why?" asked Garnet.
"Security reasons," said Leeroy.
"Is the Duke coming?" asked Garnet.
"How did you know that?" Leeroy asked. As he said that, Leeroy and the other guards all stood back and gave a salute.
Garnet turned around and saw that it was Duke Wellington. "Is something the matter?" he asked.
"I was trying to clear the area for your arrival sir!" said Leeroy.
"It's fine," said Duke Wellington. "Let the commoners go about their day. It would be ridiculous to try to stop all traffic."
Garnet watched as the Leeroy and the guards simply followed behind the Duke, ignoring her, Klarth, and Kirk. "What are we doing here?" Leeroy asked.
"I want to fix this wall," said Duke Wellington. "It's a bad idea to leave an opening like this for so long."
"Why not improve it while you're at it?" Garnet asked.
"What do you mean?" asked Duke Wellington.
"Instead of building it exactly like before, why not build it to resist a siege in the first place?" asked Garnet.
Spoiler :
Name: Garnet
Level: 7
Class: Dark Mage
Sub-class: Temptress
Stats:
HP: 530/530
MP: 1500/1500
Fame: 20
Strength: 12 (+5)
Dexterity: 5 (+7)
Intelligence: 33 (+22)
Vitality: 9 (+5)
Agility: 7 (+7)
Charisma: 17 (+10)
PROFICIENCY: Weapon:
- One Handed Sword - 3
Magic:
- Fire – 3
- Lightning – 2
- Wind – 1
- Summoning - 5
SKILLS: Weapon (One Handed Sword):
- Horizontal Slash
- Double Slash
Class (Dark Mage):
- Fire Bolt (Level 4)
- Lightning Bolt (Level 3)
- Light (Level 1)
- Air Bullet (Level 2)
- Mana Strike (Level 1)
- Mana Shield (Level 2)
- Call: Skeletal Dogs (Level 6)
- Recall
- Dismiss
- Enhanced Mana Regeneration (Level 1)Sub-class (Temptress):
- Enhanced Body (Level 2)
- Captivation: (Level 1)
- Mind Read: (Level 1)
- Drain Will (Level 3)
- Sexy Walk (Level 1)
- Stealth (Level 1)
Tradeskills:
- Hunting (Level 3) - Hunter
- Cooking (Level 4) - Cook
- Inspection (Level 1)
- Inventory Expansion (Level 2) Passives:
- Hand to Hand (Level 1)
- One Handed Sword (Level 1)
- Reflex (Level 3)
- Speed (Level 6)
- Physical Resistance (Level 2) Unique:
- Hero System (Passive)
- Otherworldly Knowledge (Passive)
- Golden Tongue (Passive)
- Mana Compatibility (Passive)
- Quick Learner (Passive)
- Channeling (Passive)
- Charging (Passive)