Imri found a quiet place to sit down and continue his enchantment. He took out his notebook and began inscribing a similar pattern to the basic light array, this time with a slight alteration. He added a rune based on his metronome spell, setting the interval to every two seconds. He added a basic boolean rune that flipped from true to false every time the metronome rune triggered.
With his test design completed, he charged it with a bit more mana than he had the previous time. He nearly shouted triumphantly as the light flickered on and off every few seconds, going through a few cycles before running out of mana.
For his next test, he tried something similar, this time using his other auxiliary spell, True Distance. He ripped out two pieces of paper, drawing two almost identical patterns, one on each sheet. The idea was similar to the Metronome test; there was a boolean that either allowed mana to proceed or blocked it. This time, the boolean would flip to true if the two sheets of paper were within one meter. The only tricky part was assigning the true distance spell to have two reciprocal frames of reference. It wasn’t very difficult, as the spell and, thus, the rune were designed to accomplish just such a task. He infused mana into both papers, and they lit up simultaneously. He quickly moved them apart, watching the light extinguish. He then returned the paper to the required distance, the light briefly returning before dying out. He noted the papers extinguished at different times.
This led him to another realization. The target of the true spell didn’t need to be another enchantment. With a little bit of focus, he realized he could create the rune to be relative to just about anything. He inscribed similar runes, then had them measure his distance from the paper. This worked as he expected, providing light when he was within a meter but extinguishing when he moved away.
Next, he decided to expand the complexity of his existing design slightly. He added a second true distance spell, having it measure the distance from a particular tree, setting the boolean to true. He combined the booleans with a logical operator, meaning the switch would not be true unless both conditions were met. Again, it worked as he had expected, lighting only when both he and the paper were within a meter.
Imri Padar has reached Level 2 in Runic Enchanter (1F) Secondary Stats Gained New Value MP +1 198 Crafting Efficiency +1 219
Imri was pleasantly surprised by the level. He technically hadn’t completed any functional enchantments, merely practical experiments in a notebook. Fortunately, the system seemed to recognize his progress and rewarded him for it. It also made sense to reward learning; novice enchanters probably wouldn’t be given actual materials until they had a modicum of understanding, so they would rely on this type of experience for the first few levels. It was good that the experience came quickly, as his levels had yet to give him any primary stats. He had grown accustomed to the gains that came with his class and heritage leveling simultaneously, often with new or upgraded achievements.
He was startled when Emelia came up to him. “You’ve been working at that for hours. Why don’t you take a break?” She suggested. Imri had indeed lost track of time, having spent the entire day on his enchantments. He also realized he had spent more mana than he had intended, more than would regenerate from resting through the night.
“That sounds like a good idea. What do you have in mind?”
“Zhaire just got back. He and a small group of people raided some stores near the city's outskirts. He’s in the best mood I’ve ever felt from him, which probably means they got a shit ton of stuff, and he got to take out his frustrations on a few unlucky Azala. He wanted everyone to gather in the center of the camp. I figured we could join the festivities for a little while before having some time alone,” she said, with a suggestive emphasis on the last part. Imri had been so absorbed in his experiments that he hadn’t even known Zhaire had left for the day. Then it clicked in his head what she was possibly suggesting. He was a bundle of nerves and excitement, both in equal measure, until he remembered that Emelia could read his emotions. When she just smiled at him and didn’t say he was being an idiot, they flipped again.
They made their way to the center of their growing makeshift camp. A large crowd had gathered, and apart from the few people posted as senteries, most of the camp appeared to be present. A bag of red disposable plastic cups and several bottles of liquor were passed around. It seemed irrational that one of the first supplies gathered was something so impractical. Yet, even Imri had to admit, that morale had been slipping, people were scared and angry. Liquor wouldn’t solve everything, but people smiled, momentarily forgetting they were in a strange world with monsters and loved ones unaccounted for.
“All of us are survivors,” Zhaire said, loud enough to get everyone's attention. “This new world might be fucked up, but we can make it our own. We can do whatever we want and be whoever we want to be. No more society telling us we aren’t good enough or bureaucrats and governments telling us we must pay our taxes and follow their rules. The strong will take this world, and we shall make the rules. Here’s to us, the strong, the survivors,” Zhaire said, raising his plastic cup. A chorus of cheers rang out, followed by the dull clink of plastic cups taped together, followed by large amounts of alcohol spilled and consumed.
Imri shook his head. While things would be different, he certainly wasn’t in favor of anarchy or 'might makes right' style governments. Unfortunately, many in the camp seemed to agree with Zhaire, and judging by how anxious Emelia looked, it was a concerning number. Still, tonight was not the night to lay down laws; doing so would only be seen as stuffy and elitist when they should be celebrating the modicum of success that was raiding a liquor store. Imri and Emelia weren’t the only ones put off by Zhaire’s strange speech, as many of the office workers seemed especially concerned.
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“You're just going to allow this thug to say things like that?” Russ asked in a hushed tone as they stood near the fringes of the milling crowd.
“You’re welcome to confront him yourself,” Emelia said, knowing full well that no one would dare confront Zhaire directly.
“Maybe I will,” Russ said, taking a swig of the hard liquor in his cup. He stared at the Zhaire, openly envious of the power he possessed, of the lithe secretary who was practically clinging to him.
“He’s not a tyrant; he is just happy that his lot in life has changed. He was stuck in a low-paying job, looked down on by people like you. Now the roles are reversed, and he’s the one with an in-demand skill set,” Emelia pointed out.
“I worked hard for what I got in my life. It’s not fair that a cosmic shakeup has taken everything from me,” Russ complained.
“Life isn’t fair,” Imri said simply.
“What would you know about it? Seems like you're doing alright,” Russ snapped.
“Imri has earned everything he’s gotten,” Emelia snapped. “If anyone would know about things not being fair it would be him, he was in hospice care before the integration.” His girlfriend rushing to his defense felt amazing. He squeezed her hand and leaned close to her.
“Sorry, I didn’t know,” Russ said sheepishly.
“It’s alright. It really doesn’t have anything to do with the current situation,” Imri said.
“Of course it does. It gave you a perspective most people don’t have. You and Sylvi both took the changes in stride far better than anyone else. You realize that shit happens, and it's about how you deal with it,” Emelia explained.
“I’ll leave you two be. I just wanted you to know that not everyone feels the same way Zhaire does,” Russ said, leaving Imri alone with his girlfriend.
“Well, at least he can take a hint,” Emelia said with a mischievous grin.
“Here’s to us,” Imri said, raising his red cup.
“To us, proving that you can find someone even when the world goes to hell,” Emelia said, clinking her plastic cup.
They kissed passionately, and both of their desires mirrored. All inhibitions were gone, quashed by certainty in how the other person felt, the moderate amount of alcohol, and the fact that any day could be their last. She took his hand, guiding him to some measure of seclusion.
Emelia took control, smiling mischievously as she undressed him. In a flash, they were both naked, bodies pressed against one another. Imri wished these moments could last forever. It was the only thing that felt right since the integration. Unfortunately, his body, spurred by desire, moved of its own accord, and it was over far sooner than he would have liked.
“I’m sorry…” Imri started to say, as feelings of shame welled up in him as they cuddled under a blanket.
“Oh, no. Don’t you fucking dare say that,” She said.
“But…”
“But, nothing. It was your first time, and it wasn’t that bad. Honestly, I’ve had a lot worse,” Emelia said, staring into his eyes.
“You knew?” He asked in disbelief.
“Imri, I doubt you could have fooled anyone, let alone an empath,” She pointed out.
“Then, why be with me?”
“Because there is more to a person than their sexual experience. You’re a great person who needs more confidence,” She said earnestly.
“I will try,” he vowed.
“There is something I need to tell you,” she said after a brief silence. She was nervously fidgeting and not looking him in the eyes.
“What is it?”
“I got my class to E rank and got a new skill,” She said.
“That’s amazing, what is it?” Imri asked. There was another long pause.
“It’s called Empathic Bond. It allows me to form a link with someone, and once established, we would always know where each other is. We would also know general status things, like how their HP and FP are doing. It also gives both people resistance to psychic damage. Last but certainly not least, it gives both people the ability to know the other person's emotions at all times.”
“That sounds like a great skill,” Imri replied.
“Were you listening? I would always know where you are and how you are feeling. That doesn’t scare you?”
“A little bit, but that doesn’t outweigh the benefits. If we had functioning phones where I could call you and let you know I’m okay, that would be one thing. Besides, it doesn't change anything when we’re around each other. The real question is, are you ok with it? I’m mostly oblivious to how you’re feeling unless you tell me. When I said I wanted you to be blunt with me, this wasn’t what I had in mind, but it would solve that issue for me,” he said. There was another silence as Emelia contemplated what he had said.
“I’m a bit nervous but surprisingly excited by it,” she said, her tone suggesting she was surprised by what her internal emotions revealed.
“Then let's do it, become bonded,” Imri said with a smile. Emelia nodded and concentrated on activating the skill. It took effect without any noticeable visual indicator, flooding Imri’s mind with a torrent of information.
He could feel Emelia's nervousness, practically terrified that she would scare him off. He felt her anxiety, anxiety that she wasn’t good enough, that Imri would leave her. No, that couldn’t be right; how could she feel that way about him? He smiled at her, not saying anything but sending love and reassurance through the bond. Her fears and anxieties melted away, and together, they created a recursive loop of happiness as each of them was reassured by the other. It was a more intimate experience than anything he had ever felt, including his experience earlier that night.