“There are those who seek power, or in foolish desperation think they have no other choice but to seize it. They consume the remains of djinn, this fills them with ether letting them level up but does not give them any skills, except passives. Like Warlocks, the corruption drives them mad, some turn to murder, cannibalism or all manners of hellish debauchery. Like djinn and animals, they become immune to the Mist and when discovered are often forced to flee inside driven from civilization.”

-from a dissertation on the Mist by Ambrose Melvor

Aranea- Tuesday, August 6th, 564 AB

I watched the forest with the others with nervous apprehension. I had only been married less than three days but already I was watching my husband venture out into danger. I knew this would be my role in life but I was quickly finding I didn’t like how anxious it made me feel. Unlike the rest of them I could see into the Mist but even so the distance and foliage blocking the way made it impossible to tell what was going on. Long minutes passed then a bright burning object shot up into the air and horn blew out.

“What was that?” I asked Sir Valren.

“A signal to advance,” Sir Valren said. “Something must have happened for Sir Rineer to not come back and report.”

I suddenly felt afraid for Cain. “Let me come with you,” I said.

Sir Valren looked down at me. “You’re not a fighter,” he said dismissively.

“I can see, you can’t,” I pointed out. “I can be a set of eyes for you.”

Sir Valren paused considering. “Show me your skills, quickly now I need to see if you can be an asset.”

I did so but blocked out my trait. Like Cain, Mother Leora had advised me to be careful who I showed it too.

Sir Valren raised an eyebrow as I held out my character sheet for him to read. Finally, he nodded.

“You can come with us,” he said. “I want you to use your ability Voice of the Wind on me, Sir Haldred and later Sir Rineer and your husband when we meet up with them.”

“Yes sir,” I said.

We advanced forwards. Sir Valren handed me a mask, I had the same passives as Cain did but I put it on anyway. Cain had done so and I didn’t want to question him on that yet. We entered the mist and I shivered at its cold touch suddenly wanting to be anywhere but here. The gloomy air had cursed sinister feeling to it that I instantly hated.

I walked a step behind Sir Valren my hand on his back as I guided him forwards. Sir Haldred lead the other pages as we advanced towards the ruins. We reached them I spotted a man looking down with a crossbow drawn.

“Lunar Ray,” I said aiming for his head.

He fell out of the ruin and dropped to the forest floor. I instantly felt a little sick at just having killed another human but pushed the fear out of my mind. There was the sound of shouting above us and Sir Valren leapt up ignoring the ladder as he crashed through wooden floor boards. I scurried up the ladder after him finding a scene of carnage when I reached the floor.

Sir Valren advanced down the hall. His armor had grown thick and bulky as he moved forwards arrows pinging off it as he slaughtered the bandits in his path. I had to run to keep up with him and we climbed a set of stairs with bodies piled at its base. Ten men were in a shield formation trying to advance up it a single Warden at the top holding them back.

Sir Valren cut through the back of the men before they even knew he was there the echo of thunder sounding in the air as he unleashed a storm skill on the group. He didn’t even have to speak to activate the skill showing his years of experience.

Sir Rineer stood at the top of the stairs a round shield in hand arrows sticking out of its surface.

“Good you lot got here, you were missing all the fun,” he said.

“Where is Cain?” I asked, racing up and looking around but not spotting him. Sir Rineer lowered his mask and looked at me.

“Why are you here?” he asked me. “This is not the place for a lady.”

“She is here because I allowed it,” Sir Valren said before I could answer. “I too would like to know where Sir Cain is, why didn’t you send him back to inform us of what was going on?”

“The Voice gave us different Quests,” Rineer said. “I had to defend these prisoners he was assigned an Quest to exterminate them.”

Sir Valren frowned. “I still don’t see why you didn’t inform us first. You could have held this spot while he ran back and got us.”

“They were Fell Men,” Sir Rineer said his face going dead serious. He gestured to the pile of bodies at the base of the stairs. “I killed the few that remained behind, but Sir Cain lead the rest away, his job was to lead them on a chase through the forest so I could signal you.”

Sir Valren stiffened. “How many of them?” he asked.

“I can’t be sure, more than half at least,” Rineer said. “They attacked a merchant caravan and killed two Cleric tier Wardens and their Squire tier apprentices so they would have been more than I could have handled alone.”

“You two are in his party,” Sir Valren said. “Which direction is his marker pointing towards on your mini-map?”

“I don’t know how to….” I began but Rineer cut me off.

“North,” he said pointing.

“You two with me,” Sir Valren said and turned to the other Wardens who had entered the ruins. “You are all to remain here and hold this position. There are Fell Men in this forest, they are not to be underestimated and have already killed Wardens, defend these civilians with your lives. Sir Haldred you have overwatch here, if you see them approaching from the Mist you are to give warning.”

I followed after Rineer and Sir Valren struggling to keep up. I suddenly regretted putting all my stat points into Will and nothing to boost my low physical stats. We ran through the trees running into a bog we could hear shouting, screaming and the clash of steel on steel ahead and the baying of hounds. I put on a burst of speed as I felt a second wind take me.

We saw groups of men wading through waist deep water. My skirt snagged and tore on some bramble. A man spotted me but I raised my hand and pointed at him before he could get a word out.

“Lunar Ray,” I said. “Lunar Ray, Lunar Ray.”

Three blades of glowing etheric energy shot from my hand and struck the man in the face faster than a bolt from a crossbow.

32 XP gained

Sir Valren stared ahead but he couldn’t see farther than the reach of his spear.

“Where are they?” he asked me as Sir Rineer raced ahead to where two hounds were snarling.

“Twenty-paces straight ahead,” I said pointing to a group of men who all had their backs to us.

Sir Valren raced forwards his spear flashing with lightning and golden light as he bowled the men over. While these fell men might have killed two Knight tier Wardens they were not prepared to deal with an Exarch. They were dead as soon as Sir Valren saw them, and I raced forward struggling to keep up in the muck. I saw Cain appear suddenly he dodged the swing of a mace and teleported behind one of the hounds slashing out. It lunged towards him, and he dodged rolling under the belly of the other hound and cutting it open. He rolled out from under it but it still pursued him even as its intestines dragged across the wet grass.

The massive warrior he was fighting swung at him with his mace and Cain blocked it but staggered from the force. The other hound pounced on him driving him to the ground and almost tearing out his throat but gnawing on his shield instead. Cain plunged his dagger into the dog’s neck, and it dropped on top of him. He shoved it rolling to the side, but his enemy’s mace came down hitting his shoulder. Even from where I was standing I could hear his bones crack and break.

“Cain!” I screamed out running towards him.

He disappeared, appearing a dozen yards away. The warrior’s eyes swept the area, he didn’t see me yet, his eyes landing on Cain again and he charged forwards. Cain reached a hand up to his shoulder, his shield hanging uselessly at his side. The warrior was seconds away Cain looked at him tensed to move then…froze. The mace rose high ready to crush him against the earth.

“Lunar Ray,” I shouted.

The shot hit the warrior pushing him off balance. He turned spotting me now and snarled. Cain snapped out of whatever spell he had been placed under his eyes turning and meeting mine. The warrior raced towards me and suddenly I realized I wasn’t that far away from the battle as I had thought, and Sir Valren and Sir Rineer were not where close to me.

---

Cain

Aranea was there her face obscured by the breathing mask but her golden hair unmistakable. Hans turned and snarled.

“Bitch!”

He forgot about me and raced towards her, she was only two dozen paces away and she didn’t have anywhere near the physical stats needed to stand up to him.

“Mist Blade, Hurricane Step,” I said teleporting directly in front of him lunging forwards.

My dagger caught him in the stomach, I twisted and ripped it free teleporting just before the mace could smash into my skull.

He turned around as I appeared behind but another bolt of silver light hit him from behind. He turned to face Aranea again but I teleported to his right stabbing into his flank. His mace swung down but I didn’t teleport away this time.

“Fog Form,” I said.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

In the panic and confusion of battle I had forgotten about my one defensive ability. The mace passed through me and I rematerialized.

“Mist Blade, Lunar Smite,” I said.

I slashed out into his torso my etheric projected blade passing right through his heavy metal armor as three more bolts of silver light shot from Aranea hitting Hans in the side. He staggered and I teleported behind him. I drove Achlys up to the hilt with my one good arm, the etheric blade appearing out the other side of his torso. Another bolt of silver light hit him, and he dropped to the ground.

132 XP gained; 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core

Looking around I saw there were still groups of Fell Men though most were fleeing the field now. Rineer was chasing down a group and Sir Valren was moving from group to group tracking them by what had to be only sound. A group was rushing towards Aranea, and I appeared beside her my dagger raised in a guard stance.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I told her.

“You needed me,” Aranea said her voice sounding like an accusation.

“Your right,” I admitted my shoulders sagging. “Stay behind me.”

The men rushed forwards and I stepped up to meet them. I ducked and dodged, unable to block with my useless left arm. My dagger shot out cutting off the fingers gripping an axe. The wielder stepped back and a silver blade of energy slashed across his shoulder. Stepping into his guard I drove Achlys up through his sternum.

27 XP gained; 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core

I kept his body on my blade turning him to block the next two attacks coming for me before pulling my dagger free and side stepping the thrust of a spear. The man pulled his head to the side just fast enough to avoid his face being hit directly by another blade of silver light. It wasn’t fast enough to avoid it searing the side of his face blinding his left eye and I drove my weapon through the other eye.

31 XP gained, 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core

A golden glow surrounded Aranea as she got the same amount of XP I did from the kill and it was enough to push her to the next level.

Three men rushed her as I blocked the swing of an axe on the flat side of my dagger. Before I could rush to intercept them Aranea solved the issue.

“Sweeping Hurricane,” she said.

The men were knocked off their feet and Aranea turned and pointed her hand at the axe wielder I was engaged with. He staggered and I drove my dagger through his gut ripping out and spilling his entrails across the ground.

15 XP gained, 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core

Level Up! You have reached level 9! 15 Stat points are available to spend, Ether core increased by 5.

“Hurricane Step,” I said.

I teleported next to the men in the mud as they pushed themselves to their feet after having been knocked over by Aranea’s ability. My dagger slashed out cutting the throats of two of them.

47 XP gained, 2 Corruption absorbed into your Core

I advanced on the final man and he dropped his weapons in surrender holding up his hands. I fell using my weight to drive my dagger through his chest.

21 XP gained, 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core

Looking around there wasn’t anyone else. Sir Valren looked around unseeing his head cocked to the side as he listened. I looked at Aranea, her dressed stained from the knee down in mud and the hem of her dress torn in many places. She shook slightly and I stepped forwards. I shoved Achlys into the straps of my shield and pulled her close.

Her arms wrapped around me as she shook. This wasn’t my first-time seeing men die even if was my first time being the one doing the killing. Aranea’s training as an aspirant Weaver wouldn’t have prepared her for this and she shook with emotions that I knew all too well.

“Its all right,” I told her softly knowing just how pointless those words were but having nothing else I could say.

Splashing sounded and Rineer came forwards dragging a bleeding man behind him. He looked around hauled the man up.

“Is this all of you?” he asked forcing the man to look at the carnage.

“Y-yes..” the man stammered. “I think so I can’t be….”

Rineer dropped the man to the ground and drove his spear through his chest.

Quest Succeeded

You have successfully completed the Quest, Vengeance, Hard and avenged your fallen fellow Wardens and exterminated the Fell Men.

Reward: C grade Leg Guards has been added to your inventory. 500 XP gained

I dismissed the notification as a golden glow suffused my body.

Level Up! You have reached level 10! 30 Stat points are available to spend, Ether core increased by 5.

Sir Valren walked over towards the sound of us and his expression cleared as we came into his line of sight.

“Was that the last of them?” he asked.

Rineer turned to me. “You leveled up, I assume you finished your Quest?”

“Yes,” I said. “Does that mean we got them all?”

“The Voice is satisfied, so I am as well,” Sir Valren said.

Rineer reached out grabbing my broken shoulder. “Crystalized Mend,” he said and I screamed as my bones popped back into place and reset themselves.

“Thanks,” I said wincing and rubbing my shoulder.

“We should head back,” Sir Valren said. “How much more corruption can you absorb Sir Cain?”

“Not much sir,” I admitted.

I pulled up my character sheet to examine.

Core Level

10

Experience to Next Level

120/560

Relic Name

Relic Element

Relic Type

Achlys

Mist

Dagger

Name

Cain Le’meer

Hit Points:

230/230

Hit Point Regen:

10 per minute

Armor Points:

84/84

Armor Point Regen:

10 per minute

Might

Agility

Endurance

Will

Senses

Clarity

30 (47)

76 (112)

15 (23)

11 (17)

10 (15)

10 (15)

Ether

Corruption Level

51/84

58/84

Trait

Tainted Power: Your statistics increase by 1% for every point of Corruption in your Etheric Core.

Primary Passive

Secondary Passive

Mist Sight: You can see through the Mist without impediment, it is visible to you only as vague haze in the air.

Mist Walker: You have immunity to the effects of the Mist able to breathe freely within it with no hindrance.

Mist Skills

Ghost Walk: Masks all noise made for 30 seconds in a 5ft radius around the wielder.

Cost:

3 ether

Mist Blade: For 10 seconds attacks with your Relic pass through 1” of material.

Cost:

7 ether

Fog Form: Body and worn equipment becomes intangible making you Immune to all damage for 2 seconds.

Cost:

5 ether

Moon Skills

Lunar Smite: A sword of silver light extends out from your blade for 1 second dealing Moon damage equal to your current Core’s charge.

Cost:

4 ether

Celestial Healing: Closes wounds across a single creature’s body restoring Hit Points equal to your current Core charge.

Cost:

10 ether

Wind Skills

Hurricane Step: Move up to 100ft in 1 second as your body and all your equipment is turned into wind.

Cost:

1 ether

Cyclone Strike: Deals Wind damage equal to half your Core charge to all creatures within your weapons reach.

Cost:

6 ether

“I’m at fifty-eight out of eighty-four,” I said.

“So you can absorb one to two more before risking oversaturation,” Sir Valren said frowning. “I can absorb a few as well but there are a lot of bodies here.” He turned his attention to Aranea. “What about you.”

“I’m empty sir,” Aranea said. “But I can’t just absorb it from Cain here…”

“Relax girl,” Rineer said rolling his eyes. “We’re not asking you step behind the bushes with Cain and get busy. Just take his dagger and start harvesting them, your linked to it through him so it will let you use it for this.”

“Oh,” Aranea said blushing.

“While I would have said that in a more dignified manner,” Sir Valren said. “Yes that is what I’m asking. What is your etheric capacity?”

“One-hundred-and-forty-seven,” Aranea answered.

“That should be enough to absorb the corruption from at least half this number,” Sir Valren said nodding. “What about you Sir Rineer?”

“Don’t look at me,” Sir Rineer said shaking his head. “I’m at three-hundred out of three-fifty.”

“Why didn’t you have the Mother Superior cleanse you?” Sir Valren asked exasperated.

“You know me, I’m not a very trusting person,” Rineer said with shrug. “I wasn’t able to bring down my walls enough to relax and let her draw it out and my wife would kill me if I did it with another woman.”

“So, you’re out,” Sir Valren said. “We might have to bring some of the others back to help with this, for now let’s see what we can do.”

In the end we were able to do it all on our own even if the burning in my chest was painful. Aranea was also holding near her core’s maximum limit. We returned to the bandit’s base where we were spotted before we reached it and greeted by the other Wardens. They had found ten other bandits hiding in their fortress and brought them bound before Sir Valren.

“Bring them with us,” Sir Valren said. “We’re running out of air in our air bladders. Take what possessions belong to these people and let us be rid of this place.”

We pulled out the wagons the bandits had hidden in the trees, hitching them to the stolen horses and filling them with stolen goods. We escorted the prisoners out of the Mist with extra masks they had to share. Aranea went to each of the prisoners using Silver Purity on them healing them of their injuries and any infections they were suffering. When we were all out Sir Valren had the ten bandits bound placed on horseback and nooses fitted and tied around their necks. They were all placed on the limb of an oak on the opposite side of the road as the Fog Land.

The bandits were gagged and not allowed to speak as Sir Valren gave them their final rights.

“I Lord Valren of Mistwall, Warden of the Church of the Voice by the power vested in me by both the crown and the Church hereby condemn you to death. You are charged with the crimes of rape, banditry, heresy, and murder. May the Voice have mercy on your souls for we have none upon your bodies.”

The horses all bolted forward as switches were taken to their rears. The men twitched and jerked for several seconds at the end of their rope. Aranea looked away but I didn’t turn my gaze. All the survivors of the caravan raid didn’t turn away either looking on with hard merciless gazes as justice was dealt out. We didn’t stay there even though night was falling. The place had an evil air to it and we rode on through the night.