Luke sat in a considerably smaller meeting room than the one he came to with Iona.
As per a pattern, Luke observed that more items and rooms in the hunter’s branch used mana-weaving techniques on their property. The walls around were blue and white, rather plain in design. An opaque stained glass window let sunlight stream in. Two lanterns hung on opposite sides in the middle of the room. He could smell faint cleaning detergent, distinct from the smells he remembered but similar enough to categorize.
The door and table were white, and the oval table had chairs for up to nine. Here, two were occupied, actually three. Sooty decided to perch on a chair all by her lonesome. Veyri sat diagonally above Luke. She fired the first verbal shot.
“Join my tower team.”
“Nope.”
A direct and immediate refusal flustered Veyri modestly, as much as she tried to conceal it, “What is it going to take you to come into Moniba’s team? You know we’re consistently third when it comes to the floors we clear in a week. Any hunter in your position would beg to carry my shoes and clean my crap if it meant joining.”
Stealing a glance at Sooty and feeling the worn leather chair he sat on, Luke said, “Veyri, let’s talk about something else first if that’s okay.”
The red-headed woman crossed her arms, pushed back her chair, and put her legs over the table. Leaning back, she said, “Shoot your shot, soldier.”
Luke blinked hard at the particular word soldier. Believing it a coincidence, he questioned Veyri, “What has you so desperate to recruit me? You wanted me before I became a Defier and before I ascended once.”
Veyri traced a finger up her long legs, “Wallace boy, do you understand anything about the silver-black tower?”
“It’s where combat types go after they hit tier two in this city, and…well, I know nothing else about it. Finding written information on it is difficult.”
“Combat types don’t go there. Combat teams do. Making any progress in Sylen without a team once you hit tier two is going to take exponentially more time and resources. The tower teams know this, so they hang their terms over the heads of anyone about, or recently became, a tier two.”
Running his hand over the wooden table repeatedly, Luke said, “You all have the advantage then. Why try to snatch me up? Waste of your precious tower team time, isn’t it?”
“Good points for a buffoon. Its competitive spirit, while the average hunter begs to be picked, the cream of the crop has their choice. Because those kinds are already an asset. Nothing about you screams average.”
“No need to insult my intelligence, you crass lady. And what do you tower groupies compete over?”
“Quite the term you used. Let’s get to it later, are you going to join in? The other teams in the top three aren’t actively recruiting currently.”
Luke sat straight, and the leather chair creaked back, “What are the terms?”
“You’ll be in a probationary period that lasts until your tier 2, after which you’ll go on what we call ‘Green Hide’ raids, which are exclusively done within the first ten floors. We get you accumulated to the tower, you level up to roughly sixty, and finally, you’ll be a reserve team member, with me as your captain.”
“Not particularly interested in having to deal with a probation. We can talk about this again when I hit tier two, not before. If it makes you feel better, I’ll prioritize coming to your team and test the waters.”
Veyri squinted her eyes at him, “Stop playing hard to get. During the probation, you’ll be with a team of tier 1’s handpicked by me. Melen ascended yesterday. You’ll be on the team I assigned him.”
Luke sighed, “I won’t be on any team. The Defier’s Guild covers the benefits I could want at this level. In the coming ten days, I need full control over my time. Sooty and I prefer to delve alone for now. Sorry for wasting your time, Veyri.”
With a tsk, Veyri tapped her bow, “Stubborn, that’ll be a hindrance unless you learn when it’s useful to have. This is not one of those times. You’re in danger, a sapling Defier with a pitiful amount of time to grow before a tide. Your High Defier will shield you, but he can’t give you time. As the youngest, you’ll be expected to take on Envoys.”
Veyri dragged her feet back off the table and shoved her chair forward, “Why not have Moniba’s resources help grow you as fast as possible in these ten days? Tier ones with the most potential in this city, supplied materials, potions, gold, armor-”
Interrupting, Luke said, “Veyri. What is the reason you’re a hunter, yet I’m a Defier? You’re stronger than me.”
Scoffing, Veyri said, “You managed to reach expert in Elementalization, and I’m stuck at adept. Might be stuck for decades if I don’t find the right opportunity, lucky bastard.”
“And that is why I’m not interested in joining another team for now. Items help me, but they don’t make me. If delving on my own, training with Musai, and fighting in the Spectral Wing alone,” Luke felt Sooty peck him in the arm, “Excuse me, if Sooty and I clear it alone, there is no other way to grow faster.”
“You’ve entered the Spectral Wing already? You must know how competitive it is from level thirty to the early forties. If you’re not careful, you’ll stagnate in the mid-thirties, unable to secure a spot that can give you experience.”
“What if I decide to clear out the Spectral Wing on my own? All this competitiveness comes from the fact too many hunters avoid it.”
“They avoid it as it’s deadlier by a long shot. Too many have finished a pull only to succumb to the unholy decay. Those with Essence Classes have it easier. Plenty of them are affected, only not completely. Without a method to pierce through the unholy energy the monsters in there have, you can’t clear it.”
She stretched back lazily, “Yes, I know you have a method. Everyone who reaches adept in elementalization can nullify that advantage. But that’s you. How will you find four others at the quality, yet also under level fifty?”
“I won’t have to. Sooty and I can handle it.”
“Looks like I won’t get through to you. I’ll blindly believe that you can clear the Spectral Wing without others. When it comes time for you to enter the Vampiric Wing, contact me again. Can you promise me that as compensation for my time?”
“I do owe you after that incident. You can count on me seeking you out if the Vampiric Wing becomes too much of a headache with the other hunters around.”
Stolen novel; please report.
Veyri stood up and roughly pushed in her hair. Opening the door to leave, she said, “Tell the elf girlfriend I’m going to snatch you to my team one of these days.” With a cocky grin, she said, “Hurry to reach the next tier, or I’ll leave you in the dust, Luke Wallace.”
Luke called out to Sooty, “Sooty, do I have a girlfriend I don’t know about?”
The crow hopped over to in front of him and clicked her beak in denial.
“Didn’t think so.”
“Maybe she’s talking about the lady with the owl and bear?” Xera said.
“Iona? She has enough boyfriends or suitors. Same thing if you consider that both sorts of guys want one thing. Nature is a hell of a drug.”
Pushing against the table, Luke slid back his chair and stood up. He waited for Sooty to hop up to his shoulder and righted his ruffled armor. That talk about women had Annika slither into his mind.
“I’ve had enough of crazy and powerful women.” Petting Sooty, Luke said, “Remind me when it’s time to meet Lilly, I think it’s in a couple of hours. We should go work on this Runic Enchanter business.”
“I’ll do it for you. That priest girl is adorable. Maybe I can surprise her the same way I did those kids today.”
“Go for it, people will stop being surprised about you before we know it.”
----------------------------------------
Luke was in the enchanter’s platform at the Defier’s branch.
Despite his best efforts, a particular Rune Warden was attached to him, and Luke had no Iona nearby to save him. Eldacar, whom Luke met earlier in this area, was nowhere to be seen. Only golems patrolled the walkways.
Annika had her arms over his shoulders and attached them to Luke like she was taking a piggyback ride because she was. One Luke did not want to give. At all.
Trying his best to adjust to Annika’s…way of doing things, Luke stared at the enchanter forge. The snow felt hood, a common item he looted back at the Beast Divide, rested faithfully against the black metal surface. An orb was attached to the apparatus; candles lined the top.
Annika whispered into his ear, “Now, Lukey, today you will try to put your Essence into the runes I laid around the forge.”
Overlaid on sections around the enchanter’s forge were runes sketched on parchment by Annika. While concentrating, he’d occasionally be distracted by Annika plucking a hair from his head or Xera speaking to Cedric.
They both laid their two-form weapons against a wall nearby. Cedric replied ever so dutifully to Xera, “Miss Xera, you are too driven by your nature instilled by our Divine Craftsmen creators. You were made to be a tool for slaughter, but it is not at all your only purpose.”
“Is that way I always want to slash and blast things? When I think of other stuff, it usually returns to the chest or boredom.”
“Indeed, our creators made each of the five of us like this, with slight variation. It is only through self-reflection you can regain a measure of control over yourself. You are a sword, and you are a wand. But you are also Xera.”
Assured that Cedric was slowly trying to alert Xera to her strange behavior, Luke failed to do the same for Cedric’s master. No matter what he said, Annika would do things the way she wanted, regardless of his protests.
Of course, if he genuinely became livid, she backed down. Luke preferred not to have to resort to anger constantly. Despite her quirks, she focused on helping him implement Rune control. These pieces of paper were the first step in getting Luke to etch runes properly, and once he could do that, enchant items.
The profession book significantly shortened the process, as if he had muscle memory, but the work needed to be done. Luke filled a rune that he considered close to the appearance of the infinity symbol. After repeated attempts, the rune flickered but sputtered at the final gap.
Annika took his hand in hers and whispered a ‘shh’ when he spoke, “Feel how I’m caressing and funneling the mana through your hand that is the conduit to this Rune.
Luke had a hard time taking this woman seriously when she occasionally drooled on him. Iona said Annika would calm down around him.
He did not believe that to be the case. Counter to Luke’s opinion of Annika’s external reactions, her internal knowledge was the real deal. Luke copied the mana flow Annika pushed through his hand with his essence. The rune lit up and remained glowing.
Putting a hand on Luke’s chest where the Spectral Heart was, Annika teased, “Most men would have their heart race if a girl were plastered to them like this. Do you not see me as a woman, Lukey?”
“You make me feel like a lab rat. Is a lab rat supposed to be attracted to the researcher, subjecting him to their whims?”
Annika giggled, “I’ve never done anything so rash to you. You’ll enjoy it too eventually, Lukey. You better learn quick, or the Envoys might take you away from me.”
That shifted Luke’s mood. If putting up with Annika’s personality taught him the proper knowledge to stay alive in ten days, he’d happily do it.
“What’s next?” Luke became curt.
“You’ve only lit up one of the seven runes I sketched to the Ether paper here. Concentrate on one at a time. Your wonder Annika is here to guide you the entire way. If you manage three today, I’ll let you try to do a basic Runic Enchant on that hood you have lying there.” She bit an earlobe, “You might be rewarded with more if you let me take a blood sample.”
“No vials, we agreed on that before you were allowed to teach me about runes without Iona’s supervision.”
“It won’t hurt long….” Annika persuaded.
“No means no. Swiper no swiping or whatever.”
Sighing with palpable disappointment, Annika grabbed Luke’s hand and guided it over to another rune, “Pay careful attention here. This one best responds when you spiral out your essence, or for me, my mana.”
As Luke learned about Runes, Sooty had given up on perching on Luke’s shoulders. She sat on top of a golem’s head, greeting servants with a caw whenever the golems came close by.
Sometime later, with Annika being far too personally involved, Luke had successfully gotten three runes to light up.
“Can’t the etch skill do this for me?” Luke said, as sweat came down his brow, he occasionally emitted frost to prevent any significant perspiration.
“It can Lukey, take a look at your Etch skill now. And you’ll understand why the sexy scholar Annika is stressing you this way.”
More like scary scholar. Luke pulled up the Etch skill he learned from the profession book.
[Etch] (Progression 45%)
Etch runes with essence and suitable materials onto the item. Based on rune combination, potency, and order, as well as quantity of runes, an effect on the item is either added, removed, refined, or boosted. Failed attempts can degrade an item. Repeated failed attempts will permanently damage an item, lowering its quality by one grade. Higher quality materials, essence control and quality, and skill level will allow greater feats with diminished chances of failure.
“This is one of the ways to earn progression for a professional skill?” Luke asked.
“You’ll be my star pupil soon.” She massaged Luke’s shoulders, “A good student would help a teacher with her research.”
“A good teacher focuses on teaching and not alternative goals.”
Taking the refusal in stride, Annika instead aimed for commitment, “As your good teacher, you’ll be required to come spend two hours a day in the evening to learn Runes with me. When we need a hand on your enchanting portion, I’ll poke Tanniv to assist your favorite teacher.”
Luke had to admit the progress with Annika was substantial, he altered her terms, “If I keep seeing worthwhile growth, I’ll show. But if I think my time is best used elsewhere, that’s what I’ll do.”
“Challenging your teacher already? What a troublesome student, and to think when we first met you asked me to stay with you forever.”
“I never said that.”
“Oh? But you’re right, it was you confessing your eternal love to help me with research, wasn’t it? Silly me.”
Luke sighed. Annika’s shameless ability to twist things was outside his ability to handle. Especially as she’d been a great help to him so far. The mask alone opened up plenty of options for him.
That thought got him to switch subjects, “Thanks for the mask. It’s already been useful.”
“A love confession? I’m not ready, Lukey, give your teacher some time. We have to kindle our bond with care.”
“Shut up.”
Putting an arm over her forehead while leaning back slightly, she clamped her legs down on his torso for support, “You can’t hide your feelings, Lukey. You could at least order me wine before asking me to bed…”
Wine? Wait, why do I feel like I’m missing something here? The crack of thunder struck through Luke’s mind. Shit, it’s time to go meet Lilly. This lesson has been way longer than the thirty minutes I promised.
“Okay, Annika, it’s time I go. I’ve got a commitment I made earlier that needs attending to.”
“Which girl are you cheating on me with this time?” Annika said, oddly present with a tinge of jealousy so well done that Luke couldn’t tell if it was manufactured or natural.
“This time? What the? You know what? Never mind, get off me please, I’m going to go meet Lilly.” Luke shook Annika off, who, despite her earlier words, actually let Luke go free.
Annika clapped several times, and Cedric smacked against the floor in spear form to land back in Annika’s holster. Luke picked up Xera, and Sooty reclaimed her rightful spot on his shoulder.
On Luke’s hurried way out to the entrance of the Defier’s guild, Annika called out, “I’ll be sure to learn all about this Lilly girl trying to steal away my research subject. Class dismissed.”