As they passed beyond the red veil, the Vault entrance opened into a wide, icy cave. Valdrik muttered a few arcane words, casting a light spell that hovered above his head. It illuminated about ten meters in every direction. The light crackled like lightning, a swirling, electric blue ball of energy half a meter wide. It pulsed, giving off a strange, fluorescent sheen, casting sharp shadows on the frozen walls.
It wasn’t as powerful as Alistair’s Creator’s Light. That could illuminate much further and seemed to radiate with every spectrum. Then again, Justin doubted Valdrik had access to Life Magic, given his Death Affinity.
Thinking of Alistair filled Justin with a pang of hopelessness. He saw no way out. It was certain that one or more of them would end up as collateral. Either the Baron or the Vault’s trials would kill them.
“Wolfram, Gareth,” the Baron commanded. “Scout ahead.”
The two men obeyed, slipping past the Baron’s light. They vanished into the shadows at its edge, leaving seven party members behind.
The icy stalagmites and columns sparkled around them, slick with frost. The cave was quickly lost in darkness, though it was clear this cavern was quite vast.
“What now?” Ryak asked.
“We wait for information,” Valdrik replied.
Justin supposed that was a wise choice, to see what the threats were before moving to engage them.
For about an hour, they remained at the entrance, undisturbed. For a Level 35 Vault, Justin had expected a flood of enemies right from the start. Instead, they were granted an unexpected reprieve. He couldn’t complain, but the stillness felt like the calm before the storm.
Kargan cast his Ward of Aegis, while Rothian and Eldrin took turns watching the perimeter.
Valdrik urged them to get some rest, warning it might be a while. Still, the thought of sleeping seemed laughable.
After a time, Eldrin approached Justin and Lila, his expression grave. “I can’t pretend to know what we’re in for, but I’ve read enough to know that Red Vaults are longer and more involved. They can take days to clear.”
Justin let out a bitter laugh. The idea of being trapped with a confirmed psychopath for that long was unbearable. “I’d rather throw myself off a cliff.”
“Red Vaults are known for their rewards, though,” Eldrin continued, ignoring the remark. “Experience, treasure. Sometimes there are checkpoints or ways to escape early, if you’re lucky. So don’t lose hope. It might be wise to get some rest and earn the level. You two have earned it.”
He patted Justin’s shoulder before walking back to Kargan, likely to offer him a similar pep talk.
Lila watched him go. “Notice how he’s not trying to catch a nap?”
Justin gave a humorless chuckle. “Well, at least I’ll get a new skill. Hopefully, it’ll help me survive.”
“I got 2,000 experience from that last fight,” Lila said. “Enough to get me past Level 10.”
“That means you can choose your Focus,” Justin said. “Maybe you’ll get something like ‘Escape Artist.’ And it would let us warp out of a Vault once a day.”
Lila managed a laugh, but it was half-hearted.
Justin heaved a sigh. “We’re doomed, aren’t we?”
The silence stretched between them before she spoke again, her voice low. “Hard to shake the feeling that all hope is gone.”
Justin had no words of comfort. He stared into the darkness beyond the light’s edge. The stillness made his skin crawl. He glanced up at the Baron’s sickly light source. “Creator’s Light is better.”
Valdrik caught the words, giving him an amused glance. “Each kind of magic has its specialties. This spell, ‘Floating Lightning,’ serves its purpose well enough. Air magic, for reference.”
“So you can’t use Life Magic, then?”
“No, those magics are closed to me,” Valdrik confirmed. “I’m a Disciple of Morvath, after all. But my cants allow me to draw from the Foundation Language of Vranthillis. With the right words, I can access any school of magic.” He tilted his head. “I could teach you, you know.”
“Thanks, but I have no desire to become a Death Mage.”
“Suit yourself.” Valdrik’s eyes gleamed with something like satisfaction. “Just remember. The Nether offers powers that some might consider…enlightening.”
“Thought you were going to say ‘unnatural’.”
Valdrik frowned, aware that there was some reference he was missing. “Ask your friend Kargan if he disagrees.”
“Don’t bring me into this,” Kargan said.
“As you wish,” Valdrik said.
Justin ignored him. Despite their perilous situation, he realized that rest might be his best bet. The party was safe from Valdrik’s attacks due to being in the same party. So, there was no immediate threat, at least in theory.
Justin lay down on the cold ground, tugging his parka close to form something of a barrier.
“You’re insane,” Lila whispered.
“If it’s my time, it’s my time,” Justin replied with a shrug. “Kargan and Eldrin are on guard. A couple of hours is better than nothing. I suggest you join me so you can get your own level-up.”
“It has to be a decent enough sleep, or it won’t work,” Lila said.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Lila sighed. “I’m exhausted, too. And the level-up would be useful. It would at least unlock my Focus.”
“Just stay close to me,” Justin said.
He had made it seem like he was protecting her, but he wanted her nearby for his own sake, too. She lay down a few inches away from him.
With a final glance at the surrounding shadows, Justin closed his eyes. Sleep enveloped him.
----------------------------------------
[You have reached Level 11. Remember, that no matter the situation, a Gentleman is never without his faculties.]
Justin blinked awake to find a small fire now burned in the center of the group, adding light and warmth. That had to have been the handiwork of Rothian the Pyromancer. They had to have been asleep for a good while for the System to level him up, though it only felt as if a few hours had passed.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
[As a Level 11 Gentleman, you have one Attribute Point to distribute.]
Justin locked it into Charisma without hesitation.
[Your Charisma is now: 22]
Justin nodded in satisfaction. He was two levels away from getting it to 24, which would add another +1 to all his other Attributes.
[As a Level 11 Gentleman, you have unlocked your next class skill. Choose wisely! There is no going back.]
Justin evaluated both options that the System offered him.
Gentleman’s Sidestep: The true art of the duel lies in not being touched. Avoid all damage from a single attacker for five seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute.
Gentleman’s Blitz: Refined form equates to relentless force. Gain 50% increased attack speed versus a single target for 5 seconds. Each hit has a chance to stun for five seconds. The percentage chance is your Charisma minus your target’s Charisma.
Cooldown: 45 seconds.
----------------------------------------
Justin stared at the two shimmering options before his interface. Each skill was tempting in its own way, so he had to think carefully. This next decision could make or break him, given the stakes.
The first option, Gentleman’s Sidestep, had an undeniable appeal. To completely evade damage was a powerful advantage. It meant stepping aside right as an enemy’s blade or spell struck. There was nothing in the description that said there was a limit to the power of the attacker. He could dodge them, no matter how strong or skilled they were, for five seconds. Combined with his other dodge-related abilities, it made survivability even more likely.
Five seconds wasn’t long, but in the heat of combat, it might be all he’d need to stay in the fight longer. To evade a life-ending blow, buy time for a potion, or to beat a hasty retreat.
But then there was Gentleman’s Blitz. This option whispered to his more aggressive instincts. The rush of dashing forward, the thrill of increasing his speed against a single foe. It was a skill that could shift the balance of a fight.
With this skill, he could close the gap with a truly dangerous foe. He would overwhelm them with speed and finesse, his cane striking faster than they could parry. And each blow had the potential to stun his target, offering an opening for a lethal follow-up. Against the right enemy, it was the type of skill that could end a fight outright. And unlike most people, he had a way to boost his Charisma to ridiculous levels. It all but guaranteed a stun while the skill was active.
He took a breath. He weighed each skill against the mantra he’d been repeating since Drakendir: Survive to Kill.
Was Gentleman’s Blitz survivable? Yes, if he could eliminate an enemy swiftly enough. It played into his Charisma, gave him a burst of speed, and would let him dominate a one-on-one encounter, much like the Duelist Focus. It would be especially useful against low-level enemies. Or, those with low Charisma.
But Gentleman’s Sidestep gave him the surety of survival in ways that weren’t dependent on beating his foe in a few previous seconds. He’d be enduring, outlasting, and surviving.
The choice was clear. Even if Gentleman’s Sidestep wasn’t as flashy, it was the superior skill, at least for his build. Indeed, the true art of the duel lay in not being touched.
His survival, by any means, was key when one mistake could cost everything.
[You have chosen: Gentleman’s Sidestep.]
As the skill’s knowledge settled, a cool, instinctual understanding washing over Justin’s mind. He could feel the timing in his muscles. A whisper of motion to guide his steps when the next deadly strike came.
[Go forth, Brave Adventurer, and let no strike mar your impeccable composure.]
The voice of the System—Veyrith—departed. Justin was now alone with Lila, who was already awake.
“I’ve chosen my Focus,” she whispered.
Justin arched an eyebrow. “Oh? What did you choose?”
She beamed. “Juggler. There were so many tempting choices, but Juggler was the one that called out the most. It’ll help me with both my knife-throwing and survivability.”
“Makes sense. What’s your Focus Boon?”
“It’s called Dance of Blades. Each thrown knife boosts my Coordination by 1 for ten seconds and can stack as high as my level.”
“Damn, that sounds powerful. We need to get you more knives. You could sit at a permanent +10 in Coordination if you throw fast enough. Plus, your Amulet of Everblade can keep the knives flowing.”
“That’s why I chose it! Seems I’m falling into a damage dealer role, mostly. Might as well specialize in it.”
Justin was about to respond when he spied something in the darkness ahead. A brief flash of light, almost like a flame. It disappeared almost as soon as he saw it.
He turned back to the group. Eldrin was the only one awake. Rothian was curled up next to the fire, asleep, along with Ryak and Kargan, who kept a healthy distance. Valdrik, to Justin’s surprise, was also asleep. It was strange to think of the man as needing sleep as much as they did, but Justin supposed he was flesh and blood, too.
He turned back to Lila. “Did you see that?”
“See what?”
“Thought I saw something over there. Like a flame.”
“Could be one of those elemental wraiths.”
Eldrin approached them. “Is there a problem?”
“Thought I saw something like a fire out there.”
Eldrin peered in that direction, his eyes roving. “I detect nothing that wishes us harm, but in a place like this, I’m not taking any chances. We should wake the others.”
At that moment, two figures manifested from the darkness outside the Baron’s light spell. Gareth and Wolfram stalked forward, going straight to the Baron. Valdrik’s eyes opened at their approach as he rose to greet them.
“This cavern is completely clear,” Gareth began, his voice like the rattle of dead leaves.
“You sure about that?” Justin asked, interrupting before Valdrik could speak.
Gareth’s gray, undead eyes turned to Justin, filling him with an icy chill. “Why? Did you see something, mortal?”
“Mortal? You trying to scare me or something?”
Gareth gave a slight smile, his gray, cadaverous lips showing a slight upturn.
“You shouldn’t antagonize him,” Lila whispered.
“This undead asshole killed Alistair,” Justin said.
“Yes, I did,” Gareth said. “And what do you plan to do about it?”
“Nothing,” Ryak said, answering for Justin. “We intend to work together, not sow discord.” The Iceborne gave Justin a stony gaze, one more intense than anything he had ever seen. “The survival of my people depends on it.”
Justin nodded. He owed Ryak for bringing the wraiths to the beach and forcing the Baron’s hand. But he couldn’t forget he was the reason they were on this island in the first place.
“Report your findings,” Valdrik said.
Wolfram took over. “This is a large cavern, with three possible passages out. Two branch off and lead deep underneath the island. The last one was burrowed out by the drake himself through the glacier. There was a magical barrier blocking it, beyond which we could see some elemental wraiths. They didn’t seem to notice us.”
“Magical barrier?” Valdrik asked. “What did it look like?”
“It was blue,” Wolfram said. “It had some glowing runes on it.”
“Some sort of Arcane Ward, most likely,” Valdrik said. “Drakes are usually practitioners of the Arcane School.”
“Arcane School?” Justin asked.
“The most basic of magic schools, from which wizards get their Cants of Arcanis. It should be simple enough to counter, since Vranthillis is a higher language. If not, it likely means there is something in this Vault we’ll need to unlock it.”
Eldrin stepped forward. “Justin said he saw something over there in the darkness. A fire of some sort.”
Valdrik scanned the direction Eldrin indicated, then turned back to his scouting party. “Was that either of you?”
“No, my lord,” Gareth said.
Valdrik stepped into the shadows, his form partially swallowed by the darkness. He raised his pale hand, signaling the others to stay back. “A moment. This might feel…strange.”
With a smooth movement, he lifted his staff, speaking an incantation in Vranthillis. Each syllable seemed to curl through the air, dark and twisted. As the last word left his lips, a surge of inky darkness shot outward at great speed. An unsettling wail tore through the cave as it passed.
Justin felt a chill coil around his chest, sinking deeper with each breath. For a moment, panic gripped him, but he remembered they were in the same party. It couldn’t harm them. Right?
“Wh…what was that?” Kargan stammered, his eyes wide and haunted.
“Cant of Life Detection,” Baron said. “A Death Spell. There are only seven living beings in this cavern, which includes all living members of our party. If there was something out there, it must have been one of those wraiths. Especially if you saw fire.”
“We should destroy it,” Rothian said. “It could ambush us while we are investigating the barrier.”
“Perhaps,” Valdrik said. “Then again, that may prove unnecessary, or even dangerous. Besides, we have Kargan’s Ward of Aegis. It’s a powerful little spell, as it will always tank at least one hit, no matter how powerful. It’s enough to give us enough reaction time.”
Justin saw what Valdrik was doing. He was ingratiating himself with Kargan. It was obvious he saw his Blood Warden abilities as a boon, and his affinity for Chaos Magic as a useful asset.
Worse, Justin noticed Kargan was standing too close to him. He didn’t think Kargan would turn his back on them. But the orc was vulnerable, and all he wanted was a sense of belonging.
Valdrik, as a Death Mage and master manipulator, could give that to him.
It was a horrible thought, but Justin could see it happening. He had to keep an eye on him.
“We move,” Valdrik said, interrupting Justin’s thoughts. The Baron nodded to Gareth. “Lead the way to this barrier.”
“At once, my lord.”
With that, they packed up and headed off into the darkness, the Baron’s source of light following above.
----------------------------------------
Name: Justin Talemaker
Class: Socialite (Gentleman Focus)
Level: 11
Experience to Level 12: 27/2700
----------------------------------------
Attributes:
Power: 14 (10 + 4)
Coordination: 14 (10 + 4)
Endurance: 15 (10 + 5)
Intellect: 13 (10 + 3)
Perception: 14 (10 + 4)
Charisma: 24 (22 + 2)