A System message appeared, its text unfurling across Justin’s vision.
[You have reached Level 14. Life, like a fine suit, is often tailored with difficulty. Yet it is in those difficulties that greatness takes shape. Keep walking the path with dignity—it will always be worth it.]
Justin blinked and tilted his head slightly as the ethereal interface expanded before him.
[You have two Attribute Points to distribute.]
Justin smiled, touching the Sapphire Star resting on his chest, which pulsed at his touch. By now, he had as many Attribute Points as a character at least ten or even twenty levels higher than he was.
It was not a bad position to be in.
Without hesitation, Justin allocated both to Charisma. The number on the interface flickered briefly before updating:
[Your Charisma is now 42.]
[Your Amulet of Equilibrium has ascended! It now grants you +7 to all other Attributes.]
The next message followed immediately:
[As a Level 14 Gentleman, you have unlocked your next boon. Choose wisely—there is no going back.]
Justin studied the interface as two options materialized before him.
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Refined Riposte
Your mastery of grace allows you to turn defense into offense. Whenever you successfully dodge an attack, you immediately counter with a precise strike that never misses, provided your enemy is within reach. Each successful counter-attack grants you Momentum, increasing your combat speed by 10%. Momentum can stack up to two times, but the effect ends after 10 seconds.
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Chameleon Charm
Your sharp instincts and innate charisma allow you to seamlessly adapt to the customs and etiquette of the society you find yourself in. After brief observation, you can skillfully mirror speech patterns, mannerisms, and social cues, reducing suspicion or hostility. With Chameleon Charm, you are always at home, no matter where you find yourself.
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Justin stared at the two options hovering before him, their descriptions glowing faintly in the ethereal interface.
Refined Riposte sounded familiar. He could have sworn it, or a similar boon, had accompanied the Duelist Focus he had passed on. The name of that boon returned to him: Elegant Counter. The difference between Refined Riposte and Elegant Counter was that the latter promised double damage during the counter while this one didn't. Even so, it promised a clear edge in combat—a counterattack that never missed, coupled with a speed boost. While not as powerful as the Duelist version, it still thematically fit his Gentleman Focus, which functioned as a jack-of-all-trades type of Focus.
Refined Riposte would pair well with his current combat capabilities. It was easy to imagine a situation where he boosted his evasion via Seraphis's Clarity, while the sum total of his Attributes would grant even more through his Essence of a Gentleman boon. Not only that, he had a guaranteed dodge skill that was certain to trigger the riposte, potentially making him a whirlwind of elegance in combat.
It was an undeniably powerful boon, one that could very well save his life in the dangerous situations he kept stumbling into.
And yet, he was torn because there was Chameleon Charm, a deceptively simple offering that Justin suspected was better than it first appeared. It wouldn’t help him in a fight, true, but Justin had already seen firsthand how much easier life could be when he fit in seamlessly. Manners and customs were difficult to pull off for those not raised in them, and the higher the class, the more arbitrary the rules. If he ever wanted to rub shoulders with the rich and powerful, it would always be a mark against him. He would have to hire tutors to teach him proper etiquette, and that could take years to get right. And teaching could only carry you so far; at some point, you had to practice what you learned in the field and suffer setbacks and embarrassments on the journey there.
He had grown up without much money, only getting into college because of decent grades. But even in his hometown and in college, the rich children had different ways of acting and behaving that were subtle and not always easy to pin down—cues that gave them preferential treatment and certain advantages. Justin could best describe it as "entitled providence." Because they believed they should have it, they got it. And these affectations were absorbed from birth.
Chameleon Charm would give him an incredible advantage. Because it was a boon; there were no cooldowns. He would simply be better at doing and saying the right things after observing them in action. It would be incredibly nice not to have to worry about that.
Another thought occurred to Justin. If everything Valdrik said about Earthers and the Templars of Arion was true, then blending in was a matter of survival. He wasn't sure if audiences with nobility, or even royalty, lay ahead of him. But if he didn't know the proper protocol and he was styling himself as a Gentleman, wouldn't that lead to questions about his past?
Still, it gnawed at him. The last boon he’d chosen had been social-focused, and while it had saved him with Valdrik, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he might be setting himself up for failure by doubling down on yet another social-based skill.
Yet the idea of walking into any room, any society, and commanding respect—even among those who would look down on him—was too tempting to ignore.
Social Chameleon was a different manifestation of the "Survive to Kill" mantra. Refined Riposte would definitely aid him in the combat sphere, but Justin aspired to leave that life behind one day. And already, as a Gentleman, he was punching far above his weight with his greatly boosted Attributes.
He let out a slow breath. Sometimes survival wasn't just about winning the fight. It was making sure the fight never happened in the first place.
With a decisive mental click, he selected Chameleon Charm.
[You have chosen Chameleon Charm. The finest tool of a true Gentleman is the ability to adapt with grace and poise. With Chameleon Charm, no door is closed to you, no society is beyond your reach.]
With that, the Voice of the System departed, and he found himself back in the cave.
As they ate breakfast, the party shared news of their level-ups and newfound abilities. Lila revealed her new skill upon reaching Level 13: Siren Song. The ability allowed her to calm and entrance enemies within its range, potentially turning a chaotic battle into something more manageable.
“It’s not flashy,” she admitted, “but I’d rather end fights before they start.”
Justin nodded approvingly as Eldrin announced he had reached Level 14, putting Justin on equal footing with him, at least in levels. Eldrin’s new boon, Quick Shot, allowed him to draw and fire his bow faster without losing accuracy, making him even deadlier in ranged combat.
“One shot’s all I need,” Eldrin said, inspecting the string of his new Eclipse Weaver bow.
Justin turned to Kargan, surprised to learn that the Blood Warden had advanced to Level 10, allowing him to adopt a Focus. He chose something called the Sanguine Rejuvenator, which he said would help his healing abilities. He said he was torn between it and another one that would have him more focused on producing stronger shields, but more than anything, he wanted to use his magic to heal.
Kargan’s new Focus Boon, Crimson Reservoir, gave him a pool of pure Life Force outside himself that he could draw directly from the Nether. This, he said, would give him an extra resource for casting heavy healing spells before he was forced to tap into his own reserves.
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"Who knows," Kargan said. "Maybe for the smaller fights, I won't even have to draw from my own Life Force at all."
Finally, all eyes turned to Ryak. Unlike the others, he was quiet about his boon, offering only a cryptic explanation. “It strengthens my defenses,” he said simply, his pale blue eyes distant. “Enough to hold the line when it matters.”
They were growing stronger with every step of the journey, but so was the Baron. As they packed up and prepared to move out, Justin couldn’t help but wonder how much further they would need to climb before they were ready to face what lay ahead.
The party emerged from the cavern into the weak twilight of the Hallowed Fjord, the sun not even high enough to show its face. Justin's eyes quickly adjusted to the dim light. Today was warmer, so there was probably no need for the Vorthak's Flame, but he could activate it when the occasion called for it.
Ryak strode forward, leading the group into the grove of shimmering aurora trees just outside the cave. Eldrin followed close behind, his gaze sweeping over the silver needles in quiet fascination. Ryak motioned him closer to one of the trees, pointing to a perfectly spherical globule of aurora sap that had fallen to the ground beneath. The orb glowed iridescently, shifting colors with the faintest movement of light. Justin couldn't help but notice the similarity to the Prismatic Core he had picked up all the way back in the Wildwood Forest.
“This one is yours,” Ryak said solemnly, stepping aside to let Eldrin approach. "It's the least our people can do for your assistance. Just a little bit in your potions will go a long way."
Eldrin moved forward, carefully plucking the sap globule and placing it into a large glass vial. He studied it closely, his eyes narrowing in thought before lighting up with recognition. “This is...incredible. I can tell it’s excellent for healing."
Ryak nodded. “Indeed. Aurora sap is a potent accelerator for all healing potions. Mix it into any potion, and its effects will be twice as powerful—sometimes more, depending on your talents as an alchemist. It can mix with just about any beneficial effect. But it will ruin any poisons you try to mix, with sometimes extremely volatile effects. So, be careful with that.”
Eldrin nodded, sealing the vial and tucking it safely into his pack. “Then this will be of great use to me. Thank you, Ryak, for allowing this.”
Justin, who had been observing the exchange from a short distance, stepped closer. “What got you into potions so much, Eldrin? Is it just your class, or something more?”
The Ranger’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the question. He hesitated before answering. “Well, if I had my way, I’d be more of a healer than a damage dealer. Anytime the Voice gives me a choice between potion craft or something else, well, I'm inclined to choose the potions. The world has enough pain and sorrow." He hesitated a moment. "There’ve been...times in my life where I wished I could fix the pain caused to those I cared about.”
Eldrin’s voice trailed off, and he seemed reluctant to elaborate. His expression tightened briefly before he shook his head. “But we don’t need to talk about that.”
The offhand comment left Justin thoughtful. He wasn’t sure if it was his keen Socialite instincts or the fact that he and Eldrin had grown closer, but something about the Ranger’s tone seemed to hint at a deeper story.
Justin pressed lightly. “What do you mean, Eldrin?”
The Ranger’s expression hardened slightly as he shook his head again. “Let’s focus on the task at hand.”
“Of course,” Justin said with a shrug. He glanced at the others. “We should probably get moving. The Baron and his men aren’t going to wait for us.”
Ryak, who had been gazing toward the next bend in the fjord, turned back to the group. “That they are, no. We need to get to the end of this place. If you think these aurora trees are impressive, just wait until you see Kythralis, the Heart of Winter.”
Justin raised an eyebrow. “Kythralis?”
Ryak nodded, his voice tinged with reverence. “It’s the oldest and largest aurora tree in all the fjords, sacred to the Iceborne. Its sap is said to have the power to heal wounds that no magic can touch, and its roots run so deep that they are said to drink from the veins of the world. To my people, it is more than a tree—it is a symbol of life and endurance in the North. We won't be stopping there, of course. Even I wouldn't dare bring any of you within the shelter of its boughs; the Ancestors can only tolerate so much. But we will pass within sight of it to enter the Aurora Caverns."
"Underground again," Justin said.
"Better than this wind," Kargan said with a shudder.
Ryak nodded. "Indeed. We must choose between the danger of the elements or the danger of the monsters that call the Aurora Caverns home. Not as large as the networks of the Seraphims, of course, but still quite deep. Ethereal veins from the Heart of the World itself extend as far as the deepest caverns there. In older days, when the Iceborne were stronger, they would sometimes be mined. No longer. Our path will not take us to that depth. But hopefully, far enough to get us out of Land's End and back on the caravan routes that lead from Kaldrath to Draegor's Keep."
"That's where we'll have to choose our direction, right?" Justin asked.
Ryak nodded. "That's right. It's hard to imagine the Baron finding us in the fjords here, but it's quite possible that he will find us in the Frostplain beyond, where there is little shelter on the tundra. He knows our general direction, and I don't want to underestimate his capabilities."
"Well said," Eldrin said. "None of this can be put to rest until we reach Mont Elea."
Justin remained quiet. Yes, there was that. The original plan had been to peel off at Draegor's Keep, with Lila with him at least, but now he wasn't so sure. Would it be possible for him to go to Mont Elea and keep his identity secret? For all he knew, the Baron was lying about the Templars hunting down Earthers, but something told him there was at least some truth to it.
In that case, perhaps his new Chameleon Charm boon would help him blend in.
"We had better not waste any more time," Justin finally said.
With that, the party set off, their steps crunching over frost and snow as they made their way toward the sacred heart of the fjord.
As they walked, Justin checked his character sheet to see how the numbers stacked up:
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Name: Justin Talemaker
Class: Socialite (Gentleman Focus)
Level: 14
Experience to Level 15: 21,227/6,000 (Level-up available!)
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Attributes:
Power: 20 (10 + 10)
Coordination: 18 (10 + 8)
Endurance: 19 (10 + 9)
Intellect: 17 (10 + 7)
Perception: 17 (10 + 7)
Charisma: 49 (42 + 7)
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Stat-boosting Equipment:
The Cane of the Drake: +6 Charisma, +2 Power
The Coat of Highcliff’s Elegance: +1 Endurance, +1 Coordination
Squire’s Armlet: +1 to Power
Invari Ambassador Boots: +1 to Endurance
The Amulet of Equilibrium: Divides your highest base Attribute by six, then applies the result to all other Attributes. Attribute cap lifted. Highest base Attribute: Charisma (Base 42): +7 to Power, Coordination, Endurance, Intellect, and Perception.
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Stat-boosting Boons:
Stately Presence: +1 Charisma
Draconic Luster: +3 Charisma (base)
Eyrth’s Ascension: +14 Charisma (base)
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Looking at the huge pool of experience points from the Vault, Justin was practically guaranteed to get two more level-ups. That would put him at Level 16.
After surviving the horrors of the last Vault, he expected nothing less.
With Ryak in the lead, the party continued their trek down the Hallowed Fjord. Hours passed in near silence, the only sounds the crunch of boots and the occasional whistle of the icy wind. The fjord seemed to narrow the further they went, its towering walls pressing inward until it felt more like a canyon.
The sun dipped lower on the horizon, and as the wind picked up, Justin activated his Vorthak's Flame once more. It was hard to tell how far they had walked—fifteen, maybe twenty miles—but the journey dragged on, each step heavier than the last.
At last, Ryak came to a halt in the darkness, turning back to face them. His breath clouded the air as he spoke. “We’re nearly there. Just around this bend is Kythralis. About a mile more.”
Eldrin nodded. “Lead on, Ryak.”
They had been walking a few more minutes when the Ranger frowned. "I smell something...strange."
There was a shift in the wind, and Justin smelled it too. A tendril of fear snaked down his spine. It was unmistakable, smoky but strangely sweet. "Fire?"
Justin noticed Ryak's pace quicken. His normally composed features tightened with unease.
"No," Ryak said, shaking his head. "We don't allow fire this close to Kythralis."
"That's definitely fire," Justin said.
Lila's face paled. "But that would mean..."
Without waiting, Ryak broke into a sprint.
“Wait!” Eldrin called, his voice sharp as he picked up the pace, following closely behind. Justin exchanged a glance with Lila and Kargan before running after them.
Minutes later, they rounded another bend—and froze.
What lay before them was a valley, its sheer walls rising high around the edges, cradling a tree so massive its boughs stretched beyond the top of the fjord itself. Kythralis was breathtaking, its silvery bark glowing faintly in the twilight and its enormous branches draped in shimmering aurora-like foliage.
But it was surrounded by a ring of fire, perilously close to defiling the sacred tree. The fire roared hungrily, its orange and red tendrils licking at some sort of shield surrounding the tree’s trunk and lower boughs. The red flames cast a hellish glow across the valley. Strange shapes could be discerned among the flames, seeming to spread them closer to the tree in an attempt to break the shield.
Ryak stumbled to a halt, his eyes wide with disbelief. “No,” he whispered. “This cannot be happening.”
Justin stared, the pit in his stomach growing deeper with every second. "It's Valdrik. It has to be."
"But how?" Lila asked. "There's no way for him to be ahead of us!"
"Come on," Ryak called. "There may yet be time to save it."
Ryak sprinted forward, not waiting for everyone else. Justin and the others followed.