Chapter 8: The Brother

“Easy there, don’t drop her...”

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“-you the town alchemist? She drank some weird potion…”

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“-should have never let you out of my sight…”

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Risa woke with a *gasp*. Surely the shaman would- “Hey Martin, she’s awake!” Sammi’s voice rung out. Ah. Yes. The kobloid shaman was dead. And apparently, Risa wasn’t. Martin came into the room, which Risa now recognized as one of the bedrooms in the Hunter’s Guild. “Well, nice to see you return to the land of the living.”

“… how long was I out?”, asked Risa. “Two days. Your injuries were relatively minor, all things considered, but that potion did a number on you. There’s a reason that Aaron guy ‘left’ the Alchemy Academy. Luckily, he was still good enough to whip up a draught that got it all out of your system.” Risa noticed a bucket next to her bed and wondered who had to deal with all that mess.

She got up, slowly at first, then returned to normal speed. The sensation of her body outpacing her mind still felt fresh. “There was… someone else in the room, wasn’t there? Someone… angry?” Martin looked a little ashamed. “Ah, yeah, that would be… *sigh* that would be Preston Layborne, second in line to inherit from my father. He also happens to be my older brother, as well as the one who dragged me out here while he was supposed to be training me in the art of dungeon combat. He was the one who abandoned me for some ‘Steelwood Bark’ that can upgrade his Living Armor, but he was still mad at me for trying to get some combat in in spite of him.”

Risa took a bit to absorb that. Martin’s alleged ‘usual third member’ was actually another noble. Not even a noble in-name-only like Martin, but someone who could very well inherit an entire Earldom. Presumably, he was meant to keep his younger brother from… well, having the very kind of near-death experience he did, in fact, have.

Sammi and Martin walked Risa out of the room and down the stairs, going to the Guild receptionist. Martin paid for Risa’s stay in full. Risa protested a bit, until she heard how much it would actually cost. She wasn’t made of silver, after all. It was only when they went outside that they encountered someone in a tall suit of armor that looked like it was carved from a tree, including bits that still had actual leaves. Despite the mild humor that could be found in that, Risa got the sense that the armor was actually quite powerful, or at least, powerful enough to stop anything she could throw at it.

“The infamous Risa, I presume?”, asked the armored man. “Ah… yes, sir. And may I presume you are Preston Layborne?” The man sighed. “Yes, I suppose my fool brother has told you about me. Just as he has told me much about you. He says you have saved his life… although, I gather you may have been the one who requested that fateful dungeon run in the first place, hmm?” Risa looked at Martin with a bit of a glare, which he returned with a helpless shrug.

“We all agreed to go to the dungeon a second time, after the first had gone so smoothly. How were we to know that we had all deeply underestimated it?” Preston gave a thoughtful look… or at least, Risa thought he did, under the armor. After a while he responded. “Yes, I too would have likely assumed this… “Proving Ground” dungeon was no more than what met the eye. Dungeons that hide their capabilities are a rare breed, after all, even more so at the lower levels. Thus, I concur with my brother: you were not at fault for putting him in such a situation.” Martin let out a breath that Risa didn’t know he was holding. Had there actually been a risk of the whole thing being declared ‘her fault’?

“Martin, I have already discussed with you at length the shear ignorance required to eschew an experienced dungeon guide such as myself for a mere three days’ head start. As such, I will leave the topic alone… until we return to Father, that is.” Martin groaned. “Protector Sammi, you were somewhat remiss in allowing the second boss run after the first was cleared so suddenly… thus, I shall recommend your clan improve their education regimen on dungeon lore.” Sammi gulped. “As for you, Risa…”

“…I thank you.” Risa had not been expecting that, and from the look of it, Martin wasn’t either. “My brother may have skill in earth magic but knows little of true life-and-death combat. I fear that, without your timely aid, he and his Squire would have perished in that cave. Though I had given him strict instructions, I may have been… hmm, bending my own instructions, slightly, by taking him here, as opposed to a more established village. As such, his demise would have reflected poorly on myself.” “Gee, thanks.”, said Martin.

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“Silence, fool brother.”, declared Preston. “As such, Risa, if you have a boon to ask, and I can grant it, you may have it.” Risa was getting… a reward? In theory she could ask for money, but her father would likely find and spend anything too valuable. She could ask for a job, as a way of perhaps getting closer to a magic academy… but Martin already had a Squire, and working for a random stuck-up noble could drive her mad. So, what to ask for… wait. There was something. She looked back at her messages from the Aleph.

New Skill (Hidden World) Unlocked

Mana Pool Unlocked

That gave her an idea. “If it would be alright, I would like to work with Martin and Sammi for a few more days?” Preston was silent. Risa realized her mistake. “N-not in a dungeon, mind you! Just outside. Martin is the first true mage I’ve ever met, you see, and I want to learn as much as I can from him before he goes back to the Academy.”

Preston slowly nodded. “Hmm, I see you understand the value of magic, despite being a warrior. Were magical abilities so easily taught, everyone would have them… but I suppose any knowledge from an Academy would be precious to a commoner. Very well, it is an acceptable reward. We shall remain in this village for one week, during which time none of you are to enter a dungeon but can otherwise train as you wish.”

Preston looked about to walk away, when he had another thought. “And of course, all of you are to keep the specifics of this… incident, away from common knowledge, hmm?” “Yes, yes, brother.” “Of course, Master Preston.” “Ah… yes, sir!” The man in wooden armor looked at them all for a few seconds longer, then walked down the curiously empty street. Apparently even in Jarthak’s Rest, people had the good sense to avoid people of that kind of power.

After he was gone, Martin looked at Risa curiously. “You really wanted your reward to be more time with us? I mean, it’ll give Preston time to simmer down, so I’m not complaining, but I’m surprised you didn’t ask for more.” Risa smirked. “Glad you feel that way… because I’m going to be asking YOU for something that I doubt that Academy of yours wants you to give. Not here, though. Let’s go back to my Master’s house.”

As they walked, Risa discussed her Master a bit. Sammi surprised her by actually knowing, to a certain extent, who Morgin was. She did her research on Jarthak’s Rest before she got here, and apparently Morgin was one of the most powerful people in the village, someone worth keeping an eye on. Risa had known Morgin was strong but had always assumed he was one of many powerful retirees looking to settle down. She was glad she found him, then.

When they got to Morgin’s house, the man quickly saw them and gave Risa a good once-over, as well as lightly chastising her a bit for getting in so much danger. He did agree with her though, that the situation was quite unusual as far as low-level dungeons were concerned. He said he was already working with the village guard to strengthen the Proving Ground’s entrance, in case of an unexpected breakout. Risa then asked if she and her friends could have some privacy, which he granted. The trio went to the backyard training ground.

“Alright, so what’s this about, then?”, asked Martin. “First off, I was curious if either of you got new skills in that fight?”, said Risa. Martin perked up. “Yeah! I got Lesser Earth Solidification, which lets me reinforce the earth constructs I make. It’s a skill I’ve been wanting to get for ages, the later skills in the set let you make rocks that are harder than steel! Plus, it’s got really good synergy with my staff, so I’ll probably be able to do it with a lot less mana than otherwise.”

They then both looked at Sammi, who blushed at the attention. “I got one too, though its nothing much. It’s called Quick Aim¸ an archery meta-skill; lets me lock on to my targets faster. I guess I was doing a lot of popping in and out of cover, trying to get shots off without getting impaled by crystals. I’m glad to have it, but I was hoping for something more related to my curses. I guess they didn’t really do a whole lot to affect the battle, though…”

Martin looked at her. “Don’t sell yourself short, Sammi. Did you see that huge, last crystal he threw at Risa? That hadn’t been there before. The guy’s staff was giving him Crystal Creation as well as his Crystal Manipulation. He would have been using it a lot more if you hadn’t been sapping his resources. Instead, he saved it for a final surprise, that Risa barely dodged. Speaking of which, Risa, I assume you got a new skill as well? Maybe something for dodging? Or perhaps something to do with speed?”

“Well, I did get… something. When the shaman created that hunk of crystal, I saw some sort of vision. Something I can’t explain. And I think it’s linked to the skill I got. It’s a skill I’ve never heard of, actually. Hidden World.” Martin and Sammi blinked and looked at each other. “Never heard of it either.” “Nor have I.” Martin looked back at Risa. “What do you think it does?”

“Well, I have one clue. It’s a mage skill. It requires mana, and getting it unlocked my mana pool.” Martin and Sammi both looked at her in shock.