Chapter 18
Shell Bark
Her father didn’t care about her.
That much was clear to Maia now. He only cared about himself and his Fatebond. She was just the burden he had to carry to fulfill it.
The thought burned in her mind, her anger simmering under the morning sun. Matthias had driven through the night, navigating the backroads deep into the wastes. He’d said it was to avoid the main roads for a while, but Maia wasn’t stupid. The real reason was less people. Less travelers asking questions about them. Less chance of running into Kallira again. But taking these routes only invited other dangers—scuttlers, predators, and archons knew what else lurking in the wild. Some protector, driving her straight into the mouth of the wastelands’ worst threats.
He was asleep now, sprawled in the cab of the Dame. She could still hear his snoring through the open door. He hadn’t even bothered to talk to her about what happened at Cassix Station. Not the Fatebond Anchor, not the Hollow, not Kallira.
He’d always done this—packed up and moved on without a word of warning. It was just how life was with her father, one place to the next, no roots, no time to settle. The roots he’d ever really let her put in was at Red Market. But Red Market itself was always a transient place. The memory of leaving Lindrao still cut deep. She hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye. Not to Kyra, not to any of the friends she’d made there.
She’d written letters to Kyra after they made it to Red Market. Kyra would write her back, and Maia would come to look forward to those letters more than anything. A fragile thread tying Maia to the home she’d barely had the chance to know. Over time, Maia had begun pouring out everything she couldn’t say in person to Kyra.
She didn’t ever dare think of Kyra as her mother. Not properly. But a deep part of her liked to pretend. Liked to imagine what it might have been like if things had been different. If they’d stayed in Lindrao. If Kyra had been the one raising her all along, brushing her hair, teaching her songs.
It was a foolish thought, and she hated herself a little for having it. Kyra wasn’t her mother, and pretending otherwise didn’t change anything. But still… sometimes it was just… nice to pretend.
She crouched beside a cluster of dry shrubs, her fingers hovering over the brittle stems. With her Arcanum overlays she could see the faint glow of life energy pulsed within them. She exhaled slowly and reached out with her senses feeling the—now familiar—tingling pull at her fingertips. The shrub slowly withered under her hand, its leaves curling inward as its vitality drained into her.
This, at least, was something she could control. And she was getting more comfortable with doing it.
She’d toyed with the idea of telling her father that she’d been the one that had freed the Hollow from the containment pod in the Verdant Skyship, but decided against it. It would only make him more angry. The creature itself had left its mark on Maia. Not physically, but on her mind. It was the first time she’d needed to confront something like that entirely on her own. And she’d completely buckled under the terror of it.
If it hadn’t been for Kallira, Maia would be dead, consumed by that thing. And so, Maia was more resolved than ever to learn how to master her scrav abilities. Never again.
She didn’t need her father. She didn’t need Kallira. She didn’t need anyone.
She called up her abilities display on the Arcanum system to review them:
Abilities
Class
Soulrender
Ability
Description
Cooldown
Progression
Life Drain
Siphon life energy from plants, animals, and enemies to restore your own mana.
None
1.6%
Energy Shaper
Use life force to create constructs for defensive, offensive or utility usage.
None
0.01%
Augmentation
Temporarily increase your physical traits, including strength, speed and vitality for 3 minutes.
5 minutes
100%
[Locked Ability - cannot assess]
[Locked Ability - cannot assess]
[Locked Ability - cannot assess]
Arcanum Sub-Class Abilities
Class
Phase Shifter
Ability
Description
Cooldown
Progression
Shadow Dash
Speed is increased by 100x for 0.2 seconds allowing for near instantaneous movement
3 minutes
0%
Phase Evade
Parts of your body can become incorporeal for 0.2 seconds, any physical damage is negated. Ethereal force damage can still take effect
5 minutes
0%
[Locked Ability - cannot assess]
[Locked Ability - cannot assess]
She already had a full handle on her augmentation ability. This was something she’d always done instinctively. Using her power to increase her baseline strength, speed and endurance. This allowed her to hit harder, and take significantly harder hits than someone of her stature—and age—could normally weather.
What she wanted to practice right now was her other abilities, Energy Shaper Shadow Dash and Phase Evade.
Energy Shaper was very vague. Her father had explained that this is the base scrabble ability and it was most adaptable ability in their arsenal. He used it to create blades of light, that form being the most natural form for him. Kallira had her chain spears of light which Maia figured probably was some incarnation of the Energy Shaper ability too.
The Arcanum system was not very explicit for her though on exactly what she could create. Although perhaps it was waiting for her to decide.
Her hands were still tingling with the energy she’d absorbed from the shrubs.
Lifeform Type
Plant
Name
Caerulus Spinifera (Common Name: Wasteland Briar)
Description
A resilient, low-growing shrub thriving in Solysterra’s arid wastelands. Its wiry branches and needle-like thorns provide shelter for small desert fauna.
Physical Characteristics
- Height: Typically 0.5 meters
- Branches: Wiry and tangled, dark grey with sharp, needle-like thorns.
- Leaves: Small, dark green ovals with a waxy surface to prevent moisture loss.
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Flowers
Rare, pale blue blossoms that appear only after rain, emitting a faint herbal scent.
Life Energy Resonance
Visualisation module: Faint steady green glow corresponding to its minimal nutrient absorption from arid soil.
Energy Value
Low energy reserves; ideal for controlled practice of Life Drain. Excessive use depletes the plant entirely.
Medicinal Properties
Ground leaves can be used for minor antiseptic treatments. Thorns contain trace sap with numbing properties.
Lore and Cultural Significance
Often woven into makeshift barriers to protect camps from scavenger creatures.
Archivist’s Commentary
"An excellent plant for beginner scravs to hone drain abilities. However, care should be taken to avoid the thorns, as they’re notoriously hard to remove." – Brael Gainsby, Lead Ecogenesis Archivist (local year 812).
A faint shimmer appeared around her hand, flickering in and out of existence like a mirage.
"Come on," she muttered under her breath, her brow furrowing. The shimmer expanded slightly, a translucent ball taking shape around her palm.
It wasn’t much, but it was progress.
This wasn’t like augmentation, where the energy simply flowed into her muscles and bones, making her faster, stronger. This ability required shaping the energy—turning it into something external, something tangible.
This was what her father was always trying to get her to do. But he was always trying to get her to shape that energy into a weapon, like the way he did. Or Kallira’s chain spear things.
That had never felt right to her though. She couldn’t really explain it beyond that gut feeling. That knowing that it wasn’t supposed to be a weapon. No matter how much she tried, the energy refused to bend into anything violent. Every attempt left her frustrated, and her father even more so, muttering about how she needed to stop holding back.
It felt to her like she should be using this power to protect people, not hurt them. So more like shields then? But even still, it still wasn’t working the way that her father described. The energy was… slippery, hard to hold onto, like trying to mold water into a shape with her bare hands.
She pushed her hands forward again, this time focusing on the idea of protection, the intent to create something solid and impenetrable. She imagined a shield rising in front of her, glowing and strong. The energy flared, pulsing brighter, and for a brief moment, she thought it was working.
But instead of coalescing into the barrier she envisioned, the energy began to spiral downward, sinking into the cracked dry earth. Maia froze, her eyes widening as the ground beneath her hands began to shift.
“What the…” she breathed, stepping back as something started to emerge.
From the spot where the energy had vanished, a small plant shoot pushed up through the dirt. What the—
It began growing rapidly. Maia’s heart pounded as she watched it twist and unfurl, thickening into something entirely unexpected.
The shoot hardened, its surface cracking and peeling like old bark. In seconds, it had formed a strange shell-like structure, its surface rough and organic, like a piece of a tree had sprung fully formed from the wasteland floor.
Her breath hitched.
“I… I made this?” she whispered, her voice trembling with awe.
The realization hit her like a freight train.
I made this! I fucking made this!
She had made it grow. It was her intent, her will. Her hands hovered over the shell, the warmth of the lifeforce still tingling at her fingertips.
The shell wasn’t just a shield—it was alive. The bark pulsed faintly, the same rhythmic glow she’d seen in plants she’d scanned with her Arcanum system.
This wasn’t anything her father had ever described. This wasn’t about forcing the energy into something physical and temporary. This was something… new. Something hers. Something that grew. Something that lasted.
Lifeform Type
Plant (Construct)
Name
Arboris Defensia (Common Name: Shell Bark)
Description
A rapidly grown organic barrier created through [information locked] powers. Arboris Defensia exhibits qualities of natural tree bark but with heightened density and durability. Its growth is entirely dependent on the intent of its creator, serving as a protective construct rather than a naturally occurring plant species.
Physical Characteristics
- Height
Typically grows up to 2 meters tall in its initial formation.
- Thickness
Bark layers are approximately 10-15 cm thick, designed for durability against physical force.
- Texture
Rough, with deep grooves and ridges resembling ancient oak bark.
- Color
A mix of dark brown and faint green luminescence pulsing throughout its riveted grooves.
Life Energy Resonance
- Energy Signature
Moderate, pulsing green light aligned with protective intent of the scrav-powers.
- Duration
Without a root system, the construct can self-stabilise for up to 10 minutes after creation unless continuously supplied with life energy. With an adequate root system and a nutrient-rich environment, Arboris Defensia could self-maintain for years.
Defensive Properties
- Impact Resistance
Highly resistant to blunt and slashing damage, offering temporary protection from physical attacks.
- Weakness
Vulnerable to sustained fire or corrosive elements that degrade organic material.
Arcanum Detection Properties
- Purpose
Identified as a life-infused construct. Origin: Maia Cain
- Formation Process
Requires intent-driven activation of life energy, shaping it into a physical, organic construct.
Archivist’s Commentary
“A fascinating and unexpected manifestation of scrav-powers. Arboris Defensia demonstrates that scravs are capable of both destruction and creation, suggesting a nuanced potential for these abilities. The symbiosis between lifeforce manipulation and protective intent offers insight into the deeper mysteries of Fatebond-linked powers.” — Brael Gainsby, Lead Ecogenesis Archivist (local year 812)
Maia stared at the text in her vision, her eyes flicking between the words that the new plant.
Her heart thudded like a hammer against her ribs. She reread the profile twice, her fingers absently tracing the rough bark of the shell she’d somehow conjured.
She’d grown this. Not with tools, not with seeds, not with sunlight, water and time, but with her power.
She crouched down, running her hands over the grooves and ridges of the shell. It was warm to the touch, faint pulses of energy thrumming beneath her fingers, as if it had a heartbeat of its own. The faint green light radiating from the bark was soft, almost soothing.
She sat back on her heels, her mind racing.
So that’s it, she thought. Her power didn’t want to destroy. It wanted to create, to grow, to shield. Maybe that’s why her father’s lessons never worked. She wasn’t him. Her powers weren’t his powers. She’d assumed that just meant shields of light or something. But maybe the Arcanum system had been nudging her toward this the entire time.
She couldn’t help but laugh, a quiet, almost disbelieving sound. Her father would probably have a meltdown if he saw this. He was so focused on teaching her the ways he knew—how to fight, how to defend herself with force.
But this wasn’t about fighting, was it?
Her smile faded as a realization struck her. The Hollow had wanted her energy, had tried to consume it. If she’d had this ability then—this strange, life-grown armor—would it have made a difference? Could she have stopped it from nearly killing her? Could she have protected herself?
She shook her head, trying to push away the what-ifs. It didn’t matter. What mattered was what she could do now. And right now, she needed to practice. To understand this power better, to make it hers.
Maia spent the morning coaxing more Shell Bark plants from the ground, her hands glowing faintly with a green pulse of light. The bark-like growths unfurled slowly, spiraling upwards and outward, weaving together like the protective shell of some giant turtle made of trees.
She worked in focused silence, her fingers brushing the plants, guiding their shape and size as they grew. Over the course of the morning, she started to form an entire wall of the plant. Each new segment fitting in naturally until it wrapped around the Dame, creating a natural wall of dense, living wood.
Maia sat back on the ground, exhausted but proud, marveling at her work.
She knew she’d have to practise her other abilities eventually. Shadow Dash and Phase Evade. The thought felt distant now, her limbs too heavy to entertain more effort today. She’d done enough. For now, she’d earned the right to just sit here and breathe.
But damn, was she starving. She stretched her legs out and groaned, already dreading the effort it would take to drag herself to whatever provisions her father had stashed in the truck.
She glanced toward the Dame, where her father was still sound asleep in the cab. She couldn’t sit on this any longer. As angry as she’d been with him lately—hell, as angry as she still was—she wanted to share this moment with him.
He’ll be impressed. He has to be. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Ba,” she called, rapping her knuckles on the side of the Dame as she approached. No response. She huffed and opened the door, peering inside. Matthias was slumped against the seat, his arms crossed, his face peaceful for once. She almost felt bad waking him.
Almost.
“Ba,” she said again, louder this time. His eyes twitched open, and he groaned, rubbing a hand over his face.
“Maia? It’s not dark yet?” His voice was groggy, the edge of sleep still clinging to it. “What is it?”
“You’ve got to come see this,” she grinned, bouncing slightly on her heels despite the fatigue.
He was muttering something to himself but then swung his legs out of the cab and stood, stretching as he followed her outside.
Maia led him toward the wall of Shell Bark, her heart thudding in anticipation. When he saw it, she stopped and turned to face him, her arms spreading wide to gesture at her creation.
“Well?” she asked, trying and failing to hide the note of pride in her voice. “What do you think?”
“What… what are these? They weren’t here when I pulled up this morning.”
“No they were not,” she beamed, her eyes glinting with mischief.
“You… you did this?” he asked, disbelief clear in his voice.
“All me,” she nodded.
He stepped closer, running a hand along the bark, his expression softening.
“How?” he asked.
“I shaped the power! I kept trying to make energy blades like you told me but it wasn’t working… so I, uh, I tried something different,” she laughed.
“This is… impressive, Maia. Really… It's incredible. But you should’ve woken me first. Using that much power alone—”
“Oh, come on, Ba,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “Can’t you just say you’re proud of me without lecturing?”
His mouth opened, then closed again. For a second, she thought he might actually argue. But then he sighed.
“I’m proud of you,” he said, though there was a tinge of a sadness in his voice that she didn’t miss.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough. She beamed, her earlier anger slipping away. For now, it didn’t matter. She’d done something incredible, and she’d shared it with him. That was enough.