Ograch looked at the shelter for a moment before shrugging and walking inside to start making a fire. Liv simply muttered something about the unfairness of it all before removing the makeshift saddle from Yuri and letting him loose to stand guard just inside the entrance.
“I can’t tell you how many times I would have loved to just be able to pull a shelter out of my ass.” Liv sniped, but smiled as she did so. “Seriously, though, thank you. This is going to make traveling much more comfortable.”
“No worries. I didn’t mention it because it was my first time using the skill and I wasn’t sure what I could build for us. Hell, the skill description was super vague only saying that the mana cost would depend on the size of the structure. Although, I’m pretty sure that we’ll need to keep seeds on us if we want to keep making these as we travel. I don’t think I’m getting the ones I used back.”
“Shouldn’t be too hard, we can just add that to the list as we gather firewood.” Ograch said from the center of the hut where he was in the process of building a small fire pit. “It didn’t look like you had to use too many.”
“Yeah, not really. The skill would tell me if I was placing a seed too far for it to be able to connect to the others. Despite the description, the skill itself was very intuitive. Anyway, I’m going to let Kazuma, Maximilian, and Sanguineus go hunting. Liv, would you mind keeping Yuri here to stand guard through the night? The furballs have already volunteered to bring some meat back for him.”
Liv considered for a moment before speaking. “Sure. That sounds like a good plan. He isn’t exactly suited to hunting in an area like this.” Yuri chuffed in annoyance at her words. “Object all you want, but you know it’s true.” Liv said affectionately, scratching the bear’s head until he was mollified.
“I think that will keep us safe enough. I’ll send Reaver out to hunt as well, she perked up as soon as you mentioned that the others were going.” Ograch said.
“Sounds good to me. Ivan, do you have any reward stones? I’m going to access the Mark and see if I can buy stuff for you guys.” Seeing Ivan’s head shake, Lanek continued. “Not a big deal, I don’t have many but I can experiment on really cheap stuff for now. Everyone can use a dagger after all.”
Lanek sat with his back to one of the walls of the shelter and focused on the Mark. In no time at all, he found himself in the now familiar armory. The first thing he did was narrow down his search to small daggers.
“Alright, now that that’s out of the way, let’s grab a dagger for Ivan.” As he reached for the nearest and cheapest dagger, he concentrated on the fact that it would be for Ivan, not himself. However, the dagger would not budge once he grasped it.
Error. Ivan is not a member of the Herald’s Order.
Sounds promising. Lanek thought as his consciousness returned to the shelter.
“Alright, it looks like I may be able to get stuff for you guys from the Mark, but it requires you to be members of my Order.” Lanek explained.
“Okay… How do we go about that?” Ivan asked.
“I don’t know, maybe I just invite you?” Lanek said, focusing on Ivan.
You are attempting to invite Ivan to an Order that doesn’t exist. Establish Order?
Stolen novel; please report.
Uh, yes?
Acknowledged. Order of the Wild has been established.
Ivan has joined the Order of the Wild.
“So, what happened when you joined?” Lanek asked curiously.
“I got a notification that our experience would now be shared and that I would receive a 25 percent bonus to my attributes since I’m a founding member of the Order.”
“25 percent? Damn, that’s nice. I wonder if you’ll get anything when I get experience since I no longer earn any. At the very least, you won’t have to share experience with me.” Lanek replied. “Let me try the Mark again.”
A few minutes later, Lanek returned to the shelter once more and looked around. “It should be around here somewhere. I can’t summon it.”
“I’ve got it.” Ivan called out holding up the dagger for Lanek to see. “Once you bought it I was notified and asked if I accepted. Once I did, this bracer appeared on my arm. It seems to be what stores the equipment you give me.” To demonstrate, he caused the dagger to dissipate and flow into the bracer.
“Very nice. Can you remove the bracer or make it disappear?” Lanek asked.
In response, Ivan removed the bracer and handed it over. Lanek’s eyes ran over it, seeing a tree with branches and roots spread inlaid with silver upon the finely crafted black leather bracer. He returned the bracer to his companion after a few minutes.
“Does the tree mean anything to you?” Lanek asked.
“No, not especially. I thought it may have something to do with the Order or your service to Eldros. Oh, and I can’t make the bracer disappear nor can I summon the dagger. I tried while you were taking a look at it. There was also a warning when I accepted the equipment that said that I would lose the bracer should I ever leave the Order.”
“The Mark is looking out for Eldros, so it makes sense that it would do what it could to keep possible sources of reward stones from leaving. Feel free to leave if you like, there won’t be any hard feelings. Things are going to get dangerous if you follow me.”
Ivan snorted derisively. “Really? I’m well aware of how bad things are and I’m not about to abandon my new home so easily. Besides, extra attributes, experience, AND gear? Even if I was motivated purely by greed and self-interest, that would be enough to keep me around.”
“Agreed. Can I get in on this?” Liv asked.
“I want in as well.” Ograch added.
“You sure? You heard the restrictions on the gear and all. Also, I don’t have enough stones to get you guys anything.” When both companions nodded, Lanek shrugged and sent the invitations.
“Welcome to the Order, guys. As for the reward stones, don’t worry. I got a notification that says that reward stones now have a higher chance of dropping from enemies.” Ivan said.
“Yep, I got that too.” Liv said.
“Great. I want to try to get you guys saddles for Yuri and Reaver. Please let me know when you have at least 5 reward stones. That’s how much Maximilian’s cost. Bear in mind that when the saddle is dismissed, anything attached to it will not go along with it. Granted, I haven’t purchased any saddlebags or anything from the store, so I’m not sure if they work the same way.”
“Got it. I would like some new equipment, but the saddle is the highest priority. What are you considering?” Ograch asked.
“I’m looking at barding for Maximilian or some protective gear for the others. I imagine that the barding will work the same as the saddle and adjust its size automatically when summoned.”
“Oh, thank the gods!” Liv exclaimed. “With how fast this beast is growing I was afraid that I would have to buy multiple saddles.” Yuri eyed her briefly before apparently deciding she wasn’t worth it and went to sleep.
“Well, now that that’s out of the way, I think I’m going to have a quick bite to eat and get some sleep. The furballs are already on their way back with some meat for Yuri, by the way. Oh, and if any of you wake up and notice that Kazuma and Sanguineus are gone, don’t worry. They are expressing an interest in looking for the shrine after a short rest.”
Yuri, hearing these words, stood up and lumbered out into the night to meet the hunting party. Meanwhile, the members of the Order proceeded to lay out their sleeping rolls and got comfortable, glad for the shelter as they heard the sound of thunder in the distance. Just before drifting off, Lanek felt a weight land on his chest and a paw slap his cheek.
“Yes?” Lanek asked the tressym perched upon his chest.
“Invite me to the Order.”
“Why?”
“I want to take a more active role in protecting my people and that will help. It will also make it much easier for me to help you out, whether you want me to travel with you or stay and protect our new home.”
“Our new home?”
“Well, yes. I will be staying with my kin and my kin will be joining your people.”
“Well, you’ve got me there.” Lanek smiled and invited Pharaoh to join. “Welcome to the Order, Pharaoh. Let’s work together for our people.”