Kedryn sat rooted to the ground as the dwarves rallied behind Glade. The man was not only leading them toward a boss level monster, but he was doing it while using a book as his weapon. A freaking book!

He watched in silent awe as Glade leapt into the air with Acumen’s book raised high above his head, the will enhanced boost propelling the man further than any Olympian. As the officer descended upon his target, time slowed to a crawl as Glade’s blow connected with the spider queen’s head. The massive spider staggered back, the crack of her crystalline armor splitting open echoed throughout the hall.

It was incredible. Awe inspiring really. The only problem was that Kedryn’s body refused to move.

“How does he do it,” Kedryn whispered to no one in particular.

“Lad, I need ye to take the staff,” Gird gently urged, holding out the ash-red staff for him to take.

Kedryn ignored the smith, instead staring in awe as Glade moved with a grace and surety that defied the truth reflected on his status page.

Glade’s health, mana and stamina were all lower than Kedryn’s, and yet he was the one that was frozen in fear. Why? Was it because of the man’s ability? That would make sense. The willpower ability was totally overpowered. But reviewing Glade’s log showed that he hadn’t used the ability at all when mentally battling the spider queen.

Just the thought of that battle was enough to force Kedryn to retreat further into himself. It had been… horrifying. One moment he was roasting spiders and enjoying the thrill of leveling when Ms. Nightmare fuel herself not only invaded his mind but had taken control of everyone in the hall with ridiculous ease.

Being mentally violated and promised to be made into the permanent pet of a sadistic spider had finally put things into perspective for him. Kedryn didn’t want this anymore. Sure, the time on Veil had been challenging, but it had been a challenge that he could face. Slimes? No problem. Gnoll slavers? Easy. The other monsters that needed to be killed, just like in any game? Absolutely.

Having his will stripped away so completely that all he could do was watch his friends about to be eaten alive?

That was the moment Kedryn realized this wasn’t fun anymore.

“Can ye hear me lad?” Gird asked in a gentle voice.

Kedryn didn’t know about the others, but the spider queen had shown him her vision of the future. After she finished feeding on his friends to evolve, she would make another spider army to take over her nest. And him? He would be changed into a mindless half elf half spider automaton to do with as she pleased.

That was when the pain arrived. Not from the queen, but from Glade fighting back.

Kedryn thought he knew what pain was. He had been neglected and looked down upon most of his life. Even his so-called friends had only wanted to get close to his father so they could have a leg up. He had only ever been a stepping stool. Yes, he knew the pain of neglect. Of being used. Of being forgotten.

The truth was, there was simply no comparison between what Kedryn had lived through and what Glade had unleashed. Not the feedback debuff from overusing his time dilation, which was a seriously powerful skill that Kedryn desperately wanted to copy. No, it was the second wave of pain that had floored him.

No one person could possibly bear such pain and continue breathing.

Yet, out of the two of them, Glade was the one fighting. Glade was the one leading others. Glade was the one who had risen to the challenge again, and again, and again.

And what was Kedryn doing? Wallowing in fear and self-pity.

“How does he do it?” Kedryn asked again.

“It be time, Lad. Take up the staff,” Gird said with a bit more urgency.

“I can’t,” Kedryn replied, not looking back at the dwarven smith. “I’m not like him. I tried. I really tried. I didn’t get upset when he was given all those amazing powers. Or when he acted the hero I always wanted to be, saving others again and again. I didn’t even complain when Captain Glade was made the Master of Storms’ Rest. Instead, I just tried to be more like him, you know?”

Kedryn watched as Glade parried one of the queen’s sharpened legs with his book. It was an absolutely dope move, saving Krazzik from being impaled while also providing an opening for one of the spear wielders to take out one of the spider’s many eyes.

His father was right all along. He would never amount to something. Not like the Glade’s of the world.

“What’s the point?” he asked, turning to face Gird. “Glade will save the day like he always does. He doesn’t need me. I… I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Gird gave him a gentle smile.

“Yer not yer captain, lad. Nobody asked ye to be. Only by embracing the heat o’ yer own refining fire can ye shape yerself into a masterpiece,” Gird turned to watch Glade and the others. “Besides, who in their right mind fights a giant crystal spider with a book?”

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Kedryn blinked at Gird, who was looking back at him again with a smirk.

Slowly, Kedryn accepted the staff.

It was the same as he remembered. A smooth ash-red staff about six feet tall. The only change was a series of immaculately carved runes around the top of the staff. A familiar looking silver alloy filled in the runes and made it look like a legendary weapon straight from one of his games.

“How?” was all Kedryn could ask, wondering how the smith had been able to smelt the star silver and apply it with virtually no tools and no forge.

“I have a thrice evolved brand by the Adjudicator o’ Creation himself,” Gird said with a shrug. “I have a few perks. Can ye see what its stats be?“

Kedryn used his Natural Lore skill, but like before, he couldn’t identify the staff.

“Thought not,” Gird sighed. “This here be a flawless staff from the heart o’ a Cinderwood tree. Doesn’t need to be enchanted as it already takes to fire magic like a crimson dragon takes to magma flows. I placed eight runes o’ amplification,” Gird pointed to the radial designs traveling around and up to the top of the staff, “and a release rune that be melded with a fire rune on the top. That, and the runes be filled with a pure star silver alloy that has never been seen in all o’ Veil. The results be as amazing as I’d hoped they’d be.”

Kedryn looked appreciatively at the staff, then back at Gird.

“So, what does it do?”

“Why does everyone ask me when I just explained it in plain Dwarfen?” Gird huffed in annoyance. “Here, let me make it simple for ye.”

Gird passed him the weapons stats.

You have found a Cinderwood Heart Staff of Cleansing Flame! A naturally enchanted wood that conducts fire mana has been augmented with amplification and release runes by Gird Hammersong of the Slaghammer Clan. When casting fire-based magic through this staff it can amplify the effects up to eight times its normal spell strength. Mana cost to amplify magic depends on spell level, how much amplification is desired, and caster’s attunement rank.

Physical Damage: 10-14 bludgeoning damage

Magical Damage: (Spell damage x desired amplification)

Durability: 125/125

Grade: Flawless

Rune Work: Masterwork

Rarity: Rare

Value: May not sell by declaration of Gird Hammersong

Kedryn’s jaw dropped. Gird had made an incredibly powerful weapon. Not only would the staff grow with him, but it packed a serious punch now. The note that he couldn’t sell the staff was a bit annoying. Both the star silver and the staff were his to begin with. However, the thought of selling the staff was the farthest thing from his mind. This… was… AWESOME!

“Now, it be simple enough to use,” Gird said. “Just channel one o’ yer fire-based spells through the staff and it will amplify the spell on the other end.”

Kedryn only had 11 mana left, which meant that maybe, just maybe, he could get back into the fight. The Cinderwood staff would make him useful again.

Standing up, Kedryn aimed the rune covered staff toward the spider queen. First, he cast spark like he always did, followed quickly by manipulate flame through the staff.

A spark of fire popped into existence for a brief moment, then vanished.

“What in the name o’ the adjudicator’s hairy backsides was that!?” Gird exclaimed.

“The staff didn’t accept the spell!” Kedryn cried out in panic. He pulled up his logs and briefly scanned them to learn why.

Warning! You are trying to use a non-fire-based spell, manipulate flame, through the Cinderwood Heart Staff of Cleansing Flame. Manipulate flame does not create fire, only manipulates existing fire.

Kedryn shared the prompt with Gird.

“Ah, makes sense," Gird said, his earlier concern having vanished. "What else ye got?”

“Spark,” Kedryn said, his hopes that he could actually help deflating, much like his mana pool.

“Spark? Really? All that slinging fire around was with that one manipulation spell?”

Kedryn nodded.

Gird whistled. “Now that be impressive all on its own. Ye can still use Spark with the staff, but…”

“But what?” Kedryn asked, his hopes rising.

“Spark not be a ranged spell. Ye gotta get in close like and hit the creepy crawly full on as ye cast it.”

Kedryn looked at the spider queen. It was clear that Glade and the others had worn the monster down. Entire sections of her crystalline armor were gone, exposing her bleeding and battered skin. But one look told him that it wasn’t enough. With time, they could likely wear the queen down. So long as she remained under the influence of her debuff.

“How long have they been fighting?” Kedryn asked.

No sooner had he spoken the words than the disorient debuff on the spider queen timed out.

Kedryn watched in horror as the queen’s confused look evaporated from the spider’s remaining eyes. Instead of fear, there was nothing but desperate rage.

A mental shriek that struck fear into his very soul echoed throughout the room.

Warning! You have been afflicted with the astral spell of Fear! Much stronger than its base corporeal skill counterpart, this area of effect spell directly attacks the weak points of the mind and spirit. The spell is concentrated within 20 feet of caster, with effects weakening every 10 feet there after up to 50 feet. Skill level and attunement ranks add to potency, time, and radius.

Time until debuff expires: 97 seconds.

Every dwarf attacking the queen fell to the ground, their expressions filled with abject terror. Even Bragden, a Journeyman Astral Enchanter, was on his knees. Those who had hung back dropped whatever they were carrying and ran. Gird looked on in mild annoyance.

The fear that filled Kedryn drown him in his own insecurities. He wasn't good enough. He knew that. He really wanted to leave and never come back. Instead, he locked his gaze on Glade.

The man stood rooted to the ground, a look of defiance on full display. Pulling up Glade’s status page, Kedryn noticed his commanding officer had used almost all of his will points, leaving him practically defenseless to the spider’s fear attack.

And yet, he was still standing. The thought took root. Maybe, just maybe, he could resist as well.

“Yes,” Kedryn whispered, fighting his instincts screaming at him to run. He was tired of being so useless. Tired of trying. So what would it take for him to succeed?

He didn’t want to be there, but that didn’t matter. Glade, needed help. All Kedryn needed was one last push…

A flash of light drew his attention toward the dais.

There, standing in cream colored clothing fit for a traveling bard, stood Croon.

“Hey ugly!!” He cried in his off key, overly dramatic voice. “Do I have a song for you!”

Croon then lifted what looked like an old-fashioned octagonal accordion and began to play.