A bonk on my head wakes me up and my eyes being covered by a curtain of white doesn’t even surprise me anymore. This bed, the one I’ve slept in all alone for three years, was not made for two people, that’s exactly why there are multiple ones in the damn room. And this time I have no doubts, this, this is my bed.
I’m grumpy first thing in the morning yet some not-so-distant memories from last night wash it all away. We almost fell asleep in the bath as our poor mortal shells decompressed and our mind was overtaken by sweet fruity happiness.
Then in the mess hall, we made a race about who could stuff more food down their throat, to my parent’s horror. A contest I utterly lost. It wasn’t fair in the first place.
After being basically ordered to go to bed, even though we aren't children anymore, we just slumped over and stared at the ceiling with satisfied sighs.
This is life. Good life.
The last half a year showed me why the mercenaries value food and peace so much. Why they spend every moment in and around the Fort to their fullest... It’s a privilege, something you only learn to value once you’re stripped of it.
So a lesson learned? Not really, just be rich enough and luxury follows wherever you go.
Speaking of yesterday… with all the fun stuff that happened the boons of our little spar totally went over my head.
[Your Class [Dancer of the Elements] has reached lvl 109, +4 Free Points, +3 Free Points, +8 Speed, +4 Endurance, +15 Intelligence, +16 Focus, +2 Dexterity, +14 Mana, +16 Willpower, +2 Fortitude.]
[Your class Skill [Arcane Mastery] has reached lvl 94.]
[Your class Skill [Action for Reaction] has reached lvl 88.]
[Your class Skill [Arcane Focus] has reached lvl 83.]
[Your class Skill [Rythmic Strides] has reached lvl 58.]
In all honesty, I deserve every single one of those levels. Valka had all the intent the Journey Guide needs to deem a fight serious. I also fought someone about as strong as myself and was just seconds away from winning it.
Okay, maybe I had a shot at winning, a strong shot.
[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 80.]
Yep, used it, and used it well, and the results follow. Knowledge is power. Although normal explosions are quite a bit more potent and less cumbersome. The only advantage of a steam explosion is the blistering hot air itself.
[The general Skill [Dodging] has reached lvl 93.]
[The general Skill [Pain Tolerance] has reached lvl 47 ->48.]
Val made sure I got at least plus one level in on this one. I value the care and will return it, with pleasure.
[The general Skill [Premonition] has reached lvl 96.]
[The general Skill [Maintained Magic] has reached lvl 79.]
Considering it was just meant to be a light spar and took only like ten minutes… It’s a big win.
Since I’m already up, why not get to work and get a new second Class and also rid Val of her not-so-pretty accessory around her neck? There’s really no need to postpone it any longer and I damn sure hope they found the Fist’s resident blacksmith or whoever to get rid of it.
But first, I have to free myself from my own bed. Not that getting up itself is difficult, but doing so without waking Val up is the real challenge. Not that she deserves any more sleep if I can’t get any.
With that, I unceremoniously pry her hand off me and sit up to stretch. “Hey, get up, we can lay all day in bed tomorrow but today-” Then she grabs me with the force of a bear and pushes my face back down into the pillow.
“Stop wiggling around and shut up.” Valka mutters and keeps holding me down.
“I need to pee and you’re in my bed again.” I try prying her fingers off, only seconds away from using magic.
“Me too but it's fine, I'm too comfy.” She drifts back to sleep.
“Hey, don't wet my bed!” I turn aggressive and start slapping. “Move to the other one and do it there or else-”
“Or what, you wanna go another round? End up like yesterday?” Her eyes open menacingly.
There’s no winning here by force so intrigue will have to do. “Or else we'll be late for breakfast.” I lie.
Judging by Solaire shining through the window we have hours left to get to the mess hall and eat to our heart’s desire. Not that she needs to know that.
At the mention of food, the troll blocking me groans and shifts, rolling out of bed. A heavy thump on the wooden floor and a long groan are followed by her sleepy face and bird nest-style popping up before she finally stands up like a drunkard.
She starts slumbering towards the door, still half asleep, before I stop her. “You should change first.”
She’s wearing a loose nightgown like myself, although hers is also mine and not really the correct size. Still a lot better to wear in bed than a blouse and leather pants.
It’s gonna be a long day…
***
After my emotional return to the mess hall, today didn’t hit as hard. Was still nice, don't get me wrong, but more like ‘I got back from a trip and my bed is still the best of all the ones out there’ kind of nice. Wolfing down everything within reach is a bad habit from the Line that won’t go away easily and makes eating good food a lot less enjoyable. To my surprise, the mercenaries around us didn’t frown or joke about our etiquette, they just nodded with knowing grins.
Mom and Dad were politely told to piss off yesterday and look for a place to stay in the city, so meeting them will have to wait quite a bit. Two other adults, however, aren't so considerate when it comes to our free time and how we intend to spend it.
“Good, you’re finished. Valka you’re coming with me, we’ll get rid of that nasty collar.” Bennett appears behind our backs. Although I’m used to their shenanigans, mostly Martha’s, I still twitch and ready myself for combat alongside Val, only to lower my guard with an embarrassed blush a second later.
However, nobody laughs.
“Hm, a proper reaction, it might save your lives one day.” The old man nods, smiling in satisfaction. “Now up and let’s go.”
“Little devil,” Oh how I missed that name. “I think you need a Class to decide on, not to mention I’m dying to see what new delicacies you picked up now that you're past level 100.” Martha is just as eager to have her favorite, aka me, under her wing once more.
But I have different plans.
“Nope, I wanna see how they do it.” I obviously mean the collar removal because who knows, I might meet someone in the future in a similar predicament. And I’m plenty curious.
The two adults do their usual telepathy where they have an entire discussion with a single glance. Or maybe it’s some sort of coded light magic through their eyes. “It’s really not that interesting but suit yourself.” Bennett nods and leads the way.
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We nab half a cake before leaving our seats and quickly catch up to the two captains. Life is still good. Maybe Martha was right, life can’t forever throw troubles and misfortune your way, and sometimes good things are meant to happen. I was unlucky sure but desperately struggling till the end made things work out and I’d dare say almost everything is better now than before.
Walking, finishing up our snack, eavesdropping here and there, chatting about stupidly meaningless things like goblin noises and beast menacing lines… They’re such simple pleasures.
To my surprise, we don’t actually leave the Fort as I expected, we end up in the armory. I know I should’ve expected but I’ve never seen any blacksmith-looking guy during my years here so I just thought he was some bigshot living in Granhall and helping out now and then.
Never before was I allowed inside the Fist’s treasury of anything war-related but once the doors opened I was anything but impressed. Lots of swords and stuff, armors of any material and design one can imagine… It’s nice but pretty basic.
That is until you walk to the back of the room, open the secret door by arranging the swords by the wall, and go down a level. Yeah, that’s where the good stuff is along with their maker.
And it’s not a he. Yeah, the woman’s age is clearly in the three digits, and having the arms of a man definitely doesn’t help with her looks but I’d say as a wolf person or whatever she does have a certain charm. Although that fur must be awfully hot that close to the fire.
“Zarah, we’ve brought them.” Bennett gives a shot at making his voice heard over the roaring flames and vigorous hammering. Without much success. “Zarah!”
And instead of answering or even lifting her gaze from the axeblade she’s working on the she-wolf simply returns to the furnace and starts working the bellows. Hella disrespectful and clearly wasting our time, not that we’re in a hurry.
So I do something cheeky. Just when she blows more air into the furnace once more, eagerly raising the temperature, I add my own flair. By feeding the flames with enough mana for them to lash out their burning bed and finally make their owner’s head snap toward us.
“Do it again!” She yells and returns to the task at hand.
To be honest I don’t really want to but the looks from both Martha and Bennett tell me it’ll be easier this way. So I grasp the fire once more, only now noticing how much more blistering and wild it is than whatever I came across before and do my magic.
“Yes, that’s it, hotter!”
Stop ordering me woman, we came here for your help not the other way around!
This ordeal goes on for almost a minute, after which she tells me to stop and gets back to hammering. I keep myself, and Val sticking close to me, cool as the rhythmic hammer drags on for much longer than I planned spending here until the work is finally done. Once the metal takes its desired shape Zarah simply slaps her hand on the metal and it begins to…growl.
“There, done.” She lets go and reveals a super menacing-looking light blue axehead with a blade longer than my forearm. “Huh, when did you get here?”
Did she seriously forget about us?
“Zarah, we need her collar removed.” Martha sighs and gets to the point without touching on the woman’s rudeness.
“That’s all? Wait a second.” She leaves her latest work of art on the anvil, grabs a pair of tongs, and riffles through a few chests before revealing what we fought so hard to secure. A piece of voidglass. “Now, you, come here.”
Valka of course complies albeit somewhat reluctantly because leaving my side means being subject to the ridiculous heat of this underground smithy. And I follow her, not because of the kindness of my heart, but rather to better see the trick behind unlocking the secretive collar.
The wolf holds a simple pen in one hand while she taps the voidglass held with her tongs against the collar. As it is in the pitch black crystal’s nature it immediately begins to suck away all magic it comes in contact with, which in turn makes the collar react. Only for the electricity to get sucked away all the same in a nasty cycle.
While the magic does its confusing dance Zarah gets to work, lighting the pen on a vibrant purple fire and adding lines to the inscriptions already on the collar. Her tool leaves glowing lines on the metal, perfectly complementing the existing ones, turning shapes more pronounced, and adding runes even to where I wouldn’t expect them to fit.
From start to finish she makes sure the voidglass is always on the opposite end of the collar she’s working on, only pulling it away once the fire is snuffed out from her pen. Then without as much as a word she simply flicks the cursed thing around Valka’s neck and it unceremoniously falls to the ground.
It’s off, she’s finally truly free. After all we went through because of that damned piece of metal a few minutes was all it took for this… master of her craft to set my friend free.
“Thank you.” I bow my head slightly because it feels right.
Valka quickly follows my lead, bowing much deeper and frantically wiping the tears from her eyes. The ear-to-ear grin on her face however is not so easy to get rid of.
“It was nothing.” The wolf woman waves off our gratitude. “Now out!”
“Wait,” Without much thinking, I open my mouth. “Can you show me more, how you do that with the pen?” I can accomplish almost anything with my magic but not what she did.
“Do you have an inscriptionist Class?” She turns her head, looking at me with unimpressed eyes.
“Well I don’t but-”
“Then out! Talk to me again once you do, I don’t have time for this.” She turns her back on us, signaling the conversation is over.
Even though I have my fair share to say our elders make sure we don’t overstay our welcome and basically drag the two of us back up into the armory. I’m a little angry for not getting what I wanted because observing the whole removal process didn’t make me any wiser. I’ve helped heat the furnace so the least she could’ve done was give me a few minutes of her life in exchange…
“Gods I hate it down there.” Bennett grumbled as sweat invaded even his forehead.
“Well, I’m sure most would say the same thing about your home. Anyway, go and do what you must kids, be sure to finish before lunch. I have some ruffians to teach.” Martha simply stretches while leaving us behind. “A little more moisture and it’d be a pretty solid sauna down there.”
“What a hag.” Bennett sighed, clearly used to his colleague's antics by now. “Come, you can sit down in the courtyard, it should be empty around this time. I’ll guard you but don’t take too long.”
And since we really don’t have much planned until our next meal that’s exactly what do. It’s a little cold, even with all the layers of clothing we have on but it’s nice, I like it much more than melting under Solaire gaze.
“You know what you have to do?” Bennett checks on us once more as we sit down on a bench. We both nod as the process of forfeiting a Class has already been explained to us. “Good, see you soon then.”
[Your class [Shadow Rat - Dark] has reached lvl 16. Class advancement is now available, would you like to start the class up?]
Give it to me.
***
Entering the world of my soul again is an experience I’m quite fond of. I always leave stronger than before visiting. Not this time though.
I’m back in the mess hall except this time it’s not the same as I remember. My favorite spot in Karon Fort and the reflection of my soul…
It’s not the same. I’m not the same. The layout didn’t change and neither did the plates describing my options.
Fuck you all the same Journey Guide for implying I’m a glutton, I just like my food.
The atmosphere however is completely different. The place looks deserted, cold, and in absolute shambles. Decaying walls are covered with torn carpets, winds blow through the broken giant windows and every piece of furniture is gnawed on by time.
No sound of laughter, clicking tableware, or friendly chit-chat… It’s abandoned, empty and broken.
It’s me.
“There’s no point in drawing out my stay.” I mumble and head for the first plate. Mopping won’t solve anything and I’ve already begun curing this wound. It won’t be fast or easy, or something I’m looking forward to because it can be embarrassing but such is life.
[Dusk Cat - Dark], [Night Fiend - Dark], [Merciless Mugger - Metal], [Rat in the-
I don’t bother to read any more of the ridiculing Classes and start smashing. The uglier the plate, the more insulting the name, and the fouler my mood the harder I slam them into the ground.
After going through like ten plates all smashed to pieces by my feet I’m starting to enjoy it. These plates are more than just offerings for me to grow, they represent my past, that few months we’ve spent in Solermo. I’m demolishing everything that bound me there, all the difficulties we struggled through and
“One for the shity food we had to hunt.” Smash. “One for the stupid jobs!” Smash. “One for all the damn intrigue!” Smash. And the list goes on.
There clearly aren’t enough plates to repent for all my grievances as the list is long and I’m also making a few things up now and then. Nevertheless, each shattering noise gives me a little sense of closure, and by the time I grab the last one I almost wish I could keep it as a souvenir. To remind me of what I can push through.
[Captive of Fate]
A blue-colored Class is considered rare for the level 36 class-up and should be plenty powerful. There’s only one small mistake.
“You could be even pink for all I care.” I lift the plate with disdain. “I am not a slave of no destiny or God, nor will I ever be.”
As the Class choice hits the ground and cracks, so does the whole room. The walls tremble and dust falls as if the effects of an earthquake. Then all of a sudden everything comes to a halt and all sound disappears before with the sound of exploding glass the world shatters.
***
I nearly fall off the bench as my eyes snap open, covered in sweat and with quickened breaths, like after a bad nightmare. As I look around perplexed a notification, a slightly unfortunate one I still like nonetheless, welcomes me and my breathing slows.
[Class forfeited. Skills forfeited. Attributes forfeited.]
[Congratulations, you’ve changed your Class to [Free as a Bird - Wind].]
[Your Class [Free as a Bird ] has reached lvl 2, +2 Free Points]