Jazmel stood off to the side, he was standing alone. On a slope where the proceedings were being conducted for Patton. They had returned a week ago from stopping the ascension of a primordial. Fror of chaos and cacophony, but it had come at the cost of a friend. Patton had lost his life in the battle, something Jazmel was still unsure over. He ran the fight over in his head nonstop. He knew Patton had been behind him, but he hadn't realised just how close. in truth, he himself had been trying his best to not be struck by the formidable form of Fror. Fror had used Mana and formed a thick blade. He had punched through the chest and into the heart of Patton.
Killing him instantly and then Jazmel had stabbed him through the heart, using the broken haft of Nozarashi and the tip which had been formed from Mana. The well-known skill of Patton. Even now, Jazmel had buried him with the sword, broken but sheathed, he had buried it beside his friend.
No words were spoken. No songs were sung, mourning was all that carried in the morning air. Jazmel stared at the final resting place of Patton, and he thought about his friend.
Paldane stayed beside Jazmel, his new size was intimidating. His voice was deep and gravely, even deeper than Bannerman’s.
When they had returned from hunting that day. Paldane had landed in the middle of the courtyard, basking everyone in his shadow. His great wings blotting out the sun. Sadé had been there, and when she saw them, she was nearly frightened. But she saw Jazmel sitting up behind the shoulders of the dragon.
“Is that Paldane?” she had asked, suddenly excited and amazed. She reached up and Paldane bowed his head to let her stroke his scaled snout. He purred, the sound rumbling around his throat and shoulders. Kazumi was neared, she watched Paldane curiously but said nothing. Jazmel hadn't heard her speak yet.
The clouds were dull and grey today. He stood beside a tree, and he heard the wind swish through the leaves. The pitter patter of rain began to rain down. Soon the leaves were being pelted and Jazmel felt his shoulders drenched.
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“The rain is cold and dreary.” Paldane ruffed and Jazmel nodded.
“I am going to hunt.” Paldane said and with a thump, he leapt into the air. Buffing Jazmel with a gust of wind as he used his wings to propel himself into the air.
Jazmel opened the interface and began to put plans together. Letting the system form his ideas into actual tasks for the members of the faction.
DING!
ALL SEEKERS MUST ADVANCE!
REWARDS WILL VARY!
IF YOU GAIN 5 LEVELS
* ONE SEEKER TIER WEAPON
* ONE SEEKER TIER TRIBULATION ITEM
IF YOU UNDERGO A SEEKER TIER TRIBULATION
* ONE RANKER TIER ITEM
IF YOU ACHIEVE RANKER TIER
* 10 STAT POINTS
* ONE RANKER TIER ITEM
…
…
IF YOU UNDERGO A RANKER TIER TRIBULATION
* RANKER TIER TRIBULATION ITEM
* 20 STAT POINTS
…
…
IF YOU UNDERGO A MASTER TIER TRIBULATION
* 25 STAT POINTS
* RANKER TIER WEAPON
…
The system pinged his notifications off. They hit the system of everyone’s system screen, and he saw the odd nod. Every Mary seemed interested; she had been preparing for master tier. He knew, he could see her Mana flowing around her and cultivating into a greater form. Baek had told Tango and Mary to not share the steps to become a master tier. He said that it needed to be organic and so only the system should share the path.
Jazmel stared back at the grave. Staring down at the cold earth and he wondered if Patton’s death, had been his fault. His heart was fractured, healing from the shattering. Baek had spoken with him repeatedly, but words hadn't gotten through. Time had been the greatest healer. Though it had only been a week. He had seen the good of their loss. The girls and women they had saved were up and moving around the faction base. Some deciding to join, some were still healing, not all wounds were physical after all.
Jazmel stepped forward, walking towards the grave. He knelt before it, in front of everyone and placed his hand on the freshly overturned earth.
“You saved them all.” He said, patting the ground where his friend was being laid to rest.