Kaiden’s breath came in ragged gasps, his shirt sticking to his back with sweat as he braced for another blow. Each movement sent a jolt of pain through his bruised body, particularly from his forearm, which he was certain was fractured. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Kaiden raised his shield in time to intercept a fierce sword strike, wincing as the impact reverberated painfully through his injured arm.
Kaiden countered with a thrust, his blade glowing momentarily as he activated his Dragon Talons skill. Unfortunately, his attack sliced through empty air, missing his target and failing to trigger the life-draining effect he so desperately needed. With a frustrated grunt, withdrew his sword, crossing it with the rim of his shield to form a double defence, simultaneously manoeuvring to disrupt his opponent’s angle of attack. The clang of metal rang against his shield and sword sending a dull ache up his tender limb.
Ignoring the searing pain, Kaiden unleashed a forceful strike aimed at his opponent’s head. The move was expertly parried, forcing him to rapidly lower his shield and pivot around to defend his legs from the swift counterattack. This manoeuvre effectively jammed his adversary’s sword against his shield. Capitalizing on the moment, he slashed, aiming to slice his opponent from waist to shoulder. However, his foe, nimbly stepped back just in time, causing Kaiden’s blade to only graze the arm with a shallow cut.
Committed to his attack the battle’s momentum shifted abruptly in his opponent’s favour. Before his fractured arm could raise his shield, his foe’s sword circled around and a split second later Kaiden could feel the chilling touch of steel pressed against his throat. Kaiden stood frozen, breath ragged, as the stark realization of his defeat washed over him.
“Well, done,” Janos said, a broad grin spreading across his face.
Kaiden grimaced as he looked up at the general, who seemed scarcely out of breath. “I still can’t beat you,” he admitted, feeling the weight of his exertion.
“You’ve improved tremendously over these past three weeks.” The general reassured him, his tone approving.
Kaiden winced and began to remove his shield, revealing the bruised and swollen skin beneath. Janos motioned to a healer who had been on standby during their duel. The healer approached and cast a spell, her hands glowing with a soft ethereal light. Kaiden felt the immediate rush of the healing magic as it coursed through his body, easing the pain, mending his broken arm, and clearing the fog of fatigue from his mind.
Kaiden offered a nod of appreciation towards the healer and looked back to the general with a mixture of respect and frustration. Despite the intense effort he had put into his training, today’s sparring session had ended with his defeat almost as quickly as it had three weeks ago. The general had invested hours in his training each day, a rigorous program that the general had designed himself. The initial two weeks had consisted of only repetitive stances, guards, and footwork, the general forcing Kaiden to meticulously practice each movement until it became second nature. On the third week, they had advanced to controlled drills against a partner, starting slowly to ensure that Kaiden had mastered the form before gradually increasing the speed and complexity. Today was the first time they had faced each other since that first day.
Sighing, he accessed his status screen, the digital display materializing in front of his eyes.
Status
Name
Kaiden Hunter
Age
15
Race
Dragonborn Human
Class
Dragon Knight
Level
19
Attributes
Strength
16
Dexterity
9
Perception
8
Endurance
16
Vitality
16
Magic
7
Spirit
15
Perhaps noticing his dejected expression, the general spoke. “You’ve got talent, Kaiden,” he said, prompting Kaiden to glance up from his status screen.
“If you were really trying, you’d win without breaking a sweat,” Kaiden replied, his tone edged with frustration.
The general chuckled, pointing to the faint cut on his arm. “I may have handicapped my attributes, but I haven’t been hit by a novice in years. “Don’t sell yourself short.”
Aridan approached them, his clothes drenched in sweat from his own training. “Father’s right. You’re improving at an impressive rate,” he affirmed, giving Kaiden a supporting slap on the back.
“Thanks,” Kaiden responded, smiling slightly. “You’ve improved a lot too.” He couldn’t help but notice how Aridan’s physique had changed – before he was gaunt from years of malnutrition, he now looked healthier and more robust.
Aridan gave a rueful shake of his head. “It’s not really an improvement. I’m just regaining my former strength. I’ll need to step up my game to keep you from catching up.”
Kaiden laughed. “Maybe if you didn’t spend so much time chasing anything with a skirt,” Kaiden joked.
“I was locked up for three years, I’m just making up for lost time,” Aridan quipped back with a grin. “You can’t spend every waking hour training. You’ve got to set some time aside for fun.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“I’ll have time for that later. Right now, I need to get stronger,” Kaiden stated his voice firm and full of resolve.
The general cleared his throat, casting a somber look towards Kaiden. “On that matter, I have some unfortunate news.”
Kaiden tensed, fearing he already knew the answer. “What is it?”
“Your application for an extension has been denied,” the general revealed.
“When do I have to leave?” Kaiden’s voice was barely a whisper, his stomach churning with anxiety.
“You have two weeks,” the general replied, his expression grim.
“Are you sure you can’t do anything else?” Aridan asked, his face full of disappointment.
“I’ve already delayed it as long as I can,” The general replied.
“That’s not much time,” Kaiden remarked.
Turning his gaze to Kaiden’s arms now marked with fresh ink from the tattoo session, the general inquired, “How much longer until your tattoos are completed?”
“Today should be the last session,” Kaiden responded. “It took a bit longer because I levelled up, and Delger had to make some adjustments.”
“Make sure to apply for the Empire’s citizenship paperwork once it’s completed and your race is hidden,” the general advised. “It should spare you the hassle of extra inspections at every checkpoint and the entrance to every city and town.”
Kaiden nodded.
Alred approached, reminding the general of their schedule. “Sir, we should get moving.”
The general sighed, a hint of irritation in his tone. “More paperwork and meetings. It’ll be the death of me.” He then turned back to Kaiden. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We have two weeks of training left, and there’s still so much l want to teach you.”
As Kaiden and Aridan left the garrison, Aridan asked, “Do you want me to come with you?”
Kaiden shook his head. “No, it’s alright. I’ll let you know how it goes at your parent’s house.”
With a supportive pat on the shoulder, Aridan departed. Kaiden then made his way to Delger’s, mentally bracing himself for the session ahead. When explaining it all, Delger had omitted one critical detail: the tattooing process was excruciating. Each session required him to be strapped down and lay as still as possible, to prevent any movement that could disrupt the precise nature of the work. Thanks to his experiences in Gul’Gormeth, Kaiden had developed a high tolerance.
Delger’s workshop was its usual stark, dimly lit space, the air filled with the scent of ink and antiseptic. As soon as Kaiden entered, the man, devoid of any pleasantries, directed him straight to the workbench. The tattooist’s gruff demeanour left little room for comfort as he efficiently strapped Kaiden down, preparing him for the session ahead.
Muttering under his breath, Delger meticulously examined the previous day’s work on Kaiden’s skin. With a noncommittal grunt that Kadien interpreted as approval, Delger reached for his tools, signalling the beginning of the procedure.
Kaiden looked away, focusing on a crack in the ceiling, attempting to distract himself from the impending pain. He clenched his teeth, striving to maintain steady breathing as Delger resumed his work. The tattoo started on Kaiden’s chest, intricately weaving around his body like a map of his veins, each section meticulously drawn with the appropriate enchantment intertwined with the next.
As the needle moved over a particular tender area near his solar plexus, Kaiden couldn’t help but hiss in pain. Delger paused for a moment, his voice serious, “I’m about to finish the connection. This will activate your enchantment. It’s going to be quite painful, so brace yourself and send a prayer to whatever gods you believe in for success.”
Kaiden nodded, steeling himself for the final part of the session. The room fell into a heavy silence, punctuated by the sounds of Delger completing his work.
The sudden surge of pain and the heat as the enchantment activated was almost unbearable. Kaiden’s body tensed against the restraints, muscles straining as the burning sensation spread fiercely across his skin marked by the enchanted tattoo. The growing pressure in his head made him feel as if it might burst, pushing him to the brink of consciousness. Eventually, the pain overwhelmed him, and he succumbed to the darkness.
When Kaiden’s senses returned, he found himself lying in the same spot, gazing up at the stained ceiling of Delger’s workshop. The leather straps that had bound him to the table were loose at his sides, and the pain had subsided to a dull ache that lingered in his limbs and at the base of his skull. With a groan, he cautiously propped himself up on his elbows, each movement tentative as he tried to orient himself and assess his condition.
The tattoos covered most of his body and were seamlessly integrated with the natural black scales along his skin, intricately woven as a continuous design. Unless one looked closely, it was nearly impossible to tell where his scales ended and the tattoos began, a testament to Delger’s skill and craftsmanship.
“Awake already,” Delger’s gruff voice cut through the quiet of the room. “You seem to be moving fine. That’s a promising sign.”
Kaiden turned his head, spotting the man slouched in his chair across the room. His voice was dry and scratchy as he asked, “Is it always that painful?”
Delger stood, walking slowly towards Kaiden. “Sometimes it’s worse,” he admitted gruffly. “I’ve seen attempts that have failed so badly they killed the person from the pain alone.”
Kaiden’s brow furrowed in concern – he was positive that death from pain alone hadn’t been mentioned as a possibility. “So, was it a success?” Kaiden asked.
Delger shrugged. “My skills only tell me that the tattoo is active. Whether it’s successful or not, that’s for you to tell me.”
A knot of anxiety tightened in Kaiden’s stomach as he braced himself to check his status.
Status
Name
Kaiden Hunter
Age
15
Race
Human
Class
Dragon Knight
Level
19
Attributes
Strength
16 (19.2)
Dexterity
9
Perception
8
Endurance
16
Vitality
16 (19.2)
Magic
7
Spirit
15
“Yes.” Kaiden exclaimed. “My race is depicted as Human.” He focused on Human and another box appeared.
Race
Select display
Dragonborn Human
Human *
Dragonborn
Kaiden examined the options with surprise. He hadn’t expected to see the alternative race options. He couldn’t imagine using anything other than the human selection, but the option was impressive. He closed the race display, only to notice another unexpected change: both his strength and vitality had noticeably higher numbers next to them.
“Delger, the enchantment works – it hides my race, but there’s something else” Kaiden began confused, “My strength and vitality are boosted. How did that happen?
Delger’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he leaned closer. “Both stats boosted?” he asked eagerly. “By how much?”
Kaiden frowned, irritation creeping into his voice. “Did you do this on purpose?”
Delger chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Well, if I was going to apply a concealing tattoo, I figured I might as well try to boost the attributes too.”
“Isn’t that more dangerous?” Kaiden pressed.
“Of course it is,” Delger cackled, “But my work is never sub-par.”
Kaiden clenched his jaw, frustrated by the casual risk taken with his life. It had ended up in his favour, but he hadn’t been given a choice.
“So, tell me how much did it boost them.” The tattooist asked curiously.
“Can’t you tell?” Kaiden retorted, still peeved by the man’s cavalier attitude.
Delger waved a dismissive hand. “It doesn’t work like that. I can direct the concealing aspects of the tattoo because that’s just masking something that already exists. It’s why your options are only Human and Dragonborn variants. Boosting attributes, however, taps into the body’s potential – it’s unpredictable.”
Kaiden exhaled slowly, releasing his initial frustration. There wasn’t any point in making enemies, especially when the outcome was ultimately beneficial. “They both show a twenty percent increase from the original values,” he finally disclosed.
Delger’s eyes widened in shock and awe, his weathered face breaking into a broad grin. “Twenty percent?” he echoed, his voice thick with excitement. “That’s legendary, and twenty percent on two attributes?” his hands clapped together, the sound echoing in the cluttered room. “And those fools tossed me out.”
Kaiden watched as the tattooist began to dance around his workspace with a childlike glee. Suddenly, Delger stopped, his expression turning serious. “I must document everything, perhaps I can replicate the results.” He muttered, quickly sinking into his chair. He grabbed a piece of parchment and began to scribble furiously.
“Well, thanks for your work,” Kaiden said, quickly changing into his clothes and making a move to leave. Delger, absorbed in his notes, barely acknowledged him, waving a distracted hand as Kaiden left.
Later that night, Kaiden found himself sitting with Aridan on the balcony, enjoying the cool evening air. The sounds of the city and forest drifted softly toward them. Janos still wasn’t home, his duties often keeping him at work until late.
“That crazy bastard,” Aridan exclaimed after Kaiden had revealed what had happened. “Still a twenty percent boost to two attributes, that’s amazing. Maybe I should get a tattoo.” he mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” Kaiden responded quickly, a grimace crossing his face at the memory. “The pain was excruciating.”
“That bad?” Aridan asked eyebrow raised curiously.
“That bad,” Kaiden confirmed with a nod.
“Well, they’re barbaric things anyway, would make it hard to attract the elven maidens.” Aridan joked, a smirk playing on his lips.
Aridan’s comment elicited a roll of the eyes from Kaiden. As his smile faded, a wave of melancholy washed over him. These quiet, carefree moments with his friend were numbered, and with the reality of his departure looming, Kaiden couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before they would share another evening like this. The night stretched on, filled with their laughter and memories, as they both enjoyed the simple pleasure of being in each other’s company.