Spending the next couple hours underground getting further ahead. Calling it early and heading back to Ink's for a cash infusion, and picking up more supplies. Taking an inventory. Two canteens, already owned, that need to be filled. A bedroll, just purchased. Five sets of underclothes and socks, one worn. Desert clothing and new boots ordered. Herb pouch, fully stocked, with twenty leaves and two tightly sealed doses of the green algae goo. Weapons: two knives, hip and torso, and the hatchet in my belt loop. Spending a good amount of time with the needle and spider's silk on my new set of leather gloves.
Out for two days in a row thanks to my temporary schedule change - even managing to catch a bit of sleep in the pod the first night. Back in at midnight, taking a light dinner and crashing. Awake at dawn. Had hit 11 during the night.
Name: Lucilia Macarthy Profession: Runemage Level: 11 Sex: Female Experience: 44,115 (20,096) Age: 20 Until Next: 10,635 Health 83 Mana 69 Stamina 34 Spirit 8 Strength (STR) 56 (3) Constitution (CON) 63 (6) Dexterity (DEX) 68 (14) Agility (AGI) 87 (18) Discipline (DIS) 76 (13) Aura (AUR) 81 (15) Logic (LOG) 72 (16) Intuition (INT) 75 (17) Wisdom (WIS) 45 (-3) Influence (INF) 76 (13)
Name Trainings Bonus Armor Use 6 29 Physical Fitness 12 51 Simple Weapons 12 51 Arcane Symbols 17 64 Magic Item Use 12 51 Harness Power 12 51 Mana Control 12 51 Runemancy 12 51 Arcane Lore, Shaping 12 51 Arcane Lore, Transference 5 25 Survival 12 51 Perception 12 51 Climbing 12 51 Swimming 10 45 First Aid 12 51 Trading 12 51 Stalking and Hiding 12 51
Scouting out the next two Runemancy spells.
Twelfth rank.
Rune of Focus: Enhances a worn item, increasing CS by up to 20. Only one such item will apply this bonus when worn. Duration is 20 minutes per Runemancy rank.
Enhancement magic for spellcasters. Twelve mana, so not as spreadable as Accuracy and Deflection. Toss this on Riley and her blasts of light should do major damage.
Thirteenth rank.
Rune of Warding: Enhances a worn item, increasing TD by up to 20. When hostile spells are fully warded against the enemy caster suffers a backlash, suffering minor mana and stamina damage. Only one such item will apply this bonus when worn. Duration is 20 minutes per Runemancy rank.
Phenomenal. Beyond phenomenal. Items with spell resistance are rare and extremely valuable. Thirteen mana to cast. These are both still temporary, but at some point there's bound to be something to make these enhancements permanent. Undoubtedly combined with a detailed, expensive and time consuming process.
Putting the spells down the road aside, it's finally time to test my level eleven spell, Carve. The description says it turns my hands into sharpened claws, but what exactly is going to happen? Clearing the desk and moving everything aside to give my hands room to do whatever it is they're going to do. No rune coming to mind, but the target is undoubtedly my hands. Clearing my head and then focusing on the spell. Pouring the mana into my hands. Filling, activating. It worked. Didn't it? Turning my hands palm up then palm down. They look the same. Touching my thumb to my fingers. Rubbing my hands. They don't feel different. Rubbing them together. They feel completely normal. But the spell took, it definitely did.
My master had casually split a table in half by running his finger along the surface before having me mend it, so maybe something like that. Taking an index finger and gingerly touching the top the desk. It feels soft. Adding more pressure and my finger sinking through. The formerly solid wooden grain feeling gritty, almost sand-like, as my finger splits it apart. Holy shit, it did work. This is wild. Feeling an itch near my nose and absentmindedly bringing my other hand to my face. Becoming aware of my actions and stopping my finger an inch away. Trying to calm the surge of panic and uncross my eyes. Careful. If wood is this easy, then flesh is even easier. They don't look it but they're razor sharp.
But how sharp? Standing up, holding my hands in front of me, and going to the door. Reaching out to touch the metal handle. Scraping. Uh oh. Um, that'll buff out. Maybe a towel to wrap them? Going to the bathroom and pulling one off the hook. Trying to, at least, my fingers not even managing to grab, instead cutting right through. Can't even pick it up. The entire hand is a razor down to - carefully running a finger down my palm - just below the wrist.
Of course, the shield, and, of course, forgot to activate it. Okay, release this spell, puncture, let the mana drain out. Should be back to normal. Tentatively touching the wall and it feeling, once again, solid and reassuring. Tracing. Runic Shield. Reactivate Car- Wait, should put on some underwear. And a shirt. They're only a handful, but some early birds may be walking around and there's no reason to give 'em a free show. Now reactivate Carve. Holding my hands out in front of me like they're covered in oil. Extremely sharp, deadly oil. Opening the door with the shield, down the stairs and out the front door. Whoa! Using the shield to readjust some guy walking near me. Watch yourself, you almost got extra holes.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
If wood was that easy, how about these cobblestones. Kneeling down and testing with my finger. Feels pretty solid. Using all four fingers together, adding more force, trying to scoop. Slowly sinking in, the consistency feeling like very thick clay. Really sharp. Pressing my fingers further into the stone, making more headway. Using both hands and carving a circle, digging up a handful of cobblestone and tossing it a few feet away. Seems very useful, but also inconvenient, expensive and with a short duration. All the hallmarks of a great spell.
About to release the spell again, but first reactivating Runic Shield. Twelve hours on it now. Releasing Carve. Touching the stone. Back to being stone. Running out of time, need to go. Glancing back. That guy's been watching the whole time. Should've have put on pants.
Quickly getting ready and packing up my entire life. Arriving at the cobbler at quarter to seven and grabbing the new boots. Definitely comfy. Heading to the clothing store and getting my new gear. Cloak and pants a dark beige. The shirt, lighter, with lined, angular designs on the cuffs and collar in black thread. Otherwise plain. Nice and understated. The pants not the sleek material, but instead two thin layers of material, softer on the inside and stiffer on the outside. The bandanna an off white. The pack, tough, lightweight, and darker in color, near black. What is this material? Not thick enough to be bear or yeti, and it doesn't look or feel like snakeskin or basilisk. Maybe some kind of dog or big cat. Night Hound? Possibly. She probably gave me a good deal on this.
Heading to the town hall and renting a locker for twenty days for two gold. Putting everything in there that isn't coming. Final stop. Filling the canteens with water and lemonade and grabbing snacks for the road, apples and some dried fruit, and also hardtack and dried meat. Eating breakfast on the go and arriving the West Gate at ten to eight. Activating Rune of Accuracy on the dagger and Rune of Deflection on my armor.
The merchant caravan, fifteen wagons pulled by horses, takes up the entire area in front of, and around, the gate. Most of the wagons showing the insignia of the two big merchant companies. The first diamond shaped, and the second bearing a loose resemblance to the side profile of a ship, and then three of the wagons with no such markings. And there, with the Ishtar symbol decorating the clasp on their cloaks, congregating roughly near each other and speaking in twos and threes. Eight men and two women. Time to meet my new comrades.
Getting closer and recognizing two familiar faces. Starting his fourth year, with light brown hair and sporting a new goatee, Blindside. And speaking with him, starting her third year, with darker hair to her shoulders and naturally downturned lips, Magpie. Neither of them is running this, that's some guy named Daniel. Which one is he? Probably him, he looks the most stressed. Walking up to his group and interrupting his conversation.
“Excuse me, Roy sent me over. I'm Lucy. I'm joining up with you on this.”
“You're Lucy?” says the man with the crewcut that the stressed man had been speaking with. Looking me up and down. He doesn't seem terribly impressed. “I'm Daniel, and I'm in charge of the expedition. This is Hugh, he's second in command.” The now slightly less stressed man giving me a nod. “I was told that you were fresh, so a quick rundown on my expectations. Listen up and do what you're told. When someone gives you an order, it's for your own benefit. If you have an objection to a particular order, keep it to yourself and do what you're told. You can bring it up afterwards. This isn't a garden stroll and I don't want any incidents.”
“Yes, sir.” Giving a regulation salute, palm out, with my other hand placed at the small of my back.
Daniel pausing for a moment, then continuing, “I was told you have enhancement magic, of some sort. You're going to be in Hugh's group at the rear. I'm not expecting much from you, but do your best to support them. We're going to be on the main road today, so take the time to get yourself situated. I wanted to get out of here by eight, but last I heard we're still waiting on some people from Windward.” Turning to Hugh. “I'm going to head up front and see if there's any news on the holdup. You see if anyone in back has any idea.” The man addressing me again. “As for you,” barking out two names, “Serena, Grace,” the other girl and Magpie turning their heads and coming toward us. “Lucy, here, is new. See if she has any questions. In the meantime I'm going to start herding all these cats.” The man about to turn away, but then considering me again. “At ease.” Dropping my salute.
“Sure thing, Daniel,” says Serena. Based on her outfit and lack of armor probably a caster of some sort. Daniel walking toward the front of the merchant train, followed by a handful of the other Ishtar members. Hugh heading toward the rear with two others. Serena and Magpie stuck dealing with me. Serena glancing off to one side, mouth going askew. Magpie with her customary look of dissatisfaction. Serena taller than me. Magpie... close. Oh, so close. Goddamn it, goddamn it, goddamn it.
Serena looking down, slightly shaking her head, and then in a bubbly, cheerful voice, “Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Serena. I really hope we can get along.”
“Yeah, I hope we can be good friends,” Magpie chiming in right after. Really putting on a show. Magpie. The girl couldn't charm a snake into taking a bite.
“Yeah?” Considering them now. Serena concealing disgust and Magpie concealing hostility, poorly. “Before we go any further, let's cut the bullshit. I know about your thing. I joined up knowing about it. You don't need to play any stupid games with me like I just fell off the turnip truck. You're really bad at it.” Gesturing at Magpie. “Especially you.”
This awkward moment longer than the last awkward moment.
“Fuck, that's a relief,” says Serena, her hidden disgust fading. “Roy said you knew what you were doing, but rules are rules.” Reaching out her hand. Shaking it. Magpie following suit, with her face not changing very much at all. “In that case,” Serena says, “good to have you. Lucy, right?” Nodding. “Man, I've been looking forward to this for awhile. Four days straight. And then the city. And four days back. It's a great time, don't you worry. And don't mind Daniel, he's only a hardass when we're doing stuff like this - there's no reason to playact like you're on parade duty. Although I'm glad the Academy decided to change their salute, it looks way more professional. Back when I went it looked like this.” Serena giving a quick Academy salute. “So is there anything you want to know, or are you good?”
“I'm good. I'll figure it out as I go.”
“I like you already,” she says, “you're much less of a headache than I was expecting. You're going to have a good time on this trip. You know, some people say they have trouble telling the difference between this place and reality. But it's easy. When you look around and everything's shit, that's how you know it's reality. Just a big ol' pile of shit. This place, way better. Anyway, I'm gonna get to the front, you're with her in the back - and it's not you, she's always like this. Only one thing puts a smile on her face, and neither of us has it.” Serena heading off in the direction Daniel had gone.
Magpie staring at the other girl's back. Her true desire left unvoiced and unaccomplished. Clearing my throat.
The girl unclenching her white knuckled grip. “C'mon,” she says.
Getting to the rear of the wagon train and joining up with my group.
Hugh Anderson, Bertrand Wallace, Thomas Greene and Grace Upton.
The three men using the opportunity to unabashedly get an eyeful. Magpie, in contrast, significantly more curious.
“Yeah, I know, my last name. I've heard it all. Cut me some slack.”
Slight confusion from the men, followed by understanding, then introductions all around.
“Okay,” says Anderson, “Tommy, Grace and Lucy, since it's your first time heading out I'll give you the rundown. Bert, you don't have to listen.”
“Wasn't planning on it,” the other guy says.
“This is their first time?”
“Grace joined up maybe five months ago,” says Anderson, “and Tommy soon after. A couple years back Roy had this bright idea to head over the mountains to the west and go exploring. Bert convinced me to come along.”
“Don't blame me,” says Wallace, “you went because of Constance.”
“Who's that?”
“You don't-” says Anderson, “Right, you're completely new. Connie and Roy got roped into doing something at the last minute. 'Official business.' ” His fingers giving air quotes. “The last couple times it was just the six of us, but this time we had significantly more demand so we requested volunteers.”
Magpie snorting.
“Except for Grace. She drew the short straw and didn't have a choice.”
“Serena seemed really excited to go, M-Grace. She said it'd be a good time.”
“That's because Serena's a freak,” she says.
“Yeah she is.” Wallace nudging Anderson with his elbow. “That's the best thing about her.”
“Don't worry Grace,” says Anderson, “I know you're not thrilled, but we'll make sure you have a good time, too.”
“You promise?” A hint of sunshine breaking through.
“Absolutely,” says Anderson. “but anyway, today is the shortest, easiest day. We're traveling along the main road and stopping at the imperial fort at the foot of the mountains, where the Emperor's Highway intersects from the south. It's a important trading point for merchants, so as far as they're concerned it's not a waste. We'll camp there tonight. Tomorrow we go over the pass, and then we're in the desert. We should get to our destination by sundown on the fourth day. For caravan duty, here on rear guard it should be easier - most of the monsters should be up front - but don't get complacent, especially once we're in the mountains and further beyond.” Looking at me. “Lucy, they said you were our support. A Runemage. To be perfectly honest I have no idea what you can do.”
“I'll show you.” Pulling off a glove. Time to shine. “Let me see your weapons real quick.”
Runes of Accuracy on Magpie's knife, Anderson's sword, Wallace's bow and Tommy's two handed sword and bow. Runes of Deflection on their armor.
“Hey, one thing, Grace, I need to see something.” Giving her angry eyebrows to complete the look. Spending the next fifteen minutes making small talk, with each person in the group trying not to look at Magpie, failing at some point, smirking or snickering, which chained to everyone else. Magpie's initial confusion fading to the point where the eyebrows became irrelevant, so willing them away.
A signal from the front and all the merchant wagons starting to roll out.
***
As far as monsters, a carefree day. Walking along the road at a slightly brisk pace, taking turns sitting on the back of the last wagon, taking in the scenery, the small towns and forests and hills, the plains to the north and the giant lake to south of the road. Only a handful of incidents, easily dealt with at range. No proper opportunity to vent my mounting frustrations. As far as monsters, carefree and simple and boring.
As far as the men, less than carefree. An entire day spent walking without being able to get away from the three men in my group, or the merchants glancing back, now and again, from the last wagon. The friendly-seeming questions, the not-so-veiled looks, at both me and Magpie. The little hamster wheels turning behind their eyes making it no mystery what they're thinking, as they compared our very similar heights and builds. As far as the men, never has my inability to turn invisible felt so sorely missed.
Trying to talk to Magpie at the start, but getting nowhere. Being earnest and making no headway. The other girl doing her level best to ignore my existence entirely. A couple aggravating hours later, deciding to mess with her. Asking her some innocent, and some not very innocent, questions. Playing stupid, and making myself a complete nuisance. Pretending to drop things in her path. Trying to trip her. Following after as she moves away. Attempting to rile her up simply to get a reaction and, for the most part, failing. By mid afternoon, beyond the end of my rope, almost ready to bail out on the trip entirely, challenging her to a duel. By that point, the girl more than ready. The two of us starting to square up a few paces away, but everything getting quickly scuffed by Anderson.
Now, late afternoon, with the banners of the imperial fort coming into view, the traveling portion of my not at all carefree day comes to an end.