Shane made his way to Kenzie and placed a hand on her, and she sighed as a wave of healing hit her. Shane saw that while she was not nearly as wounded as Brom, she was still down a quarter of her health. She hugged him and pointed out his own injuries. “Yeah, I have an idea about that though. Let’s get back inside.”
Kenzie and Shane helped Brom to his feet but as they moved to help him towards the door, he stopped them, “Loot first.” Wincing, he stooped over and picked up the wolfen leader’s two-handed sword. “Mine.” The group scooted around touching the other wolfen. As the group limped back towards the store, Brom asked, “Anyone else weirded out by your wounds? I mean, I got cut up and shot by an arrow and it hurts like hell, but I don’t really feel incapacitated.”
Shane answered, “I assume it’s some kind of system thing. I’m pretty cut up, but my bleeding has stopped already.”
With no one having a true answer, they then made their way back into the market. Finishing the looting of those left inside. Once the last body had been looted, all the dead wolfen dissolved in a glowing mist and disappeared.
Kenzie and Shane set Brom on the floor and together with Malcolm, they pushed a bunch of shelves back against the door and the broken window. It wasn’t much, but it made them feel a modicum of safety. Shane then grabbed his EMT bag and began doing triage on everyone, explaining that his skill, Field Medicine would help speed up everyone’s recovery rate. It took him a solid twenty minutes to bandage everyone including himself. He also used his healing spell on himself at Kenzie’s urging.
While Shane administered to himself, Kenzie and Malcolm decided to barricade the door to the apartment. Kenzie peeked inside with a candle at one point and was shocked at how much blood was sprayed everywhere. When she and Malcolm were done, Kenzie went over to where Brynn was once more huddled up to Brom, “What happened in there?” She was clearly disturbed by the carnage she had seen.
Harvey looked up at her with a happy smile, “I did.”
Kenzie didn’t know what was scarier, the carnage or the bear, so she just nodded, “Oh. Okay.” and went to sit with Shane.
After a short while everyone had caught their breath and had settled back down. Malcolm pulled himself out of his screens and cleared his throat. “Ahem. Has anyone else checked their status or inventory?”
A round of no’s followed as Brynn had fallen asleep, Brom sat studying the sword he had claimed, and Shane and Kenzie sat discussing the entire ordeal. Everyone had mostly shut down the notifications they received. The only one to speak up was Harvey, “I did.” He cheerfully answered.
“Um, alright.” A little disturbed by the bear, Malcolm went on, “I got a hundred and thirty Aether from that. I also got a bunch of coins, weapons, and armor.”
This prompted everyone to consult their screens, except for Brynn, who was fast asleep. Kenzie exclaimed, “Oh! I can level up!”
“Me too.” Brom replied, still looking at his screens.
“So, guys.” Malcolm asked, “Should we save some Aether to help create a Refuge later?”
“Nah! Screw that.” Brom scoffed. “We need power now. Spend what you can. Level up and we’ll deal with the refuge stuff later when we get home.”
Shane and Kenzie both agreed, and Malcolm also saw the logic in staying strong while travelling. The group sat discussing Brom and Kenzie’s options for level two and marveling at the system inventory.
Brom ended up keeping the two-handed sword as his spell was fairly mana intensive. He also kept the wolfen leaders’ armor and dagger. Kenzie kept the round shield stating that her full class name was Valkyrie Shieldmaiden, and she received the option to take the shield skill at level two. Everyone kept a set of leather chest armor, while both Shane and Malcolm claimed a longsword each. There were enough bows and quivers of arrows for everyone, but Brom and Brynn who had woken from all of the conversation, declined, allowing Kenzie and Shane to keep the extras. Kenzie kept a dagger while Brynn adamantly refused to carry one.
It was Harvey again that surprised everyone as Brom was trying to convince Brynn to carry a dagger at least for protection. Harvey happily pulled out a dagger from his own system inventory and brandished it. In the sixteen-inch-tall bear’s paw it looked like a long sword. Malcolm wondered out loud how Harvey held it seeing that he had no fingers. The blade seemed to just stick to the furry paw, but Harvey could manipulate it as if he had fingers. Brom just said, “System fuckery.” And they all left it at that.
It was a few more hours before morning came and with it the rain and wind returned. The group had not had any more encounters and by the time they were all up and packing their things, every one of them was completely healed of their wounds. No scratches, scars or lingering aches and pains. As they packed and looted the store for food and water, they also discovered that the armor they received from the wolfen fit them. Brom was the first to try it on and he was surprised that it reshaped itself to his size and proportions just after he pulled it from his inventory. This caused quite a stir and soon Kenzie, Shane and Malcolm followed suit. They only had chest armor with arm bracers as the wolfen did not wear anything on their legs, but it fit and moved well. Again, Brynn wanted nothing to do with the nasty monster armor that smelled vaguely of wet dog.
Kenzie managed to find a box of large black garbage bags, so they made some makeshift rain ponchos. Harvey ended up using a small kitchen garbage bag and looked ridiculous, but Brynn praised him for how cute he was. As they were all engrossed in getting ready, Shane interrupted the group by saying, “I think before we go, I’m going to unlock my Fate.” At the barrage of questions and comments, he held his hands up and added, “Here’s my reasoning.” As the group quieted, he continued, “After thinking about it this morning and looking back on what happened last night, I think I want to do it, just for the power up it says I’ll get.” He caught everyone’s eye one by one, “Last night scared the crap out of me.” He put an arm around Kenzie, “We agreed to level up as much as we could because we need power now instead of down the road. We have a long way to go before we get home.” He glanced out the window at the rain lashing the awning. “We’re not going to be traveling very fast in this weather and I absolutely do not want to fight anything else without grabbing as much power and abilities as I can.”
Kenzie hugged Shane back, “I get it. I do, but how do you know it’s safe to do now?”
Shane shrugged, “That’s the risk. I don’t. But I’d rather risk it being beneficial. All the descriptions said there was power to be gained, and as screwed up as this has all been, the System hasn’t lied yet.”
“Do it.” Brom stately strongly. “The world has gone to shit, there are freaking zombies and werewolves now! Do it. And then, do mine.” Shane saw a determination in Brom’s eyes as he saw Brom give Brynn a side glance. Shane knew he’d risk it to better protect his sister.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Brynn looked on clutching Harvey, but gave Shane a sweet smile, “You can do mine too.” She said quietly.
Malcolm tilted his head, “I think you should do it too. We need all the firepower we can get.”
“Your choice, babe.” Kenzie added. “You know I’ve got your back.”
Shane took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Okay. Thank you, guys.” He gave Kenzie a nervous smile and hugged her once, then stepped away from her. He took one last look at his friends then said, “Here goes.” He focused on his Bind Fate spell and activated it with himself as the target.
Bind Fate
This act cannot be reversed except by a powerful Fatebringer.
Do you wish to unlock your Fate? Y / N
Shane chose Yes and felt a rush as two thirds of his Mana and Stamina were pulled out of him in a torrent that swirled around him in an invisible stream, only to slam back into him with a physical force. The stream had wound around his body several times then hit him directly in the chest above his heart. He staggered but did not fall as his vision blacked out and he felt more than saw a yawning void of stars and planets swirl in his mind’s eye. There was a low ringing sound that gradually grew louder and louder until it felt like it would shake his bones free from his skin. It began to crescendo and finally ended becoming like a reverberating gong. His skin began to feel like he’d gotten a severe sun burn and his breathing became labored. And just when he thought the sensations would overwhelm him, they stopped. He sagged to his knees, aware that Kenzie was holding him and speaking, yet his attention was on the notification that had appeared.
Fate Unlocked!
[Broken and Bound (D/U)]: Your Fate lays wide open before you. Your path now brings forth the possibility to bind that which has been broken or break that which has been bound. The course of your Fate carries the potential to shape Realms and cause Powers to rise and fall. Follow your Fate with care and caution and may the System find you worthy. Grants +2 to all Stats. Grants access to [Fate Abilities].
Welcome Fatebringer!
You have unlocked your Fate and have taken the first critical step towards your destiny. You are now committed to a path not walked in millennia. The Shattered Realms await your decisions and beings new and ancient will be affected by the choices you make. Be wise. Be brave.
You have unlocked your Fate and have taken the first critical step towards your destiny. You are now committed to a path not walked in millennia. The Shattered Realms await your decisions and beings new and ancient will be affected by the choices you make. Be wise. Be brave.
Shane was exhausted. He had just spent two thirds of both his Mana and Stamina to unlock his Fate and he needed a moment to catch his breath. He tiredly looked at Kenzie and gave a weak smile. “I’m alright. Just need a minute.” He received a few more notices which he checked as he waited for his Mana and Stamina to recover.
Title Earned! First Fated!
Congratulations! You are the first human in your Realm to unlock their Fate! Grants +3 to all stats and 500 Aether.
It took a few seconds and then he began to glow. It lasted for only a moment, but the change it brought as his statistics were boosted was visible. Under the armor and clothing that he wore, he felt his body shift and his muscles change. His mind cleared and he felt power course through him.
Brom whistled, “Damn! Dude, that is something else.” Awe evident in his voice.
“What?” Worried, Shane took Kenzie’s hand.
“Nothing bad.” She said, amazed. “It’s just, your face has gotten stronger and there’s a… I don’t know how to explain it, but there’s an aura or something about you now. So, what happened?”
Shane could feel power in his hands as he looked at his stats and saw that his strength had gone up to sixteen. He now equaled Brom. Shane explained the experience and finished it with, “I got a plus five in all of my stats!”
Brom immediately came over, “Oh hell yeah. I am all over this. Do me next.”
Shane looked unsure, “Are you positive? I haven’t even checked all my notifications yet.”
“Damned sure. Do it.” Brom spoke with conviction and Shane could tell he was serious.”
“Alright. Your choice. I suggest you sit down though.” Brom dropped to his knees and settled back onto his feet, hands on his thighs.
Shane knelt in front of Brom, placed a hand on his shoulder and cast his spell.
Bind Fate – [Brom Debray]
This act cannot be reversed except by a powerful Fatebringer.
Do you wish to unlock the Fate of [Brom Debray] and entwine his Fate with yours? Y / N
Shane chose Yes and felt the same pull of Mana and Stamina as before, but this time, it swirled around himself, then Brom, then both before shooting into Brom’s chest, above his heart. The swirl then shot into Shane’s chest and suddenly he was bombarded with images from Brom’s life. His understanding of Brom and his dreams, desires, goals, disappointments, and fears became fused with the memories, and he feared he would become Brom. And as before, it stopped as suddenly as it began, a fading image of Brom as a giant of a man in shining silver armor, holding aloft a mighty two-handed sword blazing with light.
Fatebind complete!
You have unlocked the Fate of [Brom Debray] [Hero of the Silver Crown], You are now Fatebound to [Brom Debray]. Grants +1 to both Wisdom and Willpower and 500 Aether.
Congratulations! You are the first human in your Realm to create a Fatebind! Grants +1 to both Wisdom and Willpower and 500 Aether.
Both men slumped for a moment and then sat looking at each other. Brom broke the moment first and reached out a powerful arm and pulled Shane in for a hug. They held it for a few minutes as the others watched patiently. Finally, the hug ended and Brom quietly said, “I’ve got your back, brother.”
Kenzie knelt next to the men, “What happened?”
“I don’t know about Brom, but I kinda felt everything from him. His life up until know, his feelings and stuff. Sort of like a data dump of his life really. It’s hard to explain.”
“Yeah, pretty much the same.” Brom sat marveling at the changes in his body as he had been rewarded with stat increases. “Imagine if you could be someone else completely for ten seconds and then when it’s done, you have a better understanding and appreciation for who they are as a person and who they are specifically to you.” He shrugged, “It’s weird, but at the same time, I got enough Aether out of it to jump me up a level or two.” He grinned. “Pretty sure I can handle those wolfen way better now.”
“The description said that powerful people can only Fatebind up to two others at a time, but it also stated that the number that a Fatebringer can bind is unknown.” Shane looked at the others. “So, if I’m going to do this again for one of you and it turns out that I can’t do it for anyone after, who’s it gonna be?”
“Kenzie. No question.” Malcolm added. “The amount of power this will give her will make sure that both of our fighters are as tough as possible.” He gave his sister a soft look, “Besides all that, it should be you, because if anyone is going to be bound in any way to Shane…” He let the comment trail off.
Shane nodded, “Yeah. I agree. No offense Brynn.”
Brynn smiled and answered, “None taken. Makes total sense.”
“Well, okay then.” Shane shifted where he was kneeling and held his hand out to Kenzie, “Ready?”
“YOLO.” She said quietly and smiled.
Malcolm grinned big, “No one says YOLO anymore.”
Shane took a breath and as he was letting it out, Malcolm added, “With this ring…”
Kenzie shot Malcolm a dirty look, “Really dude?”
Malcolm laughed and when Shane also gave him a look, he held up two fingers in front of his mouth and mimed zipping his lips shut.
Shane focused on Kenzie and cast his spell.