Aegis summoned Alistair into a dreamscape his second night on the road. Once again he found himself in the giant’s forge. The paragon spirit was hard at work, as usual. When it finally noticed the human, it set aside its hammer and tongs.

“Welcome back,” said Aegis. “It’s been some time since you and I last spoke.”

“A lot has happened.”

“Aye, that it has.” The spirit crossed its arms. It seemed much more relaxed this time around. Alistair even thought for a moment the paragon sounded satisfied. “You managed to survive to ‘paladin’. Not many of my boys and girls do that.”

“They don’t?” Alistair asked, grimacing.

“No. It just seems to be our lot in life. Taking the hits for others,” Aegis said, sighing as it did. It pointed its finger at Alistair. “If not for your friends, you’d have died protecting Adelgard. You were brave that day, a real living shield. Still, it almost wasn’t enough.”

“Could I have done something better?”

“No.” The giant shook its head. “No, lad. I didn’t bring you here to criticize, not this time. You’ve done me proud since the last time we spoke. I’ve been watching the whole way. It’s me giving you your powers every milestone reached, after all.”

Ah, so Aegis sent him those messages. It made sense of course. The Lady merely bestowed him the token, she couldn’t force the Aegis to give him more power than what he was ready for. Only the paragon spirit could dole it out, and only when he’d proven himself worthy.

“That’s why I brought you here today, because of your progress I mean,” Aegis said, voice booming with pride. “As I said it’s rare for me to have this opportunity, so forgive my lack of pomp.” He rummaged around with something on a nearby table, much too tall for Alistair to see what it was. “Every paladin, when they reach a certain level of synchronicity with their relic mantle, is given a choice. A choice between two options, each a separate discipline of the spirit resting inside them.”

Alistair watched as the paragon set down two sets of unique armor. They were Aegis suits, both made to be life-size. Like toys they stood there inert, their bodies posed as if they were frozen during combat. After a closer look, Alistair realized there were some subtle differences between the two of them, mostly in the equipment they used.

One had in its hands a beautifully ornate shield, crafted to match the Aegis’s immense size. The surface was painted a deep blue, though it had a keen shine like a mirror almost. Etched into it were beautiful golden highlights and raised curves that spoke of its exotic origins. On the other hand, it wielded a spear of some similarly exotic design. The weapon’s length meant it had been specially crafted for the eight-foot-tall giant, and it would offer a superior reach on the battlefield.

Alistair looked to the other and immediately recognized its pose as one of a fighter, fists raised. It wielded no weapons for its fists served that purpose already. The body of this Aegis looked slightly more bulky, more armored than he’d remembered. This one reminded him of how he was forced to fight before he found a proper weapon.

Aegis pointed to the one with the shield. “This one is called the ‘Rook’, and those who use it focus on static defense, high survivability, and reach.” It indicated the shield next. “With a tower shield like this, you’ll be able to cover your entire body. This greatly enhances your damage resistance and missile deflection.” The paragon pointed to the spear. “Using a longarm, you’ll be able to threaten a greater range than with just a sword or fist. It will make your enemies think twice before trying to bypass you.”

Aegis continued to speak, its enthusiasm growing as it did. “A discipline affects more than just your weapons. Your abilities you’ve earned so far will continue to improve, and you’ll earn new ones as well. Rooks in particular develop stronger Adaptive Armor, and eventually, your Living Shield can be made to affect more than just weak enemies.”

“It all sounds very useful so far,” said Alistair. He struggled to keep up as the Aegis went to the next figure.

“This one is what I like to call the ‘Brawler’. He focuses on, well, I’m sure you guessed it by now: his fists. Whereas the Rook was designed to hang back and defend, the Brawler is meant to charge forward. It relies on the defenses of the Aegis to get it into the thick of combat where it can do the most damage. A mix of offense and defense, this one is.

“Similar to the Rook, its powers become affected as well. Knockout, your stun ability, is greatly enhanced with the Brawler. All of its abilities focus on improving the damage it can deal with its body, and keeping it alive while in combat. Rather than rely on Living Shield to get the enemy’s attention, the Brawler closes the distance and won’t let up until the battle is over.”

“And I’m meant to pick one of these?” Alistair asked to clarify.

“That’s right.” Aegis nodded. “Once you pick a discipline, you won’t be able to change to the other until you master it. That means reaching level 12, which can be a very long time. So choose wisely.”

Alistair approached both of the mannequins to take a closer look. On the one hand, he had the most practice fighting in a way similar to the Rook. When he served as a man-at-arms, a polearm and shield were his primary tools for fighting. Such a technique didn’t lend itself to heroic theatrics, but it was effective at staying alive and in the fight.

On the other hand, he’d freely admit that using the Aegis’s fists and enhanced strength had been incredibly fun. Beating those hobs, as bloody and vicious as it was, had been strangely satisfying. It truly felt like a power a normal human could never quite have.

“There’s no wrong choice,” the paragon reminded him. “Both will help you perform your duty as a paladin. They just both do it in different ways.”

“If I pick one of these, do I get these extra bits right away?” Alistair pointed to the Rook’s shield and the Brawler’s spiked gauntlets.

Aegis shook its head. “Not to start, I’m afraid. But, once you pick a discipline, I can reward you with your first Artifact quest.”

“Artifact?”

“Yes, artifacts are pieces of equipment unique to you.” The spirit’s voice grew quick, excited. “Not even a fellow Aegis will have the same effect or power as yours does. And once you earn it, it will be attached to your relic mantle. No need to lug it around like you do now with your pike.”

Oh, Alistair liked that very much. The novelty of carrying his things around with him had been wearing thin, especially when it came time for battle. He guessed that explained why Broderick never carried much on his person. Every one of his mantles must have had a weapon for him permanently attached. No need to carry a sword on the belt and draw attention to yourself.

“I think I’ll pick the Rook,” Alistair said after a while of thinking. “As exciting as punching things can be, I do like the idea of using a shield. And it would be nice to get one a little more sturdy, since the ones I keep finding tend to break.”

“Perfect, I had a feeling you’d go for that.” The Aegis picked up the figures and set them aside. “And I think I have just the right Artifact quest to send you on. There are four in all that you’ll get by level 12, but the order can vary. I’ll start with your ‘armor’, which in this case means an enchanted shield for you.”

Artifact Quest

Hunt down the Dullahan

Description

Return to the people of Bredon, for there you will find growing signs of the restless undead horde. More and more stir from their unholy graves in Deadwood, and one such group is led by a Dullahan, a lieutenant of the Slough Host.

Destroy this creature and in return, you will have proved your worth.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Reward

Tower Shield of the Aegis

Milestone Progress

“A dullahan?” Alistair had heard the term in passing before.

“Yes, a vicious spirit,” Aegis replied, its voice grim. “They possess suits of knight armor, and often they are deceased knights themselves. Searching the land for a worthy fight, a final duel. Alas, their spirits have been twisted and their morals cast aside, for these creatures have no compunctions about killing those they were sworn to protect in life.”

“A powerful foe it sounds like,” Alistair replied.

“Indeed, don’t let your guard down. Dullahans never travel alone either. It will lead a band of lesser undead to terrorize whatever living settlement it can find,” Aegis said. “If you make your way straight there, you should make it in time to save them.”

“Then I best get—”

“Not so fast!”

Their conversation was cut off by a new voice. A voice dripping with enthusiasm and wanderlust. He heard something like a draft blow through the room. Alistair looked all around but couldn’t see anything. Aegis didn’t seem perturbed by this sudden development. It simply crossed its arms and shook its head.

“How nice of you to wait for us to be done before barging in,” the red giant sneered.

“Well, would you have rather me stolen him midway through?” said the floaty voice. Alistair looked up and saw a figure eye-level with Aegis. Rather than simply be that tall, this person hovered in mid-air. “I would never get in the way of my old chum like that.”

“Chum?” Aegis echoed.

“What are you trying to say? We’re kindred spirits you and I, paragons both!” Alistair could recognize it now as he stepped away to get a better look. The armor resembled Broderick’s wind mantle body. This was the paragon of Wind itself. “And this boy is ours to share now.”

“Of all the ones he had to pick up, he had to find you.” Aegis pointed a meaty finger at the much smaller paragon. “The one that swore his winds could carry me anywhere, no matter how heavy I might be. Well that was a load of shite, wasn’t it?”

“Come now, you can’t still be sore about that?” Wind sputtered and flew back to remain out of reach. Still, its voice remained playful and light. “I meant it as an expression, not honest truth! We were still getting used to our powers back then. I didn’t know my own strength, nor you your own weight might I add.”

“A convenient excuse coming from you. I was the one that had to suffer the terrifying fall, the pain from landing, and then the humiliation from the eleven others of us who knew better than to trust you!”

“I at least tried to cushion your fall. Don’t you remember the gust of wind there at the end?”

“Yes, literal feet from the ground, you slag!”

Alistair found this argument had too many similarities to his own experience back in Bredon, when he fell from the dragon’s tail. At least Alistair had the benefit of returning to his human body so Broderick could support his weight. Aegis, he guessed, didn’t have the same luxury a thousand years ago.

“Well, I don’t think we’ll be getting anywhere with this today.” Wind lowered itself to the ground next to Alistair, shrugging his shoulders at him. “Sorry you had to see us fight like this. He’s always been a bit stubborn you know.”

“Well when you meet the people I had to deal with, you’ll see why,” Aegis replied with an extra bit of snark.

Wind gently grabbed Alistair by the arm. “Come on, kid. It’s time you and I had a moment together.” They rose into the air, buoyed by the paragon’s magic. The green knight glanced back at Aegis. “I’ll just use your dreamscape. You don’t mind, right?”

“Not like I have much choice.” The giant shooed them off. “Go on, get out of here.” He grasped his forge hammer and pointed it at Alistair. “Don’t forget about your quest, lad. Those people need you!”

“I won’t!”

Wind flew them out of the room at great speed. Alistair struggled to keep his stomach from tying itself in a knot. He just couldn’t get used to this ‘flying’ business. How did Broderick ever manage?

They flew out of the forge and into the infinite sky above.

“Having fun?” the spirit asked. It had to shout just to make it over the whipping winds.

“No!” Alistair replied. He shut his eyes to not see how far away the ground was.

“Ah, you’ll get used to it.”

They stopped moving after a while and Alistair risked a glance. Clouds now obscured the ground below. Sunlight beat down on them and he had to shield his eyes. The paragon had them both floating on air with its powers.

“Been quite some time since an Aegis boy picked me up,” said the spirit. It lounged back on the cloud like it was a luxury chair. “Thanks for doing it. Always good to see the big ol’ softie that he is. It gets hard for us paragons to see each other without a paladin to help.”

Alistair found himself too afraid to move. He thought for sure he’d slip off the wind cushion beneath him if he moved an inch. Even if it was a dream, he didn’t want to deal with the authentic feeling of falling again. So, all he did was nod in response.

“I can see you aren’t having a good time. ‘Tis a shame. Most of the supplicants I get love these trips. Guess that’s why the Lady gave you to Aegis instead of me,” Wind said, chuckling as he did, then shrugged. “Ah well, no harm done. Main reason I brought you here is to offer you a test o’ mettle, to see if you wanted my powers.”

“Test of mettle?”

“Yes, a little challenge to your person. To see if you have what it takes to use that shard of me around your neck.” Wind leaned forward, hands clasped. “If you aren’t interested, all I ask is that you make the pilgrimage to my shrine post-haste.” He pointed down. “It’ll be to the south of where you’re sleeping. In the dukedom of Barrach. That way the piece can be put to rest and readied for another supplicant someday.”

“Can I at least hear what the test is first?”

“Sure!” Wind threw his arms out wide. He was very lively for a spirit. “Our mutual friend Aegis harped on about his virtue, charity. Right?” The spirit nodded along with Alistair, satisfied he’d been right. “Yeah, sounds about right. I try not to be so heavy-handed. There’s a decent amount of overlap between his and mine, actually. Maybe it’s why we get along so well.”

Wind clapped his hands. “Ah, see I went and got side-tracked again. Got a bit too excited. Anyway, the Lady named my virtue ‘Liberality’.” He gestured with his arms something akin to a bartering scale. “Whereas ‘Charity’ focuses on kindness, ‘Liberality’ is the tolerance and acceptance of new people, new ways of thinking. Keeping an open mind as one might say. Get it?”

Alistair nodded. “I think so.”

“Good. It’s not too hard. You’re already halfway there, being a paladin of charity and all that. My test shouldn’t be any trouble for someone nice like you. Take a look.”

Quest

Wind’s Test of Mettle

Description

On your next quest, you’ll be sure to meet someone quite different from yourself. They will think and act in ways you would never try to.

Your challenge will be not to judge them for it, to keep an open mind, and heed what advice they have to give.

If they try and lead, you try to follow.

You both might learn something along the way.

Rewards

Wind Mantle Progression Unlocked

“This reads like a riddle,” Alistair said, brow furrowed. He found the description hard to follow. Purposefully vague.

“It does a little bit, doesn’t it?” Wind didn’t seem concerned. “We paragon spirits have a bit of a knack for making predictions, you’ll find. As long as you stay true to your quest for Aegis, it should lead you on the path to finishing mine. I’m afraid if I say more, it will spoil your future.”

“Can you really see that far ahead?” That sounded like a useful ability to have.

“No, not that far. And not as clearly as you’re imagining I bet. Just bits and pieces, kinda similar to how I imagine the Lady gives her quests out. Something of a vague sense of the world and how everyone in it moves along intersecting paths.”

The explanation didn’t help Alistair understand, but he nodded anyway.

“Best I not keep you much longer. You’ve got a long road ahead of you to Bredon.” The spirit stood up on the cloud as if it were solid ground. “Good luck, young Alistair! With luck, you and I’ll be flying through the skies together in no time!”

And with that, the paragon of wind pushed Alistair off his magical seat. He fell right through the cloud and started tumbling back to the surface. Before he could even scream, the shock of it all woke him up. Air expelled from Alistair’s lungs as he sat up in the middle of his campsite, drenched in sweat.

His gelding glanced at him nearby as it chewed on some grass. The sky above was gray and the ground wet from morning dew. Alistair sat there for a while to try and wrap his head around what had just happened. First, the Lady threw him into water and now the wind spirit dropped him from the clouds.

“I’m really starting to hate these lucid dreams.”