MEANWHILE
“You lost him?” asked Katri. Her voice was calm, sweet even, but the sudden stillness in the air sent a chill up Lecter’s spine.
The courtyard had been warm mere moments earlier, but Katri’s anger seemed to seep into the stones themselves. She sat on the small wooden bench and the pale skin beneath the hem of her upper-thigh armour caught Lecter’s eye and set his heart racing.
But her anger was more impressive and Lecter soon bowed his head.
“Temporarily, Mistress.” He back-stepped a few paces. Returning here was a mistake, he realised. “I know some great trackers. I thought it would be wise to show them his trail before I lost him. Tracking isn’t my best skill. I lack the Perception. I only came here to report to you, Mistress. And get your permission to hire the trackers.”
Katri crossed her legs and glared at Lecter, eventually she turned away and stared thoughtfully through the archway. “Squiffy is mine. Hire whoever you wish. Just see that my familiar is returned to me.”
Lecter bowed as a flood of relief washed over him. “Yes, Mistress.”
Katri continued to face away. Lecter waited for her to turn and dismiss him, perhaps even one of those smiles that warmed his heart and set his stomach churning would lighten his day and save him from his feeling of hopeless remorse.
But the glance never came.
After a moment, with a rising anxiousness that was fast becoming fury at the young squirrel, Lecter retreated to the exit.
Mistress is angry at me, but it’s not my fault the little rat decided to run away. It will be lucky if I don’t snap a few rodent bones during the capture, he thought privately.
“Lecter,” said Katri. “See that he returns in one piece.”
“Of course, Mistress.” Lecter picked up his pace.
“Both of you will return... or neither of you will. Do I make myself clear?” asked Katri.
Lecter glanced back once he reached the gate and with a heavy heart, nodded, then fled the courtyard.
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MEANWHILE
Riffy was panicking. The sun was setting. Darkness crept around at the edges of his eyes. Riffy was scared. He had tried to be a brave hero for as long as he could, but now he was just a scared squirrel who might never-ever-ever be a real hero at all.
The trail was growing narrower. Riffy had thought about going into the woods, but the Grey squirrels were everywhere in these parts. This was their territory and they observed everything that occurred within with an unrivaled jealousy. Riffy had to be mindful, he couldn't risk stepping into a battalion of them.
No, he had to find best friend Null and that meant staying on the trail.
But the trail was muddy, and lonely, and scary, and long, and Riffy really, really, really wanted to find Null.
He had been running since last night and still he ran. The sun had woken, warmed him, traveled across the sky, then sunk to sleep, and still Riffy ran.
Big meanie Lecter could be just behind and the Greys were surely all around. Whenever Riffy looked at the trees he rushed by, he spotted small, angry eyes glaring out at him. His movements were being watched. Soon they would come for him.
Up ahead in the distance was a large building. Riffy had run past a lot of buildings, but not like this. Most of the buildings were quiet and dark with only a single candle burning behind a curtained window. But this building was different. There were candles burning everywhere and many big lumps were crashing about and making big lump noises.
Riffy could hear them and smell them already. There were lots, lots, lots. Maybe one of them could be best friend Null? That was true, Riffy thought. If there were lots of people, then it meant that one of them had to be Null.
Then Riffy saw something that made him finally slow down. Up ahead on the road, the young hero witnessed a treacherous act of villainy!
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MEANWHILE
Hesta picked a form that would perfectly suit the situation. The prey were two foolish mortals in love, although she mustn’t allow herself to forget that one was the trickster, the cursed one himself. Yes, she must not allow herself to underestimate him.
But this form was perfect, she decided. A beautiful human male, with features to rival the cursed one’s. The elf will fall hopelessly in love with Hesta. Yes, and the cursed one will be out of his mind with jealousy. She would hunt them slowly, divide them with envy, tear them apart when they least suspected it.
Or perhaps she would simply lead them to somewhere quiet and feast on them in the night… whichever is more enticing.
This shape was interesting. Yes, it lets me think more clearly. I must approach them carefully. Yes, yes, but first I must pick a name.
Hesta is my name, but I must pick a mortal name. I must pick one that they will never suspect. They will think I am one of them, part of their pack. Yes, yes, the worms will crave my company and then… I will eat them whole. But what name to pick?
Hesta... Heste. Hester?
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Herst followed his prey as they walked along the trail. His thoughts were much clearer now.
In his true form, as Hesta, he had considered simply walking out of the shadows and approaching the cursed one and the elf companion, but now he realised how suspicious that might seem.
Instead, he decided a better scheme would be to pass them on the trail heading in the other direction. Herst could ask them if he was travelling in the correct direction to reach Pentamorel and of course, they would reply that he was not.
Then, he could ask to join them as they would be travelling in the same direction. Yes, that would be perfectly innocent.
Herst smiled to himself and began to creep through the trees to get further ahead of the prey.
As he passed them, he overheard fragments of their discussion. Perks? Yes, they were talking about perks. The cursed one has levelled up and is complaining about the situation with his perks.
Herst could understand the plight of the cursed one. After all, he had levelled so many times and never been able to unlock the higher level perks. Why did the All-Mother offer such incredible options, only to limit his points to so few per level?
He shook his head, dismissing the thought. Doubting the All-Mother would only lead to ruin. Herst’s faith in the All-Mother must never fail.
Once he reached a point far enough down the trail that he was confidently out of sight, he crept out of the shadows and took to the trail.
His stomach bubbled with excitement and hunger. Vengeance would soon be his. Yes, yes.
The prey soon appeared around a bend in the trail. They drew closer and closer… They were almost upon him. Now is the time.
“Good evening fellow travelers,” said Herst.
“Good evening,” said the cursed one with a curious expression.
“Fellow traveller,” said the elf. “That’s cool. I should use that more often. What’s up my fellow traveler?” She punched the cursed one on the arm.
The cursed one chuckled and both of the prey continued as though they simply intended to pass Herst by. Why are they not stopping to talk with me?
“Wait,” said Herst. “I wanted to ask if this was the way to Pentamorel?”
“Oh, you don’t want to go there,” said the cursed one. “It’s horrible.”
“Null, don’t,” said the elf. “And sorry, fellow traveler, but Pentamorel is like the complete opposite direction.”
“Oh dear,” said Herst. “I had better turn around.”
“Seems like it,” said the elf. “I’m Serilla by the way. This horned fellow is Null.”
The cursed one… Null, yes, I mustn’t accidentally refer to him as the cursed one.
Null shook his head in disgust, but made no effort to contradict Serilla. Herst thought he looked disinterested in the conversation. He was mostly just scanning the surrounding treeline.
“Nice to meet you both. My name is Herst, do you mind if I join you?”
At this, Null turned his attention to Herst and a big smile popped onto his face. “Please, do. We’d love the company. Always happy to meet a fellow traveler on the road.”
Serilla looked at him strangely, then shrugged and nodded. “Yeah man, why not?”
Null shrugged too. “I sure can’t think of a reason.”
Herst turned and began to walk along the trail in front of them. He kept his face pointed forward to hide the huge smile as it spread across his face. Yes, yes, that was too easy.
“Null, what the fuck are you doing?” Serilla screeched.
A bright flash of orange flew threw the air and the sound of a collision registered faintly in Herst’s ears as a shuddering tingle run up his spine. He knew this feeling, he was being identified.
He flinched and spun on the spot and was amazed to find not two, but three delicious mortals standing before him.
The furthest away was the elf Serilla. She stood stunned with her arms up, open-handed, an expression of utter confusion on her face.
A few steps closer, Null held a menacing sword pointed at Herst’s throat. The cursed one’s teeth were bared revealing sharp fangs and in his eyes a look of fierce determination. That look alone was enough to drive daggers into Herst’s guts. But it was the sudden realisation of how much this mortal had grown that truly stilled the old shifter's heart.
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The sun had fully dipped behind the horizon and the moon was making herself known. Silvery luna rays reflected off the cursed one’s horns and for the first time since Hesta was a larva, did the shifter feel truly frightened.
The third person, the one who hadn’t been here moments ago, was a young, human child. Their back was to Herst and they had caught Null’s arm at the wrist, likely stopping the blow that was aimed at Herst’s neck. The child had a long main of red hair trailing down over their bare back. They had a torn-up piece of cloth that might have once been a cushion wrapped around their waist.
“A hero cannot stand idly by while villainy is afoot, foot, foot!” said the child.
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NULL
Villainy is afoot, foot, foot… what the fuck is this now?
For the first time, probably ever, something had genuinely gone my way. That bitch Hesta had placed herself right in the palm of my hand and all I had to do was strike.
That ominous threat I had known was out there, had finally revealed itself in the dumbest way imaginable. That ominous threat: Hesta the Shifter, not one of the many other ominous threats out there just waiting to take a piece of me: Lafarron, the Berry Berry King —whatever the heck that was going to be… all of these lunatics who wanted to do me harm were waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
But this time was different. This time, I was the one with the opportunity to begin the fight on my terms. How often do I get to do that?
But unbelievably some insane child had interfered. Where did this kid even come from?
Damn it. Just when I thought my luck was turning. Well, not really turning… everything came with some kind of downside, but I did get the sense that my luck was improving… modestly. Or maybe I was just getting used to the constant stream of disasters. Or… Maybe I’m just coming to realise that I deserve some of this? After all, I did try to kill a guy. What the hell is wrong with me?
Serilla had forgiven me really easily, but Morgon had still barred me and forbidden her from travelling with me. That was bound to become an issue at some point. Another ominous threat to add to the ever-growing list. It seemed like every time something good came my way, something bad was just around the corner.
Good thing: My new armour that came with my Hellion Class was awesome…
Bad thing: My Class selection had also given me horns.
Although, Serilla said it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Plenty of races had horns and most of them were welcome in every city she knew of… or so she said.
Good thing: I had a cool new sword…
Bad thing: My sword wanted to take over my life.
Admittedly, I had summoned it using a piece of my own soul and I was in a pretty dark place at the time, so I can’t really hold it against him for being a tad… evil? Maybe that’s going too far. He’s probably still trying to make sense of this world as much as I am.
Still, having met him, I knew one thing for sure. I’d better learn his name before he gets too much more powerful or we are going to be having problems.
I also reached level five, which obviously meant I could pick this Hellion class. That gave me a nice bump to my Stats, an interesting new skill, and my old Perk Devour —which I intend to actually get some use out of this time around.
That seems like a good thing, right?
The downside this time was that I had failed to keep my Mind stat as high as it should be. I couldn’t actually afford the level five Perks… It was a painful realisation and ultimately, it was all my own fault. Instead of blundering into one catastrophe after another, I needed to take control of my destiny.
But as things were, I’m ashamed to admit that once again, the Geek perk was unattainable. I didn’t consider long before purchasing the classic Stat Bump perk and increasing Mind.
That put me at Mind 5, but it wouldn’t take effect until my next level up, by which time I would need at least Mind 6… sometime between now and my next level up, I needed to improve my Mind stat.
I took a quick look at the newly discovered Level Five Perks… and was too depressed to read them. They would only make me feel more like a failure. Don’t get me wrong, I will definitely read them.
Just looking at those new perks could reveal things I didn’t know about this system, but right then, the sensation of missing out was just too much.
Instead, I picked the Source Flow Perk so that I could direct XP into my gear. My Forlorn Brigandine was ranked. I would need to upgrade it as soon as possible. If the Rank 2 was as game-changing as Rusty Longshanks' second Rank, then I would be a fool not to.
Ah, I miss those longshanks. not as much as I miss that little Riffy fellow, but I still miss them.
Finally, I came to my Magic Specialisation. Serilla was of course no help, but that’s fine. I was more than happy to read through my options at my own pace and decide for myself.
There were five Specials to choose from: Hybridise, Intrasplice, Hyperfocus, Incarnate, & Harness.
They were all revolutionary in their own ways and not at all what I had expected.
Specialisation available.
Once selected, your Specialisation cannot be changed. Results will depend on invested Spec Mode Quality Factors: Meditation, Exertion, Focus, Understanding, Initiative, & Complementation. Specialised Skills will achieve the Volatile Evolution Trait.
Hybridise:
Once attaining Spec Mode, merge 1 Magic Stat Skill with 1 Skill that relates to a Stat other than Magic. Both Skills will be expended for the creation of a combined Skill.
Intrasplice:
Once attaining Spec Mode, merge 1 Magic Stat Skill with 1 Magic Stat Skill. Both Skills will be expended for the creation of a combined Skill.
Hyperfocus:
Once attaining Spec Mode, select 1 Magic Stat Skill to enhance & empower with invested Quality Factors.
Incarnate:
Once attaining Spec Mode, select 1 Magic Stat Skill to absorb & embody. The selected Skill will no longer require a Skill Slot. Skill effectiveness dependant on Quality Factors.
Harness:
Once attaining Spec Mode, select 1 Magic Stat Skill to expend to gain +1 Magic Stat.
This was not going to be an easy decision. The first option I ruled out was actually the most clear-cut, Harness.
If this was a Specialisation for any Stat other than Magic, I would snap it straight up, but the fact that Magic was levelling faster than everything else already had not escaped my notice.
It’s probable that reaching the Stat 10 milestone slowed down the rate at which a Stat increased, but even so, by my estimation my Skills were worth more than a Stat increase, especially at a one-to-one ratio.
Unfortunately, the description didn’t specify whether the Hybrid Skills I already had unlocked could be used during Spec Mode… whatever that is. If Hybrid Skills were included, I currently had four Magic Stat Skills: Surge, Smokescreen, Dancing Orbs, and Basic Protection.
The last two were the uncertainties. Dancing Orbs and Basic Protection were both Hybrid. It was unlikely they would actually work with any of the Specifications and honestly, even if they did, I doubt I would risk losing them.
Smokescreen, however was totally up for first choice in my experimentation list. The only Skill I had that I was less invested in was the Tinker Skill Basic Blueprint, but that at least had the potential to open up areas of the system I had yet to investigate.
Smokescreen was reliable, but I had a bad association with it because it reminded me of my state of mind during the fight with Imber and Vidari.
Considering that I likely only had 2 Magic Stat skills available at this time and I was unlikely to suddenly receive a flood of skills, I could pretty much rule out the first two options. Namely, Hybridise and Intersplice.
Both were very interesting, but they would cost me two skills to gain one potentially unreliable Skill. With my luck, the word potentially is somewhat of an understatement.
That left two options: Hyperfocus and Incarnate. Both were… enticing to say the least.
Hyperfocus essentially offered me the possibility to improve a Skill over time. Which on one-hand sounded amazing, but on the other, made me question whether I actually understood the ability at all.
It almost sounded too good to be true. Of all the options, this was the one that jumped out at me first… after everything that’s happened, that might not be a good thing.
Incarnate also has some seriously interesting potential. The possibility to embody a Skill is fantastic.
Firstly, I would free up Skill Slots, but secondly, the part about efficiency made it sound like I could physically improve the Skill using exertion, understanding, focus, and the other Quality Factors.
This was an exciting prospect. If I was to absorb Surge for example, would that mean that I could learn to physical control the rate at which surge overproduced an element?
If I absorbed Smokescreen, how much control would I actually have over the smokescreen?
My previous uses of that skill had all resulted in an uncontrolled burst of smoke… learning to physically embody my skills was a surefire way to gain control over them.
It was a tricky decision. One that I should really spend my time contemplating.
And that was when a ‘fellow traveler’ interrupted my reverie with his pointless prattling.
I was as courteous as was reasonably possible considering the gravity of the decision I was contemplating.
Serilla did most of the talking, but something sent a shiver up my spine. I was reminded of how I had been watched during my return to the tavern after the debacle out at the Silver Springs. With everything that had happened, the fact I was being followed had completed slipped my mind.
Part of that was also Serilla’s company. She was just so easy-going. It was impossible to be as cautious as I should be when Serilla was constantly cracking jokes or making up rhymes about me. Especially ones involving BBK.
But the evening had grown dark and we were just ambling along the trail without a plan for if something dangerous happened. I need to get my head on straight.
I scanned the treeline, then heard something that really tickled me.
The traveler referred to himself as Herst.
That’s just one letter away from Hest. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous if that shifter Hesta never bothered to change their name more than a few letters? Like they do understand why that’s not a very good idea... right?
“Please, do. We’d love the company. Always happy to meet a fellow traveller on the road,” I said as sarcastically as I could, but they didn’t seem to pick up on it.
Serilla noticed, but she didn’t ask me what I was doing. I wasn’t giving her much attention though, so maybe she was trying to ask me in a subtle way.
My mind was racing. If this was Hesta, I needed to confirm it. I had the newly evolved version of Basic Identify called Spirit Seek.
Spirit Seek (Perception).
While this Skill remains active, all entities within Perception range which have been registered by 3 Primary Senses become Detected and may be Identified upon inspection.
Serilla said, “yeah man, why not?”
“I sure can’t think of a reason.” I almost reached out to touch him and satisfy the requirements to Identify, but instead passed my movement off as a shrug.
Herst walked ahead of us. I could see the flicker of a smile as his face turned away from me.
With one hand, I summoned my Justificar. I almost wanted to give my Soul Blade a speech about being on his best behaviour, but the situation was too tense. I needed to just trust that the bastard wouldn’t try anything.
With the other hand, I reached out and gently brushed a trailing hair on the back of Herst’s head. Criteria fulfilled.
“Null, what the fuck are you doing?” Serilla screeched as I activated Spirit Seek and raised my sword to strike the monster down.
Name: Herst. Race: Human. Class: Junior Merchant. Lvl 4.
???. ???. ???. ???. ???.
??? turned Junior Merchant.
The strange sensory vibration emanated from Herst’s center as the Detection aspect of my Spirit Seek highlighted him for me. Within the scope of my Spirit Seek, Serilla vibrated too. I could detect her panicking behind me.
I didn’t however, detect the crazy child that raced into the space between myself and Herst/Hesta, and blocked my downswing.
“A hero cannot stand idly by while villainy is afoot, foot, foot!” said the brat.
He began to vibrate with my sensory field as Detection activated, but I didn’t Identify him. My eyes were locked on to Hesta.
She was transforming back into her gruesome self. She clicked and snapped back into place in front of my eyes. The monstrous pale face was the most terrifying part of her disgusting form because among the centipede legs and furry black carapace, her face was the most human part.
Only a small set of pincers at the edge of her shockingly white lips were the giveaway. Of course, you didn’t have to look far past her face to see that she was a monster, but the face was… uncanny.
A squelchy pop echoed in my ears as an extra limb burst out of her chest.
She coiled the limb back behind her head and aimed as though she intended to stab not me, but the child.
Without taking my eyes off of her, I yanked the kid off his feet and plonked him behind my back.
He struggled a little. He even kicked me in the back of the leg after I put him down, but then he spotted Hesta and went still as ice.
“Bad, bad, bad,” said the child.
And I recognised his voice. How do I know that voice?
“I mustn’t be afraid. A hero stands up to monsters, no matter how spooky. You bad bug. Stop, stop, stop your naughtiness. For I stand, like the legendary hero Null, against your acts of villainy!” the child squeaked.
“What?” asked Serilla.
I was too stunned to speak.
Hesta turned her head on one side like a confused dog. I say turned, it was more like she snapped her neck in five places to make it horizontal. It was one of the grossest things I had ever seen, but I barely even blinked at it because I was pretty sure I recognised the voice of Riffy.
I turned on the spot and stared at the boy in front of me.
He was red-haired and there was a lot of it. It stuck out behind him like a long main. He was small, but not baby-small.
I would have guessed he was ten years old, but he was wearing some kind of loin-cloth and that gave off a very toddler vibe.
He was looking at Serilla. I don’t think he had even noticed her standing there before.
“Are you good or bad?” he asked.
“Ummm, I try to be good,” said Serilla. I could tell from the funny line of her lips and the way her eyes bulged of her head that she was trying not to squeal about how cute he was. “I’m Serilla. That’s BBK.”
Serilla pointed at me and it brought me back to the moment. I Identified the kid.
Name: Riffy. Race: Red Squirrel. Class: Were-Human. Lvl 2.
Magical Creature. Herbivore. Highly Social. Young. Intelligent.
Red Squirrels are engaged in an eternal war with their bitter rivals, the Grey Squirrels.
“Riffy?” I gasped. “It is you. Isn’t it?”
Riffy looked up at me with an air of suspicion. His eyes narrowed, then widened. His mouth fell open. His eyes reflected white moonlight back at me as they suddenly swelled tears.
Then he popped and was once again a tiny red squirrel.
Serilla couldn’t contain herself any longer. She squealed at the pure cuteness.
I sniffed as he leapt up and ran long my arm to hug my shoulder. Then, I sniffed again.
I blinked because my eyes were stinging.
“BEST FRIEND NULL!” said Riffy.
Then, I collapsed to my knees because they were tired, I guess.
I hugged Riffy because it seemed like the natural thing to do. My eyes were leaking, maybe I was allergic.
I opened my mouth to draw a breath and a sob escaped.
Fine. I was crying.
“I missed you, Riffy,” I said.
“Null, Null, Null,” said Riffy. “Guess what? Guess what? I picked a class. Best class. I have a super awesome secret. Oh, maybe you saw it already. Did you see it? I can show you. Did you see it? I’m a were-human!”
“I saw it,” I said.
“Woohoo!” said Riffy. "Is it good? What do you think? Is it good?"
“Good pick, Riffy!” I said. “That’s very cool.”
Then something pierced through the back of my shoulder. Oh shit. I forgot about that Hesta bitch.
I turned in time to see Serilla tackling Hesta to the ground. Her face was scary. And I’m not talking about Hesta’s face this time, Serilla looked mad.
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