Slaughtering monsters with her fellow Magi was just the sort of catharsis that Mel needed. It went beyond anything her vengeance had given her.

Her retribution on the Stolst gang had been less about herself, and more about fulfilling a promise. It was the natural conclusion of a threat levied and summarily challenged.

This…was different. It was fun. She couldn’t remember the last time she had fun while fighting. Wasn’t that the point? To enjoy yourself while challenging horrible creatures that you felt absolutely zero remorse for killing?

Killing them wasn’t just fun, it was rewarding.

The three of them were nigh invincible. Thomas covered range, Gwen was there for those zombies and undead monsters that were resistant to magic, and Mel flexed between the two.

Her [Hidden Mist] confused the groups of enemies. That much was already obvious to her. When used in conjunction with [Gaze of the Serpent], she could use the cold mist as a contrasting agent, making the undead easier to see.

That had been the problem with the undead. They were already at ambient temperature. While the magic causing them to move warmed them up, it wasn’t immediately apparent.

[Hidden Mist]

(Mist Aspect)

(Copper, Green/Spell)

(Grade 7 [47%])

Cost: Modest Mana

Cooldown: Moderate

Blanket an area in mist, obscuring the vision of your enemies and making them easy prey.

Imprint(Copper Rank): Create a layer of obfuscating fog that you and any allies you designate can see through. Area affected by fog is considered difficult terrain. Mana cost increases as the area of fog increases. Additional mana may be expended to illuminate the fog from within.

With greater control from higher grades, Mel was able to cool down the area faster and provide greater contrast. Compared to what her skill was at when she faced the frostbite scorpion, her current control was miles ahead.

Serious damage was generally only taken by Gwen. She got between the heavy hitters and took the brunt of a blow, even when unprepared for it, preventing either Thomas or Mel from taking it instead.

Most Defenders would have been downed by that giant club that smashed the viking to the ground.

Despite bleeding profusely, she still got up and cleaved through its legs with [Primal Rend]. The aspect skill left triple clawing tears lingering in the air after it was used.

Thomas and Mel cleaned up the rest from there. Gwen was strangely able to regenerate her health at an incredible pace, even without a haven, provided she had enough food and stamina. The latter was something Mel learned that [Primal Mantle] offered more of.

It wasn’t uncommon to see her gorging herself after a fight, like a labrador that got into the pantry, often with a similar guilty expression.

Of course, nobody said anything about it. Thomas had given her a warning look, and Mel wasn’t about to comment on it. Not after Gwen cleared the air by explaining she was a werewolf.

So long as you never call me Melody again, Mel thought, while staring at Gwen’s back.

Gwen looked around, a little too innocently, as if she could hear her thoughts.

All the while, something even stronger awaited them at the end. Something that would yield a prize worthy of raiding this tomb.

I’ve seen this before, Mel thought, staring at the drifting fog blocking their way deeper into the tomb. The arch was filled with a solid wall of the stuff. Mel’s first tomb used that to section her off from the tomb’s guardian.

A boss, as most people would call it.

And clearly the bottom of the tomb, Mel thought as a flash of Shardscript illuminated her vision.

Quest Complete: Snakes in a Tomb

Objective: Reach the bottom of the tomb (1/1).

Reward: (50) [Copper Rune Coins].

Runes of Divine, Mist, Blood, Serpent, and Omen experience.

Battle Points.

Just as the streamers of loot and runes streaked off toward each of the three Magi, another quest popped up. One that immediately snared Mel’s attention.

New Quest: The Impaler’s Tomb

This tomb once belonged to the infamous warlord, Skelkrin the Impaler. A man with an unholy fascination with serpents who once terrorized countless towns across the countryside until his madness consumed him. This tomb, once quiet, is now filled with necromantic activity. Find out why and put a stop to it.

Objective: Discover the source of unrest in the Impaler’s Tomb (0/1).

Reward: [Cinder Ampoule]

Sounds awesome.

They created a small, defensible haven just outside the room and had a lovely meal around a crackling campfire. It was oddly comforting to be full and relaxed despite being so close to danger. It turned dungeons into something…enjoyable.

“Hey Mel,” Gwen said, standing in front of the large fog wall blocking entry into the next room. She brushed the crumbs of a [Roasted Herba Boar Sandwich] off her armor. “How many aspect skills do you have? Hope you don’t mind me asking, it’s just…”

“Like, total?”

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“Yeah.”

Mel did a quick count. It wasn’t that she didn’t know by heart, but for some reason, she wanted to be perfectly sure. “Six. Only Omen has two.”

“Huh, I figured you were holding back,” Thomas said. “No offense, of course. Just figured you were going to blow us all away with some sorta pocket nuke that would instantly vaporize the boss or something.”

Mel gave him a warning look.

Gwen seemed surprised, then…guilty? Mel wasn’t sure why. She noticed that the two of them sometimes had multiple aspect skills per, but assumed it wasn’t that many more. Gwen didn’t use much of her Moonlight aspect.

“All right,” Mel said, putting her hands on her slim hips. “How many do you all have?”

“Thirteen,” Thomas said without a moment’s hesitation. “Granted, I’ve gotten more kindling branches than most. It seems to be more commonly dropped from high tier monsters or people with powerful aspects.” He shared a dark look with Gwen, before looking back at Mel. “We’ve…met our fair share of Covenant members, cultists, and murderers.”

“Lormarians have no shame,” Gwen said harshly. “They’re quick to return to their wretched ways.”

Thomas nodded. “Except one.”

Gwen agreed, some warmth returning to her features. “Except the one.”

Mel still hardly understood what the Lormarians were, but all of her interactions with Lormarians had been universally bad. “I hate them,” Mel said softly. “They ruined something that could have been good. Utterly broke a group that was warming to the way the system worked and…after what they saw, they couldn’t go on.”

Thomas studied Mel thoughtfully. Gwen looked like her heart was breaking. She was trying–and failing–not to show it.

Mel looked between them both. “It’s fine, really. What more could you expect from some group called the Bloodtide Covenant? Are they all so on the nose?”

Thomas nodded.

“Is that why you want top three?” Gwen asked gently.

“Yeah.” Mel looked around, found an old stone bench and sat down on it next to an oversized urn depicting a sacrifice to what looked like a snake god. She idly traced the ancient and faded designs with her finger. “It’s my fault they were killed. So it’s my responsibility to bring them back.”

Thomas leaned against the stone wall, crossing his arms thoughtfully. “How can you bring them back if they’re already dead?” His expression took a curious turn as he studied her. “Is…that why you don’t have inventory?”

At first, Mel didn’t understand the odd look, then it dawned on her. “Gross. No! I’m not storing their corpses in my inventory. Gods, I wish I had that much room. Okay, that’s kinda dark–”

“But understandable,” Thomas interjected.

“You have to do what you have to do,” Gwen said solemnly, staring at the tin of [Armament Polishing Oil] in her hand. She opened it and spread the repairing grease on the [Blindbeast Claw’s] wired apparatus. A couple of the blades straightened back into alignment.

Close up, it looked like an intricate weapon that wouldn’t hold up to much abuse. Except Mel had seen her shatter stone and metal with it.

“–the answer is still no. It’s…hard to explain. I was giving them their last rites, they followed me as a Magi and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give them a proper send off as Magi. When I was finished, their bodies just sorta…turned into little crystals.” She hunched her shoulders and gave a little pitiful shrug.

“What do the crystals do?” Thomas asked.

Mel wasn’t about to bring them out, especially not here. She looked up at Thomas’ curious expression and smiled softly, remembering that his question was almost completely academic. He was a Magi through and through.

“They’re called [Soul Crystals],” she explained. “It doesn’t explicitly say that they can’t be revived. It only tells me that their souls are housed within. Technically speaking, it’s the core of their soul, of who they were before they died. I know what you’re going to say. The dead–”

“Can’t be brought back,” Thomas finished for her gravely. “You must know as well as we do. The Can’ts of Kharam explicitly state–”

It was Mel’s turn to cut him off. She surged to her feet. “Yes, I know. You can’t create matter from nothing. Can’t translocate without knowing both origin and destination. And you can’t bring back the dead. I know . But this isn’t a Worldshard. This is a Shardrune! Kharam never had access to this sort of power.”

“You must have truly cared for them,” Gwen said without any judgment in her voice. Only kindness. She tilted her head up, and in those silver eyes Mel saw hope. “I agree with your theory, Mel. That’s why I suspected you wanted to increase your standing. Placing in the top three offers a [Revival Scroll].”

Thomas cleared his throat delicately. “I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news–”

“But you’re going to soldier on,” Mel said sourly. The look of hurt that crossed Thomas’ face made her feel guilty, but she wasn’t able to take back what she said.

“–but there is a very real possibility that the scroll can only bring back the recently deceased. Hell, it might even be something you use on yourself to bring you back should you die. We can’t see the description of any rewards.”

“Does it matter?” Gwen snapped. “The mere possibility is enough.”

Thomas shut his eyes and sighed softly. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up, only for them to be broken,” he explained. “If the [Revival Scroll] doesn’t work, we’ll find another way. Together. That’s always been the Magi’s creed.”

That soothed Gwen’s anger.

“I kinda feel like a dick for snapping at you,” Mel said, staring at her boots.

Thomas took a few steps and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You’re my friend, Mel. Whether you remember me or not. Friends help one another, even if we don’t fully believe or understand what the other is going through. I only want to prevent further harm. You want that top three spot? Let’s do it.”

Gwen nodded, rising to her feet.

Mel shook her head, relaxing her guard for once and letting her inner fears leak out. “I’ve wasted over a month of time. The trial is more than half over. How the hell can I ever compete with people who have been grinding all this time? People who have been doing nothing but killing monsters, raiding tombs, and going full tilt?”

“You could kill them,” Gwen offered.

“Didn’t you already do that?” Thomas asked.

Mel waved his question away. “Sure, but they were the Stolst gang. They weren’t that strong or had that many Battle Points. There are true competitors out there.” She motioned to the both of them. “You’re both no doubt higher on the ratings than me.”

“Sure, probably for now,” Gwen said. “No matter how many Battle Points they have, those people aren’t Magi. They lack our insight into meditation, and our cohesion. All they have over us is a formal group at best. Besides, there are opportunities and treasures hidden all over these plateaus that could tip things in our favor.”

“We’ll help you out,” Thomas vowed. “The three of us aiming for the top drastically increase our chances. Any one of us that receives the item can give it to you, while simultaneously protecting each other from point snatchers.”

Mel frowned. “What’re those?”

“Just what they sound like,” Gwen said. “They’re people who try to assassinate those with high points. You…haven’t looked at the standings, have you? It clearly lists the people who have placed in the top.”

“I hope it goes without saying that you’re getting my next kindling branch,” Gwen promised.

Mel looked in shock at her. Magi were not exactly known for sacrificing power for another. They were often helpful, but that was going a step too far.

Maybe we did bang, Mel couldn’t help but wonder.

Gwen looked over at Thomas, and Mel followed her gaze.

Thomas showed his palms to them. “I’m all for helping you get your own, but I make no such promise. My theory that Iron requires all aspect skills still needs testing.”

Gwen narrowed her gaze at him. “You can still do that if you give a kindling branch to Mel.”

“Ah, yes, but it will take much longer!” Thomas put on his most winning smile. It must have opened a lot of doors for him. Even Mel was left wondering if he had some charismatic aspect skill. “How about this? I will give you all the kindling branches I find after I have proven or disproven my theory.”

Gwen put her hand over her face. “That’s not…” She shook her head. “Never mind.” Gwen hiked a thumb toward the fog wall. “Let’s go kill this thing.”

Mel couldn’t help but laugh. “Sounds like a plan.”