For the first time in days, I woke up alone. Lydia and Anna were both busy with a myriad of duties that I had no business interfering in. Lydia was solidifying her control over the various houses that conspired against her while Anna had to vet every single member of the castle staff to prevent an unexpected betrayal. Idyia was more of a boon than I was for this. Her deep connections to the Hasting conspiracy were a godsend for Lydia. With Idyia’s support, all of Hasting’s dirty laundry was coming to light, including those most involved with the coup. Lydia granted clemency to those that confessed, but those that didn’t were dragged out of their holes like rats by the tail and burned alive.
I wanted to argue that capital punishment like this was grotesque and inhumane, but I remembered that Lydia’s values weren’t exactly the same as mine. Moreover, Dragonheart influenced her personality in a way I could not comprehend. Would a dragon tolerate traitors in her roost? Probably not. I grew worried about what would happen if Dragonheart became stronger. Aspects could be developed - so what happened if Dragonheart ranked up? Would she become even more brutal?
“The Princess will always be the Princess,” was Anna’s response to my concerns. Anna’s dedication to Lydia was akin to a mother and her daughter. It was so blindingly faithful I found it too beautiful to question. I wasn’t entirely objective about it all, either, so I had no right to criticize.
In the end, the courtyard smelt of burning flesh for a week straight before Lydia’s wrath was finally satisfied.
The general populace ate it up, though. Their whole lives revolved around the royal family, past and present. Renalis was once the roost of an ancient dragon who ruled over this region, so its people were conditioned to obey. Subservience was baked into their cultural identity. I found it fascinating and revolting. In some twisted sense, I empathized with Hasting. I now saw why he would think this status quo was intolerable. I couldn’t stomach living under the royal family’s thumb, either. If I weren’t in love with Lydia and Anna, I might have even supported the coup. In truth, I didn’t fight to free the people from monarchical tyranny, I fought because Lydia and Anna were two women I cared deeply for. Despite being called a Hero, I was just a man who chose the love of two women over the well-being of an entire country. When I looked at it from that lens, I had to ask myself: which one of us was the villain and the hero?
In the end, we were just men on different sides. I won. You lost. Rest in peace, Hasting.
I looked up at the window where I sniped Hasting through and gave it a lazy salute.
“Master,” Idyia’s voice snapped me out of my reverie. “You are surprised? Did I disturb you?”
“It’s fine. Did you find anyone worth bringing? And stop calling me that. Levin is fine.”
“No. The Queen was correct in her assessment: there is no one above 3rd Level in the capital.” I noticed she didn’t acknowledge the second half of my statement.
Now that I had time to rest and recover, I sent Idiya to try and recruit volunteers to join me against the demon hordes. While there were many brave men and women who were inspired by my reputation and were willing to fight alongside me, almost all of them were only 1st Level. So far, only ten were 2nd Level. From what Idyia said, they would be deadweight to someone like me. Even she could barely keep up and our skill sets were pretty similar.
“You’re free today, right?”
“At your beck and call, Master Levin.”
“No, I meant did Lyd- the Queen, did she dismiss you?”
“No, but if necessary she will contact me through your Skill.”
I added Idyia to my Squad shortly after Lydia took the throne. She was astonished at how convenient and comprehensive my Movement and Tracking System was. I still didn’t have a frame of reference, but Idyia assured me that she had never seen or heard of a Skill quite like it. She correctly assumed it was why her surprise attack completely and utterly failed the night we met. In order to finalize Idyia’s loyalty, Lydia granted the Tethys Tribe enough Magic Crystals to survive for one human lifetime, as was requested. As a show of good faith, the Dark Elves swore loyalty to Lydia’s line and became citizens of Renalis. I saw Lydia had mixed feelings about that; Dark Elves were the descendants of demons and elves, so they were shunned and reviled all around the world. But Lydia needed as many loyalists as possible, so she couldn’t refuse them easily. Moreover, they had the Child of Darkness Aspect, so she could use them to rebuild an information and spy network.
“We’ll go form a Party, then.”
“As you command.”
“Stop that. I need a partner, not a subordinate.”
Idyia looked apprehensive but soon nodded.
“So, what’s your opinion on forming a Party, then?”
“I dislike the gods, Master Levin.”
My head spun. Every person I met so far was so faithful they could make the Pope look like a heretic. Anna’s faith in the Goddess of Fertility was so deep she was willing to bear my children and raise them herself.
“Dark Elves are pariahs, both culturally and religiously. No Demon Gods desire our worship and the Primaries despise us.”
“I think we’ll get along great, Idyia.”
“Most would consider my words heresy of the highest order, Master Levin. My very existence is blasphemy against the gods’ design.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m American. Whatever. Let’s go sell our souls to Seras and see what she wants us to do.”
Idyia appeared even more confused as I led her through the streets and into the small chapel dedicated to Seras. Unlike other gods, Seras didn’t have a very well-defined form. She was often depicted as androgynous or as a floating sphere with white and black swirls that looked like a Taijitsu symbol. Neither did Seras have many worshipers. Idyia and I were the only two in the whole building. I couldn’t even find a clergyman.
“Perhaps another time, Master Levin.” Idyia was obviously nervous about setting foot in any holy place.
“No. This is the best time.”
I stepped forward towards the empty altar. Overhead was one of those white and black spheres. They glowed as if alive and active. I wondered if it were some giant Magic Crystal or if Seras actually kept them powered, somehow.
I stared at it.
“Seras, wake up. It’s me.” I took the tone of a father calling his daughter to wake her up because she probably forgot her final exam was in three hours.
“Master Levin, I do not think taking such a tone is wise.” Idyia was flabbergasted as she reached up to my arm and tried to pull me off the altar. I held my ground and stared straight at the orb.
The sphere suddenly flashed and Idyia fell to her knees and prostrated herself along the floor.
“All right, let’s make this easy. One flash for no and two flashes for yes. Do you understand?”
Two flashes.
Idyia was choking on air but both Seras and I ignored her.
“Was Lydia right? Are you going to screw me over because of a fucking technicality in my wish syntax and diction? Or will you honor the spirit of the wish?”
Two flashes. God fucking damnit, was that yes to screwing me over or yes to honoring the spirit of the wish?
“Do I have any chance at killing a Demon God?”
One flash.
Well, that was encouraging. Then again, the impossibility of my task didn’t phase me. But it definitely drew a reaction from Idyia judging by how loud she shrieked.
“Are you willing to change the terms of our agreement if I kill more than one Demon God?”
There was a long pause before the orb flashed twice. I think Idyia was catatonic by now. She stopped reacting, at least.
“I want the ability to traverse across this universe and another at will. Can you grant me that?”
There was an even longer pause, but the orb didn’t stop glowing so I waited patiently.
Two flashes.
“Fuck yes!”
My exclamation drew a yelp of surprise out of Idyia, but I continued my conversation with Seras.
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“All right, I want to form a Party with Idyia. The goal will be earning that ability.”
The orb shot a beam of light down upon my body and spread to Idyia.
My Menu suddenly lit up with several alerts:
«You have created a Party.»
«Idyia Tethrys has joined your Party.»
«Quest Received:»
«In order to obtain the Dimension Walker Aspect, you must kill all three Demon Gods responsible for creating the Rift.»
There was also a Party option added to my Menu that allowed me to view Idyia’s Status.
Status
Name
Idyia Tethys
Level
5th
Class
Assassin
Health
30
Mana
25
Attributes
Strength
10
Wisdom
11
Dexterity
15
Intelligence
8
Constitution
12
Charisma
6
Aspects
Child of Darkness (Racial)
C
Duelist
C
Skills
Shadow Walker
While standing in darkness, the user can choose to go unseen by anyone with a Wisdom lower than the user’s Dexterity.
The user can choose to go unheard by anyone with a Wisdom lower than the user’s Dexterity.
The user gains Darkvision.
Source: Child of Darkness (Racial)
Sneak Attack
Damage against all unsuspecting enemies is multiplied based on the user’s Dexterity.
Source: Child of Darkness (Racial), Duelist
Flash
The user can double their movement and attack speed for a number of seconds equal to their Constitution. The user’s physical Attributes are halved for a number of days equal to the number of seconds expended.
The user can expend four times the amount of Mana to ignore this Skill’s Cooldown.
Source: Duelist
Shortsword Specialization
The user’s proficiency with shortswords and similar weapons increases based on the user's Dexterity.
Source: Duelist
The orb turned gray shortly after and I had to drag Idyia off the floor and out of the chapel.
“Master Levin, are you perhaps a great and powerful Archbishop of Goddess Seras?” She finally spoke after we crossed the threshold and back into the streets.
“Hell no.” My answer was immediate.
“I am in awe. So Heroes can speak to the Gods in such a manner?”
“I’m not sure. But I only speak to Seras that way; we have a working relationship. I don’t think any other God or Goddess would tolerate that much insolence. I’d probably be smited into smoldering ash as soon as I opened my fat mouth.”
“And what Quest did we receive?”
“We need to kill all three Demon Lords that helped make the Rift.”
Idyia’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, but I caught her just in time. I was glad I didn’t bring Lydia or Anna. They might have died of heart attacks. A part of me felt guilty that I was dragging Idyia into this suicidal Quest for my own selfish greed, but she did try to kill me. I was the only reason she was still alive, anyhow, so I was due in for a bit of quid-pro-quo.
Jesus Christ, I’m an asshole.
I brought Idyia to her room in the castle and meandered to the castle garrison where the royal guard drilled and trained. My routine was now to learn as many forms of combat as possible, so I took lessons from anyone willing to teach. Most were off-put by my Heroic status, but there were a few brave souls willing to go against the social climate to work with me. I was a lost cause at first, all brawn and no brain. But with each exchange, I grew better and better. At this point, my sparring partners needed Aspects or Skills to keep up with me. Even Idyia was shocked at my growth rate.
“So 16 really is the start of transcendence,” the Dark Elf muttered after I fought her to another stand-still. I was finally swinging around a longsword like Lydia wanted. Though my sparring partner was still better than I was at close-ranged combat, I made up for it in pure tenacity and my overwhelmingly high Attributes. We were sparring on top of the castle walls - to be specific, the very edge of the wall - in order to improve our Dexterity.
“What do you mean?” I asked and threw a rag at her so she could wipe the sweat off her face.
“16 is when you start to transcend mortal limits,” Idyia clarified and pulled herself up. “It is almost impossible to achieve without completion of a Quest.”
There was something peculiar about how she worded that. “Does that mean the Gods also have Attributes and Status?”
“Everyone has Attributes and Status, Master Levin.”
“So what about the Gods?”
“I don't know their Status. I doubt such things are known even by the highest ranking members of each faith, Master Levin. However, it is common knowledge that after a certain point, they are unable to interfere directly with Valeria.”
For all of their great and terrible power, the Gods can be killed. I just need to keep progressing. Attribute Points gained without leveling take a lifetime to grind, so I shouldn’t wait on those. The most obvious way to improve my strength is to level up.
“I’m thinking of going on a grinding session, Idyia. Do you want to come?”
“A grinding session?”
“Demons and bandit attacks have increased in frequency since Renalis failed to meet the quota in the last few years. I’m going to fix that problem, personally.”
“You wish to kill demons? It would be faster to simply answer the Alliance’s demands and head straight to the frontlines.”
“I know. But this will also help the Queen stabilize her country.”
“So you have a vested interest in seeing Renalis prosper?”
“I have a vested interest in the Queen and her maid,” I corrected. “Do you think it’s a bad idea?”
“No. My people have chosen this land as their home.”
“Then we’ll do it for the people we love.” I held out a fist to her. She looked a bit confused, but she copied my movements and we bumped fists.
“We’ll work on that later. I’ll ask Lydia where we should go first.”
“If I may offer a suggestion, Master Levin?”
This was a great step. I was afraid Idyia was going to just coast on my whims. I needed someone to rein in my stupidity or I was going to die an early death.
“Go for it. I’m listening.”
“You require a weapon worthy of your Heroic status. The last Ranger was Sir Tristan of Avalon, another kingdom that is part of the Alliance. It is said he poured his life into the bow while on his deathbed, though none could draw its string since.”
“Huh, why do you know that?”
“There are certain people you do not cross in my profession. Among those are the Twelve Knights of Avalon and their King, Arthur Pendragon. I am unsure, but all twelve of them are rumored to be at least 8th Level and Avalon is one of the most powerful kingdoms in the Alliance because of it. Renalis is a backwater in comparison.”
I whistled. Those names were very familiar to me. If the Knights of Avalon were half as strong as the legendary counterparts on Earth, then I was in for one hell of a ride.
“What about other Heroes?”
“There are four that I know of Warrior Hercules, Wizard Morganna, Cleric Svalinn, and yourself.”
“Holy shit, that is one hell of an infamous line-up. I wonder where I stack up?”
“From what I’ve heard and seen, you are at the bottom, Master Levin.”
“Are you serious?”
“Cleric Svalinn has raised the dead. Or at least, that is what his followers proclaim.”
Now that threw me for a loop. Idyia’s small peek into the greater world of Valeria made me realize I had only spent a small fraction of my time in a very small place. There was plenty to experience and discover. For the first time, I saw the Valeria open its gates and I grew more and more excited. For the first time, I thought about actually enjoying my journey through this brave new world.
“I really need to start grinding.”