Xandell Towin sat at his desk, his mind still on the meeting he’d just had. As the Guild Master of Kunora’s Adventurer’s Guild branch, he was an important person. He was used to being the most important person in any room he walked into, barring the matriarch’s presence. Despite the fact that the meeting had taken place in his own office, he hadn’t felt like the most important person in the room. He hadn’t even felt like the second most important person in the room.
Xandell had met Orneta O’Leon many times in the ten years he’d spent as Guild Master of her city, and he had nothing but respect for the clan matriarch. He knew her character. He knew the character of her family. And it wasn’t just their character that demanded respect; it was also their power.
He hadn’t heard of anyone who actually knew what tier Orneta was. She wasn’t actively traveling the Realms anymore, but Xandell knew she still left Dintarnum occasionally to continue progressing. She always let him know when she’d be gone since that meant the city was left without its most important citizen. Despite her slowed progression, Xandell would never underestimate her power. The elders of the Kunora clan, including his great-grandfather, selected her as clan matriarch 30 years ago for a reason.
She alone was enough of a reason for the O’Leon house to be considered the most powerful house in the clan. However, Orneta wasn’t the only member of her family. Cinder and Pheobe O’Leon were over 20 years younger than Xandell, but they had already surpassed him. His progression speed was well above average, but theirs was on a whole different level. Until two years ago, their team constantly faced challenges and entered realms he wouldn’t dream of taking on himself without the best of the clan’s adventurers behind him.
Then there was Cinder's older sister, Trinity. She hadn’t been seen in Kunora for almost five years but was known for bringing in some of the rarest and most potent magical materials whenever she returned. Xandell’s casting staff had been made from a rare tier eight wood Trinity brought back the last time she returned. He’d paid almost 1,000 tier eight realm coins for it. It was worth every one.
Now, the latest generation of that family was starting their adventure, and one of them had been adopted by the matriarch herself. Xandell felt something in his gut begin to churn. Despite his tier eight body, he couldn’t help but grumble in discomfort. They would be amazing adventurers or make his life extremely difficult. Most likely both.
***
“Well, that was interesting,” Duncan said as he and his friends descended the final step onto the first floor of the Adventurers Guild. It was just as busy as before, with Adventurers crowded around the mission boards and a long line at the reception desk.
“Look, there’s Lucan.” Phevona pointed to the front of the line, where a human receptionist looked to be registering Lucan and five others. “Looks like he’s registering with a team.”
Duncan recalled the monster hunt they spent with Master Boetin’s grandson. The winy-elven boy had done nothing but complain and blame everyone else for anything that went wrong. “Did you hear if he ended up passing the Subject Trial?” Duncan asked as they walked out of the giant doors leading into the streets of Kunora.
“Yeah, he did. He’s actually not a bad mage. He just needs to grow up a little.”
The moment they exited the Guild building, DJ padded up to them from the front lawn where he’d been waiting. No beasts in the Guild Hall, apparently. Now fully grown, the tier one midnight wolf was as big as a horse.
“A little?” Dean scoffed as he reached up to scratch DJ behind the ears. “I can’t believe he found five other people willing to team up with him.”
“You know everyone in that group, Dean,” Phevona said, shaking her head. “Did you even look to see who they were?”
“Uhhh. No?” Dean half asked, half stated. “After you pointed Lucan out, I just wanted to get as far away as possible.”
“We went on monster hunts with most of them. Chester Jenzen. The Solt twins. Jenny Deek. I think the last one was Scarlett Bolten. Weren’t you friends growing up?”
Dean groaned. “She was a family friend. We played together a lot as kids, but then I grew a brain. That girl could convince herself she deserved to be Queen of Kuno if she put her mind to it. Then she’d make sure everyone she met knew about her rightful place as their leader.”
“Entitled?” Duncan asked. He got flashbacks of how many nobles on Earth acted at the Academy.
“Very,” Dean confirmed. “Her great-something grandfather was the clan patriarch before Neta. He left Dintarnum 30 years ago to continue progressing. Let’s just say Scarlett that out when we were seven, and ever since, she’s thought of herself as the clan princess. She hates Phevona because she actually is the clan princess.”
“Don’t make me [Leach Trap] you,” Phevona threatened, eyes dead with annoyance. “I don’t care if we’re in the middle of the city. I’m the clan princess. I can get away with it.”
The mention of Phevona’s newest Ability reminded Duncan of something the Guild Master had mentioned after registering them as a permanent team. “What was that Xandell was saying about a team interface before we left?”
“It’s the same thing as your Subject interface, just for the entire team. It lets Realm registered teams see each other’s statuses and Abilities,” Phevona said as she sent one more warning glare at Dean before she continued to navigate through the busy city streets. Wagons pulled by horses and other, more exotic beasts of burden traveled with passengers from place to place. The arena, which Duncan hadn’t visited since the Chosing two years prior, was visible just over the surrounding rooftops.
Duncan took Phevona’s words to heart and tried to access the team interface just as he would his Subject interface. What greeted him was something new.
Team Name: None
Phevona O’Leon
Dean Carston
Duncan O’Leon
He mentally focused on Phevona’s name, which brought up her status window.
Name:
Phevona O'Leon
Race:
Half-Elf, Half-Human (Dintarnum)
Age:
19 (Standard Realm Years)
Body Tier:
1
Bloodline:
Dormant
Combat Subject:
MOTHER OF NATURE
Combat Tier:
1
Non-Combat Subject:
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
NATURE ALCHEMIST
Non-Combat Tier:
1
Another thought later, and he saw her Ability list.
MOTHER OF NATURE Abilities
Mastery Ability: [Nature’s Growth]
Effect 1: Your spell-casting and related Abilities improve at a faster rate. No mana cost.
Primordial Ability: [Guiding Hand]
Effect 1: You can use the nature in your environment to supplement your nature-related Abilities. Variable mana cost.
Effect 2: You can directly control nature created or influenced by one of your Abilities. Variable mana cost.
Combat Ability: [Leach Trap]
Effect 1: Trap a small area. Upon activation, vines and roots will grow from the trapped area and attempt to snare enemies within range. Small mana cost.
Effect 2: Once an enemy is snared, the trap will begin leaching mana from the snared enemy. Leached mana can be returned to the castor or used to enhance the trap. No mana cost.
NATURE ALCHEMIST Abilities
Mastery Ability: [Alchemist’s Proficiency]
Effect 1: Your alchemy improves at a faster rate. No mana cost.
Primordial Ability: [Nature Provides]
Effect 1: All alchemical ingredients you personally harvest or cultivate in nature have their effects increased when used in one of your alchemical creations. No mana cost.
Fusion Abilities
[Nature’s Elixir]
Effect 1: You can consume your own alchemical creations more frequently. No mana cost.
Effect 2: Upon consumption, you can choose to forgo the effects of your own alchemical creations in favor of supplementing a combat Ability with those effects. Medium mana cost. 30 second cooldown.
“MOTHER OF NATURE. It suits you.”
Phevona smiled at Duncan’s words. “I thought so, too.”
“I’m surprised [Guiding Hand] actually takes mana.” Duncan reread the skill’s description to make sure he remembered correctly. “Neta said it’s rare for primordial and mastery Abilities to cost mana.”
“Yeah, they usually don’t,” Phevona agreed. “I love the Ability, though; I was trying it out last night… well, I guess you remember that.” The annoyed stare Duncan sent her way reminded her that it was him on whom she’d tested her new Abilities. “Anyway, I can use the grass and roots already in the ground to increase the potency of [Leach Trap], then, thanks to [Guiding Hand], I can directly control the vines and roots created by the trap. It takes some focus, but it’s worth it for the added utility.”
Duncan returned to the team interface, this time going through the same process with Dean’s status and Ability page.
Name:
Dean Carston
Race:
Wolfkin (Dintarnum)
Age:
19 (Standard Realm Years)
Body Tier:
1
Bloodline:
Dormant
Combat Subject:
PACK HUNTER
Combat Tier:
1
Non-Combat Subject:
???
Non-Combat Tier:
1
PACK HUNTER Abilities
Mastery Ability: [The Hunt]
Effect 1: Your hunting and related Abilities improve at a faster rate. No mana cost.
Primordial Ability: [Hunter’s Sense]
Effect 1: Your perception is further enhanced. No mana cost.
Effect 2: You can see weak points on desired targets. No mana cost.
Combat Ability: [Packmate]
Effect 1: You can bond with one beast of the same tier as you. This bond is only broken upon the death of you or your bonded beast. High mana cost.
Effect 2: You can sense your bonded beast’s location. The closer you are, the more precise the sense. No mana cost.
Effect 3: Your PACK HUNTER Subject and your bonded beast share progression. No mana cost.
??? Abilities
Mastery Ability: [??? Proficiency]
Effect 1: ???
Effect 2: ???
Primordial Ability: [???]
Effect 1: ???
Effect 2: ???
Fusion Abilities
[???]
Effect 1: ???
Effect 2: ???
Duncan had already known Dean unlocked a bonding Ability from his first Ability Slip, but it was nice to see the effects for himself.
“I can’t wait to get into another temporary realm and see what we can do.” Dean’s excited voice told Duncan that he, too, had been looking through the team interface.
“Well, we’ll have our chance soon. We have those missions from Xandell,” Duncan replied as Phevona led them into a beautiful courtyard attached to an elegant restaurant. The O’Leon family and Dean’s mom, Jen, were waiting for them at the only table in the courtyard. Despite the cold and a slight flurry of snow that had started to fall, enchantments built into the courtyard and buildings around them kept the snow away and the temperature just right for an outdoor meal.
“Finally, I’m starving,” Jen yelled, rubbing her hands together. Cinder grunted his agreement from across the table. The three new adventurers took their seats next to each other, with DJ lying down directly behind them with a ‘thud.’
“Did registration go well?” Pheobe asked from her place between Cinder and Neta.
“Yup,” Phevona said. “The Guild Master actually registered us himself after they figured out who I was.”
“Clan princess,” Dean leaned over and whispered to Duncan. Considering the ground didn’t erupt into a tangle of vines and roots, Phevona either didn’t hear or chose to ignore the wolfkin’s teasing. Duncan was betting on the latter, considering Phevona’s new enhanced perception.
“Xandell always did like to make a good impression,” Cinder sighed. “He’s probably up in his office throwing a fit of worry right about now.”
Their conversation was interrupted as an army of waiting staff entered the courtyard laden with food. Meats of all kinds, breads, vegetables Duncan had never seen, and more crowded the table as tray after tray was delivered. After almost a minute, the line of waitresses and waiters came to an end.
“Ahhh. Matriarch. It’s been too long since you’ve visited.” A hearty and joyous voice filled the courtyard. Duncan looked around to see the largest man he’d ever seen exit the equally large door leading into the restaurant. The man, if Duncan hadn’t missed his guess, was a titan. They were the largest non-monster race in the Realms, at least according to Phevona. They were also supposed to be extremely rare outside their home realms.
Neta rose from her seat at the table, smiling up at the titan, who didn’t hesitate to envelop the clan matriarch in a hug that would have crushed a polar bear on Earth. “Zak! I’m sorry I haven’t visited recently. I’ve been more busy than usual for the past few years.”
“I have heard. You and Brother Cinder have a new apprentice, yes?” The titan, Zak apparently, looked around at the rest of the table until his gaze fell on Duncan. “There he is. You must have great promise for my master’s wife and grandson to have chosen you.”
Duncan didn’t really know what to say. He just looked up at the boisterous titan in what he hoped was not so awkward smile. “They have given their best to teach me, so I try to give my best in return.”
“Ha,” Cinder’s laugh brought Zak’s attention away from Duncan. “His best would have put mine to shame at his age, without a doubt.” Cinder stood, followed by Pheobe, to hug the titan as Neta had.
Phevona followed her parents, and soon, she was laughing and twirling through the air, yelling for ‘Uncle Zak to put her down.’
Neta, having returned to her seat, smiled at the scene. “Jen and Dean, you’ve met Zak before. Duncan, this is Zakeebin Toorow, or Zak as he prefers. My husband, Dwin, gave him some training years ago in cooking. He’s been the owner and head chef of the best restaurant in Kunora ever since.”
“You flatter me, matriarch. None of that today, if you please. Today, you eat enough to last until the next time you visit, yes?”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Dean said, not hesitating to shovel food onto a plate twice the size of Duncan’s buckler.
“The wolfkin knows what is best, it seems,” Zak yelled in praise. “And don’t think I didn’t notice the pup waiting behind you. I have something special for that one.”
A moment later, a mound of steaming meat on a giant wooden plate landed beside DJ, who instantly began wagging his tail and licking Zak’s outstretched hand.
Smelling the rich aromas and seeing the various dishes, Duncan almost wanted to join DJ in licking the titan’s hand in thanks. He wasn’t a wolf, though, so he’d settle for licking his own fingers after he was done eating.