Kael stood in the quiet of the Nexus, the familiar blue glow of his System screen floating before his eyes. After the battle in the Heart of the Mountain, the System had rewarded him with points—both stat and skill—and now it was time to distribute them.
Yareeth’s gaze settled on the blue screens she’d already mastered. It made him smile, a warmth that wasn’t the Shard’s hum but something… more. This connection. “I leveled up, but you go first.” It wasn’t a command, not really, just… an offering. They would figure it out together.
But as he watched her, his gaze lingering on the curve of her scaled jawline, the way her tail swished back and forth in a soothing, rhythmic beat, the familiar anxieties he thought he’d buried resurfaced.
He needed to get stronger. Needed to level up, to push his limits, to face the realm bosses with the same ferocity and controlled power she’d shown. She was changing, evolving, her confidence blooming in this chaotic world. He had to keep up, had to… protect her, but not just physically.
He scrolled through his options, his eyes lingering on the different categories. Two stat points, two skill points. It wasn’t much, but every little bit counted. The last fight had shown him his limits—especially the toll that using his Shattering Impact skill had taken on him. Fatigue had hit him hard, and he still wasn’t sure why. Maybe more endurance would help.
His gaze shifted to the stat panel, his fingers hovering over his options.
He selected the first point, putting it into Muscle Power, feeling a slight, almost imperceptible shift in his body as the strength of his muscles increased. He’d hit hard before, but now he needed to hit harder—especially if they were going to face even tougher enemies.
He assigned the second point into Endurance, hoping it would help him endure the fatigue that had nearly taken him down during the last battle. His muscles felt a subtle tension, a readiness that wasn’t there before, and he rolled his shoulders, testing the change. Maybe this would make a difference the next time he used Shattering Impact.
Satisfied, he moved on to his skill points. He had two to spend, and both needed to go where they’d count the most.
Shattering Impact. He tapped it without hesitation. The skill was his ace in the hole, the one that had turned the tide of battle more than once. Improving it meant more power, more destruction—exactly what he needed in a fight.
Opportunistic Fighter. The second skill point went here. It wasn’t a flashy ability, but it had saved his skin more times than he could count. Being able to react to an enemy’s mistakes, to exploit openings, was the kind of subtle advantage that could mean the difference between life and death.
As he confirmed his choices, a faint pulse of energy rippled through him, the System’s cold, impersonal text vanishing from view. He flexed his hands, feeling the slight boost in power, the increased endurance that thrummed beneath the surface.
Her hand moved at last, her scales brushing against the blue light of the system’s interface, sending a tremor through him. The air around them seemed to shift. Her choices, the whispers of her potential, resonated in the silence. The light from her screen and the torch cast shifting patterns across her scales—a kaleidoscope of green and gold that both fascinated and unsettled him. It was a beauty he was only beginning to truly see.
He watched as she methodically allocated her newly earned skill points—five in total. It wasn’t much, just a few tiny increments against the vast, crushing reality of the world, but they represented something profound—a mastery over her destiny. A chance to carve out a space for herself in this shattered, unforgiving existence.
First, she invested two points in Herbal Identification.
Herbal Identification Rank Up (Apprentice, Level 1)
"Great!" Yareeth said, with a smile.
“You’re really good at that. Your connection with those herbs, in the River Delta Realm…” His words were awkward, his phrasing uncertain. This was new to him. His old world had never taught him about kindness or respect. Only survival, the harshest kind of dominance. “It’s your strength. What you… what you lost.” His regret hung between them.
Then, one each to Minor Heal and Defensive Tactics, her skill choices reflecting both the System’s influence and the memories of her own people—their graceful movements, the sharp, efficient use of blades. A wave of guilt washed over him as he realized that the knowledge he had to impart now was one of bloodshed and violence. It wasn’t the way she’d been raised, he knew that. And the burden of her loss, of her transformation into a warrior of this brutal world, felt heavier than any armor he’d ever worn.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Her last point went into Negotiation. “Almost an Apprentice,” she said, the word in his language, a newfound confidence filling her posture as she straightened, her scaled spine lifting her chin. He could still see the fatigue in her eyes, the dull shimmer of her scales. This new world was so different.
Kael knew this was important. This was her life. They’d gotten the hang of her Skill Point allocations; he had an idea. “For a quick boost, one each to Agility, Precision, and Reflexes?” he suggested, already seeing the potential in her quick reactions, that natural ability. “And maybe one more to Reasoning and one into Persuasion—to make it harder for people to swindle you in the market. Not that they seem to have any chance of that now.”
He watched her process the numbers, then, as her hand touched the screen, she said, “Done.”
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The Market of Shadows was as lively as ever, the bustling stalls and winding alleys a stark contrast to the icy silence of the realm they’d just left behind. Kael and Yareeth made their way through the throng, their steps lighter now that they were back in familiar territory. The weight of their battle with the Stonegrinder Alpha still hung over them, but the chaotic energy of the Market was a welcome distraction. It was good to be around people again, even if most of them were the kind you kept one hand on your purse around.
The leatherworker’s stall was cluttered and dim, a chaotic jumble of armor pieces and tools, the smell of oiled leather and metal hanging thick in the air. The man behind the counter glanced up as they approached, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in their disheveled appearance. He was a broad-shouldered, grizzled sort, with a scar running down one cheek and fingers stained dark from years of dye and sweat.
“Back again?” he said, his voice a gravelly rumble. His gaze flicked over Kael’s tattered tunic and torn pants, then over to Yareeth’s torn clothing. “Looks like you’ve been wrestling a Dark Reaver and lost.”
Kael gave a wry smile, scratching the back of his neck. “Actually, we won, but yeah, it was close.” He gestured to the display behind the man, rows of leather pants hanging in neat, orderly lines. “I need something tougher than this rag I’ve been wearing. And some patches for the tunic.”
The leatherworker grunted, reaching up to pull down a pair of sturdy-looking pants. “These’ll hold up better than whatever you’ve got on,” he said, holding them out. “Tough hide, reinforced seams. Won’t tear on the first scratch.”
Kael nodded appreciatively, taking the pants and running his fingers over the material. It felt thick and solid, a reassuring weight against his hands. He looked over at Yareeth, who was examining a set of lighter armor hanging near the back of the stall. The pieces were made from a softer, more flexible leather, the surface etched with intricate designs that caught the light in a subtle play of shadow and shape.
Yareeth’s hand brushed over the tunic, her fingers tracing the patterns almost reverently. “What about this one?” she asked, glancing at the leatherworker. “It’s lighter, but it looks sturdy.”
The man raised an eyebrow, eyeing her up and down with a critical gaze. “You looking to get something new?” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on her torn clothes. “Gonna be a bit tricky to find something that fits. Most folks around here don’t have, uh, your build. And that tail’s going to be a challenge.”
Kael fought back a grin. “I’m sure you can manage. It’s not like there’s a lot of choice for lizardfolk armor, right?”
The leatherworker snorted, a grin breaking through his rough exterior. “True enough.” He turned back to Yareeth, his tone turning more businesslike. “I’ve got a few things that might work. You’ll need to try them on, though. Make sure they fit right, especially with that tail of yours.”
Yareeth nodded, her expression serious as she examined the tunic and leggings he offered. “They’ll need adjustments,” she said, her voice firm. “The seams at the hips need to be reinforced to accommodate my tail, and the new opening as well. I don’t want to tear through it the first time I move.”
The leatherworker’s eyebrows rose, and a hint of respect flickered in his eyes. “You know your gear,” he said, nodding slowly. “Alright, I can make those adjustments. But it’ll take time.”
“And how much will that time cost us?” Yareeth asked, her voice smooth, almost casual. But there was a keen edge to it, a quiet confidence that caught Kael’s attention.
The leatherworker leaned back, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Normally, I’d charge four iron for custom work like that, with the materials and all.”
Yareeth’s gaze didn’t waver. “Two iron,” she said calmly. “And we’ll take the pants and patches for Kael’s tunic, too. You’ve got plenty of stock, and we’ll be spreading word around about the quality of your work. That’s worth more than an extra iron, don’t you think?”
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a flicker of a smile on his lips. “You’re a sharp one, aren’t you? Alright, two iron. But only because you’re looking like you’ll be good repeat customers.”
Kael watched with a mix of admiration and amusement as Yareeth nodded, her expression businesslike. “Deal,” she said, holding out her hand. The leatherworker shook it firmly, and they exchanged the coins.
Equipment Acquired:
Reinforced Leather Pants (Common)
Sturdy leather pants with reinforced patches on the knees and thighs for added protection
Persuasion +1
Merchant +1
Negotiation +1