“Idiot!” A familiar voice shouted at me at the same time as something was slapped out of my hands.
The impact shocked me and I opened my closed eyes in reflex. What I saw sent a bolt of confusion and horror through my body. Green piercing eyes were looking into my own and a soft delicate hand rose to lightly touch the side of my face. It was Lilly, the elven mage I had spent over two decades clearing a nightmare of a tower with.
“Reigner, are you okay?” Her soft voice was nostalgic to my ears. I never thought that I would see this woman again.
“Trap?” Someone behind her asked. Looking over I could see Lex, peering at me with concern. His dark eyes could only just be seen though his dark hood and held an intensity that always made me feel uncomfortable.
“What were you thinking?” Lilly admonished. “You of all people should know the dangers of items placed on pedestals.”
“Reigndurrr!” A deep mocking voice called out. “What you doing with a magic book?” The voice took on a dark laugh. “Did you forget you were disabled? Poor Reigndurr.”
The owner of the voice and a giant of a man, Ronald, walked over and stretched down to grab something off the floor. Following his action, I looked down to see him pick up a large tome from the floor.
My heart dropped at the sight and I wanted to scream but my voice was failing me. Trying harder I managed to let out a pained wheeze. “N-no…” It took all my effort, only to sound so quiet to my ears.
Grief, sadness, horror hit me all at once.
I woke to the sound of people arguing around me, eyes still closed. There was an intense pressure of two forces pressing against each other. I was no longer standing around in a dark room and instead was laying down.
“It was just a dream.” I muttered to myself as I felt the soft support of a mattress under me.
“Just a dream?” Said a voice filled with hidden rage. Looking over I saw a red haired elf with gold and red robes. His glowing dark eyes were glaring murderously towards me. The pressure in the room increased, making me wince.
“If you can’t control your auras, I will ask you to leave.” A woman’s voice cut in. She wore the grey of the tower knights and the look of a priest or healer to her. Under her grey robes she wore thin white gloves and had a belt of vials, books, and other items around her waist. She was currently standing next to the bed and held her arms outstretched, her gloved hands glowed a soft green as she focused on a spell above my chest.
“This cave dweller killed my grandson. Only courtesy to the tower knights prevent me from dragging him away for answers.” Replied the elf.
“You dare threaten one of my own?” The gruff voice of Hiro, the Hero of GorikTar city and head of the Ex-Tera guild, stated flatly. “Just try it. After I cut you down, I will harvest your precious trees for tinder.”.
“Master Gushiken, I understand your frustration, but please don’t start a war in the medical ward.” The woman stated.
“Enough!” The deep voice of Elder Knight Torak boomed out just before he at the doorway.
“Still your auras right now or I will have you removed. We have allowed you here out of courtesy. Harm to our patients is where that ends.”
“You may try, but I’ll not be leaving until I learn what happened to my granddaughter.”
The memory of Yui disintegrating in my arms completely shattered the lingering haze of the dream. I gripped the sheets in anger at my failure.
“I… I have some information on that.” Replied Torak, distracting me from my thoughts. “I have been informed on some of the events that have taken place over the past sixty hours by one of my subordinates.”
He let the words hang in the air for a moment. “But this is not the place to discuss such a matter. Follow me and we will…”
“No!” Hiro interrupted. “I tasked this man with the protection of my granddaughter. I will hear it from him, directly.” His tone declared he would not be swayed.
The elf sneered towards Knight Elder Torak. “I assume that your “subordinate” is another human? Forgive me if I don’t believe his statement of events.”
Torak sighed and raised his hand to his forehead in frustration.
Hiro was staring at me. He looked older than when I first met him. Stress lines marred his face and his normally neat hair had loose strands sticking out. His robes were the dark rich blue from before, only now there was a pattern of criss-crossed thin lines of purple adorning it. Surprisingly, his sword was not by his side.
He walked over to me, bumping the healer to the side and grabbed my shoulders. His eyes bored into me.
“Where is she?” He asked. “Where is my Yui?”.
I couldn’t hold his gaze for long, instead I let my eyes side away from him. “She… I couldn’t stop him.”
He held on to me, his grip tight and unwavering, he didn’t say anything and just waited for me to continue. His eyes held a deep fear and concern within them.
Taking a breath, I tried to meet his eyes again. “Zelphar killed her.” I said simply.
It was like the man was physically struck, I felt his body jolt from where he held me but apart from that nothing changed until a second later. I could see the realization of what I just said hitting him as his eyes turned to something more vulnerable, a pain I could never comprehend. I averted my eyes. I couldn’t bare to witness that grief any longer.
He blinked, slowly let go of my shoulders and straightened himself.
“Slanderous creature.” Barked the elf from by the foot of my bed. “What evidence is there? Baseless accusations from a base creature…”
“Quiet!” Hiro shouted. All the glass in the room shattered along with the wooden furniture, which included the bed I was laying on. It collapsed under me, causing me and the supportive mattress to fall.
No one moved. Before us stood one, if not the most powerful man in the city, and he was pissed. Slowly Hiro turned to face the elf.
“Zelphar.” He said softly, in a shaky voice. “He is your grandson. Son of that Ashwood brat. The very one who’s island now tarnishes the setting sun each night from my window.” Even though the word were not directed towards me, I was terrified. “It’s about time I pay them my respects.” He finished darkly.
Hiro walked to the doorframe of the small room and looked back to me. Tears of red were streaking down the sides of his face. “Reigner… It would be in your best interest to never appear before me again.”
I might have peed myself a little. I had never been so scared in all my lives.
It was a relief when Hiro walked out the room.
“What have you done?” The soft voice of the elf asked of me as he started at the doorway. His eyes slowly turned towards me. Hate, anger, and fear could be seen within them.
He lunged towards me but was stopped cold by Knight Elder Torak’s iron grip on his shoulder.
“There has been enough death today.” Torak stated firmly and pulled the elf back.
The next words of the elf sounded hollow. “I fear the deaths have only just started.” He glared down at me. “For killing my family, for bringing destruction on my people, I declare your life forfeit. You will never find sanctuary in our glades or welcome in our homes. You are marked and my people will forever see you for what you are. Ruin’s herald”
“Enough, time to leave.” Stated Torak in a grim tone as he started dragging him out the room.
“You are hunted!” The elf snarled. “Count every day as a blessing, for me and my people will not rest until your body lay broken and mutilated! You will be burned and removed from the sacred circle. your soul prevented from ever reaching beyond his mortal pain.
Torak said nothing as he pulled him out of the room and down the corridor.
That could not have gone any worse. I let out a sigh. What else is new? His declaration was just a continuation of my current treatment from the elven community.
The room was in shatters and completely silent. A movement to my right brought my attention to the healer. She was crouched on the ground, pressed in the corner of the room. she held a hand over her gaping mouth, eyes wide in horror as she stared towards the doorway.
Not sure what else to do I cleared my throat, pulling her attention to me and gave a little wave. “Hello… am I uh, free to leave?”
She rose slowly to her feet, using the wall for support. “I need… uh, you need…” She stumbled towards the doorway. “J-just wait here a moment.” And then rushed off in the opposite direction the others had left.
Alone, I pulled myself into a sitting position and gave myself a check over. My heath, stamina, and mana were all maxed out at half their normal value. I panicked for a second before remembering that the loss was from the death of my shadow and not due to anything more permanent. I was dressed in a loose gown, my hairy legs poking out from the knee down. I looked around the room but couldn’t find my storage pack or sandy robe. Even the Tower key storage necklace and arena amulet were missing.
Sitting there, I went through recent events in my mind. Seeing if there was anything I could have done differently. The main problem laid with my power. I was just not strong enough to prevent others from pushing me around. What I really needed was time. Uninterrupted time to quietly rebuild my strength and ability.
One thing I regret was insisting on focusing on magic over everything else. My physical ability was my greatest strength and I put that aside to play make believe wizard. Yui’s admonishment from our first spar together echoed through my mind.
From here I will not just aim to become the greatest wizard. Instead, I will become the greatest Warrior Wizard.
Nodding to myself I rose to my feet. Just as I did so, Mac entered the room with a panicked look on his face.
“Reigner! There you are.” He looked around the room momentarily. “What happen… Never mind. You need to come with me.”
Before I could say anything, he grabbed my arm and started pulling me out the room and down a corridor.
“Wait!” Called out the healer from before, returning with a few others behind her. “I still have not completed a full check.”
Stolen story; please report.
“We’ll be back!” Mac called over his shoulder as he continued to pull me forwards.
Hearing the urgency in his voice I decided to hold any questions I had and concentrated on keeping my balance as he turned corners at speed. My body felt recovered for the most part, but I had a splitting headache and felt like I needed a handful more hours of sleep still.
Eventually, after a series of stairs and many twisting turns, we made our way to the airship docks attached to the side of the tower. The same one that I was shown on my first day in this world. Unlike before though, there was a crowd of people all looking out towards the ocean. Elder Knight Torak’s shoulders and head could be clearly seen over the mass. Mac pushed his way through until reaching his side. Torak glanced down towards us before nudging his chin out towards the city.
The setting sun cast long shadows over the sprawling city in front of me. My attention however was focused on something heard only in fairytales on earth. A big change from the cityscape that I first witnessed from this vantage. A large island was floating, actually floating, in the air without support, just beyond the edges of the city and over the ocean.
“Seek not a Hero’s wrath…” Torak said darkly. “for in their fury resides the antithesis of salvation.”
Confused by his meaning I looked carefully at the floating island… Small chunks of debris were falling from the island down towards the ocean below. Thin lines of white light were crisscrossing and cutting through the island. Understanding of Torak’s words hit me.
It was Hiro… He was cutting the island apart…
The people around us let out gasps and cries of horror. The island was too far away for me to make up any detail apart from making out silhouettes of trees, and what I assumed were buildings, falling to the ocean.
“The elves… They are falling.” Someone gasped out from the crowd.
The wind around us swirled and pressed against us, causing a few gathered to stumble. Streaking above us and around the tower were a great many flying ships cutting through the sky towards the island.
“GorikTar’s military.” Mac said in awe.
Watching the destruction, tiny flashes of light could be seen in contrast against the silhouettes of falling chunks of land.
“Look!” Someone called out. “There are climbers catching people.”
“They are slowing the fall.” Another commented.
They had to be using some skill to see that clearly. Looking at Elder Torak’s grim expression, I noticed a glow of light around his eyes.
We all watched quietly in awestruck horror at the destruction and death of thousands of elves… of people.
And then we heard it. Faint screams in the wind.
Someone in the crowd started praying… not to a god, but to the tower.
Before I could fully catch his words, there was a shout behind us.
“Elder Knight Torak!”
At his name, Torak turned and a gap opened in the crowd, revealing a young looking beast kin with short blond hair. He wore the robes of the tower knights and held an item in his hands against his torso. He made his way towards us before standing straight before Torak.
“Elder Knight, we have been contacted by the GorikTar clan. They request we send out what support we can to the floating city.” The knight handed a small crystal ball over to the Elder Knight.
Torak looked down at the orb for a moment before nodding and passing it back. “Pass these orders to captain Clawik, Yen, and Owen. Have them assemble their team and crew the Tower’s Grace. Tell them they are to depart as soon as the medical team board.”
The blond knight nodded, turned around and sprinted away.
“Mac, take Reigner back to his medical ward and have Knight commander Purrent send what healers and support personnel we have available.”
“Yes, Elder Knight.” Mac responded before turning to me. “Let’s go.”
Before I could respond, he grabbed me by the robe and started dragging me again.
As we made our way back down, I asked why I was being dragged around everywhere.
Mac spared a glance at his over his shoulder. “You committed a taboo. You have yet to be judged. Until then you are to be kept secured and under strict supervision.”
“Then why did you take me… to see that.”
“Two reasons as stated by Elder Knight Torak. To witness and understand how your… our actions have led to… this.”
“You mean the Hero going berserk?” I asked just as we reached the medical room.
“He is not just the Hero… He is the Tower’s Hero.”
Before I could ask anything else, he pushed me inside, towards the now refurbished bed, and slammed the sliding door to the room closed. His hurried foot steppes echoed through the door as he rushed away.
Well… this worlds Hero was insane. I wondered if I would have ever viewed the destruction of a city a suitable outlet for my rage if I did not open that class book and remained the Hero.
I looked around the clean room and sat against the edge of the bed. I felt like things have spiralled way out of control. Watching Hiro slice up something so magical as a floating city filled was a sobering thought.
I couldn’t help but feel at least partly responsible. Zelphar came to mind, and I wondered if killing him was the best choice after all… Was there anything I could have done differently?
No. That guy had to die, and I was glad I was the one to do it. He was not innocent and likely viewed other people as insects.
Besides, if I didn’t kill him then someone else would have. The image of the crumbling island flashed though my mind. Maybe if Zelphar was still alive, Hiro wouldn’t have felt the need to go after his father and everything around him. Though it could be said it was their own fault for bringing their floating city over here, offering a juicy target for the Hero’s fury.
Thinking on it just caused my head to throb in pain more and I lay down on the bed. Letting out a sigh, I thought about Burin and Miko and wondered how they were doing.
The sound of the door sliding open woke me up some time later. The healer that was treating me before walked in looking much more haggard. She gave me a no nonsense glare before her hands flashed green and a wave of mana washed over me.
“Hmm, your vitals are still not where they should be, but I can’t find the cause. You have been cleansed of any debuffs and curses so it has to be something else… A skill maybe… Are you sacrificing your heath currently for some kind of boost?”
Pulling myself up into a sitting position I was glad to find that my headache had gone. “Kind of. The penalty for one of my skills is losing half my heath stamina and mana for a while.”
“I see. Fortunately, we only need to wait then. Since most of the staff are busy elsewhere, I have been chugging down mana potions to take up the slack.”
“The island?”
She just nodded before turning and walking to the door.
“Wait, when can I leave? How are Miko and Burin? One is a beastkin and the other a dwarf.”
She paused by the door. “Like I said, you will be here until I have confirmed you are fully healed. As for your friends, they are fine and have been discharged.” She glanced at me from the door. “I’ll check on you every other hour or so… if I can.”
As the door slid closed, I noticed that there were two large figures standing just outside, fully armoured knights. One of them watched me carefully through the gap of the closing door.
With nothing else to do I looked over my status to see what had changed. My eyes rose at the realisation I had gained five levels. Five levels for ending Zelphar… It made me wonder if Hiro had other motivations in his actions. It would be hard to find good sources of experience at his level. I felt a bit ill at the thought of massacring thousands of people for an increase in levels.
My actions against Zelphar were not for levels, but I would gladly accept them for all the trouble he put me though. That gave me fifteen stat points to play with. My strength was only two away from one hundred so that was a no brainer and would make my shadow happy. Reaching one hundred in a stat was a huge milestone as it completely breaks physics in your favour. It was the beginning of being able to gain extra leverage no matter where you were or what you were standing on. Like stopping something that weighs way more than you do without budging.
I eyed my dexterity next. It currently sat at ninety. A ten point investment would bring that into broken territory too. Turning on a dime, jumping off paper thin structures, running on water… that kind of thing. It would also bring me a step closer to where I was before. Without thinking on it further I willed the points into dexterity, bringing that to match my strength at one hundred.
That left me with three points left. I could place them in either intelligence or wisdom… or control? control? This was a new stat I had never heard of before and it was currently at fourteen, the same as my level. Was this part of reaching level ten? Before making any rash decisions, I looked over what else was new.
There were three new additions, not including my new stats or the large number of skill increases.
First of the three was the addition of a trait to my class.
Class traits: 25% increase to all summoned items and creatures.
That one I knew about and had since arriving here.
Conjured weapons have a small chance on kill to create echo focus.
What was an echo focus? I checked the next addition, a new skill, and hoped it held the answer.
Materialize Grimoire
Rank: 0
Description: Call forth your Grimoire, allowing you to store and manage collected foci.
Lastly, I looked at the last addition I gained from leveling up… A spell. I couldn’t stop my body from shaking in excitment as I read and then re read the description again and again.
Summon Creature
Rank: 0
Cost: Variable.
Description: Call forth a creature from collected focus. Creatures last until dismissed or slain and while summoned take up control points. Focus may be damaged if summoned creature dies.
“S… Sssum” My fists clenched the sides of the bed as I focused on the spell. Unable to contain myself any longer my voice screamed out and caused the room to vibrate.
“Summon Creature! Yes! Yes! Yesss!”
I fell back against the bed, laughing and fist pumping the air in celebration.
A celebration that was shortly interrupted by two steel clad knights slamming the door open and rushing inside.
“Get down!” One called out likely from habit due to the fact I was still in bed.
Feeling a bit embarrassed I very slowly lowered my raised fist to my side. They visibly relaxed but did not put away their weapons.
“Uh… sorry?” I said towards the two guards. “I got a bit too excited.”
One of them sneered and muttered “Scum. Murder makes you happy, does it?” before walking out the room.
It was a sober reminder of where I was and my current circumstances. I lay quietly as the door closed.
Name: Reigner
Race: Human
level: 14
Class: Summoner
Health: 1550/1550
HP Regen: 1.8/minute
Stamina: 2540/2540
SP Regen: 91/minute
Mana: 1250/1250
MP Regen: 48/minute
Strength: 100 +
Constitution: 77
Dexterity: 100 +
Intelligence: 27
Wisdom: 28
Control: 17 +
Skills:
Appraise Item (12)
Axe One-handed (32)
Axe Two-handed (30)
Blunt One-handed (36)
Counter (77) +
Dodge (89) +
Dual Wielding (41) +
Harvest (5)
Materialise Shadow (5)
Materialize Grimoire (0) +
Mental Manipulation Resistance (3)
Parry (73) +
Polearms (43) +
Shield (30)
Small Blades (46) +
Spear (54)
Sword One-handed (86) +
Sword two-handed (43)
Unarmed (84) +
Weapon Throwing (56)
Whips (11) +
Spells:
Identify (9)
Mana Marble (9) +
Quicken (9) +
Sparkle (20) +
Summon Armour (8) +
Summon Bag (7)
Summon Bandage (9) +
Summon Campfire (14) +
Summon Creature (0) +
Summon Drink (7)
Summon Food (7)
Summon Shelter (5)
Summon Sprite (7) +
Summon Wall (6) +
Summon Weapon (9)