The lights of evolution died down, and Orlean Piercer let out a most satisfied sigh, with an equally satisfied look on her face. She strolled forwards, and I was met with a different woman. She remained short, but her head was now topped by long flowing blue hair, with a literal shine to them. Her eyes were like crystals, still as large as before but they no longer looked quite as comical. She seemed just a tiny bit thinner, but I had the impression that she had actually gained weight instead of lost it. The color of her skin became just a tiny bit darker, but with a far more noticable change in texture, as if she had been bathed in hardship and now the entirety of her body was calloused.

[Handler - Lvl 100+]

"Circuitry." She muttered a word that I only heard because of my Stats and Skills. She gestured with her hand towards an unchented piece of metal on a nearby rack, and it flew towards her in a smooth arc.

She caught the object, and sparks ran through her hands. Enchantments began to be etched into its surface, like fractals from a lightning strike, less chaotic than her prior work, but more flowy and no less artistic. The difference between a street artist, and a semi-abstract painter. It truly looked like circuitry, if a bit strange, not to mention ultimately creating the large symbols enchantments are known for.

Orlean nodded to herself once some unknown threshold was reached. Both I and Flaze only watched as she wore her metallic glove, grabbed the piece of steel that she'd just enchanted, and then pointed it away from us.

The magic then began building, the piece of metal shook as if trying to get away, but Orlean kept a firm grip on it. She kept that up for a tense several seconds, until she finally released it.

The thing disappeared.

A brief but loud whine of air followed, along with the sound of a projectile punching through brick.

I traced the trajectory where Orlean was pointing, and saw a gaping hole in the wall.

She explained without need of prompting. "Magnets. Just as they can attract, so too can they repel. Not something I couldn't already do before, but never so strongly, and with something that I just enchanted on the spot." Orlean grinned. "Imma build a big ass railgun."

My mind finally caught up, and the first thing I felt was a very slight, extremely tiny, barely noticeable pang of jealousy.

I want a cool railgun too!

"Hmm? What are you looking at, Jackal?" Orlean's gaze wandered around, as if she was genuinely confused. "Oh! You want me to make something for you too?"

What, no–! I backed away, ready to deny it, but then I realized that it'd actually be quite cool to get something. It can't be too heavy, but I'm pretty sure horses were armored up too during medieval times, and much as it might clash with my aesthetics, it could be nice to have a set of those.

Actually, yes. I amended, nodding furiously.

"Great! A railgun for me, and a saddle for thee. What do you want, Flaze?"

"Me? Well, I already have armor, but I wonder what would happen if you enchanted it…"

Heeey! Wait a second! I stepped in between them, making a fuss. I did not agree to this!

Orlean looked at me, then acted as if a light bulb just went off inside her head. "Of course! You need a harness to go with that!"

That's the opposite of what I meant!!!

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We chased each other around again, with Flaze just watching our antics and cheering for whoever was losing. Which was mostly me. Orlean shouldn't have gotten that many levels since her evolutions, she's literally at exactly 100 despite her Identify coming up as 100+. But it seems like her body itself had gotten a lot stronger regardless, not to mention the magic that she uses.

Going by her own insights, as she'd tested a lot more things than we have, Orlean explained that Stats were both multiplicative and additive, though it could be hard to find the proper ratio, and it might even be a curve of some kind. All things that didn't make me feel a single bit better about losing so badly today, when I was just about on par with her yesterday, at least when no Skills or Magic was used.

We eventually both gave up our play fighting. A mutual decision agreed upon by both parties because neither of us could go on any longer.

Orlean helped me to my feet, and we both rested for a while, just chatting about stuff. The subject found its way to our future plans, and it seemed as though we may have had some differing ideas.

"What do you mean you're going to stay here and make yourself iron man?" Flaze asked, an eyebrow raised, and just slightly annoyed. But she was clearly trying to hide that last part, which is why as a good friend, I chose that time to needle her and poke at her cheek.

She started biting.

"I mean exactly what I said." Orlean crossed her arms. "My armor's maybe bordering on that territory already. But with my recent new abilities, I think I can manage an honest to goodness exo suit."

"I see." Flaze said as she pushed my face away with one hand. "Okay. That's fine. I was just thinking of hitting up the college sooner rather than later, is all."

I nodded, even while under an arm lock. That's what I was thinking too!

"Ah. Yeah, that…" Orlean gave a small sigh, but then immediately beamed in order to hide it. I don't think either of us were fooled. "Well, that's totally fine! I understand, you haven't even met up with them yet since this all began. So I can just make my robot armor later, I'll bring the parts I need to the college. Then we can all hang out like old times!"

There was silence, for a few moments after Orlean's declaration.

Flaze eventually shook her head, mirroring my own sentiments as well. "There's no need for that Orlean. I wasn't asking you to come with us. I know you prefer to be alone when you work."

"Well… I do…" Orlean looked genuinely confused. "But how will you get there?"

Flaze looked at me. "Uh. We'll walk? Or well, run. I'd probably ride Jackal along the way."

"What? No, you can't."

"Jackal's fine with it. You can even add the saddle."

Not entirely. Begrudgingly. And I still don't want the saddle!

"That's not what I meant." Orlean shook her head like a disappointed teacher. "It's too dangerous. What if you run into monsters along the way?"

"We'll defeat them."

Orlean looked away a little. "No offense, but you're not strong enough to defeat some of the horrors out there."

Flaze chuckled. "We know that. We won't just try and punch our way through anything. But me and Jackal combined are really good at pulling off an escape."

"Hmm. I guess… But it'd be safer if I were with you."

"We don't need a chaperone Orlean. We can take care of ourselves."

"That's no reason to split up though. It's just logical for me to come with you."

"We've survived so far. It'd be fine. Trust us."

"I do. I do trust you guys. But what if you fail and die?"

Both Flaze and I winced.

Ouch. That actually, kinda stung, just a little.

"Wait, no." Orlean hurriedly waved her hands around. "That's not what I meant! I'm just worried, is all. And I'm a lot stronger than you guys."

Oof. Fucking rub it in some more. That actually earned a small laugh from me.

Flaze sighed. "I know. And I appreciate the concern, I do. I can tell Jackal does too. But Orlean, you haven't been there to protect us the entire way or anything. We'll be fine."

She bit her lip. "Are you sure though?"

Your faith in us is flattering. I grinned. Flaze elbowed me lightly.

"Yes. I'm sure. And you went fucking solo, we're a duo. We'd have to leave the nest eventually to attain more power for ourselves, Mom."

Hah! Mommy Orlean. I pointed at her far shorter stature. Specially not now. Nit anymore!

"Nor your mum–" Orlean protested. "And wait, is this about what I said earlier?"

She was referring to her bragging about her evolutions. Which, did hit me a little, but that was definitely a worthy thing to brag about. No need for apologies.

I'm sure my heartfelt and reassuring neighs truly came across.

"Uh." Flaze looked at me, and I shrugged. "A little maybe. But it's something we would've done regardless."

Orlean looked anxious. "I… I was joking. I didn't want you to actually…"

"We know." Flaze reached over to touch Orlean's hand, cutting her off. "And like I said, it's fine. Just, don't be a hypocrite, Orlean. You went solo just because you can, and I doubt your folks were any more enthusiastic about it."

She frowned. "That's not fair."

"Life's not fair."

"True." Orlean sighed after a few moments of deep contemplation, finally convinced by the best argument. "But let me at least make you both some gear first, okay? At least let me sway the odds in your favor that much."

Flaze grinned, shooting me a sly look. "Sure! I still want to try your enchantments on my armor and stuff. And then some reins and saddle for Jackal! It does feel a bit uncomfortable on my butt, and a better way to steer my steed would be very welcome…"

I roared.

Can we just forget about that please!?