As the shimmering fragments of the crystal golem settled across the cavern floor, Lorelai caught her breath, her fingers brushing against the faintly humming surface of the Wayward Compass. The artifact pulsed faintly, as if it had a heartbeat of its own, resonating in time with her racing pulse. Its energy sent a thrill through her, but she schooled her features into calm neutrality. She wouldn’t risk her companions noticing anything unusual.
The notification in her peripheral vision drew her focus.
[Level Up!]
[Level 5 → Level 7]
[You challenge things above your level and come out on top! Title Acquired:: High Flyer]
[Title Effect: Gain an additional stat point per level up. Total points gained per level: 3]
The rush of leveling coursed through her, sharper and more potent than usual. The High Flyer title was unexpected, but it since she didn't do it alone, her allies most likely got the title as well. With her points banked, she opened her status screen eager to allocate them.
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[Lorelai - Lvl 7]
* STR: 8 → 9
* AGI: 9 → 11
* WILL: 10 → 12
* END: 9 → 11
* INT: 14
Unused Points: 0
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She allocated her six new points with care, favoring AGI and END to enhance her offensive speed and resilience. A boost to STR would increase her damage output, and a single point into WILL reinforced her ability to resist mental assaults, maintain focus during prolonged engagements, and make shaping her magic easier.
The changes rippled through her body like a current of raw energy. Her muscles tightened, her reflexes sharpened, and her movements felt lighter yet more controlled. With each breath, she felt more balanced, as if her body and magic were aligning perfectly.
Lorelai closed her status screen and slipped the Compass and spear into her spatial storage with a subtle motion, ensuring its security. She turned back to her companions.
“Hey, Lorelai,” Thrax said, leaning heavily on his maul. His scaled body had reverted to its usual bulk, his draconic features now completely absent. “You did great back there. That spear move? Timing was perfect.”
Aeryn was seated on a chunk of broken crystal, inspecting a shallow gash on her arm that was healing at a visible rate. Her blood-red eyes flicked to Lorelai. “Agreed. That thing could have killed us if you hadn’t coordinated the attack. Good call.”
Lorelai offered them a tired smile. “We all did our part. It wasn’t just me.” She glanced at Thrax. “Your dragonize form was incredible. And Aeryn, your control with those blood shards kept it from overwhelming us.”
Aeryn grinned, her sharp fangs catching the faint light. “Yeah, that final blow was Thrax, but you gave him a good target."
"Next time, though, try not to leave me somersaulting through the air, huh?” Thrax laughed heartedly.
Aeryn snorted. “You’re fine, dragon boy. A few flips won’t kill you.”
The banter eased the tension, but Lorelai’s mind was still on the Wayward Compass. Now that she had it, what would Demos want with it? There was more to this artifact than navigation, something unknown to her but Demos most certainly does.
“Let’s move,” Lorelai said, brushing dust from her armor. “The fight wasn’t exactly subtle. If there’s anything else in this dungeon, I don't want to fight in our tired state.”
The others nodded, and the trio began their ascent toward the dungeon’s exit. As they climbed, Lorelai kept her thoughts guarded. The High Flyer title had been an unexpected boon, her potential was growing rapidly.
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When they finally reached the open air, the sunlight was dazzling after the dim cavern. Thrax dropped onto a rock with a satisfied grunt, “Finally fresh air. Did you both get the title as well?”
Aeryn leaned against a tree, nodding, her rapier sheathed at her side. “Yes I got the title as well. Since we are all exhausted, we should camp here for the night. Rest, recover, and head back to the academy in the morning. No point pushing ourselves when we’re low on mana and stamina.”
“Agreed,” Lorelai said, her tone steady despite the storm of thoughts whirling in her head. She moved to help set up camp, but her mind was elsewhere.
For now, her secrets were her own. She’d mastered the immediate challenges, but she knew they were just the beginning. Whatever lay ahead, she would meet it with sharpened skills, honed instincts, and a power that was growing with every step forward.
The campfire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows against the surrounding trees as the trio settled into a quiet rhythm. Thrax sat cross-legged, lazily buffing his armor, the sounds of the moving leather filling the gaps in their conversation. Aeryn reclined against her pack, absently spinning a dagger between nimble fingers, her crimson eyes glinting in the firelight. Lorelai was organizing supplies, her hands deftly moving through the motions, but her thoughts were far away.
The Wayward Compass. Its subtle hum still resonated in the back of her mind, like a whisper she couldn’t quite decipher. She knew it was dangerous to dwell on it, especially with Thrax and Aeryn nearby. While they were her comrades, she couldn’t fully trust anyone with this secret, not yet.
“Hey, Lorelai,” Thrax’s voice cut through her thoughts. She turned just as he lunged forward, moving faster than she expected for his size. He tackled her to the ground, pinning her wrists to the cool earth.
“What the—?!” she hissed, glaring up at him. The smirk on his face was infuriating, his body pressing against her chest and legs wrapped around hers.
“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Thrax teased, leaning closer so she could feel his breath on her neck. His golden eyes gleamed mischievously as he loomed over her. “Figured I’d see if the great strategist had something brewing in that big brain of hers.”
“Get off me Thrax,” Lorelai growled, trying to twist beneath his weight. Despite her increased stats, his sheer strength was hard to overcome.
“Not until you say ‘please,’” he replied, his tone light but laced with challenge.
Lorelai felt something on her hip and squealed. [Lightning Clad] The spell sparked to life, crackling along her limbs, her heart pounding like a drum. Thrax yelped as a sharp jolt coursed through him, and he released her, jumping back with a laugh.
“Okay, okay! No need to fry me!” he chuckled, shaking out his hands. “You’re no fun, you know that?”
Aeryn, who had been watching the exchange with mild amusement, snorted. “You deserved that. What did you think would happen, idiot?” She tilted her head, her fangs catching the firelight in a sly grin. “You’re lucky she didn’t aim lower.”
Thrax rolled his eyes but didn’t press the issue, retreating to his spot near the fire. Lorelai stood, brushing dirt from her clothes and glaring at him. “You’re lucky we're friends... perv,” she muttered.
The night wore on, and the camp gradually fell into a quiet lull. Thrax stretched out by the fire, snoring softly, his massive frame rising and falling with each breath. Lorelai sat a little ways off, keeping watch. Her nerves were still on edge, both from the anticipated meet up with Demos and Thrax’s earlier antics.
Aeryn approached silently, her steps unnaturally light. She settled next to Lorelai, her presence calm but commanding. “You’re distracted,” she said, her voice low enough not to wake Thrax.
Lorelai stiffened but didn’t look at her. “Just thinking about the fight.”
Aeryn studied her for a long moment, her crimson gaze sharp. “You’re a terrible liar,” she said finally, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “I won’t push. Not tonight.”
Lorelai glanced at her, unsure how to respond. Aeryn was hard to read, her demeanor a mix of playful and predatory. Before Lorelai could say anything, Aeryn sat down behind her and wrapped her arms around her. She leaned closer, her voice dropping even lower.
“Just remember, whatever you’re hiding, you don’t have to handle it alone,” she murmured. Then, with a sharp clawed finger she drew the smallest bit of blood from Lorelai's neck and licked it up, it sent shivers down Lorelai's spine. Then, with a teasing tone, she added, “Unless you want Thrax pinning you to the ground again. You seemed pretty comfortable.”
Lorelai’s face flushed, and she quickly stood up and glared at Aeryn, who laughed softly, standing and stretching. “Goodnight, Lorelai, just remember you have some options” she said with a wink, her tone laced with amusement as she returned to her spot by the fire.
Lorelai sighed, her cheeks still burning as she stared into the flickering flames. Lorelai was able to finally sit alone with her thoughts. She knew her feelings for Thrax were already conflicted, but it turns out a similar confliction took place with Aeryn as well. Maybe both would solve her dilemma and prevent her from having to choose a side. "Sigh," between Thrax’s playful aggression and Aeryn’s cryptic teasing, it was going to be a long night.