Darian led Fria north, Zan trailing along behind them. His new perception allowed him to see further and hear even better. It was like he’d been gifted a sharper pair of ears and eyes, ones that could pick out a nesting bird in the canopy or hear the tussle of leaves far behind. And he could feel the power in his limbs, his body bursting with new power. His footfalls were also softer, more precise. He still wasn’t nearly as silent as Fria, but the gap between them had closed significantly. Part of him still felt disgusted at what he’d done, but a larger part didn’t care. He was stronger now and not just physically.
Darian brought up his host of new unique skills as he walked.
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Vampiric Charm
* Range: 10 feet.
* Resisted by: Fortitude
This skill allows the user to subtly manipulate the opinions of others. Those under its effects will have an increased disposition to the caster and be more likely to listen to them. Eye contact must be made in order to activate this skill. The skill can be active up to (30) minutes and cannot be used on the same target more than once per day.
Evolved Skill: Skill will evolve into [Vampiric Seduction] once the user has reached race level (4).
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Life Leech
* Range: Touch.
This skill drains the target of 6% of their maximum HP and gives it to the caster. HP drain becomes 8% if the target is under the effect of [Bleed], and 10% if the target is both bleeding and stunned. Skill cannot be used against nonliving creatures such as the undead or constructs. This skill can be used six times per day and has a cooldown of (10) seconds.
Evolved Skill: Skill will evolve into [Life Drain] once user has reached race level (3).
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Swarm
* Range: 20 feet.
This skill materializes small bats from the shadows that attack the target, inflicting [Bleed]. There must be shadows near the target for the skill to activate. This skill can be used five times per day plus the users current Race Level (Current total: 7). This skill has no cooldown.
Evolved Skill: Skill will evolve into [Biting Swarm] once user had reached race level (3)
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Blood Shield
* Range: 15 feet
This skill uses the enemies’ blood to create a telekinetic shield. The size and strength of the shield will depend on the level and powers of the target enemy (note that only blood already outside the enemy’s body may be used). The more blood used for the shield, the more powerful it becomes. The shield will hover by the user but must not move more than (10) feet from the user. This skill lasts for (10) minutes and can be used five times per day plus the users current Race Level (Current total: 7). This skill has no cooldown.
Evolved Skill: Skill will evolve into [Blood Aegis] once user had reached race level (4)
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Minor Transformation
* Range: Self
The user may temporarily take on the aspect of a wolf or bat, transforming a small part of their body to gain new skills and abilities. These can include but are not limited to: larger fangs, claws, echolocation, enhanced smell, and the ability to howl. Any body part that is transformed can only maintain its new form for (3) minutes before reverting. This skill can be used an infinite number of times per day.
Evolved Skill: Skill will evolve into [Major Transformation] Once the user has reached race level (4).
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Dominate Animal
* Range: 30 feet
* Uses: Unlimited
The user can dominate the mind of any animal that is half their total level or lower (Current total:4). This domination lasts for (1) hour but there is no limit to the number of animals that can be dominated at one time. The user must wait 24 hours before dominating the same animal.
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It was going to be a lot to remember, but he figured he could get the hang of his new skills eventually. But there was one major problem with his new abilities. They’re not very good for fighting the undead. [Blood Shield] and [Swarm] excited him, but he’d mostly been fighting skeletons up to this point. And if these were the powers he received from leveling his race, then it wasn’t far fetched to assume new skills would also involve blood. But that transformation ability could still come in handy.
“I think I see it,” Fria cut in, tearing Darian from his thoughts.
The ruined temple loomed ahead, the rats Darian killed out front long picked clean by scavengers. He didn’t particularly like the location, but it was the only place he knew besides the cabin he could rest when the sun came up.
They made their way inside, Zan curling up by Darian as he plopped into one of the dusty pews. The rest of the place was as he remembered it, but his enhanced Perception certainly didn’t make it smell any better.
“An old temple to Ofnia,” Fria said, sitting in one of the pews opposite Darian. “Surprised to find a temple to her out here, even an abandoned one.”
“Not as popular as Argus, I take it?”
Fria snorted. “Being a goddess of healing isn’t as popular in a nation always at war. People often forget that it’s only by the grace of healers they’re able to fight as hard as they do.” There was a softness in her voice as she spoke. “My mother,” she went on. “She used to be a cleric of Ofnia, before she and father met.”
“So, she was a healer?” Darian asked, receiving a swift nod in response.
“He was a member of the Emerald Branch at the time.” She smiled as she noticed Darian’s confusion. “The Branch is like a state sponsored group of rangers and huntsmen. But Mother and Father became adventures once the war started getting uglier.” Her face hardened. “That was when Mother lost her leg.”
“Oh,” Darian mumbled. “I’m sorry.”
“It was the Justicars fault. She was in a goblin village out east when they showed up with orders to exterminate. They told father they didn’t mean to hit her with their spells, but he knew it was a lie.”
Darian slowly nodded. So she’s not just helping me out of kindness or a need to pay me back for saving her. She’s got her own reasons to hate the Justicars. “I can see why you were so standoffish with Jorg.”
“They also promised to protect my father,” she said. “He didn’t want to hire Justicars to help, but the village elders made the choice, not him. And now he’s dead, and I’m left out here alone.”
“But you still have your mother,” Darian said, leaning a little closer. “And what, do I not count?” He smiled, doing his best to have a hopeful outlook despite the pressure building in his chest.
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Fria smirked. “Left alone in the sense that neither of us knows exactly where we are. Only Father knew these woods. It will be a hard time finding a path back to the village.”
“So you’re still leaving?”
“Of course I am, and you should come with me. Or what, you got some other reason to stick around here?”
“Well…actually.” She looked at him, her green eyes locking with his. I’m tired of lying, of keeping secrets. And so he told her everything. His death and rebirth, his talk with Gershank. She just sat and listened to him, occasionally fiddling with the string of her bow. Once Darian finished, he leaned back, utterly spent.
“Most of what you said sounds like nonsense,” she said, giving Zan a pat on the head. “But I believe you.”
“You do?” Darian expected her to be more skeptical, but her face was dead serious.
“My brother, the absolute fool that he is, served under Ofnia as a Justicar before she disappeared a few years ago. He said she’d talk about this…other place sometimes, of some kind of world she lived in before coming here. Sounded a lot like what you described.”
Darian’s mouth hung open. Up to this point he hadn’t fully considered that other people like him could be out there. “And where is your brother now? Is he in the village? Can I speak to him?”
She bit at the bottom of her lip, her face growing dark. “He’s been gone a long time. About two or so years now, I think. Left on some pointless Justicar quest he wouldn’t give me the details about.”
“What’s his name?” Darian asked, hopeful to someday find him.
“Radrick,” she said with a mixture of bitterness and love. “Radrick Von Rostcliff.” Something about the name tugged at Darian’s mind, but he couldn’t figure out why.
“Von Rostcliff? Sounds fancy.”
Fria cringed. “Well, he, well me too…we’re sort of nobility.”
“Nobility?” Darian cocked an eyebrow at that. “And I’ve been addressing you so casually.” He laughed. “Is there a certain title I should use?”
“Please by the Gods don’t start calling me m’lady.” She groaned. “Father did all he could to separate us from his family, but then my stupid brother had to go off to the capital. ‘I can change them from the inside.’ He’d told me when he joined the Justicars. Now he’s probably off somewhere swinging his sword and talking about justice or some other nonsense.”
Despite her demeanor, Darian could tell she deeply cared for her brother. But hearing her talk about her family sent a pang of loneliness through his chest. I still miss you, Mom and Dad. And he knew that the longing for them wouldn’t ever entirely go away. But sitting in the dusty temple with Fria made the loneliness a little more bearable.
“I promise not to,” Darian said, trying his best not to end the sentence with m’lady.
“Good. Otherwise I’d regret sticking my neck out for you.” She leaned onto her knees, her face growing tense. “And I’ve decided I want to help you destroy the nether gates.”
Darian blinked at her. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be glad to have help, but what made you change your mind? You already knew the necromancer was building an army out here.”
“Gershank.” She said the name with such venom Darian involuntarily scooted backwards. “He killed my father, and I want help killing him.”
“That’s a tall order.” Darian knew that even with his new strength, Gershank could kill him easily. ‘That monster is powerful.”
“But if what you told me is true, then you can become stronger than him, right?” She thumbed the string of her bow. “It takes years for most people to learn new skills, but you’ve gotten stronger in only a week. If you keep going, Gershank won’t be a problem for you after too much longer.”
She had a point, but Darian wasn’t sure how big the gap between him and Gershank was. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, think on it.” She yawned. “I’m going to find a nice spot to curl up for the night. Mind keeping watch?”
“It won’t be a problem, M’—” He stopped, the word caught on his tongue. “I don’t mind.”
She smiled and gave him a little shove on the shoulder. “Look at this big scary monster. I wonder if Jorg is done pissing himself.” She stood and walked to the corner, Zan beside her. “Give my request some thought, Darian. Avenging my father and killing that monster would be doing the world a favor.” She leaned against the wall, setting her bow and quiver down. “But I’ll help you out either way. It’s what my father would have wanted.” And then she closed her eyes.
Darian sat watching her for a moment, his chest warming. My first official friend in this world. But then he thought of Carver and his happiness turned to anger. Why did he believe that Jorg dude so easily? That guy would have killed me if I didn’t do something. But he shook the thoughts away, eager to dwell in happiness rather than bitterness.
Then he jumped as a new notification appeared before his eyes.
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Would you like to add (Fria Von Rostcliff) to your party?
Current slots remaining: 5/5
Current Cap increase: 15
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Huh? This is a first. He inspected the screen. What’s a cap increase? He looked at Fria who’d already fallen asleep, Zan curled around her feet. He wasn’t sure what accepting her into his “party” would do, but it couldn’t be a bad thing, right? God, I wish there was something I could access that tells me what the hell this stuff does. Hesitantly, he mentally answered yes.
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Warning: Party members cannot be manually removed. Lost party members must be dispelled using [Divine Essence] Do you still wish to continue?
(Yes)(No)
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Ah man what does that even mean? But he trusted Fria for the most part, and maybe that was why this appeared now. And so far, the system hadn’t done anything to screw him over, meaning this had a high likelihood of being beneficial. I’m sorry if this does something weird, Fria.
He selected (Yes).
But nothing happened. He stood there, waiting for some new notification or anything really. He got up and walked around, checked on Fria. Yep she’s still sleeping. But then something like a mechanical beep went off in his ear and a new screen appeared.
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Current Party
* Fria Von Rostcliff Lv. 7
* (none)
* (none)
* (none)
* (none)
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He clicked on her name and a character sheet appeared.
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Name: Fria Von Rostcliff
Race: Human
Age: 17
Total Level: 7
Race Level: 1
Class Level: 6
HP: 60
Attributes
* Strength: 7
* Dexterity: 18
* Constitution: 12
* Perception: 17
* Fortitude: 12
* Arcane: 15
[Unique Skills]
[Racial Skills]
[Class Skills]
[Traits]
[Triumphs]
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Wow. He could see everything. He touched [Class Skills] next, his curiosity guiding him.
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Class Skills
Mage Lv. 1
Archer Lv. 3
Arcane Archer Lv. 2
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A noise drew his attention before he could continue.
“What…” Fria was sitting up, a screen floating in front of her face. “In the hells is this?”