It was basically lunchtime, according to Cassie. Thirty-six-hour days were going to take some getting used to.
As we left the tower, she had me “experiment” with my mana. I started cautiously, shifting it to my hand, then my legs—finding that wherever I focused, the energy was already there, ready and waiting. It wasn’t strength exactly, but something finer, like moving water through the new pathways. I’d probably been doing this unconsciously, like breathing, and only now was I seeing it for what it was.
“Alright, imagine punching a wall, bare knuckles,” Cassie said, grinning as if the idea of me doing that was hilarious. “You’d probably shatter those dainty little fingers of yours. But with mana? Maybe you’d only bruise. With more practice—and, I don’t know, a bigger hand…” She eyed me with a teasing look. “You might actually break the wall.”
“My hands aren’t dainty!” I argued, but Cassie was already out-pacing me, chuckling to herself.
As we walked down the stairs, I learned that internal mana seemed regenerate extremely slowly.
“That was why mana pearls and cores are so valuable—they can be absorbed. Mana coins work in a pinch, but absorbing them is considered hugely wasteful,” Cassie explained.
When we were inside the tower, I was able to feel it in the air; however, once we walked outside, the change was almost jarring.
“There’s more mana in the Tower?,” I said as we entered the courtyard. All signs of the crabs had completely disappeared, replaced by a bustling atmosphere. Food stalls had been set up, and the air was filled with the aroma of grilled game meats and sizzling fat. People chatted and laughed, giving the courtyard a lively, almost festive vibe in stark contrast to the chaos that had been here before.
“A lot more people in the world than in the tower,” Cassie said as she approached a food cart. “At least, that’s what Chas says. Two, please,” she paid the stall owner, a red-skinned Floran man grilling something like turkey legs. “Here, eat this while we walk.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking a bite and grimacing. “Uh… Do people not add spices to food?” I asked carefully.
Cassie laughed. “Oh, the food sucks, does it?”
“No—no, I just…” I stammered, but she interrupted me.
“I’m screwing with you! I don’t know much about cooking, but a lot of things were destroyed in the Carapax attack. The one a month ago, not last night. I think only one trade ship has come to the island since.”
So La-Roc actually was the island in that mural I saw in the Citadel? How long ago was that? Was the city destroyed often? How big was the sea serpent, actually? Were we talking about some kind of kaiju situation? I was suddenly filled with a macabre sense of curiosity, wondering what it would feel like to witness such immense destruction firsthand.
“Speaking of which, no one eats the Carapax? If they’re like the crabs we have on Earth people would pay good money for them.” I asked and Cassie’s face screwed up.
“Ugh, they’re basically bugs. Why eat bugs when you have meat?” She explained.
“Aren’t they crustaceans?” I asked but Cassie’s glazed over eyes told me all I needed. “Never mind.”
As we moved through the courtyard, my eyes were again drawn to the towering statue of a man with a spear and shield, poised in defiant victory. Something about it felt larger-than-life, like he’d fought off the weight of the world.
“Who’s that?” I asked.
Cassie’s gaze changed to one of respect. “Gaius Valerian—the Gaian Grandfather of Monster Hunters. He’s the one who convinced the three factions to unite against Ark’s monster threat.”
“How’d he pull that off?”
“Oh he kicked their asses one by one until they teamed up to stop him. And by then, they’d already made him leader.” She grinned.
“Is it just a legend?” I asked and Cassie looked sympathetic.
“Its ancient history. Who knows what really happened, but it makes a fun story. You don’t see Runebinders like that. Maybe Chas, but he’s not even close to that level—I think.” She explained.
“Whoa, is that the Breaker?” someone called out, and suddenly, a dozen heads turned our way, eyes wide. I could almost feel the weight of their collective stare.
Cassie didn’t hesitate—she grabbed my arm. “Run.”
We sprinted through the courtyard, dodging between stalls and narrowly avoiding a vendor balancing a tray of pastries. Behind us, I could hear a chorus of disappointed sighs.
“I swear, everyone wants a hug,” Cassie muttered as we rounded a corner. “Do I look like I like hugs?”
I pretended to consider. “I mean… bears like to hug?”
She punched my shoulder, shooting me a glare. “Try me. I’ll show you how a bear hugs.”
“Fucking ow! Please Cassie, just let it heal” I yelled and we both laughed, continuing down the street like two drunken idiots.
“So… you think Chas is at Gaius’s level?” I asked, still catching my breath.
Cassie glanced at me with a look of ambition. “Maybe, one day. I mean, he’s strong. But the stories about Gaius are wild.” She paused, chewing her lip. “If I could reach that level…”
“You think you will?”
“Hell yeah, I do. Felix might be the local prodigy, but I’m gonna be a Grand Master, like Nana,” She shot me a grin. “I’m not about to settle for second place.”
I remembered wanting to be a superhero when I was a kid, and now, standing here with this energy flowing through me—I realized it might not be a dream anymore.
“So can anybody just… learn to tear space and time apart? How do you police that?” I asked. We were going down a new street which seemed to be made entirely of shops. Several had been ransacked, and people were helping board up the windows until they could be repaired. Many of the people bustling around waved and smiled at Cassie, some even stopping to give her an awkward hug while I laughed.
“I mean, probably not like Chas,” She said, finally free from attention. “It takes a crazy amount of training to get to his level. He’s been fighting monsters since before I was born—just trying to get to his level can kill you. It’s not like monsters just sit there and let you kill them,” she said.
“What? That’s not what I mean, what about war? What about when two people like Chas or Gaius Valerian don’t like each other?” I asked.
“Oh!” Cassie seemed to be in a good mood today. “They kick each other’s ass in tournaments and duels… most of the time. But real fights do happen.” She paused for a moment, her expression shifting slightly. “There’s war in the Central Isles too, but not way out here. Too many monsters.”
“How far away are these Central Isles?” I asked.
Cassie shrugged. “Not sure, but it's a long way. Felix would probably know better.”
I sighed. “I really need a map. Or some books or something.”
Cassie's face lit up. “Oh, I know where there’s both! It's a bit of a run, though. You up for it?”
I gave her the sternest glare I could muster.
“I’ll go slow,” she said with a genuine smile.
----------------------------------------
Cassie was fast—not just physically, but in how she moved through the world. She free-ran through the streets, vaulting over carts, weaving around people, and scaling walls to take shortcuts. People paused to watch her, captivated by her effortless movement. Vendors leaned out of their stalls, children pointed in awe, and a few passersby even cheered as she sped by, her movements like a flowing dance.
I struggled to keep up, grabbing onto Bravery for support. It felt different now—I could see it clearly in my mind's eye, like an incomplete sketch of Radiant Courage, pieced together but not quite polished. Could I improve it? It seemed a bit rough, like an unfinished sculpture that still needed a lot of work.
As I held onto it, my senses spread outward—this time with a controlled edge, stopping at about ten meters, which was much less anxiety-inducing. It was strange being able to feel everything with a sense I didn't even know I had, but it was far more manageable compared to the overwhelming sensation back in the jungle lobby.
Cassie darted into a dead-end alleyway, practically running up a wall and grabbing a ladder hanging impossibly high from one of the buildings.
“Meet you at the top!” she whooped as she started climbing.
I sighed, noticing several stacked boxes against the back wall. They looked sturdy enough to let me jump to the opposite roof of where Cassie was heading.
Holding onto the rune didn't seem to use any mana, but as I approached the back wall, I felt it surge into my legs. I kicked off the back wall with a spin, landing high on the pile of boxes. The kick hurt like hell, and I felt it resonate in my knee. It was definitely the rune doing the work, as I could feel mana being consumed when I made the jump. I scrambled up the boxes and onto the wall at the end of the alleyway, finding another alley on the other side. The layout of the alley was strange—an oddly placed wall, almost as if it were meant to block or confuse anyone passing through.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Running along it, I nearly slipped on some loose bricks, but a quick burst of energy stabilized me. It was as if my feet had momentarily stuck to the wall, pulling me back into balance like an invisible rope.
That was new.
I climbed to the roof just as Cassie neared the top of the taller building across from me. I needed a way across, but the gap was nearly ten meters.
We need to jump. I thought to myself.
Wait, what? That was definitely a thought in my head, but it was an absolutely terrible idea. There was no way I could make it. And who was 'we'?
The Bravery rune burned brightly in my mind as I started running, my heart beating loudly in my ears. All the mana in my body surged into my legs, and a large amount of it disappeared as I jumped, flailing in the air. There was no way I should have been able to jump that far, let alone that high—but it felt like I'd been launched from a catapult.
“Fuuuck!” Was all I could yell.
I aimed for the ladder but overshot it, crashing onto the flat stone roof, the sheer force sliding me across it as if it were made of ice. My ribs screamed in pain, my legs burned like I had pulled every muscle. Bravery faded from my mind as the pain from the road rash took over.
"Ow," I groaned, rolling over and clutching my ribs as Cassie finished her ascent.
"Ben! That was awes—oh shit, are you alright?" Cassie rushed over to me, her excitement quickly replaced by concern. "I figured you'd find a way up, but damn, maybe don't use your Bravery spell so much. It seems a bit… unstable."
"A bit?" I said, sitting up slowly. "How the hell did I do that? I’m pretty sure I just broke a record on Earth…"
"I told you," she said. "Mana can make you more resilient. Punching a brick wall?"
Maybe mana did make me stronger. The Bravery rune seemed to be pushing me beyond my physical limits, burning through a lot of mana to do it.
"Here, swallow this," she said, taking a small pill from her vest. Her expression softened. "But don't use mana while it's taking effect. Once you're ready, we can climb down."
I took the pill from her and laid back on the warm stone. She flopped down across from me.
"These are expensive, right?" I asked, craning my head to look at her.
Cassie shrugged with a smirk. "You can pay me back."
“I’m going to owe you a fortune…”
I swallowed the pill, feeling a strange warmth spreading through my body. It was as if something in my mana pathways had begun to work on healing me. A slow, rhythmic pulse moved through me, giving me goosebumps. I watched as my pathways shifted to a shade of teal. Holding up my hand, I saw the road rash along my skin slowly close with a mild stinging sensation. It felt oddly familiar, though I couldn't quite place why.
After a minute, Cassie shrugged and shot me a smirk. “Karma is heavy,” She said in rough Mandarin.
“So you do speak …uh… Eloquesta?” I figured she might have. She said she grew up here, right?
“Eloquentia—and no, not really. But I know that one… The Sentarians say it all the damned time.” She let out a sigh and flicked her big braid over her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I got carried away… I was running like you had arrived off a boat, not through a portal... I’m too competitive.”
I sat up to look at Cassie. Most of my external wounds had mostly healed into minor scrapes, and I felt the warmth move to my legs.
“That’s a pretty roundabout way to admit I beat you to the roof,” I said with a smug grin.
Cassie snorted and laughed. “Asshole. I’m trying to be sincere. I didn’t think you’d have to push yourself that hard to keep up.”
“But?” I asked.
“But you did beat me to the roof.” Cassie said through her teeth with a fake smile. “Even though you cheated.”
I felt the warmth in my legs fade and noticed that my pathways shifted back to a rich blue. I guess that was it?
I flexed my legs, and they ached like it was the day after leg-day, but they felt quite a bit better. My ribs were another story, their throbbing serving as a constant reminder of the pain.
I stood up shakily and tested out a few steps. It was uncomfortable but definitely better than it had been a few minutes ago. Healing pills were awesome—the effected lasted ten minutes? And the warmth that spread through my body was unlike anything I'd felt before. Compared to medicine at home it was a miracle more than magic.
I looked around from this high point in the city and nearly fell over again. The city was massive, stretching out as far as I could see, centered around the tower. In the distance, I saw a single mountain on the skyline, its snow-capped peak glistening under the sun, almost daring me to find out how far away it was, how tall it truly stood. Even the clouds were different. At first, I thought they were sitting really low, but it was pretty obvious that they were simply enormous.
“You good?” Cassie said, joining me on her feet.
“About as good as I can be, I suppose.” I replied.
Cassie doubled back to the ladder she had climbed and threw a latch, it landed with a loud thud as it slid down a rail.
“Try not to fall off the ladder,” she snickered and swung over the edge onto the ladder, sliding down.
Meandering over to the edge of the roof and looking down, I could see Cassie was already on the ground, staring up at me. I swung over the ledge and grabbed the ladder, much to my legs’ protest.
Getting to the bottom took longer than I’d like to admit, my body aching and demanding rest.
“You should absorb that last mana pearl. It’ll help,” Cassie suggested, and I felt around my vest for it.
After a quick thought, the pearl turned to dust in my hand, and I indeed felt a bit better. Not a lot—the pain was still there—but things felt less tired as the energy moved around to help me walk.
“Running along the roof is the fastest way I like to get around, but let’s stick to the road for now. Try to look annoyed or busy. People should leave us alone if they think we’re busy.” She explained, furrowing her brow in mock annoyance. I couldn’t help but laugh—she looked ridiculous.
We continued up the road, walking with a clear intent that we were busy. Most people did actually leave us alone, but the ones that did approach only seemed to want to greet Cassie. I think the blood on my vest and the cuts and scrapes on my face helped immensely in discouraging people from wanting to talk to us.
After a few blocks, we came to a fantastic-looking building. It was large, round, and had a domed ceiling made of some kind of copper metal. There was no sign or marking over the building, so I had no idea what could have been inside. Thankfully, Cassie pointed, and we continued toward it.
A set of large double doors opened to reveal something that looked like a cross between a library and a department store. Rows of neatly organized books stretched along one side, their spines glowing faintly under the warm light, while the other side held shelves filled with vials, herbs, and peculiar trinkets. Wooden apothecary drawers lined the walls, and counters displayed familiar items, giving the place an eclectic yet welcoming atmosphere. A few people in robes and vests seemed to be perusing books and other items on shelves covered in apothecary drawers.
“Oh, Cassandra! Who’s your friend?” a voice came from behind me, cutting through the low hum of conversation and the rustle of parchment. The air smelled faintly of old books and herbs, adding to the eclectic atmosphere of the shop. I turned to see an Albinus Vildar with white fur, soft features, and gentle eyes. He wore a long brown coat that looked like a duster, filled with various writing implements and even a magnifying glass.
Cassie smiled and introduced me. “Ben, this is Cyrus. Cyrus, this is Acolyte Ben Crawford. The Breaker.”
“Oh, wonderful, wonderful!” Cyrus said, slowly making his way over to the counter, his movements deliberate like someone who had lived through many years. He gave me a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with a grandfatherly kindness. “The Breaker, you say? Absolutely marvelous. Welcome to my little establishment of Sundries and Consumables—whether it's a simple potion or knowledge you seek, old Cyrus is here to help.”
“We were wondering if there’s a reading room open upstairs,” Cassie asked.
“Ah, of course, Cassandra,” Cyrus said, nodding knowingly. “Your mother’s room is always available, you know. And with the young Acolyte’s status, he would be welcome there too.”
Cassie winced at the mention of her mother. “Nope, not happening. Just a regular room, please. We need some maps -- I’ll pay.” She motioned to Cyrus with a red coin, and he sighed, his ears drooping slightly.
“I’m sorry, Cassandra,” Cyrus said gently, “all the paid rooms are booked out. But allow me to offer you a small gesture of goodwill—I’ll pencil you into a room in four days’ time. And, please, take this.”
Cyrus shuffled along the counter and handed me a tiny vial filled with a viscous amber liquid. “Here, just a taste of Winters Ginseng, Breaker—La-Roc’s own remedy for those wounds on your face. Drink up.”
I glanced at Cassie, who gave me a resigned look. “You’ll find out about it sooner or later,” she said, sighing. “Brace yourself.”
I tipped the vial back, and a horrible bitterness flooded my mouth. The flavor was intense—sharp as quinine, with strange, earthy undertones that reminded me of cinnamon.
Instantly, a pulse shot through my mana pathways, and I felt my reserve take a nosedive. My muscles stiffened involuntarily as a powerful warmth spread through me, rooting me to the spot. I sucked in a breath, steadying myself.
“What the hell…” I managed, feeling my ribs knitting back together under my fingertips.
“Healing potions. They use mana but work way faster than pills,” Cassie said simply.
I stared at the empty vial, then poked at my ribs—they were no longer bruised. “Wow,” was all I could manage.
“My family owns a ginseng farm outside of the city,” Cassie said, almost embarrassed. “Our healing products are pretty popular.”
“Popular? Cassandra, your family…” Cyrus started, his voice filled with pride, but Cassie interrupted him.
“My family are farmers,” she said proudly. “We have been for generations. We just happen to be very good at growing… valuable crops.”
“Oh please, the Winters family are the richest bunch of twats this side of the Azure Span. Too bad we took the last room,” Someone said from deeper in the store, all three of us looked over to see a Gaian man in black robes. Wasn’t that one of Dorian’s cronies? I didn’t know his name but I remembered him from earlier today. He had such a pompous accent, and a punchable face with a short black pageboy haircut.
“Fuck you, Malcolm!” Cassie shot.
Malcolm—problem solved. Cassie had started to move but I put a hand on her arm. Grabbing for Bravery I felt my awareness spread out as the rune flickered in my mind, but grabbed the edge and focused purely on Malcolm. He seemed to notice something and stared right at me, his eyes widening just a tiny bit. Could he actually feel it?
Nothing else in room mattered. Just Malcolm. I noticed his breath speeding up, his heartbeat starting to follow. A single drop of sweat going down his forehead, his eyes darting to the door then back to me. Was he scared? He straightened up as I approached but I could tell that I was bothering him, something about the rune in my mind confirmed it as I got closer. It was like I could see right through his fake attempt at bravado. His understanding of the concept was flawed—like true Bravery found him wanting. Could this guy kick my ass? Maybe. But this close to him with all my focus drawn to every small movement he made, I knew—he wouldn’t even try.
I had only used the rune this way once when I fought the Carapax and that was more of a survival situation. Now, I could see clearly why I had not seen the other ones coming up the street. The downside to this was that I could barely register that I was even in a room. It was intense.
I reached into my vest and pulled a red coin out from my pouch, handing it to him in the palm of my hand.
“Hey, Malcolm—your reading room is on us. Sorry if we took your room in the tower.” I said, releasing the rune. My surroundings slammed back into view. “It was a valuable time for me so its only fair I help you out in return.”
It was as if I had released the scruff of Malcolm’s shirt and he seemed to relax, his face completely shifting to something almost resembling a smile.
“I see,” He said with a nod, taking the coin. “Congratulations on your breakthrough. That was… an impressive effect.”
“Thanks,” I said clapping him on the shoulder. “Now that we’re square, can you do me a favor and apologize to Cassie? I’d owe you one.”
I wasn’t a big guy, but neither was Malcolm and only one of us was had dried blood on our face. He looked around as the center of attention and sighed, shooting a look behind me at Cassie. To his credit, he only hesitated for a minute but then walked past me and up to Cassie.
With a quick “My apologies,” he exited through the double doors. I smiled, pretty sure I was going to have to pick Cassie’s jaw up off the counter.
“Nah, he’s not that bad. I could tell his heart wasn’t in it.” I said to her. “Now he might think twice about being a prick.”
Cassie snickered.