Class: [Fencer] Level 15 -> Level 16

...

Class: [Fencer] Level 23 -> Level 24 (MAX)

Class Skill: [Fleet Foot] has been added as a Mastery Skill under [Fencer Level 24 MAX].

Carrying over existing experience and level.

Class Skill: [Fleet Foot] Level 0 -> Level 13

This skill will continue to gain experience as it is used, even as a Mastery Skill.

Class: [Swashbuckler] Level 3 - > Level 9

Active Skills:

Swashbuckling

Daring Lunge

Kip-Up

Opportune Parry

Passive Skills:

Bravado (In Use)

Dazzling Defense (In Use)

Kip-Up:

As the name of the skill implies, this allows a creature to do a kip-up at the cost of extra stamina, when they otherwise would not be able to perform such a feat. This skill uses less Stamina the higher its level.

Opportune Parry:

(This Skill has been borrowed from [Fencer]) operates in all ways as the skill Parry does from the [Fencer] class.

Dazzling Defense:

This skill shifts an opponent's perspective of your weapon, allowing you to be grandiose in your movements, but somehow still manage to get your blade on target in time. Higher levels work as automatic feints in combat. This skill is overcome in the same way any Obfuscation skill is overcome.

Species: [Mortal]; [Orc] Level 35 -> Level 38

Subspecies: [Mana-Infused Orc-Adolescent:Runt] Level 28 -> Level 31

Trillia was happy with her progress. She sat on a rocky ledge over the lake. Having already scrubbed off.

"Ralrouk, would you be disappointed in me if I left the tribe?"

Amelia was her best friend, and she had known Amelia would support her when she asked. Her family was a different beast altogether.

Ralrouk stopped swimming upon hearing the question, splashing some water on his face and rubbing off more blood and grime.

"Depends. Why do you want to leave?" he answered. But refused to look in her direction, it seemed.

Trillia bit her lip, kicking her feet back and forth. "I hate the walls. I feel trapped. Ever since I got released, I've wanted nothing more than to explore, study and see the world. I don't want to grow up, grow old, and die without ever seeing the rest of the world. Something in the pit of my stomach is telling me I need to do that now. Not later."

Ralrouk closed his eyes, leaning back in the water. Silence grew between the two of them as he chewed on the question.

Trillia shuffled nervously on the ledge. Finally, Ralrouk stood up in the lake, moving towards the shore.

"Before the Cataclysm. I would have told you to pray for guidance. But the deities have been silent. I've heard that even the deities that still exist on this plane itself can no longer speak or bestow blessings. Dungeon mana is weakening. All because of [Scorned Divinity]. I don't have a good answer for what you want out of life, Trillia."

He began to rummage around in his pouch, pulling out a few hunks of smoked meat and extending a smaller piece to her.

"For my part. I won't be disappointed in you. Not unless you fail. I do think you're too young to strike out on your own. I don't mean to be cruel, but you being a [Runt] makes you an easy target for other races who want to enslave an orc."

Trillia deflated. She knew that he wasn't lying, but it still hurt to hear it, never the less. Ralrouk leaned on the ledge next to her, his head sticking up over it.

"I'll make you a deal runt. Tormash has it in his head to start his own tribe. He believes that the risk of not being unified in a single place is worth it. Now, I don't think Tormash would ever turn his back on the Shattered Will Tribe or his family. So here's my deal. You go with Tormash and Ba'Shoon. Explore the world with them nearby to save your ass when it needs saving. Mother might get angry at first, but she'll let it go if you're with him."

Ralrouk looked at her to make sure she was listening before he continued.

"By the time you're sixteen. Which is just about eight years from now. I want to see you. If you're level one hundred or higher, I'll defend your claim to leave the tribe and strike out on your own. To our parents and the tribe itself, if it comes to that. Traveling with the two of them as they try to establish their own tribe. Will also let you explore the Shattered Plains and help that wanderlust."

Trillia was staring at him now. Ralrouk squared up to look at her, extending his hand.

"I won't feed you to the wolves, Trillia. Prove to me you have what it takes to thrive. Prove to me you have the drive to push yourself to greater heights. Like Tormash and I have. Do that, and I'll defend your desire for independence, and have faith you won't fail on your own."

Trillia took a deep breath, climbing down from the ledge to stand in front of him. Taking his outstretched hand in her own.

"I, Trillia Demonsbane, hereby promise and pledge that I will be an orc of at least level one hundred by my sixteenth birthday."

Ralrouk shook her hand firmly.

"I, Ralrouk Demonsbane, hereby promise and pledge to defend your independence with my life should you reach that goal."

As he said the last word, a burst of mana formed between them, marking their arms.

You've accepted a Major Geas from Ralrouk Demonsbane.

Failure to complete this Geas will come at a severe cost.

Geas Terms: Achieve a Species, or Subspecies level of 100 by the age of 16.

Trillia blew out a long sigh when the notification popped up. She held on to Ralrouk's hand, squeezing it for support as tears rimmed her eyes. "I don't want to fail. I won't fail."

Ralrouk kneeled before her, wrapping her up in a large hug. "I have faith in you, runt. If you need advice. Ask. No one succeeds and achieves greatness by walking blindly into the fray. Even the deities themselves seek out support and counsel. Do you understand?"

Trillia nodded through a sniffle. She could feel [Unwavering Determination] burning through her body. "I understand. I won't fail."

She stayed in the hug for a few more moments before pulling away, rubbing her eyes the best she could. Ralrouk offered his left hand to her as they turned to walk back to camp. She grabbed onto one of his fingers as they walked.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"I'm going to give you some big brother advice. It's gonna suck, and you're not gonna wanna do it. Stop challenging the dungeon with Amelia."

Trillia stopped dead in her tracks. Looking up at him. Ralrouk continued.

"She won't follow you. Not on your solo adventures. She has her own dreams to work towards. I'd suggest learning how to survive on your own. Tormash and I stopped fighting together near your age. I'll loan you some healing potions; rely on being an orc. Rely on tenacity. Kill whatever it is in front of you before your tenacity runs out and you die yourself."

He held up his other hand before she could speak. "I don't care that you have less time because of a lower [Brawn]. Your body and the system will adapt to what you're doing, Trillia. You need to push yourself. You need to be uncomfortable. The reality of being an orc is simple. Suffering is our success. As children, we're thrown to the monsters so that our body adapts. As adults, it's the same. Our culture is not shared amongst others."

Trillia kept walking next to him, albeit slowly, as she listened to his words.

"Other races hate our kind. Even centuries later, adults will still teach their children that we are savages. If you are going to see the world, you need to understand that simple truth. The northern continent is a harbor for the monstrous races of the world. Other places will shun and hate you because of who you are and what you look like. If you don't believe me, listen to some of the orcs who have traveled the world. There are places and cities out there that will arrest you for having the wrong type of mana manipulation."

Ralrouk ruffled her hair as they continued the walk in silence.

Once they were back in camp. Trillia hugged his legs and moved off to find Amelia. She found Ba'Shoon and Amelia sitting together, going over runes and enchanting. Ba'Shoon perked up.

"Perfect timing! I have a gift for you. I told you I was working on something for your left arm..." Ba'Shoon saw the tears rimming her eyes; worry crossed her face. Trillia took a deep, shaky breath.

"Amelia. Can we talk?" Trillia spoke softly. Ba'Shoon gave the girls each a look before she excused herself, giving them their privacy.

"What's wrong, Trillia?" Amelia scooched over on the bench so that Trillia could sit next to her.

"I think. I think I need to start fighting the dungeon alone from now on."

Amelia sat there in silence for a few seconds. Staring at her best friend.

"Do you think I'm slowing down your progress?" Trillia's heart sank as her best friend whispered the question. Trillia hugged her tightly.

"No. Not at all. But I rely on you. In every single fight, you have to heal me. In every combat, I use you as cover. If I'm ever going to be strong enough to venture out on my own. I can't rely on you in every fight. Because you won't be there."

Amelia hugged her back. Trillia could tell that she was fighting back her own tears. Amelia pulled away. "Tell you what. We'll go through the dungeon together." she raised a hand before Trillia could get the words out. That was happening a lot lately.

"I won't fight. I won't buff you or heal during the fights. I'll tag along just in case you need healing after the fact. We should also talk to Gobbinz about that wolf training. I won't be with you, but that doesn't mean you have to be entirely alone either."

Trillia managed a weak little smile at that. Amelia was always strong, always stalwart, and ready to make a plan and take on the world. "I'm sorry. I'm being selfish. I know."

Amelia shook her head. Putting a hand on Trillia's shoulder. "No, you aren't. I have no intentions of leaving the Shattered Plains until my homeland is back under Minotaur control. It'd be selfish of me to demand you stand at my side for that journey. Father has let me run about and not learn how to lead since we lost the city. I think he wanted to let me grieve and move on in my own time. But if I'm going to help him lead our people back to our city, I'll need to know how to command."

Amelia sniffled a little, running an arm across her eyes. "Ba'Shoon said that they will be staying here for another month. By the end of the month, I want to make sure that you can beat Stibs and Paws on your own. It doesn't have to be goodbye after that. But when we return. I won't have a lot of free time anymore."

Trillia nodded, smiling a little wider now. "I won't forget my promise to you. We'll find a way to communicate. When you are ready to march on God's Watch, I will be at your side, and I will be strong enough to make a difference."

Amelia shrugged. "I have no doubt about that. I'm more worried I won't be a good General by that time. I guess we'll both have to work hard. In any case! Ba'Shoon has been working hard on this, and I think you're going to like it."

The girls nodded. Amelia went off to get Ba'Shoon, and the two returned in a few minutes. Ba'Shoon offered Trillia a little smile of her own. "Everything ok? Anything I can help with?"

Trillia shook her head. "I'll manage. I'm excited about my present, though!" Forcing a wide smile now as she stood up on the bench. Ba'Shoon rummaged around in a large pouch before pulling out a wooden box.

The box itself was rather plain, with no markings, nothing to really set it apart. Ba'Shoon lifted the top off.

Inside were two cylinders. Both of them were covered in runes. They were a dark red stone; the runes etched into them had been painted with some sort of iridescent blue substance. The leather straps had been dyed black, and numerous runes had been etched into those as well. Small metallic clasps were hooked on at various points for the leather straps to slide and hook into.

Ba'Shoon sat next to her. "Hold out your left arm." Trillia did so, still staring at the cylinders.

Ba'Shoon put a set of heavy gloves on before pulling out the first cylinder, then the second. Setting them both in front of Trillia. "Touch them."

Trillia looked at her before gingerly extending her right hand to touch the cylinders. As soon as she did, a notification flashed before her face.

Would you like to bind this artifact to you?

Artifact Details:

[Unnamed]

This artifact operates in all forms and functions as a repeating orcish crossbow. Crossbow bolts are formed by the user's mana.

This artifact cannot be lost or stolen from the creature it has been bound to. Regardless of distance or dimension, the creature this artifact is bound to can always summon it to their side with an hour of preparation and a single point of mana.

This artifact will change its shape and dimensions to fit the creature it is bound to.

This artifact is indestructible.

This artifact can sense the intent of the creature it is bound to.

Trillia blinked a few times. Staring between the artifact and Ba'Shoon. "Why me?"

Ba'Shoon tilted her head oddly. "That's a stupid question. You're basically my little sister. Why on all of Alirast wouldn't I help you? I know it's not a hand, but I'm incapable of creating something that has so many moving parts. This is basically just a standard enchanted crossbow. It just works and operates like a standard crossbow, with a few subtle changes."

Trillia hadn't removed her hand yet. She felt guilty now. Amelia nudged her. "It's rude to get such an amazing gift and not say thank you. Look at it this way, Trillia. With this, you'll have a much easier time reaching your goals."

Trillia's heart sank even further. Ba'Shoon put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't feel guilty for receiving help. Tormash has done more for me than I can ever repay. We had that talk before you were kidnapped. I'll be damned if a member of my family gets taken from me again. I know now, with this, you'll always have a weapon available. I trust that you'll fight until your dying breath with it as well."

Trillia blinked away a few tears before nodding in determination. "What should we name it?"

Amelia spoke up without a wink of hesitation. "The Shattered Bolt."

Trillia looked at her, a little smirk on her face. Nodding.

You've bound the artifact [The Shattered Bolt] to you.

Ba'Shoon blinked a few times. "Holy shit. I just...I gained seven levels from that. What?"

It was Trillia's turn to blink now as she turned to look at her. Ba'Shoon went through some more notifications before shaking her head. "Apparently, once someone binds the artifact, I get credit for its creation. That's interesting. Anyway! Let's get this thing attached and show you what all of the runes do! I can't wait to see you try it out. I wasn't able to touch it without gloves because I didn't want it to accidentally bind to me or something silly."

Trillia nodded once more. Before Ba'Shoon could reach for either cylinder to help her attach it. A few hundred mana drained in an instant, and in the next, the cylinders were attached to her arm in the proper place. A half dozen of the runes glowing brightly. The leather straps tightened themselves just right, and the metal clasps snapped shut. The entire thing hummed a little. With a thought from Trillia, the tip of a glowing crossbow bolt formed where her hand was.

With another thought, it flew from the artifact and embedded itself six inches into the ground. The bolt stayed there until Trillia thought about it disappearing, which it did so immediately.

All of them stopped and stared at the artifact. None of them had any real experience dealing with such things. Trillia was surprised that Ba'Shoon was so surprised.

"You know. This is the first artifact I've ever made. I didn't think it would be so..."

"Smart?" Trillia offered, to which Ba'Shoon nodded. Trillia moved her arm, trying to get used to the feeling of it being on her arm. She was a bit scared of accidentally shooting someone if she got angry. But it seemed that the artifact knew enough about her intent, to not make that mistake. She'd have to keep her temper in check.

Trillia turned and hugged Ba'Shoon. "Thank you for the gift. It's more than I could have ever asked for."

Ba'Shoon grinned. "Wanna go test it out on the dungeon? I wanna see how that puppy handles in a fight!"

Trillia nodded, looking to Amelia briefly, who gave her a cheery thumbs-up. "Let's go kick that dungeon's butt. We've lost to Stibs and Paws enough. I want to see the second floor already! You also need to start leveling [Fencer] again!"

Trillia took up the charge as the three moved towards the dungeon.