Aiden finished his recount of his close call with the Emberwisp with a brisk, “and that’s how I broke the baton.”
Looking from Elara to Morgan and then to Jabari, Aiden just waited for their reaction to his story. He had laid bare the entire ordeal – the clash with the Emberwisp, the scorch across his T–shirt, and the loss of the only weapon he had, the Burnished Baton. Throughout the entire story, not one of them had said a word or asked a question. And now they were sitting in thoughtful silence.
He wasn’t sure what to make of any of this or even this place. The deserted street was quiet, and the abandoned homes on either side were empty and still. It seemed surreal that just a few minutes ago there had been a full-on battle here. Now, even the bodies of the creatures they were fighting had vanished. He wasn’t sure where they had gone, but it made him wonder if any of this had actually really happened.
Morgan was the first to break the silence, her eyebrow arched in an expression that mixed amusement with concern. "You went toe-to-toe with an Emberwisp, with an unenchanted baton? That was… um… brave." Her tone was concerned, but there was a genuine warmth behind her words.
Elara, who had been just listening with wide eyes added softly, yet with gravity, "That was lucky."
Jabari flashed a grin. "Well, I'm at least impressed. But... It sounds to me like you need a replacement weapon."
"Another weapon?" Aiden furrowed his brow, “Like another Tree Branch?”
"Well, maybe," Jabari began, his smile broadening, "or maybe, something that won’t catch fire so easily."
His remark set off a ripple of nervous laughter among the group, lightening the mood momentarily.
Elara, brushing a dark lock of hair from her face, turned practical, “Okay, but how are we going to get him a weapon?”
Morgan shook her head. “I don't know about you guys, but my parents didn’t unlock any offensive skills, so I don’t have any actual weapons in any of my bags. My Tailoring hammer was the closest thing I have to a weapon.”
Elara frowned thoughtfully, “Well, Aiden? Are you only able to use a club, or do any other offensive skills unlocked?”
“What?” Aiden answered. He was trying to follow what she was asking him, but he wasn’t sure what exactly “unlocked” meant and didn’t want to ask. They were nice enough to let him join their quest but he knew how other teens could be when they realized the ‘new guy’ wasn’t quite like them. He didn’t want to take any chances so the less he said the better.
“That’s a great question, Elara,” Morgan said, “Do you have any other skills that you could use?”
“Any other skills unlocked?" Aiden said stalling, "Um, my parents didn’t… I mean…” a lump formed in his throat. He always found this part hard—explaining that he was a foster child and that he had no knowledge of his actual parents. If his parents had needed to do something to “unlock” skills, he had no idea what she was talking about.
Fortunately, Jabari jumped in. “It’s okay to tell us. Whatever you have unlocked is fine, we won’t tell anyone,” he said with a smile.
Morgan explained, "Around here, everyone knows that kids are supposed to have their skills remain locked until they reach the Academy so they don’t hurt themselves or anyone else. But the Academy doesn’t accept anyone until the year after their sixteenth birthday and by then lots of parents or sometimes even grandparents around here unlock skills for their kids as they get older, especially to help with the farm or the family business. It’s sort of one of the worst kept secrets in Draydon."
“And Galvani,” Elaria chimed in.
“And Wyndora,” Jabari added.
Aiden nodded grateful for the explanation, “Well, so far, I have Club Attack, and I did level up a bit in Dodge,” he answered. “Those are the only ones I used during the fight with the imps.”
“So that was when you realized you were unlocked? When you fought the imps?” Elara asked.
“Yeah,” Aiden answered. That was exactly what had happened. He went to fight and all of a sudden that QCore system was tracking his every move.
"Hmm…" Elara mused, tapping her finger against her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe you have others too, and just need to try them out?" she suggested, her eyes lighting up with the possibility.
“That’s hardly a plan,” Morgan countered skeptically, crossing her arms. “Go into battle and just hope something works?”
Elara smiled, “I wasn’t thinking of it quite like that. What if we all attack one of the Emberwisps together, four of us can certainly do it, even if it will take a while. Then, Aiden can try out a few basic skills and see if he can level them up?”
“That’s not a terrible idea,” Morgan admitted after a moment. “Something like Kick or Punch might work, and he wouldn’t need a weapon for either.”
“Wait, what?” Aiden interjected, the anxiety clear in his voice. “That last Emberwisp was so hot, it burned right through my baton. If I tried to touch it, I’d likely hurt myself more than it.”
“Basic heat-resistant shoes and gloves would absorb that type of heat,” Morgan replied matter-of-factly.
Aiden’s eyes went wide. “I don’t have anything like that.”
Elara frowned slightly, “I thought Jabari mentioned you were on your way to the Academy when the runeportal diverted you here,” she probed gently.
“Well, yeah,” Aiden answered, not wanting to volunteer too much. “I was.”
“I don’t supposed you happened to get the items on the Academy’s supply list?” Elara pressed, her tone soft yet insistent.
Aiden hesitated, his gaze flickering away. “There’s a required supply list?”
Morgan raised an eyebrow. “The Academy is pretty strict about ensuring all new students have what they need.”
“Don’t worry too much,” Jabari volunteered, “I showed up with just the clothes on my back.”
“Well yeah, but you were…” Morgan frowned then stopped. “Where exactly did you say you were from, Aiden?”
Jabari interrupted. “Morgan, why don’t we just enchant the shoes he has?"
“We?” Morgan raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical.
“You,” Jabari responded with an encouraging smile. “After all, you come from the best family of Tailors in all of Drayden.”
Morgan rolled her eyes, but a hint of a smile was on her lips, “Fine,” she agreed.
Turning to Aiden she instructed, “Pull up the bottom of your pants and let me see what I’m working with.”
Aiden bent down and rolled up the cuff of his jeans to reveal a pair of old, well-worn sneakers.
She frowned as she looked at his shoes. “I haven’t ever seen anything like these before. Where did you find them?”
Aiden looked at her unsure of what to say. He didn’t know how they would react to telling them that he was actually a teenager from Missouri and the shoes were from a Goodwill store and not even from this world.
“They’re, um, old,” Aiden answered a bit embarrassed.
“Apparently,” Morgan said with a frown her eyes still intent on his sneakers.
Then, she pulled a small purse from her pocket, no larger than a deck of cards, and opened the clasp. To Aiden’s amazement, she kept pulling at it, and the purse stretched and expanded until it was as large as a toolbox. She began rummaging inside with a focused intensity.
“Okay, give me a minute,” she muttered, pulling various items out of the magical purse, inspecting them briefly before putting them back.
She pulled out a shimmering bottle, a set of strange metallic tools, and then a spool of glowing thread but after looking at each one, she tossed it back in the bag. “I think I know what I need, I just hope it’s here.”
After a few moments, she smiled, and Aiden watched her pull out a small piece of dark yellow leather. “Ah, found it!” she declared triumphantly.
She compared the leather to Aiden’s sneakers. “This should work, but it may not last too long,” she warned. “Hand me the shoes.”
Aiden did as instructed, watching curiously as Morgan set to work. She ripped the fabric in half and applied a piece to each shoe. Then, she pulled out a needle and enchanted thread, beginning her meticulous work. With precise and swift movements, she pulled at the leather, lengthening it and stretching it. Then sewed the leather onto the sneakers, occasionally pausing to mutter incantations that made the thread glow with a soft golden light.
As she worked, the old sneakers began to transform. The yellow leather merged seamlessly with the fabric, enveloping each shoe in a protective layer. She then extended the material upwards, reshaping the sneakers into something that resembled rugged, high-top boots with a hint of mystical charm.
By the time she handed them back to Aiden, the sneakers had taken on a new form, resembling a cross between a cowboy boot and a sneaker, complete with enchanted embellishments that shimmered faintly.
“Thanks,” Aiden said, uncertain but grateful.
“It’ll work,” Morgan assured him, packing away her magical tools. “But I’m not sure for how long.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Aiden answered as laced up his newly enchanted footwear. As he wondered just what his ‘improved’ footwear could do, the system popped a new message:
Armor: Scald Shield HiTops Type: Food Covering Description: Tired of burning your socks? Step into these barely-holding-together very high HiTops now imbued with a heat-resistant charm. Perfect for those who like their footwear as battle-scarred as their adventures. Warning: style points not included.
Aiden finished picking up the shoes and stood up, surprised by the snug, comfortable fit. Despite their odd appearance, they were more comfortable than any shoes he had worn before—certainly more so than the old sneakers he’d gotten used to. The shoes felt right, but the real test would come when he faced off with an Emberwisp.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“That should work for shoes, how about gloves?” Jabari said, then looked over at Elara with a hopeful tilt of his head. “A silversmith has to have a pair of flame-resistant gloves, right?”
Elara sighed, resting her hands on her hips, the movement causing the bracelets on her wrists to tinkle melodically. “I do, but they're designed for the forge, not for combat,” she explained, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.
“Good enough for now,” Jabari responded quickly, clearly undeterred.
“Fine,” Elara sighed exasperated.
Around her waist were several metal chain belts, each adorned with various charms and draped over her deep purple dress. The belts, of varying lengths, clinked softly as she moved, each charm sparkling in the sunlight.
Carefully, she twisted one of the belts, bringing it to the front. Her fingers danced over the charms, pausing briefly over each one as she searched for the specific talisman she needed. The soft jingles filled the tense air as she finally stopped at a particularly ornate charm. “Found them,” she declared, her voice lifting with triumph. Pulling the charm from the chain, she held it up high. “Smelt Shield Artisan Gloves!” she announced. The charm vibrated briefly before expanding dramatically, morphing into a pair of thick, dark purple gloves that matched the hue of her dress almost exactly.
“You can try these,” she suggested, offering the gloves to Aiden with a slight, reassuring smile, “they are meant for a forge so they should be fine for an Emberwisp.”
Aiden hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the gloves from Elara. Slipping his hands into them, he was surprised to find that despite their thickness, they fit him perfectly, molding to his fingers like a second skin. He flexed his fingers, getting a feel for the movement, and found it remarkably unimpeded by the robust material.
“Thank you, Elara,” Aiden said, a grateful smile breaking across his face as he flexed his hands again.
Armor: Smelt Shield Artisan Gloves Type: Hand Covering Description: Crafted for the master craftsman, these gloves offer unmatched heat resistance and durability, ensuring your hands stay safe and your craftsmanship flawless.
NOTE: If you think these gloves are replaceable, wait until you see the repair bill. Handle with care unless you've won the lottery recently.
Aiden winced at that last part. The gloves Elara had given him were definitely something he needed to be careful with. Maybe more kicking than punching, just in case.
"Alright, so, now all we have to do is pull the closest Emberwisp to us, and give Aiden a chance to see if he has any skills unlocked that he can use," Jabari instructed, his voice low but filled with a commanding energy. "If he does, then all we need to do is distract it long enough to give Aiden a chance to level up his skills."
Morgan looked over at him, "So, what do you think, Aiden? Are you ready?"
Aiden looked down at his new gloves and new boots. "I suppose," he said and she smiled back at him.
"Then let's go," she said with a smile.
As they moved toward the group of wisps, Aiden felt the weight of his enchanted shoes and his borrowed gloves. The plan was simple yet risky; it hinged on his ability to fight a creature that he would have considered impossible just this morning.
Morgan motioned for everyone else to stay where they were and then she approached the Emberwisp that was furthest away from the others. She closed the distance slowly and carefully, her boots soft leather quiet on the empty street.
Aiden watched as she held her hammer in one hand and her other hand moving in cryptic motions. Just then a small blue thread crept up from the ground and around the Emberwisp. Once it surrounded the creature, Morgan made another quick motion and it tightened around the creature.
The Emberwisp screeched and ran toward Morgan who was already backing up toward the rest of the group.
“Now!” Morgan shouted.
Aiden moved quickly, adrenaline surging through his veins as he got near the thin mass of fire and fury. It noticed him immediately and its glowing eyes seemed to burn with an otherworldly malice as it advanced.
The Emberwisp lunged toward him, its claws slicing at Aiden and he dodged quickly to the other side.
Well Avoided!
Dodge: +2XP
Heart pounding, he pivoted on his heel and attempted a kick, aiming for the creature's fiery core. His foot swished through the hot air—missing the target.
So close, but so far!
Frustrated but undeterred, Aiden set himself for another attempt.
He took a deep breath, to steady himself. The others were doing great, Jabari had landed a kick already and Elara had sent a small cloud of water, spilling down over its head. But they were right, each of their hits weren’t doing much damage, his baton had done way more.
Focusing, he approached it and tried to kick it again, but his timing was off, and it slid out of the way.
Without waiting he tried again, this time, finally connecting with the Emberwisp. The impact sent a shockwave up his leg, but his old sneakers somehow protecting him from the heat of the wisp.
Finally got it! New Skill Discovered! Kick!
Attack Skill: Kick Level: 1 - Delicate Kick Description When the garden gnome is just slightly off-kilter, this kick will straighten him out with a polite little nudge.
“I have a Kick!” Aiden shouted excitedly.
“Then kick it!” Jabari answered excitedly.
Aiden couldn't help but smile, the thrill of success rushing through him. He watched the Emberwisp as it attacked and dodged and finally found another opening and his foot connected again.
With each hit, another system message appeared confirming the hit and Aiden started getting excited when he realized he was only one hit away from level 2. He saw his opening, and then:
Critical Kick! Kick: + 3 XP
And then it was followed by the message he was waiting for:
Level Up!
Attack Skill: Kick Level: 2 – Feather Tap Description A gentle kick can be used to gently coax a wandering animal back to the barn or nudge a tool or object out of the way.
“I’ve made it to level 2!” he shouted.
"You're doing great," she shouted over the din of their surroundings, "but we need to finish this one off quickly so we can strategize for the other four!"
Aiden nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline at her words. The creature before them, a swirling mass of flames and fury, was visibly faltering, its fiery aura flickering like a candle in the wind. He could see it, nearly depleted, barely holding its form together. One more solid hit, he thought, just one more well-placed kick.
Positioning himself, he focused all his energy, his foot arcing through the air in a powerful, controlled motion. The kick connected with a resounding thud, the impact sending shockwaves through the air.
Aiden saw the message he had been waiting for:
You did it!
You have destroyed a Level 3 Emberwisp!
The Emberwisp thrust backward by the force of his last kick, landed squarely in the middle of the remaining four Emberwisps.
"Oh no!" Elara shouted.
"What did you do!" Morgan said, but it wasn't really a question.
"Maybe they won't notice," Jabari offered.
Aiden stood panting, waiting, his chest heaving with exertion and his heart pounding in his ears as he watched the group of Level 3s. They had been milling around, but now they were standing still.
The air around the remaining Emberwisps crackled with sudden energy. Their fiery eyes, once merely observing, now burned with fury.
As one, the four fiery creatures turned their attention toward Aiden.