She paused there, enjoying her moment, framed in the entryway of the newly regenerated temple. No doubt she had received the same update they all had about the new “overqualified High-Priestess”.
“This class was the only one available that was an increase in rarity from my last class. According to the system, this deity hasn’t had a high priest in three Epochs… The requirements didn’t seem too difficult and the gains provided are more than acceptable.” She said, turning her nose up slightly, not at all attempting to cover an almost palpable level of satisfaction.
Tilly's fading shock was quickly overtaken by exasperation. Seems like anyone can walk in and get a job these days! He let out a self-deprecating laugh,
“What a pair of representatives we will make…
"Please sir, What does it mean to follow Origin?"
"Sorry lad, we just met the guy, we’ll let you know when we find out."
"Although I will warn you, so far it's been mostly explosions’.”
He finished his little monologue and looked around at the others, hoping to lighten the mood. Unblinking eyes stared back at him, ranging from confusion in the honu to disappointment in Hiro’s eyes. Tilly coughed awkwardly at the silence and Erash stepped forward into the silence confidently,
“Speak for yourself human. The temple has made abundantly clear what it needs to advance its influence and I can commune for direction once a month as an intermediary for the nation I am representing. You may be lost in your role, but I am clear in mine.” She finished in a huff, before sweeping past him and moving to the council to begin discussing how the temple could partner with their future efforts.
The embarrassment he felt in the wake of his stupid joke and the haughty reply from the new High Priestess set Tilly’s ears buzzing. Her conversation with the council fell into the background and as a potent anger attempted to flood his internal levies of emotional control.
Who does she think she is?
It was just a stupid joke…
Ungrateful Bit-
No.
His right arm jerked, throwing a vicious punch into his side. His clenched fist pounded into the site of the infection releasing waves of agony from his abdomen. Something about the sudden pain shattered the syrupy sweet spiral of bitterness that had been building. He refused to be the kind of guy who went into a tantrum at every little insult, no matter what this bullshit trying to take his body wanted. The buzzing subsided, and a deep angry ache settled in its place.
“So, what did you get?” Nyuk asked, breaking Tilly’s thoughts away from his unnoticed internal conflict, giving him the point of distraction he needed to steer his thoughts towards safer waters.
He turned and shrugged in response to the new Forest Warden, reaching behind his back and fishing out the crystal egg, “I don't know what this thing is,” he said before tossing it to the inquiring lapin.
“Hey!” The lapin said in a sudden panic, handling the caught stone like he was playing hot potato. He bounced it between his hands two times before tossing it at Kuro with a wicked grin.
“Watch it, Buckteeth!” The other warden shouted back as he caught it in his leather vest avoiding touching it with his bare hands. He walked carefully back over to a bewildered Tilly who plucked it from the leather cradle,
“Seriously guys, right now I don’t think it does anything. I'll have to mess with it and figure it out later.” He said, holding up the oblong mystery object and handling it with impunity. Both the lapins winced at his cavalier manner,
“I am no master Identifier, but even I can see it is rated Mythic,” Kuro said keeping a wary eye on the object in Tilly’s hand.
“Knowing you, human, that is a locked-ancient-gnomish-explosive enchantment that could level this mountain,” Nyuk said gravely, stepping back even further.
This kind of ribbing was all too familiar and reminded him warmly of the firehouse. In fact, he almost told them about some of the guys he used to work with when he felt a pulse of satisfaction emerge from the egg. It seemed to have understood the gravity those two were giving it… and it felt satisfied. It wanted to be thought of as dangerous.
The chuckle and story died together on Tilly’s lips as he slowly turned his head toward what he was holding. Both lapins shared a knowing look and took another generous few steps back, well away from the entrance of the Temple.
Before Tilly could really consider the object in his hands, the others finished their short conference and Hiro began issuing out orders to the group one by one,
“It is decided! We have been given a short window of time to prepare for what is coming and we will not waste a moment of it. Shuji, you are to immediately partner with all scholar-adjacent classes to order and categorize our population. We need to know what classes we have, and what they can do. Send any who still desire to pursue a class change up here with advice where appropriate. Knowledge is the resource we need most right now.”
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Shuji nodded enthusiastically, jiggling several chins, “I'll coordinate with Pupienus to make sure all are employed appropriately in our coordinated efforts, as well as continue to build out our merit system for temporary compensation.” He said, gathering up the much smaller satyr in an uncomfortably brotherly side embrace and moving back toward the mountain path.
“Yes, yes.” The satyr said disengaging himself from the large lapin’s embrace. “ I will see that the work in the city expansion continues and issue regular reports to the rest of you, I would appreciate the same.” He called over his shoulder with a level look, as he dodged another pawing tug by the enthusiastic Librarian.
“Linus, you are still in charge of organizing and training our armed forces, hopefully, our combat effectiveness has been augmented greatly by whatever changes were affected by the completion of the hidden quest-”
“Ah! So that is what that was! I felt the magic flow down the mountain from this point. I have only read a few accounts of such things. To think that one such occurrence has unfolded before my eyes here only confirms my decision to remain.” Erash interjected, gesturing with her new staff unconsciously as if she had held it for years instead of minutes.
“High Priestess,” Hiro shifted, rolling with the interruption smoothly, “If you would, there will be a steady stream of those seeking the crystal and possibly purification from any lingering instances of infection. Please let us know if you need anything else to perform your duties. The honu will be sending all of our agricultural workers this way to receive your Spring’s Blessing, which as we discussed, we hope will stack with the boons. This will see our people fed and hopefully, stores built up before the boon is exhausted.” She nodded graciously at his softly put request along with small bows of acknowledgment from the elders. The elders started down toward the path as well, nodding respectfully to Tilly and the lapins as they passed, and the High-Priestess turned back towards the newly wrought doors. For all her bravado, from his point close to the entryway, Tilly thought he saw her eyeing the gaping entrance with caution until she noticed his attention and sniffed, re-entering the temple with her confident mask fully in place.
“Nyuk, Kuro, It seems you have been gifted a combat class. One that looks suited towards scouting and patrols. Am I correct?” Hiro asked, turning to the two standing apart from the rest of the group.
“Yes Lord,” they replied in unison, with respectful bows.
“Good, it is well deserved. You are no longer in charge of our timber harvesting. I am appointing you as the first of our ranging forces. Nyuk, you will lead with Kuro as your second. Requisition bows from our depot and meet me at the front gates in an hour, we will scout the limit of our area’s influence and see what we find in our new surroundings. Shuji will send others your way when we get back, and you can report to Linus for the next steps.” .
At the news, both Lapins prostrated themselves on the ground, and Nyuk spoke in a loud voice, “You honor us! We will not fail our people.” Then they both rose smoothly to their feet Nyuk wearing a formal and diffident expression and Kuro looking a little dazed. Hiro said nothing further and Nyuk realized he had to be back in the town and ready to go in an hour. He tugged the slightly dazed Kuro into a loping jog down the mountain.
In the distance, Tilly could have sworn he heard Kuro come to and complain loudly,
“Bows! UGH! Nyuk, you know how I feel about bows!”
A slight twitch in the remaining lapin's ears let him know he wasn’t the only one to have heard.
“That just leaves me and Ichiro, are you sure you don't want me to come on the scouting trip? I have a feeling that whatever faction we have been dropped near is probably not Corruption free.” Tilly asked.
“No Jonathan Tillman, you will be risking yourself soon enough, but until then, we are going to do what we can to make sure you live through the next year. With this skill bonus we just received every one of us not urgently needed must commit themselves to training. You will spar with and learn from Ichiro every morning. Before his change, he was one of the best swordsmen in the empire, whether those old goats wanted to admit it or not.”
At that, Ichiro nodded serenely.
“Now, however, he still has much work to do if he is to reclaim the full use of his skill levels. You will spend your mornings in routines that he devises, and then rotate through different members of the populace in the afternoons and evenings, training what you think will be most valuable going forward. Consult with Ichiro or Shuji on what those skills should be."
"Mr. Tillman, Boons like this do not come often, and you must take this chance to advance your skills. I am sure we will be needing you before our 24 days are up, but until we do, you must invest this time wisely.”
All of this struck a deep chord in Tilly. He had been on his back foot in almost every combat encounter he had. This was his chance to prepare for what was coming next instead of just reacting to one emergency after another. Not that he knew exactly how he needed to prepare… Lost in thought, Tilly looked out into the mountain range for the first time since emerging from the temple. From their vantage point near the top of the mountain, he remembered being able to see the range go on as far as the eye could see.
That had completely changed. Now the range ended just a few miles past the village and the river snaked past the burgeoning city between several more peaks before pouring out into open rolling hills, tinged a coppery red.
When he turned back to Hiro and Ichiro, the elder lapin was already gone, his departure marked by a gust of wind. He had moved so quickly and smoothly that Tilly had completely missed it… Reminding him just how far he had to go if he wanted to stay alive in these increasingly high-stakes scenarios.
'Well, nothing to it but to get started.' he thought wryly.
He sighed and met eyes with the last member of the group,
“Honestly, it will be my honor to receive your instruction.” Tilly opened seriously,
“I have heard several times how low my martial skills are and I'm tired of it. It will be great to have you to point me in the right direction!” Tilly said enthusiastically, his mind wandering through some of his favorite movie montages. Rocky… Karate Kid… Kickboxer.
Ichiro’s serene expression turned slightly more focused as his eyes moved to watch something playing out off in the distance. Tilly turned to try and catch it but saw only trees and distant peaks.
“It is fraying out there...” Ichiro whispered to himself.
But as Tilly turned back towards him, his eyes refocused on the human, and he offered a sad smile.
“Perhaps you can tell me more of what you can do as of now, and where you feel your greatest weaknesses are,” Ichiro stated calmly, acting as if he hadn’t said anything foreboding at all.