We returned to our inn in the early hours of morning, dead drunk, and barely able to walk at all.
Which really said something, because as I discovered, one of the stats—likely Vigor—not only improved your constitution, it also increased your alcohol tolerance.
Which meant Aerion and I ended up consuming an ungodly amount of booze. Everything from beer to mead to everything in between. It was so much that Richard, with his very normal tolerance, started looking at us like we were aliens. I supposed Aerion technically was.
It was the hardest I’d partied since my high school days, and for what felt like the first time since then, I truly felt like I was among friends. Among people who cared about me. The real me. Without judgment or barriers.
Just a group of like-minded people who’d been through hell and back. Something not too different from what veterans must have felt with other vets. It was the sort of bond you shared with people you’ve trusted your life with, and who trusted you with theirs in turn.
I’d never really had that, back on Earth. Neither, it seemed, had Aerion or Richard. Richard had his family, but after a few drinks, even he admitted this was different.
Not better or worse. Just different. Unique.
When we finally returned to our penthouse suite after a night of epic revelry, we were wasted and utterly exhausted, and Richard didn’t even make it up the stairs, forcing me to carry him.
Aerion flopped onto her bed without bothering to close her room’s door, and after dumping Richard on his bed, I followed her lead and did the same.
It was past noon by the time we awoke, and when we did, a note was waiting for us under the door. We were all out cold, so none of us had heard the messenger knock.
The note bore the official wax seal of Baron Sinclair, and was addressed to Aerion and me.
“How much you want to bet that’s what I think it is?” I asked, popping open the seal, my head foggy and throbbing from my hangover.
“It would seem the Baron somehow noticed our arrival,” I grumbled.
Sure enough, it was a summons, requesting our immediate presence.
“To think he had the consideration to keep quiet about it,” Richard said, his voice equally groggy. “Reckon he’s a fine bloke.”
I smiled. “He’s pretty solid, as far as nobles go.”
“Oh?” Richard asked, his lips curling up into a grin. “No looking down on the plebeians?”
“Nope,” I said, finding a smile of my own creep onto my face.
“No asinine entitlement?”
“Nope,” I said, grin widening.
“No incompetent idiot inheriting power he should never have had?”
“Certainly none of that,” I said, bursting out into laughter at the same time as Richard.
He walked over and embraced me in a tight man-hug, while Aerion watched on as confused as she was shocked at our alien mannerisms.
“I can’t tell you how nice it is to finally shoot the shit with someone who gets it,” I said into his shoulder.
“Mate, I was about to say the same.”
When we separated, there was a newfound connection between us. Or maybe it’d been there ever since last night, when I revealed who I really was.
If Aerion was confused before, she was downright baffled now. “Someone mind telling me what’s really going on?”
“Can’t!” Richard said, turning to Aerion.
“Ancient Earth ritual,” I said, nodding. “Very sacred.”
Richard and I glanced at each other, and we only barely stopped ourselves from laughing.
“Well, fine, then,” Aerion said, crossing her arms and pouting, even as the tips of her long ears turned red. “I’ve the distinct impression you’re enjoying a joke at my expense. But sure. Fine. Carry on.”
A round of heartfelt apologies restored Aerion’s ears to their normal color. Knowing Aerion’s capacity for grudges, I thanked Cosmo she chose not to hold this one against us.
“I suppose you’d best be off, then,” Richard said, letting out a small sigh once the moment had passed. “Wouldn’t want to keep the Lord Baron waiting.”
“Guess not,” I admitted, letting out a breath. “Why don’t you come with? You contributed as much as anyone to our success. Only fair that you get your fair share of the reward.”
Richard raised an eyebrow. “More reward than what Passion can offer?”
“Er, well… When you put it like that,” I said sheepishly. “Still, why not come along? We can hit the town after. So much to see in Basecrest. I’d love to show you around.”
Richard’s expression fell. “Afraid not. Best I return to Passion as soon as I can. It’s quite a journey back to her territory, as I’m sure you can imagine.”
“Really?” I said, downcast. “With all the stuff we have to talk about? Don’t you want to travel together a while longer?”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Wish I could, Greg, and believe me, I’d like nothing better. Passion might’ve told me to take my time, but I know that woman. She can get downright neurotic about stuff like this. I… suppose I’ll be in town another few hours, at least. Might take a bit to find transport, given that I’m not announcing who I am.”
I sighed. “Alright. I see I can’t convince you to stay for a bit. Which is all the more reason why you should come. Sinclair can arrange the fastest transport in the city, and I’d bet good money he can have it ready before anyone you could find on your own.”
Richard hesitated, and I could almost see the battle that raged in his mind. “You’re sure Sinclair won’t insist I parade myself around the town? I’ve rightly had my fill of such fanfare. I fear I’m quite tired of it.”
“He won’t if we ask him not to,” Aerion said, fidgeting with her hand. While she’d never said as much, it was clear she’d grown fond of the fake-elf Champion during our time together. I could see it in her eyes—she didn’t want Richard to leave as much as I did.
“He’s a good guy. Trust me,” I said, putting a hand on Richard’s shoulder. “We’re… if not friends, at least trusted confidantes. We did just save his city, after all.”
“A good point,” Richard said. His shoulders drooped, and he gave me a wry smile. “Very well, then. I suppose I’ll accompany you a while longer.”
----------------------------------------
I idled around while the others got changed—I’d learned to be comfortable in my armor at all times. Even while sleeping. That was a compromise I’d have to live with, probably for the rest of my life, but human adaptability always managed to surprise you. I barely even noticed, these days. The rush of power and vitality more than made up for the downside.
I brought up my Status Screen while I awaited, skimming over the slew of notifications I’d received in the dungeon.
Divergence - 0. I could feel it. What it was, I couldn’t describe. It wasn’t Dominion or Vigor or Grace, or any of the other stats. I’d more or less internalized what each one of those did by now.
No, this was something else. I felt… more. Like my whole existence was heavier in some unquantifiable way.
It wasn’t a level or a rank, and yet, it made me giddier with excitement than any number could.
I brought up the Spatial Inventory rank up notification I’d minimized while talking to Cosmo on the catamaran.
Congratulations! Your Rank-Up has upgraded your [Spatial Inventory].
Ability [Aim] has evolved into [Launch].
Living weapons may now be stored inside the Spatial Inventory. NOTE: Significant trauma may occur if organisms are stored for extended periods of time.
[Launch]: Aim and fire objects from your Spatial Inventory. Speed is inversely proportional to mass. Launched objects cannot be intercepted or stopped until they have fully exited the Spatial Inventory.
Please choose upgrade path:
Current size: 4 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft. Weight Capacity: 20 lbs.
* 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft. Weight Capacity: 80 lbs.
* 16 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft. Weight Capacity: 80 lbs.
The System had never allowed me to influence my Inventory’s progression path before. Was this a trait of higher ranks? If so, I looked forward to getting there. The ability to shape my progression was one thing my Blessing sorely lacked… Until now.
Between this and the [Sets] ability I’d gained from Cosmo? [Initializer] had suddenly ballooned in both power and flexibility.
Ignoring the choice for now, I re-read the other upgrades. I could store living weapons inside the inventory now!?
All sorts of strategies came to mind, but one in particular stood out.
Was it bad that stuffing Aerion into my inventory was the first thing that jumped into my head?
From launching surprise attacks to storing her in there when she fell unconscious, the possibilities were near-endless. Not to mention I could even launch her out. That, with [Reave], and her Aurora—which I could now initialize—would make for an absolutely devastating combo.
The [Launch] ability on its own would prove supremely valuable. I’d already abused my inventory’s ability to bring out objects, but now that I could fire them at speed?
I imaged spears hurtling from my inventory on a horde of goblins. I imagined delivering a bomb straight into the face of an enemy commander. I imagined…
In the distance, I heard someone cackle. It was only seconds later, when Aerion peeked her head out of her room and scowled that I realized it was me.
Coughing awkwardly, I shut my mouth.
Oh, what glorious strategies awaited us.
That said, I now had an important decision to make. Depth? Or height?
Choosing depth would finally allow me to store my poleax and other long weapons instead of lugging it around—something that had plagued me ever since I obtained the weapon. It would also allow me to store plenty of spears and other long weapons.
At least the weight restriction wouldn’t be an issue. Aerion was shockingly light. Easily light enough to come under that 80 lb limit. How she generated such power with such a light frame was beyond me, but the Dominion stat paid no heed to mundane considerations like the laws of physics.
Size, though? That was another story. As petite as my elf friend was, I didn’t feel like I could contort her into a 2 ft x 2 ft space. Not without her activating [Reave] on me the instant she got out, anyway.
Now, that was a thought—get Aerion so pissed she went full berserker on whoever I unleashed her on…
I chuckled. I didn’t have a death wish. Nor would I ever treat any friend of mine with such disrespect.
4 ft x 4 ft, though? That would be… if not comfortable, at least tolerable. Assuming she was even conscious within that space. That line about extended-duration trauma concerned me. Why would anyone inside experience any trauma when time was stopped? To them, a day ought to pass in an instant… Right? And what did the System consider extended?
There was much to test, and I only wished I could stay cooped up in our penthouse and experiment all day.
I made my selection. The poleax would have to wait, for now.
Spatial Inventory upgraded. Inventory Size: 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft. Weight Capacity: 80 lbs.
For now, however, we had a meeting to attend. Richard emerged first, followed by Aerion.
“Bollocks!” Richard said, recoiling as Aerion emerged from her room, earning him a giggle from the elf. “Darn near didn’t recognize you, mate!”
“That’s the intent,” Aerion said, wearing a wry smile.
“Aerion has uh… reasons for hiding her appearance in public,” I said, feeling weirdly down about seeing her like this. My mind flicked back to her evening wear, in which she looked so elegant, and for only the briefest of instants, the image of a certain toned elf wearing a coconut bikini and a leafy skirt flashed into my head.
No! Bad Greg! I purged that scandalous scene from my mind, feeling embarrassed for ever having recalled it.
Damn you, Cosmo… It was all his fault.
I swore then and there. The next time I saw him, I was gonna land a sucker punch on his face.
“Greg? Are you well?” Aerion asked, peering up at me. She’d walked over at some point, but I hadn’t noticed. I’d been a little preoccupied, after all.
“Nothing!” I said, a little too fast. Aerion didn’t notice, but Richard certainly did, giving me a quizzical look.
“Let’s go,” I said, turning on my heel and storming out the door.