Kaden spent the afternoon recovering, something that normally happened quickly, but was now maddeningly slow. He spent time following the [Assistant] from room to room trying to determine how it decided on priorities.
There was no order.
It would clean a window and then move to cleaning dust from Builder Willis’s work, then exterminated a wasp nest, then moved to zapping spots on the kitchen table. It steadfastly avoided Sara’s greenhouse attached to the side wall of the farmhouse, and made trips to Ashi’s tower and back.
Sara joined Kaden in the kitchen where he was charring meat as a way of honoring Trinity. “Do you want to know what we got from the ScaraStorm?”
“A lot of dead beetles.” Kaden had thought about harvesting materials from them but a boss was simply too valuable to subject to his abilities. “Something better?”
“Better. The moment crafters applied their skill, the beetles broke down into hundreds of tiny ones, and every shell is a link in scale mail armor, or rather, it will be. Two hundred gold from a single boss.” Sara’s tone said she knew more. “Mr. Dervish couldn’t use all the Kalaraks. He kept ten but we sold the others to [Alchemists] as a reagent for a suite of potions. Some help resist status affects, another is a medium grade speed boost.”
“That’s not the real advantage. Level twenty five. There’s two of us now, meaning that we’re twice as deadly.”
“Eve will be next. We should return to FangWood’s open air dungeon.” Sara’s tone shifted. “I really didn’t mean to get us into that disaster.”
“You didn’t do it. I wanted to take you out hunting. And what’s a few scars? You’ve seen my chest. I’m not winning any contests. And I don’t care.” It was true. Adventurers were cut differently than commoners. He didn’t care about the looks at all. Trella wouldn’t care.
Sara put her hand on his and squeezed. “So. Fell Woodsman. Push the patrols, by which I mean we should destroy them, making sure Eve and Ashi get hits on all of them. I can’t say what we do next, there should be many puzzle, ambush, or battle rooms.”
“We need a rogue.”
“I know. I reached out to Flavius. We’re in this run for XP, not loot, so we can measure the [Thief] he’s sending and see how he does. If he betrays us, can you kill him with Dominion before he exits FangWood?”
Sara had never spoken so bluntly, but Kaden didn’t mind. “I will try. If he’s leaving, Dominion will mostly let him go. It’s meant to be used against monsters and protect us. I dropped it on the Temple servants who abandoned Eve and as soon as they were fleeing, it didn’t hurt them as badly.”
“I’m going to go tell the others. Let’s plan on tomorrow. It’ll give Eve time to keep healing you. Herald of Life isn’t as critical with our HP this high.”
She wasn’t wrong, but in a group, with it applying across everyone, it would still be powerful and give them an edge. “Every point counts. Tomorrow. Tell them tomorrow.”
Ashi dashed from behind the farmhouse, her exposed skin glistening with sweat as she slid to a stop. “Come. See what you have done. Even I am impressed.”
Even though his muscles still hitched at add points, Kaden followed Ashi around to the north side, where Kaden had planted the [Shield Tree]. A sappling poked from the earth, with silver bark and leaves like a maple, with a thin crown of branches. It stood just taller than Kaden, and so thin he could grip its trunk with one hand. But the tree exuded an aura that was almost visible, like an afterimage, one that promised it would be peaceful here.
Your holding has acquired 1x Shield Tree.
[Shield Tree]
These behemoths of the forest begin life small but they won’t stay that way. A Shield Tree acts as a natural repellent for monster spawns. Demons approaching within fifty feet take continuous damage. Striking the tree will cause 9999x [True Damage] for any demon. Lesser Demons will be afflicted with Fear. Demonic Auras will not function in range of [Shield Tree]. This range will grow as the tree does.
Ashi barely touched it, as though she thought it couldn’t be real. “This is a gift worth the price. What do you care that people see the work of a monster when they look at you? Should this demon Naski show her face, it will not be here.”
Naski. Kaden still had scores to settle with her. And an idea came to him, one Sara might hate. He sent the [FalCrow] to fetch her and waited. Sara came with Eve and Vip, and stopped short when she saw the [Shield Tree]. “This is my new favorite thing at the Holding.”
Kaden tried to pick up Vip, but she was too busy circling the [Shield Tree] and squatting to water it. “Who owns the summoning circle at Beast Control? It showed us the different bonds. Hatred Mark is a kind of bond, right? Can it show us that? Can we use the Hatred Mark to track Naski?”
“I’ve never—I can’t—I don’t know.” Sara summoned a Crawling Horror and held it closer to the [Shield Tree]. It didn’t respond at all, proving her horror wasn’t a demon of any kind. “I can ask. My distaste with Mom won’t stop me helping you.”
Eve…looked happy.
Kaden wasn’t sure what was wrong to cause that. “You ok, Eve?”
She didn’t answer, just walking closer and closer, until she sat down in the dirt, almost kneeling at the tree. “It feels good. Ever since I got Hated by Demons, it’s like I can feel them hunting for me. I’m constantly worried and waiting and on edge. When you got Feared by Demons, it was like they couldn’t see me, but I could still feel them. Here? It’s like they don’t exist.”
That told Kaden what his next project was. It wouldn’t be pretty but it would be functional. He set off to the edge of FangWood, and felled a tree with Remembrance. If monsters wanted to challenge him, it was their mistake.
With careful attention, he split the trunk into planks, then smoothed the planks until they no longer sported spliters. [Woodcarving] wasn’t a combat skill but it contributed with [Building] to guide his hands as he smoothed edges and trimmed the lengths.
What came next stretched the edges of his [Building] skills, but he settled on cutting wide sections of wood and carving supports to produce two stubby pillars to hold a back support. Strength made it easy to carry both planks over one shoulder and the base in the other, all the way back to the [Shield]Tree.
One slab became a seat, the other a back resting on the stubby pillars.
You have crafted 1x Crude Bench.
Your skill with [Building] has increased.
His first tier two increase. Was it so quick because it had been low before? Regardless, the skill showed him how to shave grooves in each piece so they sat better, so they were more sturdy.
You have improved Crude Bench to Poor Bench.
Kaden didn’t mind. “You can sit here and relax. It’ll have shade in the summer. And I’m fairly sure I can build better. Or buy better. It’ll be nice to have a place to relax here.”
Eve took a seat beside him and patted for Vip to join her, under a sappling barely taller than Kaden was. Then sighed and relaxed as though she wasn’t sitting on a freshly carved bench.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Kaden retreated. It was almost private. Far too personal. At the edge of the Farmhouse, he looked back to find Sara and Ashi had joined him. “Is she going to be ok?”
“Time.” Ashi held none of her normal disdain. “Give to her time. All else, will come. I approve of this plan to run the FangWood dungeon. I cannot fall so far behind, or I will not be worthy to assist against erratic dungeons.”
“Your approval was definitely what my decision hinged on,” Sara said with annoyance. “You won’t fall that far behind. And when Trella is back, we’ll forcibly drag her to twenty five as well.”
Kaden’s own resolve echoed Sara’s statement. They absolutely would. “Hey, while I’ve got both of you here, I’d like to propose an idea. I call it ‘Operation Trella.’”
“It sounds like a terrible idea, and I doubt Trella would approve of her name being used with it,” Sara said. “But do go on.”
Trella would completely approve. “You both deserve somoneone in love with you. Someone who cherishes and challenges you. I’ve got that. You don’t. So I was thinking, Eve and I could interview potential dates at the Guild—”
“What?” Ashi asked. “You think I do not brush off suitors every hour in the city?”
“I think most suitors your level and age are rightly terrified of your power,” Kaden said. “I think I would be doing a service to the people of Verona and to the Daughter Ashi if I brushed off the worst creeps for you.”
“They are right to fear me,” Ashi said. “Where will you find such people?”
Kaden’s smile faltered. “There’s a wall at the guild where you can pin your contact information—”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Sara said. “The Desperation Wall is the worst place I can think of. I appreciate you thinking of me. I appreciate you wanting me to be as happy. I will final-death myself before I pin my name to the Desperation Wall.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the people on the wall,” Kaden said.
He thought maybe Sara was about to explode. “Forget the men, have you looked at the women there? Carefully? Have you asked yourself what they have in common? Circe Karn, also known as ‘Cutter’ is there.”
“So?” Kaden said. “You could call me ‘Smasher,’ and that wouldn’t make me a bad person.”
“Send a bird. Have some dinner with her. Then we’ll see if your opinion changes.”
“Maybe I will.”
Sara crossed her arms. “Now. I’ll give you her Messenger Bird information. If you’re so certain, you won’t mind vetting her for me. I don’t really enjoy dating women, but this would be a good practice run.”
Sara Scylla is offering to share contact information: Circe ‘Cutter’ Karn. Accept? [Y/N]
This didn’t seem like a good idea, but Kaden wasn’t sure he’d know a good idea if it bit him. He had a decent idea. Summoned the [FalCrow]. “Hi. A friend of mine sent me your contact information, said we might get along. Falcrow, you’d damn well better not try and eat her eyes.”
The FalCrow wouldn’t try to eat her eyes, but hopefully it would repeat that. With a sigh, he dispatched the FalCrow. “Ashi? If she turns out to be dangerous, you’d protect me, right?”
Ashi hadn’t said a word. “Of course, Dungeon Master.”
A brown Mana Bird landed on Kaden’s arm, and a woman’s voice barked out. “Get your party. We’re hunting [Torrods] in the delta. If you can’t kill your share, I sure as hell wouldn’t want to waste time on a meal.”
With the message came a set of coordinates for a FarPortal.
And a system notification.
Faction Quest Available: Defend the Village (Justari) - Kill ten [Torrods] and collect the bounty.
You have received a new Quest: Humble Beginnings - Complete at least one faction quest.
“I just got a faction quest. I would take it,” Kaden said. “Except my health is really low.”
“Half health sounds like a lot. Eve! You want to help embarrass Kaden?” Sara shouted.
Eve came running. “I’ll make sure his health goes up even if his dignity goes down. What exactly happened?”
“Kaden volunteered to find me a Trella. On the Desperation Wall, so we’re having him vet Cutter Karn.” Sara kept her tone innocent. “She wants us to join a Hunting Party in the delta, but his health is so low, I’d feel awful if we let him go out alone. After all, it’s my fault he’s weak.”
Ashi smiled as she looked at Kaden. “It would only be right to help him regain some of the experience he sacrificed. I, too, will go to protect him.”
Kaden didn’t mind.
This was no miscalculation, or if it was, it was a minor mistake. He’d never considered someone with the courage to say they were looking for a relationship less desireable, there was probably no harm in meeting this ‘Cutter.’
Then Sara would see. Ashi would see. “Let’s go hunting!”
The trip through the FarPortal only hurt mildly—having four more points in Constitution meant it was just that much harder to hurt Kaden. He emerged in a sweltering heat with humidity so thick a fish would be able to swim in the air. A low rolling delta stretched out before him, waves breaking gently over muddy sandbars while the sun sank lower on the horizon.
Near the FarPortal sat a deeply out of place desk, dark polished cherry wood, and an umbrella arch that provided shade to the old man sleeping at the desk, his head down. A brass bell hung from the top of the umbrella arch, rocking gently in the sea breeze.
Sara took the lead, approaching and rapping on the desk. “We’re here to hunt [Torrods.] Where do we find the other parties?”
He looked at her with bleary eyes—then back to the delta. “How about anywhere down there? Bounties can only be cashed in at the end of a tidal cycle. We’re winding down from one now. Surge Wave is still sixteen hours off, so no worries there. Not that we get much here. Now, if you don’t mind, the bell rings at Tides, and when they change, you’ll get your chance.”
Kaden looked down the beach. He hadn’t realized how far off the actual water was. The rolling bars and water were deceptive. Moving in the distance were groups, of people. Hunting Parties.
They set out toward the water, but half way there, Sara called for a halt. “You weren’t with us the last time we went hunting. And you and I trusted each other from the start. You can’t trust anyone here. I don’t know if Torrods drop decent loot but if they do, you collect it immediately. If you can touch it, it’s your loot.”
“What do we need to turn in for the bounty?” Eve asked.
“Good question,” Sara said. “I’ll show you closer to the water.”
In all of Professor Treadle’s lectures, Kaden didn’t recall [Torrods], but [Beast Knowledge] kicked in.
[Torrod]
We met them down near the mouth of the river, and lost our [Shield] to one’s lurking attack. Still, the lurking attack was better than when they swarmed ashore, heading up toward the fishing village. A single Torrod is dangerous, but fifty of them overran us. We could only watch as they leveled the village and dragged their food screaming back into the water.
Kaden shuddered. “What are these things and how do we deal with them?”
“They come in a number of shapes, depending on what the larva devour,” Sara said. “Most will look like octopi, or crabs, or water creatures, but they adapt for movement in any terrain. I’ve heard of them flying as well as swimming, and they’ll be water mana aligned.”
Ashi whispered something to Sara, who responded by unleashing a lightning bolt at her. Ashi didn’t dodge, accepting the blow. When she opened her eyes, the pupils held sparks. “Excellent. Let us grow in power and wealth by slaughtering these [Torrods].”
“Your hair is smoking.” Eve triggered [Life Transfusion].
Behind them, the brass bell rang, and groups of Adventurers began to make their way up to the desk. Most of them carried small, shiny blue jaws that looked like shark’s jaws.
Sara pointed. “See that? People tear the jaws out of the corpse and toss the corpse back in the water. The jaws are what you turn in for the bounty.”
Kaden focused on the drifting shapes in the water. “Do they offer anything else, material-wise?”
“Not that I know of.” Sara pivoted and whistled. “Cutter!”
One of the groups stopped their advance up toward the bell and instead started toward Kaden.
[‘Cutter’ Karn - Ritualist]
Circe Karn might as well not have a first or last name, she answers to ‘Cutter,’ a name she earned. The Ritualist draws power from wounding her enemies. She grows more powerful with each ritual wound and you would do well to make sure she is an ally, not an enemy.
Class: Ritualist
Level: 27
HP: 950
Mana: 2000
Skills: Ritual Sacrifice (2:6), Blood Ritual (2:3), Soul Ritual (2:7), Strength Ritual (2:5), Speed Ritual (2:7), Agility Ritual (2:6), Song Writing(2:1), Singing(2:1), Resist Acid (8), Spell Singer (2:4), Edged Weapons (2:1), Daggers (2:1) Thrown Weapons (2:2), Acrobatics (2:4)
Talents: Prepared, Last Man Standing, Single Minded, Fast Caster, Dual Caster
Cutter stood a good inch taller than Kaden, wider than Kaden, and she wore smooth chain link armor where every link was a slightly different color. At her side, she wore short daggers, daggers that would make Trella’s look like long swords. One curved sharply in a way that reminded Kaden of his Levicon Blade. Her boots came up to the middle of her thighs, and each was tipped with a similar short blade. She adjusted the tie holding up her silver-white hair and fixed a blue eyed-gaze on Kaden. “You didn’t send a bird. You sent a gods-damned monster. I approve.”
Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] and let it perch on his shoulder, silently comanding it not to comment on Cutter’s bust or her dancing ability. “This is my messenger bird. And if you could meet Trinity, my TriTerror, you’d love her.”
Cutter looked him up and down. “Why did you message me?”
The accurate answer would be that Sara had said Cutter was an example of the type of person who would go looking for releationships. The most accurate answer would probably lead to bloodshed. “Sara said we’d probably get along.”
Cutter looked to Sara. “I don’t know you. I’ve never seen you. I’ve never heard of you. I have a way of teaching people I don’t know not to talk about me. My favorite is ripping their tongue out and then tying it around their neck. After all, tongues can grow back. On the other hand, I respect how you’re attached to something that will one day destroy everything. Tough call.”
She glanced back to Kaden. “[Torrods] aren’t worth dragging back to crafters. But they need to die and we all need XP and the Guild pays bounties. Get to killing. Impress me, we’ll talk.”
After she’d rejoined her party, Kaden swallowed nervously. “See? She’s gruff but probably kind underneath that.”
He hoped.
Sara didn’t hide her hysterical laughter. “I’m so looking forward to this.”