In the end, Vel and I decided to go against orders and return to the village. Cautiously of course. Vel was packing the shelter while I kept watch.
"I wish we had a way to do reconnaissance without getting too close," Vel said.
"Yeah … that would be …" I paused. "Maybe we do, actually."
"We do?"
"Druids can have familiars," I said. "I didn't pick the skill because I wasn't interested, I kept my free skills in reserve for something good, but if I have a familiar I can use it for recon … I think."
"You think?"
I gave her a middling shrug.
"It's better than no plan," Vel said.
I nodded and dove into my system with a background partition.
Animal Familiar
Create a bond with an animal to act as your familiar.
The animal must be at least one rank below you when it enters the bond. Once it has become your familiar, the animal gains an increase to all of its mental attributes. A mental link is created with the Druid to communicate and direct their familiar.
Your familiar gets stronger as the level of this skill increases.
Your familiar starts with 2 skill slots and gains 1 skill slot for every 5 skill levels up to 8.
"Found it," I said, "and it should work."
"You think," Vel deadpanned.
I rolled my eyes and selected the skill for purchase. In the list two new entries appeared below it.
Monster Familiar (requires [Animal Familiar])
You can take a monster as a familiar after defeating them.
Shadow Familiar (requires [Animal Familiar], Shadow Magic)
You create a familiar from Shadow Magic instead of contracting with an animal. When you summon a familiar you can create a new template or use an existing template. The familiar intelligence is shared between templates.
You can keep 3 templates per skill rank up to a maximum of 9.
Familiar level and rank matches skill level and rank.
I was glad I had increased my lore skill to the second level and unlocked the second set of elements which included shadow magic.
"I know this face," Vel said, "you've found a new toy."
"Yes~," I grinned, "I won't even have to catch a critter to make them my familiar."
"What are you waiting for then?"
"You're right."
System Action
Select [Druid] Class Skill [Animal Familiar]
Select [Druid] Class Skill [Shadow Familiar]
Info: [Shadow Familiar] will supersede [Animal Familiar]
Increase [Shadow Familiar (I)] from level 1 to 3 (cost: 2 SP)
Cost: 2 SP, Left: 0 SP
Confirm [Y/N]
I confirmed the action and immediately used the skill. As described, I was presented with a few basic templates for a familiar. I picked the avian base template, a bird seemed the best option, and modified the appearance slightly.
System Log
Familiar Template [Shadow Raven] created
I summoned my new familiar and felt a huge hit on my mana. A quick look at my status showed it had cost two hundred and thirty mana but there didn’t seem to be any ongoing cost. But perched on my forearm, gripping my arm guard, was a pitch black raven. It was as if a shadow had suddenly taken physical form which, considering the name, was accurate. Through my magic perception, I could see it wasn't a real animal but instead a complex magical construct. I could see and feel the mental link between us.
It ruffled its feathers and cawed.
I decided he would be called Alan. A bit on the nose but I had never been all that good at names.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"It's …" Vel trailed off.
"Hard to see?"
"Is this a summon?"
"I think it's more of a magical construct."
"Does it have to look like that? It's a bit … creepy. It looks like an upright shadow."
"It's a shadow familiar, made with shadow magic."
"And will it work?"
"Let's try."
I gave Alan the order to fly off and survey the area, he was to report anything important to me.
---
'Found group of four lizards,' Alan sent back.
'Thanks. Please return.'
I felt a small feeling of acquiescence back through the link.
"It works," I said, "he found a group of lizards about hundred feet this way. But It's a bit awkward. I think we'll be better off it I get the share senses skill."
"We have a bit of a trek back," Vel said, "we can hunt something on the way. How many levels do you need?"
"I'm at thirteen. Ideally, I'd like to hit twenty to get the free skills from my next class level. I would also have ten points to improve my familiar skill."
"And your next perk," Vel added.
"I think I'll get danger sense this time. Just in case."
"Good idea," Vel nodded, "let's go find those lizards. We should be far enough away from the village to avoid attracting attention."
---
It felt almost nostalgic to fight yellow lizards again. With my improved awareness and arsenal of spells, I was more than a match for two lizards now. Vel had improved her control over plants once again and managed to keep all four immobilized while I rained spells on them.
It took us less than a minute to kill all four without any injury on our part. It was impressive what twenty levels of difference made.
System Log
Your group has defeated [Adult Yellow Jungle Lizard (Rank 2, Level 27)]
Your group has defeated [Adult Yellow Jungle Lizard (Rank 2, Level 25)]
Your group has defeated [Adult Yellow Jungle Lizard (Rank 2, Level 23)]
Your group has defeated [Adult Yellow Jungle Lizard (Rank 2, Level 29)]
Experience gain reduced by 20% for fighting with a group
Experience gain reduced by 50% for fighting enemies below your rank
Reached Level 16
Gained 5 SP, 2 AP
The experience penalty, however, was harsh. The system discouraged fighting lower leveled enemies and it showed.
I sent Alan on the search for another group. Maybe spiders this time, it would make for a change of pace.
---
We kept clear of any nests and instead searched for isolated groups of hunters. Alan had a bit more trouble spotting spiders than jungle lizards and there were several false positives though he improved along the way. I suspected he had access to the system even if I couldn't see it. Maybe with a higher skill level or another skill, I would be able to access it.
System Log
Your group has defeated [Young Taratect Hunter (Rank 2, Level 18-36)] x 4
Experience gain reduced by 20% for fighting with a group
Experience gain reduced by 50% for fighting enemies below your rank
Reached Level 19
Your group has defeated [Young Taratect Hunter (Rank 2, Level 18-36)] x 6
Experience gain reduced by 20% for fighting with a group
Experience gain reduced by 50% for fighting enemies below your rank
Reached Level 23
Gained 5 SP, 2 AP, 3 CP, 1 Perk
"I'm getting a lot of class points per level," I remarked.
"Isn't it supposed to increase at rank three?"
"But not that much. I got two at level ten and three at twenty."
"I bet it's your blessing," Vel said, "didn't it mention changing something about levels?"
"Not directly no but … maybe it does anyway. We'll investigate this later. First let's see what happened to the village."
"Yes," Vel said.
The hunt had managed to distract us a bit from the dire situation we were in. I quickly opened my system and purchased the skills I wanted.
Spell Conduit (Familiar Skill)
Your familiar can cast spells you have memorized.
The level of spells increases by 2 every 10 familiar skill levels.
Share Senses (Familiar Skill)
You can share your familiar's senses through the mental link.
Your familiar can copy one of your perception abilities (skill or perk) per familiar rank.
System Action
Increase [Druid] to level 6 for 2 CP
Increase [Magus] to level 5 for 1 CP
Cost: 3 CP, Left: 0 CP
Select [Druid] Familiar Skill [Share Senses]
Select [Druid] Familiar Skill [Spell Conduit]
Increase [Shadow Familiar (I)] from level 3 to 13 (cost: 10 SP)
Cost: 10 SP, Left: 0 SP
Confirm [Y/N]
---
I directed Alan as he flew over the village. The small raven was nearly invisible in the air, his dark form fading against the dark cavern ceiling. I had shared my perception sphere with him to make the search faster. Even with a radius of only ten meters it made sweeping through the village much easier.
The scout aviary had been toppled. The tall tower had crashed down on the headquarters and left half the building in ruins. The school had suffered damage as well though it was less severe. All the doors had been kicked off their hinges and the way to the underground shelter looked to have seen fighting.
Everywhere I looked, not a single survivor. There were a few bodies buried under rubble but that was all. Niu was a ghost town.
Vel and I had stopped at the edge of the outer barrier. Or where the barrier should have been.
I couldn't see or feel it.
When I found one of the anchors, it was dormant as well. I could see the enchantments but they were inactive. I wasn't an expert in barrier design, in fact I knew next to nothing about it, but I had a feeling the keystone had fallen.
The village barrier had fallen.