Chapter 27: Omens Stir Like Autumn Leaves
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[SAGE ---> Raven System Notification]
> Weekly [General] experience allotted.
[Experience gained: +7 xp]
[Experience total: 13,357 xp]
[Cumulative total: 20,401 xp]
{exploit_alias_advancement-message transmitted}
> Level up added.
> Level [8] removed.
> Level [9] added.
***
[Attributes]
> Attribute increased [Endurance +1, 38 --> 39].
> Attribute increased [Willpower +1, 51 --> 52].
> Attribute increased [Magic +2, 53 --> 55].
***
[Skills & Abilities]
> General Skill increased [Spell Configuration, 18 --> 19].
> Magic Skill increased [Barrier Magic, 19 --> 20]
> Magic Skill increased [Elemental Magic, 16 --> 17]
> New Magic Subskill [Elemental Proficiency (Fire), Proficiency 1] added.
> Magic Skill increased [Illusion Magic, 9 --> 10]
> Magic Skill increased [Summoning Magic, 13 --> 14]
> Class Ability [Mana Surge] synthesized.
***
[Spells]
> Spell [Alter Appearance, Illusion, Basic] synthesized.
> Spell [Fire Lance, Elemental, Intermediate] synthesized.
> Spell [Armor of Frost, Elemental, Intermediate] synthesized.
> Spell [Invisibility, Illusion, Advanced] synthesized.
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Blychert’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor as he read back the abrupt system message to himself, nearly spilling his breakfast all over himself.
After well over a year since his last one, his attributes had finally increased! And given the stats in question, he knew that it meant his overall health, mana, as well as his overall magic resistances and critical components had all been increased. At long last, it seemed like he was finally making some progress. He only wished Bold Arrow was here to see it.
Before Bly knew it, nearly four weeks had come and gone since their departure.
A deep feeling of somber longing had hung on Bly’s mind in those few days afterwards. Somehow, it felt like a part of him was now missing, and he couldn’t even bring himself to think about the going to the dungeon by himself. Every now and again, especially when he was lying awake at night, he opened his sage terminal and flicked across to the party page, hoping for a second that he might somehow see everyone still listed there.
But it was just a fantasy, and he knew better than to dwell on it.
For his part, master Bartolo seemed to have taken it upon himself to remind Blychert that not all was hopeless, and that there was more in life to look forward to. So, true to his fastidious nature, the old sorcerer did a fairly good job of keeping Bly’s mind occupied on other matters thereafter. Alyse too, once she’d returned from her business in Frostwall. It wasn't long after that, that Bly was mostly healed from his injuries and getting back into the swing of things. Between the two senior spellcasters, he’d managed to integrate several new spells into his system repertoire, including the finnicky fire spell that Bredic had tried to teach him, as well as to fully synthesize mana surge as a permanent class ability. He’d also been able to expand upon his mana channeling lessons from the last few months, which helped him gain a new magic subskill in the process.
Thus, the proceeding days weren't so bad after all. And at the very least, it was nice to have both Alyse and Bartolo around again.
Blychert grew less and less concerned about the dungeon, as days turned into weeks. It was stable again, quiet as usual, and that strange apparition of the Pale Lady didn't make itself known again either. Whatever it was, Alyse was convinced that it had left, and that was good enough for Bly, for now. After all, the things that it had said in his strange, dream-like vision still lingered on his mind. What any of it meant, he couldn't be sure. But more than anything, it had called him "little brother" and what was that about a gilded cage? Was she talking about that strange, golden ward that he'd seen? It troubled him, and yet for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to ask either Alyse or Bartolo about it. At best, they wouldn't understand anyway. At worst, it would only make them worry about him even more.
In any event, and before his trials and tribulations with Bold Arrow, Bly wouldn’t have thought twice about skipping consecutive days of delving. He'd blown through a lot of experience with them and would certainly need to think about replenishing what he'd spent. But for now, he was simply content to enjoy life in Kelvalder.
And as it happened, at least when he wasn’t training, Bly found himself spending time in town.
He helped Missus’s Stein with reorganizing her entire store layout, a belated thanks for the invisibility spell scroll. Once Kara gave him the medical okay to really stretch his legs, and with speaker Durand’s express permission, Bly was more than happy to help Colt, Alain, Aletta, and all the other guards with their daily routes. It was autumn now after all, and overworld spawns only seemed to get worse with the changing of the seasons. Otherwise, he was perfectly suited to kickback at the White Horn, somehow finding Mister Ralf’s arguments with old farmer Cordell, Mister Malwin, any of his sons, or really anyone for that matter, much more aggregable than he used to.
He couldn’t say for certain when it had happened, but somehow, someway, Kelvalder really was starting to feel like home.
“Well, would you look at this?” Alyse said mysteriously, as she walked in the front door, a gust of wind and show chasing after her. Dusting off her snowy boots, Alyse removed her hood and cloak, hanging them up on the hook by the door to dry, before turning towards the dining table and revealing a small stack of various parchments and letters in her hands.
Bly looked up from his sage terminal confusedly, trying otherwise to enjoy the bliss of Bartolo’s delicious breakfast in peace and quiet, not to mention pouring over his attributes.
“Look at what—?” he said, mouth half-stuffed full of eggs and pork sausage.
“I’ll be taking that one.” Bartolo said, who then flicked his left hand from where he sat in his recliner within the living room. Suddenly, a small, spectral hand reached around Alyse’s shoulder and plucked the small, silver-ribboned letter off the top of the pile. It floated towards Bartolo and dropped it in his lap. Setting his tea aside, he nodded at Alyse saying, “Thank you, kindly.”
“You old coot…” Alyse mumbled, narrowing her gaze for a moment, before shifting her attention on to Bly. Slowly, she picked up another letter and tapped it twice before handing it down to him, “This one’s for you. From a friend, I believe. If seals are to be believed.”
Blychert’s expression softened, and he took the parchment in both hands. As Alyse walked away into the kitchen, he turned the letter over and saw the red seal of her mention. It was hard to make out at first, but as soon as he realized that it depicted a taut, diagonal arrow, he smiled.
***
Dear Trelen,
I hope this letter finds you well.
It seems like only yesterday that our paths crossed. If I could have only known then what I know now, would that have changed the outcome of our journey together? I often find myself thinking upon it, and about what we both experienced down in the depths of that dungeon. I can’t help but wonder if wasn’t more than what it seemed at first glance? I don’t know the answer, and perhaps I never will. All I know is that it led us to an end for which I am eternally grateful.
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You’ll be happy to know that since our return to Frostwall, Bold Arrow has received more than its fair share of accolades. For some inexplicable reason, everyone keeps asking about some sorcerer named Trelen, to which I find myself constantly amused by the plethora of answers the rest of the gang offers in response. That's my way of saying that the party’s exploits have reached quite a few ears, and an honorific plaque has even been posted in the Adventuring Hall. Not as high up as most of the others, but Bredic won’t shut up about it, so that’s something. Frankly, I don’t know what Norman would think of all this, least of all my actions in recent months. But I know he would be proud of everyone, and he’d be thankful to you too.
Unfortunately, Bold Arrow lost its first member in Bredic. He realized shortly after our return home that the adventuring life wasn’t for him. I’m proud of him though, you know? He stepped outside his comfort zone to support his friends. That takes a lot of courage. Anyway, he’s intent to focus on a career as a spellwright. He loves magic, and I should never have asked him to try and be a hero. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but he’s actually been accepted into the Loreley School of Magic. He'll be heading there first thing in the spring.
As for the others, I know they miss you.
I tried to relinquish my position as party leader to Vineta, just so you know. She deserves it, but she yelled at me for even trying. That said, we have a lot of requests coming in to join the party, and we’ve even been consulting with some of the big shots around here about establishing ourselves as a full-time gig. I have unfinished personal business to take care of, and I don’t know where that will take me, but I'm ready to keep leading Bold Arrow wherever it goes. Lisel talks about you all the time, by the way. She seems to think I’m withholding information about the details of those two days in the dungeon. Careful with her, she's sharp. Though if it’s of any consequence to you, I just keep telling her the same thing I always do: Ask him yourself.
All of this was a very long way of saying, Trelen, and if it’s not too much to ask, I would like to formally request that you join Bold Arrow. For real, this time. And before you get all antsy about you know what, just know that I’ve got your back, no matter what. I know a thing or two about keeping a low profile in a crowd. And if you decide you don’t want to, tough but no hard feelings. And hey, you’ll at least have friends whenever you need them.
Should you decide to make the journey out to Frostwall, I’ve included some simple instructions on how to get a hold of me once you arrive. It’s a big city, and an even bigger dungeon. I know you’ll ace it.
With regards,
Xander A. Wolfe
[White Horse Courier Service - 22 Harvesttide, 520 DE]
***
“Is he serious…?” Bly murmured to himself, hardly knowing where to begin unpacking all of that.
They wanted him to join Bold Arrow? Like, actually? And there were new members? And Bredic was going to school?! What in the hell was going on? A lot of time had passed, sure, but not that much time! Did things really move that fast in Frostwall? If so, Blychert wasn’t sure he was prepared for that level.
Even still…
The second he read those words, one foot was already out the door, ready to be in the big city by tomorrow. If they really wanted him to come, then damned it all he was going. He didn’t care what it took, or how hard he would have to work just to keep himself safe, this was everything he wanted—everything, and maybe so much more. Besides, how could he say no to an opportunity like this?
Blychert frowned momentarily.
Was any of this possible? Or was it just more wishful thinking.
“Anything good?” Alyse asked, stepping back out from the kitchen. She meandered around the table and took a seat in one of the chair’s opposite Bly, and looked at him expectantly, popping a few candied hazelnuts into her mouth before saying, “…Well?”
“Uhm…” Bly scratched his head for a moment, “Xander sort of asked me to… join Bold Arrow. And, uh, go to Frostwall. I guess?”
He was expecting a full tirade from one, the other, or both his mentors. But funnily enough, it never came.
“That’s exciting.” Bartolo was the first to say, as casually as one might talk about the weather, “I think that’s a good idea.”
Blychert furrowed his brow, “You do?”
“…You do?” Alyse immediately echoed Bly, her tone just as confused as his was.
Bartolo looked up from whatever he was reading, and removed his glasses, simply shrugging, “Why not? This is exactly what you've been aiming for, isn’t it, Bly? What you've been training for? If I thought I could hide you forever, I would have constructed a padded room! So, this is was you want. Right?"
Blychert paused, a bit perplexed by his master’s reaction, which was normally highly dismissive of such ideas, before nodding more confidently, “More than anything."
“Eh—” Bartolo resounded at a higher pitch, flinging one of his hands into the air, as if to insist the matter was settled, “Then I take it back, it’s an excellent idea. I won't have any apprentice of mine saying that I was a stick in the mud.”
“Bartolo…” Alyse said worriedly, “This is poor timing, especially if you plan on returning to Tielun. I received an update from a very important contact of mine, about some matters that I’d hoped would resolve themselves by now. I’m afraid that’s not been the case. I’ll be leaving here myself, as soon as I’m able. I can't stay with Trelen.”
Blychert’s heart skipped, his gaze darting over to her, “Wait—you’re leaving? When did this happen?”
Alyse offered a consoling wince, as Bartolo replied, “You’ve done more than your part, Alyse. More than I should have asked you too, frankly. No, I will accompany Blychert to Frostwall, if that is his wish, and I will remain with him until such a time that he is able to settle in. You're free of your duties, as they say.”
“Is that so?” Alyse murmured, “I thought your work was—"
“Unfinished, yes, but that’s not important.” Bartolo interjected. A slight grin betrayed his features, as he teased, “Besides, unlike you, I have friends in that city who still owe me a favor. And it’s clear that you’ve given the boy far too much flexibility in his training. We’ll be rectifying that, posthaste!”
Blychert groaned, realizing all at once what kind of torture that meant for him.
But a small smile creased his lips, as his two mentors devolved into yet another argument, light-hearted as it was.
Nothing was going to dampen the mood.
He was going to Frostwall.
***
The day of Alyse’s departure was a bleary autumn morning.
What very few leaves there were on the trees of Kelvalder had all but flung themselves to the four winds, leaving a small trail of red, orange, and yellow scattered across the roads. It was just as well, because the day itself felt scattered, and Bly wasn't sure he was prepared for it.
Despite their awkward relationship in all this time, Bly couldn’t help but feel sad to see Alyse go all of a sudden. She'd disappeared plenty of times, but she always came back. He wasn’t just losing a mentor anymore; he was losing a friend too. She was hard on him at times, extremely lenient at others, but more than any of that, she listened. He didn’t presume to think that she cared for him, and it wasn’t like he fully understood what it was she even hoped to get out of all of this, and still none of that seemed to matter at the moment.
He still had so many questions about the classless, about Sage, about that strange item she now seemed to have two of, that she refused to elaborate on. Every time he asked about his father, it was shrugged off, and when he asked about her deal with the Guild, she gave mere half-answers. Why had she really come to save him that day? Just what was her actual role in all of this? It was too hard to say, and she was always scant with the details.
But despite all of that, Alyse Crane had been here for him. He'd depended on her, and he was grateful.
She had to care, in her own strange way, didn't she? He wasn’t ready to say goodbye, not yet. If joining Bold Arrow meant losing her, what was it all for? If gaining back Bartolo meant losing her, what was it all for? He hoped to be someone that she could rely on, not the other way around, because she'd already done so much to help him grow stronger and more confident in his abilities. And now, she was leaving before he even had the chance to repay her for that debt.
“Hey? Chin up, kiddo.” Alyse startled him out of his deep state of thought. She nudged his chin with her index finder and narrowed her eyes in quiet contemplation. Blychert tried to avert her gaze, but it was futile, as she said, “You know better than to get emotional around me. I’ll always sniff you out. Always.”
“Yeah, yeah…” Bly mumbled embarrassingly, “You always get what you want.”
Alyse’s eyes flashed, and for a split-second, a frown etched her lips, “…Not always.”
“Well, you better get going then.” Bly insisted, not sure how much more of this he could take.
Releasing his chin, Alyse stepped back into the teleportation circle, and said, “You’re wrong, Blychert. You are someone I can rely on. You have been for quite some time—more than you know.”
Blychert gasped somewhat, but stole back his composure in the same moment, and nodded.
Turning towards Bartolo, she said teasingly, “I suppose I must wish you well, sorcerer.”
“I endeavor to do the same… witch.” Bartolo bowed his head slightly, a smile hidden beneath his beard.
“Well, I guess… this is goodbye.” Alyse looked back at Bly. Raising her eyebrow, she said, “You know, if you’re lucky—”
“We’re meeting again.” Bly interjected, shaking his head in disapproval of her teasing remarks. Despite himself, he flicked her a smirk of his own, saying, “Count on it.”
“Hmm.” Alyse closed her eyes with a warm smile, the warmest perhaps Bly had ever seen her give, as she softly placed her hand over her heart. Opening her eyes, she replied softly, “That's the spirit.”
In a flash of purple light, she was gone.
“Well, I’m glad you two got along well.” Bartolo confessed, “I was worried about that before I left, you know. It’s nice to see that the two of you worked well together. That said… I simply cannot accept the fact that she didn’t bother to train your barrier magic at all!”
“…Huh?” Bly turned his face, his sadness replaced by complete flabbergasted confusion.
“That woman has no love for defensive magic, I’ll tell you that right now. A complete and utter incendiary.” Bartolo grunted irritably, “I’ve always said, the best offense is a good defense. She has no love for the crafting of barriers! Starting tomorrow, we’ve got work to do. And what’s more, since it will take another month at least to get everything in order for our travels to Frostwall, that means no distractions! We’re getting back to basics, young man, just like we used to. Best believe it.”
Blychert groaned audibly, remembering not so fondly his master’s grueling barrier magic training when he was younger. However, he furrowed his brow all of sudden, asking, “Wait, what do you mean… no distractions?”
“Oh, don’t be coy.” Bartolo argued, “I’ve been a way awhile, but I was your age once just so you know. Distractions are plenty! Lisel was her name, right?”
Blychert’s face flushed, and he was certain that he was burning bright red, as he muttered in response, “Master, where—what the hell are you even talking about?!”
Bartolo shrugged, as he waved his hand through the air. In a flash, everything in the living room was back to the way it was supposed to be. As he settled into his recliner, the old sorcerer said, “Alyse told me all about you two, so don't try to hide it. She even said that she told the young lady that you were very fond of her. So, I don’t see what you’re making such a fuss about. It’s perfectly natural for a young man to…”
Bly’s mind tuned everything else out after that. And how couldn’t it? After hearing such flagrant lies, there was no way he could show his face in Frostwall now! He didn’t want to—well, give anyone the wrong impression. Did he? And how the hell did Alyse know what he was thinking. She was an empath, not a psychic.
Wait, she had read his mind just a few minutes ago. Hadn't she? How else would she have known exactly what he was thinking...
Blychert sighed.
Once again, Alyse Crane was going to be the death of him!