372 days until the Arkon Shield falls

Supreme,

I have received the first report from my people on the target. The settlement in question is more sizeable than we anticipated, and the orc forces in the region are concentrated in greater numbers than expected. If we wait for the Arkon Shield to fall before acting, it may be too late.

—Archmage Cxal.

An insect buzzed over me.

It felt that no sooner had I placed my head on the pillow than my sleep was being disturbed. Not opening my eyes, I brushed at the thing. It refused to budge. “Go away,” I slurred, waving my hands ineffectually.

If anything, the annoying bug’s buzzing only increased in volume. “Goddamn,” I growled and forced reddened eyes open.

Ash hovered above me, pulsing merrily.

I scowled at her. “And a good morning to you too,” I said scathingly.

She pulsed brighter.

Clearly, my new companion didn’t get sarcasm.

Turning my head to the side, I looked out through the door. It was morning. I groaned. Already?

“I guess I should get up,” I muttered and clambered out of bed. Squinting at the sunlight streaming in through the door, I tried to judge the time.

It couldn’t be too late, or Petrov would have sent someone to fetch me. I glanced at Ash. “You better get back in my pocket.” I yawned. “I don’t want you common knowledge yet.” I held out my arm.

I doubted the familiar understood my words, but she had marked my intent and alighted squarely in the center of my palm—my scaled palm. “Huh. I better take care of that too.” Draconic hands would only attract the wrong sort of attention.

Moving groggily, I donned my new armor and strapped on my backpack. Efficient as always, Melissa had delivered a pack filled with rations and other odds and ends with the rest of my gear. With Ash safe in my pocket and my new staff in tow, I strode out the cabin.

I expected that Petrov’s company would be assembling at the village’s northern gate, but I had an errand to run before I could join them. Turning westwards, I limped towards the temple.

There weren’t many people on the streets, and all of them were hurrying about on some chore or the other, paying scant attention to their surroundings. No one was watching me. Acting on impulse, I cast dragon leap.

Threads of mana slipped down from my mind and into my legs. Dragon magic filled both limbs, multiplying their strength tenfold. Here goes, I thought. Stopping short, I coiled back and sprang forward.

I sailed through the air. And for a few blissful seconds, I was free and unconstrained.

It felt good. Beyond good, actually, no matter that it was only temporary. I landed with an audible thump, a grin pasted on my face. Turning about, I judged the distance. I estimated I’d cleared nearly thirty feet in a single bound. My smile widened. I might still be crippled, but my mobility had just gone up several notches.

Swiveling about and in better spirits, I resumed my journey to the temple. It was time to spend my new Marks.

✽✽✽

You have entered Sierra. Your vigor has increased to level 44.

Exiting the temple, I dismissed the waiting Trials message. This time I’d used my Marks to improve my reserve of stamina. It had been lagging both my mana and health pools, and despite the relative ease of regaining stamina, I knew that if I didn’t increase my vigor, it would hamper my dragon magic.

Reaching inwards to the core within me, I called up the status of my Potentials.

45% of extraordinary Magic Potential actualized.

37% of mediocre Might Potential actualized.

27% of exceptional Resilience Potential actualized.

13% of gifted Craft Potential actualized.

Not bad, I admitted grudgingly as I reviewed the Trials’ feedback. With all the additional Marks I’d earned from my spellcrafting and the three cores I’d converted, I judged I had the Attributes of a player twenty levels higher. If I kept up my rate of advancement, I expected I would reach my limits soon, at least in Might, my poorest Potential.

Turning left, I made my way north through the settlement. Petrov was surely getting impatient by now. As I approached the village gate, a company of soldiers came into sight—three hundred strong and assembled in six disciplined lines. They looked ready to depart.

I sighed. Petrov was not going to be pleased. I spotted him and the commander at the head of the company and hurried to join them.

“You’re late,” the bearded captain grumbled when I drew to a halt before the pair.

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“Sorry, couldn’t be helped,” I replied.

The old lady’s gaze flitted over me, taking in my reddened eyes and lined face. “Are you all right, Jamie?”

I nodded. “It’s been a long night,” I admitted. Pulling out Ash from my pocket, I let her rest on my palm.

“What is that?” Jolin asked, transfixed by the golden marble as she rose aloft to hover a few inches above my hand.

I grinned. “This is Ash.”

The old lady stared at me blankly. “Ash?”

My smile broadened; it was rare that I got to surprise her. “The elemental spirit from the orc commander’s gauntlet,” I explained. “She is my familiar now. I forged a spirit bond with her last night.”

Petrov blinked. “Her?”

“That’s right,” I said. “Ash is a female spirit. Say hi, Ash.”

The familiar pulsed brightly.

Petrov blinked again. “It can understand us?”

I chuckled. “She. And no, I don’t think Ash can understand everything we say, but she can sense emotions and intent.”

The big man’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“And what can Ash do?” Jolin asked softly.

I shrugged. “Not much just yet, but she can—” I willed the seed to shoot up into the air—“do that.”

Jolin and Petrov’s heads jerked upwards, following the familiar’s fast-flying form.

“Where did she go?” Petrov asked, bewildered.

My gaze drifted from him to the bright empty sky. I couldn’t pick out the seed’s glowing form either. “Can’t you see her?”

The captain shook his head. I glanced at Jolin. She, too, replied in the negative.

“Excellent,” I murmured and recalled the familiar to my hand. “Ash has only one offensive ability, a short-ranged fire attack, so her use as a weapon is limited at the moment.” I paused. “But I can see and hear through her.”

“Oh my,” Jolin said, catching on. “She will make for an effective scout then.” The old lady leaned forward to examine the glowing crystal intently. “Can you do anything about the light she emits?”

I grimaced. “Not yet, but I will think up something soon.” I hoped. “Ash’s range is only about three hundred yards right now, but I suspect that will increase as she grows.”

“Grows?” Petrov asked. He pointed a stubby finger at the familiar. “That is a crystal. How is it—she—going to grow?”

“She will level up like players do,” I said. I scratched the side of my face. “As for her… body, I think I can upgrade it with more elemental crystals.”

Jolin nodded thoughtfully. “Well done, Jamie. You’ve put the elemental stone to even better use than the other fragments you found.” She tilted her head to the side. “Can you create familiars for other players?”

I shook my head and returned Ash to my pocket. “No. The process requires the player to have both sorcery and magic.”

The commander’s lips turned down. “Pity.”

“Another enchanted weapon would’ve been more useful,” Petrov complained.

Jolin laughed. “Don’t dismiss Jamie’s new pet just yet, Petrov. I suspect in time, she will prove far more valuable than a simple blade.”

He inclined his head in acknowledgment.

“Speaking of enchanted weapons, here’s mine,” Jolin said. Unsheathed the longsword of air at her hip, she handed it to Petrov.

I frowned as the captain took the proffered weapon.

“You and others will need every advantage you can manage on this mission,” Jolin explained, her countenance serious once more. “The other enchanted blades are already with Tara and Giselle’s people.”

I nodded slowly. She was right. This was our most dangerous mission yet, and the odds of success were not good. “There’s something else I must tell you before we set out.”

Jolin looked at me questioningly.

Taking in a deep breath, I went on to report on my adventures in the Arena and what else I’d learned from Jain’s party. Jolin and Petrov listened to my tale in silence.

“You think this Order of Humanity will make for good allies?” the old lady asked when I was done.

I shifted uncomfortably. “I trusted Jain’s people with my life and have no compunctions about doing so again. But as for the rest of his faction…” I shrugged. “I don’t know. They are worth seeking out anyway.”

“Agreed,” the commander said. “At the very least, we must send a delegation to the gnomish city, Jabbermuck.”

I nodded. I’d had the same thought. “Have you decided yet who will lead the delegation?”

Jolin pursed her lips. “Melissa, I think. From what you’ve said, the gnomes are master craftsmen, and they might just be more receptive to one of their own ilk than another fighter.”

“Good idea,” Petrov said.

I bit my lip. I didn’t disagree with Jolin’s assessment. Melissa was a good choice. In her own way, the head crafter was as much a force to be reckoned with as the commander, but I worried what Sierra would do without her. “Can the village spare her?”

Jolin smiled. “Melissa runs a tight ship, and she will be missed, no doubt, but she has trained her people well. They will cope in her absence.”

I let the matter lie. The old lady knew her people best. “When will the delegation set out?”

The commander’s gaze roved over my face. “You’re thinking of accompanying them?”

I hesitated. “I’m not sure. Perhaps.” I still wasn’t convinced of the wisdom of me entering any of the cities just yet. I needed to give the matter serious thought and vowed to do so once we were done with the mission. Assuming everything went well, of course.

“I would like the delegation to set out immediately,” Jolin continued, “but with so many of our soldiers away to the north, our forces are stretched thin at the moment.” She sighed. “I dare not weaken Sierra’s defenses further.” She met my gaze. “I will wait on the expedition’s return before sending the delegation out, but if I don’t hear from you in a week...”

I jerked my head. “Understood.”

“Perhaps by then, our animal wranglers will have figured out how to control those great lizards,” Jolin mused.

I blinked in surprise. I’d forgotten about the beasts. “We recovered the creatures?”

Petrov’s look turned sour. “They were still tied up at the same tree you left them at when Cass returned with reinforcements.” He snorted. “The forest creatures probably know better than to entangle with such beasts. It was not easy, but we managed to haul the lizards back to Sierra.”

I nodded, pleased that they had retrieved the creatures. Sierra could do with some beasts of burden. I turned back to the commander. “I guess this is goodbye again, ma’am.”

Jolin shook Petrov’s hand, then mine. “Good luck, gentlemen,” she said and eyed us in turn. “I wish I could accompany you, but given the orcs’ numbers in the region, I can’t leave Sierra unattended again. And whatever happens, make sure you return in one piece.”

Is it just me, or is that last part directed more to me than Petrov?

Swinging around to face the arrayed soldiers, the commander saluted them. They snapped to attention.

“For Sierra!” the old lady shouted.

They echoed her cry with a roar, and on that note, we set out to do battle.