“Who are you? What do you want?”
~Ancient Hymn of the Zildan Monks. Ironically also their last words.
“Well, that was exciting.” A voice he heard somewhere before rang out from behind him. Devin jumped to his feet, ready for a fight.
Instead, he found a tan, old man in fatigues who wasn’t even looking at him. The old soldier kept his scarred face toward the pictures on the wall he was able to salvage—the few he was able to salvage
“Who are you?” Devin asked, keeping his hands up.
“Name’s Jeb, but most people call me Sergeant Major Francis now.” The old man said without turning. He kept his back towards him as he mulled over the photos, the polaroid pictures of his family Devin was able to salvage. “I did hear Devin ended up a Senior. I bet he would be real proud if he could look at you.”
“How the hell do you know my dad?” Devin asked, not putting his fists down. “Is this some messed up way to get in my head before we fight.”
The old man sighed exasperatedly before turning around. “No, son. I’m not here to fight you. I don’t even think you’re in a state for one yourself.” He gave Devin a knowing look.
Devin resisted, staying in a fighting stance a little longer, but he was unable to put off the exhaustion. He relaxed, taking a deep breath, before plopping onto the couch-turned-loveseat. “Fine. Whatever. What the hell are you here for?”
“A few things, but I’ll cut to the chase,” Jeb said, “I came to convince you to take part in the defense tonight.”
The declaration echoed through the empty house, stunning Devin. Jeb took his silence for reluctance and continued. “I don’t know what cards you been using to protect your house from the hordes every night, but it won’t be enough. Our intelligence tells us that tonight's horde will be big. It’s gonna make those first few nights look like kids playing in a sandbox.
You can’t just barricade yourself in here, so join us. We need powerful supers like you to keep Bainbridge alive.”
Devin grimaced, “That’s a lot to put on me. You don’t even know me. I could be a crazy psychopath for all you know.”
“I may not know you, but I knew your father. Insane bastard was there when I got this.” He pointed to his long scar that ran across his eyes. “Although he was crazy, he was a righteous man and did what he believed was right.”
“…Are you Gerald’s brother?” Devin asked.
Jeb smiled, dusting off a reassembled, lopsided chair before taking a seat himself. “He’s going by his government now? You should call him Jerry if you really want to mess with him.”
“I still think it's unbelievable that the sergeant major of the unit protecting us is from this dingy town.”
“More crazy than literal magic cards giving us superpowers?” Jeb scoffed. “So, what do you say, young man? Care to join us in protecting our town?”
“...I need to think about it. I’m still not fully healed from my last fight, and I don’t want to get myself killed.”
The old man frowned at his answer, standing up abruptly. “I understand. Well, if you do decide to stand with us. Meet us at the top of the northern wall.”
The old soldier stepped to leave, but Devin stopped him. “Wait! Can I ask you a question?”
Jeb turned around impatiently. “What?”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“What was my father like when he was my age?” Devin asked, his voice tapering off to a whisper.
“Well, from what I heard and seen about you.” Jeb looked around the reconstructed house a little bit more before he moved to the still-opened door. “He was pretty much like you.” The sergeant major said as he left.
The answer didn’t sit well with Devin.
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Music played in the background of Devin's patchwork house. It was a mix of 80’s rock, one that Devin was growing to appreciate
The last few days were spent working through the day and night to get better with his skills, and now that he succeeded Devin was left feeling listless. He wanted nothing more than to sit down and relax, yet his heart still raced. He couldn’t forget how he almost failed—almost died. If he didn’t have the skills he had, or if he made even one more mistake, it would have been all over.
Devin tried to distract himself by manifesting his soul card, but the action just reminded him how nice it was to be able to do such a thing. Haven’t had this thing for more than two months and I’m already spoiled. He shook his head, going through the changes in his soul card.
+0.1 Power Gained!
+0.2 Acumen Gained!
+0.3 Charisma Gained!
+0.3 Meta-Awareness Gained!
+0.3 Meta-Finesse Gained!
Devin Carter Shards: 0/4723
Life:90% Circle: Nature’s Spearhead
Stamina:24% Archetype:N/A
Arcanium:15%
Pandemonium:98%
POW:0.5 Meta-Awareness:0.6
ACU:0.7 Meta-Finesse:0.5
CHA:0.9
Boons: Breath of the Ocean, Extreme Alignment (Instrumentality), Link: Dewey
Main Deck: Rage, Boar’s Charge, Dewey
Side Deck: Incense of the Cramming Scholar
Skill list: Seize, Subjugate, Destroy, Focus, Refine
Vault: Rusty’s…, Explosive Power, Collect Potential, Mythic Heart, Bloodline Reveal, Gene Therapy, Last Stand, Heaven’s Lookout, Stick Tribe’s Bag o’ Tricks, Stealy’s Red Cap, Spear of Fear, Helm of the Necromancer, Asmodeus’ Fang, Ball, Piggy Bank, 2 Hearthstones
Growth Trees: Wrath, Elite, Boss
Wrath—1st branch
A primal fury inhabits your body
Rage (42/1000)
Power (40/1000)
Fire (45/1000)
Elite Tree—1st branch
The brand of the elite nurtures you
Mind (103/1000)
Body (99/100)
Soul (224/10,000)
Boss Tree
1st branch—Empower Subordinates
Many (0/10,000)
Few (0/1,000)
One (547/1,000)
Nature’s Spearhead
Alignment: Organic/Ethereal
The forest blesses the elite guardian
that cares for its corners.
The forest’s residents
readily serve the commander
Tempo: 2 seconds/ 3 minutes
Effect: Passively Grants Regenerative
and Resilience properties to Life.
Summons are granted a portion of the summoner’s status
Activation greatly increases the effects.
Devin scrunched up seeing pandemonium on his soul card, but even that couldn’t stop the smile that cracked onto his face. There’s just something about numbers going up that just makes me happy. Not to mention the new cards, and the upgrade in his magic circle. The young arcanist read through the changes, whistling at the improvements. At this point, I should look into forging another circle. I can’t keep relying on Dewey.
The thought made him pause until the lightbulb went off.
“Dewey!” Devin jumped out of the seat and immediately summoned her. He unhesitantly paid the small price in arcanium, sighing in relief once he felt the muted connection between them return.
She appeared from a small, shadowy crack, looking rattled while chittering up a storm. Devin blanched, unable to take her barrage of insults. He held out his palms for the mouse to jump in, but she turned her back towards him in a pout.
“You’re right, Dewey.” Devin apologized, agreeing with every word she said. “I’m a fucking idiot for letting my anger get to me. I’m sorry. It's been a while since I really had someone to lean on. I’ll remember that you’re beside me in the future.”
The mouse spirit continued to pout, turning a dew-like eye at him to see if he was being sincere. Devin went on. “Thank you for being there. Without you, I would’ve been a goner, even with all the advantages I have.”
He wasn’t a fool. Devin knew how monumental of a task they had accomplished, and how a greater portion of that success was due to Dewey’s efforts to assist him.
Without her, he would’ve failed at the start.
She pouted a little longer before she relented, jumping onto his palms, and skittered up his arm to nestle herself in his collar. She complimented him for his warmth, contentment radiating through their bond.
“Thanks?” He chuckled, turning off the music and taking a look around the house. “I guess the question is what do we do now?”
Dewey suggested he create deck profiles for different things so he can easily switch between them. Devin entertained the idea for a little while until he heard something from the boombox he never expected to hear again. He immediately picked it up, noticing he accidentally set it to radio instead of turning it off.
“Jacksonville, Clearwater, Tallahassee, Panama City, Dothan,” A tired voice read over a broadcast, naming off towns in quick succession. “Please avoid big cities, avoid large wilderness, stay off the roads, and collect as many shards as you can. Hang in there,” The voice gave a weary sigh, before the broadcast looped back, going back to an even larger list of towns than before.
Devin listened to the playback attentively a few more times, letting the implications set in. “Jesus Christ.”