Finn burst into the courtyard's fragile safety. A knot of wounded soldiers stood ready, but jerky movements and haunted faces betrayed their bravery. Finn knew that even the bravest has breaking points.
"Your Highness!" Kaelen WhiteTurnip said, snapping to attention. "We were worried. Captain Rylan instructed us to secure this location and await your arrival. Is he alright? Did something happen?"
Finn's mind raced. Rylan left them here for a reason. "He's fine," Finn said, trying to sound confident. "We were separated. He sent me ahead, said he'd meet us here."
Next to Kaelen stood a woman in dark leather armor, and she moved like a shadow, quick and fluid. Her eyes were sharp as a razor [Lyra - Perception: Enhanced - Stealth + 10%], always scanning the surroundings, but her hand shook faintly as she held her daggers, her stance tense as if expecting a sudden attack.
"Lyra Nakamura, your scout, Your Highness," she said, her voice quiet but steady.
Two more figures stepped forward. A man with a fancy crossbow and a young woman with medical supplies and glowing Aetherium wristbands.
"Silas Vance, your crossbowman, Your Highness," the man said, nervously adjusting his crossbow. His voice was steady, but he kept glancing at the entrance of the courtyard, looking worried. He kept removing and attaching a small metallic cylinder to the side of the crossbow, as if trying to find the perfect setup. He muttered to himself, barely audible, about energy flow and focus. He kept playing with the crossbow, holding it too tightly.
"Anya Volkov, a Medic Weaver, Your Highness," Anya added, her voice soft but firm. Her Aetherium wristbands, used to make Aether energy to heal people, glowed softly, making the chaotic courtyard seem a little safer.
But as she stepped forward, her Aetherium wristbands, used to manipulate Aether for healing, reacted in an unusual way, briefly changing the direction of Silas' crossbow bolt. She stumbled, almost yanking Silas down with her. A high-pitched yelp escaped Silas as his fingers clenched reflexively on the trigger, firing the crossbow.
The bolt shot upwards, striking a broken stone decoration, and landed just above Finn's head in what seemed like the slowest possible way, making Finn see his whole life flash before his eyes as he tried to understand if this was really happening.
Aetherium's erratic behavior was linked to Anya's feelings – A stark reminder that technology and human feelings were a volatile mix that needed careful management. Maybe I should give her a risk assessment form, Finn mused as he felt a small rock bounce off his head.
Everyone else was frozen still, mouths agape, eyes wide. Kaelen was pale as a ghost. He tried to ascertain if Finn was still alive, almost screaming, “By the One True God of Light! Silas, you could have killed him! Are you trying to be funny? What in the Light's name was that!?” The intricate weave of his armor's tech vibrated with tension, its inner systems responding to his alarm.
HUD: Kaelen’s nanoscale actuators surged with power, [Kinetic Barrier] ready to deploy.
Kaelen was ready to deploy the kinetic barrier, but the ability activation didn’t go through.
Silas, looking as if he had just met the devil himself, stammered out a response, "I-I-I'm s-s-so sorry, Your H-Highness!" He clutched the crossbow like a lifeline, as if hoping it could shield him from the consequences of his blunder. "I-I-I didn’t m-m-mean to!"
Anya, her face bright red, stayed completely still, trying to make herself as small as possible and become invisible, silently whispering, "Oh god. Oh god, oh god," to herself, trying desperately not to move as she felt like she was going to erupt into a volcano.
Lyra's casual smirk vanished, replaced by the sharp focus of a scout assessing battlefield damage. She was at his side in an instant, her hand hovering near his arm, her voice almost frantic as she said, "Are you alright, Your Highness? Was that a graze?" Her closeness was a subtle assertion of dominance, a reminder that she was the skilled warrior, and he was the clueless HR guy pretending to be a prince. His brain short-circuited. Lyra's charm and beauty were a DDOS attack to the servers of his brain. Focus, Finn, he told himself, fighting to regain his composure. She can probably tell I have no idea what I'm doing. She can probably smell the fear.
He desperately tried to look calm and collected, trying not to let his panic show. "I’m… fine, Lyra," he stammered, his voice cracking slightly. Project presence, Finn. Command the room. Ugh, easier said than done. He looked at her, trying to act as if he knew what he was doing, even though he knew he didn't. "Thank you for your concern," he said, and saw her lips curl into a small smirk, which might have been mocking him, but he wasn't sure. Maintain eye contact. Show genuine interest. Ugh, this is way harder than it looked in the book. I should have looked up HR flirting advice! But then, her smirk was gone, and she nodded briefly and looked away, leaving him more confused than ever.
Rylan burst through the doorway like a tempest, his presence commanding immediate attention. His jaw was locked tight with controlled intensity, and a golden aura seemed to emanate from his body, casting a reassuring glow amidst the chaos. His hand moved to his sword, gripping it so tightly his knuckles were white. His face showed a focused intensity, but his eyes burned with a suppressed need for order. The harsh lines of his face were softened by an underlying strength, a quiet resolve that drew the eye and inspired confidence.
"We need to focus," Rylan declared, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "This is not the time for accidents. We need to get organized."
Finn's personal guard snapped to attention, drawn to his authority like iron filings to a magnet, their faces hardening with renewed resolve. Finn felt a surge of hope; with Rylan here, they had a chance.
The former HR graduate, immediately started analyzing the disorganized defense, and understood that he needed to focus on his team first, to figure out their strength and weaknesses, and how to create a team that could work with maximum efficiency. He needed to figure out what was going on and how to create a risk assessment for this situation, and to make sure that the team morale was as high as it could be, given their situation. He also needed to find a way to make his skills useful for the team, as soon as possible.
Team bonding activities are needed... immediately. Wait, do team bonding activities even work in real life? Great! I should have paid more attention in that workshop.
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The dark shard pulsed, its malevolent red light growing stronger, casting eerie shadows as the ground began to shake. Cracks snaked across the stone floor, spreading like spiderwebs. The courtyard, once their safe haven, now felt like a claustrophobic cage. Finn's fear intensified, realizing that his troubles were far from over. The ground trembled violently, and Finn's stomach dropped as the fissures widened beneath his feet.
What is this shard? he wondered, unable to tear his eyes away from its ominous glow. The shard seemed to resonate with a dark power, its pulsing light almost alive. Finn couldn't shake the feeling that it held a sinister secret, something that could change everything he knew about this world.
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Chapter 4: Character Stat Info
• Kaelen "The Bastion" WhiteTurnip (Gladiator 1★)
* Level: 2
* HP: 120/150
* Energy: 80/100
* Weapon: Aether-Imbued Warhammer (Military Issue)
* Ability:
* Kinetic Barrier (Active) - Deploys a nanotech shield linked to his Aether field, deflecting damage and protecting allies.
* Background: Kaelen, known for his defensive skills, is a steadfast protector. His presence makes him a cornerstone in battle, though he hides his anxiety behind humor.
• Lyra "The Whisper" Nakamura (Ninja 1★)
* Level: 2
* HP: 120/120
* Energy: 50/50 (Controlled Usage)
* Weapons: Aether-Imbued Ninja Daggers (Military Issue) with enhanced edges powered by her Aether. 15 Aether-Imbued Shuriken (Ranged).
* Ability:
* Phase Shift (Active) - Briefly phases through obstacles using energy-infused armor.
* Background: Lyra is a master of stealth, agility, and charm. She infiltrates with ease, making her a formidable opponent.
• Silas "The Eye" Vance (Crossbowman 1★)
* Level: 2
* HP: 100/100
* Energy: 69/75
* Equipment: Aether-Infused Crossbow (Military Issue) with an integrated power system. 36 Aether-Imbued Bolts (Ammo).
* Ability:
* Rapid Reload (Active) - Increases reload speed for a short duration.
* Background: Silas, a former turret engineer with a knack for tech, is a valuable marksman seeking redemption.
• Anya "Spark" Volkov (Medic Weaver 1★)
* Level: 2
* HP: 110/110
* Energy: 115/120
* Equipment: Aether-Imbued Wristband (Military Issue) - Amplifies her healing touch.
* Ability:
* Healing Touch (Active) - Focused energy beams from her wristband to heal.
* Background: Anya is a compassionate medic whose clumsiness is overshadowed by her desire to save lives, despite her struggles controlling her powers.