Amber grinned as she put down another card. I glanced at my hand of cards. What met my gaze was an unmitigated disaster. My chances at victory melting away faster than snow in a furnace with each card Amber placed onto the board. “Pass.” As I passed my turn, Amber’s grin widened further. “Should’ve known better than playing against a gnome in a game of chance, Ashes.” She was being smug, but I couldn’t blame her. She was now on her last card, while I couldn't play a single one myself.

I put down my cards. “I concede, Amber. Besides, we have an early morning tomorrow, so let’s get to bed, eh?” Amber hesitated then nodded. “You were gonna lose that one anyhow… spoilsport.” I looked at her for a moment. “Pfft, says the queen of smugness herself.” Amber pretended to be mad, as she put away the playing cards, and we prepared for bed. Soon after, we crawled into bed and fell asleep.

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I was dreaming. I was aware I was, yet, it felt different from any dream I could remember. A gale of wind and snow surrounded me, obscuring my vision. Shapes were moving about around me, indistinct in the snow. The shapes were running towards a writhing mass of shadows, before swinging or shooting bolts of familiar blue flame at them.

I noticed a glint of something at my feet. Just then, I noticed small mouse-sized shapes running past, following the larger shapes towards what I realized was a battle. Another bold of energy sizzled past, mere inches from blasting my head off. My gaze turned around against my will, and my mouth opened. “Grizo, watch where you’re shooting!” The voice was not my own.

My body focused towards the massive writhing mass that the blizzard obscured. There was a horrible screech from it, then a baleful purple light appeared and gained intensity at an astonishing pace. “May Rubolg help us all.” The light burst forth, consuming everything it touched, including me. The shock of what I saw woke me up, drenched in sweat.

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I sat up with a gasp. That wasn’t a nightmare, I was certain. I opened my skill list and looked at it again. Maybe it would have some answers? I scoffed. Nah, I already had more questions than answers since my last look, but… still.

List of skills

Demi-Titan Heritage

As a descendant of the now extinct titans, their power has reawakened fully in you, giving you access to their powers and abilities.

Coldfire Sovereign

This skill grants its holder the ability to wield and manipulate coldfire, fire and ice. Only the rightful ruler of the Coldfire Titans can have this skill.

Leyline Smith

By drawing on the power of the leylines the skill holder can forge unique relics and artifacts whose power varies depending on the skill user’s elemental affinity.

Master Martial Artist

Skill holder has received enough training to become a master in martial arts and unarmed combat.

Beginner Alchemist

Because of passive observation, you have a beginner level knowledge of alchemy.

Master Blacksmith

Because of lifelong training, you have the skills of a master blacksmith.

(New) T̴̸̶̴̵̴̵w̴̶̴̵̶̷̵i̸̸̸̷̴̵̶n̴̸̸̶̷̷̷ ̷̶̶̵̶̷̷S̷̷̵̶̴̸̸o̴̵̴̴̶̸̶u̶̷̸̶̴̷̴l̷̴̷̵̵̸̸

C̸̵̴̴̴̴̸o̴̸̵̸̶̵̶n̶̵̸̵̴̸̵n̵̶̴̴̷̶̴e̶̷̵̴̴̷̴c̶̷̶̴̸̸̸t̷̸̷̵̷̷̴s̵̶̴̶̴̶̸ ̴̷̷̷̶̴̵y̶̷̴̸̶̶̴o̵̴̴̸̶̸̴u̸̵̶̷̷̸̸r̶̷̸̷̵̷̶ ̴̵̷̷̵̸̷s̶̵̶̴̵̷̶o̸̴̵̷̴̶̷u̸̶̴̷̷̴̶l̸̴̷̷̴̴̴ ̵̵̴̴̴̴̶t̵̷̵̵̸̷̶o̸̶̸̴̷̸̵ ̴̸̶̷̷̵̴i̶̴̸̸̷̷̴t̷̴̸̴̵̶̶s̶̴̶̴̵̸̴ ̸̶̵̸̸̸̸o̵̵̶̶̵̸̷t̶̸̵̸̶̸̸h̶̵̸̵̴̴̶e̴̶̵̷̵̵̴r̵̷̴̸̵̵̷ ̷̸̵̶̶̷̷h̶̴̴̷̶̵̴a̷̷̶̷̶̷̸l̴̶̷̸̴̷̷f̴̶̶̶̴̷̵ ̴̶̵̵̷̶̴v̷̴̶̸̶̷̴i̷̸̶̸̵̵̶a̵̴̷̵̴̸̸ ̶̶̴̵̶̶̶a̵̴̸̴̶̷̶ ̶̶̴̴̴̷̷m̸̵̷̵̶̸̵y̵̸̶̷̸̵̴s̷̴̴̴̷̴̶t̵̴̴̵̴̴̷i̷̶̸̵̵̷̸c̷̴̶̴̶̸̷a̸̷̶̷̴̴̸l̷̸̴̴̵̸̸ ̴̸̴̴̸̶̴b̷̶̴̸̴̸̶o̶̸̵̸̸̸̶n̴̸̷̷̸̴̴d̸̷̴̶̴̴̶ ̶̸̷̶̷̵̶t̴̷̷̴̸̷̶h̸̷̶̸̴̸̷a̴̷̷̴̷̶̷t̷̵̷̵̴̵̸ ̸̷̴̷̴̵̵n̷̵̵̸̵̷̶o̶̸̸̴̶̶̴t̷̸̵̸̵̶̸ ̸̸̸̵̶̶̴e̴̸̵̷̶̶̶v̵̴̵̷̵̵̶e̸̶̸̵̸̶̶n̶̶̴̶̸̶̵ ̶̵̵̸̶̸̸t̵̵̴̶̴̶̴h̸̵̶̵̴̸̶e̸̵̷̶̷̶̷ ̸̸̸̵̵̵̸g̶̸̴̴̸̵̸o̴̵̷̷̶̷̸d̴̸̴̴̵̵̷s̴̷̷̵̶̴̵ ̸̸̴̴̵̴̶c̸̵̸̸̸̴̵a̵̵̵̸̶̸̷n̷̸̵̷̴̸̴ ̴̵̶̶̷̷̸b̷̵̵̷̷̶̶r̶̷̶̵̸̶̸e̵̶̴̸̵̷̶a̴̶̵̸̷̴̷k̷̵̸̸̵̸̴.̴̴̵̷̷̴̶ ̵̸̵̷̴̷̴T̷̷̸̷̷̴̶h̵̵̸̴̵̸̸e̸̴̸̸̷̷̸ ̵̸̵̶̶̶̸t̶̴̶̸̸̷̴w̵̸̸̴̶̴̴i̸̸̷̶̶̵̴n̷̴̸̷̵̶̷-̶̴̷̵̵̶̵s̵̶̷̶̵̸̷o̸̸̶̸̴̸̸u̷̷̸̴̶̶̸l̷̵̸̷̴̵̴s̵̵̵̸̵̸̶ ̵̷̴̸̸̴̶c̸̵̸̶̷̴̷a̷̶̶̴̸̴̷n̴̵̶̷̸̷̶ ̸̶̶̶̵̶̸s̵̴̷̶̸̴̸h̶̷̷̸̴̵̵a̵̶̷̵̴̸̸r̴̶̵̸̴̷̸e̸̸̷̴̵̸̷ ̶̷̶̴̷̸̸e̵̸̶̸̶̸̸m̸̷̸̶̴̵̸o̴̷̵̴̴̴̴t̷̵̶̷̷̸̵i̷̸̵̶̸̸̸o̶̵̸̷̸̵̴n̶̵̶̴̸̴̵s̷̸̷̸̶̴̷ ̷̸̵̵̸̸̵a̶̵̴̴̶̷̷n̶̸̶̸̷̵̸d̶̸̸̸̶̸̷ ̸̷̶̸̸̷̴s̶̸̴̶̶̶̸e̴̵̵̶̵̸̸n̶̴̴̸̴̴̸s̵̴̷̶̴̸̸e̸̶̵̴̸̶̷s̷̷̴̶̴̷̷,̷̸̸̵̸̸̸ ̸̶̴̵̷̷̶b̴̴̶̷̴̶̵u̴̴̴̷̵̷̶t̶̸̸̵̶̵̶ ̵̸̷̴̴̵̸n̶̷̷̸̵̷̸o̵̴̶̵̸̵̴t̸̴̶̷̷̷̷ ̸̴̶̷̴̴̸t̶̷̸̵̶̴̵h̸̵̷̴̵̶̷o̸̵̷̸̸̵̴u̴̸̴̴̵̷̶g̵̷̸̷̶̶̸h̷̷̸̵̴̴̷t̷̷̷̶̸̶̵s̴̷̸̴̸̷̷,̶̶̶̵̸̵̵ ̷̶̴̴̸̸̷e̵̶̴̷̶̶̵v̴̸̵̸̷̵̶e̴̸̴̸̶̷̶n̶̷̷̷̵̵̷ ̴̵̷̷̴̷̸a̸̴̸̴̷̶̸c̶̴̴̵̷̴̵r̵̴̷̸̷̵̴o̴̶̵̶̴̶̷s̵̸̵̵̶̷̵s̸̷̴̷̸̶̵ ̶̶̷̴̵̸̸d̶̷̴̸̶̷̸i̶̶̸̷̵̵̷m̸̸̷̸̵̶̶e̴̶̷̶̸̸̴n̵̸̴̴̶̵̷s̴̵̴̶̴̴̷i̶̵̶̶̴̴̸o̸̷̷̸̴̴̴n̵̴̸̷̷̸̵a̷̶̵̸̸̸̷l̷̶̷̸̴̸̵ ̸̶̶̵̶̵̷b̴̷̸̸̵̷̵o̴̶̶̴̴̸̵a̵̵̸̵̴̸̵r̵̴̷̸̴̶̷d̶̴̴̴̵̵̶e̸̷̵̶̶̴̶r̷̷̵̴̷̵̶s̶̵̸̵̶̶̵ ̸̵̷̴̷̸̶a̸̸̷̵̸̸̶n̴̵̴̷̴̶̸d̶̵̴̶̴̶̸ ̸̷̷̵̵̴̴h̸̵̴̵̸̵̴a̸̷̶̶̸̵̵v̸̷̶̷̶̸̷e̷̷̴̶̵̶̵ ̶̷̵̶̵̸̸a̴̷̷̵̸̷̸c̷̶̶̶̵̶̷c̴̴̶̸̷̸̷e̴̸̸̷̵̷̶s̵̷̶̶̴̷̷s̵̵̴̷̵̶̷ ̴̶̵̸̶̵̷t̵̷̶̴̷̵̴o̵̶̷̶̶̶̶ ̸̷̵̶̴̷̸a̴̴̴̸̶̴̶l̴̸̷̶̵̴̷l̸̵̵̴̷̶̵ ̸̷̸̴̶̵̵i̸̷̸̸̴̴̵n̷̸̶̸̶̷̸h̷̷̷̷̵̷̶e̸̴̴̴̶̶̷r̴̶̸̵̵̶̶i̴̵̶̵̵̷̷t̸̷̷̵̸̸̸e̷̵̵̸̶̸̸d̶̷̷̵̶̸̵ ̵̸̴̶̵̴̴a̶̵̶̸̴̵̶n̶̵̴̴̴̸̵d̸̶̸̷̴̶̸ ̸̵̵̶̷̸̸r̸̸̸̶̴̷̵a̵̶̸̴̶̷̶c̶̶̸̵̴̸̶i̵̶̸̷̵̷̵a̶̷̶̴̴̴̸l̶̷̶̸̸̶̸ ̵̵̴̷̸̴̸f̵̶̸̵̷̷̷e̶̴̵̵̴̶̸a̶̷̶̴̴̷̶t̵̸̷̵̷̴̵u̵̴̷̷̵̸̴r̷̴̸̸̴̸̸e̸̵̸̴̷̴̸s̶̵̸̷̴̶̵ ̴̷̵̴̴̶̶t̵̴̵̶̷̴̴h̴̵̵̵̵̸̴a̸̴̸̶̸̸̶t̷̴̵̸̷̴̷ ̵̸̸̶̴̷̶t̶̵̵̷̷̷̶h̷̷̸̴̸̴̷e̶̴̷̷̵̴̷i̸̸̵̶̷̷̸r̵̸̸̶̸̴̵ ̸̸̵̴̶̶̶t̶̵̵̸̸̷̵w̴̵̴̵̴̶̸i̶̷̷̸̴̴̶n̴̷̴̷̶̸̴ ̵̷̴̴̴̶̵p̶̵̸̷̴̴̴o̶̸̵̴̵̶̴s̵̶̶̶̵̷̴s̷̷̵̶̷̸̶e̷̵̷̵̶̶̸s̶̴̶̷̵̷̶s̸̴̴̸̴̴̸.̷̵̶̸̶̵̷

(New) Ancestral Memory

The skill holder gains access to the memories of their ancestors as dream-visions.

I stared at the last two entries. That last ability explained the dream, so that was nice. But when did I get it? Not to mention, what was with that mass of garbled letters? Lady Labyrinthia said that all my skills and abilities would become available for review after she healed me.

Not to mention, when did I receive these two skills? Because they weren’t there when I checked yesterday. This made no sense at all. Just what was going on here? With no answer forthcoming, I dropped back onto my pillow. The noise caused Amber to mumble from her bed, but she didn’t wake up. I turned over on my right side and closed my eyes again. If I was lucky, I might get a few more hours of shuteye before dawn.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Things were falling apart. People were falling to void corruption at an ever-increasing rate. However, we weren’t defeated yet. I turned the corner and dodged out of the way of the giant rat that lunged for me. Its eyes were giving off a pale glow of ever-changing colors, and black tendrils were growing out of its back like a bush. I was getting closer.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A quick slam from my mace ended the corrupted beast’s life. Every second that the Void remnant remained active, the number of victims of its corruption would increase. With that in mind, I descended into the sewer system, following the pathfinder marks left by Lord Sarvus. Since our own were falling victim to this remnant, we needed to end this quickly.

The stench was horrific, but nothing I couldn’t handle. The glowing marks left by Lord Sarvus were evenly spaced and let me find my way through these labyrinthine tunnels. Which was a good thing because I became bogged down by an ever-increasing mass of corrupted beasts and people as I ventured deeper.

And judging by the devastation all around, Lord Sarvus became bogged down the same way. I made a quick prayer to Lady Justina and felt her power flowing through me, invigorating my strength and pushing back the foul smell of decay and death. My senses sharpened further, making it easy to see in the sewer’s gloom, and also allowed me to hear fighting in the distance. Good, my quarry was near. After a moment to center myself, I sped up, eager to get this over with.

I rounded the corner and immediately jumped back around, just in time to dodge a blast of purple fumes and kicked up sewer filth. I turned the corner again and there was lord Sarvus, and something… indescribable. Every time I thought I came up with a good analogy to explain what I was looking at, its form seemed to twist and change into something else. A kaleidoscope of constantly changing shapes and colors that twisted and churned in a mesmerizing and ever-changing pattern. Just looking at it was giving me a headache from trying to unravel what I was looking at.

I shook my head and focused on the task ahead. Now was not the time to stand there like a chicken before the butcher’s knife. I called my shield and mace and rushed in, eager to do battle alongside my old friend and ally. My arrival couldn’t have been more timely, as Lord Sarvus was being pushed back. The ever-shifting pattern and nature of the assault the remnant used was impossible to decipher and so had to be reacted to at a moment’s notice.

I swing my mace at the thing, crashing in with enough power to crush a bear’s skull in one blow. The mace bounced off with no effect, and with enough power to send me staggering backwards. I got my shield into position just in time to block a whip-like strike from one of its changing appendages. However, I didn’t get away unscathed, as the sheer force of the blow sent me flying, into the wall, knocking the air out of me.

I could not take too many of those, I thought, as I spat out some blood. Internal bleeding, likely a cracked rib, and my arm was going numb from the impact. Yeah, better not take a hit like that again. No guarantee I’d survive. Lord Sarvus was out of sight, on the other side of the thing, but he was alive. I could see the lightning from his sword every time he struck at the abomination.

With renewed determination, I stood and charged in, delivering a crushing blow with my mace and bathing the room in a gentle divine light. The pain abated as the blessed light healed my injuries, while the beast hissed in anger. I could hear Lord Sarvus roar in triumph as a tendril went flying, chopped off mid-strike. I lifted my mace for a 2nd strike, just as a giant slitted eye materialized from the thing just in front of me and blasted me with a greenish-black energy.

My body stiffened and became unresponsive to my commands. Rubolg’s axe, paralysis? Or something worse? It was impossible to say what I was afflicted with aside from the fact that my body refused to move. My only saving grace I was that whatever magic prevented me from moving still allowed me to breathe. I could also still think, and I wasn’t turning to stone, so that eliminated some potential ailments. However, I was now wide open for an attack and the abomination didn’t hesitate.

A tendril slammed into me, sending me flying into the wall once more. The impact made me go limp as I slowly slid onto the floor, my shield and mace slipping from my grasp. I remained sitting in that sunken position, unable to move. The pain, however, was very real, and I knew for certain the impact broke multiple ribs. There was a surprised yelp that was cut off. It would seem Lord Sarvus just took a similar attack, if not the same. I could hear the beast approach, but my body still refused to listen. It took every ounce of willpower I possessed to force my head up far enough to even see my approaching doom.

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I didn’t get nearly as much sleep as I wanted. No sooner did I put my head back on the pillow, when the door opened and uncle Moor told us to get up. Amber sat up and began rubbing her eyes. She looked as tired as I felt. “It can’t be dawn yet.” Uncle looked back for a moment. “It’s not, but something came up, and we have to leave earlier than expected.” I looked at Moor, expecting more of an explanation, but he just shrugged and closed the door. “You have three minutes to get ready.” Amber and I scrambled to get ready within the allowed timeframe.

Once we exited the room, we found uncle and Sarirrva waiting for us. “Let’s go, we’re late as it is.” He seemed tense. Just what was going on? I wouldn’t have to wait long for answers. Uncle didn’t lead us to the entrance hall, but a small empty side chamber. Inside was a winged woman I hadn’t seen before, and Duplica. The winged woman flapped her wings once, bathing the room in a pleasant glow that made me feel rested and relaxed. “Sorry about the abrupt summons, but I need to get this over with as soon as possible, as I might not be here at all to do it otherwise.” She looked at uncle Moor as she spoke.

Uncle stiffened. “If you’re uncertain, then that can only mean one thing.” The woman nodded, but before she could say anything more, Duplica’s form shifted and changed. She gained a bit of height and her white hair becoming raven black, with two almond-shaped green eyes looking out from the wild mane of hair. She took a step forward and spoke in a voice that seemed eerily familiar, but I couldn’t place immediately. “Justina informed me about a remnant hiding underneath Slyvanport. Considering it’s been festering there for over a century, there’s no telling how powerful it is or even was. So, I want Indella and Duplica to deal with it before things get out of hand.”

She paused and seemed distracted for a moment before she continued. “Under normal circumstances I would handle it myself, but I am… indisposed… at the moment: So we’re sending you along now, since it’s impossible to tell how long such a subjugation would take.” It clicked. Lady Labyrinthia was speaking through Duplica. She was her Avatar. Uncle stepped forwards, eyeing Duplica with some mixed expressions. “Thought you didn’t have an Avatar.”

He got a shrug in response. “Sometimes it helps to have an ace up your sleeve, or be multiple places at once outside my domain. In here that’s easy, just create some dream constructs. Out there, they would evaporate without something to tether them. And I know from first-hand experience, tethering dream constructs is a difficult and dangerous procedure.”

I might have imagined it, but when she spoke, I could have sworn she glanced my way. Uncle didn’t seem satisfied, but Lady Labyrinthia flinched for a moment and spoke up before he could say anything. “Dammit, it’s as I feared. Brace yourselves, you’re leaving now. If you’ve forgotten something, we’ll send it to you later.”

Lady Labyrinthia lifted her arms, and the entire room twisted and rippled around us, as if every surface was turned into water that someone was throwing pebbles into. Then the room spun, leaving after images and turning all I could see into a colored mess of indistinct shapes.

It only took a few seconds for the shapes to dissolve into diffuse colors, but as it slowly turned back into focus, I could recognize the festival grounds. I noticed that the area we were standing in was marked off, so we were expected. I looked down at Amber. However, before I could say anything, both of us were grabbed from behind by a pair of impossibly strong arms and forced into a tight, loving hug. “Yer here, finally. Glad yer alright, both of ye.” I wiggled around in his grip until I was facing him. “Nice to see you too, dad.” I embraced him back.

He let go and then turned towards uncle Moor. His face went through a few expressions, but then just nodded. “Couldn’t be helped that you weren’t around when she was kidnapped. So yer off the hook, this time.” Uncle nodded slowly. “So how are things going here?” Dad grimaced. “We’re in trouble. There’s an army approaching. One that outnumbers us several times over. The rest of da lads are busy fortifying the camp, but… we’re limited on resources out here, not much stone, save that little we can fish out of da river. And even that ain’t doing much. And we’re not used ta workin’ with just dirt.”

Uncle tightened his grip on his staff, his expression darkening. “I’ll see what I can do. No promises it will be a miracle, though.” He marched off, and was followed by a bear beast-kin I hadn’t met, but one who obviously knew Uncle. They discussed something as they walked off, before the beast-kin hurried off towards the river. Meanwhile, uncle headed for the main entrance to the camp, where a makeshift earthen palisade wall was under construction.

“Here’s hoping whatever uncle has planned will work out.” Amber nodded as she absently played with the ring I gave her. “So do I, Ashes, so do I.” She seemed as ill at ease as I felt. I expected Dad to be in trouble, but an entire army? That was… a more than I expected. I couldn’t help but feel it was related to the group whose camp I destroyed. Well, nothing to be done except to accept reality and deal with it. There was nothing else I could do, after all.

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The fatigue eased, but still lingered once I woke up. But, I felt… diminished, somehow. It was difficult to describe this sensation, but I realized something else as well. My host was stirring. That was not a good sign at all. Blast it, why now? Under any other circumstance, I could have just returned to my main vessel on the isles and subsume the host’s mind again. But that wretched girl had destroyed every vessel I brought to the mainland, and because Izrah would have died if I prepared a new vessel back home. Bah, everything went wrong the moment that girl was brought in. And that magic? It was as if the titans themselves walked the world once more, despite...

Hmm, no better not fall into wild speculation. Did I make a mistake back then, in my dying moments, picking this host? Even if it was, it was moot. I was far too weak to survive separation. Oh, they would both pay for putting me in such a horrendous situation. Both Rubolg, and… “Mistress, I brought some tea for you.” I flinched. I was so deep in thought I didn’t notice Izrah entering the wagon at all.

After a moment’s hesitation, I accepted the offered cup and took a few sips. “How’s the march going?” Izrah bowed her head. “Just a few more hours, provided the weather holds.” Good." Then we could soon wipe out those wretched beast-kin and move on to the elves, and after that Caelyn. Then, with my back and flanks secure, I could have my revenge. A sudden and searing pain shot through my head, causing me to drop my cup.

What was that? Another shot of pain, less this time. “Mistress, you’re bleeding.” Huh? I felt something trickle from my nose. Well, that was annoying. I whipped out a handkerchief. “Send over a healer to give me a once-over. We can’t afford any delays right now.” Izrah hurried out of the wagon without a single delay.

This day was rapidly becoming even worse than the day before. It was only then I remembered I spilled the tea all over myself. Yeah, it was worse, far worse than yesterday. Well, I would just have to make sure those wretched beasts felt as miserable as I did then, didn’t I? With that reassuring thought, I leaned back while massaging my temples. Soon…