🎵: Dash of the Daring, Rise of the Iron Will, Babel's Harmony, Whispers of the Unseen

Dawn crept over Haven Cross as I approached the garrison gates, bleary-eyed from a night spent in the forest. I'd been tracking enemy scouts throughout the night, ensuring Jay's path was clear. I'd waited until Jay departed for his assignment before returning — no sense tempting fate twice.

Captain Reed met me at the entrance. "Your quarters have been checked," she reported. "Our best trap finders cleared it. Though given your recent... performance, I'd still watch your step."

In the dim translation chamber, Maya and I gathered our documents, double-checking that every analysis was complete. The ley line measurements, supply manifests, and decoded messages were carefully organized for Captain Reed's briefing.

Ten minutes later, we stood in Reed's command centre. Morning light illuminated her strategic planning table as two guards flanked the door. Her aide took notes in the corner.

"Show me everything," Reed commanded, studying our maps.

"The Brigade's preparations suggest something far more complex than initially thought," I began, laying out the manifests. "They're building permanent facilities at Night's Hollow — not for containment, but for some kind of major magical working."

Ley Line Analysis - Night's Hollow Nexus

Primary Line (Northern)

* Energy Level: 85%

* Ancient magical traces

* Flow fluctuating

Primary Line (Eastern)

* Energy Level: 90%

* Temporal anomalies

* High magical current

Primary Line (Southern)

* Energy Level: 80%

* Recent surge activity

* Natural flow disrupted

Secondary Line (Western)

* Energy Level: 70%

* Weaker current

* Strengthening daily

Central Nexus Point:

* Major Convergence

* Energy at 100%, rising

* Stability destabilizing

* Time distortions present

"When the three moons align, they'll create a cosmic lens above Night's Hollow," I explained. "The magical amplification will be unprecedented."

Maya pointed to the Kandari writings. "They scattered their artifacts to prevent anyone from accessing this much power in one place."

"But the Brigade found them," I added. "And the specialist teams they're assembling — stonemasons, architects, explorers, mining experts — suggest they're preparing for something long term. The question is: what kind of ritual or magical working requires both fortifications and expedition teams?"

The implications hung heavy in the morning air. The Brigade was clearly preparing for a long-term operation, one that required both military-grade defenses and an expedition team's expertise.

Reed's fingers traced the flow of resources marked on our maps. "These specialist assignments — explain them."

"Yes, Captain. Beyond the obvious military presence, they're moving in three distinct specialist groups." I arranged the personnel documents in sequence:

Specialist Assignments

Construction Teams

* Master stone masons

* Fortification architects

* Defensive specialists

* Runic engineers

Expedition Units

* Cave explorers

* Geographic surveyors

* Mining experts

* Deep delvers

Magical Practitioners

* Ritual masters

* Energy focusers

"The construction scale alone is alarming," I continued, revealing the architectural plans. "Multiple defensive rings, magical wardstones integrated into every wall, and energy systems I've never seen before. They're building something designed to last for years, possibly decades."

"And you're certain about these power readings?" she asked, tapping the energy flow charts.

"Absolutely. Four ley lines, all converging, and their magic intensity is increasing. When the moons align in one week, the magical amplification will be..." I hesitated, double-checking my calculations. "Beyond anything in our historical records."

"Sir," Reed's aide interrupted, "The latest scout reports from the northern border."

Reed took the offered document but kept her eyes on our analysis. "What aren't you telling me, Brendan? What's your instinct saying about all this?"

I met her gaze steadily. "The ancient Kandari went to extraordinary lengths to keep these artifacts separated. Whatever power they were trying to contain... they believed bringing it together would be catastrophic. And now the Brigade isn't just planning to do exactly that — they're building a fortress to contain whatever they unleash."

"Or to protect it," Reed mused, studying the construction plans again. "These defenses could serve two purposes — keeping things out..."

"Or keeping something in," I finished. "The expedition teams, the mining experts — they're preparing as if they expect to need to explore whatever they uncover. But under heavy military protection."

Reed straightened, authority radiating from her stance. "I'll brief High Command immediately. They need to mobilize before the lunar alignment."

"What about us?" I asked. "We could…"

"We don't have the personnel," Reed cut in. "Our garrison needs to protect the trade routes and handle the bandits. Our job is to provide intelligence — Command will take action with the information we've uncovered."

"One week," I said quietly. "One week until the moons converge and whatever ritual the Brigade has planned begins at Night's Hollow."

Maya gathered the documents, her movements precise. "One week for Command to stop them from accessing power that even the Kandari feared."

The command centre fell silent. Whatever waited in those ancient chambers beneath Night's Hollow, we had done our part. Now it was up to Command to prevent the Brigade from unleashing it.

The Gathering Storm Report Quest Completed!

* Experience Points: 500 EXP

Level Up! You are now level 6!

Musical notes of pure light erupted around me, marking another milestone. The notes merged into rings of shimmering energy, their harmonious chorus weaving together into something greater. As the rings burst, the stardust of power settled into my skin.

Six levels in, and the rush of levelling up still felt like hearing the perfect song for the first time. The thrill of growing stronger never got old, each new level adding another verse to my story.

My Charisma increased naturally through my bardic practice, and I immediately invested both level-up points into Wisdom. Mana regeneration seemed the most crucial skill to develop in these early stages. A quick check confirmed no new song slot at this level.

As the magical display faded and the warmth of increased potential hummed through me, I noticed several changes:

Level: 6

HP: 47/47

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

MP: 29/29

Charisma: 13 (+1)

Wisdom: 16 (+2)

EXP: 440/3000

Resistances: AVG 6.8

Speed: 13

----------------------------------------

The afternoon sun hung low as I arrived at the training yard, my mind still churning over the morning's detailed report to Captain Reed about Black Scale's involvement in Night's Hollow. Mac and Koren were already waiting, their expressions suggesting today's shortened session would still be memorable.

"How'd Reed take the report?" Mac asked, drawing his training blades.

"Not well at all," I replied, rolling my shoulders to loosen up. "She's escalating it straight to command — said they need to take immediate action. Can't say I blame her, given what we uncovered."

Koren grimaced. "Even with all that, we still need to carry on. One proper combat session should finish up your current training requirements." His tone made it clear he wasn't happy about it, but duty was duty.

The training construct that materialized was deceptively basic — a simple sword-wielder, clad in dull gray armor with a featureless helmet. Its stance, however, was poised and disciplined, warning me not to underestimate it. The familiar melody rose in my mind as I drew my blades.

The construct moved with surprising speed, its attack pattern shifting unpredictably. When it launched a vicious combination, the music surged, guiding my movement.

Dodge successful!

"Perfect," Koren announced with satisfaction. "That completes your Uncommon 4 dodge requirements."

The construct pressed its attack, forcing me to maintain my dual-wielding form until Mac finally called a halt. "And that's your final combat encounter for Common 3 dual-wielding."

Training Day Results

Dual Wield Progress

* Combat encounters completed: 5/5

Dodge Progress

* Consecutive Battle Count: 5/5

Dual Wield Reached (Common 3)

Dual Wield (Common 3)

Effects:

* Off-hand attack penalty: -2 to hit

New Ability: Dissonant Defence — When dual wielding, Brendan gains a +1 to AC as his unpredictable movements make him harder to hit.

Requirements for Uncommon 4:

* EXP Requirement: Gain 300 EXP in dual wielding.

* Skill Usage Requirements:

* Successfully use Dissonant Defence to avoid 10 attacks.

* Defeat a single enemy using only off-hand attacks.0

* Dual wield successfully against a boss-level enemy.

Dodge Reached (Uncommon 4)

Dodge (Uncommon 4)

Effects:

* Evasion: +8% chance to dodge physical attacks

* Finesse: +4 to initiative rolls

New Ability: Nimble Footwork–5% chance to gain an extra action after successfully dodging.

Requirements for Uncommon 5:

* EXP Requirement: Gain 400 EXP using Dodge.

* Skill Usage Requirements:

* Trigger Nimble Footwork at least 5 times in combat.0/5

* Successfully dodge 15 attacks in a single long battle or dungeon run.0/1

* Use dodge skills to avoid lethal damage at least once.

The Combat Fundamentals Quest Completed!

* Items: Training Daggers x2, Apples x2

Koren handed me the two apples with a smile. "For eating, not throwing," he said. "And don't tell Mac." Behind him, Mac scowled and shot Koren a pointed look. Koren added, sharing a knowing look with Mac, "Tomorrow we start your next level of training. With your report submitted and Jay gone, you'll be training both morning and afternoon sessions. At least your evenings will be yours after pot duty."

Their matching grins made me nervous. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret telling you my next requirements?"

"Consider it motivation," Mac replied. "The training field will be ready at dawn."

Later, during the evening meal, I couldn't shake the memory of their expressions. But for now, I had my first free evening in a week, and pot duty without Jay meant an opportunity for some creative entertainment.

The kitchen's familiar chaos provided perfect cover as I carefully laid my trap. Using what I'd learned about rhythm and timing, I positioned several pots in what looked like a normal cleaning arrangement. But when Maya would reach for her morning tea pot...

I hummed softly, testing the musical trigger. Everything had to be timed perfectly — harmless but memorable. A little celebration of completed requirements and a friendly reminder that training wasn't the only use for well-practiced timing.

Tomorrow's challenges could wait. Tonight was for insignificant victories and adding some musical mischief to the kitchen's routine.

The trap itself wasn't complicated — that would've been too obvious to someone as sharp as Maya. Instead, I relied on what I'd learned about timing and sound. I positioned three pots to look randomly scattered, but each was carefully placed to create a specific resonance when moved.

The trigger pot — Maya's favourite for morning tea — I balanced just so. When she'd reach for it tomorrow, the slight movement would start a chain reaction. The first pot would ring with a perfect C note, followed by the second's E, and finally the third's G. A simple C major chord, but timed to play just as she'd be most focused on her morning routine.

I tested the setup with a gentle tap, letting the musical notes ripple softly through the kitchen. Not loud enough to disturb anyone, but definitely noticeable enough to startle someone reaching for their tea pot.

"And for the finale..." I murmured, attaching a message to the final pot:

"A morning melody for my favourite decoding partner. -B"

The whole thing would last maybe five seconds, but the look on Maya's face would be worth all the careful positioning. Besides, after a week of intense training, it felt good to use these skills for something besides combat.

I finished the rest of my pot duty with a satisfied smile, already imagining tomorrow morning's musical surprise.

After leaving the galley, I took advantage of the mild evening air. The sound of laughter and conversation drew me toward one of the compound's small gathering areas, where a campfire had attracted quite a crowd. Guards off-duty mingled with support staff, their usual formal divisions forgotten in the firelight's warm glow.

"Well, look who finally emerged from training hell!" called out Bron, one of the perimeter guards. "Come join us, Brendan!"

As I approached, I noticed both Mac and Koren were there, along with faces I recognized from various parts of the compound. The atmosphere was relaxed, a welcome change from the intensity of recent days.

"You know," said Cynthia, one of the kitchen staff, "we've heard all these stories about you being a bard, but none of us have actually heard you sing."

My stomach tightened instantly. Then I took a deep breath of the crisp night air and relaxed. While I usually got anxious about performing, this was different — just a casual gathering around a campfire with friends. No closed spaces, no formal audience, just the open sky and familiar faces. This I could handle.

"Can't be worse than your AOE dodge training," Mac interjected, a calculating look in his eyes. "Still bitter about losing my coins betting against you on that one. Never even heard you sing, but after that performance, I'm thinking this might be my chance to win it back."

"Still bitter about that?" I asked, trying to deflect the conversation.

"Actually," Mac's grin widened, "I was thinking about winning it back. Plus interest."

Others around the fire perked up at the mention of betting as they all lost money betting against me. Even Koren, usually above such things, seemed intrigued.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked cautiously.

"A challenge," Mac declared. "Compose and perform a song right here, right now. But not just any song..." He paused for dramatic effect. "It has to make Koren cry."

A burst of laughter circled the fire. Everyone knew Koren's reputation for stoic composure — I'd never seen him display more emotion than a slight smile or frown.

"Impossible," someone called out.

"That's what makes it interesting," Mac replied. "Any takers on the bet?"

Money started changing hands as people placed their bets. Most wagered against the possibility, though I noticed the young boy was there, and he gave me a sly wink as he placed his bets.

"No pressure," I muttered, but the familiar comfort of the night air and the friendly faces around the fire made it easier than expected. Training with Koren had taught me what might reach past his careful control.

I took a deep breath, letting the crackling fire and night sounds blend into an underlying rhythm. No instrument needed — sometimes the purest songs came from voice alone. I closed my eyes, thinking of all I'd learned about Koren during our training sessions, about the weight of responsibility he carried, about the students he'd trained and lost.

I stood, drawing a steadying breath. "I call this 'The Koren's Burden.'"

The firelight flickered across expectant faces as I closed my eyes, letting the night air fill my lungs. The first words came soft but clear:

In halls where steel meets morning light

Young warriors come to train and fight

Their eyes so bright, their hearts so sure

While I must make them strong endure

Each stance I teach, each skill I share

Carries memories I cannot bear

Of those who stood just like they stand

Who fell in service to our land

I noticed Koren's posture stiffen slightly as the words settled in the night air. The chorus rose naturally:

For every blade I help to raise

Every warrior I help to forge

I send them forth into the haze

While here I stand upon this gorge

Between the teacher I must be

And the father I become

Praying they return to me

When their battles all are done

Several of the older guards exchanged knowing glances, their own experiences with lost comrades reflected in the words. The fire crackled as I continued:

I watch them grow in strength and skill

Their victories make my proud heart fill

But shadows dance behind my eyes

Of faces gone and failed goodbyes

Each morning brings new souls to guide

While others' names are carved inside

The stones that mark our honour wall

Where heroes stood and chose to fall

Cynthia dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve, and even Mac's usual grin had faded. The chorus returned, stronger now, carrying the weight of understanding from those gathered.

As I began the third verse, the night seemed to grow still:

My hands have shaped a thousand more

To face what waits beyond our door

Some return with glory earned

While others' fates remain unlearned

And still they come with dreams so pure

Seeking knowledge to endure

Not seeing how each training day

Takes pieces of my heart away

By now, the sniffling around the fire was unmistakable. Koren's hands had tightened into fists, his knuckles white with tension. Every word seemed to strike closer to home.

The final verse emerged like a prayer:

So stand before me, learn your art

While I keep silent this old heart

That breaks and mends with every class

With every student that must pass

For this is duty, this is love

To forge the shields of stars above

And pray each night to powers be

Return them safely home to me.

When I sang those final lines, I heard it — a choked sob from Koren's direction. Opening my eyes, I saw tears streaming freely down his face. His usual composure completely shattered.

He wasn't alone. Nearly everyone around the fire was wiping their eyes. Mac handed over his coin purse without a word, his own eyes suspiciously bright.

The young kid moved through the crowd, collecting his winnings with a knowing smile. He'd been the only one to bet everything on success.

"That was..." Koren cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "That was unfair. You used everything you observed during training."

"You taught me to use every advantage," I replied softly.

A watery laugh broke free. "So I did." He wiped his eyes. "Just remember that tomorrow when training starts."

People laughed, breaking the tension, though many were still dabbing at their eyes. Gradually, the gathering returned to its previous casual atmosphere, yet something had shifted. This shared vulnerability had created a new bond.

I stayed for a while longer, cherishing this time with friends rather than training partners or colleagues. The night air carried the lingering notes of the song, mixing with laughter and conversation, creating its own kind of music.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges and that ominously prepared training field. But tonight had reminded me why I'd chosen this path — not just to master my abilities, but to connect, to understand, to touch hearts while becoming a stronger bard.

Though judging by Koren's last comment, I might regret manipulating his emotions so well in my song. Tomorrow's training was going to be interesting.