Lizzy didn’t spend an inordinate amount of effort allocating tasks to Ryan. After she confirmed he’d be willing to hunt as either part of a team or solo she just issued him with a guild quest, Ryan could see she hadn’t spent more than the barest minimum of effort drafting it:
Guild Quest issued: (Repeatable)
Hunt five large mammalian beasts exceeding Level 15. Harvest remains and return produce to Quartermaster. Rewards: Variable based on value of produce.
“Lizzy, just a short question. Why specifically large mammals exceeding Level 15?” Ryan perplexedly asked the Tribune.
“Several reasons: Large mammals contain a lot of valuable resources and are generally the kings of their respective hills. Level 15 because by that level they always sport some valuable material or other. Why you? Because the immediate area has mostly been cleared of these targets and you can safely range farther than anybody else. Satisfied? Get to it, I’m busy.”
“Well, that was abrupt.” Ryan thought to himself, considering that Lizzy was probably under a significant level of stress managing the affairs of their admittedly small guild. She had stepped up big time during the last couple of months and almost singlehandedly managed the guild’s logistics and diplomatic efforts whereas William was more focused on improving the strength of its members. Thanks to her efforts they had added 5 new members from Resolute’s roster, but for the life of him Ryan couldn’t remember their names, and to be honest, at the moment he didn’t particularly care to make the effort to getto know them.
Fury in tow he went to grab his equipment. He’d slimmed down his gear to a small camelback with three litres of water, hunting knife, some nylon cord, his hat, his revolver with a spare drum, quiver and bow. “The advantages of portal and the ability to travel light.” he quipped to Fury who, wholly unimpressed, informed him that she made do with even less. “Way less, as in nothing.” the little lioness concluded. Forfeiting the argument Ryan headed out of the compound, planning on heading east as, according to John, it was the area that the guild had the least presence in.
As soon as he stepped out of the compound and preparing to Shift to the furthest point east he could see from his location he came aware of a little snag. “Fury, can you use Shift?” he sent.
“Nope, why would I?”
“Well, this is a bit inconvenient. Hmm, slower travel through portal. No safe, near instant hearthstone in case of a fubar. Damnit. Hey, we’re bonded. Lemme try something.”
Remembering how he had used the Skill for the first time Ryan focused on the memories. That first feeling of glimpsing the barest sliver of comprehension of dimensional, sub- and hyperspace theorems. Glimmers of understanding of gravity, space and time. Of how he had wrenched himself from one point in the space-time continuum to another. The sensations had never been as clear after the first time, and now the Skill was nearly instinctive, he wished it and it happened. Intuitively. Ryan further focused on the sensations and understanding provided by Bifröst, the awareness of the world in relation to himself, the centre of the universe of subliminal awareness. Calling up the Skill, forcefully holding activation in abeyance he searched. Searched for the twinned soul at his side. Finding Fury and knowing her, as intimately as he had ever known anybody, he realised that he considered her part of himself Ryan solidified his intent and shifted. To the makeshift barricade twenty metres ahead. Spinning around, confirming with his eyes what his newer senses already established, he saw Fury hunched on all fours, retching up her breakfast. It was the cutest thing Ryan had ever seen and he smiled involuntarily before the furious thoughts lambasting his mental being ever registered fully. “That was the most awful sensation I have ever come across. You’re drunken ride on the washtub in the amusement park when you were 17 doesn’t compare even closely”
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Ryan considered for a moment, shuddering at the horrific memory of the vomit comet and decided that it couldn’t be close as bad as that trainsmash of an experience. “Don’t be a wuss, you’ll get used to it.” he smugly sent to his bond.
Subconsciously aware of the ping the Interface had issued he checked his notifications.
…Skill ranked up…
Dimensional Shift; Active, (Novice to Adept-2 ranks): On activation allows Player to fold space and move from one point to another instantaneously, no cooldown, at adept level costs 500 energy to use, line of sight or to Dimensional Anchor. With a sufficient level of focus Player can shift wrenching along a living target under the following conditions: Player must be intimately aware of target’s positional displacement in the space-time continuum, target mass may not exceed Player mass, alternative; Soul-link to target must have been established. Requires proportionally more energy.
Ryan considered the expanded definition, if he understood it correctly he could now always shift with a tag-along. Either Fury or with somebody else providing he went through the same procedure as earlier. “Definitely need to practice this, maybe it can become second nature.” he added another point to his ever increasing list of things to practice. Sketching out endless possibilities of wrenching dangerous targets into pre-prepared traps his musings were cut short when Fury reminded him that he could only shift targets with a smaller mass than himself. “Hmmm, no shifting Level 25 elephants into a pit-trap at the Fortress then.” he sent to her after the little lioness had rained on his parade.
Further thinking about possible applications of the improved Skill he couldn’t help but suddenly wonder why he had always shifted together with whatever equipment he carried. From the description he needed to be intimately aware of a target’s displacement in the space-time continuum to shift it. It stood to reason that he was at all times intimately aware of his bodies position so intuitively shifting his body made sense. His equipment, less so. “Maybe I subconsciously consider equipment to be a part of me? When I carry it I’m at least intuitively aware of its position in relation to myself” he sent to Fury.
“Most logical explanation. It would however be hilarious if you’d strip yourself naked every time you shifted.”
“Har, har, har. Hilarious. Not.” blushing in imagined embarrassment he replied to the little minx. “Your humour is lacking.”
With that he headed down the slope in a huff, walking away from Fury who scrambled to catch up. In petty revenge he initiated a shift to the top of the opposing ridge, grimly smiling at the discombobulated lioness when she tumbled down on her face, her paw not hitting where she had expected. “Serves you right.” he grinned.
As the two of them headed down into the next valley Ryan pondered his new and deeper understanding of the Skill. The intricacies of understanding his position in relation to the vast universe he was but a miniscule part of had fallen to the wayside as he came to use the Skill intuitively. He had taken it for granted as he became more comfortable in his use. Expanding the Skill to the maximum of his ability to take Fury along had once again humbled him. It provided new insight, a new understanding of the incomprehensibly fantastic nature of the Skill. It reminded Ryan of the wonder beyond belief, that, with an application of supreme intent, energy and the barest understanding of the vast complexities of the reality surrounding his infinitesimally insignificant presence, he could skim along the subliminal realities to instantaneously shift his position in the fabric of reality. Shift, like no other Skill, rammed home the horrible wonder that was their new world.
Now, heading off to hunt, Ryan resolved to apply the insights gained to his other reality bending Skills and practice them. For the first time Ryan truly accepted that if he could master those to any significant degree it would become possible for him and a select few to freely roam this world and any others with the aim to grow in strength so that they could free their families. Accepting that travelling alongside the guild if only to have a safe base in future was the best decision after that latest realisation was easier than he ever feared.
Fury reaffirmed his conviction: “No man is an island.”