What to do? Is it worth ranking up? You only live once. I pick up the D-grade stone and get the notification if I want to rank up my artifact. I click yes.
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Water Construct - D Rank - Water Affinity
Skill:
- Construct: The ability to solidify water into various forms, such as temporary shields, weapons, or barriers. A permanent construct is available(0/1). Complexity and size of Permanent items scale with Mind and Mana stat.
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This ability seems similar to Void’s Armament. I hold myself from using the skill and sort through the rest of my belongings. I should use the other D-Grade stone to upgrade an inspection ring. Better to get things done now.
I pack everything up and slide the D-grade stone, an E-grade one, and some bronze in my pouch. I place everything back into my bag and carry it out of the room.
I walk to the receptionist.
“You still have around half an hour left. All transactions are final, so I can’t refund anything,” she tells me when I reach her desk.
“No, I’m not refunding anything. I still want the room. Is there an artifact store near here?” I ask.
She scrunches her eyebrows and nods, “We have a store below those stairs. There’s not much variety but I’d look at it.”
“I still want the room. I just need to grab something,” I tell her.
I walk down the stairs and enter a small hallway with different stores. They have a whole Plaza down here. Crazy. I find the artifact store and walk in. The attendant is talking to another man so I browse for an inspection ring.
I find a section of them behind a glass plate. 75 copper for an F grade, 2 Bronze for an E grade and 11 silver coins for a D-grade ring.
“Hi, how can I help you,” I hear the attendant say from behind.
“Can I get an E-Grade Inspect ring?” I ask.
He nods and we make the transaction. I speed walk back to the room and close the door. I bind to the Inspect ring and bring it up to D-Grade.
I take a look at my status.
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Status(Fake)
Age: 16
Name: Elijah Ashborne
Level: 39
Affinity: Water
Strength: 10
Agility: 15
Constitution: 20
Mind: 15
Mana: 19
Primary Artifact: Mana Amplifier
Secondary Artifact/s(4/4)):
* Glacial Torrent
* Water Construct
* Ring of Deception
* Inspection Ring
[Stat Points: 0]
Quests: None
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Finally, everything is done. I summon the glaive of Glacial Torrent and start swinging it around. First time using it. I need to enter a dungeon. I’ll ask Devonte and his group if I can do so once I return.
I activate the water construct and think of conjuring up a 5 cm by 5 cm wall. My Mana surges out of me and in front of my face, the construct appears. It floats in mid-air and I feel a subtle pressure form in my mind. The construct is bright blue and glistens as the light refracts off it.
I punch the construct and feel it bend under the pressure a little. It isn’t fully a solid, but it’s not a liquid either. I stare at it in wonder. I release the hold on my Mana and watch the construct turn into liquid and fall to the floor.
If everything I make is going to soak the floors in water, then I can’t do anything here. I need to enter a dungeon. I let my staff turn into a tattoo once again. I pick up my bag, stroll out of the room and make my way back to the encampment. I see that everyone is still cleaning up and getting ready to go.
The sun will be setting soon. They probably stayed because of me. I grimace and head toward the Cart where the Caravan Master is discussing something very avidly with a group of people. They stop talking when I reach them and Devonte gives me a look.
“Is everything alright,” he asks.
“In which Caravan or Bus will I be staying at?”
“Mine. We’re going to be deviating from everyone else at Redford and going someplace else,” he tells me, “It’s that last one over in the corner connected to the rest of the coaches. Don’t touch anything until I come.”
He turns his back to me and I consider myself dismissed. I leave and make my way to his coach, climbing in and taking a seat. How rare is it for someone to have a capacity as large as mine for me to be treated like this? I close my eyes and lie down. Hopefully, they’ll let me clear a dungeon in the next town or city. I feel myself start to nod off and give in.
DEVEONTE’s Perspective:
“I still don’t get why you're giving that kid so much respect. I understand he’ll be useful and all, but he’s just an E-grade regardless of how much potential he has,” says Edgar with unnecessary hubris.
“If you knew who his parents were, you would take back your words in an instant. If he becomes a quarter as strong as his parents were by Middle D-grade, he’ll be able to break everyone in this Kingdom, excluding the Paragon, in half,” I snap back, “Stop being a fool and continue with the mission.”
My entire crew’s mouth drops open and I can’t help but sigh at their faces and their inquisitive looks. If only I could tell them. Imagine their faces then. I leave them and walk to the drivers for the buses and carriages.
“Is everything ready to go,” they nod, “Alright, double-check everything and set off. My team and I will trail behind you.”
I head to my Coach and slip in. Elijah’s asleep on one of the seats and is talking to himself. Is he really Tymons son? I hope you know what you’re doing, Cedric, making me put his life at risk. I sigh and take a seat as well.
‘Crystal, are you there’, I call out to my bonded beast. I get a fuzzy feeling in my core and notice she’s near. I crack open the door and, a small blue blur the size of a squirrel swoops through the slit and lies at my side. ‘What is it? Why did you call me?’ an annoyed feminine voice says. ‘Always so impatient. We might be going to The Glade soon to drop Elijah off,’ I stroke her fur after mentally speaking. ‘I assume you want me to watch your backs once you enter the storm wall?’ I mentally nod at her question. Crystal gets up shaking her fur and I crack open the door to let her leave. A few moments later, I feel my coach start to move.
ELIJAH’S Perspective:
The coach’s bumping shakes me awake. I groan and massage my neck. Clearing my eyes, I see Devonte meditating in another seat. I stare at him and jump back as he opens his eyes all of a sudden and stares back. That’s creepy.
“Good morning. Or actually, it’s still night isn’t it,” he says
I push the curtain holding the window and look outside it to see darkness.
“You said we were going to deviate at Redford. What’d you mean by that?”
“I sent a message to my Team Leader and she got back to me while you were gone. I’m to take you to the The Glade, where you’ll have to train for two-three years. After that, you’ll attempt the tower with us and eventually go to the academy to round out your education,” he says.
I don’t think I heard that right. What’d he just say? Three years?
“Three years,” I say deadpan, “I’ll be alone for three whole years. Are you crazy?”
“Think about it like this. Your friends are probably becoming stronger each day. Being fed with the best recovery pills and given the best artifacts along with essence stones. If you want to stay as strong as them, you’ll need to take more risks.” he reasons, “Plus, I don’t think you have a choice.”
I open my mouth to protest but keep my mouth shut. The strong get to do what they want, while the weak have to listen. I sigh and rub my eyes. What am I to do except fight and survive? One day I’ll get back at them for this.
“Isn’t The Glades extremely dangerous for a greenhorn like me?” I ask after recuperating myself.
“It is. I’ll make sure you get settled in and have a chance of survival before I go. We’re not totally heartless.”