A few weeks after they arrived back in Greenstone Lucy came home early in the morning to the villa. Kyra and James were still in bed and she didn’t want to wake her husband as he had been training hard. She made her way to the kitchen and found Teddy reading a local book with his feet up, legs on the corner of the table with his fancy boots dangling in the air.

“Hey Teddy, you’re up early.”

“Up late actually, I only got in a little before you. Night time hunting is really my thing it turns out.”

“Well that is definitely a face that belongs in the shadows.”

It was only good natured banter, Teddy hadn’t been a bad looking guy back on earth but the beautifying properties of ranking to iron had squared his jaw and added an inch or two in height.

“Say that again in front of my wife and she’ll withdraw healing privileges for the whole next trip.”

“Aww, big tough Teddy, needs his wife to stick up for him.”

“Lu, don’t make me book the book down.” He said, turning the page. “What have you got for me?”

She opened a rune circle in the air and reached through to pluck a stack of contract papers as they swirled past inside the portal. She placed them on the desk in front of Teddy who glanced at them before he opened a rift horizontally in the air and jabbed a hand in quickly and a thick stack of completed papers fell out next to the smaller stack Lucy had placed, it was easily three or four times bigger. Lucy shook her head and picked up the stack and placed it in her still open storage before pulling out a plain brown folder.

Teddy was just leafing through the corners of the contracts Lucy had put down for him when she slapped the folder on top.

“This is so frustrating, this is your case ‘update’ folder, there is no update, the man won’t talk. We’re still trying to assess if his mind is broken or not.”

Teddy had put his boots on the floor and was inspecting the contents of the folder intently. Gerald had come in with sacks of fresh food from the early market, he grunted good morning without looking and set about putting away and getting food out for breakfast.

“So still no background to the case?”

“They say the detail is coming from another branch, Vincent said there’s a lot of resistance, mostly I’m sat on meetings where they are skirting around it with pointed looks.”

“Sorry Lu, that must be so boring.”

“Oh, it’s ok, I’ve been able to dive across into the magic society a lot and do plenty of research around those meetings and met some new people. You look like you’ve been busy. That was a lot of notice board contracts to go along with the directed contracts.”

“You realise we’ve completely lost track of the months? Earth months that is, I reckon it must be around Christmas, I feel like Santa going around in the dead of night but instead of leaving presents I just kill peoples monsters.”

“Any change on ability progression?”

“Nothing, It’s as if I’ve hit a brick wall, you know what it’s like using a bronze rank power at iron, all my powers feel like that if I use the bronze rank version.”

“That makes sense insofar as you are pulling more magic through your body than it can technically handle. But no sense that your body should have adapted by now. Vincent has some feelers out still for an expert but he’s being careful.”

“Ok, no rush I guess, we’re not going anywhere anytime soon while you’re involved in this investigation.”

Lucy looked at him sympathetically, it was stressful coming into this world with no idea what was going on, now they felt they understood what was happening to them and the path ahead and suddenly Teddy found that certainty had been taken away from him again.

“Were there at least some interesting monsters last night?”

“Found one that fights a little like you actually, little monkey type thing, huge ass eyes. Sends out illusionary double and masks itself, very sneaky. Had to use my familiar to pin it down by its real shadow in the end.”

Ability: [Shadow lantern] (Dark)

Familiar (ritual, summon)

Cost: Extreme mana, extreme stamina, extreme health.

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%)

Effect (iron): Summon a [Shadow lantern] to serve as a familiar. [Shadow familiar] will fire bolts of darkness at enemies for extremely low damage. Attacks against enemies have a chance to inflict [Blindness] against enemies.

Effect (bronze): Two lanterns are now summoned. Damage is increased. Summoned familiars have the ability to penetrate shadows for the user only.

[Blindness]: enemies affected by the condition will have all senses blinded for 7.5 seconds.

“Doesn’t seem like a big change to your familiar.”

“Well it’s a lot more handy to have around now, unless I’m walking in the bright open desert he can basically be around me all the time.”

Lucy looked around.

“Not here though?”

Teddy looked over to the corner of the room and waved his hand towards himself. The shadow lantern unpeeled itself from the shadows in the corner.

“It can blend into almost any depth of shadow, I’ve not seen it so I can’t prove it but I’m fairly sure it’s shadow jumping between them.”

“Oh, thats fascinating, so you can see in the dark now?”

“Not quite, darkness isn’t shadow, but short of sticking me in a box with no holes there are always different depths of darkness to use, as long as there is any light source, even starlight though cloud then there will be a shadow.”

“Night-time hunting really is your thing then!”

A big shaggy beast walked through the door to the kitchen yawning and scratching its beard.

“Morning bro, you’re becoming more like Koda every day, ooh, even by smell.”

James went over to his wife and hugged her while flipping Teddy the bird behind her back.

“Keep it up little brother, we have a mirage chamber booked at the annex later today and I’m looking forward to kicking your ass all over the place.”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Oh I’ll teach you to respect your elders, but we can throw down anytime you like.”

James made some non-commital grumbling noises and went and sat down at the breakfast bar in front of Gerald.

“Where’s Kyra? I’m hungry.”

Gerald was a stickler for politeness and wouldn’t serve until everyone was present.

“She’s just sleeping in a little, she’ll be here soon.” Teddy answered.

James grunted slightly and shrunk an inch or so in every dimension as Koda appeared behind him and shambled out.

“Master James, I’ve told you before, I’ll have nae bears in my kitchen please, they are proficient purloiners of honey and anything fresh baked.”

“Sorry Gerald.”

There was suddenly a roar and a short high pitched scream. Koda came bounding back in, skidding around the corners on all fours as quick as he could in a panic and ran straight into James who rocked slightly and grew back to the size he was before. He was chased not long after by Kyra, her hair was a mess and she was wearing a silk robe over her bedclothes, she had a diamond sword in her hand.

“Did you smack my bear with your sword?!”

“Your bear is lucky he still has a nose!! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“Sitting for breakfast?”

Teddy got up to diffuse the situation, he walked over to Kyra and hugged her, taking the sword out of her hand he dropped it to the floor and it dissipated, he straightened her hair out slightly and gave her a hug. He took her over to the breakfast bar at the far end from James.

“Ladies, Gentlemen and Master James…”

“Hey!”

“Ye sent a bear to wake a lady, that, is not gentlemanly behaviour, as I was saying. Breakfast is served, I also have my latest batch of ‘coffee’ for you to try.”

Pallimustus had no such thing as coffee, essence users had little use for it as caffeine wouldn’t effect them anyway and tea seemed to be all the people needed. It was something the earth couples missed though and one morning after describing the wonders of roasted bean based beverages Gerald had sworn to make a local substitute. He was getting closer, it was now drinkable but it still wasn’t the same.

“Probably the closest you’ve got so far Gerald, it’s very nice. It’s still just a touch too fruity though.”

“Thank you Ms Lucy, I’ll try again for tomorrow.”

Gerald busied himself tidying away the kitchen, he was drinking his own cup of ‘coffee’ whilst he did.

“I need a little nap but apart from that and the mirage chamber later does anyone have any plans?” Teddy asked.

“The clinic was fairly empty yesterday so I’m sure they can manage, I was going to do some reading in the garden today.”

“No meetings at the adventure society today but I do have a friend coming over this afternoon.”

Whilst they were eating and talking Gerald had left the room, he now came back in and coughed for attention.

“Please excuse me, Master James, there is a caravan of desert travellers for you at the gate.” He said it with distaste, the fact that he hadn’t allowed them in the grounds showed that he didn’t think much of them.

“Oh thank the gods!” James said as he jumped off his stool. “I was told they were trustworthy but I did wonder.”

They all followed him out and Gerald opened the gates to allow the ragged looking group into the courtyard. They were dressed in desert travelling clothes and looked like any other band of desert dwellers, they were different however by virtue that they were all essence users, a mix of iron with a few bronze and one silver who was the leader. Their caravan that stood outside was covered in seasoned engravings of animals and landscapes, it carried all sorts of goods for sale. James had been looking for someone to complete his engraving on his vambrace and had been recommended the travelling salespeople, sceptical at first but after looking into it he found that they had a solid reputation even though they looked shady.

“Twynius, thankyou for coming.” James bowed to the leader.

“Mr Mitchell, good morning, we are moving on and have completed your work.”

He revealed a hessian sack covering the armour, a far cry from the plush velvet bag that Mr Randulph had used to cover his wing engraving. When he pulled it back James’ scepticism and fear that he’d made a bad choice vanished. The few droplets of venom damage that were on the armour had been worked into the design. It was a sinister scorpion. The desert dwellers had used their intimate knowledge of the desert creature to bring it to life, it had venom dripping from it’s barbed tail, instead of the normal scorpion head it had a human skull with evil eyes and long fangs like a vampire that were also dripping venom. It was dark, the engraving had blacking worked into it to give it depth.

“Wow, sinister much James?” Teddy asked.

“Not all animals are sunshine and rainbows dude, especially not the ones that cause the damage we’re after.” James bowed to the desert people. “Twynius this is excellent work thankyou.”

A large mole-like creature broke the ground at his feet, looked around blearily before diving back down and pushing out a large bag of coins.

“Mr Mitchell, where can I get a creature like this?” One of the younger desert people said staring at the coin producing creature.

“Try Diagon Alley.” Lucy said and the Mitchells had a laugh while the desert people looked confused.

“Sorry, in-joke.” James said as he passed over the large bag of coins.

The desert people weighed the bag of coins appreciatively and made polite chat with the adventurers before bowing goodbye and making their way out. As Gerald locked up the gates again the others made their way back inside.

“Go on then, put up the description!” Lucy told James.

Item: [Vambrace of Menagerie] (iron rank [growth], legendary)

Armour that when developed will increase the effect of transformation powers.

This item is bound to you and cannot be used by anyone else.

Effect: When engraved by a magical armourer (or mystical tattooist’s with the necessary skills) will grant the wearer benefits to transformation powers. Benefits will be limited to size and skill of engraving. Once an engraving is in place it cannot be removed. Engravers must be at least equal rank to the item, higher rank engravers will produce a stronger effect.

Effect (Bear Claw): When making physical attacks with this item it will create a slashing effect that will cause the [Bleeding] condition to occur. Against targets that do not bleed extra damage of the resonating force type will be added.

Effect (Eagle wing): When making attacks that involve a wing it will sheathe the wing in metalled blades. The attack will be much stronger than without this item. Attacks will have resonating force, disruptive force and trace transcendent damage. Any transformation to wings will include these effects. Ranged effects will be augmented by this accessory. [This effect cannot be improve until silver-gold ascension but will still need upgrade materials per ritual of ascension]

Effect (Lightning): For a high mana cost imbue attacks with an electric effect. Small chance of paralysis and ongoing muscle spasms.

Effect (Venom of the Merciless Desert): Inflicts poison damage. Chance to inflict [Milk of the Cacti]. Chance to inflict [Greyscale]. Can only affect living enemies with blood. Must penetrate enemy to inflict poison and [Milk of the Cacti]. Contact with the venom has a smaller chance of causing [Greyscale].

[Bleeding] (affliction, wounding, blood): Deals ongoing damage by causing or increasing blood loss. As a wounding effect, this condition absorbs or negates an amount of incoming healing, after which this affliction immediately ends.

[Milk of the Cacti] (affliction, blood): Causes afflicted enemies to hallucinate and a chance to cause damage to themselves by convulsion.

[Greyscale] (affliction, incapacitating): Affliction that spreads across the skin. Causes joints to lock up and impairs mobility.

Growth Conditions (bronze):

Bound user must be at least bronze rank.

4 kilograms of low grade (bronze rank) star-fall silver

100 bronze-rank iron quintessence gems

100 bronze-rank magic quintessence gems

100 bronze-rank animal based quintessence gems (per engraving)

[100 bear quintessence]

[100 wing quintessence]

[100 lightning quintessence]

[100 venom quintessence]

1000 bronze rank spirit coins

Silver rank Artificer

Ritual of bronze ascension.

“Nasty looking scorpion with some nasty looking powers. That’s horrible.” Kyra said.

“But you’ve got to admit, It looks pretty badass.” Teddy added.

“Oh don’t get me wrong, It’s beautiful, but horrible.”

“If that was a tattoo I wouldn’t have let you get it.” Lucy told him.

“Hey I had no idea what they were putting on there!” James said defensively. “I just showed it to him and he got the idea, I only asked that he didn’t put the Rock Matriarch on there, don’t really fancy having a maggot engraving.”

“Well now you’ve got your ridiculously good custom armour back shall we head down to the mirage chamber? It’s booked for this afternoon but we can see who’s about, maybe do some sparring with trainees?”

“I’m up for it, plus, kinda wanna roll up in our new whip.” Kyra said, having the decency to blush slightly at wanting to show off.

“All righty then, Gerald!” The housekeeper reversed his walk to head back to the gate.

Teddy unzipped a rift in the air and pulled the land yacht miniature out, he placed it on the floor and tapped the back and it started to unfold.

“Back to the academy we go!” Lucy said.