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“Jin rides a freakin’ dragon?!” Phoenix exclaimed, “Like a dragon-dragon?”
“Yeah, she has a Jade Dragon Familiar,” the tiny goddess replied, “But that’s not really what I’m here to talk about.”
“I think that’s what she wants to talk about, though,” Dazien interjected, “She just found out the friend she thought was dead for years is actually alive and here. That’s not something I think anyone can just set aside.”
Scholar frowned, “But it won’t do any good to dwell on Jin right now. She’s a bit busy, and Phoenix has other priorities. Really though, I just wanted to pause you real quick to make sure you didn’t ascend before my Avatar gets back here. Plus, there’s, like, a whole crowd of people downstairs right now heading up here to talk with you.”
“What?” Phoenix asked incredulously. She had just gotten back here, “Why? Who? How do they even know I’m here?”
“Well…” the goddess began, looking slightly bashful, “You know the gods can all sense you’re about to hit Sapphire Caste, right?”
“I mean, I guess so since Hero mentioned it, but why–”
“They’re wanting to be stingy with spending power, aren’t they?” Dazien interjected, glaring at the mini-deity.
“It’s their last chance to get the Crystal Caste deal, and after the most recent display showing that Phoenix is actually willing to be a Saint, they want to have a chance.”
“Wait, are you saying they all want to mark me now?” the Wayfarer asked in confusion, “I’m not sure I’m following. What does that have to do with the people?”
The nearby door to the roof’s stairway opened, and the Head Steward appeared, leading a crowd of people mostly dressed in priest robes. Phoenix stared in stunned silence for a moment as dozens of people filed into the space, and she turned hopelessly back to the goddess, only to find her absent.
“Traitor,” she grumbled before giving her largest pleading puppy eyes to her brother, who –to her surprise– looked almost as dumbfounded as she felt.
He noticed her silent plea and shook his head with equally large eyes, “I have no idea what’s ‘proper’ in this situation. I’ve never heard of so many unrelated clergy trying to corner a person like they’re the last loaf of bread in the bakery.”
“Regent Wayland,” Roger said gently, coming up beside her, “There are… various representatives from the local temples who have come to discuss… trades –as they put it,” the steward explained with a slightly disgusted look on his face before he smoothed it over and added, “There are also a handful that merely wish to speak with you regarding the deities you already… have bonded to.”
“I really don’t like the way that’s phrased despite how accurate it might be,” she muttered.
Dazien shrugged, “It’s hard to come up with a different phrase for someone in such a unique position. You’re not dedicated to any of them. Not yet, at least.”
“I think Destroyer warned me not to. Which I’m not entirely sure is advice I should follow or not considering who he is.”
“I think it’s safer to try and stay as neutral as possible,” the gemite replied, glancing back over at the crowd, “Which will be exceedingly difficult like this.”
“Can you just tell them to politely go away?” she asked in a mental whisper, “I’m already exhausted still from pushing off my ascension despite getting some sleep earlier and don’t really trust myself to think clearly at the moment.”
Dazien nodded, patting her shoulder, before standing and addressing the crowd, “Sorry everyone, but there will be no new marks of Favor today. If you still wish to make a case for your deity after this week, when Regent Wayland will be recovered from her Sapphire Ascension, you may first send the proposal in writing to this location, and we will reach out should we choose to negotiate further. Thank you.”
There was a collective groan of disappointment from the crowd as they began to turn to leave. Only four people remained from the group, Phoenix recognized two as she gestured for them to come closer.
Anna Deserin, the High Priestess of the Parent, was one of them, and she thought her brother would have greeted the runeforged first, but Dazien surprised her by holding out a hand to one of the women she didn’t recognize.
The gemite was grinning fondly at the tall cinderen dressed in leather armor who clasped his forearm in an odd greeting she hadn’t seen very often here as the Defender said, “Monk Nemor, I wasn’t expecting to see you here, but I’m glad to know you survived the war. I don’t think I’ve seen you since before my Adventurer Trials. You weren’t at the temple while we were training there for a time.”
“That’s right,” the woman said with a grin, “I gave you the last Knowledge Tome you earned, but we’ve all been a bit busy with this blood moon. I finally hit Emerald during it.”
“Congratulations,” he replied, releasing her arm and turning to Phoenix to introduce them, “Phoenix, this is Hawa Nemor. I’ve known her since I was a child, and she’s helped me quite often with training in the sword.”
“I wish Martin could have seen you become an Adventurer,” the Monk added with a somber smile, “He would have been proud of you, King.”
Dazien seemed to blush at that but nodded, “I wish he could have too. We could have used a fighter like him during these trying times,” then he redirected back to Phoenix, “I could have introduced him as well to my new sister, who I’m sure you already know of if you’re here.”
“I did hear the rumors about you both joining this House,” the cinderen confirmed with a nod, “It’s likely the reason Warrior chose me as his representative for this.”
“What exactly is ‘this’?” Phoenix finally asked, not wanting to interrupt the obvious reunion even if she felt she was missing some context that she’d likely have to ask Dazien about later.
“Just a tiny check-in and potential intervention,” one of the other priestesses said, and Phoenix recognized the elf woman as Kyleen Lastrand, whom she had initially met when first visiting the temple of the Traveler.
“And also to pay our respects and voice our gratitude for the risk you took for the city,” the other clergy member she didn’t recognize spoke up. He was a human from the feel of his aura and also dressed in leather armor. Unlike Monk Nemor, however, he still seemed to be in the high Sapphire Caste.
The stranger gave a polite bow and said, “I am Chase Rivera, a Cleric of the Hero. It is an honor to finally meet you, Saint Wayland.”
“You know, people keep mentioning how I took such a great ‘risk’ for the city, but all I did was channel a bit of Hero’s power into Kara. She’s the one who took the greater risk,” Phoenix grumbled, and the four clergy glanced towards each other uncertainly.
Chase spoke up again, “Actually, Hero wanted me to extend a small apology about that…”
“It wasn’t really his fault,” a voice said from nearby as Everin arrived. Kara was also with him, holding Patricia as they flew through the air to reach the group. The Scholar’s Avatar then added, “But you had already accepted Destroyer’s quest, so I believe he hoped to mitigate things a bit more.”
“What are you talking about?” Phoenix asked, noticing that with the trio’s addition, there was now a representative for each of the deities that had marked her.
The door to the roof opened again, and Uriel walked in as well, giving them all a surprised look. She wondered if that was some sort of sign that she should accept Destroyer’s offer of Favor as well, as though her friend was acting as his own representative despite her knowing that wasn’t the case. Saiya and Rayna were following behind him, too, looking just as surprised by the crowd.
When the others turned to look at the group, Uriel seemed to shrink in on himself slightly as his eyes searched for them, and he said, “Um, Dazien told me he and Phoenix were up here…”
“Yup, come sit,” Phoenix called out to them, “I think Everin was just about to explain the ‘catch’ in the deal I made with Destroyer.”
“Well, more like an omission of uncertainty,” Hero’s Cleric clarified.
“As you already know, Phoenix,” Everin began, coming over to sit with them as Uriel sat on the other side of Dazien and the twins sat on a nearby bench, “You are extremely unique, even among Wayfarers. There was no certainty that the… [Twist of Fate] effect wouldn’t override your Natural Talent. Much like the Soul Cages, we don’t know how those types of effects will interplay with your power.”
Phoenix looked around the group, “So, all of you know about that?”
They nodded, and Anna spoke up, “We have been entrusted with the secret by our patrons. Your survival and growth are important to all of us, so we will ensure that secrecy is maintained.”
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“So, Destroyer knew he was actually risking Phoenix’s life permanently by becoming a Saint?” Dazien asked angrily, though it didn’t seem directed at any of them, and she couldn’t blame him. Leaving something like that out made his actions seem much more underhanded and explained why he didn’t push to mark her soul at that point.
“Potentially,” Everin replied, “While Scholar cannot read the minds of the other gods, it is an uncertainty at best. Phoenix may just as well have survived. We simply won’t know until it happens. Either way, the risk was there. A risk most of the other gods didn’t want to take.”
Phoenix gave a sigh, “I guess it doesn’t make much of a difference. I still probably would have gone along with it to save everyone.”
Chase smiled broadly at her, “Hero believed that’s what you would say when he sent me.”
“So, what did you mean by ‘intervention,’ Priestess Lastrand?” Phoenix asked, trying to get this meeting over with so she could go sleep for the next three days.
“We just wanted to make sure you stay on the correct path,” Kyleen answered as though that were obvious, but it might as well have been an ancient riddle to Phoenix.
Before she could ask what the priestess was talking about, Everin provided more information, “It’s about Jin. Scholar already mentioned it, but we all wanted to make sure you didn’t run off after her.”
She blinked owlishly at the rainbow voxen before taking in the other six serious-looking faces and asked, “All of you were sent just to keep me away from my friend?”
“Is there something wrong with Jin?” Dazien inquired, “She saved the planet, so I assume she’s not evil or something, right?”
“‘Evil’ is a bit of a gray area with Jin,” the Avatar replied, refusing to meet their eyes, “Either way, though, she’s in the upper Emerald Caste. Phoenix needs to get stronger before going to the places and joining the fights that Jin is encountering.”
“Not to mention the quest she needs to embark on after the blood moon,” Chase added, “Hero –and I’d wager Rebel as well– are hoping to resolve the issues in Tyrand before you decide to leave the continent to find your friend.”
She looked out over the city where the Soul Reapers had destroyed so many lives. Smoke and ash still drifted through the air from the destruction. She gave a heavy sigh and promised, “I won’t go try and find Jin now, but what should I do next? I’m going to ascend today, and Scholar said she’d give me a clue on where to actually start my quest.”
“Ascend, rest, and finish your duties here till the moon ends,” Everin told her, “Then I’ll take you to see Scholar for that clue.”
Kyleen smiled gently and reminded her, “This may be the end of a war, but it’s still only the beginning of your journey. You have much of the world to explore still.”
Phoenix crossed her arms over her chest as she grumbled, “What is it with devotees and always trying to give me cliché words of wisdom?”
The group chuckled, and Anna said, “I think we get it from our patrons. They often whisper to us in riddles and nudge us towards their concepts. Like a parent guiding their child so they can discover the answer for themselves.”
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Phoenix tiredly cast her [Lunar Dream] to instantly produce the first absorption ritual for her friends. Rayna had been given a Dirge Spirit Gem as part of the payment for her work with the Undertaker’s clergy before the city had been attacked. Saiya had also stumbled upon an aspect in a sheer stroke of luck, and Phoenix insisted it was fate for the Healer to use the Repair Spirit Gem.
“It sounds perfect for repairing bodies,” the Wayfarer pointed out. She was proven correct about that a few moments later when Saiya showed off the upgraded ability using her [Guide Book].
Class Ability: Restored Foundation
Type: Spell (cleanse, zone, magical, life)
Cost: Severe mana.
Cooldown: 6 hours.
Current Caste: Sapphire 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Delineate a zone with small lotus flower constructs. Target ally within the zone restores a massive amount of health and is cleansed of all Magical Banes.
Sapphire Effect: Channel for a moderate mana cost per second to repair objects in the zone that contains the necessary materials and slowly heal all targets within the area.
“Well, I guess I know what I’ll be busy doing for the next few days while you sleep,” the Healer said with a chuckle, “I’m glad that I’ll be able to help more directly with this. Plenty of smaller objects need repairing as well, aside from the buildings that I’m sure will be getting material upgrades.”
“My turn!” Rayna called out, excitedly bouncing in place with tails wagging and her own gem in hand, “Only one more after this, and I’m all unlocked!”
“It’s just [Battle Symphony] and [Shatter] that you have left, right?” Phoenix clarified, conjuring a new illusory ritual circle.
“Yup. I haven’t been able to advance my Aura passive at all because of it,” the bard bemoaned, “Pretty sure this one will bond with [Battle Symphony] though.”
“I thought it was random?”
“Kinda?”
“Spirit Gems will usually bond to whichever unlocked ability is best suited for them,” Dazien interjected from his seat against the wall, watching the rituals beside Uriel, “Similarly to how Aspects bond to the most appropriate Attribute available. It’s not an exact science, but you can sometimes make decent guesses.”
Rayna’s guess proved true when she touched the [Guide Book] with a grin to display the new addition to her ability.
Ability: Battle Symphony
Type: Spell (magical, song)
Cost: Low mana per second.
Cooldown: None.
Current Caste: Sapphire 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: While singing, deal increased damage for each Boon on you and inflict [Shaken] on nearby enemies.
Sapphire Effect: While singing, deal increased damage for each Bane on the currently targeted enemy and slowly inflict instances of [Dazed] on nearby enemies.
* Shaken (bane, magical, song): Inflicts ongoing low Song damage for a moderate duration.
* Dazed (bane, magical, stacking): Agility and Mind are slightly decreased. Instances are slowly lost over time.
“I’m going to break so many monsters with this,” the Shatter Bard said happily, “Alright, it’s time for you to get your own reward, Princess!”
Phoenix chuckled, “I have been looking forward to this.”
“Even have a few Spirit Gems saved up for it!” Rayna pointed out, “We’ll have to get those sorted when you wake up.”
She nodded and simply sat where she was, glancing toward Dazien, “You’ll make sure I get to bed okay, right? Or should we do this in my room?”
He chuckled, “Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll take care of you. It’s what big brothers are for, isn’t it?”
She laughed, “Exactly.”
Closing her eyes, Phoenix focused on relaxing her body and moving her consciousness inward, arriving in her little soul library that had most of the shelves filled with books now. The maelstrom of swirling glowing letters above her was still slowly trickling downward towards the shelves, and she moved to where she had last left off, one of the books sitting on the floor waiting to be filled and placed upon the last shelf.
She picked it up and opened it, focusing on guiding the letters above to fill in the last of the blank pages, detailing her most recent experiences during the battle against the Soul Reapers’ Caged monsters while defending the city.
Phoenix snapped the book shut when there was no more space to write and tried to place the book on the shelf, but it seemed overfull. She frowned but knew she could make it fit with a bit of extra effort. When she squeezed it into place, the room became engulfed in pale blue flames, and she vaguely worried that the books would burn with them.
The flames consumed her as well, and she felt both her physical body and mental projection of self double over in the odd and slightly painful feeling of her body and magic being further refined.
When the flames dissipated, the books seemed to shine, and she realized that glass doors now protected the books, locking them in place on their shelves. The ceiling had changed entirely. The letters of her uncultivated experiences were gone and replaced with a softly glowing light. In the center was a door hatch with a silver ladder descending from it, inviting her to climb upwards.
She grinned, wanting to go take a peek at the new level but could hear Dazien’s voice call to her, “You okay, Princess? Or did you fall asleep already?”
Phoenix opened her eyes, blearily looking around and having to adjust to the utter weirdness of being able to see the magic around them. Everything seemed brighter and more vibrant.
Her ever-not-quite-so-helpful [Guild Book] informed the others of her problem.
Passive Ability: Moonlit Eyes
Type: Perception
Current Caste: Sapphire 1
Crystal Effect: The level of light does not hinder your sight.
Sapphire Effect: Can see the flow of magic.
Phoenix rubbed at her eyes and mumbled, “Too bright. Room. Sleep.”
She heard her friends chuckle and felt Dazien lift her. As he made his way toward the door, he teased her, “You got heavier.”
“Rude.”
“Hey, at least you don’t break so easily now.”
“Fair. I also didn’t have to break all of my bones to do it.”
“Uhg, don’t remind me,” the gemite said with a soft groan.
She glanced down when a thought suddenly hit her and then lifted her arms in celebration as she exclaimed, “Yes! I got bewbs this time!”
Dazien looked at her in surprise, “You actually wanted that? You always seemed… um… more reserved in that regard.”
She gave a slight huff, crossing her arms over her new chest a bit awkwardly, “I might not like showing a lot of skin, but I still want to look more feminine. You know, curves and softness… it was never a real possibility for me before,” she pointed out solemnly before giving a soft smile, “So it’s exciting for me to finally get closer to what I want my body to actually be.”
“I think that’s something everyone likes achieving,” the gemite said with a nod, “But I can imagine how much more it means to you. I may not have quite the same experience, but physical appearances have been at the forefront of most of my experiences growing up and not by any desire on my part.”
“While I was worried about nobody wanting my body, you were worried about everyone wanting yours?” she asked quietly.
Dazien gave her a crooked smile, “Basically. But we can talk more about that later if you want,” he said, walking into the lift at the end of the hall, “Sleep for now.”
She nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder before promptly letting her exhaustion overwhelm her senses.