WILD LIFE: CHAPTER 17 ~VISAGE~

*ding*

You have witnessed The Grave of Melodas

The Grave of Melodas

Surrounded by countless halberds a solemn black monument pierces through the center of a hollow chamber. The monument has been engraved with names of countless knights. Before the monument lies a stone coffin that houses Melodas the Shieldbearer. This grave was buried within catacombs to hide it from those that would dishonor this heros memory.

- Health, Mana and Stamina regeneration increased by 25%.

- All attributes are increased by 15.

- Maximum Health and Mana increased by 15%.

- Vitality increased by 10.

- Increases the power of shield skills.

- These effects last for 24 hours.

Art has been permanently increased by 50

"That's... intense." Amanda said

Hope took a moment to admire the grave. "Freya would love this."

"A grave fit for a lord of the shield no doubt." Sparky chimed in

An apparition rose from the coffin and stood before the gaping trio. "Thank you for freeing my brother's defiled soul from the curse of our enemies." he spoke

"You're Melodas?" Amanda asked

"I am"

"Your enemies?" Hope asked

"Yes, the evil achromatic shamans placed a curse upon my brother and our companions. They sealed themselves away within these catacombs to protect the world above." he explained

"I was wondering why such an important place to the knights would be so... Dark."

"Once again, thank you for using your holy weapons to purify the souls of my companions... and Lucas." Melodas said as Amanda looked down at the silver blade Hope had crafted for her. "Freya has gained many allies this day."

*ding*

Through the purification of heroic souls the Church of Freya has gained influence.Fame has increased by 100.

Contribution to the Church of Freya has increased by 40.

Public value of the Church of Freya has increased by 200.

Church of Freya’s Public Value : 790

Hope quickly considered her next words. "Sir Melodas, we came to this place for our own sake, helping your comrades was an accident. Of course had we known of the curse Freya would have come here in full force, instead of just the three beings you see before you. I am truly glad that they will no longer suffer but it's important that you know we didn't come here for such a just cause."

"Your honesty is appreciated elf, may I ask why you've come to my tomb?"

Hope looked to Amanda then stepped back. "I received a quest to explore these ruins and learn about you. I was under the impression from your title that I could find a class well suited to the way that I fight." the knight explained

Melodas examined Amanda for a few moments then spoke. "For whose sake do you wield your shield, knight?"

"For the people I desire to defend."

"Fighting selflessly for the sake of others is not an easy path, are you prepared to die for them." he said pointing towards Hope and Sparky.

"I am" she spoke without hesitation.

*ding*

Quest Complete!.

Level up!

Level up!

Hidden Class!If you accept it, you can use exclusive skills related to the nature of the class.

Do you want to convert now?

"I do" at that moment her avatar was enveloped in light.

NameAmandaAlignmentNeutralLevel107ProfessionBulwarkRaceHumanTitleStraightforwardFame497(+20)Infamy0Health4695 / 4695Mana1050 / 1050Strength205(+125)Agility100(+30)Vitality193(+120)Honor73(+20)Intelligence10(+20)Wisdom70(+20)Leadership93(+30)Luck10(+20)Fighting Spirit146(+20)Endurance243(+70)Attack243Defense462Magical ResistanceFire10%Water10%Wind10%Earth10%Light10%Darkness10%-20 points added to all Stats.

-Vitality + 80

-Magic resistance + 10%

-While covering allies within 30 feet all stats increase by 20%

-Increased threat generation to targets threatening party members.

-Enables you to learn secret skills based on your level in Shield Mastery.

-Shield parameters increased

-Shield skill parameters increased

-Enables you to equip certain items specialized for the class.

-Honor stat raises familiarity with nobility and increases your chance of receiving requests.

*ding*

A new Sustained Skill has been generated: Shield Wall

Shield WallThe ability to enter a defensive battle stance.

-Defense + 40%

-Attack - 20%

-Knockback and stun resistance + 60%

-Costs 25% of total mana to sustain.

A new Active Skill has been generated: Repulsion

RepulsionThe ability to strike at foes using triple the usual force and quickly return to a blocking stance. This attack repels foes with one mighty thrust of your shield.

-Causes 240% weapon damage.

-Stuns foes.

-Distance, stun duration and weapon damage percentage is effected by skill level.

A new Passive Skill has been generated: Vigor

VigorYou recover faster from poisons, diseases and wounds.

-Recovery rate +30%

-Recovery rate improves as skill level rises.

A new Passive Skill has been generated: Guardian’s Wrath

Guardian’s WrathWhen a party member is inflicted with grievous wounds you are driven into a frenzy.

-Deactivates shield wall.

-Movement/attack speed increases 50%

-Attack power increases 25%

-Threat generation increases 100%

-Activates when a party member’s health drops below 10%

-If a party member falls you forgo all defense and double the effects until either the enemy or you are vanquished.

-This ability consumes all remaining mp/stamina upon end of combat and you are fatigued.

"Being a bulwark shall suit your needs well knight, this..." he said as a silvery sphere of metal began floating towards Amanda. "...will be your greatest ally and closest friend in the coming days of hardship that await one who walks the path of a bulwark. This shield will take the form of that you which you hold dearest, that which you most strongly desire to protect. If you put in the effort this will become a shield without equal." Melodas explained before fading from existence.

The sphere began to change and take on the form of a small buckler as Amanda reached out her hand to accept it.

-You have received Bulwark’s Soul Shield

Bulwark’s Soul ShieldTypeShieldQualityFlawlessDurability100 / 100Artistic Value300CreatorN/ADefense1This shield is as much a part of its owner as their own limbs, able to increase parameters through transmogrification. Due to this shield’s magical nature it negates 20% of all intercepted magical attacks.RestrictionClass: BulwarkEffect(s):

-Magic Resistance + 20%.

-Durability regenerates at a slow rate.

-Mana may be used to hasten durability regeneration.

Cannot be dropped upon death.

Amanda beamed with delight while reading the description of her new shield as Hope approached her from behind. In the next few moments before Amanda could resist Hope snaked her left arm around the knight's waist and her right arm around the woman’s breastplate from behind. The elf whispered into her ear "This shield will take the form of that you which you hold dearest..."

Amanda went pale and fearfully looked at the buckler... On the front of her soul shield was the visage of Hope in all her glory... "I... I don't know why..."

Hope attempted to continue her charade but could only hold on for a few more moments before she began to fall apart and laugh helplessly. "The shield totally outed you."

Amanda gave Hope an annoyed look. "You mean a lot to me Hope, that doesn't mean I'm in love with you."

Hope sent the knight a powerful gaze and took a step towards her. Amanda blushed and stepped back out of reflex, *Thunk* she tripped over Sparky.

-Do you wish to transmogrify Bulwark's Soul Shield using the Battle-scarred Shell Shield?

Seeing a chance to escape the subject at hand Amanda called out. "Yes!" without a second thought.

The soul shield began to glow and change shape as Sparky cried out in horror, "Nooooooooo!" his precious shell was slowly disintegrated before his very eyes.

*sob* *sob*

Ignoring the crushed turtle Amanda stared at the soul shield that had now gotten slightly larger and without much thought pulled out her tower shield.

-Do you wish to transmogrify Bulwark's Soul Shield using the Knight's Tower Shield?

"Yes"

The soul shield began to glow again and this time it became even larger. Rather than a buckler, it had become the size of a kite shield.

Bulwark’s Soul ShieldTypeShieldQualityFlawlessDurability100 / 100Artistic Value300CreatorN/ADefense22This shield is as much a part of its owner as their own limbs, able to increase parameters through transmogrification. Due to this shield’s magical nature it negates 20% of all intercepted magical attacks.RestrictionClass: BulwarkEffect(s):

-Magic Resistance + 20%.

-Durability regenerates at a slow rate.

-Mana may be used to hasten durability regeneration.

-5% of blocked damage reflected onto attackers as lightning.

Cannot be dropped upon death.

*ding*

Freya has been greatly amused by the image of your soul shield. All attributes permanently increased by 5

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

The title "Hopeless" is now available.

HopelessYou completely lack the ability to hide your true feelings.

All attributes + 20

Honor + 20

Fame + 100

Amanda looked at Hope and said "I can see why you treat Freya the way you do..."

Hope grinned "You're about to regret saying that Amanda."

*ding*

Luck has been permanently decreased by 5

"..."

"... got you didn't she?"

Amanda spoke up "Something is wrong with your goddess." Hope slapped her forehead as Amanda quickly covered her mouth.

*ding*

Luck has been permanently decreased by 5

Hope began to laugh as Amanda shook her fist skyward... then she noticed the crying turtle.

*light-bulb*

Hope walked up to Sparky and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey ol' pal, what's wrong?"

"My shell... it's gone... forever."

"Maybe not..." she said as the turtle looked up to her with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"How?"

"If I mark you with Freya's symbol you could beg the goddess to give you back your shell."

"Do it!" he shouted.

Without removing her hand Hope thought 'mark of the holy beast'.

A light shined and when Hope removed her hand Freya's symbol was there. Sparky began to shimmer with a faint, almost divine aura just as the other two had.

*ding*

-You have made the wilderness surrounding the Hines Highlands safer.

Nature affinity has been permanently increased by 50

The Lake of Turtles has been renamed The Lake of Dusk.

Fame + 100

"Freya!" Sparky shouted as Hope grinned evilly at him.

Amanda spoke up "I am not gonna miss that one."

"*Mmmm* He grew on me a little, not nearly enough though. He's Freya's problem now."

'This one's almost as much trouble as that moose with a god complex...' the goddess commented absently as Hope stifled a laugh while remembering the first time she'd seen him get blindsided by the goddess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time Hope's group reached the catacomb’s entrance Sparky had somehow managed to talk the goddess into giving him a golden shell. Amanda laughed like crazy when Sparky tripped and cracked the fragile thing like an egg. Moving on past various enemies the group returned to Sparky's lake and made camp as the sun was setting once again. Hope was beginning to cook again when Amanda spoke up "Hope... I want to go back to Restia."

"The guild?" Hope asked

Amanda gaped at her "How did you know?"

"You're hopeless Amanda, I could see how much leaving bothered you in the first place. Let me guess, people are leaving or the guild is falling apart without a proper leader?"

Amanda looked a little miffed "Pretty much, Guy is begging me to come back."

"Well it is sort of my fault that the guild doesn't have a proper leader at the moment. I'll call up Blindside and you can ride him all the way to the forest."

"You're not coming with me?" Amanda spoke somberly

"My journey leads me towards Tullen." Hope said candidly

"I wish you'd reconsider."

Hope gazed at Amanda. "I want to see you."

"You're looking at me." the knight said sarcastically

"You know what I mean." Hope replied

"Is that a good idea?" Amanda asked

"There's something I have to know."

"Mind telling me what?"

Hope gave her a gentle smile. "I trust you here... I want to know if I'll feel the same way in our world. I want you to see me for what I really am. I want to know what you'd think of who I am, what I've done."

Amanda choked down her embarrassment. "I don't really have a problem with it, I'm a little different in real life."

"How so?"

"I'm an inch taller with auburn hair and.... slightly less voluptuous."

Hope snickered as Amanda hid her face in her lap.

"My place or yours?" Hope asked

"I can't really travel, I live in a college dorm right now and I'm on an allowance."

"Then I'll come to you."

"I attend Ellsworth University, in Vinson Massif."

"It's only about three hours north from where I live, by plane that is." Hope said

Amanda looked at Hope more seriously. "You're really gonna come all the way to Ellsworth just to see me?"

"This may not seem like much to you but for me, this is the most important moment of the last seven and a half years."

"Back in Fort Odin, you said that you'd spent nearly seven years in the wilderness of our world. Now you're saying that knowing if you can trust me is the most important moment of the last seven and a half... Someone betrayed you, didn't they?"

Hope hadn't realized how perceptive Amanda could be when it came to herself. "Yeah... this is a discussion I'd rather have in person if we can help it Amanda."

"I can't even begin to imagine what happened to send you running from the rest of humanity for so long... I'm sorry, I'll drop the subject for now."

After a few moments of silence Hope spoke up "Foods ready, let's eat then I'll call Blindside."

"Right."

*cough* *cough* "You are not of this world I take it?" Sparky asked nearly scaring the life out of Hope who had forgotten all about the turtle.

"Ah, yes we're from another world."

"Why are you here?" he asked curiously

"Most of us are just here for fun." Amanda answered

"What about you?" he said looking at Hope

"I've come to torture animals across Versailles while enslaving the local populations using my beauty and wit." she claimed

Sparky broke out into a cold sweat "As expected of the Missy, quite the goal you've got there."

"I've already got one city an outpost and a fort, plus some odd number of shaved and traumatized animals under my belt."

"I just remembered something I must attend to, farewell Missy." Sparky quickly turned and waded into the lake's edge before disappearing beneath the surface.

"Happy?" Amanda asked

"Very" Hope claimed with a wide grin.

"Here this is my cell number." Amanda said while handing Hope a piece of parchment.

"Thanks"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once they finished their meal Hope summoned Blindside.

"Haven't seen you in a while Blindside, how have you been?"

"Freya keeps sending me off to help with quests."

"No fun?"

"It's all right, the best thing so far is what just happened."

"Oh what do you mean? Happy to see me?

"No." he said flatly

Hope gave him a cross look. "What happened?"

"The Paladin I was sent to help this time was a rather pretentious guy who had this holier than thou attitude, well he demanded to ride me into battle instead of asking. He seemed to believe that I'm his servant."

"How is that the best thing that's happened?"

"Well you summoned me as I was charging the enemy’s front lines with him riding on my back." Blindside chuckled "What I wouldn't give to see that human's face right now."

Amanda and Hope both broke into helpless laughter.

'oops'

'Freya I need a way to communicate with my past familiars so I don't get your other servants killed.'

'I noticed' the goddess retorted

*ding*

Communion has been augmented!

CommunionThe ability to communicate through thoughts with the goddess Freya.

-You may communicate with past familiars using this method.

'Thank you'

"So you've been fighting Blindside?"

"Yeah"

"Let me take a look at your status.... View Blindside information."

NameBlindsideAlignmentDivineLevel82ProfessionHoly BeastRaceMooseTitleGod ComplexFame345Infamy0Health4060 / 4060Mana375 / 375Strength240(+20)Agility160(+20)Vitality322(+20)Intelligence5(+20)Wisdom5(+20)Luck-15(+20)Charm57(+100)Fighting Spirit92(+20)Endurance108(+20)Nature Affinity223(+20)Attack437Defense246Magical ResistanceFire0%Water0%Wind0%Earth0%LightImmuneDarkness-50%Relationship with the church of Freya is at the highest level.

-20 points added to all Stats.

-Immune to light.

-Dark resistance - 50%

-In nature all stats increase by 25%

-Enables you to learn secret skills.

-Titles that add infamy are no longer available.

Outdoor non-combat movement speed + 50%

Skill NameSkill RankSkill LevelSkill ExperienceBlindsideIntermediate434%This skill increases your familiar's parameters when attacking conditions are met.

-Flanking attacks on unaware enemies gain bonus effects.

-Stagger rate +140%

-Attack damage +55%

Skill NameSkill RankSkill LevelSkill ExperienceMajestic AntlersGrandmasterMAXN/AThis skill increases the toughness and attack power of ones antlers through any action that involves antlers.

-Stagger rate +100%

-Attack damage +140%

-Charm +100

"Looking good Blindside."

"Thank you, why was I summoned?"

"I was about to ask if you'd be willing to take Amanda back to Restia."

"That won't be a problem."

"Thank you Blindside." Amanda said

"I live to serve." he said robotically

Amanda and Hope both gaped at him.

"Goodbye Amanda, I'll see you soon."

"Bye Hope."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Freya! What did you do to Blindside!?'

'I trained him dear.'

'...'

'Oh he's fine don't mind it.' the goddess said nonchalantly

'... how's that paladin doing?'

'Leading the charge'

'Oh that's good'

'No, no, no, I mean he's leading the beastmen charge tied to the front of a war machine without his armor on.'

*pfft AHAHAHAAAAAAHAHAAAAA!*

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