I was effectively guilt tripped into signing Gisele’s shirt as well. We arrived at Janie’s Gunsmith and More. The door was open. The Mystic Troopers waited outside. I entered to find Francis and Carla waiting for us.

“Hey Doug,” Carla called. She was just a little over bright.

“Hello Carla,” I said ducking so as to not hit my head on the ceiling. I tried to nod, “Francis.”

Angelica and Aiko followed in after me.

Francis spoke up before any of us could make inquiries, “Before anything happens. Yes, Brand is here. He was hurt stopping the Artillery strike. He is stable. Lily is attending to him. The Artillery piece has been disabled. Janie should be back in a few minutes. Would any of you want tea?”

“Tea would be lovely,” Aiko chipped in. She stepped around me and approached the counter, “Would you be able to sell me a pistol, or perhaps a machine pistol. I am looking for something with a smaller caliber, but high ammo capacity.”

“We absolutely can help you out there,” Francis said as a comfortable salesman’s cadence slid into his voice. “There are a myriad of options. Carla can show you some of our prebuilts. I’ll be right back with the tea.”

He wasn’t gone long he ducked out of the room, and came back with one hand holding a teapot and another holding five mugs. “Doug, would you like some tea?”

“I am fine thank you,” I started. I was about to press to be brought to Brand but was interrupted.

“When’s the last time you drank something?” Angelica asked.

I had to think, “I had some Titanic Brew with the Snow Lion ribs. Those were not great.”

“Okay but when was the last time you drank anything with water in it?” Angelica asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

“Doug, would like some tea, me as well please,” Angelica said with a smile.

“Shouldn’t we focus on Brand?” I asked.

“He’s okay,” Carla said, handing Aiko a pistol. “Please point it toward the far wall or the floor.”

“Here you go,” Francis offered me a coffee cup. It was full of tea.

I took the cup. The warmth of the liquid radiated through the ceramic of the cup. It was pleasant. That said, I didn't take a drink. “Where’s Brand?”

The practiced smile faded slightly from Francis’s face, “He is upstairs with Lily.”

“I want to see him,” I insisted.

“This is a little awkward,” Francis said, his grin turning a bit wooden. “I am trying to stall you.”

I frowned.

“It’s Lily’s birthday, Doug. Brand is fine. Just let them have some time together.” Carla implored.

I set the cup down on the counter and slowly but purposefully made my way to the stairs.

Carla stepped between me and the stairs.

“Please move,” I said.

“No,” Carla said.

“I just want to make sure he is okay,” I only partially lied.

“He is fine. He literally cannot die within the Mandir,” Carla said.

“Would you accept that answer if I tried to stop you from seeing Lily?” I asked.

Carla sighed, “Alright let’s head up there.” she turned and proceeded to stomp loudly up the stairs. “Lily, we have company! Brand, your big beau is back!”

I don’t know what I expected to find, but somehow I was still caught off guard.

Brand didn’t look to be in agony but he was fucked up. He was plopped on what looked to be a goose down bed with silk sheets. He was propped up with several pillows. He had a nasty black eye and split lip. He also had his chest wrapped in bandages. His left arm had an angry blistered red burn on it. Despite the damage he still had perfect hair and radiated an almost regal grace in his injured state.

He was also being spoon fed what looked to be tomato soup by Lily. Lily was wearing a Nurse hat with a red cross symbol, a more or less insubstantial slip, and a somewhat worried smile. “Hello, Doug.”

Brand swallow the small amount of soup, “Greetings.” He managed his voice had that slightly strained tone of someone pretending to be okay.

“Holy shit, are you okay?” I asked. I didn’t enter the room. It wasn’t a large place and I didn’t want to crowd them.

“He has several long term conditions, but he is above the yellow line on his HP and is trending upward.” Lily said.

“It’s hardly anything,” Brand assured us both.

Lily doted on him again and wiped the corner of his mouth, “Don’t play strong. You were shot and took some shrapnel.”

“You were shot?” I asked

“Lightly shot,” Brand insisted. “Beside I am getting the best of care.” He smiled toward Lily.

“You’re a terrible patient,” Lily admonished blushing.

“I find it hard to rest,” Brand admitted.

“Do we need to get you to Brunhilda?” I asked. Looking at the bandages I could see red literally bleeding through.

“I wouldn’t recommend moving him until his health is in the green,” Lily said. She may have used the word recommend, but I could tell she wasn’t going to let me move him.

“Let her fuss over me some more Doug. I’ll suffer through it somehow,” Brand told me.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” Brand insisted.

Well that made everything awkward immediately. I turned to Lily then focused on maintaining eye contact, “Thank you for taking care of him.”

“It is my pleasure,” Lily said. “Seriously it’s like a whole thing with me. Do you want to stay? I can clear a space.”

“He doesn’t,” Brand said to Lily, but I got the message.

Also, I really didn’t. Brand had my back, and clearly averted a catastrophe. If he said he needed my help I would do what he needed. That said this situation looked both stable and non-transgressive. Plus he told me twice.

I went back downstairs.

“We good?” Angelica asked.

“Yeah,” I said, picking up the tea cup. I made eye contact with Francis and Carla, “Sorry for being dramatic.”

“I get it,” Carla said, taking a crystal from Aiko.

“So, Lily has a Nurse hat?” I asked. Deciding to fill the uncomfortable silence.

“She has way more than the hat,” Francis said. He considered for a moment. “Can I show you something?”

“I guess?” I really hope costumes weren’t involved. I took a drink. The tea had a taste of orange mixed in. As I followed Francis into the back I called to Angelica, “I had some Chai with with Lola a few days ago.”

“Drink more water you dehydrated creature,” Angelica called after me.

“Look at this,” Francis reach behind the CNC machine and pulled out a long metal staff. Well not a staff. It had a central hand hold in the middle and the tips were curved.

“A recurve bow?” I asked.

“It would be. If I could string it,” Francis said. “It was a commission from a few years back. It is Orichalcum. A giant asked us to make it. She left the metal and the payment for the work five years ago. She said she or someone who could finish the work would be by soon.”

“Why show me?” I asked.

“You’re a big strong guy, and she said it for was killing demons.” Francis said, pulling a thin cable from a drawer. “Giants like to make prophecies. I think they get achievements when they come true. Also I think you need a range weapon if you are going to head to that tower and we just don’t have the time to make you a cannon like Miss De Leon has. Honestly if you are strong enough the bow may do more damage.”

“You want me to try and string it?” I turned the bow in my hand.

“If you would like to try,” Francis nodded and handed me the string.

Eh, why not? I hooked the string over one end. The loop settled into the notches. I then tried to pull the wire. The metal was easy to bend at first, but quickly became more than my arms could bend.

Power Check… Failed.

The bow snapped back.

Francis looked surprised, “I really thought you could do it.”

“Let me try once more,” I said. I placed the strung end of the bow in front of my foot and stepped through the loop of the bow with the other. I braced one end on my thigh and held the other in my hand. Then using the muscle in my leg and arms I bent the bow again while invoking the craft skill.

The tools on my belt blazed with power. My muscles burned. I don’t think I would have managed it, If not for the constant use from my cosmic martial art making me more instinctive at crafting. The system guided my hands and held the metal for a split second allowing me to string the bow.

Craft Check… Successful!

Platonic Ideal Bow created

Platonic Ideal Bow

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

This bow is worthy of Elizabeth George Speare. Anyway this Orichalcum bow was shaped by Fanics. The string was spun by Lily and Carla. The runes were etched by Janie. Then the Left Hand of the Titan reached out and finished its creations. This Demigod Scale Bow triples the [Power Attribute] of the use for the purpose of damage when used.. Also any projectile fired from this weapon count as Holy and Order based damage for the purposes of overcoming resistance. This is the perfect tool for fighting demons. Fitting since it was made with the power of friendship.

Note: Maximum [Power Attribute] to be multiple is 80

Minimum [Power Attribute] to use: 35

Francis whistled, “I leveled from that.” He examined the bow using some skill, “No wonder it was such a pain to make.”

I held it out to him.

He stepped back, “Nope. You're going to need that. I couldn’t even pull the string.”

Carla, Angelica, and Aiko walked into the back room.

“Oh you actually completed it.” Carla said. She seemed, well, not quite amazed but close.

I sat down on the floor, it sucks standing in a stooped position for long periods of time, “Who left this here?”

Carla shrugged, “Janie talked with her more, but she said her name was Weird Skuld?” somehow her statement became a question.

“Couldn’t you just read it?” I asked.

“Deception skills are a thing, one of the best ways to catch someone is just ask them basic questions,” Angelica explained.

“That,” Carla said. I could see her trying to remember, “Plus her name wasn’t in english so… not sure.”

I considered that for a moment, “Then why did you act like my name above my head was a fact when we first met?” I asked Angelica.

“Because it normally is. Also you answered to it like a normal person. It is also incredibly rude to not respect the names people have on display,” Angelica answered. She paused clearly listening to something Celeste was telling her, “The God of Hope started that tradition. It’s legend but part of ascending to the divine scale is picking a new name.”

“Titan spawn have to do something similar,” I muttered.

I think I really did lock in on the real trick to beating the system was to not use the system.

Francis pulled ten huge and heavy looking arrows from behind the CNC machine, “Ammo.” I pulled them into my inventory. I was better armed for whatever was coming, but I could prepare more. Time to look at the level up.

As Aiko, Francis, and Carla began making small talk over tea, I opened my menus.

Let’s start by selecting a perk:

Titanic Works 2

Titan Spawn are often industries unto themselves. Shaping the world and the materials in it like the playthings they are. With this perk, the Titan Spawn does not require tools for Craft, Repair, Construction, or related skills. Reduce the time required for the skills by [Mind Attribute] x [Difference in Scale]

In addition this improved perk grants a [Mind Attribute]% chance of producing a duplicate of crafted item without need of extra components, and [Magic Attribute]% chance of to increase the final scale of the item crafted.

Oracle

Oracles are able to glimpse the future and learn information beyond their physical experience. This perk will allow the Titan Spawn to enter a trance and attempt to learn the secrets of the future. The Titan Spawn will also occasionally receive visions of the things including but not limited to: The future*, distant locations, the past.

Note 1: Player will not have complete control of this perk

Note 2: Vision of the future are of a possible future, not guaranteed to be the one you will experience.

Note 3: Observation of distant realms and even the past can be detected by other oracles or significantly powerful beings.

Note 4: There are means to block or mislead this skill.

There it was again, Oracle. With that perk I could find Kate… probably. I could also use it to preempt what is about to happen. I have spent my entire life reacting. I knew I couldn’t win that way. Wilson and the other narrators had too much reach and control. If I wanted to change things, I needed to start acting. The best way to do that was to be better informed…

That was the trap though wasn’t it?

The stupid ominous prompt was meant to rattle me. Push me into taking the Oracle perk. Then the system would be in my head. Not being able to trust what I could see was worse than not knowing what was coming. Besides, maximum survivability meant getting as many options as possible. Titanic Works 2 would have been helpful ten minutes ago. I wasn’t going to sweat the small stuff. Yeah two Divine Scale bows would be better than one Demigod Scale bow but I was happy with what I had. I held off picking the perk for now though.

What about traits?

Titanic Retribution

Attacking a Titan Spawn is a foolish endeavor at the best of times. Attacking the bearer of this perk is tantamount to suicide. Once per minute the Titan Spawn may rebound the Raw damage they have taken over the previous 60 seconds back at their attackers. When rebounding damage the Titan Spawn must select whether to select a single target or an Area equal to Magic Attribute square feet.

Note 1: Raw damage is the total amount of damage before being reduced by defense.

Note 2: Damage will be divided equally between every living being in area of effect.

Prison

Titan Spawn often have enemies that are not easily destroyed. This perk allows the Titan Spawn to place [Mind Attribute]/2 living or undead beings into their inventory. Beings in the inventory are treated as if they were in a Domain under the spawns control. The Beings could escape if they are able to win an opposed roll of the Titan Spawn’s choosing. While inside the prison the being will take up a space equal to their physical volume. The default assumption is they will not be able to interact with other beings or items in the Titan Spawns inventory without the Titan Spawns approval, but significantly powerful beings may be able to do so. The Titan Spawn cannot interact physically with beings inside the prison but can communicate via messaging with beings while they are inside. Abilities like Dark Magic will be usable within the Domain at increased effectiveness.

That choice was easy. An option that makes attacking me a bad idea. Yes. yes, please. Also the prison perk just felt…weird and evil.

Angelica poked me.

I didn’t jump. I also totally didn’t spill my tea. A free craft check turned the liquid to ice. Picking the tea puck up off the floor and dropping it into the cup I said, “Sorry what?”

“You were lost in your own little world,” Angelica said. She was clearly trying to gauge my mood.

“I was taking the down time to pick a Perk and Trait.” I explained. Then for reasons that can only be chalked up to my own idiocy, I tried to drink the iced tea. It was still solid. It did not work.

“So you just do that in front of god and everyone?” Carla asked.

I stared at her, “That’s the line with you? This is where you get shy?”

“Yes,” Carla nodded.

“I will admit to a polite curiosity,” Francis added.

“Eh It takes all kinds to make a world,” I said, selecting Titanic Works 2 and Titanic Retribution. “And done.”

“Oh, no flash of light or burst of energy?” Francis asked.

“Sorry I am very tired,” I said. I then tried to drink my ice puck again. It kinda worked this time. Is this why I stopped engaging with food and drinks? Was I bad at them?

I don’t know how food works…

The front door opened and closed. Janie called from the other room, “There are teenagers camped out front. Did someone forget to close the curtains again.” she walked into the back room.

Janie looked rough. She had a bruised nose a black eye, and her knuckles were bloody and raw. She frowned at me as she hung her coat on a hook. Her right arm was covered in red flaky skin that looked like almost healed blisters.

“Tea?” Carla said heading off what felt like a tense interaction.

“I guess,” Janie said. She wasn’t limping but she really lost some of the pep in her step as she walked toward us. She sat down between Francis and Carla. She immediately leaned on Francis. “You here for Brand?”

“Yeah, Lily is… nursing- I mean tending to him. I think in the long run we should get him to Brunhilda, but I figured it would be best to give it some time,” I said.

Janie sighed, “that’s the worst thing about you Doug. You’re hard to hate.”

“I’m sorry?” I tried.

Janie frowned at me, “Every time we cross paths, my life gets a little harder. You’re not doing it on purpose, but you still do it. Folks are at each other's throats right now. The whole place is a hair's width from tearin’ itself apart. The claim is the folks that tried to bomb the goblin camp were lone actors but once people found out you killed Madigan. A lot of apologists came out of the woodwork.”

“Those all sound like valid reasons to not like me,” I admitted

“Yep,” Janie agreed, “but you keep doin’ things like helping Seth, stopping the Technacoast lynch mob, closing the hole to the Deep, and …” She gestured toward the roof and toward Lily and Brand.

“I don’t understand,” I started.

“It’s Lily's birthday and she is one of the infuriating people that won’t tell you what they want,” Janie griped. “I got her mittens. Not important. The thing is she likes taking care of people. Not entirely sure what that is about, but it makes her happy. I’m willing to bet my ass she has that nurse hat on right now.”

“She does,” I acknowledge, growing less comfortable with leaving Brand in her care.

“I figure we make nice for another twenty to thirty minutes. Wait for the sun to come up. You all can leave, and I’ll tag in with Lily. Everyone’s happy,” Janie explained.

“He also completed the bow the Giantess commissioned,” Francis said trying to help keep things friendly.

“Is that what that prompt was?” She asked taking the tea Carla offered her. Janie’s eyes unfocused as she read, “I was stuck dealing with what to do with prisoners. That is also not going to work long term. And I am 60 xp from leveling! This is the shit I am talking about Doug!”

Eventually it was time to leave. The logistics was a little wonky. Brand was still in extremely rough shape. Him trying to walk the distance to goblin camp would likely open his wounds again. This meant I was basically princess carrying him. Negotiating the stairs was a bit tricky. They were tiny human stairs for tiny humans. I was a big Titan Spawn. You do the math.

“Good Bye Brand, you’re always welcome. Goodbye Angelica, come see us if you need any more gunsmithing. Good bye Aiko, it was nice meeting you,” Janie called as we stepped out into the cold. “Bye Doug,” she added flatley and then closed and locked the door.

That’s fair.

“She seems upset with you,” Aiko observed.

“Yep,” I agreed. I decided to not engage with her unasked question.

The Mystic Troopers walked us to the edge of the Mandir.

“I don’t think we will be coming back, at least not until after we are done with the tower,” I told them. “You don’t need to be camped out here in the cold all day.”

Gisele looked at the others. After getting a nod from them she said, “We would like to go with you.”

“No,” Angelica and I said at the same time. Our tone matched too. I am glad we were on the same page.

“Mystic Troopers are supposed to fight evil,” Gisele insisted.

“I am guessing you are supposed to protect people,” I argued.

“Well yeah-” Gisele conceded.

“Then you are needed here. Mobs just hit this place hard and I think more voices for stability will be needed,” I pointed out.

Gisele and the others, even Bob, looked at me with something close to desperation. Gisele was very quiet when she asked, “Do you have any idea how long we have been here, just preparing? Please, give us a chance to do something. We can’t just sit here waiting for some skyfall that Zarina is worried about.”

“I’ll tell you what, tomorrow… I mean tonight we can talk through this. Have Zarina here,” I said, before turning and walking away.

“We can’t have them coming,” Angelica hissed.

“I’ll take care of it,” I said, thinking through a plan. Maybe if I yelled at them… no.

Once we cleared the line of view from the Mandir Brand became much more animated, “Put me down.”

“I thought you were hurt,” I said, doubting his seemingly miraculous recovery.

“I am, but not beyond the point of walking,” he insisted.

“So you were just acting in front of Janie, and her… partners?” I asked.

“Partners,’ Aiko confirmed helpfully.

“Of course,” Brand said, completely unashamed. He climbed down and winced.

“That’s not very brave,” I pointed out.

“Didn’t you panic when Carla asked you to choke her?” Angelica chipped in.

“Didn’t you flee?” I asked her.

Angelica shrugged. “I was saving Spine from an inappropriate situation.”

Brand straightened and took a breath, “I am a spy. Bravery is relative, and results matter.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, favored of Adora,” Aiko said to Brand with a polite nod.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Brand said, taking Aiko’s hand and kissing it. Don’t ask me how, but the move came across as charming rather than fucking weird. “I did not catch your name?”

“Sato, Aiko Sato, High Priestess of Adora,” She said, clearly pleased at the attention.

Brand jumped away from her like she was made of fire and hopped into my arms. “Has anyone told you ‘I feel safe in your arms?’”

I had to fight not to smile. I managed to keep my voice deadpan, “you aren’t even the first person tonight.”

When Brand glanced at Angelica, she shook her head, “Guess again.”

Brand turned to me.

“It was that fished eyed soldier during a goblin dating game, and Spine,” I explained.

“They are not wrong,” Brand conceded.

“I know right,” Angelica added. “It is like being lovingly cradled by the shockingly tender embrace of a war golem… and the snow lion fur is soft and warm.”

Brand raised an eyebrow.

Angelica shrugged again.

We kept walking toward the camp. I kept my head on a swivel. A blizzard was rolling in and the light of the sun was fading to a dull gray. This stunted the light from the sun and caused our shadows to blur. I kept my head on a swivel.

“You are expecting trouble,” Aiko observed. It was not a question.

Before I could answer. A large shadow flitted over us. Then something whooshed, and with a thud of impact and a cracking of ice something landed behind me. The prompt while not affecting my mind still caused ice to run through my veins.

Mental Resistance blocks the effects of Aura of Despair from Demon of Frost

Mental Resistance blocks the effects of Aura of Dread from Demon of Frost