by Ryan DeBruyn
Looks of confusion passed over people’s faces, and a disembodied voice yelled, “How do we acquire specializations, though?” Many noises of agreement sounded out, and Sela smiled as she waited for silence to fall again.
Once silence did descend on the clearing, she pointed at Zippo. “Acquiring a specialization will be easy for some of you. Zippo, for example, just gained the Red specialization, which is a particularly powerful path for fire users.” Shocked exclamations rippled through the crowd when she indicated the fifteen-year-old. “In many cases, extremely strong emotions or life and death situations will trigger the event. Yet, it was theorized that the higher your personal level is, the wider you have opened the doors within you to allow your affinity to bleed through. So, it is thought to be a combination of the two. Gaining levels and pushing yourself hard in situations that are challenging for you!”
Silence reigned when she finished, and then Tao spoke primarily to himself, “Knightly Orders believe that once a specialization is achieved, it can be increased through training and self-exploration.” Sela glanced at Tao, but he wasn’t speaking to her specifically. Instead, he was talking to himself as was his way of sharing his knowledge and wisdom.
Sela nodded her head and pursed her lips. “That is a bit of an unknown. Raising your specialization level or strength is definitely possible. It is thought that each specialization needs different criteria to thrive.” Sela pointed at Zippo again. “For Fire Mages, they can raise from Red to White then Blue and possibly others. For Light, someone can go from Light to Beacon to Radiant and possibly higher. For Dark, I know they can become Darkened, but I do not know of a third off the top of my head.” At this point, she shrugged and made a motion with her hand that signified she was unsure. “Each one of these has been reached in numerous different ways to my knowledge, but Tao is correct in that many people do increase them through many hours of self-introspection.” Everyone’s head twisted to look at Tao who nodded while looking away into the distance.
She blinked, trying to think if there was anything else to mention, but instead of obfuscating the issue, it was probably better to write down some of the other specializations she knew and allow others to digest the information when they chose. Sela decided she would post a list in the Guild Tent when she could. Since she was finished, she pointed to a surprised Rockland who seemed to startle for an instant before he walked to the front of the small stage to speak of the rest of the issues.
Sela, who already was aware of his announcements, listened with just half an ear as he went through the request for people to place the materials needed for each building they were constructing beside the building sites. He continued to ask them to lay out the foundation for as many buildings as they had available materials, which was a few additional than they had begun constructing thanks to Tao and Gamma. Rockland added in the reason for the request, and Sela saw even some of the most bereft individuals pay attention as what their acquaintances and loved ones had died for was explained.
Then everyone was intensely focused as he explained the attack. Waves of anger and a deeper tingle of revenge radiated from everyone present.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
With everyone working together, they were able to get the current building sites completely stocked with the materials they would have required to finish, according to the schematics. They also managed to outline and lay down a foundation for three additional buildings. Due to the bonus, they were easily able to convince the populace the need for a Town Hall, a Mess Hall, and a Barracks that could house the military. So, with everyone chipping in, they managed to at least pour the concrete foundation on all the remaining construction sites.
Rocky had been ready to initiate the boon after that, but Sela pointed out they should probably at least wait until the concrete dried. This hopefully would ensure the boon spell would see the buildings with a ‘completed’ foundation. Rocky was a little disappointed until Sela pointed out that if they used the spell the following morning, they might be able to gather materials for two more Longhouses. This brightened his mood a bit making, the wait a bit more bearable. They poured two additional foundations just in case, and with the golems’ help, they did manage to convert enough wood and metal.
Currently, the remaining members of the A-Team were gathered around the campfire with Sela, Zippo, and Rocky. Tao, Gamma, and even Bathilda were also present, all here to help discuss a plan. Unfortunately, Tao and Gamma wouldn’t be able to join the attack, but Bathilda, who had been out most of the day cleansing a large portion of infected fauna with her Dragon breath, would be able to support the attack from the sky tomorrow.
“We know it’s a Dungeon that can produce massive amounts of the mindless Zombies. We also know that the Necromancers can use the bodies to create Abominations. Finally, we know that Apothis is extremely weakened because he raised three Champions. Sela, what is stopping him from raising more, though?” Rocky asked the group but directed it to Sela since she was probably the most knowledgeable.
Surprisingly, it was Bathilda who answered, “Well, you did say he had raised three, and each one took half of his health pool to create?” At Rocky’s confirming nod, Bathilda nodded as well. “He can raise at most two more, then. In all cases I have seen similar spells used, the individual cannot cast the spell if his health is below five percent.”
Sela nodded along. “I agree with that statement. We had a few guildmates who could summon Harpies, Stags, Earth Elementals, and other creatures as well. The ones that required health points were always stronger minions but had severe limitations cast upon them. What other spells did he use, Rockland?”
Rocky blinked and racked his brain for exactly what Apothis had used against him. “Well, he did manage to encase me in some sort of Ether enclosure called Binding Chaos. He also blasted my clone right out of existence without triggering all the grenades and the mine on him.” Sela’s eyes opened very wide at that statement, but he continued, “He was able to fling me around pretty good like Professor X, too.” She mouthed the word Professor X, and Zippo leaned in to explain so Rocky didn’t have to stop. “Otherwise, in that last moment, he did use some sort of shadow ball or that erasing spell on me, and he was a Necromonger, not that it tells us much.”
“So, once we enter the Dungeon tomorrow, what’s to stop it from spawning Zombies beside us continually? Or collapsing a tunnel on top of us?” Amber interjected.
Sela answered, “Dungeons can’t access a space directly around a party and thus can’t create creatures right around them. Well, truthfully, they can, but the creatures get mutated and twisted, becoming useless, so most Dungeons don’t bother. As for the tunnels, think about the tunnels a Dungeon creates as veins or body parts. Theoretically, a person could cut off their arm if it would win them a fight. However, in practice, it is much harder to do. Not to mention the chance that the Dungeon injures itself far more than it anticipated and it kills itself in the process. Often, Dungeons won’t risk it. However, if it does try to, I will be able to feel it and counteract it enough to protect us.”
Rocky looked around and noticed that everyone seemed to be determined, and with no further questions forthcoming, he nodded his head and dismissed everyone to their beds. He sat there in the company of Sela, the golems, Bathilda, and Azoth. Azoth walked over and sat next to him, which allowed Rocky to pet the big fluffball, so he did. The group all sat in quiet contemplation of what tomorrow might bring as the sounds of the sawmill provided background noise.
Tomorrow morning, they would cast the Boon spell, and hopefully, the Territory would gain some levels. Additionally, he may finally get access to the Leadership skill tree for Sela and himself. At this point, he was looking for any edge he could get before going up against Apothis. If he was honest with himself, he was scared of taking on the creature on his home turf.
He knew it needed to happen, but to do so in a Dungeon that spat out hordes of Zombies, with Necromancer support, and bosses they hadn’t yet seen?
The unknown of the whole situation gave him chills. Not to mention the Master class Necromonger himself, who definitely held a grudge against him.
The group sat there, slowly peeling off as they headed to bed until it was just Sela, Azoth, and Rocky. Rocky actually thought he was alone because he couldn’t see the Amazonian beauty on the other side of Azoth’s bulk. He jumped slightly when her voice cut through the night, “Tomorrow is going to be about destroying the Dungeon. That is the primary goal. If we ensure its destruction, then the Territory will be safe. While it will be very good to destroy Apothis and Frankie as well, we can’t put them before our primary goal.”
Rocky nodded along as she repeated his own words to the group back to him. “Yeah, but if Apothis or Frankie get away, all our problems could just start back up again,” he whined at her, knowing it was a complaint and nothing more.
If they fled, they would need to rebuild their power. The time that awarded Algonquin Grotto would see it much stronger and much more prepared for future trouble. At least that was the hope.
Azoth eventually fell asleep under the starry skies and the pets of his two favorite people. Rocky, seeing this, curled up beside the big Chimera and was surprised when Sela came and laid down in front of him. He raised his eyebrows and blinked rapidly as she laid down and put her back to him, snuggling up tight. Feeling his tight muscles behind her, Sela laughed. “Relax, it is chilly out tonight. Let’s share our warmth.” Her voice sounded slightly hurt even with her chuckle, but that might have been wishful thinking from Rocky.
Of course, it’s your imagination. It’s not like she is the one who forgot that she is your ancestor.
He woke up the next morning and blinked the fuzziness out of his eyes to find a peaceful visage of Sela’s face looking at him from a foot away. He smiled and considered kissing the top of her head. He figured that might be crossing a line in their friendship, but she was asleep and looked so calm beside him. He chose to go for it and brushed his lips against her forehead.
As he pulled back, he saw her waking up and smiling at him as she stretched, creating long, graceful shapes as she made small noises of pleasure. “Good morning,” she hummed.
Finding himself off the hook for the forehead kiss, Rocky slowly sat up a huge grin on his face. “Good morning!” He got the rest of the way to his feet and again marveled at how he no longer had any pain. It had only been a little over a month, but he was strong, flexible, able to sprint for a prolonged period, and jump higher than he ever thought possible.
He took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air that was laced with smells of fire and ash. Then he held out his hand to help Sela up, just as she finished her stretches and sat up. She took his hand, and he pulled her up. Thanks to his new strength, she ended up cradled up against his chest. “Oops, sorry, Sela. I don’t know my own strength yet.”
She just made a comically sour face, took a small step back, waved her hand under her nose, and teased, “You also need a bath!” Azoth chose to wake up, and he took a sniff of Rocky and joined in on the moment by feigning falling over dead.
“Rocky smell like dead moo-moos,” Azoth added as he got up and played the same prank on Sela. Sela fake snarled at the furball and then jumped on him to give him some very interactive scratches as Rocky watched. It seemed that it was hard not to be in a good mood when they were about to cast a spell that would take away months of work and create so much for their Territory.
Rocky did some stretches and looked up at the rising sun. He and Sela had noticed that the Town Hall would carry with it a massive clock tower. Additionally, the schematic had called for a medium-sized bell, which they had put the metal beside the structure for from leftover metal.
The blacksmiths had also discovered how to smelt bronze on their own, through trial and error, but because of the timeline, they didn’t have much of the material. It didn’t specifically call for any one metal in the construction, luckily, which allowed them to put smelted bars near the construction sites. Here they were again hoping that the spell description would turn out to push the construction through despite the lack of specific materials.
Sela stood up and took a moment to set herself straight before saying, “What do you suggest? Bath first or do you want to go check on the two additional Longhouses?”
Azoth chimed in, “Bath first!” and began cleaning himself with his tongue and paw in perfect mimicry of a house cat.
Both of them glared at him, and Rocky laughed, “Let’s go check on the Longhouses first, then head over to the bathhouses. They are on the way anyway.”
Together they walked in silence as the morning grew marginally brighter. They passed people who were running around on errands, setting up for breakfast, or in some cases, putting materials in place for the final two Longhouses. “Were they up all night?” Rocky asked with concern.
“I hope that they woke up this morning and started early, but by the look of that one,” she nodded her head in the direction of a man who ran by with deep shadows under his eyes, “I think some of them might have been up all night.”
As the man came within arm’s reach, Rocky held out a hand in the universal gesture of stop; using Analyze, he got the gentleman’s name, “Arthur, please tell me you haven’t been up all night?”
The man only smiled with excitement. “Well, I have been up all night, but many of us noticed you drinking that elixir you use to stay up. We asked Smith who told us what it was called, and a large group of us purchased a few Elixirs of Shortened Sleep!” Rocky blinked and tilted his head, not seeing why the man would look so tired if he used the Elixir. “Then we drew straws and are taking shifts of sleep then coming to relieve the others. We planned to all get a full night's sleep before morning training. I drew the short straw and am in the group that will sleep last.” He took a short pause and looked at the sun. “That should happen in the next half hour, I think.”
The A-Team had chosen not to imbibe the Elixirs of Shortened Sleep last night, as had the military. They all knew they might need to be taking Health or Ether potions today and, in some cases like Sela and Rocky, needed the diminishing returns de-buffs to drop off. Rocky looked at Sela, and seeing her amazement, he made a split-second decision. “How many of you were there, and how much did the Elixirs cost?”
Arthur tilted his head and shrugged. “We each bought our own, and it was decided to only have two hundred people work through the night. Only about one hundred and fifty were needed to cart finished material. Only ten blacksmiths could work in the forge at any one time as well.” He made a gesture with his hand meaning he was unsure of something. “As well as a few other limitations that were considered. So, two hundred total with twenty-five sleeping for an hour before coming to relieve the next twenty-five. My elixir cost two gems in the shop!”
Rocky smiled and nodded to Arthur, which seemed to be the signal for the man to take off at a near sprint. Blinking after him, it was Sela who broke the silence, “I am assuming you are going to use some of the Territory funds to pay them back with perhaps a bit of a bonus?”
“Yeah, I think the quest rewards were damn generous, and we should probably add a large amount, if not all of it, to the stores. Then we can use it to pay back a minimum of forty-crystals to this group who took the initiative. What do you think?” Rocky answered as he watched the man shrink into the distance, stop at the lumber mill, and then with his shoulders loaded with wood, start to jog back.
They started walking to the sites of the final two Longhouses, and Sela responded as they got there and saw groups of people running in and out of the last remaining construction site, dropping material. “I truly think recognizing the initiative at the meeting is the right decision. Paying them back what they paid is a must, but I think giving them extra might be a bit of a dangerous move.” Rocky turned to her looking confused, and she pointed to people who were sleepily exiting the Guild Tent and getting ready for the day. “It sounds like they had to exclude some people from the group due to num
erical restrictions and to save on elixir costs. It also sounds like this was a decision made by the populace as a whole to better the Grotto for everyone. I suggest we create quests for things like this in the future, which will let people know what to expect.”
He tilted his head, seeing her points, and then he smiled. “I see your points and wish we had thought of a quest last night.”
Sela smiled. “We really need to get some administration set up for the guild so that we don’t have to.”
They continued walking, both contemplating steps that would need to be taken if they did manage to rid themselves of the danger from Chalk River. In Rocky’s case, that brought to mind the danger they would be facing later that day. The fact that he was about to bring others into that danger with him and more. Part of the current problem was that his level one leadership class limited the number of ranks he could bestow under someone.
This brought him back to his intended commander’s death. Sorrow filled him again, and he seriously considered pushing back the attack to hold some sort of funeral for the fallen. They had discussed this as well and agreed that it was best to hold one after the danger was truly dealt with to the best of their ability. Rocky shook his head and wished for the millionth time since the Ether had arrived for the return of the relative peace the world had lived with before it had changed.
Of course, that wouldn’t happen, and he knew it, but perhaps they could achieve something more passable here. That would require him to create jobs, housing, markets, laws, and many staples that societies needed to function. Even with only four thousand individuals presently in the Grotto, there were small problems currently for sleeping spaces, eating times, bathing, and many other meaningless squabbles. Luckily, it had been dealt with by the military and in large part Joe. Now, though, Rocky needed to find someone else who might be able to fill the role of a man who truly had been the most level-headed and genuinely kind-hearted individual Rocky had ever met.
