Elemental Key
Quality: Unknown
Rarity: Unknown
Attributes: Unknown
That was it. Not even a line saying I needed to be a higher level or anything like that. I shrugged and put it in my inventory. If it was completely unknown like that, it probably meant it was super rare. Maybe a mage somewhere would be able to identify it for me.
But for now, it was past time to leave. Glancing out the rooms’ windows, I abandoned the fledgling idea of climbing out. The castle walls were built sheer and smooth to dissuade just such a notion, and my climbing skills were nowhere near good enough that I was confident in repelling down. I sighed and drew my weapons as I entered back into the hall. Time to exit the old-fashioned way.
23
Golden Boy
My escape wasn't as hard as I'd expected. At least, until I reached the front doors.
I ran into a few guards along the way, which I dispatched with ease of effort and conscience. Now that I'd abandoned a sense of right and wrong, doing what I had to do was a lot simpler. It wasn't until I reached the outer parts of the castle where balconies started to crop out that I had to fight Valyn. They put up better fights than the Burghmen did, but only just. I'd only needed to heal a few times by the time I strolled out the huge double doors to exit the castle.
There, an awe-inspiring sight greeted me. As far up as I could see, armored sky elves dotted the sky. Between them flew their golden sun-fliers, their wings making the air hum ominously like a hive of giant wasps.
And to either side of me, Valyn looked over as I emerged.
They leveled their falchions at me as soon as they saw me, expressions hard. Knowing I was completely outnumbered, I smiled innocently as I held up my open hands. One of them stepped forward, a winged medal pinned to his chest. Their captain, a quick check of his stats confirmed.
“Drop your weapons, Human,” the sky elf captain commanded, his voice partly muffled by his helm. “We’ve slain enough of your kind for my taste. No need for further blood.”
“You're right,” I said cheerfully. Then I held up my Bracer of Compulsion.
I’d wanted to save it, but getting caught by the Valyn army shot that plan. I’d just have to bide my time before embarking on the Third Trial. As soon as I concentrated on it, the bracer began to pulse on my arm, and as I spoke, my voice acquired a strange resonance. “So you’ll allow me the very reasonable request of seeing me off the castle grounds without bloodshed.”
The captain trembled for a second. “Yes, I will,” he said, his voice flat.
I grinned. I was a Jedi Master! “Oh,” I added, “and we’d better do it in style.”
When I found my companions, they gaped at my entrance, and for good reason. I waved as the sun-flier the captain had so thoughtfully provided settled onto the street and the protective bubble dissipated. “Like my ride?” I said casually as I hopped off the side to stand before them.
Sheika shook her head with a small smile, while Farelle had both eyebrows raised. Sarai was also there, to my surprise, and she stood off to the side with crossed arms, trying unsuccessfully to hide her bitter expression. Hanil and Farelle’s father were both missing.
“Who knew anyone could find you that charming,” the Wilder mused aloud.
“Only when he uses magic,” Sheika observed drily.
“True, but harsh.” I waved back to the captain, who stood on the deck of the sun-flier amidst his bewildered crew. “Thanks there, captain. You're good now to return to your post and resume your duties. Try not to shoot down any innocent Humans along the way.”
“I will return to my post,” the captain intoned. With a signal, the golden vessel lifted back into the air and flew back toward Stalburgh castle.
Sheika motioned us over to a nearby alley. “I assume that means you passed the trial?”
“By the skin of my teeth,” I admitted. “They weren't too impressed with the whole alternate interpretation thing, but in the end, Abe let it slide.”
She frowned, her cat-like ears pressed back on her head. “Abe. You call him that like he’s a pet. Or a friend.”
“He’s neither. Especially not a pet. A god would make the worst pet. Can you imagine the messes you’d have to clean up?”
“It’s strange that it worked,” Sheika continued, ignoring me. “Unless Absalom meant for you to have alternate interpretations of the trial?”
I shook my head. “I don't think so.” But I couldn’t put my finger on exactly how Absalom had taken the news. He had seemed… sad, for some reason, and pleased. But why? And was any emotion he showed even real?
“You two Everfolk never speak sense,” Farelle interjected, frustration plain in her voice. “The way you talk about the gods… it doesn't seem right. Like they're prized horses or something.”
I didn't respond. Even as it comforted me to think of Absalom's limitations, I found it increasingly disturbing to run up against Farelle’s.
“So there is a third trial,” Sarai spoke up. Her sour expression hadn't shifted, letting me know her interest was solely in what could release her from her duty as soon as possible.
I nodded, but hesitated to respond. For one, Farelle didn't look pleased that, once again, Sheika and I had ignored her demand for information. But even more, I wasn't sure how my companions would react to the gargantuan task ahead of me. But if I wanted their aid, I had to tell them sooner or later.
“Alright,” I finally said, “I'll tell you. And…” I took a deep breath. “If you don't want to do it, I'll totally understand.”
“Come on already,” Farelle said sulkily.
“Right.” I braced myself and let out the words all at once. “We have to kill a dragon. An elder dragon.”
Their reactions weren't at all what I expected.
“Hm. Seems about right,” Sheika observed.
Farelle pulled out her bow. “I think I might need a bigger one of these.”
“And I might have to bring along a few of my disciples,” Sarai said sourly.
I looked to each of them in turn. “You're still in? Against a freaking dragon?” I shook my head. “You're all crazy.”
Sheika flashed me a bemused smile. “You know I'm still committed. I can't rest until we’ve seen this Absalom problem through. Almost literally.”
“And it's not like you have a choice,” Farelle chimed in.
“And I don't,” Sarai muttered.
“But,” the Wilder added, “you have to try and explain everything to me this time.”
Her expression was so desperate that I reluctantly nodded. “I'll try. And I'll get you a bigger bow, and any other equipment you might need.” I held out my hand and spread a few glittering gold pieces. “I came into a bit of money after the trial.”
Sheika’s eyes unfocused as she checked my stats, then she whistled. “I'll say. 100k gold! You probably have more than me at this point, and I literally built this game. How’d you get it?”
I shrugged and put away the coins. “What can I say? I'm the gods’ golden boy.”
I hid a smirk at Sheika’s scowl and looked around. Stalburgh was a ruined mess, but I hoped that the shops would still be open. “Now, Farelle, would you be a dear and lead us to the markets?”
24
On the Town
I wasn't sure if I was thankful or not once we were done with the markets. As I'd hoped, many of the shops were already open again. Even NPCs had to make a living, after all. We filled up to the brim on potions of every kind: health, mana, and stamina were just the beginning, moving onto ones that boosted each of our attributes and each of the meters, and even a few that provided invisibility. I made sure to save enough for our next stop at the mage’s shop so I could sweep up any spells he still had waiting for me.
On the other hand, I was drop-dead exhausted. Shopping was way more tiring than fighting an army of Naiads.
“Come on, keep your head up,” Sheika instructed as she led our crew to the wizard hat-shaped
building. The tip of it had been broken off in the fighting, but its purple roof was otherwise intact. “This is the easy part.”
“I like her style,” Farelle whispered to me. “And to think I was ever jealous of her.”
That perked me up. “You were jealous of her?”
As she rolled her eyes, Sheika continued to speak. “Besides, I've got a surprise stop for you at the end. But only if you behave.” She glanced back and winked as she knocked on the mage's door.
Farelle gave me a look as if to say See? What did I tell you?
Sarai, on the other hand, continued to sulk at the back of our party. The only exception had come when she got giddy over a holy amulet that boosted her persuasion attempts. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
The irascible mage’s eyes practically fell out at the handful of magic jewels we deposited on his counter in exchange for the spells he had on hand. According to Sheika, he wasn't the best vendor in Kalthinia, but he at least put my first level 4 spell in my hands, and it was the one I'd been coveting of Shieka’s: Arcane Teleportation. Finally, I wouldn't have to hoof it everywhere — no disrespect to Farelle.
Arcane Teleportation (Lvl 4)
Affinity: Light
Cost: 125 mana
Effect: Teleport anywhere within your present plane. Cooldown of 4 hours.
I must have behaved well, as Sheika delivered on her promise, even if it was a place I'd fully intended on visiting anyway: Holdur’s forge. But as we entered, I glanced at my coins and realized I hadn't been budgeting properly. Panic set in as my eyes fell on the only armor in the shop that I wanted. The armor that was now out of even the Golden Boy’s price range.
“Marrow! Good to see you again!” Holdur swept his burly arms out in greeting, a grin poking out from beneath his bristling beard. “Have you brought me my scales yet?” Before I could answer, his eyes swept over to Sheika. “Well, the fickle gods are in jesting mood today. If it isn't the only person to purchase dragonscale from me so far!”
I looked around at Sheika. “Wait. Didn't you say whoever bought that armor brought the scales in, too?”
“I sure did!” The Gnarish smith beamed at my companion.
I rounded on her. “When were you going to tell us that you've already killed one dragon?”
She shrugged. “It was just a little one. Technically a wyvern, actually. But I guess they're closely related enough as far as armor goes.”
I shook my head. The former dev was just full of surprises, and most of them good. I just wished I knew them all already.
“They sure are,” Holdur declared. “And better for light armor, if you don't mind me saying. So if you're going to kill a dragon, kill a small one. It's what my gaffer always said, anyway.”
“A wise man,” I said hollowly. “As it happens, we've got the biggest one in our sights.”
“You don't say?” The smith’s eyes practically sparkled with interest. “Then you'll be needing some new dragon-slaying equipment!”
“We will,” Sheika agreed. “A dragonbone bow would be a good start, and a blade that's strong enough to pierce its hide.”
“What, my bejeweled sword isn't good enough for you?” I placed a hand possessively on its hilt.
Sheika cocked an eyebrow. “Were you going to wave around that glowstick forever? It's basically one step up from steel with a bit of bonus damage.” She shook her head. “Sometimes I forget how short a time you've been here.”
While I scratched my head in embarrassment, Holdur had been busy retrieving Sheika's requested items. “I'm guessing you're the bowman,” he said, passing the dragonbone bow across the counter. “Er, bow-woman, pardon me.”
“Is it that difficult to tell?” Farelle quirked a smile at the smith’s blush as she took the bow in hand. It was nearly as tall as she was and made of a single piece of off-white bone. She pulled its string back experimentally, or tried to, but failed to even bend it. “Bless Isvalla, but this is tough!”
The Gnarish blushed all the more furiously. “Ah, I didn't want to question your strength, but… it requires a significant amount of strength to use.”
A quick examination showed it needed 30 strength to be exact. That was well above Farelle's 18. And as she automatically progressed her points, we couldn't exactly direct her to focus on it even if we managed to find an easy way to level her up.
“That's a bummer. I was looking forward to you using that against our scaly friend.”
Sheika slapped a jingling hand on the counter. “We’ll still take it.”
I stared at her in surprise. “Why? None of us can use it.”
She gave me a mysterious smile. “You'll just have to watch and learn, won't you, Golden Boy?”
I didn't fume for long though, for my new sword was on the counter next. “Earthcore iron,” the Gnarish declared. “You can only get this stuff in the Abyrynth Mines, and those are abandoned these days. One of the hardest metals to work, but also the hardest to break once forged. It'll serve well against a dragon no matter how big it is.” He handed it over with a smile at my wide eyes.
I took it in hand and held it up. It was mostly gray with a dark green undertone to it. Now that I'd swung a few swords, I thought I was getting a feel for what made a good blade. My whole understanding was blown out the window with one stroke. The sword was light and perfectly balanced. If it was a bit longer than I was used to, I was sure I'd adjust quickly.
Ironcore Bastard Sword
Quality: Master (200/200)
Rarity: Rare
Attributes: Able to pierce all inferior metals and substances.
I set it back on the counter. “How much?” I asked cautiously.
Holdur shrugged apologetically. “100,000 gold.”
Farelle made a choking sound, and even Sarai startled in surprise. Sheika, on the other hand, watched me steadily, while I looked between her and the smith.
“Wait,” I said, the situation dawning on me. “You two have some sort of arrangement, don't you?”
The smith grinned. “Well, as it turns out, your friend here is also the one to have brought me this earthcore iron in the first place, delivered on the condition that she'd be the first to get the item from it.” He glanced at Sheika and cleared his throat. “For free.”
I picked the blade back up with even more awe than before. “But you don't have ironcore knives, do you?” I asked Sheika.
She shrugged. “I've got a lot of other things at my disposal. You, on the other hand, need all the help you can get. Besides…” A pained expression appeared on her face. “Little as I may like it, you're the Catalyst. Whatever we're going to do to save the Everlands looks like it's going to be done with you. I’m just playing second violin.”
“Very inspiring speech,” I said drily. Then I remembered what I held in my hand. “I think what I actually meant was thank you.”
“That was lost in translation,” Sarai muttered bitterly.
I let it slide unremarked. At least she was speaking at all.
I unequipped my Jeweled Longsword of the Stars and put the Ironcore Bastard Sword in the scabbard by my side. It fit nicely there if I did say so myself.
“Not to be greedy, but…” I pointed at the black dragonscale armor hanging off the shop’s wall. “Any chance we could get that for free too?”
The Gnarish smith guffawed. “If you wanted to rob me, you should have just said so! Would have saved time with all of this negotiation nonsense.”
I grinned, a blush starting to creep across my face. “It's just that I know you said it costs 50k, but I only have 30.”
Sheika studied me but didn't speak up. Farelle looked more absorbed with her dragonbone bow than the current dispute. Sarai looked out the door of the shop like she wished to flee.
“Hm,” Holdur mused. “Well, I'll tell you what… I have faith in you. Especially you.” He nodded at Sheika, who accepted the praise with a gracious nod. “So just this one time — don't ever expect it again! — I'll gi
ve you a sort of advance payment… half-price on that armor hanging on the wall. Provided that you sell to me and only me everything you harvest from that dragon! Bones, scales, skin, teeth — I want it all.” The smith’s eyes blazed as hot as his forge with his eagerness.
I nodded. “Agreed. Let's do it.” We shook hands, the smith almost breaking mine with his hammer-strengthened grip. But I didn't even care as I practically skipped over to the dragonscale armor and pulled it off the wall.
Moments later, I'd equipped the armor and spun around. “How do I look?”
“Aw, you two are twins!” Farelle jeered, looking between Sheika and I. “Our two Everfolk in dragon leotards!”
“So adorable,” Sarai muttered not quite under her breath.
I shook my head. “Tough crowd.”
We thanked Holdur once more as we left. As soon as we stepped outside of the shop, though, nervousness set in. Pretty soon, nothing would stand between us and the immense task set before us. And even with everything I'd gained, I still didn't know how we were going to slay an elder dragon.
“Alright,” Sheika said when we were all on the street, “one more shop.”
I gave her a quizzical look. “I thought you said this was the surprise.”
“I lied. It wouldn't be a surprise if it wasn't surprising, right?” She tapped my armor. “You need to get all your new gear reinforced with spells. That's half of the fun of new gear.”
“So there is an enchanter in Stalburgh! But we don’t have any money. You’re not going to pull in more favors are you? What did you do, stock them up until I came along?”
Sheika rolled her eyes and turned away. “Everything’s not about you, Golden Boy. Now come on — let me show you how to play this game once again.”
Absalom’s Trials Page 19
