“He is impulsive,” Light giggled.
“He does what he wishes,” Dark nodded. “I approve.”
“Is that it?” Tom asked.
“Oh no. You have to... ‘level,’” Dark said, the last word clearly unfamiliar to him.
“Sweet. I want to be stronger,” Tom grinned. “How do we do this?”
A book appeared on the table before him. “Your choices are there. Take your time looking them over,” Light said. “You have plenty of time to do so, but not an infinite amount.”
“You get four choices,” Dark added. “There are some additional options because you have been training.”
“Can’t try them out first?” Tom asked, figuring he already knew the answer.
“No. One of your friends asked the same question. We are considering it for the future.”
“Not anytime soon, then,” Tom grumbled.
“Possibly not in this generation, but you have brought a wealth of ideas to us, and we do thank you for that. We never would have guessed that other worlds have entire games and stories devoted to worlds like ours.”
“Light, there would be thousands or tens of thousands of people from my world that would gladly come here,” Tom said, opening up the book. “Okay, looks like I got me some choices to make.”
“Interesting,” Dark said, rubbing at his chiseled chin. “I wonder if the other watchers know that?”
“We can discuss it with them when we meet again.”
Tom looked up when Light stood up, eyeing once more. “I had one question; why don’t you have temples built to you?”
“That is not our function,” Light replied.
“Weird, but okay,” Tom went back to the book, his mind straying for a few more minutes on what a temple of Light would look like. When he glanced up again, he was alone. “Probably for the best.”
Heroic surge: Break the bounds of normality; you’re able to exert yourself to do twice as much as a normal person in the same amount of time. You must rest before being able to surge again.
Raging blows: Your attacks have a greater chance of injuring your foe, but you leave gaps in your defense while doing so.
Danger dodger: Your subconscious has been tweaked to always be on watch against danger, giving you a chance to avoid spells and traps you can see coming.
Combo: Gain inner strength that can be unleashed to perform a combination attack. You may attempt a combo once per day, per level.
Dodging defender: Your innate balance can be harnessed to dodge attacks when you prepare for them. You may set to dodge this way once per day, per level.
Back away: Break away from combat after having struck an opponent.
Long strider: Your ability to cover ground has increased. As long as you are unarmored, your speed increases and will continue to do so at set levels.
Friend in need: When fighting a foe with an ally, you are able to interpose yourself between them and danger. This stresses your body, and can only be done once per rest.
Shield bearer: You have become used to a shield being on your arm. Your armor stat increases when a shield is equipped.
“Four of them, huh?” Tom sighed as he looked over the list again. “Well, fuck me sideways.”
Chapter Thirty-three
Tom woke with a pounding head, and sat up carefully. “Oh good, the headache is still around…” he mumbled, trailing off as he fished out the chamber pot and puked into it. Once he finished, he pushed himself out of bed and went to the table where a pitcher of water was waiting for him. “You were supposed to drink that before bed, dumb fuck,” he complained to himself.
A gentle knock on the door made his skull ache, the soft tapping far too loud. “Go away,” he mumbled, and even that felt too loud.
“Tom, are you awake?” Marie asked through the door.
Stumbling over to the door, he opened it, “Dead.”
Marie sighed and held out a small glass. “You didn’t drink the water last night?”
“It was too hot,” Tom complained before taking the glass and downing the concoction. “Gah, that is still horrible.”
“And here is the watered-down beer to clear your mouth,” Marie said, handing him a mug. “Even if it’s warm, you need to drink it next time.”
“Yes, mom,” Tom murmured as he quickly downed the watered-down beer. “Let me wipe my face down. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Okay. Umm… did you have an odd dream last night?”
“It wasn’t a dream. It’s how you level,” Tom told her. “You did, too?”
Marie nodded, “John and I both, but we weren’t exactly sure what to make of it.”
“I’ll be out in a few.”
“The others just got up. We’ll be waiting for you.”
~*~*~
“You look like a truck hit you,” Harry laughed when Tom entered the taproom.
“Lack of hydration,” Tom grunted.
“Again?” Dick asked.
“Shut it,” Tom growled. “I’m learning.”
“Since we’re all here,” John said, trying to defuse the moment, “how about that dream last night?”
“Not a dream,” Dick said. “That was the two watchers greeting us and giving us the chance to level. We’re glad you both chose to stay.”
“Of course. We’re going to support you,” Marie smiled. “Did you have the same options to choose from as I did, Dick?”
“The different major and minor paths?” Dick asked in turn.
“Yes. I chose the path of knowledge so I can learn more spells and teach them to you.”
“I picked up innate so I can cast more, which will be a big boon for now. I don’t think you’ll level again unless you go out. What did you pick for the other options?”
“Other options?” Marie asked, confused.
“You didn’t have to choose between a weapon caster, armored caster, or shielded caster?”
“No… maybe because I didn’t fight the goblins with you?”
“Hmm, that could be it,” Dick nodded.
“I was able to pick another spell. Now I can charm a person for a minute,” John said after a moment of silence. “One of my options was a specialization for entertaining. I went with storytelling, to help me tell your stories and spread your reputation.”
“Thanks, man,” Harry grinned. “And you too, Felix,” he added when the innkeeper set food on the table.
“Of course,” Felix said somberly. “When you’re ready to pay your respects, I’ll take you to where your friends are buried.”
“Thank you,” Marie said softly. “It was very nice of you to make sure they were buried properly.”
“It’s what I would want if anything happened to me,” Felix said. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
The mood around the table plummeted at the reminder, and they loaded their plates silently. After a few minutes, Tom said, “I took heroic surge, combo, long strider, and friend in need. Heroic surge lets me do twice as much as a normal person could, so I think it means I can maybe attack twice as much, but it’s only for a very short time once per rest. Combo lets me chain attacks, but only once per level on any day. As long as I’m unarmored, I can move faster with long strider, and that will go up as I level, too. The last one, friend in need, lets me take an attack in an ally’s place if they’re next to me, also once per rest.”
“Hated not being fast, huh?” Dick chuckled.
“I didn’t care for it, either,” Harry added. “I have an increased speed one, too. I didn’t want to be out ahead of you guys and not be able to get back if things went wrong.”
“What was yours?”
“Fleet footed. It lets me move faster both normally and while sneaking. Then I also got marksman, which gives me the ability to hit a critical spot with a ranged weapon once per rest. I can track better now because of keen tracker. Lastly, I’m now nature’s lesser magi— not sure if I can teach you my spells, and I can only cast one spell every rest right now. I have splinter
and tracker’s mark to choose between. Splinter makes an arrow or bolt I fire shatter when it hits my target, inflicting more damage on them. Tracker’s mark lets me track things easier and makes it nearly impossible to hide from me. I also got a jinx, woodcraft, which lets me predict the weather for a day, keep plants fresh for a day as if just picked, light or extinguish a candle, torch, or other small fire, or produce small sensory effects like animals sounds.”
“We’ll see if I can learn your spells while we travel to the next village,” Dick said. “I took light armor initiate, which will let me wear light armor and not impede my magic. I’m hoping this means I’ll be able to step it up to better armor as we go. For my magi path, I took innate, which increased my energy. I can use up to eight spells per rest now. I picked shield other as my spell, so I can maybe help you out if you’re surrounded.”
“That will be a boon,” Tom nodded, eating the last bite of his food.
“Excuse me,” Michael said, approaching them. “May I join you for a moment?”
“You can always join us, Michael,” Harry said. “Why aren’t you out with the others?”
“Taking the day off,” Michael said, sitting down. “Ummm,” shifting his eyes, he made sure that Felix was not nearby, “I… advanced last night. I went from being a hunter to a scout.”
“Grats, dude,” Dick smiled.
“The thing is,” Michael said quickly, “I didn’t expect to gain an adventuring advancement. I’m not cut out to be an adventurer.”
“Then don’t be one,” Tom shrugged. “Charlie is retired, as is Sara. Nothing says you have to go be an adventurer now.”
“It’s that simple?” Michael asked, a little shocked. “You don’t feel pressured to help others because you have more power now?”
“Ask Charlie,” Harry suggested. “We’re going out to his place tomorrow. The truth of the matter is that you’ll be helping tremendously by staying here and safeguarding the village. That greater vargr is out there and might want some revenge. Make it your goal to keep Greenways safe from it.”
Exhaling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Michael relaxed. “Okay. I’d always thought adventurers had a geas on them that made them go out looking for trouble.”
“It might seem that way,” John nodded. “The reason adventurers do that is simple, though; they’re people. Some want to help the poor and downtrodden, some want riches, and others just want more power. It could be any combination of those, too.”
“You all seem so sure of yourselves, though. Not like me,” Michael said.
“We were just as frightened and uncertain,” Marie said softly. “We just hide it better.”
“I see,” Michael chuckled. “Well, I guess I should make sure my gear is ready to head out with the others tomorrow.”
“It was a pleasure having you beside us,” Dick said, extending a hand.
“I’m grateful I was able to help save David and that you let me accompany you,” Michael said, standing up and shaking his hand.
“If you need help, send word after us,” Tom said bluntly. “If we get it in time, we’ll come back.”
“Thank you,” Michael said, shaking everyone’s hands before leaving them.
“Are you ready to see your friends?” Felix asked.
“Yeah,” Dick said. “What’s Michael’s surname? We never asked.”
“Chatterfield,” Felix replied with a frown. “Does it matter?”
“Just curious,” Dick said. “We told him to send us a message if he needed us. It will help us know it’s him.”
“Very kind of you to offer Greenways your help again if needed,” Felix said.
“There are good people here,” Marie said. “We’re ready.”
“Please, follow me,” Felix said, leading them out the door.
The graveyard was a mile away down a dirt path. There were wooden markers denoting different plots. Two new graves stood out, with freshly turned earth and new markers. Felix stopped beside them, bowing his head for a long moment before stepping aside.
“We didn’t know their surnames, so we couldn’t mark them with their full names.”
“Wisneski,” Marie said softly, wiping away tears. “If you could get that added for them, please.”
“I’ll make sure it gets done,” Felix said, stepping farther back. “I’ll be headed back to the inn, and again, my condolences.”
Felix left the friends alone, and a long stretch of silence enveloped them as they looked at the two graves. John cleared his throat, then launched into “Amazing Grace.” Harry and Marie joined him, the trio singing in tune and time almost as if they had done it for years. Dick closed his eyes, the moment moving him. Tom watched his friends with a bit of detachment; he had always liked Carl but kept his distance because of Kattie, so the emotion wasn’t as overpowering with him as it was for them.
When the song came to an end, Tom bowed his head, wanting to add something. “Kattie, you were a selfish bitch, but we’ll get you and Carl home. Just give us some time.”
Marie frowned at him when he started, but gave him a smile when he finished. “Thank you, Tom.”
“I felt something more was needed.”
“We need to visit Charlie again before we leave this area, but was there anything else that we should stick around for?” Dick asked as they started to head back to the inn.
“No, but I was thinking about getting some jeweler’s tools to see if I can take our rough stone and turn it into something worth more,” Tom replied.
“Be easier to just sell the rock,” Harry said.
“He has a point,” Dick agreed with Harry. “Though... how much do you know about mining, being a dwarf?”
Tom thought about it, “It’s really odd having information just turn up in your brain. I know the basics, including how to shore up that cave system.”
“I was thinking,” Dick said, “I want to learn Marie’s spells before we head out on another adventure. We could see about working out a deal with Orbin where you can teach a few people from the village about mining, and he puts us up for the next month.”
“Pass,” Tom said. “You do need to learn, but I want to find a town at the very least.”
“A town would be better for me, too,” John added. “I’m sure I could get a deal that would cover room and board if I performed, and you could learn from Marie there.”
“So, just to Charlie’s to train from him and Sara?” Dick asked the others, getting nods. “Okay. Once Orbin pays us, we’re good to go. We’ll stay tonight and head out tomorrow morning.”
“Do you think she can teach both of us at the same time?” Marie asked.
“We’ll have to find out,” Dick said.
“I’ll be glad for better beer, but Charlie is going to brutalize us again,” Tom said. He suddenly looked at John, an evil smile spreading across his lips. “You’ll get to join us.”
“Huh? Why? Shouldn’t I try to learn from Sara, too?”
“You’re not a magi,” Harry said. “Was Marie able to teach you any magic before?”
“No,” John admitted.
“Knowing how to use your sword will be useful,” Tom chuckled, “hence, training with Charlie.”
“He has a point, dear,” Marie said. “Charlie didn’t hurt them too badly, and it’ll be good for you.”
Tom began to chuckle and Harry joined him. John sighed, shaking his head but not arguing anymore. Dick bit his lip— he had seen the hell the other two had gone through, and did not envy John at all.
~*~*~
Later that afternoon, a maid from Orbin’s house brought over a bag for the group. Because there were no other people at the inn yet, Dick emptied the bag on the table and whistled softly. Everyone looked a little shocked at the amount of silver that appeared.
“Twenty gold worth of silver, and a double handful of copper,” Dick said, counting it out. “I think he paid us for the mine, too.”
“How are we going to split that?” Tom a
sked. “Are we going to set up a party fund?”
“That would be a good idea,” Harry said. “We can use that fund for lodging or the consumable things we buy. That way, we also have personal money to get the things we want for ourselves or spend as we want.”
“I’ll be splitting everything I make,” John said. “Half of it will be the fund to make sure you have rooms and food whenever you come back from an adventure.”
“That’s generous,” Tom said.
“We know you’ll need it if you’re going to focus on your jobs. That split will be after we’ve paid for our own lodgings.”
Greenways Goblins (Resurrection Quest Book 1) Page 31
