The suggestion clearly threw Griegs off-guard, but he didn’t seem entirely opposed to the idea, “I… um, are you sure?”
“Yeah, could be nice.” I said, my smile finally toning down to something a bit more human, “I mean, if for no other reason than for protection.”
“You’re worried she might try to hurt you?” Griegs asked concernedly.
“Other way around,” I chuckled, “but seriously, I reckon it’d be fun.”
He still seemed to be a bit thrown by the whole idea, but the MP eventually gave me a smile and a nod, “Sounds good, I’ll have to head over to mine and grab something a bit more suitable for human interaction, is that alright?”
“Take all the time you need, just make sure that Lily doesn’t get here first.”
“Heh, alright then.” Griegs replied, rolling his eyes dismissively while I slowly shut the door, to which I started slowly shaking my head.
“I’m not joking.” I said, my other, creepier smile returning, “You better hurry.”
I managed to shut the door before Griegs could respond, leaving me with a cheeky grin and the last, hopefully spine-tingling word.
“What to do, what to do…” I trailed off as I looked around my pretty much spick-and-span flat.
The place could’ve probably done with a vacuum, but I wasn’t quite ready to go that far with my cleaning, and I was already socially exhausted simply from the idea of Lily coming over.
“LoT it is then,” I said with a smile as I made my way back toward the Rig Room, “LoT it is…”
Armelia: Chapter 26
Returning to Tarthirious with a smile and some sleep under my belt was… interesting.
I’d kind of lost that darkness that had been building up over the past day, and as I looked over my cracked and glowing body I couldn’t help but think over everything I’d done.
I quickly got over that though, mostly due to the fact that I realised that by doing all that morally grey stuff I’d probably helped myself to work through a good deal of the issues that had been plaguing me.
Or, you know, it was the decent night’s sleep, but who can tell, right?
Progress made in mission: Responsibilities of Leadership.
Objective completed: Facilitate the Reconstruction of Girit.
“Would you look at that?” I chuckled as I walked out of the college and saw the state of the town, “You guys did pretty damn good.”
Joliv, upon seeing me descending the steps, walked over to me while Flari stayed with a group of students that had formed a sort of human shield around the key pathways to the college.
“There were a few moments where I wasn’t sure they’d be able to pull it together,” the Master Librarian said once he was within a few feet from me, “but they did surprisingly well. And because the citizens of Girit ran at the first sign of trouble, we were able to put up magical barriers that they hadn’t allowed.”
“Great job,” I replied with a smile, “anyone try to pass through yet?”
“Nothing yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there were a group of bandits hiding out there, waiting for their chance to strike.”
I nodded in agreement, before turning back and gesturing for Joliv to follow me into the college, “Then we need someone who can teach these people how to fight,” I practically whispered, “do you know of any mercenaries or skilled fighters who’d be willing to show the mages how to wield a weapon?”
Joliv appeared to think on my question for a few moments, then nodded as we stepped into the courtyard, “I think I might know of someone, though he won’t be cheap.”
“How much?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“For a class of this size?” Joliv replied with a voice that I knew meant he wanted to withhold the information, before buckling with a sigh, “250 gold, but that means they’ll be trained and ready for combat within the week.”
I silently scoffed at the relatively small fee, and the fact that it was possible for an entire college of people to learn how to be skilled fighters within a week, but quickly recomposed myself and nodded, “I think that’ll do nicely. Here, contact your man.”
-250 gold.
18,635 gold.
Progress made in mission: Responsibilities of Leadership.
Objective completed: Find a Warrior Trainer.
“Now, I’m looking for a spell,” I said as I took a seat on the bench and started looking at the healthy tree before me, “What have you got for me?”
“As Grand Master, you are welcome to my knowledge.” Joliv replied in a somewhat robotic fashion, the line sounding distinctly out of place with our conversation.
I did my best to ignore the broken immersion as I scrolled through the spells Joliv had on offer, but it proved difficult to do so while he stared at me so blankly.
“Ah, there it is.” I announced as I found the spell, “Are you sure you can teach this to me?”
“For the Grand Master, anything.”
Learned Summon Rabbits.
A little grin played across my lips after I started fiddling with the spell in my left hand, a small ball of brown fur floating just above my palm as I charged the spell.
Cast Summon Rabbits.
And just like that, the courtyard was absolutely full of happy little rabbits, all peacefully hopping around the tree and looking for patches of grass to nibble on.
“Perfect.” I said before realising it probably wasn’t the best idea to start slaughtering rabbits in front of the library, and that there was also a few more things I could do at the college before going on a brutal rabbit hunt elsewhere, “Is the enchanting stone functional?”
“It should be,” Joliv replied unsurely, “no one’s attempted to use it since we turned the magic blocker off, but it should be fine for use.”
That was all I needed to hear, well, I thought so, until I really started thinking about what I was doing and pulled up my checklist.
Learn magic.
Go to the MoDA.
Work on increasing:
Archery (22/50)
Singlehanded Blade (38/50)
Speech (100/100)
Enchanting (1/50)
Smithing (51/100)
I spent a while just looking at that list, going back and forth in my head wondering what I was going to do and in what order, before finally deciding that I wanted to do get my smithing done before enchanting, especially because it would give me something to enchant.
“I’ll be back soon,” I said as I got to my feet and started toward the college’s exit, “make sure that that fellow of yours trains the students with swords before anything else, daggers if he’s able.”
“Are you sure you should be leaving?” Joliv asked, “There’s still so much to do.”
“Agreed, which is why I have to leave. My focus must be on the college when I’m here, which means I have a lot of other tasks to get done.” I replied as we descended and I climbed onto Shadow-Stal, “I’m sure you’ll be able to handle things here until I return, and I assure you that I won’t be gone long.”
Joliv clearly wasn’t a hundred percent sure that he agreed with me, but he was far quicker to accept that I was going to do as I pleased than the young woman, “Have a safe ride.”
“Oh, I plan to.” I said before setting a marker on my map to a clearing just outside Girit’s border, “Good day.”
Armelia: Chapter 27
Summoned Miss Fluffy-Scaleskin.
“My-oh-my, you’re getting big aren’t you?” I asked the long, thick snake as I climbed down off of Shadow-Stal and landed on soft, dewy grass, “You ready to have some fun?”
Fluffy slithered around through the grassy field, ignoring what I’d said while I started to charge up the summoning spell.
“Eh, I’m gonna go ahead and assume you are.”
Cast Summon Rabbits.
Equipped Armelia’s Long Bow.
“Now, if any manage to get away from me, you catch them, alri-” I started then stopped as b
oth Shadow-Stal and Fluffy went freaking ape-shit for the rabbits.
And no, it was not adorable at all.
“No, no, no, what are you doing?” I groaned as Fluffy scarfed down rabbit after rabbit and Shadow-Stal did laps over the little critters, popping them with his heavy hooves as he did so, “What is wrong with you two?”
They didn’t care what I had to say though, they were having too much damned fun to worry about me and my struggles.
Thing is, I couldn’t stay mad, and before long I found myself kind of half-smiling as the two played, “Ah, fuck it.” I sighed as I drew an arrow, “Let’s roll with it.”
Critical Hit!
+1 Archery Skill.
Progress: 23/100.
+10 XP.
Progress: 1830/8000.
“Scratch one bunny.” I muttered before drawing another arrow, dropping to a knee, and letting it fly.
Critical Hit!
+1 Archery Skill.
Progress: 24/100.
+10 XP.
Progress: 1840/8000.
With the quasi-exploit clearly working, I couldn’t help but smile with the knowledge that what I was doing would actually genuinely bolster my skills as an archer as opposed to just mentally abusing some poor guard on an island.
“Let’s bump up the hunt, eh?”
Unequipped Armelia’s Long Bow.
Miss Fluffy-Scaleskin levelled up!
Miss Fluffy-Scaleskin is now Level 10!
‘Your pet snake has grown to an almost supernatural size and, as a result, will no longer be able to travel on horseback or be carried. However, with its newfound size and intelligence comes the strength, speed, and wit necessary to take on more prey.’
“Heh, good for you girl,” I said as I started to charge up the spell again, “good for you.”
Cast Summon Rabbits.
Equipped Armelia’s Long Bow.
Armelia: Chapter 28
Miss Fluffy-Scaleskin levelled up!
Miss Fluffy-Scaleskin is now Level 13!
Critical Hit!
+1 Archery Skill.
Progress: 60/100.
+10 XP.
Progress: 2200/8000.
Custom Journal altered.
Learn magic.
Go to the MoDA.
Work on increasing:
Archery (60/50)
Singlehanded Blade (38/50)
Speech (100/100)
Enchanting (1/50)
Smithing (51/100)
I know it might seem foolish for me to have stopped, but it had gotten to the point where I was having to kill five rabbits per point and the whole process had become tedious and… okay, well, the truth is that killing all those defenceless bunnies was actually making me kind of sad.
Anyway, with yet another skill out of the way, and Fluffy back in dormancy, I decided to go back to Girit where, instead of returning to the college, I went into the blacksmith.
The completely stocked, but abandoned blacksmith.
I don’t know if I need to tell you, but I cleaned the non-existent owners out, stealing every single leather strip and iron ingot that I could find in the house.
By the end of all my looting, I discovered that I’d only managed to get a dozen ingots and fifteen leather strips, which was enough to get started, sure, but it was nowhere near enough for me to get to my goal.
So, in a move that might’ve seemed counterproductive, or maybe even just a tad too complicated for something that was supposed to be a quick and easy levelling, I fast travelled to Kalretch and found their blacksmith.
Now, I’m not going to bore you with all the details, but within a few minutes I’d gotten past the guard, into the blacksmith, stole the good fifty or so ingots and strips he had while he was working on his anvil, and fast travelled back to Girit before anyone even knew what had happened.
If I’m being honest, it probably wasn’t my best experience in robbing a blacksmith, mostly because there wasn’t a massive fight or brutal brawl with the guy and his family, but I was happy to be on the way to finishing the sort of menial tasks I’d set for myself.
Anyway, after barely twenty minutes, including a little stop over at Lukithir, I’d amassed enough small pig stickers to arm the entire college twice over, and had myself a decent lot of XP to go along with it.
+1 Smithing Skill.
Progress: 100/100.
+10 XP.
Progress: 2690/8000.
‘When you slam your hammer down on the hot steel of a freshly made sword, the metal practically sings. You’ve attained true mastery over the art of smithing, and, as a result, can now create, repair, and alter even the most complex pieces of metalwork in Tarthirious with ease. Your swords are the most powerful, your armour the strongest, and now you must choose what to do with your craft.’
Custom Journal altered.
Learn magic.
Go to the MoDA.
Work on increasing:
Archery (60/50)
Singlehanded Blade (38/50)
Speech (100/100)
Enchanting (1/50)
Smithing (100/100)
“Alright,” I said to myself, jingling my weightless bag of daggers as I climbed up onto Shadow-Stal, “time to enchant these suckers.”
“Grand Master?” Flari called through the night air as soon I was within range of the college, “Oh thank the Gods, I didn’t think you’d return.”
“Why?” I asked, not bothering to mask the fact that I was somewhat offended by Flari’s statement, “Do I seem incapable to you?”
“What? No!” Flari bumbled out as I took Shadow-Stal and hitched him, “I just… I only… I’m glad you’re back is what I meant to say.”
“Sure,” I replied with a smile, “did Joliv’s trainer arrive.”
“Train-oh, the mercenary? Yes, he arrived some time ago, started training the students almost immediately.”
“And how are they travelling?” I asked before reaching the enchanting stone, “Anyone managed to get themselves hurt yet?”
Iron Dagger removed.
Enchanting Stone activated.
“No, no they’ve only been able to work on honing their hand-to-hand skill due to the lack of weapons available to us here.” Flari replied coolly, “May I ask what you’re doing?”
“Remedying our weapon situation.” I said flatly as I struggled to think.
I was tossing up whether the funniness that would come along with applying the random transmogrification enchantment from the gloves was worth the definite fall of the college that would come along with it, and it was actually kind of a hard decision to make.
After no small amount of internal screaming matches, I ended up buckling and accepting that a simple lightning enchantment would have to do.
“Are you sure we have the resources for that?” Flari asked as I went to work, “I mean, would it not be better if we went and acquired more weapons without you having to surrender what you’ve got?”
“Where’s the bitter Flari that I’d grown to like so much?” I asked as I turned away from the stone and faced Flari in an attempt to deliberately dodge the question, “I liked that man, that man was fun.”
“That man got screamed at for nearly two days straight by the Master Librarian for almost destroying his library.” Flari replied with a half-smile, “And I’m afraid that that man will be in hiding for quite some time.”
“Well… speed it up, would you?” I joked before turning back to the stone, “Nobody likes a worrywart.”
Armelia: Chapter 29
+1 Enchanting Skill.
Progress: 52/100.
+15 XP.
Progress: 3455/8000.
Custom Journal altered.
Learn magic.
Go to the MoDA.
Work on increasing:
Archery (60/50)
Singlehanded Blade (38/50)
Speech (100/100)
Enchanting (52/50)
Smithing (100/100)
I�
��d really wanted to get my skill a bit higher, but after enchanting for a good long while, I’d decided that there were better ways for me to be spending my time.
“Hand those out to the students,” I ordered after dumping my entire load of daggers onto the unsuspecting Flari, “there should be enough to arm the entire college.”
“And some…” the healer replied, utterly stunned by the amount of weapons I’d been able to amass, “Are you sure that this is completely necessary though? I mean, we could just continue to help them grow their defensive and offensive magical abilities.”
“That would only work to facilitate their dependency,” I said as we made our way to the library, “is Joliv in the library? I’d like to speak with him.”
“I believe he is. Apparently the students got everything wrong when they’d been kind enough to help rebuild and restock his library.”
“Joliv strikes me as the type of person who’s very… particular. I wouldn’t expect anything else from him.” I replied with a smile, “Now, as I said before, go hand those weapons out.”
Flari didn’t seem altogether eager to leave my side, but he accepted my order and walked toward the training arena, where I guessed the students were with their trainer.
“Joliv,” I said as I entered the library and saw the Master Librarian skulking around and restacking shelves, “I have a question to ask of you.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Flari’s complaints about the treatment of the students, does it?” Joliv replied with no small amount of annoyance, “Because I can’t stand another second of that incessant whining.”
“No, heh, he didn’t bring that up with me.”
“Only because he knows I would make sure he’d regret it.” Joliv chuckled, “Now, what was it that you needed?”
“The path of the college, I’m yet to choose one.” I replied, sighing with relief that the dialogue option was available.
“Ah,” Joliv let out with a semi-tired huff, “well, as you know there is the path of light, and there is the path of darkness. The path of light will undoubtedly lead to more leniency from the tutors here, but will also lead to stronger healing magics, and better relationships with the non-magical people of Tarthirious.”
Legends of Tarthirious: The Complete Collection Page 62
