by Lars M.
"That – was – heaven." I groaned ecstatically, pushing the empty plate away. "You are a wonderful cook, Mila." She smiled in response, and I gazed around the clearing in post-meal bliss. A handful of unobtrusive contraptions erected throughout the clearing alongside the trees sprang into my view. I pointed. "What are those?"
"Those," she said, the satisfaction obvious in her voice, "are what happens when you hit level 5 in Scout. Well, rather it's the other way around. Once I hit level 5 and built these beauties – wind barriers, by the way - I managed the prerequisites to obtain the 'Fixed Camp' feat. It's incredible. You won't believe it – there's a whole new level of buffs you get just from resting or sleeping inside the camp." Her eyes were closed in bliss.
"Why, Mila. Are you angling for me to stay the night?"
She looked into her cup, swirling the wine around. Then, with a decisive motion, she downed the wine, tossed the cup to the side and simply said, "Yes."
Later that evening, we were curled up under a blanket, gazing at the dying fire. I was wondering whether I'd be able to summon the energy to toss another log onto the fire, when I recalled a snippet of our earlier conversation. "You're practicing for your next class quest – is it getting close?"
She nodded. "Could be any day now, according to Benneth. He tests me now and again on different skills, but refuses to tell me much."
"Hmm – I'm pretty certain you couldn't take the second class quest until level 10 in the beta. Are you that far ahead of me?"
"Hah. No, I hit level 6 in Nerit. Benneth says he's letting me take the quest as soon as he believes I'm competent. I'm guessing that's gamespeak for 'you can take it earlier if you hit these skill requirements' or something. It's bound to make it more difficult, though – leave it to Benneth to raise the difficulty."
I laughed along with her. "He's a decent teacher, though? To me, he seems angry all the time. I mean, a couple of the villagers even call him Sourpuss to his face."
She smiled. "Oh, he is. At the world, the people in it, and their general idiocy. He cares, though. He just... doesn't do well with people. We have that in common."
"You? You've mentioned it before, but I've never noticed you having a problem with anybody."
She tucked an errant braid behind her ear. "I've lived a bit of a sheltered life. It's not that I dislike people. It's more... well, often I really need to be able to go back to my own place and shut the door behind me."
"Ah." I took her hand. "Nerit must've been really uncomfortable for you, then?"
She grimaced. "Yes. At least I got to take a handful of hunting trips alone. That helped."
"You will tell me, if at some point you'd prefer some privacy over my company, right? I can be pretty oblivious."
She put her hand on top of mine. "I will. It's yet to happen. Well, except for the first couple of times, when I didn't like you."
"Hah. Can't say I blame you. So... class quest. Any idea how long it's going to be?"
"Nope. Benneth has been less than forthcoming about the whole thing. The only thing I know for sure is that it's going to be tough, and I'm going to be gone for a while."
I nodded. "Fair enough. I'll avoid any manly fretting if you're suddenly gone, then. Heh - I might have to ask Greck what the deal is regarding the bard class quest. If possible, he's even more close-mouthed than Benneth."
We shared a moment of silence and I finally mustered the energy to get up and throw a couple of logs on the fire. I crawled back under the blankets and got comfortable. With a shiver from the chilly night air, I said, "I appreciate the warning. In a sense of fairness - I may also have to leave the town for a handful of days soon." I frowned into the darkness. "It's not of my own volition, mind you. But..." I paused for a while, searching forthe right words, "last time, the people who are looking for me sent wanted posters of me along with the caravan. I... did not take it well. Panicked a bit. Let's just say that it's not a situation I want to find myself trapped in again anytime soon." A vision appeared of the time I'd spent trapped inside my tavern room, trying to distract my mind with a goddamn history book, of all things. I shook myself furiously, trying to dislodge the image. "No. The moment I hear that the caravan's incoming, I'm off on the next Council quest. Should keep me away from the village until it's safe to return."
Mila looked at me, a wide range of emotions written upon her face. Curiosity, empathy – exasperation? "Daniel. Let me in. Tell me what's wrong."
"No. Nein, nyet, never. I'm not getting you involved."
"But what if I could help?"
"No. This is my problem!" I continued in a softer voice, "I really, really do appreciate your concern. If, however, you could be talked into helping me with the quest, that'd be a different animal. Amazing company, and XP for all. What do you say?"
She looked like she was going to say something else, but relented. "I will have to check my schedule with my secretary. I am a busy, busy woman, you know?"
"Oh, I know. Requisition forms in triplicate, sent two weeks in advance, as per usual."
Her grin lit up her face. "Exactly. So... are you planning on it being just the two of us?"
I grimaced. "If only. From what Gillem says, the area's higher level than Nerit – so the two of us probably wouldn't cut it by ourselves. I was planning to take Lyle, because all of us softies really need a meat shield – and Arack, because I'd feel bad leaving her behind."
"And Atlas?"
"And Atlas, obviously. I mean, who leaves their daft yet lovable pet behind?"
She snorted. "All right. If Atlas is going, I may be convinced to come. Now, remember: I only travel first class."
"Stock up on jerky. Gotcha."
Chapter 7 – Taking Stock
The following day started with panic. My panic, to be precise. Nothing from the evening before really indicated that there was shouting to be had. We’d chatted until the wee hours of the morning, of things small and large. It was like an invisible dam had come down, and we’d shared anecdotes and tiny bits of our lives. Nothing too personal, but enough to learn a lot about Darya. I liked what I’d learned, too. Her life seemed like a sheltered one. Her stories revolved around online experiences, games, and movies – rarely friends or family. Studying, as well – her being a bookworm apparently wasn’t limited to the fantasy variety. Even so, where I had expected another loner who ended up shy or self-effacing, Mila was everything but. Once you got past her standoffish demeanor (and managed to not tick her off for a couple of days) you'd find a bold, energetic, and loving personality.
No, the panicking was all me. I may or may not have given off a few subtle hints at an earlier date about how much I enjoy mornings. Simply put: I don't. To me, the best morning experience is being left to grumble in peace while I regain full use of my faculties. Caffeine and breakfast help to reduce the downtime needed. I know a few morning people, of course. The type of person to wake up abuzz with energy, their minds afire with new thoughts and ideas. Smug jerks, one and all. This explained my reaction when I came to, fully aware and with a full-body tingle like I had just downed three energy drinks in two minutes.
"What the? What is this? Who's this? What the hell?" Whatever was going on, it did nothing for my vocabulary. Within seconds, I'd ascertained that I wasn't under attack, but I still couldn't see what was going on.
Darya wasn't helping my mood. She woke up instantly and reached for a knife. However, when she saw me patting my body, glancing in all directions, she resorted to howling with laughter at my distress. Eventually, she managed to force out the words, "Check your log," in between gales of laughter.
I'd already calmed down somewhat, and reading the log gave me the eye-opener I was looking for. The effects in themselves were impressive, and my eyes widened as I read down the list. Still, it was the first line that finally made me chortle and calm down a bit. At least they’d gone with a classic.
You awaken feeling well rested:
You receive the following bonuses for spending the nigh
t in a fully established Apprentice-level Fixed Camp:
Stamina regeneration increased by 30%
Mana regeneration increased by 30%
Hitpoint regeneration increased by 30%
All stats increased by +3
Duration: 12 hours
"Hoooly hell. This is incredible. Darya – sorry, Mila. I'm sorry for waking you up like that. I was just..."
Darya wiped tears from her eyes, waving away my concerns. "Whoo, my stomach’s hurting from laughter. Hah. Don't worry. I was a bit surprised the first time I felt a Scout buff – and it was only a third as strong back then. You should've seen yourself, though." She mimicked some of the more... expansive gestures I'd made, and I scowled at her in mock annoyance.
In retaliation, I glanced pointedly down at the carpet that had dropped to her waist and back up at her. I grinned. "Please do that again. Especially that thing with the arms."
A massive blush crept up her... everywhere. She rapidly pulled up the cover and punched me in the shoulder, none too gently. "Jerk." She couldn't quite keep the laughter from her voice, however. "So, what's the plan for today? Which groundbreaking symphonies do you plan to compose? Any new negotiations to ace?"
"Nah - I was actually hoping we could go on that pleasant stroll through the woods we've been talking about. Cough. Get some battle practice under our belt... maybe kill a few monsters?"
"You know you're not supposed to actually say 'cough,' right?" Her crooked smile was infectious. "You'll have to work on that 'romantic picnic'-thing a bit. But sure. I've got nothing better to do, and it sounds like we're going to have good company."
"Wonderful. Join me in the Warlock's End for breakfast? My treat?"
She grimaced. "If we're spending most of the day among people, I'd rather stay here a bit."
I smiled and kissed her. "You do that. I'll go round up the others. Maybe see if I can avoid getting mixed up in any kobold conflicts today." I got up, debated whether to say anything, and blundered forward with my usual finesse. "Soo – is this too soon, or can we do this again at some point?"
She winked, "I'm no timid princess, Daniel. I'll make sure to tell you if I need some alone time. How about this? If we catch something edible, I'll cook it... as long as you handle all the grunt work?"
"You've got a deal."
We chatted a bit more before I left for Grant's Crossing. Darya was going to take it slow, get a little archery practice in. In the meantime, I'd get breakfast and start rounding up the rest of the group.
I started off with a stroke of luck. Arack was lounging about next to the gate and readily agreed to tag along. She'd probably have agreed to anything to alleviate the boredom, but I did thank her for the trust she placed in me. I treated her to breakfast in the tavern - the Council was kind enough to provide the kobolds with food, but you'd have to be a Fallen to not complain about the taste. Meanwhile, she gave me the scope about what had been going on in the village. Nothing much, to my relief. Somebody - she said with a chuckle - had been spreading the news that a resolution to their boredom may be imminent.
"It is happening, though, isn't it, Arcangelo? I mean, Most of us are going to do all right, if we have to fend for ourselves; we're used to it and all. Still, the chance to get, like, a real job..." Her sigh said everything I needed to hear.
"I know Gillem's going to do his best. He isn't the type to break his word. And you've got me on the team as well. One question, though: you, personally. What would you like to do? I mean, I'm not going to chase you off or anything, but is there any profession you'd like to pursue?"
For once, the forthright kobold looked abashed. "I may have mentioned that I'd like to develop as an Alchemist at some point, so I can use poison on my daggers. That's not a lie or anything - there's a bit more to it, though. You know, Alchemists also deal in healing potions and salves - and I've always wanted to be a healer of sorts." She stared intently at her feet.
I put my hand on her shoulder. "That's an amazing idea, and we're going to make it happen. Somehow." I was already looking forward to somehow roping Greck into becoming her Alchemist mentor. He had no clue what fate had in store for him. Oh, and I was not at all drooling at the thought of adding cheap or free health and mana potions to the party. Nope. Not me.
Lyle was hard at work in the blacksmith when we found him. His dad gave me the evil eye, but otherwise didn't comment on my appearance. Arack's presence probably didn't help any. Lyle, however, brightened up with a huge smile at seeing us. "Be a sec. I've got to finish this, and then I've got something to show you." Moments later, he was dusting off his hands, practically pushing us towards the back porch of the house. "Oh, man, I've looked forward to showing this off. It's so damn awesome, you won't believe it."
At first, when I saw the armor he'd arranged on a wooden mannequin, I felt disappointed. It looked so... boring. The greyish colour of the leather armor practically screamed, "Please don't look at me. I'm nobody important." I wasn't going to tell Lyle that, however. Not with how proud he looked. I stepped closer and made a closer inspection of the armor. "Wait. This isn't leather. Which material is that?" I caressed the material of the armor and recognized the rough but yielding surface. "Nooo. The viper scales? How in the Pits did you manage to work them this well? I didn't think that an armorer would be able to handle this kind of material."
Arack squinted at the armor. "Viper scales? Of that size? You'll have to tell me how you managed to kill that."
Lyle grinned sheepishly. "It was actually a bunch of snakes, and I almost screwed it up something awful. I'm sure Arcangelo would love to tell you about it in detail." He turned towards me. "Ahem. About those materials. I had a chat with Benneth, and he told me that he owed you a reward... so he's the one who fixed up the armor base. I'm supposed to tell you that you're even now."
Reward? Even? Oh. The blinking notification helped my sorry memory along. Apparently, I'd never cashed in on that quest for killing the Dawnlight Soarer.
Congratulations. You have completed the quest:
Annoyance From Above
You managed to do away with all the Dawnlight Soarers that were hindering the fishing along the Jagged Rush. In return, Benneth has helped Lyle craft his armor.
Reward:
You have received 300 experience points. Experience towards next level: 45/6000
Crafting assistance
The next notification was even sweeter, though.
Congratulations. You gained a level.
You are now a level 5 Bard. +1 Charisma from racial bonus. You have 5 attribute points to assign.
Awesome. I'd been waiting for that, and the timing couldn't have been better. I placed two points to charisma and one to luck – and with a grimace, I placed the final two into intelligence. I’d had some issues with my lack of mana and would need the boost for tinkering soon. With a great deal of effort, I managed to wrench my focus back to the armor. "Erm. What's the material like? I mean, compared to regular leather, for instance?"
Lyle was practically beaming. "Amazing! It's hell to work with - Benneth cursed constantly while he was working it, and he still broke two of his favorite needles. Thing is, apparently their diet includes small rocks... for their digestion or something. But they don't just pass them through their system; some of the effects from the rocks stay within their bodies. That's why you'll find that it's immensely resistant to piercing and slashing damage. This baby's pretty much the same as wearing the skin of a troll. I mean, having skin like a troll. Ew."
"That's incredible!" Arack blurted out.
I had to agree. Suddenly, the dull-looking chest armor looked a lot more impressive to me. I'd have to give Benneth my compliments on his crafting - there was not a stitch to be seen. In addition to the full-sleeved armor, Lyle had added a handful of worked iron pieces in strategic places. He had one huge chest piece and back piece, along with smaller pieces guarding his shoulders and elbows. Looked like he would be well protected from anything the forest could throw at hi
m. "Love the additions, too. You'd need enchanted weapons to be able to thrust through both those iron plates and the snake leather beneath. How did you fasten them?"
With a smirk, Lyle said, "Oh, I've riveted them on. It's not iron, though."
"Oh - fair enough. What is it then? Wait..." I studied the metal up close and voiced my suspicion, "It's not the scales from the clutch mother, is it?" His self-satisfied nod was all the answer I needed. "Oh damn. How did... but it looks just like iron? What does it do?"
"Why, it protects me in battle, Arcangelo." I stared daggers at him and he brayed with laughter. "Sorry. Couldn't help it. Benneth was no help with this - apparently it's not every day you manage to do away with a beast of this size. Or maybe it's because it was the mother. Anyway, Da' agreed to help me experiment on it some. First, we took a file to it, to check the hardness of it. You wouldn't believe the face on Da, when it left practically no mark. Then we used a grinding wheel. Did you know you can tell the type and quality of metal from the sparks? Well, we soon..."
I zoned out a bit as Lyle blathered on about the many issues with manipulating the scales. The material was pretty amazing, really, even if I couldn't summon the energy to listen through the minute-by-minute recap Lyle was delivering. Even polished as it was, it didn't shine or sparkle. I rapped a knuckle on it - but the ring of metal was noticeably absent. "How come it doesn't sound like metal?"
"Because it isn't. I know, the look of it's pretty similar. Still, from what Da told me, it's a bastard child of very hard, very fine-grained rock and leather. It's hard enough that you'll have to manipulate it sort of like metal. Took a while to find a decent working method." His smug smile was back, and I knew he wasn't finished. "You still haven't asked the right question, though."
