by Aaron Oster
Traits - Perception Field, Sharpen Mind, Aura Sense (inherited)
Extra - Wail Wall
Grace closed her status and sighed. None of this made any sense. Morgan had specifically told her that advancing before she was ready would result in her being weaker overall, yet she had doubled her rank – completely by accident – and had gotten the full 5 points per attribute in each rank.
In fact, her Strength and Constitution had gotten more than that, which made even less sense. She wished Morgan were here, now more than ever. Katherine hadn’t heard anything yet, so she was still worried, yet the queen herself didn’t seem all that upset – which was odd, considering how she’d acted when they’d seen him go down.
It almost made her wonder if Katherine was hiding something.
Grace shook herself, then rose slowly from her bed. She’d learned her lesson about moving too quickly from the broken wall. Yawning widely, she stumbled over to her mirror to examine herself.
Yup, still the same as last night, she thought, reaching up to touch her chin.
She looked older, somehow. Her face had thinned out and lost most of the baby fat that had been lingering since she’d started eating better. More than that, she’d grown a bit taller, probably by a couple of inches, and her body seemed to have matured. Her chest had grown a bit, her hips curved a bit more, and her hair had even lengthened.
She pulled up the sleeves of her nightshirt to reveal lines of muscle etched deeper into her skin, and when she lifted the front of her shirt, she could see faint lines tracing over her abdomen. She sighed, dropping it and heading toward the bathroom. She knew that they would be leaving soon, but she just couldn’t bring herself to rush.
Grace didn’t know why, but this advancement bothered her. It had been so easy. All she’d had to do was absorb a single core, and poof, she was suddenly thirteen ranks higher. Worse, all of her attributes had been maxed out with each rank gained. It left her with a distinct sense of dissatisfaction, one that she just couldn’t understand.
Turning the knob on the tub, Grace watched as the steaming water began to fill it, the calm, soothing sounds of the splashing lulling her mind into a sort of trance. She lifted her nightshirt over her head, then stared down at herself, not recognizing the body as her own. She shivered, even though she felt no actual cold, raising both hands and staring down at them.
“It’s quite the change, isn’t it?”
Grace jumped and whirled, her hands moving to protect her modesty, but relaxed as Lumia waddled in, her small form moving slowly across the floor. The drake looked to be far better off than Grace felt, as she’d had a decent night’s rest and plenty to eat. Lumia also hadn’t had to go through a drastic change the way Grace had.
“I don’t understand why I feel this way,” Grace said, noting that even her voice sounded different — somehow older and more mature.
She had only turned fourteen half a year ago, yet she looked to be around sixteen.
“Change can be difficult, especially when it’s least expected,” Lumia replied, hopping up onto the rim of the tub and watching her carefully.
Grace sighed, turning her head and looking at her back through one of the many mirrors lining this room. It was far more muscular than she remembered, taking on more of a lithe, womanly shape than the girlish one she’d had just a few hours ago. She wasn’t a full-grown woman by any means, but it bothered her to see such a drastic change in such a short period of time.
“I almost feel as though I’ve missed out in some way,” Grace said, feeling a bit stupid for complaining.
Yes, her skills hadn’t actually changed, but she already knew why that was. They didn’t become stronger unless they were fed with energy, just as with ranks. However, attributes also weren’t supposed to grow without putting in the proper work, and yet, they had.
She had grown stronger, taller, and if she might say so about herself, far more beautiful. She’d never considered herself pretty, but with her cheekbones now showing more and her facial features becoming womanlier, her adult beauty was starting to shine through. She could also do so much more with longer hair, which suited her far more now that she’d grown a bit.
“That is understandable,” Lumia said as Grace moved to get into her bath.
“It is?” Grace asked, surprised that the drake would actually agree with her.
“Of course,” Lumia replied. “You just went through a drastic transformation, and all in the span of a few minutes. Not to mention that it all happened when you were so delirious with exhaustion that you don’t even remember it taking place. It is a rude awakening, but one that you will grow used to in time.”
“Will this happen every time?” Grace asked, looking down at herself.
“When beasts advance past a breakthrough rank, they also go through a transformation. Of course, to me, it seems far more drastic than something you humans seem to go through, but it happens to everyone, regardless of race. I truly wish Morgan were around to talk to you about this, as he could probably do a better job of explaining, but perhaps you might try talking to one of the other women who’ve advanced just as you have.”
Grace sighed and shook her head. The very idea of approaching someone like Katherine, or even Elyssa, was mortifying. Her feelings about Katherine were complicated enough as they were, and she didn’t know the elven queen well enough to pose such a personal question.
Truthfully, it would have been morbidly embarrassing to ask Morgan as well, but knowing him, he’d probably have broached the topic himself, explaining it in a way only he could and making her feel better about the whole thing.
“Where do you think he is?” she asked, leaning her head back against the lip of the tub and staring up at the ceiling.
“I don’t know,” Lumia said honestly.
“But you do believe he’s alive,” Grace said.
“Yes,” Lumia admitted. “When he was first attacked, I truly believed him to be gone, but Katherine’s behavior whenever his name comes up suggests otherwise.”
It seemed that Grace hadn’t been imagining things, and she felt oddly proud at that, wondering if her advancement had something to do with it.
“Do you think he’ll be returning anytime soon?” she asked.
“I don’t know that either,” Lumia replied.
The two remained silent for several moments more, before the question Grace had been holding back finally burst forth.
“If he was alive this entire time, why did he abandon us?”
The question came out more like a shout than anything else, Grace sitting up in the tub and glaring angrily at the wall, as though it could offer them the answer to the all-important question.
“I don’t know,” Lumia replied.
“Well, can you guess?” she retorted, whirling on the small drake.
She immediately realized that Lumia was not at fault and lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”
Lumia leaned forward, pressing the tip of her small snout to the center of the girl’s forehead.
“I understand your frustration. I miss him as well and know what sort of difference he could have made had he been around. But consider this from his perspective. He had just been attacked by no less than four gods. What do you think would have happened, had they discovered he was still alive?”
“Well, I suppose they would have come after him again,” Grace admitted.
After all, it didn’t seem to be a very godly thing to give up after failing once.
“And who do you think would have been caught in the crossfire when they did?”
“Us,” Grace grumbled, starting to see her point. “But still, why let us believe he was dead? Why not stop by to let us know he’s okay, before leaving to do whatever it is he’s doing?”
“That, we must ask him ourselves once he returns,” Lumia replied. “Morgan always has a good reason for the things he does, and I’m sure that it was of the utmost importance. Especially
if he left you. You know how much he cares for you and your wellbeing.”
“He has a funny way of showing it,” Grace muttered, although she could feel her cheeks beginning to redden.
“The way I see it, he likely made the best choice he could, based on the circumstances. You were with me, after all. I am the strongest one he considers a friend. He knew I wouldn’t allow you to come to any serious harm. Additionally, he showed tremendous trust in leaving you the mission of rescuing his friends and ensuring our counties remain at peace.
“If anything, I believe he showed you more trust than anyone else, because he knew that you would succeed in his absence.”
“I didn’t save everyone,” Grace muttered, trying to hide her blush.
“But you did the best you could,” Lumia replied calmly. “You succeeded in maintaining the peace he fought so hard for, and now, thanks to you, we’re going to be able to expose a traitor and ensure the treaty is signed.”
Grace didn’t really have anything to say after that. What Lumia said made so much sense that she couldn’t argue her point. The drake was right. She had succeeded against all odds. She’d managed to recruit Nathan, sneak through City One and gather a chest full of portal scrolls, and get almost everyone to safety.
Yes, Hilda had died in the process, but she had died a hero. Grace had heard the story from Katherine’s own lips. She’d recounted the difficult decision they’d had to make, and how Hilda had assured that all three rulers had made it safely out of the tunnel, sacrificing herself to keep the peace treaty alive. Her death was tragic, but it had meaning.
She was just as brave and honorable as the soldiers from Garrison Blue who had sacrificed their lives to assure that their queen would be able to get away.
Grace lathered up her hands then, working the soap into her long hair. She didn’t have much time left before they attempted to break through to Faeland. This was a special day, and for that, she would need extra time to do her hair. After all, if they were going to crush a traitor, she would make sure to look her best when they did so.
68
Morgan reached out, his fingers slowly curling around the haft of the spear and feeling the power it provided flowing through him. It hummed in his grip as it never had before, and when he reached within, he found a stronger connection and a way to use this marvel of smithing to its fullest. Until now, he’d been using the spear as just a spear. When he fought next, this spear would be what it was always meant to be — a weapon to destroy gods.
He breathed out slowly, hearing the breath sounding far louder than it should, and when he opened his eyes, saw the ghostly image of Sarah forming before the spear.
Silvery tendrils connected her form to the haft itself, and although her body glowed, the translucence still obvious, she looked far more substantial. What was more, her hair looked different. Although there were still traces of silver throughout, it was now clearly returning to its previous red, standing out like a beacon against a dark sky.
“Wow,” Sarah said, her mouth moving but her voice sounding in his mind. “I… I feel so alive!”
She looked down at herself. Her body was draped in a long, wispy dress that flapped around her lower half where her legs should have been, then to her hands, where wide, billowing sleeves all but hid the appendages. Still, she was there, floating before him, and he wasn’t in a dream or inside a Well.
Sarah looked up at him, giving him a wide, beaming smile. Then she paused, her brows furrowing in that adorable way he remembered. Her lips pursed, and she floated forward, examining him closely. Morgan stood absolutely still as she floated around him, prodding him with ghostly fingers that he could not feel.
Finally, she moved back, placing her hands on her hips and looking both annoyed and pleased at the same time.
“I want my body back, Morgan,” she said in mock annoyance. “I don’t know how, but you’ve somehow managed to become even hotter than you were before.”
Morgan smiled at her, relaxing, feeling a tension in his shoulders bleed away. He’d been afraid that Sarah wouldn’t approve of his new look. The deeper-set eyes and the line of scales weren’t exactly his choice, but he’d been afraid, nonetheless.
“I’m glad you think so,” he replied, projecting his thoughts into the spear. “I was worried you wouldn’t like the changes.”
Sarah let out a snort, then floated closer, thrusting a translucent finger into the center of his chest.
“Please. I would like you if you looked like that old, wrinkly troll you visited to find the Wells.”
Morgan was surprised to hear that, as he hadn’t expected her to have knowledge of that visit.
“You… remember everything that’s happened?” he asked, uncertain.
“Of course,” Sarah said, tossing her braid. “I was with you the entire time, in case you’ve forgotten.”
That was interesting, to say the least. Sarah hadn’t indicated memories of a lot of things when they’d had the chance to talk. Sure, she’d known some things, but not everything.
“Don’t get me wrong,” she continued. “Most of the past two years are a total blank, so you’re going to have to do a lot of filling in once I’m back in my body. But I can remember everything since the moment Gold shoved me into this spear.”
“Speaking of that,” Morgan said. “Do you remember exactly how he managed that?
Sarah shrugged.
“Afraid not,” she said, looking apologetic.
“I see,” Morgan replied, feeling what little hope he had vanish in an instant.
Sarah floated forward, placing a hand over his core and looking up into his eyes with her large, silvery ones.
“I understand how you feel,” she said, her voice soft. “You were hoping that if I remembered, you might be able to bring Gwen or Dabu back. But they’re gone for good, Morgan. They’ve moved on.”
He nodded, fighting back the sudden surge of emotion and wanting nothing more than to wrap Sarah up in a hug. It was so painful to be able to see and hear her, yet not feel her touch. But he was close, very close, and soon enough, he would be restoring her to her body.
He wanted to ask her something else but froze as a massive flare of power seemed to blanket the sky. Morgan whirled, facing westward, as he felt the presence rising into the sky, the blazing power that was Breaker, the Elder Dragon of Greed.
Morgan didn’t remember much from their only encounter, but one thing that he did remember was the feeling he’d gotten in the beast’s presence. That of overwhelming might and utter chaos.
“Seems like Gold was right,” he said, turning to face the direction the monster was flying in. “My guest will be arriving shortly.”
“It would be rude of you not to greet him,” Sarah said, her body vanishing and flowing back into the spear. “Best make sure we’re there when he arrives, so we can give him the respect he deserves.”
Her voice echoed in his mind, much as it had before, only this time, her voice was far stronger, and it didn’t seem she’d be tiring anytime soon. He was no longer on his own and would face both the World Beast and goddess with Sarah. Fighting alongside her was something he hadn’t done since that fateful raid on Octagon’s glacier, and now, they were reunited once again, preparing to face the toughest foes they ever had.
He reached within himself, his muscles coiling up and his body floating off the ground. This skill felt different than the Flight he’d been using until then. He could feel no limit, no end to the possibility of what he could accomplish. No ceiling to how high he could fly nor any limitations on his speed. So long as he had the power to burn, he could go as high or as fast as he pleased.
Right then, speed wasn’t what he needed. What he needed was to cross the distance. Luckily for him, he had just the skill to do that. Inhaling quickly, Morgan used Rift. The world collapsed around him, spinning in a brilliant kaleidoscope of whirling color. Just a handful of seconds later, Morgan was standing atop the wall, staring out at the mountainous terrain
of the dwarven homeland.
“What the hell?!” Sarah exclaimed, as her body spun out of the spear. “Isn’t it around noon?”
Morgan’s brows furrowed as he tried to figure out what was going on. If Sarah could see it as well, then his eyes were clearly not playing tricks on him, yet what he saw was an impossibility.
The moon hung high in the night sky, blazing with an almost orange-colored light. His eyesight had no trouble picking out details, as he could see just as well during the night as he could in the daytime, but this made no sense. It was smack in middle of the day, so how was it dark out?
Morgan reached out with his will, looking into the world itself and trying to follow the many strings extending into the fog. His head began to hurt, but thankfully, the answer came to him quickly, though it was not one he’d expected.
“It’s a skill?!” he more asked than said, as he stared around in shock.
Could Breaker be so powerful that he could change the cycles of night and day?
No… something was different. If it were a skill, Morgan would have been able to sense it. This was something else entirely, something that affected the world itself but cost no power to use. In fact, when he extended his perception in any direction, he could feel the daylight if he looked far enough.
This blanket of night seemed to have a limited radius, somewhere in the range of two hundred miles from its epicenter, which was slowly moving, traveling toward them.
“Is the World Beast doing this?” Sarah asked, looking at him in surprise.
“It would seem that way,” Morgan replied, looking out into the night and seeing the glimmer of golden scales in the distance.
Breaker’s presence seemed to fill the night sky, expanding massively in all directions in a blazing light that made Morgan want to give up and flee. Flee before the might of this beast who had the power to make the world obey his commands.
He stood his ground, twisting the butt of the spear into the stone and reaching within himself for the strength he knew he had. Gold had told him he would know what to do when he reached his meeting spot atop the wall, and now that he was there, Morgan knew what he had to do.