Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “I---understand---that---the---presence---of---an---army---inside---a---city---would---be---rather---unwelcome.---In---that---sense,---I---will---have---my---army---camp---outside---while---I---will---enter---with---a---few---select---people.---Is---that---acceptable?”

  The---[Guard]---stares---at---me---and---then---looks---up---at---the---menacing---monstrosity---that---is---Berosus.

  “Due---to---the---size---of---my---city---destroying---minion,---I---will---have---it---stay---outside---the---city---as---well,”---I---add---smoothly.

  The---[Guard]---looks---at---me,---practically---paralyzed---now.---His---eyes---focused---on---me,---staring,---body---unmoving.

  Ohhhh,---did---I---break---him?---He---looks---like---a---deer---about---to---be---struck---by---a---car.

  “Those---terms---are---acceptable.---Allow---them---to---enter.”

  I---look---up---and---my---gaze---stops---on---an---older---looking---centaur---who---is---a---level---131---[Watch---Captain]---by---the---name---Arther.---He---gazes---at---me,---possibly---attempting---to---[analyze]---me,---unfortunately---for---him---I---seem---to---be---immune---to---it---for---some---odd---reason.

  “Y-yes---sir,”---the---[Guard]---yells---with---a---tremble---before---turning---and---smacking---the---door,---informing---those---on---the---other---side---to---open---the---gates.

  ___________________________________________

  Moments---pass,---my---army---makes---camp---and---I---enter---the---city---with---a---rather---powerful---posse.

  “So,---Arther,---I---don't---suppose---we---could---take---a---detour---to---the---dungeon---stone?”

  Arther,---the---[Watch---Captain]---turns---his---head---around---while---walking---forward,---his---eyes---still---trying---to---figure---me---out,---but---seem---to---fail---every---time.

  “That---is,---acceptable,---as---long---as---it---is---quick,”---he---says---after---a---moment.

  “It---will---be.---Please---lead---us---there---first.”

  He---nods---and---our---direction---changes---slightly.---Janie,---Mule,---Dragken,---Oregan,---Doreson,---the---three---[Herdmasters]---and---Threm---follow---me,---matching---my---pace.---Though---I---do---note---that---Threm---has---taken---the---absolute---rear.

  As---we---make---our---way---towards---the---cities---dungeon---stone,---I---take---the---time---to---look---at---the---scenery;---buildings,---architecture,---clothing,---various---differences---in---centaur---looks.---You---can---learn---a---lot---if---you---are---perceptive.---For---example,---[Enchanters],---even---low---level---ones---are---greeted---kindly---while---[Healers]---constantly---receive---thanks---from---normal---passerby.---Certain---classes---like---[Woodworkers],---[Hunters],---[Farmers]---are---practically---ignored.---Even---the---[Traders]---seem---to---be---treated---the---same,---though---with---a---slight---bit---more---familiarity.---One---young---[Mage]---even---had---three---females---gushing---over---him.

  It---was---clear---that---certain---classes,---primarily---the---newer---classes---are---respected---quite---a---bit---more.---Though---that---could---be---because---of---the---rarity---of---the---classes---and---how---little---is---known---about---them.

  Buildings---are---mostly---made---of---wood,---some---of---stone,---while---the---clothing---they---wear---varies---quite---a---bit.---Granted,---their---differing---clothing---is---more---towards---the---upper---torso---while---a---cloth---sheet---moves---over---their---lower---back.---The---sheet---is---rather---simple,---usually---of---one---color---with---an---image---of---the---herd---they---belong---to.---On---the---other---hand,---the---humanoid---part---of---the---body---differs---greatly.---From---something---of---a---tank---top---to---a---full---on---coat.

  It---is---also---here---that---I---finally---get---my---first---look---towards---children---who---seem---to---be---running---around,---smiling,---talking,---and---mostly---pointing---at---me.

  Yea,---who---would---guess---Gejans---and---Humans---in---a---centaur---city---would---attract---so---much---attention?

  “We---are---here.”

  Coming---back---from---my---distraction,---I---turn---and---look---towards---Arther---and---notice---his---finger---pointing---at---a---rather---well---decorated…---rock.

  A---very---shiny,---tall,---pointy---rock.

  “Perfect,”---I---say,---giving---Arther---a---thankful---look.---I---wave---to---Janie.

  “Come,---let's---go---see---If---I---got---anything---new,”---I---say---as---I---head---towards---the---stone---and---firmly---planting---my---hand---upon---its---surface.

  Huh,---its---warm.

  [Hero]---Level---50---has---been---achieved.---Max---number---of---classes---for---quick---leveling---has---been---increased---from---3---to---4.---Currently---¾---classes---chosen.

  And---as---usual,---here---comes---the---other---message---a---moment---later.

  [Hero]---Level---50---has---been---achieved.---Max---number---of---classes---for---quick---leveling---has---been---increased---from---3---to---4.---Currently---¾---classes---chosen.

  I---Really---don't---understand---why---I---have---this---weird---fantom---voice---seemingly---reading---out,---word---for---word---of---what---is---literally---showing---in---a---box---in---front---of---me.---It---just---makes---no---sense.---At---Least---I---can---ignore---the---voice.

  You---are---currently---the---Highest---level---[Hero]---out---of---all---other---[Heroes].

  Mmmm,---nothing---new---there.---I---do---wish---that---it---would---tell---me---who---the---other---[Heroes]---are---and---what---level---they---have.---Or---even---how---many.---That---would---be---some---rather---useful---information.

  But---enough---about---that.---I---am---now---left---with---a---very---annoying---conundrum.---I---can---now---get---another---class---and---I---am---not---sure---which---one---to---get.---There---are---a---freaking---lot,---though---all---of---them---are---basic---classes.

  [Rogue],---[Mage],---[Warrior]---are---the---absolute---basic---classes---with---an---enormous---amount---of---differing---specialties.---Elemental---[Mages],---weapon---specific---[Warriors],---and---an---even---larger---amount---of---classes---with---the---[Rogue]---class.

  But---I---would---want---something---far---more---unique,---something---along---the---lines---of---a---[Cavalier]---or---[Vancian---Mage].---Though---neither---of---those---two---would---benefit---me---much---considering---[Cavalier’s]---are---all---about---mounted---combat---while---a---[Vancian---Mage]---is---all---about---pre---planning---spells---and---releasing---them---instantly,---which---is---rather---moot---considering---I---have---[Silent---Casting]---and---[Motionless---Casting],---two---passive---skills---which---allow---me---to---cast---almost---instantaneously---anyways.

  Now,---most---people---in---my---situation---would---focus---on---something---that---would---fix---my---weaknesses,---which---is---physical---combat.---So---they---would---choose---something---along---the---lines---of---a---melee---class.---Unfortunately---for---them,---that---is---a---huge---trap.---Unless---there---is---some---physical---class---that---will---boost---my---current---[Necromancer]---class---somehow,---then---it---is---best---to---go---for---something---that---works---with---it.

  [Necromancers]---use---undead---minions---and---create---armies.---An---[Enchanter]---can---create---enchants---on---items---or---minions---to---increase---their---effective---capability.---As---for---[Noble],---well,---I---took---that---on---instinct.---I’m---not---sure---if---it---was---worth---it---yet.

  Wow,---tens---of---thousands---of---classes---to---choose---from---and---I---can---only---take---one…

  “Janie!---I---need---to---get---another---class.---Any---recommendations?”---I---say,---turning---to---my---side,---only---to---notice---the---[Priestess]---with---her---mouth---open,---eyes---glazed.

  Hmmm.

  I---snap---my---fingers---in---front---of---her---face.---She---shakes---her---head---and---removes---her---hand---from---the---stone.

  “You---ok?”

  She---swallows---and---slowly---nods.---S
he---looks---borderline---in---shock.---Like---her---entire---world---was---turned---upside---down…

  Right,---that---is---probably---my---fault---somehow.

  “Well---then,---if---you---are---actually---ok,---even---though---you---don't---look---ok,---mind---telling---me---what---new---skills---you---have---gained?”

  She---takes---a---moment,---blinks---and---opens---her---mouth.

  “S-s-skill---change.---My---[Healers---Authority]---skill---has---changed---to,”---she---pauses,---frowning---with---hints---of---annoyance,---“[Tyrants---Authority].”

  OOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

  Yeaaaaaa,---she---is---soooo---keeping---that---nickname---now.

  Chapter---Fifty---Four:---Shock---and---Awe

  I---take---a---moment---to---look---at---Thoric,---watching---him---as---he---places---his---hand---on---the---stone.---Nothing---unusual---happens,---but---I---notice---that---whatever---he---gained---is---impressive---enough---to---put---his---trademark---cocky---smile---on---his---face.

  I---move---my---eyes---away---from---him---and---settle---them---on---the---smooth---stone.---I---take---a---deep---breath.

  “Eir,---guide---my---hand,”---I---mutter---under---my---breath---as---my---hand---reaches---out---to---touch---the---stone.---Upon---making---contact,---information---immediately---enters---my---mind.

  You---are---now---a---level---96---[Priestess]

  You---have---gained---the---skill---[Delayed---Regeneration]

  [Delayed---Regeneration]:---After---casting---any---form---of---healing---skill,---the---target---will---temporarily---obtain---[Minor---Regeneration]---for---several---hours.

  You---have---gained---the---skill---[Healers---Flow]

  [Healers---Flow]:---Healing---skills---cast---by---you---will---radiate---outward---from---your---target---and---heal---others---nearby---for---a---fraction---of---the---power---of---the---original---skill.

  I---take---a---moment---to---let---the---information---sink---in,---my---eyes---widen---at---the---two---new---skills---I---had---obtained

  I---can't---believe---it.This---is---the---second---time---that---I---gained---two---skills---at---once.---The---first---time---was---actually---a---month---ago,---after---the---fight---with---that---Berosus---monster---which---Thoric---seems---to---be---borderline---obsessed---with...---and---I---don't---understand---why.

  Berosus---is---large,---ugly,---slow,---and---nowhere---near---as---reliable---as---Mule.---Even---now,---I---know---that---the---bony---Mule---is---behind---me,---watching---out---for---threats---to---my---life---like---a---guardian---angel.---If---only---my---summonable---angel---was---as---rel-

  Due---to---excessive---use---of---the---skill---[Healers---Authority]it---has---evolved---to---the---skill---[Tyrants---Authority].

  No…---no....---nonononononono

  “Janie!---I---need---to---get---another---class.---Any---recommendations?”---I---hear---a---voice---coming---from---besides---me,---but---my---mind---is---too---distraught---to---register---the---words---as---it---attempts---to---comprehend---the---message---I---just---read.

  A---loud---snapping---sound---close---to---my---ears---pulls---me---from---my---daze,---and---I---am---met---with---Thoric’s---fingers---snapping---in---my---face.

  Realizing---what---is---happening,---I---quickly---shake---my---head---to---get---my---thoughts---in---order---before---I---removing---my---hand---from---the---stone.

  “You---okay?”

  Thoric’s---voice---comes---from---besides---me.---His---words---are---caring,---with---a---hint---of---worry---in---them.---And---that---is,---for---some---reason,---all---I---need---to---respond---with---a---slow---nod.

  “Well---then,---if---you---are---actually---ok,---even---though---you---don't---look---ok,---mind---telling---me---what---new---skills---you---have---gained?”

  His---question---almost---makes---me---fall---back---into---my---melancholic---thoughts,---but---I---don't---allow---my---mind---to---wander---this---time.

  “S-s-skill---change,”---my---voice---cracks.---”My---[Healers---Authority]---skill---has---changed---to,”---I---start,---remembering---the---nickname---I---had---been---given,---which---had---now---become---the---name---of---my---new---skill,---“[Tyrants---Authority].”

  There---was---a---pause,---and---then,---much---to---my---annoyance,---I---watch---with---mounting---distress---as---the---[Hero]---starts---laughing---loudly---and---obnoxiously.---So---much---so---that---he---is---forced---to---use---the---stone---to---keep---himself---upright---and---not---fall---on---the---floor---from---laughing---too---hard.

  Oh,---dear---Eir,---why,---why---did---I---tell---him---this.

  I---look---around,---expecting---to---see---others---laughing---as---well,---but---instead---I---find---most---of---them---staring---at---Thoric---with---looks---of---bewilderment.---Even---the---civilians,---those---who---not---even---part---of---our---group,---are---looking---confused.---The---only---people---not---sharing---that---look---are---Dragken---and---Threm,---with---the---former---smiling---and---the---latter---shaking---her---head.

  Am---I---really---a---Tyrant?---I---don't---even---have---the---[Tyrant]---class.---Why---would---I---get---such---a---skill.---Was---I---really---so---forceful?---But---I---needed---to---be,---otherwise---more---would---die---and---I---wouldn't---have---been---able---to---save---as---many.---This---way---was---the---most---efficient!

  “Wh-why---are---you---looking---so---sad,”---Thoric---exclaims,---taking---deep---breaths---as---he---looks---at---me---with---a---beaming---smile.---“Your---skill---just---became---even---stronger,---right?---Before,---you---could---only---manipulate---the---other---[Healers]---with---it,---but---now---you---can---do---the---same---to---anyone.”

  Thoric---takes---a---deep---breath---and---regains---his---posture.---He---turns---his---head---to---me,---his---eyes---look---straight---into---mine,---beaming---with---confidence.

  For---some---reason,---I---can't---help---but---blush---at---that.

  “The---skill---may---sound---bad,---but---what---matters---is---what---you---use---it---for.---Think---about---the---good---you---can---do---with---it,---and---not---the---fact---that---you---can---now---manipulate---most---people---to---do---your---bidding.”

  “But,”---I---start---to---say,---but---he---just---raises---his---hand---to---me.

  “Think---about---it---later---Janie,---and---then---come---talk---to---me---if---you---still---have---questions,”---he---says,---and---then---points---towards---the---large---centaur---which---had---been---leading---us---the---entire---time.---“Arther---here---is---starting---to---get---annoyed---at---how---long---we---are---taking---and---at---the---distraction---you---have---made.”

  “But---I---didn-”

  “Later,”---he---says,---interrupting---me---as---he---looks---to---the---centaur---named---Arther,---“Sorry---for---taking---so---much---of---your---time,---shall---we---go---to---that---big---wooden---building---at---the---center---of---the---city?

  Arther---opens---his---mouth---to---say---something---but---seems---to---quickly---change---his---mind---as---he---turns---towards---the---city’s---center.

  “Come---then,---we---have---delayed---enough.”

  The---centaur---exclaims,---and---then---starts---to---trot---away---slowly.---Thoric---follows---after---him---a---beat---after.

  “But---it---wasn't---my---fault,”---I---whisper---to---no---one,---annoyed---that---he---had---put---the---blame---on---me.

  He---asked---the---question,---I---merely---answered!---How---was---I---supposed---to---know---he---was---going---to---start---laughing---hysterically?

  Grumbling---under---my---breath,---I---start---walking---too,---matching---my---pace---with---Threm,---who---takes---a---moment---to---look---at---me---before---giving---me---an---understanding---nod.

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  Probably---a---good---twenty---minutes---pass---before---we---finally---make---it---to---the---building.---All---I---can---do---is---agree---that---Tho
ric---had---been---right---when---he---said---that---the---building---was---big.---In---fact,---massive---might---be---a---more---apt---term---to---describe---its---size.---Granted,---it---only---has---two---floors---and---is---only---made---of---wood,---but---its---sheer---width---and---length---make---it---massive---in---both---size---and---scope.

  Which,---given---the---fact---that---Centaurs---are---also---large---in---size,---does---make---sense.---They’d---want---to---be---able---to---move---around---freely---with---plenty---of---space---in---a---building---like---this---after---all.