by J. T. Wright
“Probably?” Dirk rolled his eyes, “probably? How about you let me be the Defender, and you be the Scout, Allen! My way works just fine.”
“True enough; I guess I’m not thinking today.” Alistern wasn’t going to argue with this idiot, and these noble brats had no reason to listen to “Allen.” They probably wouldn’t listen, even if they knew him as Lieutenant Alistern.
Besides, the Duke had other orders for him. The fog had cleared with the minotaur’s death, revealing a massive cavern, stretching out around them. While the rest of the party congratulated themselves and moved to examine the beast’s drops, Alistern walked away, along the wall.
The room would be safe for now. A Floor Guardian never spawned twice for the same group in one day, and other monsters never entered the boss’s office. Adventurers often took this opportunity to rest, heal up, and eat.
Alistern didn’t have time for any of that today. If he was lucky, he’d find what he needed here. The cavern was almost a perfect circle. He continued walking the wall until he was halfway between the room’s entrance and the exit, which led to the next floor, before he found an area on the rough stone wall that was colored slightly different from the rest.
“Hey, Allen, we’ve got the drops, you ready?” Kirstin walked up beside him. She cast a longing glance at the entrance to the sixth floor but didn’t approach it. Best not to tempt oneself.
Alistern tapped the cavern wall. “Ore deposit.”
“What?” Kirstin stared at him, puzzled.
“It occurs to me because I’m so smart,” Alistern spoke slowly, “that we are missing out on a lot of money. We’ve passed four ore deposits today alone. That’s cash and Core if we hand the ore in as Guild quests, that we’re just giving up!”
“Okay, but none of us have the Mining Skill,” Kirstin said doubtfully. Mining did not fit her Adventurer’s world view.
“Not even Metal Head over there? If he’s not going to invest in agility, so he can hit our enemies, he might as well use all that strength to pound the walls!” Allen looked to make sure Dirk had heard his observation.
“Hey! I hit stuff, I hit stuff all the time! And as for pounding, I gave a good pounding to your…”
He choked off the rest as he caught sight of Lyra glaring at him. “I’m a Defender, not a Miner.”
“Then, what about your Summons, Kirstin?” Alistern hurried ahead as he saw her face darken. “Hear me out. We need to make more money if we want to train and upgrade our equipment… and drink, we don’t drink nearly enough… and your Summons is going to waste. If he can learn Mining, he’d at least earn us some coin.”
He was talking too fast; would she still take the bait?
Kirstin’s expression turned thoughtful, if no less disgusted. After a long minute, “I’ll think about it later.”
Alistern smiled. “Well, that’s all I ask. It’s your toy.”
**********
The next day, during the midday break, Trent found himself studying his Status while he ate one of his apples. He’d thought that physical training would be put on hold while they traveled but discovered he couldn’t be more wrong.
It turned out Sergeant Cullen was an early riser, a very early riser. And if the Sergeant was awake, so should everyone else be. Once everyone was awake, they might as well exercise until the sun was up. And since they weren’t in any real hurry, how about an hour of weapons practice once it was light enough to see clearly. That was just good healthy fun, wasn’t it?
As a consequence of this bit of fun, Trent’s Strength Attribute went up another Point. This pleased him, but he didn’t feel any stronger, nor had his Health or Stamina gone up. What exactly did Strength do?
Standing nearby, Tersa noticed Trent gazing into space. She’d stayed close to him all day, figuring someone needed to look out for him. She enjoyed his company, too, for some inexplicable reason. He was quiet and he almost never laughed at her jokes, but he listened, and that was enough for her.
“Whacha doing? Status gazing?” she asked, with a smirk.
“Yeah,” Trent blinked and replied, “My Strength went up, and I was hoping my Stamina would go up too, but it didn’t.”
“Course not, you gotta raise Constitution to bring up Stamina.” Tersa squinted and nodded her head knowingly. “Con is hard to raise though, you gotta take damage, feel the pain, you know? Best to put a couple of free Points in it when you Level. That’s what I do. 2 Points to Con every Level.”
“Ah, Corporal Tersa, there you are,” Cullen’s voice floated to Tersa’s ears, her eyes popped open wide, and she straightened out of her habitual slouch.
“Ahem, Corporal? Sergeant?” Tersa hoped she had just been promoted, but she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like where this was heading. Where had the man come from anyway? No one knew his actual Class, guessing what it might be was a popular pastime amongst the Guard and the recruits. Smart money said Berserker or Legionnaire, but Tersa placed her bet firmly on Assassin.
“Oh, I’m sorry, is it not Corporal, have you been promoted to Sergeant already?” Cullen spoke sarcastically, as he stepped around to stand in front of the sweating Recruit, he smiled down at her. “Forgive me for not congratulating you!”
“Umm, no, Sergeant. I’m still a Recruit. I….” she stuttered. No, this was not looking good. Had Trent just taken a step back? And after all she’d done to look out for him!
“No, that can’t be right,” Cullen said, shaking his head. “I just heard you offering advice on Attribute Point distribution, and I know, deep in my soul, that no one in my Guard, who isn’t a trainer, would do something so very stupid.”
Tersa’s mouth was dry, and her tongue didn’t seem to be working, which was fortunate, as the Sergeant was still talking. “It’s strange, though, because I’m pretty sure I heard you say you invested Points in Con. And no one stupid enough to put two Points in Con every fucking Level would ever be promoted past stable hand in my fucking Guard!!”
Still staring straight at Tersa, Cullen suddenly called out to a Corporal, lounging on the bench of the wagon. “Corporal Francis! Is a lecture on Attribute distribution no longer a part of Recruit training?”
Francis pushed his helmet back with one finger and answered lazily, “Of course, Sergeant, it’s part of basic orientation, practically the first thing you’re taught.” The Corporal didn’t even bother straightening up, he knew he wasn’t in trouble.
“Then it seems Recruit Tersa does not have an excuse for her ignorance after all.” Sergeant Cullen held Tersa in place with a glare for a few moments longer, before shouting, “Everyone gather round and form up, its lesson time!”
The six recruits rushed to form a line in front of the Sergeant, as they bit back groans. Lesson time usually meant mass punishment. Trent hesitated, unfamiliar with any of the terms that were just employed, then joined the line and mirrored the recruits straight-backed posture.
“Normally, at this time, you would all be pushing until you collapsed!” the Sergeant yelled. “So, you can thank the gods that Recruit Trent here has an honest excuse for ignorance, and I’m choosing to extend it to you!”
Cullen paused and took a breath before continuing in a milder but still stern tone. “Classes and Attributes and how they apply to one another! You should all be making careful study of this before you ever Level up.
“Trent, you wonder about the connection between Strength and Stamina. That’s smart; most don’t realize they’re related. Strength is generally thought of as how much you can lift and how hard you can hit. This is accurate, but it also determines how slowly your Stamina drains, and how fast it recovers. If it wasn’t for Stamina-draining Skills, a high Strength Attribute would mean you could get by with a Stamina pool no bigger than ten.
“All Attributes are related in one way or another, and none should be neglected. A lot of heavy weapon and armor users think they don’t need Agility. They think Agility is about speed and flexibility and that’s it. But the truth is Agilit
y also determines how well you can use your Strength. Lifting a heavy rock is impressive. Throwing a heavy rock accurately enough to crush your enemies at fifty yards? Much more impressive.
“Dexterity is commonly believed to be hand-eye coordination. True, but a better way to describe it is fine-motor control. Agility for big muscles, Dexterity for small. Trust me, recruits! There is very little as scary as a heavy weapon being wielded by someone with high Dexterity. An axe moving so swiftly and accurately that you can barely see it… I leave it to you to see the value in that.
“Intelligence and Wisdom, beyond determining Mana pool and recovery, also affect how fast you master Skills and how effective you are in utilizing them.
“This leaves Constitution, or Con, as those that like to bastardize the common tongue, call it. Constitution determines your Health and Stamina, it’s true, but it is the least versatile of the Attributes and favored mostly by those who fear death and pain.”
Cullen’s voice actually turned gentle, leaving the recruits to wonder if they’d passed out and were dreaming. “These are reasonable fears, but it is unwise to make decisions based on these fears. What could be wrong with more Health and more resistance to damage?
“Nothing. So, by all means, invest heavily in Constitution; neglect the other Attributes. But, before you do, think ahead.
“The most efficient way to increase your Health and Stamina is to Level up because Leveling up means specialized or advanced Classes. An advanced Defensive type Class offers bonuses to Health and Stamina. A holder of these Classes can have a thousand HP at Level 6 with just five Points in Constitution.
“It’s fine to drop a Point in Constitution every couple of Levels; more Health, less pain, always good.” Cullen paused and looked around to see if his words were sticking. Then his voice rose sharply. “But if I ever hear any of you bragging about putting two Points in Constitution every Level, I will personally drag you to the drill field and demonstrate that no matter how big a number may look, you are not invincible!”
Cullen whirled and stomped off, ordering everyone to mount their horses on the double. Trent promptly fed his mare her share of the afternoon apples and climbed into the saddle.
As the squad formed up around the wagon, he rode close to Tersa on her left. She smiled at him gratefully. He may have stepped back, at first, but considering how everyone would be avoiding her like she had the plague for at least twenty-four hours, it was good to have him there now.
**********
Kirstin prowled the halls of the Keep. Her mood was foul. It always seemed to be lately. Distracted one moment, angry the next, she had to watch her tongue constantly to keep from shouting at people for no reason. At least she had Allen’s suggestion to blame for her current lack of composure.
She had tried not to think about her Summons these last few days. Every time she did, she found herself dwelling on how useless it was and how much she regretted binding it. She should be happy with what Allen had pointed out – that it might be put to work – but she wasn’t.
She knew she had to, though. Her party needed more money. They needed to complete Guild quests and level up. The Summons might offer them a way to accomplish all those goals.
Despite that, Kirstin would almost rather give in, accept more restrictions, and use her family’s money and connections, than train her Summons. Being an Adventurer was supposed to be a way for her, Joel, Matt, and Dirk to create their own way, but it was proving harder than they’d thought. The temptation to depend on their nobility, rather than their ability got stronger daily. She had to at least try Allen’s plan first.
That was why she was angrily searching the Keep at present. Michael had her Summons, and Michael was nowhere to be found. She finally broke down and asked where he was, only to find out he was in his office, a room she was certain he never used! It was as if he was hiding from her.
Ranchell was just exiting the door to the Guard Captain’s office when Kirstin reached it. The Lieutenant smiled and winked at her before sweeping pass, leaving the door ajar. Kirstin forced herself to smile back, Ranchell was good people, after all. Then she entered without knocking.
Michael was studiously examining a document when Kirstin plopped down in a chair in front of his desk. He didn’t look up, not even when she sighed loudly. He was going to be purposely difficult, it seemed.
“Oh, Michael,” she said in a singsong voice.
“What is it, Kris?” he asked, still not looking at her. Older brothers could be such asses.
She prepared her snottiest voice and then dropped it, and said defeatedly, “Are we still fighting?”
Michael set down the paper and frowned at her. “That depends. If you’re in trouble and need help, no.”
“I am sorry I…” Kirstin didn’t know what she was sorry for. She knew why Michael had been upset, but it hardly seemed that big of a deal.
It had been at first, she would admit. The sight of the Summons crawling in the dirt had shocked her. The shock had worn off in no time and been replaced by aggravation, but she could remember it.
“I’ve been in such a rotten mood lately, but I don’t know why,” she finally managed. “I want to make peace, though.”
She gave him a hopeful look. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Es’ Trent.”
His pronunciation was horrible, but she recognized the word and gave a start. “Where did you hear that word?”
“From the boy. He speaks Elvish. Didn’t you know?” Michael said in mock astonishment.
Kirstin’s jaw dropped. “That’s impossible!”
“Not really. Summons are affected by their masters as much as the masters are affected by them.” Michael lectured, “You really should have studied them before you bound one.
“You decided your Summons was useless and named him so. I warned you not to say anything foolish. Now you have a bond with a person, a bond connected directly to your soul, and you think he’s not worth your time. You want to know why you’re distracted and irritable? You have a Summons with a dropping Loyalty Rating who’s begging to be used, that’s why!”
Michael exhaled slowly. “And he is a person, Kris. A Person! Not a tool or an item or a weapon! A person with nearly limitless possibilities, and if you can’t wrap your head around that…”
He shrugged and watched her try to accept what he was saying. Kirstin wasn’t a stupid person. Stubborn and impatient, but not stupid. Just maybe they’d be able to salvage this situation. He preferred that Trent stay at Al’drossford by choice, but this bond he had with Kirstin was the more reliable option.
Kirstin rubbed the heel of her hand against her forehead. Michael was smart; he knew things that she didn’t. She knew he probably talked this over with their father, who was smarter than the both of them.
Was she really being influenced by her… the boy, Trent? It seemed possible. She’d never had such trouble letting go of disappointment in the past. This distraction, this ache, had to come from somewhere, and the timing was right.
“What do I do?” she asked, looking at her brother.
“You go for a ride, clear your head,” Michael told her. “I suggest you head North. The fire lake is nice this time of year. Sergeant Cullen is there conducting training. I think you’ll find your distraction fading as you get closer.
“The rest will take some soul searching,” he sat back in his chair, “but if you take an honest look at the boy, forget your assumptions long enough to give him a fair assessment…”
Kirstin sat with Michael in his office for a long time that night. Talking about Summons and responsibilities and a way out of this mess.
The next morning, she rode North with her party to settle matters one way or another.
Chapter 12
Trent had decided at some point during the last week that he liked horses and riding. Time spent on his mare’s back became the most relaxing part of his day.
Not that any part of travel with Sergeant Cullen could be called relaxing. The
re was always something to learn, some duty to be performed, and odd quests popped up almost constantly.
Perform morning exercises! Complete sword drills! Listen and remember everything the Sergeant tells you! One after another they came, offering between five and twenty Core points, and threatening vague and disturbing punishments if he failed them. He never did.
After seven days, he earned three hundred Experience Points. He picked up a few Skills like animal care and the basic weapon Skills for short swords and daggers. He’d also gained a Point each in Agility, Dexterity, and Strength.
And now, after a week of travel, they arrived at their destination. Not that Trent knew where they were. Oh, he could see their location, relative to other places he’d been on his Map, but considering his limited world travel, that didn’t mean much. All he knew was that this destination wasn’t quite where he thought they’d end up.
They had seen several small towns and villages during the trip. Seen and avoided, to prevent distraction, the Sergeant said. Somewhere along the way, Trent had figured they would reach a town or outpost, where they would stay while training.
Now here they were. Nowhere! A vast, nearly empty grassland spread out in all directions. They’d left the road behind hours ago. All that could be seen was rolling hills and grass, broken by two small groves of short trees. Trent thought there was something blue to the North, but he couldn’t make out what it was.
“Form up, Recruits!” Cullen barked, dropping off his horse.
This order was a familiar one now, and Trent scrambled to dismount and obey with the others. Soon they all formed a line facing the Sergeant, Trent and Tersa next to each other on the end.
“Welcome to your home for the next two weeks, or three weeks if you’re lucky,” Cullen stated after they’d found their places. “Water will be provided for bathing, which you will make use of! There will still be bread and cheese available twice a day, but if you want something else,” he spread his arms wide to encompass the area, “there’s plenty to be found.”