“Daniel, are you still leveling up?” Orrin watched as his friend’s eyes darted through the air, reading his Status. “That was an insane amount of experience.”
Daniel held up a finger. “Too. Much. Math.”
Orrin waited patiently, ignoring the whispers between the chancellors of Odrana. Finley hobbled over gingerly, holding his stomach.
“Thanks for the healing. I thought I was done for,” Finley said as he came to a stop next to Orrin. “You two are acting like you leveled. You’re not demons, right?”
Orrin shook his head. The rumor was that demons could kill other sentient beings for experience. That wasn’t the case for anyone else. “We’re human. We had a Quest. I’m surprised you know that much about demons, though. Not everyone knows as much. Are you still hurt? I can heal you more.”
Orrin raised his hand but Finley stopped him. “I’m fine. Full health but I keep expecting to feel the pain again. My body is clenching in anticipation of pulling a wound open that isn’t there anymore. It’s a weird feeling, I’ll tell you.”
Lady Tonsa spoke sharp words to Rhys and gestured. The young man pulled his sleeves down as he left her side and moved toward Orrin and Finley.
“Be kind. I’m not sure the boy has killed before,” Finley whispered quickly.
Rhys stopped and bowed a few feet from them.
“Thank you for saving our lives,” Rhys spoke while looking at the ground. “For the second time, no less. I don’t know what spells you cast but you gave me the opportunity to defend my family and my country. My family and I owe you and the [Hero] a debt that we can never repay.”
Orrin closed the gap and grabbed Rhys’s shoulder. He gently tugged him upright, waiting for Rhys to meet his eyes. “You fought well. None of us would be here if you hadn’t helped Daniel take that man down. There is no debt between friends.”
Rhys smiled in disbelief. “My mother would like to speak with you and Daniel when you are ready. She plans to send Niels with Lord Palmer to the front lines immediately and end all aggression with the elven community. From what we’ve learned here, reparations may be necessary.”
Orrin saw Lord Palmer standing nearby, eyes nervously scanning the broken door to freedom. He had his suspicions about what the man knew but they’d completed the Quest. Getting more involved in the politics of Odrana was not on his to-do list. “We’ll stay for a quick chat but we need to get back to Dey. The [Demon Lord] is still coming.”
Rhys went back to tell the remaining chancellors his words. Finley stretched his arms above his head and yawned.
“Tired?”
“I’ve been awake for almost two days, Orrin,” Finley complained. “I’m going to get someone to magic me home as soon as this is over. My father can take this job back. A good fight is one thing but all the political nonsense is boring.”
Daniel signaled he was done and motioned to the hallway outside the broken door.
“I’ll be back. Can you keep everyone from listening in on us?” Orrin asked. “I did save your life too.”
Finley rolled his eyes and pushed Orrin gently toward the exit. “No debt between friends or was that bullshit. Go on, I’ll keep them busy. Tell Daniel that I want a rematch before you kick off back to Dey. Would you also put in a good word with the Lords of Dey for me? I want to join the fight with the demons.”
“Sure, Fin.”
Daniel was waiting when Orrin approached.
“Did you get the Quest?” his friend whispered as soon as they were close.
“What? What Quest?” Orrin frantically searched his System messages but saw nothing.
“Damn it,” Daniel muttered. “Did you go up too many levels? Never mind, I used [Identify]. Good for you, man. I tried to share the level thirty Quest with you but I guess the experience from the war Quest hit too fast.”
Orrin’s eyes opened wide. “I missed out on an extra five points for stats?”
“You worked your Adminstirator mojo on the level twenty Quest, didn’t you?” Daniel smiled. “Here, I can share the level forty Quest.”
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Daniel, Hero Level 33, is sharing a Quest.
Quest: Obtain Level 40
Reward: [Hero Kit Level 5] Unavailable Reward
Would you like to accept it?
Yes or No
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
“Did you get all your weapon skills up to level four?” Orrin asked, jealous of his friend’s growth. “Level thirty-three is pretty good.”
Daniel confirmed his new skills with a wide grin. “I also have over a hundred ability points again. I had used most of mine up.”
“Me too. I was trying not to buy anything new while I was a prisoner. I was worried that the collar might fuck with them somehow or someone would learn I could buy more spells. What was that sphere thing you did?”This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Daniel’s hand clenched into a fist when Orrin mentioned the collar but his eyes shone bright when he asked about his new ability.
“It’s called [Black Hole]. It’s only at level one and uses almost my entire mana pool but it creates an impenetrable shield against magic attacks for me and any party member within range. Madi’s never heard of it before and I’m half-convinced I got it as an option after level twenty because of you,” Daniel spoke with increasing excitement. “I was getting jealous thinking about your [Ward] ability and then… poof… I have this new spell I can purchase. It kept Sanerris from hitting us. Any spell he cast gets sucked in and disappears. I was surprised that the Rhys kid was within range. I thought he was too far away.”
Orrin thought back to the magic that Arvin had cast at Rhys. It hadn’t disappeared in the fizzled way the attacks against Daniel had. “I think my new ward protected him, not your new spell. He was behind me by a bit when you cast it.”
Daniel cocked his head to the side. “Your new [Ward]?”
Orrin explained the best he could the appearance of [Time Ward] in the middle of the fight. “Maybe I was just lucky again. It felt like I could see the magic.”
Daniel punched Orrin on the arm. “I told you to pay better attention in school. You’re a genius. You’ve got to teach me to see mana, too.”
Orrin let out a sigh of relief. Unconsciously, he had worried that Daniel might resent him taking his thunder. “Your spell saved the day. If Arvin had frozen us all in time…”
“Rule one is survive. We made it through,” Daniel squinted playfully at Orrin. “Now if someone would stop breaking rule two and stay by my side…”
Orrin huffed in feigned annoyance. “So what did you end up increasing? I’m betting more strength for the meathead jock.”
Daniel shook his head. “Take a look. This meathead is learning.”
Orrin used [Identify]
<table>
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<td width="235">
Name: Daniel
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<td width="198">
Class: Hero (Level 33) 6,305/27,000
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114 Ability Points
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HP: 436/440
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MP: 20/150
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Strength: 30
</td>
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Constitution: 22
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Dexterity: 20
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<td width="235">
Will: 15
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<td width="198">
Intelligence: 10
</td>
<td width="150">
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
He’s evened out his stats a bit but still avoiding more intelligence. Orrin considered Daniel’s build. It didn’t make sense for him to use spells that often, focusing more on his stamina-based skills.
“I’m proud of you. It must have been hard to make the smart choice and not dumb every point into strength.”
Daniel beat his fists on his chest, making gorilla noises. “I’m dumb and strong. Only Orrin is smart.”
Orrin held up his hands. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. You can make good choices on your own.”
A flash of something went through Daniel’s eyes but he forced a fake smile. “Now that you’re back in the party, I’ll never increase anything but strength.”
Orrin remembered too late Madi’s story of the townsfolk outside the elven forest. An awkward silence settled between them.
“I can [Teleport] us back. Lady Tonsa wanted to speak with you before we go.”
Daniel sighed. “This is why I keep Madi around. She keeps the fans at bay.”
Orrin ignored Daniel’s comment and led him back into the room.
Rhy’s mom spent the next hour apologizing to Daniel and Orrin for the failures of their council to see through the deception of the Sanerris family. She made comments at times that sounded like an attempt to foster a closer relationship with Daniel and Dey in turn but Orrin had decided to let Daniel do the talking.
Daniel did no talking.
Lord Wellan’s chuckles became more pronounced as time went on until he interrupted Lady Tonsa. “Oyinlola, that’s enough. He is smart enough to not commit to anything. Arvin destroyed our chances of a good relationship with the [Hero]. Perhaps in time, we can prove ourselves.”
Orrin nudged Daniel.
Daniel sighed. “I have little faith in your country. It’s true. That doesn’t mean that the people of Dey would turn away help. The [Demon Lord] is coming to attack. We have begun our planned response and have elven forces training anyone who can lift a spear or shoot a bow. Maybe you can reach out to Lord Catanzano and find a way to redeem yourselves.”
Finley crossed his arms. “I’ll fight with you, Daniel.”
Rhys peeked out from behind his mom. “I’ll see to it that Goldenhall sends fighters to Dey. Maybe I’ll come too.”
“You will do no such thing,” Rhys’s mother said sternly. “You are in enough trouble as it is.”
Orrin coughed to hide his laugh. Rhys might be about the same age as them, but his mom treated him like a child. Niels tightened his lips, not willing to call out the man who had saved his life and the lives of nearly everyone in the room.
“Your son is a decent fighter. Don’t hide him away. If we fail at turning the demons back at the Pass, you might need him to defend Odrana when the armies turn their sights further east,” Daniel spoke calmly, ignoring Orrin.
Lord Palmer spoke next. “If you can keep my men separate from the elves, I can send scouts out and bolster your main fighting force as well.”
Lord Wellan, not to be upstaged, stepped in front of Palmer. “We in Ceraun will send food and a few small herds to Dey, free in their time of need. Any volunteers to fight for Asmea from my lands will be given a stipend for their time away.”
The two men began one-upping each other, offering more each turn. Daniel clapped once. A loud echo tore through the room.
“Discuss with Lord Catanzano what is needed. I appreciate the gestures. We need to be going but what are your plans for… her?”
Orrin glanced at the still-unconscious form of Lady Sanerris. Anabella, his captor, looked smaller with the collar around her neck. He shivered, still not fully comfortable with using the evil thing. He reached up and rubbed his own neck.
“She will be tried for her actions and likely those of her son. Despite her power, she committed treason. Her sentence will be death,” Lord Wellan said, sorrow in his voice. “It will be a loss. Anabella Sanerris pushed our magical education system to great heights.”
“She also helped kidnap Orrin and enslaved him,” Daniel seethed. “She killed more to cover her tracks.”
Orrin remembered the men who’d tried to kill him and shivered.
“She will answer for all her crimes,” Lady Tonsa answered Daniel’s unspoken question. “But we cannot execute her twice.”
Orrin briefly considered bringing up an argument against capital punishment but fought his urge to argue. This was a world of magic, intrigue, and new situations. He was learning his old way of thinking wasn’t going to keep him alive. He cast [Purify] on everyone he had buffed as he shook hands with Lord Wellan and Niels.
Finley and Rhys exchanged a few goodbyes with Orrin before the friends left the building. As soon as they were free from the teleport wards in the room, Orrin used his spell. A few more casts of [Teleport] and Orrin stood in front of the Catanzano’s manor with Daniel. The dark sky would hold the night captive for another hour or two but soon the sun would rise and the city of Dey would start a new day. Orrin hoped it had more than a few new days left.
“What are you thinking?” Daniel asked quietly, watching his friend closely. “How are you feeling?”
Orrin hadn’t turned on [Mind Bastion] for a while. He liked the rush of emotions he felt as they walked the cobbled street. The joy and relief of freedom. The worry about the future. The solid friendship at his side. The despair at the death of such a powerful man who could have been a strong ally.
“I’m tired,” Orrin answered truthfully.
Daniel stopped their walk by grabbing Orrin’s arm. “If you need anything, I’m here. Madi and Brandt are as well.”
Orrin scuffed his toe against a raised stone in the street. “There is something… but no it can wait.”
“What do you need, O?”
Orrin looked up at his friend, the concern evident. Orrin almost felt bad when he answered.
“Can we get some coffee?”