Wavewasreadingthelocationofthenextpieceforthedaggers.(Whatreally!?)


    Wavewasstunnedanddeepinthought.Willowlooksathimbeforeinquiringabout


    thenextlocation.“SowheredoesitsaywehavetogonextWave?”Wavepoints


    abovehishead.Everyoneinthepartylooksatwhereheispointing.“Howon


    earthcouldwenothavenoticedthissooner?”Skypressesthepartyforsome


    sortofanswer.Auroratotheparty.“It’sbeautiful,buthowdowegetupthere?”


    WillowlooksatVioletandask.“Evenifwecouldgetupthere,hasanyoneelse


    noticedtheotherproblem?”Violetrespondstoher.“Youmeanthefactthat,aside


    Fromitbeingafloatingisland,thatitisupsidedown?”Wavelooksateveryone


    beforegivingthematheory.“Maybeithasitsowngravitationalpull?”The


    partynods,itseemslikeitwasasolidtheory.


    Wave,Sky,Aurora,andWillowtrytolevitate,buttheirlevitationonlyreaches


    abouthalfway.“Nogoodhuh?”Skyremarks.Thesunsooncastashadowon


    oneofthesandduns.Itisatthismomentthattheshadowpuppyusesitsshadow


    travelabilitytoteleportitselfontothefloatingdesert.Assoonasitwalksaway


    fromitsshadowitstartstofallfromthesky.VioletpointstoWave,asheistrying


    togethisshadowinlinewiththeshadowpuppy,andwithclarityinhervoicespeaks.


    “WellIguessthatmakesyourtheorywrong.”Wavecannotarguewiththatstatement.


    “Nowwhatshouldwedo?”AuroraprettymuchdemandingananswerfromWave.


    Wavemakesthemostreasonablestatement.“Itmightbewiseforustoheadback


    tothevillage,andwecancompleteourquestatthesametime.”Allthepartymembers


    feelthatisthebestoptionforthetimebeing.BeforeleavingSkypointsoutonemore


    thing.“Ifitisnotgravity,whyhasthatsandnotcomepouringdownonus?”None


    hadanyanswertohisquestion.


    Fightingtheirwaythroughmoreshadowpuppiesthepartyhadtodealwith


    Violetsflamesoncemore.TheheatwasmakingeveryonebutVioletuncomfortable.


    Waveusedbasiclightningkickwhenhefoundsomepuppiesnowherenearanyshadows.


    Aurorawasexperimentingwithherbasiciceandcreatedanewskill.Frostpunch,itwas


    formedwhensheputiceshardsatthetipofeachofherfingers.Basicallywhenshewould


    punchshewouldcrushtheiceshardsasshestrucktheenemy,andthiswouldcauseice


    dusttobedirectedforwardsontotheenemy,whichcausedicedamagealongwiththe


    damagefromherfist.


    SkyandShadowwereusingtheirpetskill,toattackmultiplepuppiesatthesametime.


    Willowwasattackingthepuppieswithherknifeskill.Willowhadthemosttrouble


    becauseshedidnothaveanymagicskillsshecouldusetoattacktheshadowpuppies.


    Oneoftheshadowpuppies,almostknockedherintotheinfernothatViolethad


    created.


    Restingforthenightthepartytookalongneededbreak.Travelingthisfaronfoot


    washard,theyneededsomesortofmount.Sureoneofthepartymemberscould


    alwaysrideonShadow,butwhatabouttherestofthem.


    Wavefellasleepandwasnowdreaming.Hewasinhisherbalgardenwithhis


    petdog,hewasabouttwelveyearsold.Hismotherhadtaughthimabout


    allthevarietiesofherbsandwhattheywhereusedfor.Hisdogwaslickinghis


    check,asathankyouforlettingherhaveaverysmallpieceofginger.Wavewakes


    upandtearsareflowingdownhiseyes.Thiswasthefirstthinghetrulyremembered


    abouthimself,tobaditwassogeneric.ShadowseeingthetearsinWave’seyes


    licksthemaway.ToShadow’ssurpriseWaveswiftlyputshisarmsaroundhisnext


    andtightlyholdshim.ThisisasensationthatShadowhasneverexperiencedbefore,


    butforsomereasonitfeelsreallynice.“Shadow,Iamsogladwetamedyouright


    Now.”WavestateswhilepettingthetopofShadow’shead.Thisisalsoanew


    sensationtoShadowbuthelikesthisoneaswell.


    Morninghasarrivedandeveryoneispackinguptheirtents.Inthedistancethey


    seesomething,orisitalotofsomething.“Isthatsomeone,runningfromahoard


    ofmonsters?”Willowquestions.Everyoneistakenabackwhentheyseethat


    Willowisright.Thereisawomanrunningfromahoardofaboutsixty,what


    lookstobetigerswithbatwings.Herhairisthecolorofthemoon,sheiswearing


    adarkgreenballroomdress,andhereyesareadeepcrimsonred.“Help!Idonot


    wanttodie!”Theycantellbythewaythatsheisbreathingthatallherhealth


    relatedstatesarelow,thatwouldexplainwhysheisscreamingthatrightnow.


    Waveasktheparty.“Doyouguysthinkweshouldhelpher?”Willowisthe


    firsttoanswer.“Ithinkthatisourbestchoicerightnow.”Skyagreesandsimple


    Says.“Evenifwedidnottryandhelpher,wewouldbeblockedbythosemonsters.”


    AuroralooksatVioletandtellsher.“Igooduseagoodtestofmynewskill.”


    Violetreplieswithonesimpleword.“Fire!”Withthatthepartyheadedintocombat.


    Thetigersattackedeachmemberinthepartybycirclingaroundthemintheair.


    AsoneofthetigersflewforwardstowardsWave,twootheroneslaunched


    breathattacks.Wavethoughttheywouldusethesametypeofattacksasone


    another,howeveroneofthemreleasedafirebreath,whiletheotherreleased


    abreathoflightning.Wavebarelyhastimetododgetheseattacks.Heuses


    hisbasiclightningkicktochargeattheenemyinfrontofhim,whileusing


    themomentumtododgeaswell.


    SkyandShadowaretryingtheirbesttouseartofthewolveswhile


    alsotakinginanychancetheygettodogethosebreathattacks.They


    AredoingalostbetterthanWave,whoisfightingalone.


    WillowandAuroracreateshadowsteamforbothcoveranddamage


    totheflyingtigers.Willowcutsone,thenbitesdownonitspaw


    whichstunsitslightlygivingAuroraachancetouseherfrostpunch


    Skill.


    Violetisnexttothewomanwhomaskedfortheirhelp.Sheisswinging


    herswordwhichiscreatingfireballsanddisorientingtheflyingtigersin


    frontofthem.ThewomaniscreatingboulderswithhermagicasViolet’s


    fireballsaredistractingthem.Thebouldersarebeingtossedontopoftheir


    heads.


    Waveusesallofhismptounleasharainofstandardlightningdirected


    atalltheflyingtigersabovehim.Thisisenoughtokillthembuthe


    Stillhastheoneinfrontofhimselftodealwith.Wavesoonalsoruns


    outofchiforhisbasiclightningkick.Wavecannotgetcloseenough


    toattackwithhisclawshedoesnotknowwhattodo.Suddenlyan


    ideahitshim.Wavepullsouttheironearringsfromhisbackpack.


    Usinghissparkskill,whichusesmanaandnotmp,herunsthe


    sparkinacircuitthroughtheearrings.Justasthechargeisabout


    tofinishhetossthemforwards,astonotelectrocutehimself.


    Theearringslanddirectlyintotheflyingtigersmouth.Wave


    seessparksstarttoflydownthetigersthroat,asitispushedSupport the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    backwardsfromtheelectriccurrent.Thetigerisnownothing


    butasmolderingcorpse.


    SkyandShadowfinallymanagetofinishofftheirgroupofflying


    Tigers.Theyhadusedtheirownbreathattacksagainstthem.They


    skillfullyluredonetigerintoattackingthemdirectly,whilemaking


    suretheywouldbeinthepathofthebreathattack,whilethetiger


    infrontofthemhadnoidea.Withperfecttimingtheywoulddoge


    theattackleavingthetigerinfrontofthemtotakeontheirallies


    wrath.


    WillowandAuroraarenowbothlevitating,andholdingone


    ofeachothershands,inordertousetheforceofrotationto


    spininmidair.Withtheirotherhandeachofthemarereleasing


    theirindividualmagic.Thisendedupbecominganewparty


    skill,Nature’smarrygoround.Thiswasenoughtofinishoff


    theirgroupoftigers.


    Violetandthewomanattackedtheirgroupoftigersby


    sendingherbouldersintotheairwhileVioletcrushed


    themintopieceswithhersword.Thismadesmallrocks


    bepeltedtothetigersanddidenoughrelativedamage


    tofinishthemoff.


    “Thankyousomuchforsavingmefromthoseawfultigers!”


    thewomanwasclearlygratefulfortheirhelp.“Ihavebeen


    soloingforalongtimenow,andhavebeenlookingfora


    Partytojoin.IfyoudonotmindmayIjoinyours?”Thewoman


    askedwithpleadingeyes.Wavelooksathispartywhoall


    nodtheirheadsbeforeansweringher.“Wewouldbehappyto


    haveyouinourparty.IamWaveDroplet,ThisisWillowBirth.


    HeisSkySoar-high.ThatovertheirisAuroraRose-song.The


    oneyouhadbeenfightingalongsideisVioletPillar.”“Niceto


    meetyouallmynameisTempleRaise.”


    <table style="background-color: #049cb0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    TempleRaisejoinedyourparty


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ThepartynoticedthatTemple’shealthstatswereaboutashighas


    theirown.Howeverwhatsurprisedthemwasallherenergy


    relatedstatsweredoubletheirown.Violettookoutahealing


    itemandwaspassingittoTemple,butbeforeshecouldgrasp


    itonelastflyingtigercamedowntowardsherandhitherhard


    allherhealthstatsdroppedtozero.“Great,wehaveno


    ideawhereherre-spawnpointis.”Violethasatoneof


    uneasinessasshespeaks.Whathappensnextshockstheparty.


    InsteadofTemple’sbodydisappearingherskinturnsanice


    blue,andherhairbecomespaler,thenshestandsup.“How!?


    What!?When?Areyouforreal!?”Everyoneshoutsatthesame


    time.Thepartyissoconfusedatthemoment.Whatisconfusing


    themevenmoreisthat,eventhoughsheisstandingandmoving


    around,herhealthstatshavenotgoneabovezero.Astheyare


    inshockthetigerattacksTempleagain.Theynownotice


    thatherenergyrelatedstatsaregoingdownfromthedamage.


    Theygetreadytofightthetiger.Sinceitisthewholeparty


    againstonetiger,itisdeadinnotime.WavestaringatTemple


    askher.“Howintheworldareyoustillstanding?”Templeanswers


    hisquestion.“Itisfrommytalent,risefromthedead.Itgivesme


    asecondchanceatlifebutitusesmyenergystatsinplaceofmy


    healthstats.Icanstilluseskillsbut,theirisahugerisk.”


    WavethinksaboutWillow’sshadowflameskillwhichuses


    heraura.(Sothereareotherweirdskillsandtalentsbesides


    Willow’s.)OfcourseWavehasnoideawhatWillow’stalent


    is,andkindoffearstoask.Templecontinues.“Ireturnto


    normalaftersleepingataninnorinatent.”


    Astheyareheadingforthevillage,Auroratakesoutallofthe


    energyhealingitemsthatshehadgotfromthecavernofportals


    andgavethemalltoTemple.Templethankedherandgave


    heraflowerringinreturn.


    Duringthetimeittakestogettothevillage,thepartyexplains


    toTemplewhattheyhavebeenuptoandwhereitistheyare


    tryingtogonext.“Ifyouaskmeitsoundslikethesandmay


    bemagnetic.”ThepartyisawestruckbyTemplesstatement.


    Oncebackinthevillagethepartyfinishesthequest.Everyone


    butTempleisgiventherewardofthirtystonesofmagicalforce.


    Aurorafindstheskillmerchantandtradestenforstandardice.


    Therestofthepartyistwentyshortforthenextrank,andneed


    askillunderstandingoffifteenbeforetheycanupgradeanyways.


    WavetalkstoViolet.“Ithinkweshouldfindsomemagneticgemstones.”


    VioletnodsassheunderstandswhatitisWaveisthinking.Meanwhile


    therestofthepartylooksforanycluesonhowtoflygreatheights.


    VioletandWavewerewonderingthroughaminebythevillage.Thiswas


    likelytheminetheblacksmithusedforhiswork.“Doyouthinkwe


    canreallyfindanyinhearViolet?”Wavewasofcoursereferringto


    anysortofmagneticminerals.“Iamuncertain,howeveritisworth


    theshot.”Violetcommentstohim.


    Wavebroughtapieceofironwithhiminordertoconfirmif


    thegemstonetheyfoundwasmagnetic.SinceViolethadthe


    gemloreskillitwouldbeslightlyeasiertofindsomecompared


    totryingtofindsomeonhisown.


    Nearawaterfallinthemine.Waveplacedhishandsbehindthe


    waterfallandfindsalargeboulder.(Couldthisbeit?)Wavethinksto


    himself.LookingatVioletheishopingshewillconfirmhisthoughts.


    VioletsoftlyspeaksintoWave’sear.“Thismaybeit,tryingbreaking


    thisboulderwithyourhammer.”Wavestartspoundingthehammer


    againstthelargeboulder.Frombehindthemthesoundhasawakened


    asleepingpileofgoo.


    Thegoowondersovertothetwopartymembers.Itdoesnotgettoclose,


    butinsteadblockstheironlyformofescapebystandinginthedoorway


    andwaitingforthemtocomeout.


    Shiftinghisweightfromonefoottotheother,Wavefinallymanagesto


    breaktheboulderintopieces.Wavepicksuponeofthepiece,andplaces


    Itneartheiron.Themineralstucktoittightly.“Eureka!”Waveyellsas


    hepullsthenewgemstoneawayfromtheiron.VioletandWaveboth


    lookoverapieceofthegemstonetofindoutmore.


    <table style="background-color: #049cb0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Magneticirongained


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #049cb0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Magneticirondescription:apieceofironthathasbecomemagnetic


    afteryearsofsubtleexposuretoyearsofelectriccurrent.Magnetsare


    knowninhistorytohavemanyuses.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Wavelooksattheironhehadinhishandbeforebreakingtheboulder


    Andthinks.(SoIcouldhavemademyownmagneticmineral.)Violet’s


    gemloreskillunderstandinghaswentupbyonefromdiscoveringa


    uniquetypeofmineral.


    BothViolet,andWavegotoheadouttheexitoftheroom,onlyto


    bestoppedintheirtracksatwhatisinfrontofthem.Alargepurple


    slimeisblockingtheirpath.Theroomistosmallsotheydonothave


    alotofroomtofight.


    WavetellsViolet.“Whateveryoudo,donotuseanyfireinthissmall


    Space.”Violetagreesnotto.Violetquicklypunchestheslime,inwhat


    sheguessesisitsstomach.Thetextureoftheslimefeelslikemelted


    marshmallows,butgivesoffaheatthatislikeahumansbodyheat.


    Violethasabitoftroublegettingherhandoutfromitatfirst.


    OnceViolethasgottenherhandout,Waveattacksitwithabeardash.


    SincetheclawsaresharptheydonotsticktotheslimelikeViolet’s


    handdid.AsWavemovesbackhishands,heisleftwithapileof


    warmgooonhisarms.Thesensationbecomesdisturbingafterashort


    while,sincehehastroublegettingthegoooffhisarms.


    Notwantingtogetanymoreslimeonhisarms,Wavestartsattacking


    byswitchingbetweenbasicandstandardlightning.Theslimehasnow


    splitintotwodifferentslimes.Oneofthemisstillblockingthedoor,


    whiletheotheroneischargingtowardsViolet.Notsurewhattodo


    WaveissuesacommandatViolet.“Swingyourswordtowardsme


    andfindaplacetodoge.”Violetdoesassheisasked.Asthefireball


    fromViolet’sswordishurlingtowardshim,Wavestrikesthevery


    centerofthefireballwithbasiclightning.Violethasmanaged


    todiveintothewaterjustunderthewaterfallbeforeWaveunleashed


    hislightning.


    WithhereyesopenedunderthewaterVioletcanseeablindinglight.


    Waveissentflyingbackwardsthroughtheslimethatwasblockingthe


    doorway.Bothslimeswerenowdead.Wavewouldhavetakenserious


    damageifhehadtriedtodothatfromtheotherdirection.Theslime


    alsostoppedhismomentumashewasflungbackwards.Theresult


    wasnotwhatWavewasexpecting.Hehadjustwantedtousehis


    lightningtodividethefireballsoitwouldraindownontheslime.


    Whatwavehaddoneinsteadhadcreatedanexplosion.IfViolet


    Hadnotjumpedintothewaterwhenshedid,inalllikelyhood


    shewouldhavedied.


    <table style="background-color: #049cb0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    PartyskillcreatedExplodingswordslash


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    “WhollyshootWave,didyouwanttokillus!?”Violetangryword


    stronglydirectedatWave.Wavelooksatherandgivesanapology.


    “SorryViolet,thiswasnottheresultIhadinmind.Maybenow


    youwillunderstandhowwefeelwhenyouuseyourfiretheway


    youdo.”WavesaysthelastpartinalowtoneasforVioletnotto


    hearhim.


    VioletandWave’snextstopisahoardofwildcows.Theyintend


    toprocessthemforleather.AfterkillingthecowsWaveuseshis


    clawstostripofftheirskin.


    Uponreturningtothevillage,Waveheadsdirectlytotheblacksmiths.


    Waveisbusymakingleatherboots,butdoesnotenditthere,helaces


    thebottomofthebootswithmagneticiron.


    <table style="background-color: #049cb0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Magneticboots


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #049cb0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Magneticbootsdescription:Apairofleatherbootswithmagnetsat


    thebottom.Noonebutthecreatecouldknowtheintentionbehind


    them.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    AuroracomesintofindWaveworking.Waveisjust


    aboutfinishedmakingthelastpairofboots.Waveexplains


    toAurorawhattheyaremeantfor.Auroralooksthemover


    beforepointingoutaproblem.“Evenifwewearthese,we


    willjustfalloutofthemfromthegravity.”Wavelooksat


    Auroraandknowssheisright,butcannotfindasolution


    totheproblem.“Doyouhaveanymoreleatherleft?”


    AuroraaskWave.Waveshowsherthathedoesindeed


    Haveleatherleft.WiththatAuroratakesoutthesewing


    needleandthethreadofmiseryshehadgotten,what


    hadnowfeltlikesolongago.Aurorastartedtosew


    leatherstrapstoeachpairofboots.Shemadethemwith


    thesametypeofdesign,thatisusedtokeepsnowshoes


    attachedtoyourfeet.


    “OhIalmostforgot,whileyoutwoweregettingthis


    readytherestofushaveobtainedawaytoflyto


    thatdesert.”Wavewaswaitingforhertotellhim


    how.“Inasmallhutonatallmountainwestof


    here,thereisamanrentingoutdragons.Werented


    onefromhim,anditwasnotcheap,youandViolet


    oweusonethousandquartz.”Aurorasmirkswhile


    puttingoutherhandforhershareofthemoney.


    WavehandsAuroratwohundredandfiftyquartz.


    WavehadalmostforgotthatShadowwouldneed


    bootsaswell.Hesetsoftoworkmakingasmaller


    pair.Aurorathenaddsthestrapstothenewboots.


    Thepartyallmeetsupattheinnandsleepsforthe


    night.WavepaidforTemple’sroomsincehefelt


    Badthatshecouldnotstayforfreeliketherestof


    theparty.


    Thepartyspentthenextfewnightstravelingwith


    thedragonbehindthem.Theywerenowfinally


    Atthedesert.WaveattachedShadowwiththe


    bootshehadmadeforhim.Shadowfeltreally


    uncomfortablewearingthisthings.Everyoneelse


    putontheirbootsaswellandmadesurethestraps


    werereallytight.


    Thedragoncouldonlycarrytwopeopleatatime.


    SkyandWillowwerethefirsttogetontotheisland.


    NextwasVioletandAurora.WavepickedupShadow


    whiletemplegotonwiththem.Noweveryonewas


    ontheislandandthebootswereworkingproperly.


    Skylookstothepartyandasks.“Doesanyoneelse


    feeldizzyfromthebloodrushingtotheirhead?”


    Everyoneoftheotherpartymemberslifttheirhand,


    Shadowbarksashisresponse.


    Asthepartywalksalongthesand,theysooncometo


    abuildingwhichiscoveredalmostcompletelyinsand.


    Theywalkintoitthroughwhatappearstobeawindow.


    Thepartyfindsaflightofstairs.Theywalkdown,or


    maybeitisupthesestairs.Whentheyreachthebottom


    orisitthetop,theyarenowinwhatappearstobean


    abandonedcity.