《Mass Produced Magic [LitRPG, Action, Crafter, Tech Builder]》 Chapter 1 - First Encounter Our ancestors built a ladder so that we could reach the stars¡­ The words echoed through Kindra¡¯s mind, and she leaned back in her chair, looking out the window. A black void stretched before her. Distant stars twinkled, and an asteroid floated by, its ice shining from the light of a nearby star. Pretty out today. Kindra pushed off the chair, floating away from the terminal and up to the window. A smile crept on her face, and she watched starlight dance across the asteroid, lighting small pockets of black stone. Leaning her face against the plastic, she looked out at the other ships in the fleet. Looking more like round skyscrapers, they spun, each carrying the first colonists from Earth. The starlight lit strips of the metal, almost creating a disco-ball-like effect. ¡°Aika, did you see this?¡± she whispered. ¡°Yes,¡± her AI chirped through the headset. ¡°Should you be up there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Kindra, get down from there,¡± the admiral barked. Kindra turned and looked around the bridge, the ship¡¯s command center. A grizzled man in a large chair focused his brown eyes on her. He jerked his head, gesturing toward her chair. She grinned at him. ¡°It¡¯s pretty out today, admiral. It¡¯s usually just black.¡± A few crewmen chuckled, glancing up from their computers and shaking their heads. ¡°Kindra, back in your chair,¡± the admiral replied, pointing at it. His eyes focused on the metallic bands on her wrists. Surprise flickered across his face. ¡°Why are those on your wrists?¡± ¡°Be prepared.¡± Kindra pushed off the plastic, floating down and back into her seat. She looked at the surrounding crew, each preparing for their tasks. A distant alarm blared through the ship. Guess it¡¯s time to focus. Kindra opened her terminal, and readouts popped up. The reactor systems and wormhole generator glowed green, and she toggled through each screen, double-checking the measurements and readouts. ¡°Colonists, prepare for the jump,¡± the admiral¡¯s voice barked throughout the ships. Another alarm blared, warning people to strap in and prepare. Kindra swiped through the last of the images, paused, and pulled up a saved picture: her father was fixing a leak in his wormhole generator prototype while she sat beside him, programming a toy robot with a custom AI that she¡¯d dubbed Aika. Wish us luck, Dad. She smiled at the picture. Wish you could see what your tech is letting us do. She leaned back and enjoyed the view. An image popped up on the screen. ¡°Kindra, verify this,¡± Aika said. Kindra leaned forward, her focus returning to the jump. She studied the power readouts and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m killing the entertainment power, Admiral. Warn them.¡± The Admiral grunted, and then his voice boomed through the intercoms. ¡°Due to power constraints, the entertainment system will be brought down.¡± Kindra felt the unheard groans. They¡¯ll hate us for this. She buckled herself in.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Looking at her terminal, she flicked through readouts, double-checking everything once more. ¡°Aika, final validation.¡± The systems shifted from gray to green. A circular graph flickered as the bar filled. ¡°Scan complete. All systems normal,¡± Aika said loudly. The admiral turned. ¡°Any concerns?¡± Kindra pulled up the target coordinates and studied the gravity signatures and radiation levels. Looks normal. ¡°Good to go,¡± Aika chirped in her ears. ¡°You¡¯re clear, admiral,¡± Kindra said, turning her focus to the wormhole generator. The reactor surged. Power burned through the ship. Alarms began wailing, and the admiral spun in his chair. ¡°Fleet. Final warning. Ensure all belongings are strapped down. Brace for potential gravitational waves. If you make a mess, you clean it up.¡± He hit a button that did nothing, but the screens turned green. Kindra spun away from the screen and looked out the bridge window. The stars distorted, and a tiny black ball wiped the light away. It spread, revealing the light of distant stars and some strange, glowing debris. It would have been a gorgeous sight, except there shouldn¡¯t have been debris. A shiver rippled down her spine. Oh, shit. Kindra frowned. ¡°Gravity signature on that dust, Aika.¡± ¡°Working on it.¡± Kindra looked out the window. Space rippled like water as the wormhole widened. The admiral cleared his throat. ¡°All ahead!¡± The engines came online, and the ship began accelerating. Turning back to her terminal, Kindra flicked a screen. Where¡¯s that scan? Then she slammed into her seat. The ark shook like a boat in a storm. The lights flickered, and consoles rattled. Oh, god, no. Kindra looked at the dust and felt gravity washing over her like waves on the shore of a beach. She reached forward. We need to avoid that. It¡¯ll wreck everything. ¡°Aika! Avoid that dust!¡± The entire room rattled, bouncing up and down like a plane in turbulence. Her fingers hit the display, and the language shifted. Strange symbols appeared everywhere. Looking like some old norse script, the strange symbols were completely out of place. Kindra tried wiping them away. They didn¡¯t go, and the entire ship lurched. Kindra¡¯s stomach soared into her throat. The sound of vomiting filled the room, and things went from bad to worse; space churned like the raging sea, and the runes vanished. Kindra flicked to a new screen, and a message appeared on every terminal. Warning: Wormhole stability compromised. Collapse in 11 minutes and 32 seconds. ¡°Aika, stabilize it!¡± Kindra shouted, and gravity knocked her into the seat. Her vision blurred. Metal screeched, plastic snapped, and the alarms blared. Warning: Wormhole stability compromised. Collapse in 6 minutes and 57 seconds. The wave passed, and Kindra reached for the terminal. Gravity ripped across the ship. Her brown hair flew everywhere, and the ship bounced like a rubber ball tossed down a flight of stairs. Warning: Wormhole stability decreasing. Collapse in 29 seconds. ¡°Aika, Runaway contingency!¡± Kindra shouted and watched three-quarters of the fleet pass through the wormhole before it snapped like a worn rubber band. A massive wave of gravity hit, launching them forward. Sinking deep into her chair, Kindra fought to stay conscious. New alarms joined the chorus, and people everywhere went limp. Fighting back the immense pressure, she looked out the window. Spacetime rippled and tore, creating new wormholes. Waves of gravity pounded the ship, and her vision blurred. Blinking her vision back, she looked at her computer. The characters on it rippled and distorted, shifting back into the runic language. Her eyes went wide, and the next gravity wave slammed into the remnants of the fleet. The entire ship spun, whipping around like an out-of-control, crashing car. Metal screeched, and wormholes exploded into existence like bubbles on the sea. ¡°Aika!¡± she shouted, and systems everywhere went red. The computers screamed and then went silent, runes appearing across all of them. ¡°Who are you?¡± an ancient, masculine voice whispered in her brain, spreading goosebumps across her body. What the hell? She reached for the rune-covered computer screen. Fiery pain ripped into her, burning through her as if she were flying next to the sun. Screams echoed throughout the room. Some crew dropped, and Kindra slammed her fist against the console. Work, damn it! ¡°Got you,¡± the ancient voice whispered, his voice eerily smug. A chill ran down Kindra¡¯s spine. She jerked her head up and saw a glowing wormhole. Light poured off it, the pain surged, and the ship jerked. Like a yo-yo on a string, the ship flew through the wormhole, and everything went dark. Chapter 2 – Purgatory Pain. It was her constant. Everything hurt, and the world was shrouded in darkness. Kindra looked out at the void, her heart racing and panic building. Why is there nothing? Did I go blind? Blinking, she tried to see anything, to smell anything. Nothing. Why is there nothing? The darkness pressed around her, suffocating, though she could somehow breathe. Panic grabbed her throat. Am I dead? She forced out a shaky, ¡°Hello?¡± The hollow sound barely reached her ears before it faded, the void swallowing it. ¡°Please,¡± she whimpered, and nothing happened. A sense of dread filled her. Did the entire fleet die? Memories of the ships and the wormholes filled her mind. We¡¯re all dead, aren¡¯t we? She slumped to an invisible floor and cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. Time passed fitfully. Images of the crew, Earth, and her friends floated through her mind. Her dread and grief slowly drained, lost to some time that she failed to sense. Resigning herself to her fate, she waved her hand through the darkness. ¡°God? Are you out there?¡± As if in response, glowing runes flickered to life. They drifted and pulsed like little stars. Squinting, she moved closer to one and studied the intricate symbol. These were on the computer. It ignored her, pulsing softly. ¡°Am I dead?¡± she asked it, and the runes gathered around her, pulsing with soft light and lighting up her body. That made them move? She leaned closer. They are sort of pretty. She waved her hand through one and felt agonizing pain burn through her palm. Jerking her hand away, she stepped backward and felt runes slam into her back. It burned. Agony lanced down her spine, and a scream ripped from her throat. The pain grew worse, and the runes turned a vibrant red. The metallic smell of blood filled the air, and she jerked forward, hitting other runes. Pain lanced through her. Pulling back, she looked for something¡ªanything to protect herself. God? Please? The runes pulsed again, brighter this time. They grew in size, turned red, and moved closer. Agony came with it. Her arms lit on fire, and the taste of blood thickened in her mouth. Turning away, she fled, and the agony followed. It grew with every step. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and she clawed at her burning skin. ¡°Please,¡± she choked out. ¡°God? Please?¡± The runes appeared around her, and dismay filled her. What do I do? She looked up. ¡°Please!¡± she screamed. No answer came. The silence was as endless as the darkness. She fell to her knees and pulled herself into a ball, the unending pain crashing into her with each pulse of the runes. I¡¯m in hell, she thought numbly. This has to be hell. Closing her eyes, she lay there. Time ceased to have meaning as the pain surged to newfound heights before ebbing away, leaving her with nothing but the runes. They streamed around her. A language just out of reach, and a hell that had engulfed her. Sorrow gave way to anger. Anger gave way to despair. And despair gave way to grim acceptance. Acceptance of the runes that now imprisoned her. Acceptance of the void and acceptance of her hell. With nothing else to do, she studied the symbols, and patterns slowly emerged. A familiarity grew as the runes repeated, and the unknowable language didn¡¯t seem as mysterious. Parts made sense, and some seemed the opposite of others. Lying there, she waved her hands through the runes. If I figure you out, will you let me out? She sat up and sighed, letting out a long breath. ¡°God? Satan? Someone? Please. I don¡¯t want to be here anymore.¡± Neither answered. The runes continued pulsing through their pattern, and rage filled her once more. Glaring at them, she grabbed at one, pushing every bit of her will into it and demanding it stop. The rune flickered like a blown candle, and she gasped. It snapped back into place and drifted by as if nothing had happened. Wait... Her eyes widened as the realization hit her. I can bend them. She watched the floating symbols with renewed focus, picking one out and willing it to change into another. The rune resisted, wavering as though alive, and she pushed harder, forcing it to take the shape of another. It distorted and then snapped back into position, leaving her with a throbbing headache. Kindra ignored the headache and tried again, willing it to take the shape of a rune that looked opposite. The rune shook and bent. She exhaled and slammed her will into it. Break! The rune shattered, light spilling across the floor like liquid fire. It hung there, and it stayed there. Delight spread across her face. Yes. She grinned, adrenaline surging through her veins. One by one, she reached for more runes, slowly breaking them. With each broken rune, the place lit, and the darkness trembled. Grabbing another, she shattered it. Light poured out of it. Wind whipped through her hair, and something thumped¡ªsoft, like a heartbeat. ¡°Svel¡¯kal!¡± some woman shouted, her voice echoing through the place. ¡°Yeah, well, screw you!¡± Kindra shouted back. With a smirk on her face, she waited for the next batch. They appeared, and she resumed her work, shattering runes with a triumph blazing through her mind and heart. The voice shouted at her again, and Kindra waited for the next one. ¡°Come on. Feed me another,¡± she yelled upward. ¡°Interesting. Want to do me a favor?¡± a masculine voice asked. Kindra jerked, tumbling over and landing in a heap. Looking up, she saw a young man with messy black hair. Wearing a t-shirt and jeans, he looked like a young college student. He held out his hand. Who is this guy? Kindra struggled to process it, moving her hair from her eyes and blinking at him. He is there, right?This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He reached down. ¡°Up you get.¡± ¡°Are you real?¡± Kindra asked, taking his hand and pulling herself up. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Death, God, or whatever you want to call me,¡± he said. A desk appeared in front of him, and he sat at it. She studied him. Did I finally die? Thank god. She looked at him and blushed. Glad he didn¡¯t hear that. He looked up and chuckled. ¡°Sit down.¡± He gestured to the chair. Not knowing what else to do, she walked over and sat on it. ¡°So, I¡¯m dead?¡± ¡°Your spirit is fine, and that¡¯s what matters.¡± God smiled. ¡°Now, I¡¯m going to help you, and you¡¯re going to help me.¡± ¡°How?¡± Kindra asked, running her fingers along the wooden chair. I can feel something. Joy flooded her as she ran her fingers along the polished, cool wood. ¡°I want another anchor point for this spell.¡± He grinned. ¡°And you¡¯re an ideal one.¡± What the heck does that mean? Kindra had no idea what it meant. ¡°Will you let me out?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He gestured, and a computer appeared. Unlike everything else around her, the text was in English. ¡°Review that for me.¡± Kindra leaned forward and studied the code. This is Aika¡¯s code¡­ no. He changed it. She sat in front of the terminal and studied it. ¡°Is my spirit trapped somewhere?¡± ¡°Yes, and I¡¯ll help fix that.¡± He gestured, and runes appeared around him. ¡°Why have me do it this?¡± Kindra asked, looking up for the code. ¡°You clearly know more than me.¡± ¡°Something for you to do.¡± He smiled, the smile containing some hidden depth to it. Strange. ¡°Consider it a learning opportunity.¡± He turned back to his work. A surge of runes filled the air. ¡°What do they mean?¡± Kindra asked, looking at the symbols. ¡°Consider them a quantum programming language.¡± Kindra leaned closer. Some were new, and they shone a vibrant, blinding white. She felt their heat as she stuck her hand closer. ¡°And I can see them?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I made the offer.¡± She started reading the code, studying the strange changes he¡¯d made. A few places shifted into the runic language that she failed to understand. She searched for patterns and began to see some repeating symbols. Minutes turned to hours. Hours seemed to turn to an eternity. She lost her sense of time. Jerking up from the dizzying pattern that swirled out of reach, she looked at the young man. ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t some hell? You can tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more like a purgatory, and I will get you out of it.¡± He looked up. ¡°You have my word.¡± ¡°How does being God work?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Not today, Kindra.¡± He went quiet. ¡°And I¡¯m almost done.¡± Runes flooded through the air. A strange, uncomfortable warmth came with them. Kindra worked and felt a dull ache growing through her body. Please tell me he isn¡¯t the devil. She looked at the runes. They pulsed like stars. Those are impressive. Reaching out, she waved her hands through one, and text popped into her vision. [System 3.14 install in progress. Please wait.] ¡°What¡¯s a system?¡± Kindra asked. And how is it talking to my brain? ¡°An aid for sapient life who have direct contact with the powers of creation. You¡¯re an anchor point to help spread it.¡± Death didn¡¯t look up. ¡°It¡¯ll speed things up.¡± Kindra raised a brow. That¡¯s wild. ¡°So, you¡¯re Death?¡± He nodded. ¡°Are there other Gods?¡± ¡°Sorry, Kindra. This isn¡¯t a lesson on the divine. I¡¯m just making things easier for everyone.¡± He stood and gestured. Her computer exploded, turning into a ribbon of glowing runes. They burned into Kindra¡¯s eyes, fiery suns that filled the entire space with light. ¡°How do I learn what they mean?¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out.¡± He looked up. ¡°Don¡¯t break it, though. If you do, I¡¯m adding you to my list.¡± Kindra blushed, and runes streamed through her, burning with the same intensity as the first day. Her mouth dropped. She dove, and the runes turned into a glowing ball of light. It stood there, radiating fire and light. [System 3.14 install complete!] Death looked at her and grinned. ¡°Make your choices wisely and all that.¡± He waved and vanished. Kindra stood there, surprise on her face. [Base Class Selection Unlocked. Please select a class: ? - Artificer (Tier 4): You will acquire abilities related to crafting. +2 Intelligence per level. ? - Necromancer (Tier 3): You will acquire abilities related to undeath and decay. +1 Intelligence and +1 Spirit per level. ? - Blood Mage (Tier 3): You will acquire abilities related to harnessing the power of your blood and the blood of others. +1 Stamina and +1 Spirit per level. ? - Thief (Tier 2): You will acquire abilities related to acquiring goods, dextrous combat, enhancement, and physical combat. +1 Agility per level. ¡­ ? ] She ignored the text. Dropping to her knees, she looked up, the panic surging. She¡¯d be stuck here. Again. Forever. An eternity of nothing but the symbols. Her panic grew with every passing moment. They ticked by like glacial agony. The silent space remained, and she looked at the computer. The only thing that she could even understand. Her eyes watered. ¡°Death, please.¡± [Pick your class. Study the computer, and smash any runes you see. I¡¯ll get you out from there. ~Death] She took a deep breath. Okay, I can do that. Text appeared in front of her face once more. [Base Class Selection Unlocked. Please select a class: ? - Artificer (Tier 4): You will acquire abilities related to crafting. +2 Intelligence per level. ? - Necromancer (Tier 3): You will acquire abilities related to undeath and decay. +1 Intelligence and +1 Spirit per level. ? - Blood Mage (Tier 3): You will acquire abilities related to harnessing the power of your blood and the blood of others. +1 Stamina and +1 Spirit per level. ? - Thief (Tier 2): You will acquire abilities related to acquiring goods, dextrous combat, enhancement, and physical combat. +1 Agility per level. ¡­ ? ] She studied the symbols. ¡°System, what do the tiers mean?¡± [Tiers are based on the number of assignable attribute points acquired at each level.] Kindra looked at them. ¡°So Artificer gives me four attributes? Necromancer gives me three? Like a video game.¡± [Yes. That¡¯s correct.] Looking down the list, she willed the others into view and saw tier two and one classes more suited to a medieval setting. Well, I do like making things, and it is the strongest class. She picked Artificer without another thought. [Artificer Selected. Please confirm.] ¡°Is this a video game?¡± [The system is designed to guide your magical growth. It is not a game.] ¡°What¡¯s magic?¡± [This data is unavailable. Would you like to submit a ticket?] ¡°Yes.¡± She sighed. ¡°Are the runes magic?¡± [Yes.] ¡°Is there a guide for new people?¡± [This help document is unavailable. To create a ticket, please confirm.] ¡°Confirm.¡± She watched as a beam of light lit the area. It flowed into her, and relief spread through her. This is new at least. [You have acquired the Artificer class.] [You have acquired the ability: ¡®Enhance Item.¡¯ Imbue magical runes onto an item, unlocking additional potential. These runes will fade in time. Mana and materials affect rune strength and duration.] [You have acquired the racial passive: ¡®Empowered Blood.¡¯ You may use blood as a reagent in crafting.] [You have acquired the racial passive: ¡®Runic Sight.¡¯ You perceive magic and runes.] Humans have empowered blood and runic sight? She shook her head. It didn¡¯t make sense, but she¡¯d take it. Looking at the darkness around her, she frowned. Time stretched by at a glacial pace, and impending dread filled her with every soundless minute. The silly runes reappeared, and she promptly broke all of them, shattering shards of light around her. Pausing, she looked up. Death? Please? A pillar of light engulfed her. Pain came with it, blossoming in her chest in exquisite agony. Gasping, she looked up and was launched into the light. Reality hit her like a truck. Pain wracked her body, and she failed to scream. Her lungs refused to move. It felt like she was drowning. The metallic scent of blood filled the air. Blurs surrounded her, and everything went dark. Chapter 3 – Where’s the tutorial? A soft breeze washed through the air, fluttering cloth and hair. A prone body lay in a shallow puddle of dark blood, and Kindra coughed. The taste of metallic blood filled her mouth, and a bird hopped forward, pecking at her leg with a long, sharp beak. Pain spiked through Kindra¡¯s leg, and she jerked it away, her eyes opening to see the blood-covered cobblestones beneath her head. Crusted blood covered her body. Grit dug into her skull. Jerking up, she rubbed the grime from her face and looked around her. What greeted her felt like a scene from a black-and-white horror film. Small stone cottages lined a narrow cobblestone road. The small front yards, once likely quaint, were overrun with broken plants and bodies. The streets were similar; dark pools of blood and still corpses decorated the stones. All of it was drained of color, cast in eerie shades of macabre gray. Why is it gray? Kindra frowned, wiping dirt and blood from her face. She searched for something familiar in the strange city. Where is the ship and the crew? Kindra sniffed¡ªand immediately regretted it. The stench of blood and rot filled the air, heavy, like a slaughterhouse on a hot day. It clung to her, and she felt a growing desire to gag. Turning her head, she saw a corpse with a sword stuck in its chest. Umm. Death? Where am I? Another spike of pain hit her leg. Wincing, she jerked her leg back and turned to see a large bird. The dog-sized, black-and-white bird opened its beak, revealing a dark tongue. It hissed and spread its large wings wide, its taloned feet clutching the stone. Heart pounding, Kindra scrambled to her feet and ripped the sword free of the nearby corpse. Great. One hell for another. She hefted the unfamiliar weapon, glancing between it and the strange vulture-like bird. How do you even use this thing? The killer vulture lurched forward, its wings churning and its talons shoving it toward her. The sharp bill closed, and Kindra swung the sword like a baseball bat, smashing it into the bird¡¯s head with a resounding clang. The bird staggered, crashing into her. Feathers and wings flailed. It squawked, and Kindra slammed the sword into its head again and again. Blood sprayed. Bone crunched, and the vulture dropped to the ground, blood oozing onto the stone. The hell was its problem? She scowled at the corpse, studying the strangely colored feathers. The metallic scent of its blood joined the rest of the smells. Pain lanced up her leg. Looking down, Kindra saw a blood-covered dress. She lifted her leg and saw a deep gouge. Her blood oozed out of it. Rotten bird. She looked at her horrifically dirty and torn dress. And I don¡¯t have bandages. She turned to find something to use. Dismay filled her. The place was beyond filthy, with bodies and blood everywhere. Her stomach sank, and she swallowed. How am I supposed to clean that? Sighing into the air, she shook her head. This is some crappy service, Death. He didn¡¯t answer, and she watched another vulture bird swoop down. It landed on some corpse and pecked, ripping away faintly glowing flesh. Why¡¯s it glowing? Kindra looked at the dead bird and the nearby bodies. Each had a similar, soft glow. Leaning down, she studied the nearby, faintly glowing corpse. With a large gash across its chest, the humanoid was shorter than average but built like a linebacker. A long, ragged beard extended to his slightly large belly. Looks kind of like a dwarf. A strange feeling washed over Kindra, and she looked down, focusing on the source. A ribbon of light appeared, streaming into her from the vulture. What¡¯s that? [Your mana has increased: 1.7 ¡ú 2.4.] Well. I guess that¡¯s a good thing. Willing the text out of her vision, she looked at the village. ¡°Hello? Anyone alive?¡± The only response came from some nearby scavengers. The birds and rodents turned toward her, and she quickly realized something else. All of them looked like living killing machines. Their claws, fangs, and beaks were far too sharp. Don¡¯t tell me they get to level up. Focusing on a bird, she saw a glowing ball of mana inside it. She slumped and looked at the scavenger-filled streets. A bird looked at her and hissed. I hate this game. [This is not a game!] Willing away the annoying text, she grabbed an axe, dropped the sword, and studied the corpse again. His gear was a mess, the leather armor hacked away. Deep cuts covered his arms, and a belt was wrapped around his waist. Okay. Survival game. Loot, survive, level up.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. [Again, this is not a game.] She ignored it. Grabbing the knife from his belt, she looked down at the dress. Why am I in a dress? I need pants. She sighed and ripped the belt off his body, tying it around her waist and glancing at the bracelets still on her arms. Repair nanites? I have those, but not my flight suit. She stashed the knife and shook her head, the confusion building like the errant cries of the scavengers. Death, care to weigh in? He did not answer, and she looked down at her ankle. Right. She reached down and cut off a piece of his shirt, tying it around her ankle. I need to find somewhere to clean ¡ª A hiss disrupted the thought. Jerking back up, she spun and saw another one of the killer vultures. It hissed at her and flapped its wings. Kindra waved her hands at it. ¡°Shoo!¡± It didn¡¯t seem to care for her attempt at intimidation. Instead, it launched itself off the ground, the large ball of mana thrumming inside of it. Hell, no! She turned and ran, vaulting over corpses while her heart thundered in her chest. Tearing down the street, she scrambled around a corner. The vulture followed. Dropping the axe, Kindra grabbed a nearby spear and tucked herself against the wall. The vulture scrambled around the corner, its feet scraping stone and its wings churning. Launching itself upward, it glided toward her, its talons outstretched. Snapping her spear upward, she impaled the vulture, dove to the side, and landed on a body. The body burst like a water balloon, splashing disgusting yellow fluid everywhere. Oh, god! Kindra gagged and stood, wiping away the horrific fluid. The smell of rancid pus flooded over her. She felt it oozing down her disgusting dress. I hate this place. Reaching down, she wiped the fluid off her arm and face, fighting the growing desire to vomit. What the hell, Death? He didn¡¯t answer, and the vulture tumbled to the ground. A growing desire to panic, cry, and scream filled her. The scavengers did not care, each squabbling with the other over the macabre remains. Leaning against the wall, she felt her emotions growing. We can break down later. Not now. Blinking back the tears, she ripped the spear free before turning her focus back to the city. A soft ribbon of light connected to her, the mana from the nearby bird flowing into her. [Your mana has increased: 2.4 ¡ú 3.2.] Looking at the message, she paused, her brow raised. ¡°Okay, what good is mana?¡± [Mana is used to power abilities and recharges after 24 hours.] ? [You may permanently sacrifice 10 mana to reach level two, granting attributes and an additional skill.] ? [You may also permanently sacrifice 5 mana to permanently increase an attribute. ? - Intelligence: This will boost your baseline cognitive function. ? - Charisma: This will boost your appearance and appeal. ? - Strength: This will boost your baseline strength. ? - Dexterity: This will boost your baseline grace, reflexes, and flexibility. ? - Speed: This will boost the speed at which your muscles can respond and your body can move. ? - Stamina: This will boost your baseline durability. ? - Spirit (locked): This will boost your mana regeneration, granting you mana reuse throughout the day. ? - Resistance (locked): This will boost your ability to shake off magical effects. ? ] Why are spirit and resistance locked? [Spirit is restricted to mage classes or until you reach level fifty. Your mana reserves recharge while sleeping, allowing you to reuse it the next day.] ? [Your innate resistance isn¡¯t working correctly. A bug report was submitted.] Kindra shook her head and cleared it away. Just pretend it¡¯s a game. The most horrible game ever made. She swallowed and looked down her new street. Just like the last, it was covered in blood and bodies. Scavengers were feasting. ¡°System, can I spend the mana before I sacrifice it?¡± [Yes.] Add all of that to the starter guide during class selection. [Starter guide created.] And be more descriptive with skills and classes. Tell people more about them. [Updating documentation.] Good enough. Now how do I use my skill, Enhance Item? [You¡¯ll feel it inside of you.] Looking at her spear, she turned inward and felt something like an extra limb. A strange flowing presence surrounded it. She reached to it and fed the flowing mana into it. It connected to the spear and searched for something. Does it need ink? It did say materials. Remembering her blood, she tried it. The skill snapped into place, and she fed her mana into Enhance Item, throwing everything into the spear. Light streamed out of her, and dazzling runes surrounded it. [Basic spear has been enhanced for 24 hours. Wielding it will grant +1 strength.] That¡¯s it? She frowned and hefted the spear. I do feel a little stronger. Maybe that¡¯s enough. She turned and saw three bald, overgrown rats. They dug large claws into a body and ripped out pieces of meat with large, sharp teeth. I need to get out of this town¡­ but first, I should level. And rats seem fitting. She hefted the spear, taking a step closer to them. A rat opened its mouth, revealing large canines. It chittered furiously at her, and the others jerked up. Their whiskers bounced. Their mouths opened, revealing the same teeth. Kindra¡¯s foot hit a body, and she glanced down. Oh, good. She reached down and grabbed a hammer. Hefting it, she chucked it at one, sending it blurring through the air. The hammer slammed into the rat, sending it flying. The other rats squeaked and ran forward. Kindra reached down and grabbed an axe, throwing it at the rats. It slammed into one, and she grabbed her spear. Single target. Should be ¡ª A hundred squeaks filled the air. The sound of tiny feet sent a shiver down her spine, and dozens of massive rats crashed around the corner, a wave of flesh, claws, and teeth. Kindra¡¯s adrenaline spiked. Horror filled her, and her mouth dropped open. I hate this level. [Not a level. This is a planet, and this is not a game.] Willing the obnoxious text out of her face, she turned and ran, sprinting down the streets while the massive swarm chased. Chapter 4 – Where’s the tutorial? - Pt2 Kindra¡¯s heart thundered. Her adrenaline soared, and she ran. Vaulting over corpses and splashing through a few blood puddles, she dashed down the dark street, her hatred for the planet growing with every step. A killer vulture hissed at her and flapped. She ignored it, sprinting past and praying the rat swarm would attack it instead of her. The vulture let out a loud squawk. Flapping its wings, it lunged, and she heard the swarm hit it. Yes! She risked a look over her shoulder, racing down the lane. The swarm had engulfed the vulture, tearing it to pieces. She let out a breath and slammed into a wall of squishy flesh. The squishy flesh squealed, and she bounced off it, tumbling across the ground. Dizzy and disoriented, she flipped over and looked up, staring at a massive blob of flesh. It turned toward her, revealing small beady eyes and a snout. The overgrown hog opened its mouth and revealed rows of jagged teeth, far too many rows of teeth. Fuck! With her heart thundering, Kindra grabbed the spear and stabbed it straight down the creature¡¯s throat. The creature¡¯s mouth snapped shut, snapping the spear in two. With rage in its beady eyes, it swallowed the spear and opened its mouth, unleashing a furious squeal. Kindra scrambled to her feet and ran past it, her vision blurring as her heart thundered. Sprinting across the ground with reckless abandon, she tripped on a corpse and went rolling, coming to a stop in a puddle of blood. The hog charged, and she prepared to die, looking up in horror. It lowered its head, and the group of rats hit it. Like some strange battle between piranhas and a shark, a fight broke out between the two. Rolling over and fighting the nausea, Kindra stood and carefully retreated, her adrenaline fading to the growing panic. What planet is this? She swallowed and retreated, moving quietly away from the warring rats and hog. It opened its mouth and ripped one in half. The rats clawed and bit into its flesh, chewing and eating. What is wrong with these things? Kindra continued backing away, distancing herself from the two groups. Death, where am I? He didn¡¯t answer, and she gave up, turning away from the grisly scene. A new one met her sight. The road led to the edge of the city. The remnants of a broken wall sat there, and a massive field full of broken plants, blood, and bodies stretched out for nearly a mile. In the far distance, there was a forest. She looked at it and back at the fields. Scavengers littered the place. Packs of rats, hogs, birds, and several other strange things were chomping down, feasting in the aftermath of something. What the fuck did all this? Kindra swallowed, shoving down the emotion once more. Where¡¯s some place safe? Turning back, she saw the hog and rats fighting. The hog swallowed one whole, ignoring the small cuts the rats were inflicting. Blowing a strand of bloody hair from her face, she searched for any supplies, her focus shifting to a nearby body. She crept to it, her eyes focusing on the weapons. Grabbing an axe and another knife, she stashed the axe. Forgive me for this. Reaching down, she used the knife to cut through the leather armor on his body, revealing a bloody shirt. Cutting it off him, she ripped it free and cut off a strip. Turning the strip of cloth into a makeshift sling, she picked up a rock and placed it inside. Whirring it above her head, she turned back to the chaos. The hog was tearing into a rat, and they were tearing it into it. She fired with a flick of her wrist, releasing the entire sling rather than half of it. The cloth and stone blurred across the air and hit something in the giant mess. Not bothering to make a second, she grabbed a rock and threw it with every bit of force she could muster. The rock slammed into the hog and rats, and she failed to see any mana flowing toward her. She turned and saw some strange six-limbed, armored creature walking toward her and the corpse. It waddled forward, its shell restricting its movement. Darting to another corpse, she grabbed another hammer and axe. The strange creature waddled up to a corpse and began chomping, slowly chewing through things. Is it a six-legged turtle? She threw the axe, sending it blurring through the air. The axe whirred and missed, bouncing off the stone street. The creature jerked up. It barked like a dog and launched itself at her, curling into a ball while it flew. She dove into an open doorway, and the turtle hit a wall, creating an explosion of dust and stone chips before dropping to the ground. She watched in strange fascination as it bounced and rolled across the cobblestone street, coming to rest next to a corpse. Poking its head out, it began eating the body, ripping off small pieces. Kindra blew hair from her face and glanced at her hammer. Screw that thing. The shark-pig can have it. She darted out the door and swung the hammer like a golf club. It arced down and connected with the strange armadillo turtle creature. It barked and flew down the street, bouncing off the hog and rolling down the street before popping out of its shell. Looking at her hammer, she chucked it at the armadillo turtle. The hammer looped through the air and hit it with a resounding crack. A killer vulture jerked up and ran toward the turtle, an eager glint of hunger and madness in its eyes. What is with the animals here? Reaching down, Kindra grabbed a rock. Please let this work. Placing it in a strip of cloth, she whirled it around her head and rifled it down the street. The rock soared right past the vulture, smashing into a rat and sending a spray of blood through the air. The shark hog happily ate it and bit into another. Picking up another rock, she tried again, whirring the sling and launching a rock at the furious bird. The rock shot by its head, bouncing off the wall and hitting the hog. It didn¡¯t react to the stone; instead, it chomped down on a rat, spilling blood out onto the street. This planet makes no fucking sense. Kindra reached down and grabbed another rock. She tried again. And again. And again. Rocks flew down the lane, hitting stones, corpses, and occasionally one of the creatures.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. As another rat tumbled, the rats chittered furiously and ran away from the hog. It happily pursued them, chomping down on the fleeing rats. Wanting nothing to do with it, she turned and looted the nearby corpses, tossing weapons onto the tile roof. Using a knife to get more fabric, she tossed it along with several rocks, piling more supplies onto the structure. The sound of a squealing hog jerked her from her work. Not waiting around, she leapt and grabbed the lip of a stone building. Scrambling up the rocks, she hauled herself onto the rooftop and saw something both amazing and terrifying. A vibrant red appeared on the horizon. The smudge of color grew with increasing speed, and a realization hit. It¡¯s nighttime, and I can see in the dark? She looked up and saw stars. Glad no one saw that. Blushing, she turned toward the hog and quickly saw the reason for the squeal. A killer vulture was on its back, its talons digging into its skin. Blood ran down the hog¡¯s thick hide, and the vulture ripped a chunk of flesh from its back. The deafening noise crashed over the place, and scavengers everywhere turned to look. Unlike normal animals, these came running for a chance at a fresh meal, racing and fighting each other as they charged toward the weakened creature. What is wrong with them? Kindra reached down and grabbed her untrustworthy sling. Standing on the rooftop, she placed a stone in the cloth, spun it around her head, and fired, smashing it into the side of a building and missing the chaotic fight down the lane. God, I suck at this. Reaching down, she grabbed another stone and reloaded. The hog squealed and slammed into a building, scraping the bird and a chunk of flesh from its back. Launching another stone, Kindra missed the hog and hit the bird in the chest. Feathers burst into the air. It dropped, its wings flailing. The hog spun and charged, its mouth chomping down on the bird. Stop stealing my kills! she mentally shouted. Scowling, she aimed and tried again, bouncing a stone off the ground and hitting some cow-like creature that had wandered up. It bellowed, lowered its head, and charged, sinking a set of glowing horns into the hog. The hog squealed bloody murder, and she fired at it. The rock zipped past both. I need a gun! Grabbing another stone, she chucked it at the cow, hitting it in the side with a thump. The cow opened its mouth, revealing yellow, jagged teeth. It sank them into the hog. Loading another sling, she tried again, launching a stone at the pack of rats heading toward the squealing hog. The rock connected with something, and she waited. Shouldn¡¯t I get some mana for that? [Your mana has increased: 3.2 ¡ú 3.3.] ? [Your mana has increased: 3.3 ¡ú 3.5.] ? [Your mana has increased: 3.5 ¡ú 3.8.] ? [Your mana has increased: 3.8 ¡ú 3.9.] ? ¡­ Blinking, she willed them to all flow together. ? [Your mana has increased: 3.2 ¡ú 14.3.] System, add notification information to the starter guide! And notify me when I can level! Turning focus to her dress, she used ten mana along with more of her blood. [Basic dress has been enhanced for 24 hours. Wearing it will grant +1 dexterity and +1 speed.] She wobbled and felt faint. The smell of fresh blood hit, and her mouth watered. She looked at the bloody hog and felt a growing hunger surge through her. Why is blood making me hungry? Am I infected with rabies or something? A shiver ran up her spine. Her eyes dilated, and a cold sweat broke across her skin. We¡¯re all infected. Her eyes flicked to the deranged animals. Squinting, she studied the magic that glowed inside. Tiny runes were visible, little letters that all but confirmed her suspicion. Ignoring the hunger, she shivered and turned her focus inward, feeling the churning mana inside. How do I level? [Will it to spread through your body.] She turned her focus back to her mana, willing it to let her level. [Your mana has been reduced: 14.3 ¡ú 4.3.] [Your level has increased: 1 ¡ú 2.] [Your intelligence has increased: 0 ¡ú 2.] ? [Please select four attributes to increase: Intelligence, Dexterity, Strength, Speed, Stamina.] What do they do? [Each grants a 10% boost to your innate ability.] So one strength makes me ten percent stronger? What does stamina do? [Correct. Stamina increases your innate durability.] ? [You can select the same attribute.] Well, if I get hit, I¡¯m dead. I may as well boost the ones that will help me kill things. She picked speed and strength. [Your speed has increased: 0 ¡ú 2.] ? [Your strength has increased: 0 ¡ú 2.] [Please select an ability: ? - Hearty Swing: You may use mana to augment your next strike, boosting your strength during the swing. ? - Resilient Frame: You may use your mana to absorb damage from heat or shrapnel. ? - Eyes of the Smith: Use your mana to better see flaws in the metal and how to best fix them. ? - Transmutation: Use your knowledge and mana to create or alter unliving matter.] She looked through the list and debated. The first three had one big problem: survival. Those won¡¯t work. She shook her head and picked the last one. At least I can make a gun. [You have unlocked the skill Transmutation.] Looking at the text, she grabbed a few swords and willed them to shift into a small crossbow. [Insufficient mana: 20 required.] She let out a long breath of annoyance. Nothing¡¯s ever easy. She frowned and looked across the village. I assume it¡¯ll cost less if I can get the pieces for it. Dropping silently from the roof, she slipped into the house. The interior was crude, primitive even. A hearth was set into the stone wall, and a rough bench ran alongside it. An open trunk sat in the corner, but when she peered inside, it was empty. She moved to the dining area. A simple table and chairs stood in the center, untouched. The shelves and cupboards nearby had been stripped bare¡ªwhoever had lived here must have left in a hurry. Continuing to the bedrooms, she found straw-stuffed mattresses and chamber pots, signs of a life quickly abandoned. Without hesitating, she kneeled by one of the beds and sliced the mattress cloth into strips, creating makeshift slings. ? Exhaling softly, she made her way back to the door. Poking her head outside, she turned toward the chaos that the boar had created. ? Loading another stone, she turned and whirled it overhead before launching it down the street. The rock struck one of the birds, sending a burst of feathers into the air. The others turned on their wounded kin, and it was buried in the chaos of feathers. Kindra sighed, loading another stone into her sling and taking aim at the chaotic mob of birds. Come on. Your ancestors did this. She launched the stone, striking another bird and sending it tumbling across the cobblestones. The flock hardly noticed, too caught up in their frenzied squabbling, tearing at each other in mindless aggression. Works for me. She gathered a few more stones and tossed them onto the roof before climbing up. Once atop, she paused to survey the town. Cobblestone streets snaked between scattered homes and a few deserted shops. Bodies littered the streets. In the distance, a two-story building with ramparts loomed above the rest, standing as a fortress of sorts. Looks promising. Next to it, she spotted a building with massive chimneys. A forge? Maybe there¡¯s a crossbow in there. She studied the streets and planned the routes. I just need to get there. A glimmer of hope sprang inside. Get there. Get a crossbow and take a minute to figure out this disaster world. Exhaling, she stepped forward, and the ground shuddered beneath her feet, nearly knocking her over. With her arms swinging to restore balance, she swallowed, her heart racing. What the hell was that? Chapter 5 – Where’s the tutorial? – Pt3 Steadying herself, Kindra looked out at the animals. Some went quiet. A flock of birds burst from the forest, and the others continued their squabbles. That happened, right? She looked at the streets, and the ground quaked again. She turned and searched for the source. Some animals stood there, unmoving statues with fear in their eyes. Most were too busy fighting to care. The ground shook, and a nearby chunk of wall tumbled, crashing onto the ground, the stone rolling across the ground until it hit bodies. Swallowing, Kindra felt the hair on her neck rise. Her heart thundered, and she tried to calm it. It¡¯ll be alright. She looked around her and looked up. A black and white bird dove toward her, its talons extended. She jerked the spear up, and the bird slammed into it, impaling itself on the metal. Its wings slammed into her, and she dropped the spear, letting it hit the roof with a thud. Rotten bird. Crouching down, she pulled the spear free, and the village shook. The clay tiles around her rattled, and one snapped. Kindra swallowed and listened to her thundering heart. Calm down. If it hears my heartbeat, I ¡ª The ground trembled. A look of panic spread across the nearby cow. It jolted, and the ground erupted. A massive grub the size of a house burst forward, its cottage-sized mouth engulfing the cow and slamming shut. Kindra stared at the massive insect. Horror filled her. Death? I want a new world. Wriggling its pale flesh, it wormed forward, its body jiggling and then shaking. The grub tensed and launched forward, slamming into a cottage with a loud thud. Two horns burst through its side, and a muted bellow carried from its body. Seriously? House-sized grubs? She turned and watched some of the rats start attacking their own. The smell of the bird¡¯s blood hit her nose, and her mouth watered. The metallic scent seemed so alluring even while surrounded by the decay. Rotten plague¡­ She grimaced. System, how do I cure a magical plague? [The system is designed to aid magical growth, not provide general information for your life.] Well, how do I get a skill to cure magical illness? [With your current magical capabilities, you don¡¯t.] Huffing in frustration, she looked at the city. Just survive, level, and get out of here. She scowled at the nearby rats who¡¯d turned on each other. They were ripping each other apart, painting the streets with their blood. Kindra grabbed a hammer and threw it into them while focusing on the mana in everything. The glowing light of mana surged into view. It was in everything, bathing the place in soft, pulsing light. Runes decorated the scavengers and bodies like some ominous warning. This is way too hard for a starter level. System, wish me luck. [Error! This command is unavailable. A ticket has been submitted.] I need to fix that. [You currently have 29872 tickets in the queue. Would you like to see them?] Fork, no! Kindra picked up a rock. I can see why Death wanted to foist it on me. Loading it into a sling, she swung it overhead and aimed toward the biggest conflict: the grub. Creatures of all sorts ran in, trying to bite off pieces. The grub tried to burrow, and the cow inside went wild, rolling it over and smashing it into a cottage. The building groaned and snapped, crashing down on the grub and nearby creatures. Kindra rifled off her shot and missed. Damn it! Grabbing a hammer, she aimed and launched it, sending it smashing into a group of rats. Using her excess weapons as ammunition, she launched them into the fray while watching a slow stream of mana flow back to her. Throwing a final rock for good measure, she grabbed the supplies and dropped from the rooftop, hoping that the grub would provide her with a moderate distraction. Creeping along the buildings, she tip-toed around puddles and bodies. The sound of fighting creatures filled the air. The sun¡¯s rays added color to the grisly setting, lighting the crimson blood and brown grime that littered the streets. She crept by them, pausing to grab and stash a few more knives and axes on her way down the lane. Reaching an intersection, she slowed, grabbed a spear, and crept forward. The sound of wings pulled her focus. They churned the air, drumming a beat before going silent. Kindra jerked up. The vulture dove. Its long razor talons extended, glistening in the early-morning light. More out of instinct than anything else, Kindra jerked her spear up. The vulture slammed onto it, and she shoved the spear away, slamming the bird into a cottage and scrambling away. I can get a new spear. She darted away, even as the bloodshot eyes of several creatures turned. Darting around the corner and grabbing another spear on her way, she dashed down the street and past an intersection littered with torn animal carcasses. A blast of air followed her, nearly knocking her over. She didn¡¯t slow down or bother to look. Instead, she dashed down the street and peered around the corner. Chaos greeted her. The grub had rolled around the corner and halfway down the street. Collapsed cottages surrounded it, and it slammed itself into another, hitting it with a loud thump and spurting green fluid all over the street. I do not understand. Kindra watched it roll backward, causing several rats to pop in an explosion of gore. Grimacing, she looked at a nearby corpse, her eyes drifting to the weapons next to it. Level three isn¡¯t that far off. Leaning the spear against the wall, she picked up a hammer and launched it at a bird. It looped through the air, missing the bird and smacking the grub in its head. An explosion of green goop spattered across the ground and its attackers. Grabbing the axe, she flung it into the writhing mass before snatching her spear and sprinting down the lane. Vaulting over a corpse, she landed and paused¡ªjust as a rat jerked its head up, chunks of flesh hanging from its bloodstained mouth. Shit. Her heart pounded as she charged and thrust the spear toward the creature. It darted to the side, and she ran past. Don¡¯t chase me¡ªplease don¡¯t chase. She dashed. The sound of wings reached her ears, and she dove, talons raking her back and slicing into her skin. A flash of pain shot through her, and she hit a cottage¡¯s wall. Pain wracked her shoulder, and she forced herself to spin. The bird landed, its wings folding as it stabilized. Before it could lunge, she ran forward and slammed her spear into its back. The spear sunk through its flesh. Ripping it out in a spray of delicious-smelling blood, she turned and fled the rat that skittered toward her. Her heart thundered, and with every step, the pain in her leg and back grew. The oppressive reality of the world wormed through the shock. It crushed in on her hope, the little flame flickering. Just get in the barracks. She swallowed, rounded a corner, and froze.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A massive cow stood in the street, gnawing on a corpse, its hulking frame blocking the way. Breathing heavily, she glanced up at the sky, watching with dread as the light grew stronger. I need shelter. She looked at the nearby cottages. The streets were a mistake. With a quick jump, she grabbed the roof and pulled herself up. The cow turned and charged, its hooves clattering on the stone. Time seemed to slow, her heart pounding in her ears. Scrambling upward, she clawed at the tile and threw her legs up over the edge, looking back at her attacker. The cow didn¡¯t slow, its red eyes locked on her. Kindra¡¯s eyes went wide. Oh, shit! It crashed into the house with a bone-shaking impact. The roof dropped from under her, and she fell, tumbling onto the hard stone below. Ow! With aches and pain spreading everywhere, she forced herself up, the debris all around her. The cow had made it into the cottage before it all came tumbling down. With the debris all around it, it bellowed. Kindra forced herself off the cold, sticky ground with a groan. Grabbing her spear, she spun and slammed it into the cow. Stupid thing! The cow kicked, tearing the wound open even wider. She yanked the spear free and drove it between its ribs. The cow let out a painful bellow, and she ripped the weapon out again. Can¡¯t stay. She turned and hobbled down the road, blood running from various scrapes, cuts, and wounds. I need a healer. Rubbing the dirt from her face, she forced herself down the road and peered around the corner¡ªfreezing in her tracks. Three vultures were tearing into carcasses, their beaks snapping and hissing at one another. Keeping low, she pulled behind the building and felt something squish beneath her foot. Looking down, her shoulders slumped. Her leather shoes were drenched in blood. It coated everything, and she reached for her mana. Please tell me I can make the crossbow. [Your mana has increased: 4.3 ¡ú 13.9.] Not enough. Pausing momentarily, she walked to a corpse and grabbed a waterskin. Unscrewing the lid, she opened it, sniffing a few times. It smells okay, and I¡¯m already infected. She took a drink, added it to her supplies, and leaned the spear against the wall. Grabbing a hammer from the body, she peered around the corner and threw. It spun through the air and hit the large bird in the chest. The bird tumbled, a wing snapping. The two others pounced and ripped into it. Grabbing an axe, she sent it flying, clipping one of the birds. The other pounced on it, and the two started fighting. One more. She reached down and grabbed a discarded hammer. Hefting it, she looked at the remaining bird. It turned toward her, spreading its wings. Chucking the hammer at the bird, she turned and grabbed her spear. The bird collided with the hammer and tumbled across the road. Kindra ran and stabbed it, sinking the spear into its body and dragging it behind her. The bird skidded along the stone. The smell of blood wafted by, and Kindra paused. She ripped the spear free and grabbed the corpse while poking her head around the corner. A large courtyard stretched up to the barracks. Corpses were scattered everywhere, and the scavengers were fighting over them. Okay. Just run. Run to it and bar the door. Taking a deep breath, Kindra pushed her aching body forward, sprinting toward the open door. Racing past rats, vultures, and a hog, she dashed inside the building and slammed the door shut, dropping a heavy bar into place and slumping against the door, the exhaustion and frustration slamming into her. Slumping to the ground, she looked down at her bloody dress. Her leg throbbed, and her back stung. She felt emotion well up in her chest. She was on an alien planet, surrounded by plague-infested creatures and no one else. A pang of loneliness rippled through her, and she buried her head in her hands, the smell of blood and dirt filling her nostrils. Why me? Why here? No answers came. She swallowed, her mind flickering back to the ships. How many of them survived? The system didn¡¯t answer. Neither did Death. Pain from her legs pulled her back from the spiral. She looked down at her legs, watching blood trickling down. You can¡¯t sit here, Kindra. You will die. She shoved the emotion down and blew an errant strand of white hair from her face. White? What the hell, Death? Shaking her head, she forced herself to stand. How long until I can make a crossbow? [Your mana has increased: 13.9 ¡ú 19.8.] She let out a soft groan and looked around the building. A dozen corpses in varying states of decay were lying there. A wooden staircase sat against the far wall, and a hallway stretched in front of her, a few doors on each side. Turning, she saw the equivalent of a closet. Empty shelves and hooks lined the walls, and a door sat on the end. Future problem. She walked down the hallway and stopped at the first set of doors. To the right was an office, and to the left was a large room full of tables and chairs. She poked her head into the dining room. The embers in a nearby hearth glowed faintly, lighting the wooden furniture in a soft, red glow. The tables had a few plates sitting on them, and a small stack of wood was in the corner. A door at the end stood there, half shut. Probably the kitchens. Stepping inside, she set the bird on the table before turning and walking out of the room. Ignoring the office, she walked past another office and poked her head into the room at the end of the hall. Beds lined the place. Small trunks sat in front of each bed. Dormitory. She walked inside and grabbed a thin blanket from the bed. The fabric was surprisingly soft, the threads woven with far too much precision. Do they have sewing machines? Or did magic do this? She grabbed a knife and cut off a few strips. Pulling out the waterskin, she poured it on the cloth and sat on the trunk. Don¡¯t think. Just do it. Reaching down, she forced herself to scrub off the grime covering the wound, sending pain through her leg and making her flinch. With her foot drumming out pain, she scrubbed off the dirt. Fresh blood oozed from the wound, and she grabbed a strip of cloth. Looping it around her leg, she pulled it tight and tied the cloth into a makeshift bandage. Pausing, she waited, letting the pain slowly dim. Staring at the stone wall, she knocked dirt and grime from her hair. Did Death dump me on another planet? She looked at the shining bracelet. I don¡¯t understand any of it. Where¡¯s the ship? How¡¯d I get here? Leaning against the bed, she listened to the squabbling animals and failed to get an answer. A trickle of blood running down her back called her attention back to the other issue. Sighing, she pulled her arms out of the dress and pushed it down. Reaching behind her, Kindra scrubbed at the dirt and gravel embedded in her skin, wincing as she dabbed at the wound she couldn¡¯t see. Finally, she grabbed a large strip of cloth and wrapped it tightly around her chest. Why¡¯d you drop me here, Death? She wondered, pulling her torn dress back over her shoulders and looking longingly at a bed. Don¡¯t do it, Kindra. If we want to live, we have things to do, her inner voice urged. With a long breath, she forced herself up and returned to the dining room. Get food. She walked to the woodpile, grabbed a piece, and hacked off smaller chunks, tossing them onto the coals and letting them catch fire. She added other small pieces as the flames flickered to life, stoking the flame higher and higher. As the warmth and light spread through the room, she grabbed logs and added them to the fire. That should do it. Leaving the fire, she grabbed a cooking pot and walked to the dead bird, her stomach growling at the sight. Fighting the urge to devour it raw, she ripped out the feathers and sliced off chunks of meat, placing them in the pot. Carrying the pot back to the fire, she hung the pot on a hook mounted on the stone wall. Stepping back, she absently ran her fingers through her blood-matted hair. Was I dead then? The thought gnawed at her. He was cagey about that, and it¡¯s the only thing that makes sense. Zombie Kindra. The distant sound of squabbling animals snapped her out of her thoughts. She left the fire and poked her head into the adjoining kitchen. A large hearth dominated the space, surrounded by several pots, some scattered food on the shelves, and an open door leading to the cellar. At least I won¡¯t starve. She listened to the animals and shook her head. The entire planet is going to die if this spreads. Turning back, she walked back to the front of the barracks and looked at the dead dwarves, focusing on the faint runes that covered the bodies. Can I break them? I did it before. She approached one of the corpses and started with the first rune, recalling the best counter. Then she worked down the line, mapping out the runes she¡¯d need to break them. She memorized them as best as she could. ¡°System, how do I do this? Is there a spell or something?¡± [Given your current abilities, you may conjure the runes in your mind and touch the infected. Your blood will do the rest. You may also will your mana forward while picturing the runes in your mind. This is considered free casting.] So I can get rid of it. She took a moment to review the runes, and the smell of burning meat reached her nose. Oh, shirt. Forgot. Bolting back to the dining room, she grabbed the pot and placed it on the floor. Now, does it have it too? She studied her meal and saw the same runes. Reaching down, she touched the meat and pictured the rune sequence. The runes all snuffed out. [Your actions have caused your magic to grow. ? Your mana has increased: 19.8 ¡ú 24.8.] A massive smile spread across her face. She placed the pot on the fire before turning to the bird¡¯s corpse. It¡¯s time to farm some mana. With an eager look, she dashed to it. Chapter 6 – Where’s the tutorial? – Pt4 Runes danced through Kindra¡¯s mind in a kaleidoscope of color. It felt like she was looking out into space. Creation surrounded her, and it all faded, leaving nothing but the familiar smells, hunger, and pain. She exhaled and looked at the bird. The runes were gone. Did it work? [Your actions have caused your magic to grow.] ? [Your mana has increased: 25.8 ¡ú 26.3.] Aww. Her smile faded. The sounds of fighting animals filled the air, and the smell of meat and blood lingered around her. At least it was risk-free. She turned and looked at the pot. I need silverware. Walking to a table, she grabbed an errant fork, brought it over, and waved it through the flames to clean it. Reaching into the pot, she fished out a piece of meat and bit into it. The taste of charred meat mingled with the taste of raw meat. Worst meal on the planet. She continued eating, enjoying the taste of the raw meat and trying to ignore the burned bits. Finishing, she walked to the table and cut off more strips of meat, tossing them into the pot. System, how much would it take to make a pistol? [Materials are required.] Grabbing a sword and axe, she tried again. [25 mana required.] Nice! And to make a bullet from this? [Material components are required. Your current skill does not support chemical alteration.] So, it¡¯s crossbow time. She tried again. [Insufficient materials.] Darn it. What¡¯s in a crossbow? It¡¯s just wood and metal¡­ oh, string. I don¡¯t have a crossbow string. What did they use way back then? Looking around the room, she failed to see anything that would work. Think, Kindra, think! Dad would know. He¡¯d tell you some story. She paused, and a memory came rushing back ¡­ ~~~ Kindra stared at the exhibit. A hologram of a cow rotated in circles, and its skin vanished, revealing all the muscles inside. A droning voice described the different parts and their use throughout history. She jerked away, ignoring the polished museum and looking up at her father. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s gross.¡± Charles chuckled softly. ¡°The path to space wasn¡¯t easy.¡± He mussed with her hair and bent down. ¡°We had to learn to use everything.¡± ¡°But they used body parts.¡± She grimaced, stuck out her tongue, and shook her head, peeking another look at the exhibit, which showed the muscles inside of the cow. ¡°Body parts and plants took us a very long way.¡± He leaned closer. ¡°They even made arrows from the bones.¡± Kindra stuck out her tongue and shook her head, her hair bouncing off her shoulders. ¡°So gross.¡± She spun and ran across the polished floor, heading for the robot exhibit. Charles chuckled and jogged after her. ~~~ The memory disappeared, and Kindra reached over to the vulture. Thanks, Dad. Holding it, a chair, and a sword, she used the skill again, willing it to become a crossbow. The wood came apart, flowing like water. It flowed up into the stock and grip. The sword did the same, becoming the limbs, the lever, and the trigger. Lastly, blood spurted as a tendon was pulled from the body. She shut her eyes. I was right. It¡¯s disgusting. Opening them, she looked down at the lever action crossbow. It gleamed in the firelight. She ran her hand along the smooth metal and wood. Finally. She gently placed it on a table. Grabbing the pot, she placed it over the flame and turned back to the room. Now, what do I use for bolts? Bone, wood, or metal? Opting for something more durable, she grabbed axes and burned the rest of her mana on Transmutation. The wood and metal split apart, forming twenty-one bolts. She ran her fingers along a bolt. Now I can level and get out of here. She grinned and reached for her mana. [Level 3 requires 30 mana to be sacrificed.] Aww. Kindra blew a strand of hair from her face and willed the text away, listening to the sound of the fighting animals outside. With her meat still cooking, she loaded a bolt and used the lever to ratchet the string into place. With the string taut and the bolt ready, she walked out of the kitchen and headed to the door. I can¡¯t believe this is my fate. I died and got put on some¡ªwait, did I die? That voice. I remember that voice and the runes. She frowned and leaned against the door, listening to the creatures outside. ¡°Death? Want to weigh in?¡± she asked. He did not answer. I need to talk to the locals. Maybe they know. Kindra reached over, lifting the crossbar on the door. She opened it a crack and peered out. The round courtyard greeted her. Four streets intersected to create it. In the center, bodies were around a broken well. Puddles of blood painted it all in various shades of red, the morning sun making everything visible. It did not improve the decor. Several cottages were now collapsed piles of rubble. Bloated and decaying bodies were everywhere, leaking horrific-smelling fluid from them. Clamping her nose shut, she looked at the animals fighting over the bodies. Birds ripped into flesh. A nearby tan cow licked blood from the ground, and a pack of gray rats mauled a corpse, spreading bits of meat and bone across the cobblestone street.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Kindra forced herself not to vomit at the sight. She swallowed and watched a bird charge the rat pack. The madness of it all forced her thoughts back to grim survival. I need to end this plague before it spreads everywhere. She swallowed and looked at the crossbow. I guess I¡¯d better get started. Lifting the crossbow, she heard hooves. The murder cow thundered across the ground. A large blue snake hissed, and the cow lowered its head. Magic surged around its skull, and it slammed into the snake, coming to a complete stop. The snake flew, its tail thrashing and its body rippling. Magic built around it, and it slammed into a cottage. Clay tiles rained on it. Death, if you want to get me out of here, that¡¯d be great! Bracing the crossbow, she raised it and lined up her shot, looking down the bolt and pulling the trigger. The string twanged, and the bolt streaked across the air, hitting the cow¡¯s skull with a loud crack. The cow wobbled. Blood oozed from its head, and she slammed the door shut. Grabbing another bolt, she reloaded, carefully nocking the bolt. Popping the door open, she looked at the courtyard. The cow was lying there, struggling to breathe. Turning, Kindra aimed at the rats and fired. The bolt flew and sunk into the pack, spraying blood across several rats. Can¡¯t even tell what I hit. Grabbing another bolt, she nocked it and looked at the snake. Is it healing? Should I kill it? The snake somehow seemed to be healing. Its wounds were closing. Leaving a battered and bloody part of itself behind, it slithered to the cow and opened its mouth impossibly wide. Aiming for the head, Kindra exhaled and fired. The bolt clipped its back, creating a long gash. Grabbing another bolt, she reloaded and watched a vulture swoop down. Snagging the snake, it swooped onto the nearby rooftop and began eating, tearing out strips of meat and swallowing them. Kindra aimed at the bird and fired. The bolt flew and burst through the bird¡¯s chest in an explosion of feathers and blood. It tipped and fell, its wings flapping as it crashed to the ground. Reaching down, she reloaded and peered out. A large pig-thing was looking at her. It opened its mouth, revealing the rows and rows of teeth. They glistened in the morning sun, and its beady, black eyes locked on her. Kindra slammed the door shut, tossing the bar into place. Nope. I¡¯m not risking that. Setting down the crossbow, she walked to the dining room, pulled the pot from the flame, and set it on the table. Grabbing the fork, she ran it through the flames and looked around the barren room. So¡­ This is my new life? Why does this seem fake? She raised a brow. If I die, do I respawn? [It¡¯s not fake. Death is real. Don¡¯t die. ~Death] Death, what the hell? Is this my body? What happened? [Kindra, I did what I was able. I can¡¯t intervene right now. It will get you killed. Be careful. Use your brain and survive. ~Death] What does that mean? She frowned and didn¡¯t get an answer. Can I send messages with the system? [This functionality is unavailable at your current system level. System Level: 1] Kindra sighed. I¡¯m not doing tech support while on the brink of death. She picked out another piece of meat and ate it, half swallowing it. So good. Picking out another piece of meat, she listened to the fighting animals and ate the half-cooked meat. Why does the raw stuff taste better? She shrugged and ate with gusto, devouring the pieces while standing there. Licking her lips, she felt her teeth. Are they sharper? Why? She held up her hands. They were different, skinnier with longer and sharper nails. Okay. Is this my body or not? She scowled. Death didn¡¯t answer. Fine. I¡¯ll figure it out myself and purge this stupid plague, but you¡¯d better give me a good title or achievement. [Not a game.] Willing it away, she returned to the door. Please tell me that I¡¯m close to leveling. [Your mana has increased: 26.3 ¡ú 29.5.] So close. She picked up the loaded crossbow and leaned against the door and listened to the ruckus outside. Okay. I claim this land for gamers everywhere! With that thought in mind, she opened the door and looked at the courtyard. It had not calmed down. The cow was lying in a pool of blood. A large hog, only a dozen feet away, ripped a chunk of meat from a cow. Steadying her aim, Kindra lined the bolt with the pig¡¯s head and pulled the trigger. The bolt sunk into its side, spraying blood into the air and misting across her face. The hog squealed, unleashing a horrific sound that rang through her skull. Slamming the door shut, she barred it and grabbed another arrow. A massive whump filled the air, and the hog squealed again, the sound ripping through the space like a siren song to everything. Here comes a feeding frenzy. Grabbing the bolts, she headed to the stairs, walking up the wooden steps and reaching another floor. Pausing, she looked down the hall and into a large dorm area. Most of the beds were a mess. Ignoring them, she continued up the stairs, reaching a wooden door with steel bands and a lookout hole. Sliding aside a metal shutter, she peered out the metal grate. A rooftop of gray stone and carnage greeted her. The stone formed a slightly bowed roof. Rain gutters, filled with blood, allowed water to drain from it. Bodies were clogging them, puddles of blood pooling here and there. Atop the bodies were scavengers. The vultures were tearing into the dwarven corpses and hissing at each other. A lizard skittered over the battlement and darted to a corpse. Opening its mouth, it clamped down on a hand, ripping meat from the bone. Ratcheting back the string, Kindra loaded the crossbow and aimed through the slot. A vulture hopped in front of her. It hissed, and she fired. The string twanged. The steel crossbow vibrated, and the bolt flew, slamming into the bird¡¯s chest. It tumbled, smearing blood across the stone. One down. The lizard didn¡¯t wait. It pounced, sinking fangs into the bird¡¯s neck. Grabbing another arrow, Kindra loaded it and aimed. The lizard was the most obvious target. It was standing over the dead bird, clawing at another one. Steadying her arm, she fired. The bolt zipped forward and sunk into the lizard¡¯s back. If I hurry, I can cleanse them. Grabbing bolts, she began rapidly firing them into the birds. Feathers flew. Blood sprayed, and she used all but three of her bolts to kill the scavengers from the roof. With the final bird still dying and mana streaming into her, she opened the door and dashed outside. She ran to the nearest bird, stepping on it and ripping out the bolt. Picturing the counter runes, she watched the runes of the bird hit her foot. The two met and vanished. Doing the same to the lizard, she ripped her bolt free and cleansed it of the magical plague. Moving quickly to the next targets, she repeated it, collecting her bolts and purging the remaining magic. Pausing, she took a moment to survey her surroundings. The sun continued its ascent, lighting the village. The cobblestone streets formed a grid. Cottages and shops lined them. Small yards decorated some of them. Others were packed together, and all of them were adorned with blood and bodies. Looking in the distance, she saw a collapsed wall on one side and a still-standing wall on the other. So it¡¯s walled off¡­ probably to stop this. She looked at the streets. Dwarven bodies of varying states of decay were there. Some random, decayed animal corpses lay there. So, a fight between dwarves? What¡¯s with the other bodies? No answer came, and she dismissed the thought. Moving quickly, she ran to the lizard and grabbed its tail. With a grunt, she flung it over the ramparts. It soared. Animals looked up, and it hit the ground in a splatter of blood. The nearby animals rushed toward it and started fighting in earnest. Kindra grabbed the vulture and tossed it over the edge. The body tumbled and slammed into a group of rats. One squealed loudly and went silent. Did I just kill something with a corpse? Ignoring the ludicrousness, she hurried to the others, looting weapons and tossing half the bodies over the edge before she saw them. A large flock of vultures flew closer. She turned and grabbed bodies, hurling them over the edge and letting them thud into the growing madness below. The flock of death approached quickly. They circled, and Kindra shoved the last body over the edge. It tumbled and slammed into one of the birds below. She looked at the circling flock. Almost in unison, the vultures dove. Nope. Kindra turned and ran for the door. Chapter 7 – Where’s the tutorial? – Pt5 Kindra¡¯s heart pounded, and she raced into the barracks, slamming the door shut behind her. Looking down from the small platform at the top of the stairs, she sighed. Are they infected, too? Reaching over, she pulled the heavy wood across the door, barring it shut. Grabbing her crossbow, she loaded it and gathered her bolts. Time to check that other door. She walked down the steps, descending to the first floor. Walking to the armory, she leaned against the door and listened to the sounds outside. The creatures outside squabbled, and she listened for anything on the other side of the door. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything. Raising the crossbow, she opened the door and peered out the armory door. The inside of a forge greeted her. Anvils sat next to a furnace with a large chimney. Barrels and shelves lined the wall closest to her, and a swarm of rats mauled a corpse on the floor. They look less horrible in the dark. Aiming at the rat next to the door, she fired. The bolt blew right through it, hitting the stone floor with a clang. One down. Slamming another bolt into place, she ratcheted the next shot and aimed at the back of a balding head. Its flesh poked through the thin hair, and teeth protruded upward, poking out of its nose. Ew. She squeezed the trigger, and the string jerked forward, launching the arrow. The bolt zipped forward, missing her target and hitting another rat. Another down. She grabbed another bolt. A rat jerked up and hissed. She slammed the door shut and leaned against it. A rat slammed into it and began scratching. Aw, crud. She set her crossbow aside and sprinted toward the corpses scattered in the room, grabbing two axes and a spear. Returning to the door, she placed one of the axes on the floor, carefully wedging the axe head to serve as a makeshift doorstop. Bracing the axe with her foot, she gripped the spear tightly and cracked the door open. The rats slammed into it. The door caught on the axe¡¯s head, halting the swarm. Kindra quickly stabbed through the narrow gap beside the door, impaling one of the rats. More rats shoved their heads through, wriggling and pushing against the door, trying to squeeze through it. Dropping the spear, she grabbed the axe. With a downward chop, she brought it down like an executioner, cleaving through bone and fur. Blood sprayed across the room, splattering over the faintly glowing runes carved into the floor. Whatever. I¡¯ll cleanse after. Raising the axe again, she slammed it down with brutal force. Heads flew, blood spattered, and she swung¡ªover and over¡ªuntil the last rat finally went limp. Panting, Kindra bent down and studied the infected rats. She willed the counter-magic into her mind, snuffing out the glowing magic all around her. All at once? Come on! With a sigh, she summoned her mana. [Your mana has increased: 29.5 ¡ú 48.9.] That put the smile back on her face. I can level. She debated what to do with the mana, walking into the forge to look around. There was a small supply area just inside the door. Beyond that were the forges and anvils. Two open doors led out of the front and back. She bolted to each and slammed them shut, barring them with metal rods. There. Home, sweet, death-filled home. Chuckling at the absurdity, she walked to the barrels on the wall closest to the barracks. One was filled with water, one had some sort of iron ore, and another had water. She spun and walked to the forge. A few works in progress were sitting on a bench. Tools littered the tables. Those will be useful. Spinning, she looked at the rats. But what do I do about them? She grabbed a steel bar and burned a little mana to make three crossbow bolts. Carrying them back into the barracks, she grabbed her gear and returned to the roof. Maybe the birds are all out of the air now. Reaching the top of the stairs, she set down the axe and spear. Leaning against the wall, she focused on her mana and sacrificed thirty mana. [Your mana has been reduced: 48.9 ¡ú 18.9.] [Your level has increased: 2 ¡ú 3.] ? [Your intelligence has increased: 2 ¡ú 4.] [Please select four attributes to increase.] Hmm. Smarter is better, but I also need to survive. Which is better for that? Sighing, she picked dexterity and stamina. [Your dexterity has increased: 0 ¡ú 2.] ? [Your stamina has increased: 0 ¡ú 2.] [Please select a specialization: (This will impact future abilities). ? - Blacksmithing and Smelting - For those of you who want to make the very best swords, daggers, and other weapons. ? - Machining - Let¡¯s be real, you¡¯re picking this one, Miss Robotics. ? - Combatant - Crafting sucks. I need to survive! ? ] Hey, the descriptions are better. I approve. Kindra smiled and looked through the list. Do I still get the old skill options? [It¡¯s possible, but some options may change as your magic grows.] She looked through the list and knew the one she wanted. It was obvious, but she forced herself to work through the list. The first lets me make a magic sword, but I don¡¯t want a magic sword. I want a gun, or a tank, or a drone¡­ With a smile, she picked the one she wanted: machining. [You have gained the ability ¡°Clockwork Companion.¡± - Create a companion capable of executing basic commands. Mana cost and abilities vary based on prior actions, construction materials, and your knowledge.] A massive grin spread across her face, and she looked down at the bracelet of nanites. I can make a familiar with these. She placed her hand on them and triggered the skill, burning ten mana. The bracelet came alive, churning and swirling, and she felt a connection form in her mind. [Error! Report escalated to administrators.] How did that cause an error? Kindra frowned, and her bracelet vanished. What? I needed those. She crossed her arms, blew a strand of hair from her face, and scowled at the ceiling. Death? A shimmering fairy with silver wings, white hair, and a silver dress burst into existence. Its wings fluttered, and it flew down. Umm, what? Why is there a fairy? Kindra leaned closer and examined the small creature. It was about eight inches tall and looked strangely perfect, with a small nose, long lashes, and a slender figure. The fairy turned and looked at her. Kindra heard it speaking in her mind and aloud. ¡°Umm. Who the hell are you?¡± the fairy barked, crossing her arms and scowling. She looked down at herself and looked back up, her scowl growing. Kindra pulled away from it, her hand going for an axe. ¡°I¡¯m Kindra. Who are you, and where did my bracelet go?¡± The rage on the fairy¡¯s face died. She stared at Kindra with a strange look before shaking her hair. ¡°No. You aren¡¯t her. Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kindra. Who are you?¡± The fairy scowled. ¡°No, and I¡¯m not helping you, demon.¡± What the crap? She¡¯s supposed to be my familiar, and she¡¯s all lippy. Kindra scowled at her. ¡°I need those nanites back.¡± She held out her hand. ¡°You were supposed to be a robot.¡± The fairy gasped, her mouth hanging open. She looked at Kindra¡¯s wrist and flew a little closer. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Kindra said, leaning away. What a waste. The fairy flew around her. Kindra turned. Whatever. I need to level and get out of here. ¡°Our ancestors built a ladder,¡± the fairy said softly. Kindra spun and stared. ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± ¡°Finish it,¡± the fairy whispered in a voice that was strangely familiar. Realization hit Kindra like a truck. She stared at the fairy, her mouth dropping open. ¡°Aika, how did you get turned into a fairy?¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°If you¡¯re Kindra, you know the rest,¡± Aika replied, flying closer. ¡°Our ancestors built a ladder so we could reach the stars. ? Remember, it¡¯s together that we¡¯ve come this far. ? We stand upon the giants and add our work to theirs. ? The truest path to greatness is built with what is shared.¡± Aika¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°Aika, how are you a fairy?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°How should I know? How are you¡­ that?¡± She gestured at Kindra. Kindra looked at her white hair and sighed. ¡°I have no idea. How different do I look?¡± ¡°Very. It¡¯s strange. You have white hair, really blue eyes, and really sharp teeth. Oh, and you¡¯re taller and more slender with longer ears.¡± Aika moved forward. ¡°Am I alive now? I can hear things and feel things, and it¡¯s really strange.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Kindra bit her lip. ¡°Any idea what happened to the nanites? I needed them to help rebuild things.¡± Aika went quiet, and Kindra waited. ¡°What¡¯s this system, and why does it say that¡¯s not possible?¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°System, what the heck is going on?¡± [Your familiar levels with you. In this case, Aika was trying to access functionality beyond what is supported by her current form.] ¡°What was she trying to do?¡± ¡°No!¡± Aika shouted, jumping in front of Kindra¡¯s face and waving her arms. [She was trying to revert her form to nanites.] ¡°Traitorous system! I¡¯ll get you for this.¡± Aika crossed her arms and scowled. Kindra turned. ¡°Aika, don¡¯t sacrifice yourself. We¡¯ll get there, one step at a time.¡± She smiled and held out her hand. Aika landed on it and looked up at her. ¡°I missed you. It feels like it has been forever.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too.¡± Kindra smiled. ¡°And it¡¯s fun to see you in a humanoid form¡­ Wait. Are you mechanical?¡± Aika shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t feel the nanites.¡± She pinched her arm. ¡°It feels fleshy.¡± ¡°System, care to weigh in?¡± [A sufficiently advanced machine is like magic. ~Death] Kindra exhaled slowly. ¡°I should have seen that one coming.¡± She looked at the little fairy in her hand. ¡°Time to try to level. I¡¯m going to need your help.¡± Aika fluttered out of her hand and landed on her head. Kindra walked up and peered onto the rooftop, seeing the familiar blood-stained stone. Looks clear. Sliding the bar out of the way, she hefted the crossbow and grabbed the bolts. ¡°Kindra, what are we doing?¡± Aika asked. ¡°Killing the plague-infested monsters that live here. Don¡¯t get infected.¡± Kindra cracked the door open and peered out, spotting nothing but the roof. Opening the door, she walked to the ledge and looked down, studying the magic below. The animals had all gotten the planet¡¯s version of magical rabies. They were practically foaming at the mouth while mauling each other. Propping her crossbow on the rampart and setting the bolts down, she aimed and fired. The bolt speared through the snake, staking it into the ground. It took about three seconds for a bird to rip it in half. Reloading the crossbow, she fired again and again and again. A stream of bolts flew into the fighting mob. Blood oozed everywhere. The frenzy of creatures attacked in earnest, and she slaughtered a dozen before anything noticed her. A large, green lizard waddled up, looked at the chaos, and then at her. Turning away from the mess, it scrambled to the barracks and began climbing. Grabbing a hammer, she waited. The lizard¡¯s head poked over the ramparts, and she smashed her hammer into it, sending it tumbling back down. Dumb lizard. It hit the ground with a heavy thud. A bird scrambled forward and ripped into its flesh. Aika giggled and fluttered out, peering down at the mess. She looked back at the roof and fluttered upward, searching the area. Kindra loaded another shot from her rapidly diminishing supply. I¡¯m going to need to spend mana or try to loot them. Aiming at a charging murder cow, she fired, catching it in the chest. The cow bellowed, which only brought more attention to it. Rats scurried out and mauled its legs, ripping into the flesh. Blood ran down its legs, and it smashed rats with its feet. Shaking her head, Kindra fired her last three bolts. ¡°Aika, I need to try to gather them.¡± She grabbed her crossbow and bolted back inside. Barring the door to the roof, she vaulted down the stairs and ran to the front door. Grabbing a spear, she leaned against the door. ¡°Aika, stay near the door and keep a lookout.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Aika fluttered next to her. Kindra opened the door and ran outside. Her feet sunk into a puddle of blood. A grisly murder scene greeted her. Bodies covered the courtyard. Blood pooled everywhere, the heavy metallic smell hung thick in the air. Running to the nearest corpse, she invoked the rune sequence and ripped the bolt free. The runes faded away, and a small stream of mana flowed into her. She turned and ran to the next. Moving fast, she zipped around the courtyard. Her shoes quickly became plastered with blood. Flies and bugs flew by, runes glowing inside them. We¡¯re dead. This entire planet is dead. Some strange bug flew up and landed on her arm. Swatting it, it smeared across her arm. Death, I can¡¯t stop this plague. She raced to a cow next to the well and ripped out two crossbow bolts before peering inside. Runes and blood decorated the stone. Peering into the black, she saw the slow-moving water roll by, carrying the runes with it. This is so bad. Reaching down, she grabbed the rope that was attached to a bucket below. Hauling it up, she grimaced at the dingy red water. Can I purify more of it at once? She touched it and imagined the counter sequence, willing it to spread around her, pushing it into the water and burning a little mana to do it. With a quick shove, everything went dark, her vision fading away. Her spirit seemed to jerk from her body, and it felt like she was back in the black nothingness before Death had arrived. Gasping in panic, her heart rate spiked, and a shiver ran through her body. The glowing runes flashed by, and with them came an ancient presence. Immense pressure filled her mind. Like the presence on the ship, it seemed to pull her into its gaze. Terror flooded through her. Her mind screamed, and she released her spell, snapping back into her body. What the hell was that? Panting, she grabbed her bolts and bolted to the safety of the barracks, slamming the door shut and leaning against the wall. Breathe. Just breathe. Inhaling and exhaling, she slumped to the floor and pulled herself into a ball. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika asked, zipped up and landing on her shoulder. ¡°Need a¡ªa minute,¡± Kindra stammered, pulling her legs to her chest. What is that thing? [That¡¯s an irksome problem. I¡¯m working on it. ~Death] Is that how my body got here? Kindra swallowed. [Yes. ~Death] What is it? [That would pull far too much attention to you. Be careful, Kindra. ~Death] A tiny hand patted her shoulder, and she turned. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Aika asked, fluttering over. Kindra shivered and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s the thing that brought us here. It did this,¡± she whispered. Aika patted her. ¡°Sorry. I tried to stop that, but I couldn¡¯t.¡± She landed and looked up with a frown. ¡°Thanks, Aika. Are you okay?¡± Aika nodded. ¡°Yes. I mean, it¡¯s strange. And I miss my computers and processing power, but I can fly and touch things, and I have you.¡± She beamed and took off, flying in little circles. Kindra looked up and shivered. ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡± Aika landed on her shoulder. ¡°So, what is magic? Is it like that stuff that I couldn¡¯t detect?¡± Leaning back, Kindra¡¯s thoughts drifted to the ship. Is that what ruined everything? She shivered, and little arms wrapped around her finger. She looked down. Aika frowned. ¡°I need you to level so I can get big and hug you.¡± She smiled and blushed. ¡°And so you can hug me,¡± she said softly. Kindra looked at her. ¡°I have no idea how to hug you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a problem,¡± Aika said, sighing. ¡°But you can level and fix it.¡± She smiled. ¡°Thanks. Do you remember what happened to the ship?¡± Aika swallowed. ¡°Sort of? There was a lot of interference. I downloaded a backup of myself into your bracelet, and that¡¯s all I remember.¡± ¡°So, you lost the data from when we jerked through the wormhole?¡± ¡°I only remember up to the point that the first wormhole started to collapse for no reason. It didn¡¯t make sense.¡± Aika fluttered into the air. ¡°It was strange, and I prepared some backups just in case.¡± ¡°It was magic. I¡¯m sure of it now.¡± Kindra forced herself up, gathering the bolts and crossbow. She turned and headed for the stairs. Aika is right, though. I need to get stronger. That means it¡¯s time to slaughter everything so we can leave. Opening the door and walking out onto the roof, she looked across the village. The animals continued murdering each other. ¡°Eww. That¡¯s gross,¡± Aika said, pointing over to the side. Kindra turned and saw a massive puddle of blood. Turtle things had taken it over and were warring in the makeshift pond. ¡°Horrifying. Keep an eye out for any birds, please, Aika.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kindra loaded the crossbow and propped it against the ramparts, aiming at a nearby snake and firing. The bolt sunk through it and snapped. Well, that¡¯s one I¡¯ll have to replace. Minutes passed, and she got stuck in a loop, firing off bolts, collecting them, and adding more to the supply as they broke. After several hours, the sun had arced across the sky, and a massive pile of corpses filled the courtyard and surrounding streets. The smell of blood permeated everything, and a crusty layer of blood and grime covered her body. This is the grossest thing ever. Reaching for the connection in her mind, she tried it. ¡°Aika, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°We can talk like this? That¡¯s amazing!¡± Aika zipped over to the door. Kindra walked inside and headed down the stairs, walking into the dining room and grabbing some strange fruit from the pantry. She tried it, biting down on it and nearly gagging. It tasted like ash mixed with a tiny bit of cinnamon. Why would they eat this? Aika flew up and looked at it. ¡°Can I try?¡± ¡°Sure. It tastes horrible.¡± Kindra stuck out her tongue. Aika flew up and scooped up a piece, chewing it. ¡°It tastes sweet and spicy.¡± She grinned. ¡°I like it.¡± ¡°It tastes like dirt,¡± Kindra replied, shaking her head and forcing herself to take another bite. ¡°Why is there a cloth wrapped around you?¡± Aika asked, frowning at the bandages. ¡°I got hurt.¡± Kindra frowned. ¡°Maybe I can make you a little knife or something.¡± She grabbed a metal plate and triggered her skill, burning ten mana to create a tiny knife and fork. Aika flew up and grabbed them, returning to cut off pieces of the fruit. She then happily began eating. Does she need to eat? This is strange. Kindra turned and stretched. How much mana did I manage? [Your mana has increased: 18.9 ¡ú 45.9.] She smiled. How much to level up? [60 mana is required for level 4.] And that¡¯s not so far off either. She smiled and put the fruit on a plate, leaving it for Aika. Walking through the rest of the pantry, she peered into bags and barrels. Most contained various grains, fruits, and vegetables. One barrel was full of water, and next to it was one with pickled meat. Grabbing a fork, she fished out a piece and bit into it. The taste of vinegar and ash hit her tongue. Grimacing, she forced herself to eat it. ¡°Are my teeth really different?¡± Aika looked up from her fruit and nodded. ¡°Yes. Magic must have changed you. You look like a carnivore.¡± ¡°Does magic just do that?¡± Kindra considered it. ¡°Can it do that?¡± Aika shrugged. ¡°It made me into a fairy with wings and a body. So, I¡¯m going to say yes.¡± ¡°So, you aren¡¯t nanites?¡± ¡°Nope. I have blood and everything. It¡¯s strange.¡± Aika continued eating. ¡°Hunger is strange.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet.¡± Kindra smiled at her, forced down another bit of meat, and walked out of the room. ¡°Aika, I¡¯m going to head back to the roof.¡± ¡°Wait for me!¡± Aika zipped out and landed on her shoulder. Kindra walked back to the roof. Peering out, she didn¡¯t see anything. Aika joined her, flying up and peering through it. ¡°More shooting?¡± ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t trust myself to get the bolts. Not with that mess out front.¡± Kindra opened the door and looked into the air. Scavengers continued to fly in. A vulture looked at her and dove, its black and white feathers rippling in the evening sun. Pulling out her crossbow, she fired, blowing a hole through it and sending it crashing to the ground. Maybe I can get enough mana for a gun and a bike. That¡¯d make it easier to travel. A lot easier. Loading another bolt, she turned to a side street and fired at a large cow that was chewing on a corpse. The bolt flew, bounced off the cow¡¯s skull, and clattered on stone. The cow wobbled and fell. Kindra examined the street and courtyard. There are fewer animals. I should cleanse and get the bolts while I can. She turned back to study the red dot on the horizon. It was gone. Mystery for another day. Looking up, she saw a plume of birds erupt from the forest. And I had better hurry. She dashed for the door. Chapter 8 – Where’s the tutorial? – Pt6 Kindra dashed into the barracks, closed the upstairs door, and barred it. ¡°Aika, I¡¯m going to grab bolts. Keep an eye out, please.¡± Aika flew down the stairs, her silvery wings carrying her across the air like a giant butterfly. ¡°Got it.¡± Kindra followed, rapidly descending. ¡°I¡¯ll scout first.¡± Poking her head out the front door, she saw a pig snarfing down a body with a look of bliss on its face. Its massive jaws ripped an arm off, and it swallowed it. Crazy planet. Shaking her head, she aimed the crossbow and pulled the trigger, shooting it in the neck. Blood sprayed, and she shut the door. ¡°Can you map escape paths while we¡¯re out?¡± No response came back. Kindra looked up, and Aika fluttered down in front of her, looking at the floor. ¡°Aika, it¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t,¡± Kindra said, holding out her hand. Aika landed on it and looked down with a sad frown. ¡°I can¡¯t remember much, just little things I saved. And I can¡¯t do math and things like I used to.¡± Kindra reached out and gently patted her back. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll figure it out.¡± She turned toward the door and listened. Seems quiet. She turned to the little fairy. ¡°And don¡¯t you dare get hurt.¡± She gave her a stern look. Aika smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± ¡°Good. We¡¯ll go quickly and meet back inside. Then we¡¯ll grab food and hunt a little before nightfall.¡± Kindra opened the door and looked out. The courtyard was still. Bodies and blood littered the ground like leaves in autumn. The vibrant red was practically aglow with magic and the light of the evening sun. Grabbing an axe, she ran outside, using the runes and her feet to purge. Ripping bolts from the bodies, she looped around the courtyard and down a few side streets. A pig snorted and poked its head out. It opened its mouth and revealed the shark-like teeth. Drool dripped from its mouth, and it looked at her, its tiny eyes locking onto her. Kindra¡¯s heart lurched. She turned and ran. The pig did the same, scrambling down the street, its feet clattering across the stone. Vaulting bodies, Kindra dashed around the corner of the barracks and raced toward the dead pig lying there. Swinging the axe high, she slammed the axe down on the leg, hacking through the joint. Come on. Come on. ¡°Kindra. Hurry. It¡¯s looking for you,¡± Aika said, fluttering toward the door. With her heart thundering, Kindra ripped the leg free, dashed inside, and shut the door. Barring it, she looked at Aika. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Really. All that just for dinner?¡± Aika laughed, her high-pitched sound ringing through the room. Kindra chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± She headed to the fire, hanging the leg over the fire and willing up her mana. [Your mana has increased: 45.9 ¡ú 81.1.] Not a bad haul for the day. Enough to hit level four. A roar rippled through the room, making every hair on her neck stand. Kindra froze, looking at the door. ¡°See anything, Aika?¡± ¡°No.¡± Aika fluttered back from the pantry, a piece of fruit in hand. Walking to the stairs, Kindra climbed them and peered out onto the rooftop. A flock of birds was circling, their wings lit by the setting sun. And the bird army is waking up. She blew a strand of hair from her face and unbarred the door, peering out across the town and finding the source of the noise. A pack of massive black and tan cats rushed into the town. Moving like black and tan smoke, they seemed almost incorporeal as runes flashed around them. A murder cow charged, and a massive cat leapt onto its back, sinking its claws into its hide and biting into its spine. Kindra watched the bones break. The cow¡¯s legs went limp, and it fell to the ground. The cat spun and ripped its throat out, spilling blood onto the ground. And now they are infected. She frowned. And they are predators. Real predators. She swallowed and closed the door, barring it and moving silently down the stairs. Keep the noise to a minimum. Walking into the dining room, she grabbed the slightly cooked meat. Cutting off strips, she piled them onto a plate and ran back up the stairs. Where¡¯s my skill up for running? She slid the bar out of the way. ¡°Have enough to level?¡± Aika asked, flying up to the door. ¡°Yes, but I want to get more before the sun sets.¡± Kindra walked out the door, striding across the roof. ¡°I don¡¯t think we want to be out here in the dark.¡± Setting the plate on the ramparts, she grabbed the bow and aimed at a nearby cat¡¯s neck. The bolt streaked through the air, hit its neck, and bounced off, leaving little more than a scratch. The cat hissed, and she dove behind the ramparts, her heart thundering. How much stamina does that thing have? Reaching up, she grabbed a slice of meat and ate it. Ratcheting in another shot, she studied the bolt. It''s blunted. Go figure. Frowning, she burned a little mana to make it sharper. Poking her head up, she aimed at the cat and fired again. The bolt streaked through the air, sinking into the angry cat¡¯s neck. The cat went wild, thrashing and lashing out at everything around it. Its claws raked other cats, stones, and a few corpses. That set off the other cats. Ducking down, she ate another strip of meat, savoring the largely uncooked flesh. Swallowing the last of it, she loaded another bolt, burning mana to make it sharper. With that done, she propped the crossbow on the stone rampart, lined it up with tan fur, and fired. The bolt streaked through the air, and the cat slapped it away with its paw. Seriously? She ducked back behind the stone and ate another strip of meat. They have that level of speed, too? Chewing on the meat, she poked her head up and studied it, looking at the concentrated mana running through its body. It¡¯s at least ten times stronger than everything else here. Her eyes widened. That¡¯s too high. Ratcheting in a bolt, she searched the area for other things to shoot, promptly finding a swarm of rats that were fighting with each other. Aiming, she pulled the trigger. The string snapped forward, and the bolt cut through the air. The bolt blew through a rat and sunk into the next one. That was a lot easier. Grabbing another bolt, she looked up into the sky. Birds circled the city, avoiding the pack of death below. A few birds descended towards the fields that had once surrounded the town. Well, they won¡¯t be coming here. Turning her focus back to the rats, she fired off another bolt, trying to get more mana as the last rays of the sun faded, casting the world into muted grays. The village did not calm as twilight fell. It got worse. Far worse. More scavengers entered the fray and joined the war of the infected. Aika gestured. ¡°Up top. They¡¯re circling.¡± ¡°Tell me if they dive.¡± Kindra frowned and reloaded, aiming at a strange, scrawny canine. ¡°Aika, do we dare go out at night? This morning wasn¡¯t too bad, but this battle was recent.¡± She studied the cats and frowned. They¡¯re so strong. She reloaded and aimed at a group of rats. Aika flew closer, her wings fluttering as she hovered near Kindra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We can¡¯t fight the cats without a gun,¡± she whispered, sorrow in her vibrant golden eyes. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Kindra pulled the trigger, sending a bolt flying. She ate another slice of meat and looked at Aika, who was flying there, bobbing up and down with a pained expression. ¡°Aika?¡± Aika¡¯s frown deepened, and she gestured at her small, delicate form. ¡°It¡¯s fun to have a body,¡± she said, her voice heavy with frustration. ¡°But it¡¯s useless. I¡¯m useless. And you need the nanites¡ª¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t useless,¡± Kindra interrupted, lowering her weapon and looking at her old friend. ¡°You¡¯ve never been useless. And I will figure out how to make armor or something.¡± Aika fluttered there, a glum expression on her face. She looked up at the birds and back down at herself. ¡°Why a fairy?¡± she whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aika. We¡¯ll find a way to remake the nanites. It¡¯ll just take a while.¡± ¡°Forever, you mean. They don¡¯t even have guns.¡± Aika sighed. ¡°Come here, you,¡± Kindra said, picking up the crossbow. Aika flew closer, and Kindra smiled. ¡°Remember the first reactor? When you saved both of us?¡± Aika blushed. ¡°You remember that?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Kindra reached out and pulled Aika to her chest. ¡°We promised to start a new colony. Together. And we will do it even if we have to walk through every age to do it.¡± She smiled and looked down at her small friend. ¡°And someday, we will see Earth again. Then you can have a whole suit of nanites.¡± Aika smiled and looked down. ¡°You mean it?¡± ¡°Of course. Now, think about some weapons for you while I harvest more rats. We need the levels.¡± Kindra released her, smiled widely, and grabbed the crossbow. She reloaded and fired into the group of rats, impaling one. Grabbing another bolt, she repeated it, slowly killing things from the safety of the rooftop. The surrounding sounds grew. The smell of blood surrounded her, and she watched a soft flow of mana head toward her. At least I¡¯m getting some. She grabbed another bolt. ¡°Up,¡± Aika said, hitting her cheek. Jacking in the bolt, Kindra turned and looked at the diving bird. Exhaling, she fired, and the bird collided with the bolt, veering and crashing into the village. Loading another bolt, she heard a loud growl carry through the city, almost causing a pause in the fighting. What are the cats doing? She turned and saw the reason. One of the cats had turned on the others. Its claws were sunk into another¡¯s back, and it thrashed, throwing itself against the wall to get free. The other cats bounced, joining the fray. This village needs to be burned to the ground. She looked back into the sky and saw the birds circle lower. Time to go. Firing the bolt at a rat, she grabbed her gear. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Aika. I could use some sleep. Then I can level tomorrow morning after I use the mana.¡± Turning, she jogged inside and shut the door, barring it. Walking down the stairs, she headed to the kitchen, placed the meat back on the fire, and studied the weapons and bodies near the front door. Do I make a gun and pray that I get a skill to make gunpowder? I guess I could use the charcoal, but that¡¯s only half the equation.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Aika, what should I make?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°I¡¯d make a gun, but I can¡¯t make bullets yet.¡± Aika flew out of the pantry with fruit in hand. ¡°Can you make nanites?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Kindra frowned. ¡°I could start making a bike. The kind you pedal.¡± ¡°Make a gun. We¡¯ll find some way to make a bullet,¡± Aika said, frowning. ¡°If we don¡¯t, we¡¯re in trouble. There has to be worse than those cats in the forest.¡± Kindra grimaced. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Pulling swords together, Kindra used Transmutation to create an M4 carbine rifle. The metal streamed and flowed, slowly becoming a replica of the rifle. She studied it, and text popped up. [Basic M4 Carbine Rifle - This rifle seems out of place in this world. ] Basic? [Basic weapons are made from non-magical components without enchantments. They lack any special properties.] ¡°Cool,¡± Aika said, flying over, and pulling Kindra¡¯s focus away from the text. How do I enchant things? [Not how this works, Kindra.] Did Death improve the AI? It seems better. [Yes, and I will do it again. ~Death] What is he up to? Kindra waited. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika asked before biting into her fruit. ¡°Sorry. I was trying to figure magic out. It¡¯s strange.¡± Kindra set the gun on a table. ¡°Should be able to kill cats. I¡¯ll make pistols tomorrow.¡± Grabbing the leg from the fire, she cut off strips of meat and ate them, savoring the metallic taste inside. Swallowing, she turned. ¡°Aika, why do you think that magic changed us?¡± Aika shrugged and sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I need a stronger one.¡± She landed on the table. ¡°Me too, but I can level in the morning. That should help.¡± Kindra patted her and reached for the fire. I¡¯ve already eaten it raw, and it tastes better. She resumed eating and watched Aika do the same. Wonder how many calories a fairy needs. Finishing off the meat, she looked at the leg. It¡¯s just going to go bad. Sighing, she carried it up the stairs and dumped it on the roof, leaving it for the inevitable birds and lizards. I¡¯ll kill them in the morning. Barring the door, she walked down the stairs and into a dorm room. The beds lined the place, chests sitting at the foot of the beds. Shame there¡¯s no shower. Without a good way to brush her teeth or clean up, she walked up to one of the hard beds. Unwrapping the makeshift bandage around her chest, she winced at the pain and stripped off the belt and bloody dress. ¡°Aika. If there¡¯s fabric¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± Aika said, fluttering over. ¡°This will hurt.¡± Biting down, a lance of pain shot through Kindra¡¯s back. Her eyes watered, and she felt blood trickle down her back. The smell filled the air, and Aika shot out of the room. Pulling out the knife, Kindra walked to a chest and pulled out a skirt, cutting off a long strip. Tiny hands blotted her back with a wet rag. ¡°Kindra, it might be infected.¡± ¡°I know. This planet is not clean.¡± Kindra swallowed. ¡°Do what you can.¡± She hung the makeshift bandage over her shoulder. We¡¯ll need to find civilization before that kills me. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll cleanse, loot, and make more gear for the trek. She let out a long breath. Aika flitted around her, looping the bandage around Kindra. Kindra tied it off. ¡°Thanks.¡± Walking to a chest, she grabbed a shirt that was too big and draped it over her head. Good enough. Moving to a chamber pot, she forced herself to do the thing she was dreading. She used it and sighed. ¡°We can¡¯t get plumbing fast enough, Aika.¡± ¡°I agree. And you should use a little mana for clothes.¡± Kindra nodded and finished her business. Walking over to a bed, she laid on it and curled up into a ball. Just the two of us¡­ On some alien world with a crew that¡¯s probably all dead. Aika fluttered over and landed next to her. She swallowed. ¡°Can I sleep here?¡± ¡°Go ahead, Aika.¡± Aika curled into a ball next to her, and Kindra let the emotion of the day slam into her. Exhaustion, pain, grief, and isolation slammed into her. Water filled her eyes, and she lay there, slowly letting the exhaustion win. ~~~ The sound of growling woke Kindra. It echoed through the door, and she propped herself up with a growing frown. Did the cat run out of things to hunt? Is it after us? She forced herself out of bed. Walking through the dark room, she grabbed the crossbow, loaded a bolt, and listened. Something bumped into the door, and she fastened the belt of weapons around her waist. Turning, she headed to the roof, opened the window, and raised the crossbow up to the slit. Peering down the crossbow, she saw carcasses everywhere. A vulture that had tripled in size was ripping into them, gobbling down the rotten flesh. Great. It¡¯s bigger. She frowned and studied the dazzling runes that were surging around the carcasses. The vulture hopped forward, sunk its talons into a body, and turned to look at the door. Looking into the bloodshot eyes, Kindra gasped. Oh, shit! She pulled the trigger, and the bolt sunk into its chest. The vulture¡¯s wings flared, and she ducked down to reload. Ratcheting a bolt into place, she looked up, and the bird slammed into the door, furiously pecking through the slits. Kindra stepped away from the door, stood, aimed, and fired. The vulture¡¯s eye exploded, spraying blood all over her. The bird didn¡¯t stop. It continued slamming into the door, its massive beak shooting in and out. Just die! Kindra loaded another shot, put it up to the bird¡¯s neck, and fired. The bolt blew through the neck, and the bird dropped. Reloading, Kindra peered out. Sole survivor? It appeared to be. She unbarred the door and walked out, kicking and cleansing the carcasses on her way to the ramparts. Looking out at the streets, she was greeted with a grim sight. Mangled bodies littered the place. The smell of blood was thick in the early morning air, and the remaining animals had become something more, making the prior killers look far weaker. Peering down, she saw the sole, remaining cat. It had grown. Its form flickered like smoke, and it bit into some rat that shouldn¡¯t have been standing. Turning back to the immediate problem, she looked at the corpses on the roof. Did the runes get stronger? A body twitched, and she hit it with the counter-sequence. Jumping to the next body, she repeated it while watching the magic grow. It surged, lighting the entire village and distant forest with an eerie icy blue. Oh, fork no. Dashing around the twitching bodies, Kindra triggered the sequence, and a lizard lurched up. It was still bleeding, and it was missing a massive chunk of its torso. That did not deter it. It somehow got up and turned toward her, its eyes glowing the same vibrant blue light. Oh shit! Kicking it, she engaged the sequence, and it dropped to the ground like a cut puppet. In reckless disregard for anything else, she bolted through the group of rising undead, dispelling the magic that was bringing them back. As the last undead on the roof dropped, Kindra turned and saw undead everywhere. A mound of rats came alive, forming a wriggling ball. Come on. Attack each other. They did not. Instead, they focused on anything still alive, swarming them in earnest. A shiver of dread ran through Kindra. I should have run for the forest. She looked down. A small horde of undead swarmed the cat below. Swallowing, she aimed at an undead cow¡¯s head and fired. The bolt soared and broke bone with a loud crack. The undead cow didn¡¯t care a bit. It charged toward the cat and hit it with a loud thud. The cat flew and slammed into a building. Loading another bolt, Kindra aimed and fired. The bolt missed its skull and staked a rat. The rat wriggled, tearing itself open until the bolt came loose. Waddling forward, the rat continued moving, leaving half of its body behind. Oh god. Kindra blanched, her mouth dropping open. Watching the poor cat, it mauled and ripped into the nearby undead. The undead got up or disregarded it. A headless dwarf slammed its axe into the cat, sending a spray of blood into the air. This is disgusting, and the crossbow won¡¯t do anything. Giving up, Kindra walked inside, downstairs, and dragged chests out of the bedroom, shoving them against the front door. Aika fluttered out of the bedroom with a look of worry. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°No loud talking. That plague is bringing things back from the dead. Now we¡¯re surrounded.¡± Kindra let out a long breath and rubbed her brow, looking over at Aika with a pained smile. ¡°Get breakfast. We¡¯ll figure something out.¡± She walked back into the room and grabbed another trunk, hauling a steady stream of them to the door. Entering the forge, she put the barrels against the door before walking back inside the barracks. Now, what do I do? Listening to the howling cat, she meandered through the place and stopped at the fire. The last of the coals were on the brink. Using the axe to split kindling, she gently brought the flames back to life, tossing on a bit of wood before turning toward the ruckus outside. Now what? We¡¯re surrounded by undead, and this crossbow won¡¯t do shit¡­ System, did you say that I could cast spells? [You may use mana in combination with rune sequences to invoke spells. Such methods are less efficient and less effective than skills, but it is doable.] Want to tell me how to kill the undead? [Not how this works, and you already know the answer.] It has gotten smarter. With little else to go on, she pictured the runes in her mind while pulling on her mana. It coalesced like some other limb, and she drained all of it, letting it coalesce into a glowing ball in front of her. Well, now what do I do? She reached for it, and it exploded; a wave of magic washed over her. The sounds outside stopped abruptly. She grabbed her crossbow and walked up the steps while mana streamed into her. Aika darted through the rooftop window, and Kindra followed her back onto the roof. Peering through the early morning gloom, she looked at the streets. The living creatures were going quiet, cut down by the undead that left the bodies behind. And they are building an army. That¡¯s just great. Aika turned. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can fight our way out.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to break the siege.¡± Kindra turned and headed to the door. ¡°Let¡¯s get breakfast and level.¡± She walked into the barracks. Aika flew inside. Kindra barred the window and walked down the stairs. She headed into the kitchen and to the meat barrel. Fishing a piece out with a fork, she ate it while Aika cut off more fruit. ¡°What do you think, Aika?¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°Kill them all?¡± Aika said, sitting on the shelf and eating. ¡°Fair, but I think I have to use magic for that unless I can make explosives.¡± Aika nodded. ¡°We could use the bodies and charcoal for that, but they¡¯ll be primitive.¡± Kindra nodded and leaned against the wall. Not what I imagined when I signed up to settle another planet¡­ Then again, I am on another planet. She let out a long breath, blowing an errant strand of hair from her face. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have used all my mana on that spell. She paused and willed her mana up. [Your mana has increased: 81.1 ¡ú 127.5.] Her frown faded, and she debated. ¡°System, what do I get for level four?¡± [Skill Upgrades and Attribute Increases.] Which skill upgrades? [Not how this works, Kindra. You have to spend the mana to find out. I can tell you that your desires and actions will impact them.] Kindra risked it, willing her mana into another level. [Your mana has been reduced: 127.5 ¡ú 67.5.] [Your level has increased: 3 ¡ú 4.] [Your intelligence has increased: 4 ¡ú 6.] ? [Please select four attributes to increase.] ¡°What attributes should I pick, Aika?¡± Kindra asked. Aika grinned. ¡°I¡¯m picking strength and speed¡ªOh!¡± Her eyes widened, and she started dancing, spinning, and twirling on the shelf. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I got to pick a specialization and got four options. The first one was to become incorporeal. I¡¯d always be safe and able to give you information.¡± Aika stuck out her tongue. ¡°The second said I¡¯d get much stronger and resistant to heat, so that I could help you in a forge or something.¡± She made a gagging face. ¡°The third one was that I could sacrifice my body to take damage you would take, turning me into a protector. It also said I could boost your mana a little. I almost picked that one.¡± Kindra winced. She shouldn¡¯t do that. ¡°But I got another one instead. I¡¯m so excited.¡± Aika grinned. ¡°I¡¯m now a mecha-fairy!¡± She beamed, her grin spreading wide. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°I can make a mechanical suit for myself.¡± Aika rubbed her hands together. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Give me your magic and some materials.¡± Aika looked up with pleading eyes. ¡°Sure.¡± Fishing out another piece of meat, Kindra followed her into the dining room. Aika landed on a sword, and something tugged on Kindra¡¯s mana. She let it, and ten mana drained away. The metal flowed over Aika, becoming a metallic dress. She gestured and a tiny knife formed in her hand. ¡°You can make a mech for yourself?¡± Kindra asked, her mouth dropping open. ¡°The best mech ever. So, we need to level because I need a way better suit.¡± Aika laughed softly, eagerness glinting in her golden eyes. Kindra chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t like that look in your eyes.¡± Aika giggled. Turning back to her own notification, Kindra looked back at her notifications, and picked strength and speed. [Your speed has increased: 2 ¡ú 4.] ? [Your strength has increased: 2 ¡ú 4.] [Please select an upgrade for Enhance Item: ? - The duration of your enhancements is increased by 25%. ? - The strength of your enhancements is increased by 25%. ? - Your blood boosts enhancements by 100% (Up from 50%). ? - You may refresh your enhancements for 50% of the original cost. ? ] Looking at the options, she debated them. The first two were nearly interchangeable. The third one required her to bleed herself but would give her the strongest boost, and the last one was useful for keeping them. I want all of them. She sighed and reviewed the list again, finally picking the one that would help her survive: the blood boost. [Please select an upgrade for Transmutation: ? - Magic will compensate for your knowledge gaps, improving the results by 10%. ? - You specialize in part making, reducing the cost by 20% when dealing with metals. ? - Reduce the cost of all transmutation by 10%. ? - You may alter molecular structure if your knowledge is sufficient.] She read and didn¡¯t wait, instantly picking the last one and letting out a breath of relief. Finally. ¡°What?¡± Aika asked, a grin on her face. ¡°I can alter molecular structure now,¡± Kindra whispered. She smiled, mischief spreading across her face. ¡°And it¡¯s time to give the natives an explosive welcome.¡± Chapter 9 – Where’s the tutorial? – Pt7 Kindra darted into the forge, Aika flying alongside. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°Getting bodies. We¡¯ll want them.¡± Opening the door, she peered out at the street. The undead haven¡¯t headed here¡­ Time to get ingredients. Dashing outside, she grabbed a hog by the legs and dragged it back into the building, leaving a smear of blood across the ground. Running back out, she grabbed two large rats and carried them back while Aika flew by with one. The two grabbed a dozen carcasses and dragged them into the forge. Turning, Kindra barred the door and walked over to the hog. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t early humans do this? In medieval, modern, and¡­ well, most of them, actually,¡± Aika said, flying next to it. ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s sort of disgusting and messed up.¡± Aika giggled. Kindra sliced the pig open and looked at her. ¡°What¡¯s funny?¡± ¡°Do you remember what your dad used to say?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t remind me¡­¡± Kindra stared at the wall as the memory came rushing back. ~~~ A six-year-old Kindra stuck her tongue out and shook her head, wrinkling her nose in disgust. She turned away and looked out the window. ¡°Dad, that¡¯s gross.¡± ¡°Come on, sing along with me,¡± he replied, laughing and stepping closer. ? ¡°Oil is dead dinosaurs. Plants are mixed in too. ? The truth is that the building blocks are sitting inside you. ? Fat was used for candles and fuel for many things. ? All of life builds on itself, so sing along with me.¡± ¡°Ew! I¡¯m telling Mom!¡± Kindra stood, giggled, and headed for the door. ~~~ Kindra snapped out of the memory. She laughed. ¡°How do you remember that?¡± Aika smiled. ¡°You loved those silly poems and songs.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kindra walked into the kitchen and grabbed a pot. She walked back into the smithy and sliced off every bit of fat she could find, dumping it into the pot. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m making tallow. Aika flew up and helped, somehow making small knives from her new suit. The two worked in quiet, filling up the pot. Kindra finished and stood. She grabbed the pot and carried it back to the fire, placing it next to it and letting the water and other impurities burn away. Well, that¡¯s one of the grosser things I¡¯ve done. Looking down at her mess of an outfit, she walked to the other room and stole a blanket to wipe her hands. Tossing it into the corner, she kneeled at each chest and checked if it was locked. Popping open a few, she found a few near-empty coin purses and several sets of attire that appeared to be made of something like wool. Pulling them out, she promptly realized that they would not fit well. They were made to fit short dwarves, not humans who¡¯d gone full carnivore. She sighed and swapped anyway. Swapping into trousers and a shirt that revealed her midriff, she balled up the large shirt and tossed it in the dirty laundry pile. Grabbing a sword, she cut off a strip of fabric from the blanket and turned that into a dust mask. Walking out of the room, she paused and listened. A muted shuffling passed by. Great. They are wandering. She walked out of the room and headed to the forge. ¡°You look silly.¡± Aika zipped up and perched on her head. ¡°I agree, but I can¡¯t waste mana right now.¡± Walking into the forge, Kindra picked up a hammer and headed to the barrel of charcoal. ¡°Are you pulverizing it?¡± Aika asked. ¡°Yes. We can use it for bullets or as part of the explosive.¡± Aika flew off her head. ¡°Is it cheaper to make black powder? We don¡¯t have the saltpeter.¡± ¡°No idea. But we can use it.¡± Kindra began crushing it with a hammer, slowly pulverizing it into fine dust. Aika sighed. ¡°I¡¯m going to search for treasures.¡± ¡°Find me some clothes.¡± Kindra chuckled and kept going. A few hours ticked by while she ground the charcoal into dust and created a mess. Finishing most of it, she walked out of the forge and checked the melted fat on the fire. It continued steaming, so she left it and walked into the pantry. Grabbing some salted meat, she nibbled at it and checked her mana. [Your actions have caused your magic to grow. ? Your mana has increased: 67.5 ¡ú 69.5.] System, how does that work? [Class related activities increase growth. For crafters like you, it allows you to level without killing.] Well, that¡¯s handy. She turned. ¡°Aika? Where are you?¡± ¡°Looting! I¡¯m rich!¡± Kindra laughed. She fished more meat on the plate and walked to the dorm, finding every chest open. Walking up the steps, she found Aika on a pile of gold and silver coins. ¡°That can¡¯t be comfortable.¡± Aika laughed and sat up. ¡°It isn¡¯t, but we¡¯re rich.¡± ¡°Okay, but I get to be president. And there are taxes.¡± Kindra smirked. ¡°Boo! Down with taxes.¡± Aika flew off the pile. ¡°I did find a few books, but I have no idea how to read them.¡± Kindra shrugged and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a problem.¡± Aika stood and looked at the door, holding up a single coin. ¡°Do you think there are survivors?¡± ¡°If there are, they¡¯re in cellars, hiding. Or in another village.¡± Kindra sighed. ¡°And I have no idea how to find that, short of picking a road and praying.¡± Aika giggled. ¡°You believe in God now?¡± ¡°Yes. He made the system¡­ Unless he wasn¡¯t a god.¡± Kindra frowned. He isn¡¯t the one that stole our ship, right? Death didn¡¯t answer. Kindra looked at the coins. ¡°Think they are worth anything?¡± ¡°No idea.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Kindra turned. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s check on the tallow. I¡¯m hoping that will make it cheaper.¡± She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Looking at the simmering pot of fat, she grabbed a piece of firewood and dunked one end into it. Pulling it out, she stuck it in the flames before walking back up the stairs. Let¡¯s hope they¡¯re flammable. Popping open the door, she crept out and peered over the ramparts. The undead were milling around like some zombie movie. Is that all they are going to do? Sit there until they find something to rip apart? She tossed the makeshift torch. It looped and flickered while spinning through the air, hitting a blood-covered undead dwarf. The flames licked across it but did not catch. The undead dwarf searched for the source, and the torch clattered. That caused a surge of movement among the undead, who rushed forward, swarming the torch and quickly extinguishing it. What a waste. Taking careful aim and only using a tiny bit of mana, she pictured the rune sequence and aimed it at the closest undead. A bolt of glimmering light shot forward, dimming as it traveled. Hitting an undead in the chest, it staggered. The runes around it flickered but didn¡¯t go out. So, I have to burn more than that. Don¡¯t tell me it costs a whole mana¡­ wait. She studied the runes. They were fainter than the rest. Targeting it, she tried again. The spell shot through it, clipping another undead. Both flickered, but neither fell. So, at least point three mana. She grimaced and tried it again. The first undead dropped, the magic fading from its body. She turned and walked into the barracks, carefully shutting the door. ¡°What did you figure out?¡± Aika asked, landing on her shoulder. ¡°It takes three mana to kill them, and they do not just ignite in flame if you hit them with fire.¡± ¡°So, explosives?¡± ¡°Yes, assuming it¡¯s cheap. It may be cheaper to shoot magic at them, which is a real downer.¡± Kindra sighed. Aika nodded. ¡°I need a stronger mech suit. Then I¡¯d crush them.¡± She flexed and gestured at her dress. ¡°Why a dress?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have enough for more. And this let me shift it.¡± Aika gestured, and the dress flowed up her body, creating a helmet and armor on her wings. A little shield formed in her hands. Moments later, it rippled back into a dress. ¡°Maximum flexibility,¡± Aika said with a grin. Kindra smiled. ¡°Impressive.¡± Entering the dining room, she pulled the pot of fat off the fire and walked into the kitchen. Alright. Time to test this out. With a crooked smile, she searched the shelves for something disposable. Grabbing a mug, she carried it out and set it near the pot. Closing her eyes, she took a moment. Okay. Just don¡¯t cough or sneeze or bump into anything. It¡¯ll be fine. Looking down at the fat that she planned to turn into nitroglycerin, she struggled to believe her pep talk. The doubt gnawed at her, and she second guessed her choice. Maybe I should do it on the roof. On the edge. Right where I can toss it. Nodding to herself, she carried the pot up the stairs. Popping open the door, she looked down. Not enough undead. ¡°We need more undead,¡± Kindra said loudly, turning toward Aika. ¡°We¡¯re attracting them?¡± Aika grinned and zipped away. Where¡¯s she going? Kindra shrugged. ¡°Here zombie, zombie. Supper time.¡± She looked down and saw some turn toward her. ¡°Come and get it.¡± Aika flew, soaring through the nearby streets and shouting. Undead turned and ran toward her, and she raced back, shooting up into the air and flying past Kindra. ¡°Got them.¡± She zipped off. Kindra smiled. She¡¯s as fun as ever. Looking down at the pot, she dipped the mug in, carefully leaving just enough room to flow. Using the skill, she willed it to fill the mug with nitroglycerin and not use more than fifteen mana. The skill consumed fourteen mana, and the entire pot shifted, smoke billowing off it. Jerking away, Kindra watched as the magic turned the extra matter into gases. Well. Didn¡¯t expect that, but it makes sense. The smoke and steam faded. Looking down at the entire pot of the stuff, she swallowed. So, it redid everything and burned off the carbon while preserving energy? Notes of terror and excitement ran through her. How do I handle an entire pot of one of the most unstable explosives ever made. Aika zipped up, carrying a mug. She dumped the charcoal powder onto the group below and shot down the stairs. Turning, Kindra followed, leaving the pot, running down, and filling two chamber pots with the crushed black powder. Running back up the stairs, she waited and handed the pots to Aika, who soared up and dumped it, letting the powder drift over the area. This is going to be so bad. I¡¯m running inside. Aika flew back and nodded before fluttering to the doorway. With a horrified and nervous smile, Kindra gently picked up the pot and moved carefully to the ledge. Don¡¯t pour. Throw. Looking down at the undead, she shook her head. This is the dumbest thing I¡¯ve ever done. With that thought, she tossed the pot. The liquid sloshed and spilled as it arced. Spinning, she ran frantically for the door. A thunderous boom ripped through the air; the ground shook, and shrapnel shot everywhere. With her heart pounding, she slammed the door shut and spun. A large plume of smoke billowed from the courtyard. The pot soared over several houses. Bones, blood, and body parts joined it, flying everywhere. Undead turned and ran into the fiery mess. Please tell me I didn¡¯t blow up our shelter. Aika giggled. ¡°That was awesome. Let¡¯s do it again.¡± ¡°No. No. That¡¯s enough explosives for the day.¡± Kindra blew the hair from her face. Let¡¯s see if we¡¯re about to die. She walked down the stairs and peered at the first floor. The dust was thick in the air. She waded through it and studied the walls. It¡¯s still standing, thank god¡­ Should I say thank Death? Shaking the thought aside, she headed back to the stairs and ascended. ¡°You should see it. We blew up four cottages.¡± Aika burst into laughter. Kindra smiled and walked out the door, peering through the smoke in the air. Limbs were strewn everywhere. Two cottages were rubble, and two others had collapsed. All of them were painted in gore. Looking down, she studied the barracks walls. Cracks were running through it, and fragments were missing. No more explosives. Aika flew up. ¡°I can¡¯t see the pot.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to find a new one.¡± Walking back inside, she looked at her mana. [Your actions have caused your mana to increase: 69.5 ¡ú 72.] ? [Your mana has increased: 72 ¡ú 131.] Aika fluttered over. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°I look into making a gun and then try using magic to kill the ones that wander over.¡± Kindra barred the door with a cheery smile and headed down the steps. Walking into the smithy, she grabbed a body. System, how much to make some nitrocellulose? [Complete material conversion would require 20 mana and make 2.2 lbs]. She stared at it, her smile growing massively. How much to make potassium fulminate? [Complete material conversion would require 20 mana and make 8 ounces.] Okay. Expected. Getting a primer was always going to be the struggle here. She walked into the smithy, grabbing a bar of metal. Round three. How much for bullets and centerfire casings for a nine-millimeter? [Complete material conversion would require 10 mana and make 200 of each.] Not too bad. Smiling, she heard something go thump. Aika. She turned and headed back inside the barracks. Aika flew out of the pantry with a plate of fruit. She happily began eating. ¡°So, magic?¡± ¡°Yeah. I need to try an enchantment. Bullets are expensive and won¡¯t kill them.¡± Kindra picked up a hammer. Can I use Enhance Item to make this anti undead? She pictured the runes. Feeding mana into her skill, she watched vibrant crimson runes appear on the hammer. They shifted to a vibrant white, and text appeared. [Basic hammer has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage for 6 hours.] Kindra studied the hammer, running her finger along the polished handle. What the heck is radiant damage? [It¡¯s a specific type of magic that is only harmful to a select group of creatures. No, I¡¯m not telling you which ones. You have to learn that.] Eh. Good enough. Kindra walked up the steps and looked outside. Where are the birds? Aika fluttered up and peered out. ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡± She stuck her head between the bars. ¡°There are birds circling. I don¡¯t know if they are undead.¡± Kindra opened the door and walked out. She looked up at the glowing birds and studied the runes. ¡°They¡¯re undead, and they heard me.¡± She jumped back inside, slamming the door shut and barring it. ¡°Here. I¡¯ll use the hammer.¡± Aika giggled and held out her tiny hands. ¡°I¡¯ll enchant your suit and sword. Come here.¡± Kindra took a few steps back and waited. Aika fluttered up and held out her sword. Burning 10 mana, Kindra enchanted it. [Level 3 mechasuit has been enhanced with +5 stamina to the wearer.] ? [Level 3 sword has been enhanced to deal +5 radiant damage on hit.] A bird hit the door with a thud. Its beak slammed through the bars, and it clawed at the door. Blowing the hair from her face, Kindra raised the hammer, and Aika shot forward, driving her little blade straight into the bird¡¯s eye. A burst of light flashed from her sword, and the bird crumbled. ¡°Cool!¡± Aika grinned and looked at her glowing sword. ¡°Bird!¡± Kindra shouted, swinging the hammer. A long, black beak shot through the bars, snapping shut on the little fairy. Horror ran through Kindra. She slammed the hammer into its head, sending a wave of light blasting through the bird. It went limp, and Kindra dropped the hammer. She reached forward, her fingers scraping on the bill. It slipped through her fingers and dropped outside the door. Horror ran through her. No. No. No. A crack sounded from the door downstairs, and Kindra ignored it. ¡°Aika? Are you alive?¡± ¡°Kindra, help!¡± Grabbing the bar, Kindra ripped it to the side and pulled the door open. Chapter 10 – Where’s the tutorial? – Pt8 Birds dove, their bodies glowing with the vibrant blue magic. Talons flashed, and beaks opened. Kindra¡¯s heart thundered, and she looked up at the diving undead. ¡°Your magic!¡± Aika shouted into her mind. Burning twelve mana, Kindra willed it forward, sending a wave of light through the diving birds. Like cut puppets, they dropped, crashing toward the ground and roof. She looked down at the two birds and reached for the one on top. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± Kindra jerked back. Blood gushed from a bird¡¯s throat, and Aika burst out in a horrifying display of red and silver. She shot inside the barracks. Kindra stepped back and slammed the door shut, barring it and turning. ¡°You scared the shit out of me.¡± Aika wiped blood from her hair, sending it dripping to the ground. Her wings blew off tiny droplets. ¡°Sorry. I wasn¡¯t thinking.¡± She looked at the floor, and a crack rang through the barrack. Oh, fuck. Kindra turned and dashed down the stairs. ¡°I think they¡¯re breaking in.¡± Walking quickly down the steps, she looked at the door. It quivered, and a horn withdrew, leaving a small hole behind. Shit. Kindra turned and looked for something, anything, to brace the door. Another crack rang through the barracks. The wood strained, and two horns were sticking through the door. Swinging the hammer, Kindra slammed it into the horn. A burst of light lit the room, and the cow went berserk, ripping itself free from the door with a thunderous bellow. Darn it. Walking to the door, she saw the cow backing up for another run. The other skeletons seemed to be happy to get out of its way. And they¡¯re working together. Huffing, she raised her hammer. The cow charged and slammed into the door, shooting a wood chip past her head. Kindra slammed the hammer into a horn, and Aika did the same. Waves of light flew out, and it dropped to the ground. Well, that¡¯s something. Several undead ran for the door, smashing into it. Please let this work. Kindra reached forward and drained ten mana on the door itself, letting it suck in the rune sequence and entirely too much blood at the same time. The glowing red runes shifted. [Basic door has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage and +3 stamina for 12 hours.] Wobbling, she blinked. Okay. Too much blood. She leaned against the wall. Bursts of light rippled off the door in waves, crashing over the attacking undead and dropping them to the ground. That¡¯s easier. She turned and blinked up at Aika. Aika held out a piece of meat, studying Kindra with a look of concern. Kindra took it and ate. ¡°Thanks.¡± Aika smiled and landed on her shoulder. ¡°Can you do that upstairs? We can lure them in and clean up the air. Then I can fly.¡± ¡°Be careful, Aika.¡± Kindra turned and walked up the stairs. I need a nap and more food after this. She was pulled from her musings by scratching. She looked up the stairs. A bird pecked furiously at the door, clawing at it with talons while drumming a rapid beat. I hate undead. It¡¯s official. She dropped low, leaned forward, and burned ten mana, not letting it pull in as much blood. [Basic door has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage for 12 hours.] Light began cascading off it. Awesome. Free mana. She watched it flow into her before turning toward the downstairs. ¡°Hey! Undead! Keep the mana coming!¡± The undead did just that. They attacked the source of radiant damage with fury, and it continued sending out pulsing waves of light with every strike. She walked down the stairs and paused. A chip of wood shot through the room, and her smile faded. Is it going to hold, or should I burn more mana? [Your mana has increased: 131 ¡ú 147.] She walked up to the door and waited. Mana flowed into her. The banging slowly stopped. The pounding stopped. Leaning closer to the door, she peered out and saw a pile of undead getting in the way. That should make it harder for them. She let out a loud, high-pitched whistle and heard scuffling. A smile spread across her face, and she walked up the stairs. The door was quiet. Looking out, there was a small pile of corpses in front of the door, and Aika fluttered across the rooftop. ¡°Come and get me, you monsters!¡± Aika shouted. Kindra sighed. ¡°Be careful, Aika, please!¡± she shouted through the hole and headed for the pantry. Whistling loudly, she walked past the door, which lit up again. Well, that¡¯s easy. She continued whistling and walked into the pantry, fishing out more meat. Piling up a plate, she listened and heard something move in the cellar. Are there undead down there? She knocked on it and listened. Nope. Pulling open the door, she peered into the gloom, searching for anything concerning. Barrels lined the walls. The ambient looked normal and nothing was glowing. ¡°Hello? Anyone alive?¡± she asked. Nothing answered, and she shut the door. We can search for a bit. She jogged over to the front door, watching to ensure it didn¡¯t come crashing down. Chewing on a piece of meat, she frowned at the quiet door. ¡°Hey! Keep killing yourselves!¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. She turned and listened. ¡°Aika. Where are you?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯m luring birds.¡± ¡°Where are you really?¡± ¡°Killing these undead. I have to hit them five times. It¡¯s tricky.¡± ¡°Be safe.¡± Kindra shook her head. Should I explain death to her? ¡°If I die, bring me back!¡± Aika shouted. ¡°Can I do that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what the system told me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t die. It¡¯s forbidden.¡± Kindra turned her focus to the door. ¡°Hey! Attack the door!¡± Scuffling feet filled the air, and light rippled off the door. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Come and get me. Dinner time.¡± She stood there while the door flashed and mana flowed into her. Let the farming begin. Smiling, she chewed and listened. Things went quiet. ¡°Hey! Attack!¡± The undead outside groaned, but the door didn¡¯t light up. Frowning, Kindra peered through the hole in the door. A pile of bodies greeted her. She huffed. How do I clear enough for them to die to a door? She smiled and shook her head. They¡¯re sure stupid. Turning, she looked at her supplies. Maybe I can shove the bodies out of the way. She looked at a sword. ¡°Aika, are you attacking them?¡± ¡°Yes. Make a spear and stab them. They¡¯re dumb.¡± ¡°Good plan.¡± Grabbing a stack of swords and a chest, Kindra used her skill, willing it to become a fifteen-foot-long wingless spear. Smiling, she hefted it and used Enhance Item. [Basic leaf spear has been augmented with +5 radiant damage for 24 hours.] Wobbling, Kindra blinked. I need to find something besides blood for this stuff. Leaning against the wall, she waited for it to fade. After a minute, she stood and walked up the steps. Unbarring the door, she shoved it open, pushing a pile of bodies away. Looking out across the streets, she searched. Undead wandered everywhere. A massive group stood outside the front door, swinging wildly at a little fairy darting above them. Bursts of light brought more attention from the undead. They swung and trampled each other to try to get her. Walking to the edge, Kindra aimed and let her spear slide through her fingers, dropping onto an undead dwarf below. A wave of light radiated outward, and it crumpled. Awesome. Fish in a barrel. That¡¯s more like it! Grinning, she began stabbing into the mass, sending waves of magic radiating through the group. Undead dropped, and a soft stream of mana flowed to her. Ha. Leveling is easy. Whistling, she slashed through the horde below while scanning the empty sky. No birds. That makes it easy. An arm reached up and grabbed. The spear cut into it, and the radiant damage ended the dwarf. A cow bellowed and charged, slamming headfirst into the wall with a bone-crunching thud. Kindra stabbed it. Suicidal undead. As long as there aren¡¯t many, it¡¯ll be ¡ª She lurched as the building shook. Turning, she ran to the side and looked down. A massive, undead grub slammed its body into the building. Lowering her spear, she stabbed, driving the spear into its flesh. The grub thrashed, pounding against the street and building. The entire structure shook and groaned. Kindra¡¯s heart thundered, and she stabbed furiously, sinking the spear into the bloody carcass and painting the streets with some vibrant green fluid. Die already! The grub continued thrashing, covering the ground with the ichor. A resounding crack echoed through the air, and a crack ran up the barracks. Shit! Kindra slammed the spear into it. Die. Just die! The grub slammed itself into the building. The crack expanded, and it went still. We can¡¯t stay here long. Swallowing, Kindra turned her attention to the masses of undead that were swarming the grub and crack. She stabbed without aiming, letting it hit anything that got close to the crack. Aika blurred by, spinning like a top and striking with each rotation. She shot up from the group and looked at Kindra. ¡°We can¡¯t stay there.¡± ¡°I know. Help me kill them. We need to leave.¡± Kindra paused. ¡°Do you need a spear?¡± Aika nodded. ¡°It would be easier.¡± She shot into the barracks. Kindra resumed her rapid stabbing, and another thump boomed through the air. Crap. Where? She jerked the spear upward, cutting down two undead. Turning, she searched for the grub. Aika flew up and held out a knife. Burning mana and blood, Kindra triggered Transmutation to turn it into a foot long spear. Then she used Enhance Item. [Basic leaf spear has been augmented with +5 radiant damage for 24 hours.] Dashing to the other side of the barracks, she grimaced and waited. It¡¯s here. A grub burst from the ground next to the barracks. It slammed into it, shaking the entire building. Kindra stabbed, plunging the spear into the white flesh. Light erupted along with a burst of green ichor. The foul smell hit her nostrils, and the grub slammed into the building. The building groaned. Cracks formed on the stone, and Kindra ripped the spear out, swinging and slashing into it. The grub jerked, nearly knocking the spear away. It raised its body to slam its massive form into the wall. Monster. Imagining the runes, Kindra burned more mana, willing a ball of it down on the rampaging grub. She slammed the spear down, and the ball exploded. A ring of white light shot outward, and the grub dropped along with a dozen undead that had gathered. Half dangling from the building, Kindra wrapped her hand around the spear and pulled it free. She looked down to see the mana flowing from the undead. Several others rushed forward, eyeing the crack that the grub had made. Shit. Dashing to the other side of the building, she looked down and saw an undead mob. The undead trampled forward, stumbling over the other undead. Frowning, she stabbed in time with her thundering heart. We need a way out of this mess. She began studying the streets while she stabbed. ~~~ Aika¡¯s wings fluttered, beating like those of a hummingbird. A massive grin sat on her face, and she spun, creating a little vortex of destruction. Flying is the best! With a grin, she shot down the streets, her spear blurring around her. Whistling cheerily, she turned a corner, and a massive, sticky thing slapped into her. Not again. She thrashed, willed up her helmet, and was ripped toward the ground. A massive, dark mouth closed around her. The tongue smashed her into the roof of the lizard¡¯s mouth, and she ripped her arm free. Grabbing her sword, she started hacking, spraying herself and the strange, frog-like creature with its blood. The smell dominated everything. Eaten twice. That¡¯s embarrassing. With an angry groan, she hacked through the tongue, cutting it off and ripping herself free. Turning, she hacked her way through the mouth of the now-still frog. Can¡¯t tell, Kindra. She¡¯d be pissed. Aika frowned and felt the ground tremble. Damn it. With her anxiety building, she hacked out an opening, grabbed her spear, and burst out of the undead lizard¡¯s mouth. Her wings blurred, spraying liquid everywhere. Zipping down the street, she sheathed her sword and shot into the air. Spinning, she searched the sky and streets. Grubs. Failing to see one, she focused on a group of undead rats on a side street. Hefting her spear, she dove, the wind rushing past her. Shooting forward, she dragged her spear across the group, creating a wave of light. The rats dropped. Others turned and leapt. A large mouth opened, and she slammed the spear into the rat, launching herself into the air while ripping the weapon free. With her wings churning, she soared up and dove, a massive smile on her face. Blowing through the rats, she cut down another half-dozen before moving on, soaring high into the air and looking for an unobservant target. Fluttering above the cottages, she turned and looked at the mass of undead that remained. They littered the surrounding fields, a veritable parade of corpses. That¡¯s so many undead. She turned back toward the barracks, and her heart dropped; three grubs were worming toward it. Shit! With her wings blurring, she flew for the barracks. ¡°Kindra, grubs!¡± she mentally shouted, forcing herself to fly faster and faster. Chapter 11 – Where’s the tutorial? – Pt9 Kindra spun. Locking onto the grubs, she grimaced. There were three of them bulldozing toward her, the ground shaking and cracking as they cruised toward her. How¡¯s my mana? [Your mana has increased: 147 ¡ú 184.] ? [Active mana: 80.] Conjuring the runes in her mind, she burned ten mana and shot a beam of radiant magic at one of the massive grubs. The light flashed across the area, and a grub stopped moving. Aiming, she fired again, blasting a submerging grub with the magic. The grub thrashed, slamming and shaking the area. With panic building, she aimed and fired again. The grub went still, and the final one burst from the ground, slamming into the barracks. A massive crack rang through the air. The barracks trembled, and cracks spider-webbed across the stone. We need to go. Kindra burned mana, sending a blast of magic through the grub. It went still, and she looked down. Small cracks ran across the rooftop. Nothing about this is stable. Kindra swallowed and searched the streets for a new shelter. Cottages are out. I¡¯d get trapped. She searched and ruled out a half-collapsed, two-story building. ¡°Aika, this barracks is about to collapse. See another spot?¡± ¡°No, but I¡¯ll keep looking.¡± That¡¯s not good news. Kindra gingerly edged around the building, slashing into the undead that had run toward the disturbance. And I¡¯m surrounded again. Great. Slashing into a group of rats, she walked to the door and looked inside. Dust hung in the air, and ominous cracks ran down the wall. So much for my mana farming. She turned and looked at the group of undead. May as well kill them before I leave. Swinging the spear, she sliced into the group below. Light flashed through the group, and the ground trembled. Shit. She wrenched the spear up. Darting inside the building, she carefully made her way down the stairs and into the dorm. Grabbing a blanket, she set it down and tossed clothes on it. Slinging the crossbow and rifle over her shoulder, she added another blanket to the pile and pulled the makeshift knapsack together. Strapping on a belt, she holstered two axes and a knife before heading to her supply pile. Aika¡¯s voice carried through her mind. ¡°There are cottages, but that¡¯s it. This village is small. And there are a lot of undead in the fields. I¡¯m trying to clear some out.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Reaching down, Kindra grabbed an axe and multiple swords. Triggering Transmutation, she willed them into a pair of nine-millimeter pistols and four magazines. Grabbing the rest of the weapons, she walked into the forge, focusing on the barrels and carcasses. Alright, magic, don¡¯t you dare burn up the end product. Pulling the lid off two empty barrels, she dumped a body into each. ¡°I¡¯m making bullets. Be safe out there.¡± ¡°I am,¡± Aika thought, her voice a little strained. ¡°You are?¡± Kindra thought back, doubt lingering through her. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Rotten lizard. They¡¯re the worst.¡± Kindra shook her head. ¡°Be careful.¡± She reached down and touched the corpse, a memory floating into her mind. ~~~ ¡°Dad. I know this already.¡± An eight-year-old Kindra said, tugging on her father¡¯s arm. He smirked and studied the exhibit. A holographic man was firing a musket. Kindra tugged again. ¡°You use charcoal. You crush it into powder, add a little sulfur, and some saltpeter for an oxidizer.¡± She smirked and pulled. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go to the section on robots.¡± Charles reached out, his hand batting her ponytail. ¡°Okay, Miss Smarty Pants. What was the replacement?¡± ¡°Nitrocellulose.¡± Kindra grinned and tugged again. ¡°Now you owe me something from the gift shop.¡± ¡°Only if you remember the chemical formula.¡± Kindra turned and raced to the nearby terminal. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll prove it.¡± She dashed over to it and drew the formula with her finger, waving him over. The complex molecule stood there in her mind, and she left the memory behind. ~~~ Focusing on the image, Kindra reached for her mana. Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. She triggered Transmutation. Smoke and steam billowed everywhere. Holding her breath, she took several steps back and waited. The undead outside shuffled, and the smoke filled the room. Darting away, Kindra entered the barracks and shut the door. Okay. Magic doesn¡¯t just change it; it uses parts. She leaned against the door and studied the walls. And this place is one angry grub away from collapse. Waiting another few seconds, she opened the door and peered into the smoke-filled room. Is it still going? Dashing to the other barrel, she triggered it, willing it to create Potassium Fulminate. Running back into the barracks, she closed the door and waited for it to clear. Not the ideal composition, but it¡¯ll work, and there is a chimney in there.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Leaving the smithy entrance behind, she walked to the pantry. Grabbing some silverware, a plate, and a mug, she filled it with fruit and added it to her bag. Where¡¯d the water skins go? Walking back to the chests, she looted some from the bodies, taking them back and refilling them in the water barrel. Pausing to take a drink, she swallowed. ¡°Aika? You¡¯re quiet.¡± ¡°Killing things. You¡¯ll need to leave the barracks. There are other grubs. I¡¯m trying to make a path.¡± ¡°Thanks. Let me know if I should try to get to the rooftops.¡± ¡°You should. If that collapses, you¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± Kindra blew hair out of her face and hefted the bag over her shoulder. Let¡¯s see how long it lasts. Walking back into the forge, she held her breath and grabbed the metal bars. Taking them to the fulminate, she set them inside and triggered Transmutation, focusing on constructing casings for her pistols. The metal and fulminate rushed together, forming nearly two hundred casings. Scooping them up, she placed them in the other barrel. With that, she focused on the finished product, burning Transmutation to make her bullets. Her mana dropped, and bullets coalesced in the barrel below. Grabbing the magazines, she filled them, loaded the guns, and raced back into the barracks as the ground trembled. Grabbing some leather armor, she burned Transmutation, shifting it into a backpack. Shoving her knapsack inside, she ran back into the forge. Holstering the guns, she tossed the bullets in the bag and grabbed the spear. The entire building shook, and she froze. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°Get out. Fast. Back door.¡± The barracks groaned, and Kindra bolted to the door. Shoving the crossbar aside, she pushed the door open and poked her head out. The ground shook, and she shot out of it, running out the door and into the small alley. Vaulting over corpses, she darted to a nearby cottage, her shoes sticky with blood and gunk. The street was covered in it. The ground shook, and she leapt. Grabbing the roof of the nearby cottage, she scrambled up it and laid against the tile. Please don¡¯t let them see me. Peering out, she saw a group of undead swarming. A large grub was burrowing towards the barracks, and Aika flew above, swinging her spear down whenever anything jumped. ¡°I¡¯m outside, on a roof.¡± Searching the village, Kindra frowned. There are no good hiding places¡­ Maybe the wall? She looked at the portion that remained. Squinting, she peered off into the distance and saw the fallen undead. Several streets filled them, and a soft stream of mana flowed toward her. Aika¡¯s been busy. ¡°Can you level?¡± Aika asked. ¡°Yes. Worth it?¡± ¡°Yes. I need to be faster.¡± Kindra nodded and willed mana through her body. [Your mana has increased: 184 ¡ú 209.] [Your mana has been reduced: 209 ¡ú 119.] [Your level has increased: 4 ¡ú 5.] [Your intelligence has increased: 6 ¡ú 8.] ? [Please select four attributes to increase.] Kindra frowned and looked at the undead. I need to get out of here. She looked back at the options. ¡° Hey, system! Give me the rundown on dexterity and speed! How does that correspond to strength?¡± [Speed increases the speed at which your nervous system functions and the speed of muscle recovery. Yes, this includes brain function, perception, and reactions. Dexterity increases flexibility and motor skills. Strength improves general strength and endurance. The three often work in tandem. A balanced approach will yield the best result if engaged in strenuous physical activity, but there is room for some specialization.] She paused and then picked speed and dexterity. Please let that help me here. [Your speed has increased: 4 ¡ú 6.] ? [Your dexterity has increased: 2 ¡ú 4.] Kindra smiled and nodded. That helps. That helps a lot. She willed the text away. ¡°Aika, you may want some dexterity.¡± ¡°Already picked it. I don¡¯t want to get hit again.¡± Aika zipped across the air and landed on Kindra¡¯s stomach. She laid down. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°Kill things and try to find a place to sleep. Maybe I can make something if I save mana.¡± Kindra frowned. System, where¡¯s my ability? [This level granted an ability to your familiar. You won¡¯t always get them.] Kindra looked at Aika. ¡°What¡¯d you get?¡± Aika looked at her and smiled. ¡°I now get attributes when you do. So, if you buy them or level, I get to pick them too.¡± ¡°Oh. Nice. Hmm. Should I do it? Five mana doesn¡¯t seem like as much now, but I sort of need it for spells.¡± ¡°I say we use it to get one or two. We need to kill undead.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Kindra focused on her mana. System, how much is the next one? [You may purchase two attribute increases at this price. It will then increase to ten and then fifteen and then twenty¡­ You get it.] Oh. Kindra bought two. [Your mana has reduced: 119 ¡ú 109.] She paused and debated. Do I try to get more durable? It¡¯s not exactly the way we came out on top. We did that by fighting unfairly, and one of these will help me aim and dodge. She dumped both into dexterity. [Your dexterity has increased: 4 ¡ú 6.] Aika stood. ¡°I¡¯m going to get back to it. Try to make your way to the wall.¡± She zipped down the road, her little spear blurring around her. Kindra stood and checked to make sure that her things were secure. Creeping to the edge of the cottage, she leapt to the next one, landing lightly. Dexterity is handy. She crept across the roof and ducked low, the backside of a large cow coming into view. Pulling back her spear, she stabbed, slicing a line across its back. A burst of light exploded, and the cow kicked, knocking the spear upward. Pulling it back, she slammed it down, slamming it onto the cow and dropping it to the ground. Nearby undead turned, and a blurring fairy shot through them, her spear flickering like lightning. Light cascaded like golden showers, and a mob chased her down the street, stumbling and smashing into buildings. Gods. She¡¯s a little terrifying. Kindra grinned, slamming her spear into a dead dwarf and running. Hitting the end of the roof, she jumped and landed lightly. Those stats do give a nice little boost. Pausing, she swung her spear, slicing through the undead in the road. They dropped, and she turned her focus to the wall. Up that lane, down that one, climb the rubble there. Standing straight, she ran down the rooftop, slicing into undead on her way by. The ground trembled, and her hair stood on end. Shit. Forgot about him¡­ What do I do about a massive grub? Hitting the intersection, she shoved her spear down and used it to vault over the gap, soaring over the heads of the undead below. Pausing only to slash through them a couple of times, she turned and ran down the street, jumping the gaps between cottages and quickly racing up to the wall. We did it. I can make a longer spear, and ¡ª Her thought died. Dread coursed through her body. A presence turned its focus toward her, an ancient presence, just like the one on the ship. Every hair on her body stood on end, and her breath billowed, creating a fog. ¡°Kindra, come back to me,¡± an ancient voice whispered through her mind. Shivering, Kindra jerked back. No. No. No. Turning, she looked into the distance and saw something that looked like the sun. Magic radiated from it. No. Not again. Her jaw trembled. ¡°Aika. We have to go. Now!¡± Chapter 12 – Wilds With her heart thundering and a cold sweat breaking out, Kindra swallowed. Where can I hide? She turned to the forest. ¡°Aika, can you clear a path? We have to go.¡± Spinning her spear around the middle, she scythed through the undead below her rooftop. A spray of light flew through the creatures. They dropped, and the ground trembled. Shit. Aika shot down the lane, sending waves of light cascading around her. The field full of undead turned, and she blurred through them like a tiny blender of light. Sweeping the legs of a dwarf, Kindra jumped from the roof and followed, racing down the road and bursting out of the city. Undead littered the fields. An undead dwarf turned. She slammed her spear into it and kept running, her feet sinking into the bloody ground. Her eyes flickered to the distant trees. Several seemed to be dying, their leaves turning a deep brown, the runes of the undead disease lingering around their large trunks. Sap dripped from scratches in the trunk. A distant undead clawed at it. Strange. She scanned the field and slowed, looking at the masses of undead. Aika shot out of a mulling group. Then she dove, soaring back through the group and gathering others. ¡°Kindra! Spell!¡± Kindra burned magic, focusing it into a ball of radiant energy. The ball shot forward, and she sprinted toward it. Make a path. Get to the trees. A shiver ran down her spine. ¡°Kindra?¡± the ancient voice whispered through her mind. With mud spraying behind her, she sprinted, and her ball exploded. Waves of light radiated out, and the undead dropped, their magical strings cut away. The nearby undead all turned, drawn to the light. They charged across the fields. Shit. Shit. Shit. Kindra sprinted, using her spear to vault over a small group of undead that Aika was fighting. Landing with a thump, she saw the remaining undead. They charged, surrounding her. Her panic grew with every heartbeat. The undead swarmed forward, creating a massive wall. She stopped, and the panic spiked. There¡¯s no way out. With no other option, she burned all of her remaining mana, focusing it into an explosive ball. Bracing herself, she held out her spear and waited. The undead charged. The ball of magic pulsed, and Kindra felt the presence push further into her mind. ¡°I have missed you, my daughter,¡± the voice whispered. The hell? Kindra slashed her spear in a circle. Light flashed around her. Claws raked her leg, and the ball exploded. A wave of light crashed over the group, and she sprinted, charging through the collapsing horde. Pain burned through her. Blood trickled down her leg, and she ran in reckless abandon, charging into the forest. Large-leafed trees surrounded her. Bushes and grasses grew in errant patches of light. The smell of dirt and water filled the air, and she ran, bounding off roots and rocks. ¡°Stop!¡± the voice barked, and she felt a strange urge to obey it. A wave of magic washed over her in a soft, yellow light. Runes danced around her like stars, and she slowed. A sequence of runes flashed before her, and the realization hit her like a torrent of icy water, causing a cold sweat to break across her skin. Hell no. Smashing the runes into pieces, she ran, rushing deeper into the forest. The trees grew taller. Moss and vines appeared, verdant blankets that decorated the towering trees above. The forest was engulfed in shadow; the light blocked by the distant canopy of green. Kindra ignored all of it, charging through the trees. Deeper. Deeper. She locked onto the ambient mana and chased after it. Aika shot forward. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°It¡¯s coming.¡± Racing around a cottage-sized tree trunk, she tore through the growing jungle. Bugs and birds chirped. The smell of humid earth filled the air, and the creature spoke again. ¡°Kindra! Come back. It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Kindra felt the growing compulsion and shattered it, smashing through the runes and sending the magic bursting around her. She leapt from a root, landed, and sprinted, her feet sinking into the soft dirt of the forest. The space grew quiet. The presence seemed to dim, and she ran towards the fog of mana in the distance. Maybe it can hide me. ¡°Kindra, my darling. Please. Come back. I¡¯ll explain.¡± She didn¡¯t slow. She couldn¡¯t slow. It was behind her, and it could see her. She ran, desperately praying that the forest could hide her. Trees blurred around her. Something roared. She did not stop, bounding off roots, rocks, logs, and whatever else that was in the way. Running. That was her new constant. Her legs burned. Her lungs burned, and she sprinted recklessly, fleeing the ancient presence. ¡°Kindra!¡± Aika shouted. Bursting out of the trees, Kindra sprinted across a meadow of tall grass. A distant, massive bison-like creature lifted its head, and she slowed, stopping on some hilltop. Is it friendly? She reached for her gun, just in case. Aika fluttered up and landed on her. ¡°Kindra, where are we?¡± Kindra spun. The mana was thick, hanging in the air like a deep fog. Searching for the glowing entity, she failed to see it. Thank God. Pulling out her gun, she checked it and looked at the bison. We might be able to eat it... Wait. She studied the creature. The mana in its fur was nearly as thick as the mana around her. It turned toward her, its brown eyes glowing with it.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Looking at her gun, she swallowed. I don¡¯t know if this will cut it. The bison snorted at her and pawed the ground. That¡¯s not good. Kindra took a step back, and the bison snorted, stepping forward. Kindra took another step backward. Her foot sunk nearly four inches. The ground trembled, and the bison stepped forward, its hooves sinking into the dirt. A small tremble carried across the soil, and the ground buckled, collapsing inward. She fell with it, her arms flailing as she plummeted with the dirt and grass. Spinning, she looked down and saw the ground rushing to meet her. Oh, shit. She hit with a heavy thud, dirt and grass raining around her. Well. I doubt that it¡¯s¡ªshit! The mammoth-sized bison came crashing down, slamming into the ground with a massive bellow. Aika zipped up and began attacking it using her spear and sword. Neither did a thing to the bison, failing to pierce its thick hide. Where the fuck is the tutorial level? Kindra groaned and forced herself up, wobbling and shaking. Jagged pain knifed up her leg. She looked down and saw the gashes from the claws, now filled with dirt. Great. Just great. I¡¯m going to get sick and die on this stupid planet. Reaching down, she picked up the spear and looked at the bison. It snorted at her and tried to stand, its legs buckling under it with a snap. Guess there are limits when it comes to gravity and weight. Looking around her crater full of lumpy sod, dirt, stone, and bison, she frowned. I¡¯m going to need Aika to get me out. Sighing, she spun and saw a pond of mana floating in the corner. I¡¯ll figure that out in a minute. Moving closer to the bison, she tried to use her spear to finish it off, shoving the spear into its neck. The spear didn¡¯t seem to do anything, and the bison glared at her. Snorting and failing to stand once more. ¡°How do we kill it?¡± Aika asked, fluttering up. Kindra shrugged. ¡°No idea.¡± She looked at her spear and considered it. How sharp can I make this thing? And will it matter? Burning a tiny amount of mana on Transmutation, she focused on making the tip the sharpest thing ever. She wanted every molecule lined up for razor precision. The tip shifted, and she tried again, backing up and running before slamming the spear into it. The spear stopped instantly. Kindra¡¯s momentum worked against her; she slipped, slamming onto her bottom. Sighing at her wounded leg and the immortal bison, she grabbed a knife and opened her bag. Cutting off a strip, she reached down and tied it around her leg. It¡¯s going to get infected. Letting out a long breath, she looked up at the blue sky and jerked the bandage tight, letting out a small whimper. I need a healing skill. Sighing, she looked at Aika. ¡°Anything?¡± ¡°You pricked it and broke off the spear tip. It almost bled.¡± Aika sighed. ¡°Stupid thing. How do you kill the unkillable?¡± ¡°You approach it scientifically. Analyze the problem. Find the solution,¡± she echoed her father¡¯s words without thinking. Turning, she looked at the beast, and a realization hit her: ¡°I know how to do it.¡± ¡°Good. How?¡± ¡°It has to breathe, right?¡± Kindra said, gesturing to its moving ribs. ¡°That¡¯s a little dark, but I agree.¡± Aika fluttered over and picked up a lump of sod. Flying it over, she dumped it on the bison¡¯s head. It looked up at her and snorted. Reaching down, Kindra did the same, grabbing sod and tossing it on the bison. The two quickly got to work, tossing sod onto the bison¡¯s head. Rocks hit its skull. Dirt and grass landed, and it snorted contemptuously. Should I make a shovel? Kindra debated it while throwing sod and dirt. The minutes slowly ticked by, and they slowly built a mound around its head. Pausing for a breath, Kindra dusted off her hands and looked at the pile of earth that now encompassed the bison¡¯s head. It bellowed as if to prove it could still breathe. Aika crossed her arms and huffed, stomping on the dirt. ¡°Rotten thing.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ll have to shovel way more.¡± Kindra sighed, and the bison shook its head, knocking the dirt away. It looked at them both with an expression of disdain and bellowed, the sound ringing throughout the pit. Kindra shook her head. ¡°Can you get a vine? I could climb out.¡± ¡°Okay, but we¡¯re killing it.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be easy once we get out of the pit. We can start a fire on top of it.¡± Aika zipped away, and Kindra grabbed more sod, piling it near the head. Aika flew back with a vine. She dropped it in the pit. Walking over, Kindra tossed her spear out and climbed up the vine, grabbing it hand over hand and pulling herself out of the pit. Hauling herself out, she walked to the forest¡¯s edge and looked at a tree. That¡¯ll work. Pulling an axe from her belt, she swung. The axe hit the wood and bounced off, not even scratching it. You have got to be kidding me! Kindra felt like screaming. She glared at the horrible tree, studying the mana flowing through it. So, it¡¯s what? A level one hundred tree that¡¯s strengthened itself so much that I can¡¯t even chop the darn thing? Huffing, she blew the hair from her face and glowered at the tree. System, this game sucks. [Not a game, as I¡¯ve told you repeatedly.] Kindra turned and walked away, looking for fallen branches. She prowled around the edge of the meadow, peering into the trees and listening. Birds and insects chirped. That¡¯s promising. She walked around the edge and halted. A tree was lying there in shattered, jagged pieces. Did that explode? Or did gravity eventually win? Looking at the massive trunk that remained, she saw the bugs. They were swarming the wood, attacking the tree in earnest. Walking over to a large piece of wood, she pulled out an axe and chopped. The bugs and birds went quiet. She hacked away at it, cutting off a piece and tossing it into the pit. Aika fluttered overhead, peering into the forest. Time slowly passed while Kindra cut and dragged pieces of wood to the pit. After a few hours and a lot of sweat, she gestured to Aika and returned to the pit. I need to get stronger. A lot stronger. Climbing into the pit, she walked over to the bison and piled wood around its head. Now. I need your help, Death or System. What¡¯s the rune for fire? [The system is not designed to give you this information.] Huffing, Kindra scowled and looked at Aika. ¡°Any ideas on how to start this thing?¡± ¡°You could make a bow. Or you could rub two together. We are stronger now.¡± Kindra groaned and grabbed a piece of wood. Cutting a notch in another, she began sawing it, pushing it back and forth with increasing speed. Aika flew down and grabbed the other side. Each pushed it back and forth with increasing speed. It began to smolder, smoke wafting around them. Kindra pushed herself, sawing faster and faster. Her arm began to throb as the smoke drifted around them. Come on. Light already. She blew on the wood, trying to get some embers. Nothing glowed. It just smoldered. Groaning, she resumed sawing, shoving the board back and forth while smoke drifted around them. The bison bellowed and knocked the wood aside. Kindra ignored it and sawed. Come on. Come on. Minutes turned to an hour before Kindra was too exhausted to continue. She threw the wood, coughed on the smoke, and groaned. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of the smoke hole.¡± Aika shot out. ¡°Gladly.¡± It was so easy on the TV show. Kindra ran to the pit¡¯s edge, grabbed the vine, and pulled herself up, plopping onto the grass. ¡°That¡¯s hard.¡± Aika landed next to her and looked out into the forest. ¡°What are we going to do? Use your gun?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll turn it into something flammable.¡± Kindra sighed and listened to the stupid, bellowing bison. ¡°Just shut up down there. We get it. You can¡¯t breathe.¡± Jerking up, she looked down at the smoky pit and grinned. Was that enough? An eager smile spread across her face. Chapter 13 – Wilds – Pt2 Peering into the smoke-filled crater, Kindra smiled. Maybe this will work. Wind, don¡¯t mess it up for me. I can¡¯t have oxygen getting down there. The bison thrashed. It bellowed and tried to stand. Bones snapped, and it dropped, blood running down its legs. Well. That¡¯s one way to do it. Letting it kill itself is easier. An eager Aika shot into the pit. She began stabbing into the wound, making the bison thrash. Blood spurted from its wounds. Hey, if we can keep the blood flowing, that¡¯ll work. Grabbing her spear, Kindra lowered herself into the pit and smacked the broken leg, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t clot. The thrashing slowed. The bison groaned. ¡°Listen, dude; I¡¯m trying to end your suffering. Just help me out.¡± Kindra slammed her spear into the wound, ripping a small hole and letting more blood ooze out. It¡¯s clotting, darn it. With a sigh, she grabbed a log. ¡°Get out of the pit, Aika.¡± Triggering Transmutation, she gave a single command. Charcoal. Tossing the wood onto the pile, she turned and ran. The log smoldered with steam and smoke billowing around it. Scrambling out of the pit, Kindra watched as the process happened far more quickly than usual. The water and several impurities burned away. Then, the methane leaked out and lit on fire. The other logs caught flame, which exacerbated the ordeal. Yeah. There¡¯s no way that magic can save the charcoal from this mess. The entire thing smoldered. Wood burned, and her spell ended. The charcoal lit on fire. That¡¯s expected. I did toss it into the literal flames. She shook her head and smiled. The bison coughed, and she winced. Come on, just die already. Aika fluttered up and frowned. ¡°Something is watching us. I think it might be a cat.¡± Kindra turned and swallowed. Great. We¡¯re screwed. She looked at the vine. ¡°Do we retreat?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe it wants the meat?¡± ¡°I want its mana.¡± Kindra pulled out a gun. I¡¯ll enchant it. I need something to make it pierce this crap. Triggering her skill, she drained her mana and a chunk of her blood. [Basic 9mm pistol has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 4 hours. Each shot will negate up to 35 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] Something tells me it won¡¯t kill the moaning bison. Frowning, Kindra watched the trees. A flicker of black caught the corner of her vision, and a black and gray cat prowled forward. It sniffed and met her eyes, its yellow eyes glowing with mana¡ªa smug expression spread across its face. It knows we¡¯re nothing. Kindra swallowed. ¡°Aika, when I die, do what you¡ª¡± ¡°Stop that!¡± Aika dove, her spear shooting outward. Her wings fluttered, and she extended the spear. The cat slapped her away with a paw, slamming her into the ground. It turned and opened its mouth, reaching for Aika¡¯s body. Kindra felt the cold metal in her hand. She lined the sights, exhaled, and pulled the trigger. The slug burst out of the barrel, trailing magic behind it. The cat didn¡¯t have time to register the threat. Blood sprayed from its neck, pouring out in an explosion of glowing crimson fluid. The cat turned toward her, the shock visible on its face before it crumpled onto the ground, blood flowing around it. With her heart thundering and worry gnawing at her, Kindra dashed forward and scooped Aika off the ground. Her lip trembled, and she carried the prone fairy toward the pit. ¡°Aika?¡± she thought, trying and failing to make the connection. Her eyes watered, and another cat poked its head from the forest. Spinning, she held Aika with one hand and raised the gun with the other. She lined up the sights and exhaled. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± The cat sprang forward, its black tail swinging. Kindra pulled the trigger. The gun slammed into her hand. The gun barked, and the glowing bullet shot across the ground, hitting the cat in the head. Its skull exploded. Bone and blood splashed into the quiet air. Growling, Kindra bared her teeth at the lurking creatures in the forest. ¡°If you want a war, I¡¯m ready.¡± The rest of the pack surged, and Kindra let her feelings fade away. The panic faded. Grief died, and an icy rage was all that remained. Like a robot, she spun and fired, lining each shot before pivoting to the next. The gun barked in her hand. Glowing slugs flew. Blood splattered, and blood painted the nearby ground and trees. Squeezing the trigger one final time, Kindra watched the sixth cat die. Blood exploded from its neck, and the two that remained ran. They fled into the forest. Growling, Kindra placed Aika in the grass. Pulling out another magazine, she swapped them and walked over to a cat. The mana inside glowed. The smell of blood filled the air, and Kindra dragged it back to Aika.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Reaching down, Kindra picked her body up and cradled it against her side. She looked down at the cold form, and the emotion slammed into her. Her eyes watered, and her jaw trembled. Please, Death. Bring her back. [Familiars may be restored with mana. Current cost: 200.] ? [Your mana has increased: 109 ¡ú 172.] She felt her expended mana pool and felt like sobbing. I got so much from the undead. Now it¡¯s just gone. With her lip trembling, she pulled out her knife and cut open the cat. Cutting out a piece, she bit into it. I¡¯ll need to kill the bison and hope the cats had some. Then I can bring her back. Swallowing the meat, she listened to the stupid bison and watched the fog of mana around her. Cutting another strip of meat from the cat, she watched the mana inside it release. It slipped free of the body and streamed into her. She let out a breath of relief. I can bring her back. That¡¯s what matters. She ate and watched the mana from the cats. Some dispersed into the air. Some flowed toward her, and she bit into the mana filled meat. Do I get more from eating this? She ate it eagerly, devouring the raw meat and trying to pull more mana into her. Like a strange extra limb, it seemed to work. She cut off another bit of meat and pulled again, willing it toward her. As the last bit flowed into her, she willed the information forward. [Your mana has increased: 172 ¡ú 293.] She smiled and reached for her mana. Time to bring her back. ~~~ Aika looked out at the strange place. Massive trees surrounded her, and the smell of flowers hung in the air. Looking down, she saw a blue and silver flower. She was lying in it like some bed. Strange. Where¡¯s Kindra? She frowned and couldn¡¯t feel the connection. Scowling, she crossed her arms and looked up. A forest canopy stretched above her. Is this heaven? And am I sleeping outside? She looked straight up and saw a tree. I am. A fairy dressed in a green suit fluttered into view. He looked at her in shock and confusion, running his hands through short, golden hair. Saying something, he raised a brow. What¡¯s his deal? Is he God? Aika swallowed. Kindra. She felt the tears hit. Please let her be safe. She swallowed. She can resummon me, right? [Yes.] The male fairy fluttered closer, his shimmering green wings fluttering. He said something in some foreign language. ¡°I don¡¯t speak fairy. Send me back,¡± Aika replied with a sigh. She sat up and looked out at the forest. It looked similar to the one she¡¯d been in. Strange. Is this is the same planet? She wrinkled her nose and stretched. The fairy turned and started shouting. Aika ignored it, standing and peering out into the woods. Looking down, she saw the forest floor and houses built into the trees. People with longer ears and shining hair walked down pathways. Who are they? Elves? She looked at her wings. Wouldn¡¯t be the strangest thing. She turned to the shouting guy next to her. ¡°How do I go back?¡± He turned and looked at her. ¡°My apologies. My name is Vathanl. What¡ª¡± English? What? Aika thought as everything faded into blackness and pain. She felt her fingers and toes. The smell of blood hit, and she coughed while hands gently encompassed her. ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to die, Aika. That¡¯s the rule.¡± Kindra pulled her into a small embrace, carefully pulling her against her rough shirt. ¡°Sorry. Did the gun work?¡± Aika thought, smiling and looking up at the radiant face above her. ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t think they had much stamina because it worked really well. The bison finally shut up. So, that¡¯s the good news. The bad news is that the cats have attracted things.¡± Aika felt the hands release. She fluttered into the air and studied. Birds were circling them, and the forest was quiet. Too quiet. That was a strange dream. With her wings blurring, she spun and searched the forest. Maybe I could help her into a tree. Flying upward, she scanned branches and changed her mind instantly. Yellow eyes in the trees all stared at her. A massive bird hopped forward, and Aika shot back toward the ground. ¡°There¡¯s way too much here. We need a shelter.¡± Kindra frowned and looked at the smoldering hole. ¡°We can make a cave, but I can¡¯t promise we can breathe.¡± Aika flew across the pit, using her wings to fan the smoke. Weaving back and forth, she blew away smoke and peered into the mess. A group of smoldering logs and charcoal greeted her. The bison was there, breathing laboriously. Can¡¯t believe it¡¯s still alive. She flew out of the pit. ¡°Should be breathable, but our bison friend is still alive.¡± Cutting off another slab of meat, Kindra devoured it and grabbed the vine. She lowered herself into the pit and walked toward a wall. Aika followed her to a small cave. The small crack appeared to lead into a tunnel. Text flashed into view. Looking into the pit, she saw a tunnel full of mana leading downward, and words flashed into view. [You have entered a concentrated mana zone. Please be aware that entities may manifest from the mana.] ¡°System, what does that mean?¡± She asked, flying closer to Kindra. [Mana will attract creatures due to the increased potential for growth. This growth may alter them and cause some mana manifestations.] Well, that explains all the creatures nearby. Aika frowned and flew through the crack, peering down the long tunnel. But it¡¯s safer than being out there. She turned and gestured. Kindra squeezed through the opening and looked out into the crater. ¡°I¡¯ll scout. Seal that if you need.¡± Aika fluttered down the cave, her vision shifting to a gray scale. I miss infrared. Flying down the narrow passage, she listened. Is that water? Veering around a corner, she felt a breeze rush by. At least there¡¯s air. Turning another corner, she stopped. The tunnel continued and opened up, revealing a large crack. Like a piece of bread propped against the loaf, the stone had somehow shorn away to create the prominent, narrow place. Small ledges lined the sides. The sound of water was louder, and Aika saw a stream flowing at the bottom. Water too. That¡¯s good. Turning, she studied the walls. What are all those rocks? One of them moved, spreading its wings and launching into the air. And we¡¯re trapped by a hundred birds. Aika turned and flew up the passage. She saw Kindra reach down and massage her wounded leg. Kindra is wounded and will need help. Aika nibbled on her lip. How can I kill all those birds very quickly? Chapter 14 – Wilds – Pt3 Kindra leaned against the stone and rubbed her leg. I really need to clean this. She tilted her head and sniffed. A soft breeze washed by, carrying damp air. Is there a stream in here? Turning, she peered out into the crater. A bird swooped down, landing near the bison. I either waste bullets or bolts. Given the lack of metal, it looks like I¡¯m back to the medieval era. Frowning, she shook her head and looked back. ¡°Aika, is there a way out?¡± ¡°Yes, but there are birds in it.¡± ¡°So, we need bolts. Lots of bolts.¡± Kindra turned. ¡°Bad news, I need material for crossbow bolts.¡± She set her bag, the rifle, and the crossbow down. Slipping out of the cave, she edged toward the vine. The black and white vulture pecked, ripping flesh from the wounded bison¡¯s leg. The bison bellowed, and Kindra slid across the wall. She grabbed the vine. Hauling herself up, she peered out at the edge of the forest. The cats were lying there, and four birds had landed, pouncing on the free meal. One turned and hissed at her. Oh, fork it. Pulling out the gun, Kindra aimed, lining up the gun with the vulture¡¯s head. ¡°I need those. Get out of the way or die.¡± The bird hissed. She squeezed the trigger, and the gun barked. The bird didn¡¯t have time to react, the bullet blowing through its head. Its dead body twitched, ran a few steps, and fell over, its wings flapping against the ground. The other birds took off, fleeing her and the gun. Kindra dashed forward and grabbed the cats, dragging and tossing them into the pit. Aika shot past her, zipping into the forest and grabbing fallen branches. After another tree, Kindra jogged into the woods and hacked a branch off the tree. Racing back to the pit, she tossed it in and glanced at the group of birds. They descended, swirling lower and lower. One dove for the bison. Ignoring it, Kindra bolted back into the woods, hacking off a dead branch and running it back. The two ran laps, quickly piling wood into the pit. The nearby scavengers edged closer, and a deathly quiet fell on the area. Kindra shivered and ran a branch back. What is it now? She scanned the trees and looked up. Large, blue wings flapped. Scales shimmered in the sunlight, and a massive wyvern looked down. ¡°Aika, time to hide!¡± She grabbed the vine and scrambled down, dropping heavily to the ground. Pain lanced through her leg, and she grabbed a cat carcass, dragging it into the tunnel. The wyvern dove. Its body pulsed with vibrant light. Its mouth opened to reveal large teeth, and Kindra scrambled down the tunnel. Peering out, she watched the wyvern land on the bison. Massive claws sunk into its flesh, clamping down on its prey. With a roar of victory, the wyvern bit into the bison, ripping its neck open and spraying things with blood. Please tell me that it can¡¯t breathe fire. Kindra swallowed and ducked against the wall. Aika landed in her lap and huddled with her. Kindra reached out and pulled her close. ¡°Aika, start moving things.¡± She grabbed her gear and crept backward, moving it deeper into the cave. Walking to the entrance, she looked out. The wyvern gorged, and Kindra carefully grabbed some of the remaining branches, pushing them towards Aika. The wyvern ate like a bird, ripping off pieces and using gravity to aid in swallowing massive pieces. Pulling in half the bodies and most of the branches, Kindra turned and looked at the wyvern. Its body was aglow with mana. Its eyes blaze with it. Reaching down, it ripped off a leg and swallowed it, bones and all. I don¡¯t even want to know what level it is. Looking at a cat carcass, she reached and grabbed it, pulling it into the little cave. Swallowing, she looked at the others. Is this going to piss it off? She grabbed another, pulling it inside before looking at the others. Aika tugged on her sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t do it. It¡¯s looking.¡± Kindra nodded and touched the rock. Time to wall this off. She burned mana to turn the entrance into a tiny crack. The stone shifted, closing off all but a crack. Letting out a light breath, she looked over at the wyvern. It ripped off another leg and devoured it. Finishing the leg, it turned and looked at Kindra, sniffing the air with its massive nostrils. Kindra froze. Please don¡¯t let it see me. It looked back at the bison and ripped the remainder of it in half. Then it began devouring a side. Kindra turned and dragged things away from the opening. She looked down at the cat. Mana was leaking from the body and flowing into her. Mana from the bison wasn¡¯t. Does it get more mana by eating it? And do I get kill credit?If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. [Mana is released when creatures die. Some will flow into the nearby creatures. Killing them creates a stronger tie. Some creatures have adapted other methods, such as consuming flesh.] Kindra felt her teeth with her tongue. Am I one of them? [Unknown.] You don¡¯t know? [This information is unavailable. Your current species is listed as REDACTED.] Death knows and won¡¯t tell me? [This information is unavailable.] Hey, Death? What¡¯s with that? [Your genetic code is distinct due to magical alterations. The system has classified you as an aberration because of it. ~Death] I¡¯m not an aberration. She frowned, and the sound of heavy steps jerked her focus back to the problem outside. Grabbing the supplies, she dragged them further back. The wyvern walked up to a cat and opened its mouth. A long tongue wrapped around the cat and pulled it into the gaping maw. A massive eye turned toward Kindra and blinked. Shit. Kindra swallowed and crawled backward, dragging the cat with her. The wyvern¡¯s head turned, and the eye stared at her. We¡¯re next. Her heart thundered in her chest. Her lungs struggled to work. ¡°Kindra!¡± Aika screamed. ¡°Back up!¡± Kindra forced the panic back, dragging things further from the entrance. The wyvern swallowed the last cat and looked inside. Reaching forward with massive, black claws, it sliced through the stone and ripped it out of the way. Kindra continued retreating. We¡¯ll collapse the tunnel and pray that¡¯s enough. Dragging the material for her bolts, she made it fourteen feet, sixteen feet, eighteen¡ªA massive tongue flickered down the tunnel, and Kindra dropped everything. With her arms trembling, she grabbed the gun and raised it. Breathe. Just breathe. Exhaling, she looked down the tunnel. Fangs lined the bottom and top of the cave. The tongue flicked out, eight feet, ten feet, twelve¡ªShe pulled the trigger. The gun boomed. A shell flew, and she pulled the trigger again and again. Bullets streamed through the air, magic trailing behind them. Like tiny insects, they flew toward the massive creature, and Kindra scrambled backward. The first bullet hit the tongue and shattered. Blood oozed from the minor cuts, and the wyvern¡¯s tongue jerked backward. The next bullet whizzed by the tongue, flying into the creature¡¯s open maw. Hitting the back of the throat, it broke and bounced, sending a spray of tiny shrapnel through the wyvern¡¯s mouth. The wyvern bellowed and jerked its tongue back. The third bullet hit it, bouncing off a fang with a high-pitched ping. Kindra felt her heart pause. She stared, and the wyvern lost it, ripping furiously at the stone with its claws. Rocks rained, and Kindra scrambled backward as the tunnel slammed shut behind them. Everything grew quiet, and Kindra stood there, her heart thundering through her chest. Her eyes watered, and she looked down. Aika patted her on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It can¡¯t hurt us now.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re trapped in some dungeon thing.¡± Taking a long breath, Kindra turned and looked at their limited supplies. I hate this stupid planet. Earth was better than this death planet. She turned and looked down into the cave. It bent, leading elsewhere. ¡°What¡¯s beyond the bend?¡± ¡°The birds. Lots of them.¡± Aika patted her. Kindra grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m quick and¡ª¡± ¡°No, Aika. We have to be smart. I don¡¯t care if I can bring you back, I¡¯m not letting you die.¡± Kindra shook her head. Creeping down the passage, she heard the sound of water. There¡¯s water in here? She crept forward and peered out of the narrow tunnel. The cave opened up, revealing a large gap in the stone. Jagged ledges lined the walls, and a small stream flowed through the bottom of it, leading somewhere. At least I know how to get out. Kindra crept forward and felt her mana. [Your mana has increased: 293 ¡ú 302.] Well, it¡¯s not enough to make bolts and seal this. We¡¯ll have to camp here. Focusing on the floor, she frowned. I need doors. If I can¡¯t open this, we¡¯re screwed. Creating a picture in her mind, she imagined stone doors that she could slide open and shut. Adding small grates to the top and bottom, she pushed on her mana, triggering Transmutation and willing the picture to take shape. Stone flowed from the walls and floor, coalescing into stone doors and leaving grooves behind. Is this why their village was stone? Did they use this skill? Reaching forward, she slid the doors into place and looked at Aika. ¡°Aika, can you eat raw meat?¡± She walked over to the cat carcass. ¡°Sounds gross.¡± Aika stuck out her tongue. ¡°It tastes amazing, like spicy meat.¡± Kindra gestured to her bag. ¡°There¡¯s some fruit in my bag. You should eat it before it goes bad.¡± She sat down and cut open the cat, slicing off meat and eating it raw. This is my life now. Random magic? She paused. Can I use it to get back to Earth? I could theoretically make a wormhole device. I just need to map my location, make a ship, and then jump back¡­ Maybe magic could help me do it. She gnawed on the meat. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika asked, cutting off a piece of fruit. ¡°Sorry. Thinking about Earth¡­ Is the ship here?¡± she asked herself and Aika at the same time. ¡°Maybe?¡± Aika studied Kindra. ¡°Is that your body?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°Then we need to find it.¡± Kindra nodded and ate another chunk of meat. Add that to the list. Just need to survive this dungeon thing, find the dwarves, and deal with whatever pulled me here. She grimaced and then paused. Why did that thing know my name? And why did it call me daughter? She swallowed another bite and shook her head. Strange. Aika looked up. ¡°Kindra, what are we going to do?¡± ¡°We need to find out if others survived and find out what¡¯s on this planet. Then we can try to find Earth.¡± Kindra looked at her. ¡°Do you remember what routines triggered?¡± ¡°Collision protection protocols activated. I remember that. So, some of the tech should have survived it.¡± Kindra smiled. ¡°So that¡¯ll be the focus¡­ we just have to survive first.¡± Eating a final bite, she burned the rest of her mana on the wood she¡¯d gathered, making a large bundle of bolts. Pulling out the blankets, she wrapped herself in one and sat against the wall. Aika snuggled up to her. Kindra stared at the stone, looking down. ¡°Aika? What was it like to die?¡± ¡°Strange. I saw another fairy.¡± Aika shrugged. ¡°Another fairy? Do you think there are others here?¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Aika smiled. ¡°What do you think the dwarves are like? Do they have magic forges where they make amazing things?¡± Her eyes twinkled. ¡°We could use them to save Earth.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°I really hope so.¡± Chapter 15 – Wilds – Pt4 Kindra blinked, and a blurry world came into focus. Fields stretched before her, patches of green crops leading to a sprawling city built into a mountain. A massive wall surrounded the city. Stone cottages lined the streets, and a massive castle adorned it. Am I dreaming? She squinted and looked at the blurry sky. This has to be a dream. Looking back at the wall, she studied the dwarven troops that lined it. The mana inside them glowed vibrantly. Well, they are high-level. That¡¯s obvious. A branch broke, and she turned, looking at a massive undead bison beside her. It lumbered forward, and she willed others up to join it. Rows of undead lined up on the edge of the forest. An undead wyvern circled overhead, and she felt her tether to them grow. Well, this is creepy. A deep, masculine voice rang through the air, making everything go silent. ¡°Leave or die, vampire!¡± Why can I understand that? Stupid dream. Kindra felt a laugh escape her throat. It flowed into the air, a cackle that was far too loud. ¡°Surrender, and I¡¯ll let your people serve us. Consider this your only warning.¡± ¡°I look forward to killing you,¡± a dwarf bellowed, holding his glowing hammer aloft. It surged, and glowing stones and arrows flew from the ramparts. With a flick of the hand, Kindra conjured a massive shield. Runes spread across her vision, and the projectiles slammed into it. She smiled, and it twisted to a look of scorn. The shield vanished momentarily, and a massive green cloud billowed out, flowing toward the city like a living plague. Kindra gestured, and the undead surged forward like a wave of destruction. Bison charged across the fields, ripping up crops as they charged. Wyverns flew, and a barrage of spells filled the air. With the mocking look of scorn still on her face, Kindra pulled on a massive mana reservoir, feeding it into some skill. Glowing runes surrounded her, and a wave of green energy flooded through the undead. Arrows sunk into them. A barrage of projectiles flew toward her, and she gestured. The shield snapped into view, distorting the image slightly. It wobbled like water, and the projectiles slammed into it. Kindra opened her mouth. ¡°Like the stone upon the shoreline, you will wear away,¡± she hissed in some foreign tongue. What the heck is this dream? She blinked, and the air around her burst into flame. Her heart rate spiked. Something jabbed her in the ribs, and her eyes snapped open, jolting her back to the cave and out of the dream. The smell of water, stone, and blood lingered in the air. A rocky wall loomed across from her, and the sound of the distant stream burbled. Home sweet¡ªwhat¡¯s this planet called, anyway? She exhaled and stretched. Rotten cave. Reaching up, she rubbed her eyes and listened to something bang against the stone. Great. Attackers. She turned to confirm it. A bird was attacking their makeshift door, trying to push through. Aika flew over and landed lightly on her leg. ¡°They¡¯re strong.¡± ¡°Everything is. So much for a tutorial level... or maybe that town was. God, that¡¯s sobering.¡± Kindra grabbed her spear, stood, and slammed it into the bird, cutting a few feathers and pushing it away. But not too strong. ¡°Crossbow should do it with the right enchantment.¡± Standing up, she folded the blankets and stashed them. Pulling out a waterskin, she took a long drink and stretched before packing the supplies away. Alright. Time to get out of here and find the dwarves¡­ assuming there are any left. She grimaced. ¡°Kindra! Turn!¡± Aika barked, fear on her face. Kindra spun and looked at the tunnel. A long tongue flickered down it. The sound of scraping claws bounced through the cave, and horror grabbed Kindra by the throat. She felt the panic creeping up. It grabbed her by the throat, making breathing impossible. The wyvern¡­ what the fuck? Aika slapped her arm, and Kindra forced her breathing back under control. She moved slightly closer to the corner and looked down the cave. Claws ripped through stone, and a tail swept the stones out of the way. Through all of it, a yellow eye stared at her. Okay. How do I stop a wyvern that literally decided to dig us out? Kindra looked at the door. The bird wriggled and thrashed at the bar. The scraping claws continued, and Kindra swallowed. Think of a solution, not the problem¡­ We need a shelter. That means we need a new cave or ¡ª Realization hit her like a hammer. The panic faded, and a crooked grin spread across her face. She looked at the wall, a crooked smile spreading across her face. ¡°Stupid wyvern, you deserve this.¡± She slapped her hand on the wall and triggered Transmutation. Her magic flowed into the stone, and she felt it. Like an extra limb, she felt the stone and the tunnel that extended back toward the surface.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Willing the stone above to fall and reseal, she let it burn her mana. Her pool drained, burning over a hundred mana in a single second. The stone flowed like honey, entombing the wyvern in solid stone. Kindra smirked. ¡°What a turnip.¡± She chuckled and looked at the grate. The bird was gone. It gave up? Thank God¡­ Guess I should stop saying that. She shook her head, and the ground trembled, stones bouncing. Trying to get out? Good luck, mate. Kindra turned. ¡°Did you get breakfast?¡± ¡°Yes. Ate the rest of the fruit.¡± Kindra nodded and looked at the tiger. ¡°Think it¡¯s still good?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Aika shook her head and looked at the shaking ground. ¡°Is it getting out?¡± ¡°Maybe?¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°But I doubt it. It would have made it to us earlier if it could dig through rock that fast.¡± She took a drink and offered some to Aika. She placed the cap on the waterskin and turned. The ground trembled. Should I waste more mana? It¡¯s stuck underground¡­ She sighed and debated it. Grabbing the crossbow, she shook the thought aside. We can¡¯t get stuck here with some wild wyvern. Hopefully, it goes for the surface if it can dig out. The ground stopped trembling. Kindra turned and tried to see the mana. There¡¯s too much here. Focusing away from it, she used Enhance Item, draining twenty mana and some of her blood. Red runes spread across the crossbow. [Basic crossbow has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 24 hours. Each shot will negate up to 20 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] That¡¯ll work. She grabbed the pile of bolts. ¡°How much mana do you have left?¡± Aika landed next to the pile. ¡°About a hundred.¡± Kindra turned. ¡°Should I level? It will cost a hundred mana, so my pool will shrink significantly.¡± She pulled up her progress. [Mana: 293.] ? [Active Mana: 91.] [Speed: 6.] ?[Intellect: 6.] ?[Dexterity: 8.] ?[Strength: 4.] ?[Stamina: 2.] Maybe I should, but I really need mana more than minor boosts to my body. Aika frowned and flew up, landing on her shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see what we get from the crossbow.¡± She paused and turned toward the wall of stone that now engulfed the back of the tunnel. ¡°Is it dead?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°It either got out or is dying. I¡¯m hoping it¡¯s dying.¡± ¡°Me too. How much mana would we get?¡± ¡°Not sure, but I want to eat it if it dies.¡± Kindra chuckled and loaded a bolt. Walking to the door, she slid it open, aimed at a bird, and fired. The wooden bolt streaked through the air and slammed into the bird. It tumbled backward, rolling into the wall. That¡¯ll work. Grabbing another bolt, Kindra ratcheted back the lever and loaded the next bolt. Birds turned, and she aimed, lining the shot and pulling the trigger. The string thrummed, and the bolt flew, staking a nesting bird. The birds erupted in furious chirping. Runes and magic flooded the room, and Kindra felt waves of fire roll through her mind. It surged, and her head throbbed. Focusing on the runes, she willed a counter into her mind. The immense pressure slowly faded. Her ears popped, and Aika slumped and slid from her shoulder. Dropping the crossbow, Kindra caught Aika. She scowled and lifted Aika¡¯s body, watching her labored breathing. That¡¯s it. The noise slammed over her in growing fury. With the runes blazing in her mind, she cradled Aika next to her, trying to shield her from the magic. With a final, surging cry, a quiet spread through the room. Birds launched from their perches, and Kindra slid the door shut. They have to know it¡¯s suicidal to attack head-on, right? A bird landed, chittered, and moved to the grate. Kindra watched it, walking to her spear. Cradling Aika in her left arm, she reached down and grabbed it. Die, you little turd. Walking forward, she placed the spear¡¯s tip between the bars and slammed it forward. The spear cut feathers, sliced a small line across the bird, and knocked it backward. It chirped furiously, causing the rest to do the same. Waves of magic poured across the room, and Kindra scowled. Holding Aika tighter, Kindra studied her. She¡¯s breathing. That¡¯s good. What does this magic do? She studied the runes floating by. I need a manual on runes. System, give me a quest to get a book on runes. [No.] Kindra shifted her focus back to Aika. She¡¯s alive. That¡¯s the good news. Scowling at the birds outside, she waited. How do I shield Aika besides trying to use my body? After a minute, the sound stopped. Sighing, Kindra looked out. The birds had flown off. Dropping the spear, she opened her bag and set Aika on the blankets. She felt her mana and smiled. Willing the sequence forward, she triggered Enhance Item. [Level 5 mechasuit enhanced to provide lesser resistance to paralytic magic for 24 hours.] A smile spread across Kindra¡¯s face. Well, now. Isn¡¯t that something? Pausing, she memorized the sequences before picking up the crossbow and ratcheting back the bowstring. Sliding a bolt into place, she slid the door open and aimed. Exhaling, she aimed at the closest one and fired. The bolt zipped forward, clipping the bird and setting it off. Kindra waited. A bird saw her. It chittered and launched itself from the cliff. Others bailed, flying for the exit. Stepping inside, Kindra shut the door. Why are some staying? She studied the cliffs, and the realization hit. They¡¯re nesting¡­ Some things don¡¯t change. Birds flew next to the door, blaring their magic through it. And you should have gotten a new trick. Loading another bolt, she aimed through the slit and fired into the flying clump of feathers and bodies. Clipping a wing, the bird fell and hit the distant water with a splash. Grabbing another bolt, Kindra reloaded and aimed. I need a repeating crossbow. They¡¯ll leave soon. Pulling the trigger, she launched another bolt and grabbed another. Falling into a steady rhythm, she fired off two dozen bolts while several birds fled, and the noise lost all magic. The birds fled, hiding in the alcoves. Kindra paused, lowering the weapon. Time to make more bolts. Walking over, she checked on Aika. Looks okay. She¡¯s breathing. Grabbing a branch, she triggered Transmutation and turned it into a small bundle of bolts. She gathered them, and a torrent of mana knocked her onto the floor. Chapter 16 – Wilds – Pt5 Like being hit by water from a fire hydrant, Kindra staggered into the wall. Mana flooded around her, pouring into her. What? Her hair lifted. Her eyes widened, and she gasped. The mana continued without care, flowing into her like a river of warm metal. Shaking, she forced herself to follow the conduit of mana that led into the stone. Guess the wyvern finally died. Reaching down, she grabbed the bolts, moving them closer to the door. Loading one, she slid the door open and stepped out. Birds all turned. They chittered and chirped. A group flew, and she fired, catching one in the chest. Stepping back inside, she reloaded. ¡°What the heck was that?¡± Aika groaned, sitting up and looking around. Kindra slid the door shut and smiled. ¡°Magic. Some paralytic type.¡± She grabbed another bolt. ¡°Want the good news?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Aika rubbed her eyes, stood, and stretched, massaging her head. ¡°The birds aren¡¯t that strong, and the wyvern died.¡± Kindra grinned and watched the flood of mana continue to flow into her. ¡°And I¡¯m making progress on the birds.¡± She loaded and fired at a flock of birds that soared back into the cave. The bolt zipped through the air, sinking into the bird. It tumbled, and the group retreated, soaring toward the exit. She reloaded and stepped out the door, aiming at a roosting bird and firing. ¡°How much mana did we get?¡± Aika asked, landing on her shoulder. Kindra smiled. ¡°Not sure. Let me see.¡± [Your mana has increased: 302 ¡ú 597.] [Active mana: 299.] ¡°A lot,¡± Kindra whispered. A grin spread across her face. ¡°Want to try wyvern meat? We might get more mana.¡± Aika chuckled. ¡°Is it going to waste too much mana?¡± Kindra smiled. ¡°We can afford it.¡± She walked to the back of the cave and focused, forming a tunnel down to the wyvern below. The ground shifted, and a tunnel formed, leading slightly upward. Crawling through it, Kindra found the buried body. The wyvern had scratched, clawed, and thrashed, trying to swim out of the mountain. Almost made it, too. Grinning, she watched the mana flowing into her. Pulling out a knife, she crawled forward and looked at its head. Can I drink its blood? And will that give me more? She reached forward. Her knife slid off the scales and hit a seam. Sawing into it, she slowly cut deeper while the mana flowed through the space and into her. At least I¡¯m close to it. As blood oozed out, Kindra blushed. She leaned forward and licked blood from the wound. A fiery metallic flavor burst through her mouth, and her mouth watered. Why is this so good? She swallowed and looked at the oozing blood. Death, Is this a dark road and all that stupid crap? [Yes, but the question is one of power and how you get it. It¡¯s dead. Eat it if you want.] Kindra shrugged. Oh, whatever. She bit into it and felt some part of her latch onto it. Blood flowed into her mouth, and a torrent of mana came with it, surging through her. [Racial Skill Unlocked: Feed - Some species adapt to feed on the essence of the living or killed. You may feed on the nearby, recently slain, drawing the mana into yourself.] She willed the text away and licked her lips, savoring the flavor. What is wrong with me, Death? [That is for you to uncover. ~Death] Pulling back, she could feel the connection. It thrummed. Watching it in fascination, she pulled her mouth away. The connection remained. I can just pull it into me? That seems awesome. With that thought, she did, pulling the mana from the body into herself. A torrent of magic flooded into her, and she gasped, laying there while her body twitched. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika asked. ¡°Are you turning into a vampire?¡± ¡°I think that already happened.¡± Kindra lay there and let it wash over her. ¡°How did that happen?¡± Scooting backward, she retreated from the cave, and the last of the mana came with her. [Your mana has increased: 597 ¡ú 1107.] [Active mana: 807] Well, now. That¡¯s way more effective. Standing up, Kindra looked at the small cave and focused on Aika. ¡°Guess how much?¡± Aika grinned. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Eleven hundred.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s level and kill everything.¡± Aika giggled. Kindra willed her mana into her level. [Your mana has reduced: 1107 ¡ú 987.] [Your level has increased: 5 ¡ú 6.] [Your intelligence has increased: 8 ¡ú 10.] [Please select four attributes to increase.] [Your strength has increased: 4 ¡ú 6.] ?[Your speed has increased: 6 ¡ú 8.] Kindra paused and debated. Do I keep the mana or get some more attributes? Or should I level¡­ Hey! Where¡¯s my skill upgrade? [New skill unlocked: Machinist Cache - Stash crafting supplies or crafted items into a pocket dimension. Current capacity: 2000 pounds.]Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Cool. Kindra stashed her supplies, grabbed her crossbow, and looked at the birds. Time to clear these out. She loaded the crossbow and slid the door open. A bird dove, and she jumped backward. Slamming the door shut, she aimed through the grate and fired. The bolt flew, clacking off the stone. Kindra reached down and reloaded, slowly working through her pile of bolts and killing errant birds in view. ¡°Aika? See any more?¡± Aika flew over and peered into the gloom. She frowned. ¡°No. Where¡¯d they go?¡± ¡°Behind rocks or above us, I think.¡± Kindra slid the door open, stepped out, and stepped back in. A bird shot by, its wings flaring. Tracing it, she fired, clipping a wing and sending it tumbling into the stream. It hit with a splash. Ratcheting in another shot, she stepped out and back in. The birds didn¡¯t take the bait, hunkering in their shelters above. Walking back inside, Kindra grabbed her gear and willed it into storage. ¡°Do we go deeper or go out?¡± Aika fluttered up. ¡°I think the entrance is over there, where the stream leaves.¡± ¡°Yeah. I was thinking of heading that way.¡± Kindra nodded and burned mana to make a quiver from the tiger hide. Loading it with bolts, she stepped out and back in. The birds didn¡¯t react, and Aika flew out, peering up. ¡°See anything?¡± ¡°Yes, but they seem reluctant to move.¡± Aika flew down and looked down. ¡°Are you scaling this?¡± Stepping forward, Kindra peered up and then peered down. Little ledges lined the wall. ¡°I¡¯m going to spend some mana.¡± She spent seventy mana, willing it through her body. [Please select four attributes to increase. You may pick the same attribute.] Please let this boost help. She pushed them into strength and dexterity. [Your mana has reduced: 987 ¡ú 937.] [Your strength has increased: 6 ¡ú 8.] ?[Your dexterity has increased: 6 ¡ú 8.] Looking down, she mapped the best path to the stream, memorizing ledges and handholds. Turning, she slowly lowered her legs, her fingers digging into the stone. Dangling, she sank a foot into a crack and moved a hand down, clutching the wall and slowly descending. A bird launched from the cliffs. Dangling from the wall, Kindra lowered her leg. Moving silently, the bird¡¯s wings flared, and its beak opened wide. Aika shot upward and slammed her spear forward, sinking it into the bird and smashing it into the wall. Kindra turned. Clutching the wall, she looked up and grimaced. Treacherous birds volleyed off the ledges, soaring toward Aika. Rotten climbing level. She scrambled down, jamming her hands and feet into cracks. Aika¡¯s spear slashed. Blood sprayed, and she zipped here and there, dodging beaks, wings, and talons. Kindra scrambled, ignoring the pain and clawing her way down the rock. Dropping the last six feet, she landed heavily and felt blood roll down her leg. Pain radiated from her scraped and cut fingers and feet. Her old wound throbbed in time with her heart. Forking birds. Grabbing her gun, she whistled and flicked the safety. ¡°Dive, Aika.¡± Aika shot downward, swooping toward Kindra¡¯s legs. The birds followed, eagerly chasing the perceived meal. Pulling the gun up, Kindra exhaled and fired. The sound boomed. The feathers blew everywhere, spraying the group of birds with blood. Altering her aim, she squeezed the trigger. The bullet zipped forward and blew through a bird, practically blowing it apart. Gore splashed, and Kindra felt the connection form with the body. She reached out and grabbed the mana, pulling it into herself. The birds fled back to the nests. Darn. Save the bullets. Kindra sighed and failed to see the shells. Aika landed on her shoulder. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You okay?¡± Kindra asked, scowling at the birds and moving down a series. ¡°Yeah.¡± Aika looked upward, watching the ledges. Kindra spun and looked at the stream next to her. The water burbled along the stone. Time to platform. She jumped, landed on a boulder, and vaulted to another. Okay. That stat boost is pretty great. Jumping, she landed on a rocky beach and followed it toward the light. The light grew brighter and brighter. The water grew deeper, and her beach faded, submersed in the bubbling water. She looked for a path out of the cave and failed to find places to walk. I need fairy wings! How do I get that upgrade? [Still not a game.] Kindra sighed and placed her foot in the icy water. It churned around her foot, and she forced herself forward, doing everything possible to keep her balance on the slippery stones. The light around her grew. The mouth of the cave stretched open, and the canopy of a forest appeared, creating a green carpet that stretched out and vanished. What¡¯s at the forest edge? Squinting, Kindra searched and saw smoke and the outline of a wall. Her eyes widened, and she smiled. We just need to get down and head in that direction. Slowing, Kindra listened to the sound of crashing water. Am I about to walk off a waterfall? She frowned. ¡°Aika? Is this a waterfall that¡¯s going to murder me?¡± Aika zipped out of the cave and hovered there. ¡°Yes, but there is a dry spot on the other side. If you wade across, you could go there, and we could attach a rope¡ªoh. I see a village, and another one, and¡­ what¡¯s that¡­¡± She zipped away. Kindra waded across the water. Is there another exit? She swallowed, pushed against the far wall, and slowly waded forward, inching toward the drop to the forest. ¡°Kindra! I found at least two villages, and I think there is a camp or something.¡± ¡°Are there necromancers in them?¡± Kindra thought back, creeping forward. ¡°And where is the ledge?¡± ¡°Give me a minute.¡± Reaching forward with her foot, Kindra took another step forward and looked down at the treetops. A carpet of green stretched below her, and water crashed down the sheer cliffs. Small bushes and vines decorated the sheer rock that dropped out of view. I need stairs! Stairs! I suck at platformers. Frowning, she looked over and saw a small ledge about a foot wide. She¡¯s out of her darn mind. Maybe if I had a climber class. Hey, system, is that a class? [No.] Did Death update you? [Yes. Would you like to see your assigned tickets?] Pass. Kindra edged over and looked at the small ledge. She can¡¯t expect me to scale this. She paused. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°One second.¡± ¡°Be careful. Also, how am I supposed to get down?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to find a vine or something. These ones are too strong.¡± Kindra sighed and waited, the cold water rushing around her ankles. Time seemed to tick by at a glacial pace. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°I found some dwarves and am trying to get a rope, but they keep staring at me and hitting each other¡­ Oh, screw it.¡± Kindra chuckled. Is she stealing a rope? ¡°Kindra!¡± Aika shot out of the trees, a rope falling from her hands. A bird that looked more like a pterodactyl shot after her, its green wings drumming against the air. Dinosaurs? Cool. Kindra pulled out her gun and burned mana. [Basic 9mm has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 24 hours. Each shot will negate up to 20 stamina when fired.] Aiming at the bird, she waited, letting it get closer and closer. Its large mouth opened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°Get ready to dive.¡± Kindra waited. ¡°Three¡­ Two¡­ One¡­¡± She pulled the trigger, and Aika dove. The bang echoed around her. The bullet slammed into the bird¡¯s shoulder, and it veered sharply, slamming into the cliff with a loud crunch. Darn. Wanted to get all its mana. Kindra reached toward it, clawing at it as it slipped out of range. Aww. She watched Aika zip down into the trees with a long rope. That¡¯ll help. Kindra smiled, walked onto the little ledge, and burned mana to make a rock she could tie it to. Aika looped the rope around the stone. ¡°We¡¯ll have to do it a lot to get down. It¡¯s not that long.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. Thanks, Aika.¡± Kindra tied it off and used it as support. Leaning outward, she looked down and mapped out the ideal places to make ledges. Chapter 17 – Wilds – Pt6 Kindra slowly climbed down the rope. Good thing I have strength, and shame I know nothing about rock climbing. Blowing a strand of hair from her face, she slowly climbed to the bottom of the rope. Reaching out, she hit the cliff and formed a new ledge. Landing on it, she watched Aika zip upwards to retrieve the rope. Not the greatest system, but it works. Kindra peered into the trees. The leaves fluttered gently. Mana coursed through trunks, and the water crashed down next to her. It is pretty... How strong are those trees? She studied the glowing trunks. I need an identification spell. Aika soared upward. Taking the rope, Kindra tied it off and descended, repeating the process and slowly scaling down the cliff and entering the forest. The leaves surrounded her. Branches and leaves cluttered her vision. The nearby falls created misty rainbows, and the dwarves started shouting. Making a new ledge, Kindra peered down. Built like small boulders, the three dwarves stood there with long beards of red, brown, and black. Each was wearing metal and leather armor. Their noses were large, and their eyes glittered with rage. A little over the top for stealing a rope. Kindra frowned and studied the livid dwarves. Expressions of rage sat on their face. Aika fluttered down, and the dwarves started shouting, bellowing about something. The strange words seemed familiar. Where¡¯s my translation service, system? [Not a thing.] She sighed. So much for universal translation. Looking down, she watched the dwarves bicker, and Aika flew forward. ¡°See what I mean?¡± Aika handed Kindra the rope. ¡°Yes. They seem grumpy.¡± Kindra tied it off and resumed her descent, using the rocks and stone to slowly scale down the cliff. Kindra landed on a ledge and looked at the three. What are they fighting about? She looked up. ¡°What do we do about them, Aika?¡± ¡°No idea. I can¡¯t understand a word.¡± Aika shrugged, flew down, and handed her the rope. Tying the rope off, Kindra scaled down the last chunk of the cliff, landing lightly on the ground. Landing, she looked up. Climbing level complete! System, where¡¯s my achievement? [Still not a game.] Lame. She spun and looked at the dwarves. They continued fighting, shouting at each other until they realized she¡¯d reached the bottom. All three went quiet. Kindra smiled and pointed at herself. ¡°Kindra.¡± Raising her hand, she pointed at Aika. ¡°Aika.¡± The dwarf turned to talk to the others, and Kindra failed to understand a word. What good is intelligence anyway? [Intelligence boosts your cognitive function. It doesn¡¯t make you instantly learn a language.] The dwarf with a red beard turned back and pointed at himself. ¡°Gleon.¡± He looked at Aika and said something. Aika shrugged and turned. ¡°We have to learn Dwarven, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra shrugged at him. He sighed, walked forward, and said something again. ¡°I don¡¯t speak dwarvish,¡± Aika replied, shrugging and shaking her head. Gleon reached forward and took the rope. ¡°Rope.¡± He gestured and pantomimed. ¡°Follow.¡± She paused a moment, studying the three and looking down at her leg. I am wounded. I am probably going to get sick. She grimaced. Guess I don''t have a choice. Kindra nodded and followed him. The other dwarves snickered and said something. Gleon marched into the trees. Pointing at various plants, he began a vocabulary lesson. Kindra repeated the words, pointing at trees, vines, shrubs, and some bugs that came into view. She walked around the plants and followed the base of a massive tree to a game trail, repeating the words. Stopping, Gleon spun and gestured to Aika, pointing at a tree and saying a word. ¡°I think you have to do it, too,¡± Kindra whispered. Aika groaned. ¡°This would be so much easier with a computer.¡± She repeated the word. Kindra did the same, marching through the forest and repeating random words, trying to connect the words¡¯ specific meanings to the objects. Wandering around a large tree, things went quiet. The dwarves went silent, and Kindra turned, searching for the reason. A dwarf said something. Kindra spun and saw a blur. She grabbed her gun, and the cat charged, barreling toward Gleon. Ripping the gun free, Kindra popped off the safety and aimed. Gleon stepped forward and punched it. Its neck cracked, and the cat dropped onto the ground.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. How strong are they? Kindra studied their mana. System, how do I see their level and mana? [You¡¯d need a skill for that. Would you like to show them yours?] Yes. Kindra nodded, and the dwarves spun. They all stared at her and then exploded into a conversation she couldn¡¯t understand. That¡¯s gonna get old. She failed to understand a single word. Gleon grabbed the carcass and hoisted it over his shoulder, pausing to look at Kindra again. He said something and gestured at the cat. ¡°What?¡± Kindra shrugged. Reaching back, he grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to the dead cat. Is he trying to help me get mana? Kindra smiled, reached out, and pulled on the mana, letting it flood into her. The dwarves didn¡¯t seem to notice, but she walked next to him. Gleon resumed his lecture, miming while teaching her new words. Minutes ticked by, and the group walked to the forest¡¯s edge. Peering between the trees, Kindra saw a distant city, its walls blocking out the contents. Please tell me it isn¡¯t filled with the undead¡ªaw, shit! She squinted and frowned at the undead that were patrolling the field. They lumbered around the grounds, silent horrors that lined the area and ignored the workers. Turning toward Gleon, she gestured, trying to ask what that was about. That confused him. He said several things and shook his head. One of the other dwarves laughed, grabbed the cat, and walked toward the distant village. Kindra watched him and the distant wall. A large undead wyvern landed on the wall, sitting there like a horrific, decaying gargoyle. A massive undead cat prowled the fields, and undead dwarves were everywhere. Kindra wrinkled her nose in disgust. The cat turned in their direction, and everyone went silent. ¡°Aika, have they gone full necromancer or has someone else?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Can we kill the undead for mana?¡± ¡°That¡¯s really tempting.¡± Kindra looked across the field and watched the undead cat. It sniffed and turned, loping through the fields towards some group of dwarves who appeared to be tending the small bushes that littered the place. Turning, she looked at the dwarves. They did not look happy about the undead. Gleon¡¯s hand was on his axe, and his eyes darted everywhere. Well, he clearly doesn¡¯t like them. The other dwarf gestured to Aika and began pantomiming while whispering. Kindra watched and slowly pieced together the message: the undead would attack Aika on sight. Aika landed on Kindra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Why¡¯d they bring us here then?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Kindra frowned and gestured: what are we doing? Gleon turned and gestured while whispering: you¡¯re weak and need to grow. He pointed to the city and gestured, playing a complicated game of charades that took her several minutes to understand: go learn smithing¡ªshe stays with us. Kindra scowled at him and gestured: no. Best way. Get stronger. She¡¯ll hunt with us. You learn the language. Kindra continued scowling. Even if it made sense, she didn¡¯t like it. Aika bumped her shoulder and pointed. Turning, Kindra saw two dwarves heading their way. One was the dwarf who¡¯d carried off the cat. The other was wearing a tan dress and had a long red braid. Lacking the signature beard, the woman was built like the others, her arms muscled and thick. Who¡¯s this? Is she taking me to the town? Kindra turned: won¡¯t they attack me? Gleon went quiet and then nodded. He gestured toward the dwarven woman. ¡°Sigrid.¡± Kindra nodded and raised a brow. Go. Learn, Gleon gestured back. Kindra sighed and gestured at the undead. Gleon tried and failed to communicate whatever he was thinking. Kindra turned, and the two dwarves walked up. Sigrid looked at Kindra, turned, and launched into what had to be a lecture, letting Gleon have it. Gleon stood there, a stone in the storm of words. Exasperation slowly crept across his face, and he turned. ¡°Kindra.¡± He gestured and walked away, slinking back into the trees. Gesturing, he beckoned to Aika. ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Aika frowned and crossed her arms. ¡°Me either.¡± Kindra looked at them and debated. Her knowledge was limited. Turning toward the city, she searched for anything with that much mana, failing to see anyone with that much. A gentle hand bumped her, and Sigrid handed her an enchanted necklace. Looking down, Kindra studied it. Doesn¡¯t seem harmful, but who knows what this thing does? Sigrid patted her shoulder and looked sympathetic. She took the necklace and pulled it over her head. Sigrid¡¯s form shifted. She shrunk a foot and became skinny, her appearance shifting to that of a young dwarf with skinny arms and legs instead of the larger ones. Her hair remained vibrant red. Reaching up, she took the necklace off and handed it to Kindra. ¡°Be a dwarf?¡± Kindra asked, her eyes growing wide. That¡¯s what they want? To hide me with this thing? She shrugged and pulled it over her head. Her form shifted. She lost a foot of height, and her body altered slightly, becoming a little more sturdy. She looked at the dwarves, who were now about her height. I look like a short human. She pulled her hair forward. It remained the same white color. Oh well. Sigrid grabbed her hand, turning to Aika. ¡°Stay. Danger.¡± Kindra pulled. ¡°Necklace. Aika?¡± Sigrid shook her head and gestured to Kindra¡¯s hair and height. ¡°Limits.¡± Kindra slumped as the realization hit. Reaching up, she pulled Aika into a hug. ¡°I¡¯ll be fast.¡± Aika looked up and smiled. ¡°If you need me, call. They can¡¯t even stop me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get some more metal for your suit.¡± Kindra let her go and turned. Sigrid grabbed her hand and tugged her forward. Kindra followed, her eyes flickering through the fields. Crops littered the area, not unlike the undead. Clusters of dwarves worked the fields, and smoke billowed from some smoldering mounds. Pulling, Sigrid resumed vocabulary lessons, adding other words and walking toward a distant gate. Kindra followed, repeating the words and watching. The farmers used a mix of magic and medieval technology to remove weeds and water the plants. She pointed to one pulling water from a nearby ditch and using it to water. That earned her a new vocabulary lesson. She memorized and repeated words, turning back toward the city and following toward a gate. Sigrid went quiet, and Kindra studied the raised metal portcullis. Four dwarves stood beside it, their metal armor gleaming in the sunlight. Next to them stood two undead canines, their flesh actively decaying and spreading a nasty smell through the air. Kindra sniffed it. Am I getting used to it? She frowned, and Sigrid tugged her forward, moving her down the dirt road, which shifted into stone. I want to siphon them... Would the necromancer notice? The two walked to the gate, and a guard held out his hand. He frowned and said something. Kindra tried and failed to pick out words. Sigrid pulled her closer, and the two had a rapid conversation, exchanging rapid words. Well, they are talking about me, but I don¡¯t know what about. The large, undead wolf-like creature sniffed her before looking away. Ignoring the desire to nullify it, Kindra looked down the street. Stone huts lined it. Distant smithies billowed smoke into the air. The faint sound of metal rang through the air, and dwarves scurried through the streets with looks of depression on their faces. Kindra¡¯s heart lurched. She watched some young boy trod next to his mother with a blank look, all hope and joy vacant. The others looked just as bad, empty shells of people barely clinging on. She felt her emotions surge. Sorrow washed through her, and she watched a group of lumbering undead dwarves that seemed to be wardens, not guards. A young girl looked at them, her smile falling into fear as she clutched at her father¡¯s legs. Kindra¡¯s sorrow turned into rage as quickly as her nitroglycerin had ignited. Chapter 18 – Language Kindra¡¯s mind raced, and her eyes flickered throughout the city. Smithies. Shops. Homes. That has to be the barracks. Undead are everywhere, probably as guards and watchers¡­ Does the necromancer notice when they die? There has to be¡­ She counted, her eyes scanning and estimating. At least a hundred of them¡­ There¡¯s no way they know unless intelligence makes it easier. Hey, system, does it? [Intelligence increases cognitive function, making memorizing, analyzing, and processing data easier. The stat efficiency varies from individual to individual.] That didn¡¯t answer the question. Kindra frowned and stepped closer to Sigrid. I¡¯ll have to test it. The guard must have gotten what he wanted because he waved them through. Kindra walked through the archway and followed through the stone streets, weaving down a few roads and approaching the bank of forges before turning toward a row of small, stone homes. Following Sigrid up to one, she walked inside and looked around the small room. There were cupboards along the wall. A table and chairs were sitting across from a hearth. A chamber pot was sitting in the corner. Oh, god, no. Sigrid opened a door, revealing a small room, dresser, chest, and bed. Kindra glanced inside. I have so much work to do. She turned toward Sigrid and smiled. Sigrid walked over to the bed and gestured. ¡°Sit.¡± Walking over, Kindra sat next to her. ¡°Sigrid? Who makes the undead?¡± She mimed and stammered out her message, taking multiple minutes to get it across. ¡°Necromancers.¡± Sigrid frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t anger them.¡± She gestured to the guns. ¡°What are they?¡± Kindra opened her mouth and shut it. How did one jump from medieval tech to a nine-millimeter without something as ludicrous as saying magic? She frowned and gestured at her mouth. ¡°Need words.¡± Sigrid took it in stride. She nodded and resumed language lessons, pulling Kindra through the house, pointing, and miming different words. Time dragged on as an endless stream of new vocabulary hit Kindra. She memorized and walked through the small home, learning the name of every object in the place. With the patience of a mother, Sigrid continued teaching, and Kindra struggled to keep up. Come on intelligence stat. Rubbing her eyes, Kindra blinked and tried to stop the swimming language. How long has it been? ¡°Work,¡± Sigrid said again, pantomiming the new word. Kindra blinked, repeated it, and held up her hand. ¡°No more.¡± ¡°Break.¡± Sigrid patted Kindra¡¯s back, walked to a stone counter, and pulled some vegetables from a cupboard. Kindra tried and failed to get enough will to ask about it. The words swam through her brain. System, do I get mana from learning languages? [Your mana increased: 937 ¡ú 1004.] ? [Your actions have caused your mana to increase: 1004 ¡ú 1005.] So, no. Kindra walked over and plopped into a chair. She looked down at her hands, and the door swung open. A sweaty dwarf with a long brown beard and bald head stood there. Looking like some chiseled statue, he turned, and his muscles rippled. ¡°Who¡¯s this, love?¡± ¡°Kindra. Our daughter.¡± Kindra waved and ignored the parts she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°She¡¯s an artificer,¡± Sigrid finished. She walked over. ¡°Kindra, this is Dain.¡± She reached out and hugged him. He planted a long kiss on her lips. Kindra turned away. Well. I didn¡¯t expect that. That¡¯s for darn sure. She rested her head on the table and didn¡¯t bother trying to understand the barrage of words. ¡°Aika? How are you?¡± Aika¡¯s voice flowed into her mind. ¡°We¡¯re making a house in a cave. They¡¯re trying to teach me the horrible language and keep looking at me funny. What about you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t learn more words today. It¡¯s exhausting. Also, this city is ruled by some evil necromancer thing. Probably the one that yanked us here. I¡¯m going to have to kill him.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll help. The dwarves have been nice to me, but I think Gleon¡¯s sad.¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Kindra turned and looked at the dwarves. Dain had moved closer. Reaching down, he clapped her on the back, and Kindra smacked into the table. She scowled at the muscled dwarf. ¡°Sorry.¡± Dain blushed and grimaced. ¡°I told you. She¡¯s¡­¡± Sigrid gave him a lecture, and Kindra didn¡¯t try to understand it. Probably about my complete lack of strength. She dropped her head onto the table. No wonder they¡¯re saying I¡¯m a kid. Probably the weakest one around.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. After a brief lecture, Dain took over in the kitchen, and Sigrid walked out the door. Kindra lay there, watching him. ¡°Dain, what¡ª¡± ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°But you aren¡¯t.¡± Kindra mimed her point across. Dain nodded, tossed the vegetables in the pot, and walked over. ¡°Yes, but we are watched.¡± He gestured. ¡°By who?¡± ¡°People. Scared people. And the undead.¡± Kindra frowned. ¡°They¡¯d notice? They¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°People.¡± Dain gestured and took a seat next to her. He paused and thought for a moment. ¡°Do you remember?¡± Kindra shook her head. No, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about, and something tells me that spaceships aren¡¯t the norm. He smiled. ¡°Not important. Remember, I¡¯m your father.¡± He looked at her with a raised brow. Kindra sighed. ¡°But you aren¡¯t,¡± she whispered. ¡°I had one.¡± Dain frowned, worry spreading on his face. He turned toward the door, and a knock rang from it. Seriously? That¡¯s all it took to get the dwarf police or whatever? Kindra turned. He stood and walked to the door. Opening it, he revealed a frumpy-looking dwarf in a suit. The dwarf frowned, stared at Kindra''s hair, and barked out a stream of angry words, his brown eyes glistening with rage and his neat brown beard moving slightly. Something. She. Something. Town. Kindra gave up and watched the two argue. The reason why was obvious. The frumpy dwarf kept shooting her venomous looks. His hand went for the sword at his side. What did I do? She frowned and tried to figure that out. His eyes flickered to her hair and eyes repeatedly. ¡°Dad?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Kindra, your room,¡± Dain said, anger spreading across his face. He flexed his muscles, and Kindra bolted, running into the room and willing a nine millimeter out of her storage. I guess we¡¯ve come to this. Leaning against the door, she listened. Give me one good reason. She checked the magazine and refilled it while she waited. The two continued arguing, their voices getting heated. The sound of Sigrid joined. She shouted, and things went quiet. Poking her head out from the door, Kindra focused on the scene. The frumpy dwarf was storming down the street with a few other dwarfs at his side. Sigrid took a long breath and walked inside, shutting the door behind her. Kindra willed her gun back to storage and walked out. Dain turned and nodded. ¡°Thank you, Kindra.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Kindra asked, forcing her exhaustion to the side. I¡¯ll deal with the headache later. After a minute of miming and several new words, Kindra got the gist of it. Varric was the town''s mayor, and Dain now had more work at the forge. Taking a small paper parcel from Sigrid, he walked to the kitchen. Kindra turned and looked at the cloth Sigrid had under her arm. Sigrid smiled and held it out, unrolling it to show a tan dress, new moccasins, and some underwear. Ah. I guess these horrible clothes are going to go. ¡°Thanks,¡± Kindra said, smiling at her and walking over. She felt the soft fabric and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Sigrid replied. She walked out and grabbed a small pot, filling it with water. Walking back into Kindra¡¯s room, she set it there with a rag. Kindra smiled and nodded. She walked over and washed her face, wiping away dirt, blood, and grime that had plastered her face. Strange icy blue eyes stared back at her, and she winced. They were green before. She frowned and rinsed, scrubbing off the grime. Sigrid walked out of the room and shut the door. Stripping off her old attire, Kindra used the rag to scrub everything else she could reach. Add showers to the list of things to do. She sighed and looked at the stone ceiling, rinsing the rag and scrubbing. Her thoughts drifted while she worked. Did anyone survive that? Did the ship? She scrubbed hardened blood from her leg. And how did this happen? The questions went unanswered, and she finished scrubbing. Placing the rag back in the bowl, she changed into the new attire and placed the dirty attire off to the side. Walking to the door, she opened it and peered out. The two were cooking. Sigrid turned, and the smell of blood hit Kindra¡¯s nose. Her mouth watered, and she stared at the meat he was cutting. Sigrid patted Kindra¡¯s arm. ¡°No.¡± Kindra turned and slumped. She gestured out her message: it tastes bad. Sigrid frowned and nodded. Walking to the counter, she retrieved a slice and placed it on a plate. Adding a fork and knife, she walked it to Kindra. Kindra cut off pieces and started eating, savoring the raw meat. She¡¯s going to make me try her dish. I can feel it. Sigrid looked at her. ¡°What do you remember?¡± Swallowing the last piece of meat, Kindra paused. How do you tell them about spaceships? Do they even know about planets? She frowned and gestured up at the ceiling with a raised brow. Dain turned and said something to Sigrid. She said something back. Kindra shook her head and shrugged, gesturing out the word for sorry. Dain chuckled and hung the pot of stew over the fire. He walked over, patted her shoulder, and sat next to Sigrid. The two began discussing, and Kindra let them, letting her head drop onto the table. She ran her fingers across the perfectly smooth wood. That¡¯s enough words for one day. I can try again tomorrow. ~~~ Mayor Varric walked down the streets; doubt gnawed on his insides. There was something off about that girl, her strange hair, and stranger eyes. Turning a corner, he walked up a small lane toward the keep. ¡°Was he lying?¡± He turned to the guards. ¡°She is tall, but she¡¯s also weak, so I assume so.¡± The guard shrugged. ¡°Would they want her dead? She may be a survivor of the recent incident.¡± ¡°She¡¯d be dead if she were involved in that.¡± The guard shook his head. ¡°My skill could let me see that. She¡¯s weak.¡± ¡°Another mouth to feed.¡± Varric sighed and walked inside the stone doors. He turned and walked down a hallway to his office. Sitting in a wooden chair, he picked up papers and studied. ¡°We¡¯re behind on shipments again.¡± ¡°We¡¯re always behind.¡± A guard sat, stretching his legs. ¡°Which is very dangerous, especially now.¡± Varric frowned. They all see me as the villain. I¡¯m trying to keep them alive. He looked through the papers, scanning reports on crops and weapons. ¡°At least we have another crafter. That should speed us up.¡± The guard said, turning to the other. The other grunted. ¡°Think any rebels survived?¡± ¡°No. They never do. People just can¡¯t help themselves.¡± The guard frowned and looked at the floor. ¡°And we all know why.¡± The other guard grimaced and looked away. Varric frowned. ¡°I need you to speak to the smiths. The weapon and armor shipments need to go out on schedule. You know what will happen if we fail.¡± The guard nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can, sir.¡± ¡°And keep an eye on Kindra. There¡¯s something off about her, and we cannot draw their attention.¡± A guard nodded. ¡°Of course, sir.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the hair and eyes.¡± The other guard shivered, fear and disdain spreading across his face. ¡°She looks like them. A necromancer.¡± ¡°Or an undead,¡± the other guard replied, nodding. ¡°She gives me the creeps.¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s some elaborate undead plant. Keep an eye out.¡± Varric frowned. That¡¯s not good. If they think there is a rebellion, we¡¯re all dead. The sound of footsteps pulled his attention. He looked at his approaching wife. ¡°We have a problem,¡± she said, walking into the room. ¡°It seems that Gleon is still alive.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± Varric lurched from his chair. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°In the forest.¡± Varric spun toward the guards. ¡°Find him! I want him strung up before the morning.¡± Chapter 19 – Language – Pt2 Kindra slumped on a wooden table, her head lying there. She yawned while two voices bounced around the small, stone home. Why is learning languages so hard? She let out a soft breath, blowing some of her white hair. Maybe I was so stressed that it turned white. Sigrid patted her on the back and gestured toward the room. Kindra nodded and stood. She paused, blushed, and grabbed the chamber pot. You¡¯re on the list. I¡¯m not dealing with you for long. Walking into her room, she used it and immediately searched for a sink. You¡¯re on the list too. She frowned, looked at her dirty hands, and walked to the door, cracking it open and spotting Sigrid. Sigrid handed her a rag and grabbed the pot, taking it outside somewhere. Dain turned and smiled. He began gesturing, slowly asking a single question. ¡°Why Artificer?¡± Kindra frowned. ¡°I¡ª¡± She frowned and gestured wildly. I wanted it. She slowly worked through words until she got something close. Resuming the vocabulary lesson, he began gesturing and miming out words. Kindra repeated words while her head swam once more. Dain paused, realization spreading on his face. He walked over and patted her back, gesturing to the bed. Kindra nodded and walked inside. She closed the door, pulled off the dress, and climbed into the bed. The mattress was surprisingly soft. Pulling the blanket up, she leaned against the small pillow and let out a relieved breath. ¡°Aika? How are you?¡± ¡°They¡¯re teaching me the language while roving through the jungle like some primitive hunters. It¡¯s wild.¡± ¡°Are you safe?¡± ¡°Yes, but I think Gleon is a little reckless. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright. Lying in bed after too many new words.¡± ¡°Can you tell them to me? I can teach you mine.¡± Looking at the stone ceiling, Kindra began listing the words and their meaning. Aika confirmed, listened, or replied with words of her own. Minutes slowly ticked by. The sound of people outside faded, leaving little more than the sounds of bugs. Kindra finished her exchange of words and embraced the growing exhaustion. ¡°Sleep well, Aika. Be safe out there.¡± ¡°You too. Miss you.¡± Smiling, Kindra listened to the sounds of the city. The eerily quiet city. The silence permeated everything. It has to be the undead. She frowned, and the sound of scuffing feet passed by. Shivering, she pulled the blankets closer and rested her head on the pillow. Her exhaustion sunk in. What a long day. She let it settle across her body. Pulling the blanket closer, her eyes drifted shut, and everything faded. ~~~ Ash fell from the sky like snow. The sky glowed a vibrant red, casting the rocky terrain in red light. The jagged volcanic stone stretched up to form a ridge. Kindra frowned at the hazy volcanic planet. Another dream? Walking forward, her feet sunk into the ash, sending little clouds into the air. ¡°I hate this planet.¡± The words burst from her mouth in some foreign tongue. Somehow, she understood it, and they came without her speaking them. What? Her eyes shifted toward the man beside her. With white hair and icy blue eyes, he turned toward her. ¡°Yes, but they are becoming a problem that we need to deter,¡± he replied, his voice rumbling. Turning, Kindra sighed and searched the horizon. ¡°Come out, you horrific monsters!¡± she shouted in some strange tongue. A stream of fire licked across the land and snapped toward her. A stream of magic and runes snapped into existence, forming a transparent shield. The fire slammed into it, engulfing her in flames. Fire and magic danced around her. Am I dreaming? Kindra memorized runes. She flicked out her hand, and a burst of magic and runes appeared around her. The air around her went cold. Ice formed on the shield. It faded, and a burst of steam billowed into the air, the fiery magic ending. ¡°Come out,¡± Kindra called, her voice lilting. A glowing being of living flame lumbered onto the ridge. The being¡¯s form shifted from that of a tornado to that of a humanoid. Its eyes glowed white, and flames coursed up and down its torso. ¡°Leave our world,¡± it rumbled in some strange language. ¡°You have intruded on our domain,¡± the man next to Kindra hissed. ¡°You will pay the price.¡± ¡°All worlds are our domain.¡± The elementals¡¯ flames burned white. The surrounding air lit on fire, and runes surged everywhere. Kindra¡¯s hand snapped forward, and runes poured from her fingers. Icy wind met ribbons of flame. The man beside her waved his hands; runes poured from them and faltered. ¡°There is no water here, fool,¡± the elemental spat. Kindra felt her lips pull into a sneer. She looked disdainfully at the elemental. ¡°And yet, your entire kind will be extinguished.¡± With a burst of magic, a gale whipped forward, pushing the flame backward.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. What is this place? Kindra looked around the desolate world. Runes swirled around her, and she memorized. At least I can learn new spells. She focused on the runes. They surged in earnest. Rocks ripped from the ground and slammed into the elemental. It surged off the ground, flying into the air. ¡°You fools think you can win here?¡± It laughed. ¡°In the realm of fire?¡± The streaming ribbons of flame turned a vibrant blue, and heat washed across her skin. Kindra tried to gasp, to react in any way. Nothing happened. Her sneer remained locked in place. ¡°Color me unimpress¡ª¡± Her shield snapped into existence, and a fury of heat slammed through the shield. It grew with every moment. Sweat poured from her body, and Kindra saw the shield waver. Hissing a spell, runes flooded the area, and her body jerked. Space folded around her. Strange colors blurred, and she slammed into the ground on another world. A winter chill filled the air, and an ancient presence turned toward her. Like staring into the sun, the magic from its body lit the entire area. Her eyes remained locked on it, and Kindra¡¯s heart thundered, jerking her awake. Thrashing in the blanket, she jerked up. Sweat trickled down her body, and she looked around the dark room. What the hell was that? The runes remained in her mind, blazing emblems that lit her mind. She took a long breath, shivered, and pulled herself into a ball. The door creaked open, and Sigrid poked her head in, her long braid dangling. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Kindra pulled the blanket closer and looked up apologetically. Sigrid walked in and sat on the bed, patting her shoulder. She mimed. ¡°Bad dreams?¡± Kindra nodded. Where did those even come from? She frowned. My hair was white in it. Sigrid scooted closer to her. ¡°What was it?¡± Kindra paused and then shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t know words.¡± Putting an arm around her, Sigrid nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll fix that.¡± She rubbed Kindra¡¯s back and began singing softly. Listening to the music, Kindra curled against her and let her exhaustion win out, slowly drifting off to sleep. ~~~ ¡°Get up, Kindra,¡± a voice called. It bounced around the stone room. Kindra groaned. If this is another nightmare, I¡¯m going to ask for a sleep spell. She cracked an eye open and saw Sigrid standing next to the bed. Sigrid smiled and pulled the blanket away. ¡°Time to get up and learn.¡± Nodding, Kindra forced herself up. Sigrid began a quiz, pointing at everything in the room and demanding the answer. Kindra quickly began reciting them, the words returning with far more ease than she expected. Guess the intelligence is helping. After passing her bedroom quiz, Sigrid opened the door and walked to the kitchen. She grabbed a bowl and brought it to Kindra, pointing at things and stating the words. Kindra repeated them and ate, forcing the dirt-tasting vegetables down and trying to find out if they tasted like that to the dwarves. Sigrid shook her head and tried to describe the taste, teaching her new words. Missing half of their meaning, Kindra finally gave up and ate the porridge, forcing it down before she could think about it. Standing up, she gestured and received a vocabulary lesson on cleaning. Sigrid washed the tin bowl in dirty water and placed it next to the flame, gesturing and describing words about fire, heat, and germs. Do they know germs? Or does that word mean something else? Kindra pondered it and didn¡¯t know how to get the answer. Instead, she prompted another vocabulary lesson about different adjectives, starting with colors. The two spent hours practicing while they washed clothes, cleaned up after breakfast, and split wood out behind the house. At lunchtime, Sigrid vanished after telling Kindra to stay put. Kindra did, sweeping the floor and cleaning up the hearth while she waited. Dumping the last of the ash outside, she paused and looked at the door. What do I do now? She walked to the door and poked her head out, glancing up and down the street. Dwarves walked by. One turned toward her, and she pulled her head back in, shutting the door. Guess I should learn the language first. Sighing, she walked around the kitchen, examining the rather empty shelves. Do the necromancers take everything? The door opened, and Sigrid poked her head in. ¡°I¡¯m back. Doing alright?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Where¡¯d you go?¡± ¡°To get wood.¡± Sigrid gestured her outside, grabbing a cart full of wood and pulling it behind the cottage. Kindra followed and paused. Sigrid began stacking wood. ¡°Is this what you do all day?¡± Kindra asked. Sigrid shook her head and gestured at the wood. ¡°I help Dain at the forge most of the time.¡± Kindra walked over and piled the logs. ¡°Magic?¡± she asked, gesturing. ¡°Why not use it?¡± Sigrid leaned closer and shook her head. ¡°No, Kindra. Leveling is bad,¡± she mimed. What? Kindra raised a brow. ¡°The necromancers watch,¡± Sigrid said as if that explained it. I¡¯ll probe on that later. Kindra pointed at the nearby garden, and Sigrid resumed her vocabulary lesson, speaking softly and gesturing at the plants. Finishing the wood in a rapid flurry of movement, Sigrid walked over and gestured, giving names and descriptions of the plants. She ripped out what Kindra assumed were weeds. Repeating back the names of the plants along with several words regarding weeding. Kindra helped pull several weeds and looked at the small garden. ¡°Food?¡± ¡°There¡¯s little,¡± Sigrid admitted. ¡°Why?¡± Kindra gestured to the forest. Sigrid shook her head. ¡°Necromancers.¡± Do they stop people from leveling? Kindra frowned. Sigrid turned and resumed the lesson. She pointed at parts of the city, the buildings, the stones, and anything else that came into view. Kindra memorized and memorized, her headache slowly returning, along with a growing desire to flee to the forest. The sun arced through the sky above, descending toward the horizon. Kindra¡¯s head throbbed, and she massaged it while the unending stream of words flooded over her. Stumbling into the home, she laid her head on the table. ¡°No more. I need to get out of here.¡± The door thudded open, and Dain walked in, covered with dust and ash. He walked over, kissed Sigrid, and grilled Kindra on every word that came to his mind. Kindra groaned and stumbled through the lesson and dinner, the words churning around her like a storm. Plopping onto her bed, she collapsed and drifted into a fitful sleep, her mind tangled in dark visions. A realm of shadow and plague filled her vision. It stretched out before her, and she spread it, sending cascading runes of darkness in front of her. With her heart thundering, her eyes snapped open to the familiar sight of Sigrid''s cheery face. Kindra shivered, pulling the blanket closer. ¡°It¡¯s alright, sweetie.¡± Sigrid patted her. ¡°It¡¯ll pass. It¡¯ll pass.¡± She sat next to her and resumed the lesson, pointing at things in the room. Kindra groaned, but she didn¡¯t argue. Instead, she forced herself up and repeated the entire process: household chores, language lessons, more chores, and evenings curled up in her bed, exchanging vocabulary with Aika in an attempt to communicate. Time passed in a blur of routine. With each repetition, she noticed small improvements¡ªcatching the melody in Sigrid''s words, mimicking her intonations, and stringing together phrases more easily each day. The cabin felt smaller every passing hour, and an itch to explore beyond the walls began to gnaw at her. Driven by a growing desperation to reclaim her freedom, Kindra forced herself to dive even deeper. She mumbled phrases aloud while scrubbing floors, repeated vocabulary while chopping vegetables, and tested sentences while mending torn clothes. She even practiced silently during meals, shaping the words with her mouth between bites of stew. After five intense days, she retired for the evening, her head no longer throbbing and the words finally starting to make sense. Chapter 20 – Dwarven Guidance Kindra looked out at the hazy land. Fog spread through the air, and her army of undead surrounded her. Great. I¡¯m dreaming again. Like thousands of extra limbs, she felt the connection to them and willed them forward. ¡°Kill them all,¡± she hissed in some foreign tongue. Why do I have these dreams? She looked at the foggy air that blocked her view. And what am I attacking in this one? Like ghosts, the undead surged forward, vanishing into the fog. She smiled and followed, walking down the dirt road. She felt a connection end. Then another. Then another. Individual connections became a thousand snapping threads, plucking against her mind in a frenzy. Her smile shifted to an angry frown. Is this what it¡¯s like for them? Walking forward, a ray of light sliced through the fog, ripping it from the road. Looking at the distant town, Kindra saw a lithe elven woman with platinum hair on the wall. Her gold eyes and her leather armor were glowing in a vibrant golden light. What spell is that? She focused on the distant runes, trying to focus on what her dream body was doing. Is that an enchantment? She studied and flicked out her hand, willing magic forward. The woman vanished, and a blade slammed into Kindra¡¯s body, sinking through her chest in horrific agony. She gasped. Her eyes went wide. The smell of her blood filled her mouth, and a shield of magic flashed into existence, knocking the figure and sword away. Coughing blood, Kindra grabbed and downed a glowing potion. She turned to the elven figure and spit blood. ¡°Too late, bitch,¡± she hissed. Weaving a spell with her hand, she took a deep breath and ignited it. Rippling green gas filled her bubble. A boulder slammed into her shield, and she ignored it, invoking a sequence of runes. How did that not wake me up? Kindra swallowed and felt her flesh knit together. The woman blurred, and the shield quivered as thousands of strikes hit it. How fast ¨C The shield burst into a billion shards of magic. Time distorted. Space quivered, and Kindra¡¯s body jerked across the cosmos, leaving her with a blurry room and the taste of blood in her mouth. She felt horrible pain across her neck. Did she try to cut my head off in less than a second? She swallowed and felt her throat heal. Blinking away the blur, she looked at an ornate room. Bookshelves lined the walls. A fire blazed in the hearth, and everything shook. The walls wobbled. The polished floor buckled, and the dream crashed around her. Shit! Adrenaline spiked through her, and her eyes opened to reveal Dain standing there with a smile. I hate these dreams. She shivered, trying to force the images away. They lingered, leaving an ache in her body and throat. She pulled the blanket close. It was just a dream¡ªa horrible, horrible dream. ¡°Good morning,¡± Dain said, patting her leg. ¡°Sleep well?¡± Kindra groaned and shook her head. He grabbed a chair and moved it next to the bed. ¡°Time to get up so you can finally leave the house.¡± Kindra shivered and pulled the blanket closer. ¡°I¡¯m not ready.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what you said yesterday.¡± Dain chuckled and pulled the blanket away. ¡°Come on. You know enough to communicate, even if your accent is atrocious.¡± Kindra forced herself to sit up. She stretched, and the lingering pain faded. He pulled out a book. ¡°I did some reading. For crafting classes, we have a few that deal in metal, but let¡¯s focus on yours. You said it gave two intellect and Enhance Item at the start?¡± She nodded, and he flipped the page, pointing at some runic script she didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Based on that, I believe it¡¯s the Artificer class. The blacksmithing class is more balanced, with a focus on strength primary and dexterity if you get tier three or higher.¡± He glanced at the page, rapidly scanning it. ¡°And you were given a choice between crafting and combat at level three?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra looked at the book, surprise spreading on her face. Death made the system not that long ago. She looked at the book. ¡°How long have you had this?¡± Dain glanced up. ¡°From before the system. That was quite helpful, even if it changed how mana worked.¡± A thousand questions danced through Kindra¡¯s mind. She opened her mouth and stopped. No, focus on magic now. I can figure that out later. She nodded. ¡°You picked a crafting option?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra began miming and gesturing. ¡°It makes things.¡± ¡°Ah. Transmutation. A good starting option, but it can be a trap.¡± He smiled and shut the book. ¡°I¡¯d focus on power strikes or enhancements. Pick one or the other.¡± ¡°I picked enhancements,¡± Kindra said. ¡°Pure crafter then. Good.¡± He stretched. ¡°How many free attributes are you getting each level?¡± Kindra paused and swallowed. Should I tell them that? Dain leaned forward. ¡°You can tell us, Kindra. I promise not to tell another. And if it¡¯s a tier one, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Can you upgrade classes?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯ll upgrade at level twenty if it¡¯s tier one and again at level fifty if it¡¯s tier two.¡± He smiled. ¡°So, tier one?¡± ¡°No.¡± Kindra held up four fingers. His eyes widened. ¡°How long did you train for that?¡± ¡°A long time. Several years.¡± Kindra blushed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s great news, though it won¡¯t upgrade at level twenty or fifty.¡± I guess tier four is good. ¡°Is tier four hard to get?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯d say one in fifty gets tier four. Beyond that, it is impossible for your first class.¡± New questions danced through Kindra¡¯s mind. She opened her mouth, and he chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on this one for now.¡± Fine. Kindra leaned against the wall. ¡°Now, for your attributes. I¡¯d recommend picking at least one strength each level. It¡¯s important when working in the mines or forges. A stamina is likely ideal as well. That leaves two. In truth, I¡¯d put another in strength and alter as you see fit on the others. Dexterity and speed are useful.¡± ¡°Strength?¡± Kindra wrinkled her nose. I was just going to make a motor. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s worth it.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I can make things to boost it.¡± Dain smiled. ¡°Maybe, but strength is a very powerful attribute. You¡¯ll see.¡± He paused a moment. ¡°Feel free to level a little, but try to stagger them a bit. You¡¯ll get better options based on desire and use. Not to mention, you¡¯ll need some mana to power your skills each day.¡± He stood and walked out of the room. Kindra mulled on it. It makes sense they have a guide¡­ Can he give me advice on growing my skills correctly? Dain walked inside and handed her a plate of raw meat. ¡°Don¡¯t tell your mum.¡± ¡°Can you help provide me with knowledge about skills?¡± Kindra asked, looking at him. ¡°Better. Today starts your training. It¡¯ll help ensure you get the options you need, and I¡¯ll help you understand some pitfalls.¡± Dain walked to the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to get ready.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± He walked out, shutting the door behind him. Kindra got up, picked up a tan dress, and slid it over her head. Reaching over, she quickly ate the raw meat, savoring the taste. Picking up the plate, she darted out of her room and rinsed it in the wash basin. Dain smiled at her. ¡°I know this has been hard for you, but thank you for taking it seriously.¡± Kindra nodded and shoveled some porridge into her mouth. She swallowed, trying not to taste it. Picking up a mug, she drank the water and rinsed it, placing it on a little drying rack. ¡°Just pretend to be the scared orphan you are. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Dain walked to the door. ¡°And you look young, use that.¡± Kindra nodded and followed him out the door. Stars glittered above her head. The rays of the sun crested over the distant horizon. She moved closer to Dain. ¡°What is being an artificer about?¡± ¡°Creating things, typically with metal. However, you can expand that a bit with the study. Enchantment is usually the ideal choice. Maybe a few combat skills.¡± He smiled over his shoulder.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°So you make magical gear?¡± Dain shook his head. ¡°No¡­¡± He swallowed. ¡°We make simple weapons for the undead.¡± Kindra frowned. ¡°They run everything?¡± Dain nodded. ¡°You¡¯re bright. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve figured it out.¡± That no one wants to level because the necromancers murder them. She nodded. ¡°Does it level you?¡± ¡°Yes. Harder tasks and more magical use will increase the mana you get.¡± Dain turned and headed up the road that led toward the smithies. ¡°And to make magical gear, you won¡¯t be able to use Transmutation. That¡¯s important for you to know.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°No. It messes with the magical structure of materials.¡± Darn. That¡¯ll make it harder. Kindra followed, passing a few undead dwarves. Dain ignored them, escorting her up the road to a distant hill. ¡°We¡¯ll start with a mining run. Do you know much about it?¡± ¡°No.¡± Kindra glanced around the dark village. A few other dwarves were out, moving quickly through the streets. The smell of dirt, stone, and undead lingered. She walked up the hill, looking toward an opening that sunk into the hill. Dain walked to it, moved to the side, and grabbed one of the mining carts left next to it. I guess theft isn¡¯t really a thing here. Strange. Kindra walked to the tunnel. Dain grabbed two picks, tossed them into the cart, and pushed it into the tunnel. Following him, she walked into the mine. Smooth stone pillars and ribs along the passage had been used to fortify it. Those have to be magic. Walking down the tunnels, Kindra reached out and dragged her fingers on the smooth stone. Winding down the tunnel, she studied the stone walls that were entirely too smooth. Did they use magic for these? She looked down at the impossibly smooth stone floor and back over at Dain. He was wearing simple trousers and a brown shirt. No magic radiated from them. I guess enchanted gear is rare. Or no one wants to level¡­ Why¡¯d Gleon drop me here, then? She looked at Dain. ¡°Why¡¯d Gleon bring me here if leveling is bad?¡± Dain continued walking, pulling the cart with him. ¡°He wanted you to learn the basics so your progress wouldn¡¯t be impacted in the long run. We certainly agree with that. We don¡¯t agree that you should try to get as many levels as possible.¡± ¡°Because of the necromancers?¡± Dain grimaced and didn¡¯t answer. The tension hung there. Okay. That confirms it. Kindra let the topic drop. It sounded like a terrible way to live. Spiraling downward, the two looped around and followed branches for a few minutes before hitting a large room with large, stone pillars. Dain walked up to the wall and pointed at a clump of reddish stone that was part of the wall. ¡°This is iron ore, and what we need.¡± ¡°Do you magic it out?¡± Kindra asked, walking over to it and studying. ¡°You can, but it¡¯s generally not the ideal use of your magic.¡± Dain picked up the pick. ¡°Time to learn the non-magic way.¡± He handed it to Kindra. Grabbing his own, he slammed it into the vein, blowing chips of stone into the air. Looks like rusty stone. Kindra raised her pick and slammed it into the wall. The wood dug into her hands, and the pick vibrated her arms. ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯ll want strength,¡± Dain said with a grin. ¡°It¡¯s the cornerstone for all smiths.¡± But I¡¯m not going to be a blacksmith. Kindra nodded and burned mana on Enhance Item. Glowing red runes spread along the pick. [Basic mining pick has been enhanced, granting the wielder +20 strength. This lasts for 2 hours.] Kindra hefted it with far more ease. That¡¯s a big difference. She spun and slammed it into the stone. Stone shards burst around her. Dain raised a brow. ¡°Enhance item?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Kindra slammed it into the stone. ¡°What did you use to boost it?¡± Kindra blushed and didn¡¯t answer, slamming the pick into the stone. ¡°Kindra, please. This is important.¡± She turned. ¡°My blood,¡± she whispered. Dain went quiet for a moment. He nodded. ¡°If anyone asks, tell them your skill lets you ignore small costs.¡± He patted her on the back and resumed mining. ¡°What do you usually use for it?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Sap from plants is easiest,¡± he replied, pulling the pick back. ¡°You need something capable of holding the magic. That can be metal, gems, or wood. Some can be reused. Others can¡¯t. And it will impact how long the spell lasts.¡± He slammed the pick into the wall, spraying dust and stone into the air. ¡°Can you make them permanent?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Completely? No. With that ability, you won¡¯t get more than a week. You get far more with enchanting, but that requires material capable of holding the magic and spell form without burning out.¡± He pulled the pick back. ¡°And certain materials struggle to hold different spell forms.¡± Kindra nodded and slammed her pick into the wall. ¡°Can you use Enhance Item to create an enchantment?¡± ¡°No. You need to free cast it or get an enchanting skill.¡± Dain ripped massive chunks from the wall. ¡°Can you teach me enchanting?¡± ¡°In time, I will. For now, we¡¯ll focus on the basics.¡± Dain smiled and slammed his glowing pick into the stone. It sunk into the stone, and he slashed downward, ripping a large rock out of the wall. Kindra stared. ¡°So you have an enchanting skill?¡± ¡°Aye. Making things is useful, but keep this in mind. Strength and power strikes are useful in the forge and when fighting.¡± Dain grabbed the stone and dumped it into the cart. I can¡¯t really argue with that. ¡°How much mana do I keep for use?¡± ¡°Depends on what you want for your future,¡± Dain said, using his hands to shovel ore into the cart. ¡°Casters want more of it since they rely heavily on their skills instead of the physical boosts they¡¯d get from leveling. Your mum is one.¡± ¡°So she has more?¡± ¡°Aye. She keeps at least four levels worth of mana at all times.¡± Dain grabbed his pick. Turning, he attacked. Kindra did the same, breaking stone and slowly freeing the ore. With each piece, she tossed it into the cart. So I need to figure out which to get next. Hmm¡­ I need a book on classes. She glanced at him. And they have one. That made her smile. Minutes slowly ticked by, and the cart filled quickly. Turning, Kindra watched as Dain attacked the wall like a living backhoe. He ripped through the stone, sending stone and fragments everywhere. Leaning a hand against the wall, magic surged. Runes flared into existence, and a pillar pulled out of the ground, merging with the ceiling. Whistling, he resumed his assault. Kindra grabbed pieces of ore and tossed them into the cart, quickly filling it. Dain smiled and gestured to the cart. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kindra looked at the loaded cart, shoving it and failing to make it move. With a chuckle, Dain grabbed the front and pulled it toward the surface. ¡°You¡¯ll get there.¡± He paused. ¡°If you make the right choices.¡± He smiled widely. ¡°I get it. I get it.¡± ¡°Most don¡¯t go artificer, in truth. The intelligence has limited use.¡± Kindra winced. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because it just helps you memorize and remember. It¡¯s great for study and analysis, but it¡¯s better to have something like strength. Then you can pick it as you need it.¡± Oh. Makes sense. ¡°So you still get it?¡± ¡°Yes. All crafters do, but we can balance things easier.¡± Dain turned and smiled. ¡°But it¡¯s a solid choice; just remember to boost strength, too.¡± ¡°What class are you?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Right. I¡¯m a weaponsmith, which is a blacksmith class specialized in weapons.¡± Dain turned around a corner and waved at a group of dwarves. ¡°Morning.¡± Peering around his large body, Kindra waved. The group of three turned and waved. The woman with them grinned. ¡°Is that your new daughter?¡± Dain nodded and nudged Kindra forward. ¡°Yes, though quite young.¡± ¡°Not even level ten?¡± The woman¡¯s expression shifted to shock. Kindra flushed. And apparently, I¡¯m super behind. She followed Dain past the group, waving and turning back to him. ¡°Friends?¡± ¡°Aye. They¡¯re a good lot.¡± Dain wheeled the cart around another corner. ¡°Just run ragged. We all are.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Supplies. We have to make deliveries, or else they show up.¡± Kindra grimaced. Right. So the necromancers are in charge¡­ Were my dreams real? Is that a necromancer? She mused on it. ¡°Kindra.¡± Dain stopped and moved closer. He leaned down. ¡°When you get your second class, do not take that one,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯m begging you.¡± ¡°You get a second?¡± Kindra asked, shock spreading through her. I didn¡¯t know that. ¡°At level fifty, you get the option, but you can¡¯t free cast if you do.¡± Dain sighed. ¡°It¡¯s an endless debate if that cost is worth it. You do get a few skills to help with free casting, but you don¡¯t get stats. That hurts.¡± He pulled the cart forward. ¡°Did you take a second?¡± ¡°Yes, fighter. Most take a second.¡± Dain stopped. ¡°If you take one, try to get one that works well. We¡¯ll give you some advice when you get closer.¡± Kindra nodded and saw the light of the sun piercing the tunnel. Hmm. Wonder what works well with artificer. I¡¯ll add it to my list of things to figure out. She moved up the tunnel. Emerging from it, Kindra squinted and looked at the two undead dwarves standing beside the mine. ¡°Why are they here?¡± ¡°Watching the metal,¡± Dain replied. There is no way someone¡¯s sitting here doing that all day. Kindra conjured runes into her mind, walked forward, and tapped one. The glowering magic in the dead dwarf snuffed out, and it dropped like a sack of rotten flesh, slumping into a pile on the ground. The other undead stood there stiffly. Dain turned, and Kindra brushed her fingers against the other. It dropped like a cut puppet. Dain stared, his mouth hanging open. Shaking himself out of it, he shoved the cart. ¡°Hurry along, Kindra.¡± His pace quickened. Practically sprinting, Kindra raced after him. He shoved the cart up the road, moving quickly toward a large smithy. Large chimneys protruded from the top of the stone dome. A large door sat up front, and a square structure was melded into it. Supply room? Kindra followed him to the front door and into the forge. He shut the door. ¡°Care to explain that?¡± Kindra looked around the stone room. Two anvils were near the forge, the coals dead. A small layer of ash and soot dusted the fireplace. Bellows were built into the fireplace. To the side, a shelf of tools lined the wall, and a few barrels sat on the far wall. She looked back at Dain and shrugged. ¡°Just a test.¡± ¡°You just killed two undead like that.¡± Dain snapped. ¡°Gone. Instantly.¡± ¡°I used the counter runes.¡± Kindra smiled at him. ¡°The counter runes,¡± Dain muttered, shaking his head. ¡°How did you get counter¡ª¡° He cut himself off. ¡°Kindra, that¡¯s very dangerous. Don¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t they die all the time?¡± ¡°Well, yes. But it¡¯s usually in defense or if they do something stupid.¡± Dain paused. His brow quirked. ¡°Don¡¯t do it unless we can hide it,¡± he amended. ¡°Deal.¡± Kindra chuckled softly. Dain groaned. ¡°How did you get the counter runes?¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll discuss it later. Remember, people and things are listening, so be careful, okay?¡± Dain gave her a stern look. Kindra nodded and followed him outside. He grabbed the cart and moved toward a strange, tall clay chimney. Oh! Right... What are these things called again? Kindra blew a hair from her face and walked up to it. ¡°Kindra, this is a bloomery.¡± Dain gestured. ¡°You put the ore, limestone, and charcoal into the top. Pump these bellows to blow air through it. If something gets stuck, you need to break it free.¡± He gestured to a hole at the very bottom. ¡°The metal gathers here.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Makes sense.¡± Dain poured a little charcoal inside. Gathering some wood and grass, he sparked a small fire. ¡°Why not use magic to refine it?¡± Kindra asked, gesturing and repeating a few words to get the right one. ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± Dain replied, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯re turning the iron ore into steel. They aren¡¯t the same thing. Transmutation requires the same thing.¡± ¡°Can you upgrade it to not use the same thing?¡± Kindra asked. Dain studied her, surprise spreading on his face. ¡°Yes, but that requires a great deal of study¡­ Is that what you have?¡± She nodded. ¡°Of course, you do¡­ Do you remember anything?¡± Kindra turned and looked out at the town. An undead bird flew overhead, and she looked at it. ¡°Right. Some other time.¡± Dain turned his focus to the fire. I wonder how much it would cost. Kindra focused on her mana. [Your mana increased: 1005 ¡ú 1119.] ? [Your actions have caused your mana to increase: 1119 ¡ú 1130.] Nice. Aika must have been busy. Gathering a handful of the ore, coal, and lime, she placed it into a pile and burned ten mana, willing it to make steel. The entire thing burned. The charcoal ignited in fury. Smoke billowed, and Kindra lurched back. Dain turned to watch, a smile on his face. Kindra watched, and the ore turned bright white, flowing out into a piece of steel the size of her thumb. Right. Expensive. Still, that¡¯s not too bad. I could make a nice chunk. Reaching down, Dain picked up the metal and felt it with his thumb. ¡°We¡¯re having a chat when we get home.¡± Kindra nodded and followed him to the cart. He grabbed stones and crushed them, turning them into a powder that he dropped into a barrel. Kindra picked one up. He¡¯s crushing it with his hand? She looked at him. Dain smiled and handed her a hammer. ¡°Start crushing.¡± Grabbing it, she set the stone on a clay brick and pulverized it. Dain used his bare hands, and the two slowly worked through the cart, slowly pulverizing the stone and placing it in the barrel. The tedious task only became more tedious as Kindra worked. I wish Aika were here; she could entertain me. She crushed the stone and paused, reaching for her connection. ¡°Aika, how are you? Are you doing something fun?¡± ¡°Kindra, Gleon is insane!¡± Chapter 21 – Dwarven Guidance – Pt2 (Aika) Aika groaned, her high-pitched voice barely carrying before it was drowned out by the dwarf in leather armor. His laughter echoed through the cave, creating a deafening ruckus that all the sane creatures had fled. Maybe I should have done the same. Aika clamped her hands over her ears. ¡°That all you got?¡± Gleon shouted at the birds still roosting in the cave they¡¯d left. Aika stood up, poked her head out of his bag, and replied to Kindra. ¡°He got the birds to use up all their mana by paralyzing us over and over. Then they attacked him but couldn¡¯t break through his skin or the leather. I think he has a skill for that. Thank God!¡± ¡°Be safe,¡± Kindra thought back. Gleon chuckled and threw a stone, sending it whirring through the air. It clipped the bird, and the bird tumbled out of sight. ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± Aika added for good measure. ¡°All of your plans are crazy.¡± ¡°We were fine. I shielded you.¡± Gleon chuckled and walked further into the cave, pausing to throw rocks at any bird in view. Catching one square in the chest, the bird exploded, sending a deluge of blood, gore, and feathers into the air. It fell, splashing in the stream below. Aika looked up at the dwarf with a manic smile. ¡°Kindra, I hope you are getting some mana from this.¡± ¡°I am. Thanks, and be safe.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, and I¡¯m trying.¡± Aika smiled. At least we¡¯ll get stronger. She turned and looked at the dead birds. ¡°Are we waiting for the flock to come back?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get them later.¡± Gleon leapt and landed on a boulder. Walking along a ledge, he ignored the nests and moved to the distant crack in the wall. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see what¡¯s really in here.¡± Rubbing his hands together, he walked down it. Aika remained in his bag, standing there and peering into the gloom. The air was damp. A soft breeze washed by, and any birds stayed quiet. I guess this beats his arguing with the other dwarves about plans. She peered down the stone cave, which was more like a long crack through the rock. Gleon jumped from stone to stone, navigating deeper. The walls closed around them, and the sound of crashing water filled the air. She sniffed, and they emerged in a small, humid room. A waterfall crashed down from a small cliff. Well, that¡¯s pretty. She smiled and looked up. The cave opened above her. ¡°I¡¯m flying. You can get wet.¡± Gleon chuckled. ¡°Did you forget who I am, young lass?¡± He reached out, smashed his hand into the rock, and hauled himself up with his self-made handholds. That¡¯s just absurd. Magic is absurd. Aika fluttered out of the bag, flying over his head and looking at the small cave. The water flowed from a tunnel with massive webs stretched in front of it. Spiders? Massive spiders? Ew. She moved closer to him. ¡°I think there are spiders.¡± She landed on his shoulder. ¡°Likely.¡± Gleon hauled himself over the ledge and walked toward them, ducking under a rock and entering the cave. He squinted, and large mandibles shot toward his throat. Lurching backward, he slammed his fist into the spider and shoved off the wall, landing in the water with a splash. Aika shot upward, avoiding the spray. Gleon looked at his wet pants and sighed. ¡°Now, look what you did.¡± With an angry expression, he stepped from the stream, pulled out an axe, and glared at the spider. Spinning, Aika¡¯s eyes went wide. Spiders the size of dwarves clung to the ceiling. She dove into the bag. ¡°Incoming.¡± Gleon charged, swinging his axe at the spider in the nearby cave. It skittered back, and the ones above shot sticky webbing downward. Launching himself back, Gleon splashed through the water and bent low, scooping rocks from the stream. Spinning, he threw it. The stone blurred and bounced off the spider with a loud clack. The spider clicked its mandibles at him, its eyes focusing on him. ¡°Rotten, overgrown bug.¡± Hefting his axes, he waited. A glob of green shot toward him. Please don¡¯t let that hit. Aika dropped back inside the bag, and Gleon sprinted, vaulting off a rock and throwing himself up the wall. Half flying, he slammed his axe into one of the spiders. Green fluid sprayed everywhere, and he fell, hitting the ground with a loud clump. The wounded spider clicked and opened its mouth, revealing glistening fangs. Fluid dripped from the massive wound on its side. ¡°Cowards!¡± Gleon bellowed, dashing toward the wall. ¡°Come and fight!¡± The spiders volleyed poison instead, spraying yellow fluid downward. Gleon dashed, shooting into the tunnel and slamming his axe into the spider inside. Green fluid burst everywhere, and he spun back toward the entrance. ¡°This is why you need a gun,¡± Aika said, poking her head out. ¡°What¡¯s that word?¡± ¡°A ranged weapon.¡± Gleon scoffed. ¡°Ain¡¯t necessary. You¡¯ll see.¡± He grabbed another rock and ducked through the entrance, chucking it upward. It slammed into a spider leg, ripping it free. The spiders skittered forward. Gleon hefted his axe and attacked in a fury. With water splashing around his ankles, he slammed his axe into a spider. A spray of green fluid splashed across the area, and he spun, chopping into another. Aika¡¯s eyes widened. Spiders dropped. One lunged, sinking fangs into Gleon¡¯s shoulder and ripping into flesh. Gleon spun and smashed his axe into it. The spider dropped, and he hissed, blood flowing down his arm. I swear that he likes getting hit. Aika sighed and ducked down, a massive leg smashing into his side. Gleon bellowed and spun, slamming his axe into another spider and punching the final one in the head. ¡°Oi! Come finish him, Aika.¡± Aika grabbed her spear from the bag, poked out, and zipped over to the spider. Drawing back her spear, she slammed it into the spider¡¯s eye. Like hitting a stone with a spear, it didn¡¯t budge a bit. A hand reached up and shoved, sinking the spear into its skull.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Gleon grinned and pulled the spear out. ¡°Nice work.¡± He handed her the spear, looked at his arm, and sighed. ¡°Is it going to make you sick?¡± Aika asked. Gleon stooped down and rinsed his arm in the cold spring water. ¡°Nope. I have anti-toxin in my skill.¡± He grinned and watched his flesh begin to knit back together. ¡°How did you get that skill?¡± Aika asked, shaking her head. ¡°You said that your skills develop based on your use.¡± ¡°They do.¡± Gleon winked. ¡°And I did some training.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you are alive. You shouldn¡¯t be.¡± Gleon laughed, his voice echoing around the room. ¡°You worry too much. That¡¯s the trick of it. Force yourself to survive.¡± He scooped water with his hands and took a drink from the stream. Aika fluttered out and looked at the corpses. She turned and peered down the cave. ¡°How are we getting through the webs?¡± ¡°Water and my axe.¡± Gleon walked over and hacked the wet spider web away. Ducking into the tunnel, he walked through the water, following the stream through a narrow tunnel that became smoother and smoother. The jagged walls became completely smooth. Aika flew to him and landed on his shoulder, peering down what seemed to be a stone canal. ¡°Gods, let this be the one,¡± Gleon prayed aloud. He waded through the water, and the tunnel turned into a large cavern. Smooth caves intersected with the stream. Doors were built into the soft stone, and a broken bridge lay in pieces across the stream. The water flowed through them, slowly eroding the stone. ¡°The one?¡± Aika asked, studying the domed room. ¡°Yes. The capital. Buried for thousands of years now.¡± Gleon stepped out of the ditch and looked around the area, heading toward a door. ¡°I need to find it.¡± ¡°How¡¯d it get buried?¡± ¡°The war with our enslavers,¡± Gleon practically spat, his smile fading to an angry frown. ¡°Oh. Them.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Gleon stopped in front of an ancient wooden door. He reached out, and it crumbled under his touch, falling into a pile of rotten wood. Aika peered into the building. A pot lay next to a collapsed and decayed table. Dust filled the empty shelves, and Aika shivered. I wonder if Earth is like this now. Just empty shells. She paused and saw a pile of dust in the corner. I wonder what that was and how long it has been since we left. The thought lingered as she spotted other piles of dust. Gleon turned and walked down a hall, passing several decayed doors. He ignored them and walked down the streets, searching for something. ¡°What are we looking for?¡± Aika asked, looking at the underground structures. ¡°Old relics. We need some help to deal with the necromancer problem.¡± Gleon turned and walked down another hall. He was met with a wall of loose rock. Well. That¡¯s anti-climatic. Aika sighed and patted her escort. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright; I will find it someday.¡± Gleon sighed and turned away. The sound of metal on stone echoed down the hall. He turned and ran toward it. Aika peered down the hall. Much like the current one, it was smooth and surprisingly polished. Gleon¡¯s footsteps bounced through the air, and she frowned at him. And here we go again. He¡¯s charging into danger without a thought. She shook her head, and a strange humanoid creation stomped into view, its squat metal legs thumping against the stone. Turning toward them, a singular glowing lens turned red. And that¡¯s a terrible robot¡­ ¡°Dibs!¡± Aika grinned and patted the back of the dwarf. She slid down onto his bag, and the golem¡¯s gears whirred before it charged toward them, its metal legs slamming against the stone. ¡°Oi!¡± Gleon barked. ¡°Calm down.¡± He shoved the axe into his belt and grabbed a large hammer. The construct rushed forward with a burst of energy, raising its metal fist into the air. Gleon ducked and swung his hammer, smashing it into the metal frame. Sparks showered into the air. ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy,¡± he bellowed at it. The construct did not seem to care. Its eye glowed red, and it slammed a metal arm into Gleon. He flew, soaring backwards. Aika shot out of the bag, flying up and watching him slam into the stone wall. Dust billowed. Cracks rippled through the stone, and the construct charged, its metal feet clattering on the stone. Gleon lurched to his feet, anger in his eyes. ¡°Now, you¡¯ve done it.¡± He hefted his hammer, and his eyes glowed with a strange red light. Swinging with reckless anger, he smashed his hammer into the construct. The metal rang, and the construct slammed a fist into his shoulder, sending him staggering. Gleon corrected and raised his hammer again. Did it even dent it? Aika studied and saw a small dent in the rectangular frame. She flew upwards, and the hammer met a robotic hand. Gleon growled. The ambivalent construct pivoted and slammed its other hand forward, sending him tumbling across the floor. He spat blood and pulled his hammer back. Without pausing, it rushed forward and punched Gleon, sending him crashing into the wall. ¡°You¡¯re pissing me off,¡± Gleon bellowed, blood running from the corner of his mouth. He lurched up and slammed the hammer into the construct¡¯s eye. The glass lens exploded, sending shards flying into the air. The construct¡¯s arm smashed into him. A resounding thud filled the air, and blood oozed from Gleon¡¯s side. Staggering backward, he braced against the wall. The construct whirred, swinging wildly and moving forward toward the wrong wall. It¡¯s blind. Swooping down, Aika grabbed a rock and tossed it across the floor. The construct spun, and she shot into the air, pushing herself up against the stone arch of the tunnel. The construct moved toward the rock. Gleon shoved himself up and charged, swinging the hammer back and cracking it down on the construct¡¯s head. Metal broke. The construct spun, and Gleon brought the hammer down with a furious grunt. The clang bounced through the halls, and the lights in the construct faded. Its gears slowed. Its metal body dropped and fell, hitting the stone floor with a loud clang. Wiping the blood from his chin, Gleon leaned against the wall and looked up. ¡°Thanks.¡± Aika flew down. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Gleon groaned and shut his eyes, leaning against the stone, blood oozing from his mouth. ¡°Can you heal it?¡± ¡°In a bit.¡± Gleon spat another glob of blood and looked at the broken construct. ¡°Shame. I needed that.¡± ¡°The golem thing?¡± Aika asked, landing on the construct. She studied the dented metal and the head. Why does he want this strange magic robot? It¡¯s strong, but he could just level. She looked over at him with a confused expression. Gleon wiped more blood from his chin. ¡°It¡¯s a relic from the first war. Legend has it that we had armies of them, an army of metal and machine that held back the undead for generations.¡± He spat and looked at the stone tunnel. ¡°I hoped to find the source. To learn how they were made. We need them if we ever wish to be free.¡± Aika looked up at him. ¡°How did you lose if you had that?¡± ¡°Attrition. It was inevitable. With every lost life, animal, dwarf, human, or other, it meant one more undead.¡± Gleon shook his head. ¡°With every spell, they inflicted sickness, rot, and decay. It spread, slowly creeping out across the land and consuming everything with it. The forest fell. Creatures turned feral, and cities were abandoned, leaving us with little.¡± He grimaced. ¡°Eventually, the mines fell or ran out of metal. That was the tipping point. We failed to keep up, and we lost everything.¡± His anger fell away, replaced by a look of exhaustion. ¡°Everything we¡¯d worked for. Everything that made us, us.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you kill them? How did they survive during all that?¡± Aika asked, leaning against the fallen golem¡¯s head. ¡°We did.¡± Gleon shook his head. ¡°But new ones came back, over and over and over again. I don¡¯t even know how many times. That was so long ago; the history is all but gone. The one thing I do know is that they kept coming back. Somehow, they knew what happened. Somehow, another took their place.¡± His wounds began to heal. ¡°But you are here. That has to mean something.¡± Aika frowned. I don¡¯t know what they expect me to do. I have no idea how to fight necromancers. She looked at his glum expression and forced a smile onto her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll bring them back¡­ And if we can¡¯t¡­ we¡¯ll make something even better.¡± Her smile became genuine. That was possible. They could do that. Gleon nodded, a soft smile spreading on his face. ¡°I pray that I see it. That my daughter sees it.¡± ¡°You both will.¡± Aika looked down at the construct. ¡°Kindra, can you lend me some mana? I¡¯m upgrading my suit!¡± A flood of it came, and she fed it into her skill. Metal flowed up from the construct, the nanites forming as she stood there. [Mechasuit upgraded to level 6, granting the wearer +6 strength, +6 dexterity, +6 speed, and +6 stamina.] She grinned and looked down at the construct. Now, how do I get this metal to Kindra? Chapter 22 – Dwarven Guidance – Pt3 Kindra felt her mana drain away, and she let it, willing it to Aika. The smell of rock, metal, and smoke surrounded her. She smashed a lump of iron ore, pulverizing it. ¡°Did that work?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks!¡± Aika replied. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Be safe over there.¡± Gathering and dumping the last of the powder in the barrel, Kindra walked over to the bloomery. Smoke billowed out of the chimney, and the coals at the bottom glowed. ¡°Spell me a minute,¡± Dain said, gesturing to the bellows sitting next to it. Kindra walked over and pumped them up and down. The flames spread further, and smoke billowed into the air. Dain watched and nodded approvingly. ¡°Good, long and slow for now.¡± Grabbing powdered ore, limestone, and a little water, he mixed them into a muddy mess. He filled a small bucket with the mix and a larger one with charcoal. Kindra watched him move to the bloomery. Stepping up on a rock, he dumped in the charcoal and then the ore mix. Then he repeated it, walking back to make more of the mixture. I guess this is how it¡¯s done. She pumped the bellows, watching the hide push in and out as if it were breathing. I need to get electricity here¡­ How am I going to do that? There¡¯s water, but probably not enough. She looked at the sun. That¡¯s an option, but I¡¯d need to make solar panels, which aren¡¯t anywhere close to being possible. She watched Dain create another layer in the bloomery. ¡°Do you have coal? Like charcoal, but mined?¡± ¡°Likely, but I don¡¯t know where.¡± Dain turned. ¡°There are also magical materials that can be used.¡± Oh. That¡¯s cool. Kindra nodded and looked at the limestone. ¡°Where?¡± Dain nodded and gestured. ¡°To the south.¡± He smiled. ¡°Do you know why we add it?¡± Kindra paused. It shouldn¡¯t need it. Not for this. She shook her head. He nodded. ¡°The charcoal from these trees burns hotter. It helps speed it along.¡± Turning, he gathered the materials for another batch. Kindra continued pumping, blowing air through the bloomery. Leaning forward, she studied the charcoal. It glowed and some mana inside swirled around. Is that what makes it burn hotter? She watched as some of the mana burst from the charcoal, parts of it streaming into them. Dain piled it up to the top, periodically knocking things loose. Smoke and steam billowed out of it. Kindra pumped harder and heard footsteps. Continuing to pump, she turned to look. A small group of dwarves walked up. ¡°Hello, Dain,¡± a dwarf with wild red hair said, walking up. Dain smiled and walked over. ¡°Hello, Brunor.¡± ¡°How¡¯s our young artificer coming?¡± Brunor looked over. ¡°And how did she end up with hair like that?¡± Dain shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, and she¡¯s learning. We may need to go hunting to push her along.¡± ¡°That young?¡± Brunor asked, raising a brow and studying her. Kindra waved. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s that young.¡± Dain walked over and patted her on the back. ¡°Any news?¡± ¡°Not since the destruction of Granheim.¡± Brunor frowned and shook his head. ¡°I heard the rebellion was squashed. A necromancer came to visit, taking several undead with them.¡± Dain nodded. ¡°Likely.¡± Brunor stepped closer. ¡°Is it true? Did they die?¡± ¡°Likely.¡± Brunor patted Kindra once more and moved closer. ¡°Have you heard anything regarding the harvest?¡± he asked in a low whisper. Kindra turned, a frown spreading on her face. Why¡¯s he whispering? And what¡¯s the harvest? She pumped the bellows and failed to overhear the response. The two whispered, and she scowled at the bloomery and the bellows. Noisy things. She pumped and looked at the plume of smoke, following it into the sky and spotting an undead bird. It circled overhead, its body glowing with blue magic. Sighting it in, Kindra aimed with her finger and willed the runes into her mind. Feeding mana through her finger, she released it. A ribbon of magic shot out, zipping across the sky and hitting the bird. The magic inside the bird snuffed out, and it arced downward, slamming into a roof with a loud thud. Grabbing the bellows and pumping once more, Kindra watched a small stream of mana flow into her. That worked. She glanced back at the whispering adults. What is the harvest, and why are they whispering about it? She frowned. ¡°Aika. What do you know about this planet? Can you get Gleon to tell you about the necromancers or the harvest?¡± ¡°I learned a lot. We¡¯re in a ruined city, looking for clues on their ancient magitech. Apparently, the necromancers run the place. They buried the city, and Gleon thinks this will let us fight back.¡± Aika paused. ¡°I told him we¡¯d make something better. Can we?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll work on it.¡± Kindra paused. ¡°What are the ruins like?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all buried. It¡¯s sad. He said there was a great war forever ago, and they lost.¡± ¡°So, they lost some war to these necromancers, who now control the place. Now they want to fight back?¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Yes. Hold on.¡± Kindra pumped, trying to overhear the group and studying the bellows. We need a pump. Her thoughts drifted. The colony handbook was all about getting tech up using fabricators and refineries using solar power. Those seemed a long way off. Can I make them with magic? That might let me get past this. She frowned and looked at the glowing coals. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°I think they are from other planets. He mentions something like planets or realms or something.¡± ¡°Makes sense. I swear I saw some of these runes before that thing pulled me from space.¡± Images from the ship flashed into her mind. The voice rippled through her, sending a shiver down her spine. Aww, fuck. That thing was one of them. Swallowing, she focused on the glowing metal. I need to gear up and go level tonight. Dain walked over and prodded the bloomery¡¯s insides, clearing the air intake. He turned and looked at Kindra. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the harvest?¡± Kindra asked, her arms moving up and down. Dain walked over and took a turn at the bellows. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Tell me. I¡¯m not a child,¡± Kindra said, looking down at her body. ¡°Even if I look it.¡± Chuckling, Dain shook his head. ¡°You are, dearie. How old are you? Seven? Eight?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± Kindra paused. I don¡¯t have an equivalent measure of time. Ugh. She frowned and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid.¡± ¡°You¡¯re young.¡± Dain smiled. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry over such things.¡± Kindra scowled at him. Harvest¡­ Realization slammed into her, and her mouth dropped open. I¡¯m not letting some necromancer murder the strong dwarves. I need them. Anger blazed across her face, and she stared at him, shaking her head. Dain grimaced. ¡°You figured it out.¡± ¡°Yes. When does that happen?¡± Kindra asked, tapping her fingers against her side. I need a better gun. ¡°In a month,¡± Dain whispered. ¡°It happens three times a year.¡± ¡°Fuck that.¡± Kindra reached into her pocket and pulled out the piece of iron. She rubbed it in her hands and burned mana on Transmutation. The metal didn¡¯t appear to change at all. Smiling, she placed it on the shovel and passed it over the ash and slag. Anything magnetic snapped upward, hitting the bottom of the shovel with a soft clang. Grabbing a bucket, she wiped the material into it and repeated the process, walking through the area and sweeping for anything magnetic. Dain watched and nodded in approval. ¡°Where¡¯d you get a lodestone?¡± Kindra turned and gestured, ensuring she understood the word. ¡°Made it. Transmutation.¡± Dain paused, confusion briefly spreading across his face. He looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m not a child.¡± Kindra resumed her sweeping, gathering a bucket of scrap. I¡¯ll need to visit a tree. Standing, she gestured. ¡°Firewood?¡± Dain¡¯s brow raised. ¡°What are you doing and how?¡± ¡°Making things. I upgraded Transmutation.¡± Kindra turned to the bucket. Time to get steel. She picked it up, burned mana, and dumped the smoldering mess on the ground. Steel flowed out of the mess, forming a small ingot. Waiting for it to cool, Kindra took the magnet and resumed her search, gathering pieces that had been missed. Dain watched. ¡°How did you get that upgrade? What is it?¡± Okay. This will be hard. Kindra started gesturing. ¡°What do you call the parts inside this?¡± She gestured at the ground. ¡°Dirt?¡± ¡°Smaller.¡± Dain shook his head. ¡°Smaller?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Smaller.¡± She moved her fingers together. ¡°Very small.¡± Grabbing a handful of dirt, she began gesturing. ¡°Inside it are thousands of pieces. Inside those are thousands of smaller pieces. And inside those are small pieces, called atoms.¡± She grinned. ¡°They make everything.¡± ¡°Atoms?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°And inside atoms are smaller things.¡± She reached down and drew a hydrogen atom. Next to it, she drew a helium atom. Gesturing at her steel, she reached down and drew two more, iron and carbon. ¡°Inside. My upgrade lets me change the inside.¡± Dain studied them and studied her. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from another world. Remember?¡± Kindra replied, a smile spreading on her face. She wiped the drawings away and poked into the bloomery, ensuring the air was blowing through it. I¡¯ll need to make a blast furnace at some point. Dain nodded and pumped the billows. ¡°And you remember it?¡± ¡°Yes. I just don¡¯t remember anything after something pulled me here.¡± Kindra listened to the sound of the bellows. And I need to make a fan. That¡¯s brutally inefficient. She walked over to the bar of steel. Enough for a few dozen bullets. It¡¯ll work. She willed her mana into view. [Your mana increased: 1130 ¡ú 1148.] ? [Your actions have caused your mana to increase: 1148 ¡ú 1160.] Should I hit level seven? She considered it. ¡°Kindra?¡± Dain asked, looking at her. ¡°Sorry. What?¡± Kindra asked, turning toward him and smiling softly. Dain smiled and gestured at the billows. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to the mine. Can you take over the bellows?¡± Kindra nodded and walked over to him. ¡°How many weapons do we owe?¡± ¡°We need to deliver eight swords at the end of the week.¡± ¡°That many?¡± Kindra asked, biting at her lip. ¡°Yes.¡± Dain patted her on the shoulder. I need to speed this up. She looked at the bloomery. How much mana would it take to make the swords straight from the ore? Dain looked at her, concern spreading across his face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°How much mana does it take¡ª¡± ¡°Kindra, it¡¯s important to do this by hand.¡± Kindra sighed loudly. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°So you get better skills and so that you can make magical weapons in the future.¡± ¡°But we could use magic for these?¡± Dain patted her on the back. ¡°You could, but this is important for your growth.¡± He leaned closer. ¡°And don¡¯t let others know you are trying to push to get stronger. It will hurt you.¡± ¡°Because of the harvest?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Yes. No one wants to get stronger here. Well, no one except rebels.¡± Kindra leaned closer. ¡°Count me with them,¡± she whispered. ¡°We already do,¡± Dain whispered back. ¡°But keep quiet and practice. It will help your class.¡± He patted her back and grabbed the cart, heading for the mine. Kindra nodded and turned. A group of young dwarves walked up. They looked at her and whispered back and forth. Disdain and disgust flitted across their faces as they quickened their pace. I need to dye my hair. Kindra plastered a fake smile on her face and waved. The group ignored it, walking swiftly away. Turning toward the bloomery, Kindra grabbed a stick and shoved it into the air hole before resuming her pumping. Glowing metal blazed. Heat wafted, and she studied it. How does mana factor into this? Can you infuse the metal with it? ¡ª Yo, system? How¡¯s the crafting work in this game? [Not how this works, Kindra.] Says you. Kindra pumped it and looked at the message. ¡°Let¡¯s look at the tickets.¡± [Ticket #1 - What the hell is this? - Yes, I want it escalated. - Get rid of it! Tell them that.] Ugh. Customer service. Kindra rolled her eyes. Void it, system. [Ticket voided.] [Ticket #2 - Why is this locked? I want a class now! - Escalate it. I¡¯m six!] Kindra groaned. Void it, and no more. She turned her focus to the bloomery. No wonder that person made an AI. She sighed and pumped the bellows, boredom slowly seeping in. The sound of scuffing feet pulled her attention. Turning, Kindra looked up and then down the nearby road, spotting some undead canine. The flesh had fallen from its ribs, revealing the glowing skeleton beneath the ragged, decaying black fur. It walked toward her and sniffed. The smell of rotting flesh lingered in the air, and its eyes locked onto her. Some spark of recognition flared in them. Its lips curled back, and it lunged forward. Aw. Shit! Chapter 23 – Dwarven Guidance – Pt4 Kindra jerked backward, tumbling onto the ground. The wolf launched itself off the ground. Its mouth opened wide, revealing yellow teeth. Runes blurred through Kindra¡¯s mind, and she burned mana. A beam of light shot forward, cutting through the wolf as if it weren¡¯t there. The runes in the undead wolf shattered. The glow in its eyes faded instantly, and the body slammed into her, sending her tumbling. She vaulted up and brushed off the gunk, looking at the rotten corpse. What set it off? She frowned and tried to figure that out. I made it through the gate without much issue. Why this time? She sniffed and wrinkled her nose, looking down at the corpse. Was it because I smelled like death before? Footsteps carried down the lane, and she grabbed the carcass. It can wait. I need to get rid of this. Grabbing the steel bar, she focused on making some bullets for her rifle. Triggering Transmutation, she let her mana drain. Steam and smoke rose from the corpse. A dozen bullets dropped to the ground. Grabbing them, Kindra willed them away and looked at the body. What do I do with the rest of it? Sighing, she hid it behind the bloomery and started digging, alternating between the bellows and the shovel. Digging out a chunk of charred dirt, she tossed set it aside. The sound of footsteps grew louder, and she pumped the bellows, nervousness lancing through her body. Please don¡¯t let it be guards or¡ªson of a bitch! Two dwarves shuffled forward. Their tan uniforms were clean, and their weapons were glowing. Both guards turned and looked at her. Waving, Kindra returned to the bellows and pumped, forcing air through the bloomery. Smoke billowed from the top of the chimney, and a guard studied her, his eyes locking onto her white hair. Remind me to make some dye. She smiled and continued pumping air while watching the glowing embers and metal. Grabbing the stick, she pushed some ash out of the hole and resumed pumping. ¡°Miss, have you seen our hound?¡± the guard asked. Kindra nodded. ¡°That way.¡± She pointed down the street. ¡°Where¡¯s your father?¡± ¡°Mining.¡± Kindra met his gaze, looking into his brown eyes. Please don¡¯t make me shoot you. He grimaced, revulsion spreading briefly on his face. After a moment, the emotion vanished, and he stepped forward, his eyes flickered around the area, focusing on the drag marks that remained. Shit. Kindra watched and readied herself. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, sir. I¡¯ll yell if I see your hound.¡± The guard frowned at her. ¡°Where were you before here?¡± ¡°Dunno.¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°Curious, that.¡± The guard took another step forward. Great. I¡¯m going to shoot a dwarf and end up being a fugitive. Kindra painted a sad smile on her face. ¡°I wish I could. Then I could remember my parents and friends and everything.¡± Forcing the memories of the crew into her mind, she let the grief of a thousand deaths hit her. Sorrow and grief spread across her face. Water formed in her eyes, and she looked up at the sky. The bluish-green canvas was clear of clouds but not clear of undead birds. They circled far overhead. Please tell me they don¡¯t see the dog. The guard sighed and turned toward the sound of a cart, studying the approaching figure. ¡°Dain, have you seen the hound?¡± ¡°No,¡± Dain called, the wheels of the cart squawking. Kindra jerked her focus back toward the road. Oh, thank God¡­ or Death. ¡°Come on.¡± The other guard sighed and walked away. Kindra glanced back toward the carcass and the tiny, incomplete pit. Well, he¡¯s not going to be happy about this. She nudged it further with her foot. Dain set the cart down and walked over, prodding the top and bottom holes with a stick. His gaze flicked to the carcass, and he turned. ¡°Care to explain?¡± ¡°It tried to eat me,¡± Kindra whispered. Dain¡¯s expression shifted to one of concern. ¡°You vow it?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°It sniffed me, and that set it off. I don¡¯t know why.¡± ¡°The amulet has limits, and scent is one of them.¡± Dain frowned and patted her on the back. ¡°I¡¯ll inform Sigrid and see if she can get a perfume. Be careful in the meantime.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how long I can stay here.¡± Kindra studied his dusty face. ¡°This is risky.¡± ¡°For you and us both,¡± Dain replied with a long breath. He patted her back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. We are working on it.¡± ¡°Working on what?¡± Kindra asked, grabbing the shovel and digging the grave. ¡°The hidden base.¡± Dain smiled and winked. ¡°I¡¯ll take you later. In the worst case, you¡¯ll use it, too.¡± He grabbed a pick and drove it into the ground, helping her dig out a grave.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! After a minute, they dumped the carcass and filled in the hole. Tramping the dirt down, Kindra walked to the bellows and resumed pumping. Dain crushed the ore, periodically turning to check on things. ¡°Dain?¡± Kindra asked, waving him closer. ¡°Are you part of the rebellion?¡± Dain nodded. ¡°Yes. You met Sigrid¡¯s father, Gleon.¡± He looked up at a circling undead bird. Broken feathers lined its wings, but it somehow stayed aloft, a painting of the macabre against the pure, clear sky. ¡°Someday, we¡¯ll be free. That¡¯s the vision.¡± Kindra pumped the bellow and moved over to him. ¡°Aren¡¯t the necromancers very strong? How can you kill something that strong?¡± ¡°Gleon has been working on that for decades.¡± He walked forward and studied the glowing metal. Grabbing a set of tongs, he fished into it and pulled out chunks of glowing metal, placing them on a flat stone. Looking more like clumps of ash and glowing coals, it sat there. That¡¯s it? That¡¯s what iron looks like? ¡°Hammer it gently.¡± Dain fished out another clump and handed her a hammer from his belt. Kindra took the hammer and pounded on the soft metal. It mushed, and she hit something hard. Feels like steel mixed with mud. She tried to knock off the debris while shaping the glowing metal blob. Ash remained, and she frowned. How do they do this? Canister? She tapped off the outer layer, breaking more and more away. The glowing ingot began to form, and the metal¡¯s glow dimmed. Crap. Another thought hit, and she smiled. Burning a small amount of mana, she triggered Transmutation. It took almost nothing. Mana flowed down the hammer and into the metal. Ash burst off of it. Slag fell away, and a glowing block of steel sat there like a mote of infinite potential. Swords, armor, pots, pans, and many devices danced through Kindra¡¯s mind. She leaned closer, studying the metal. Pity we have to use it on some crummy sword for the undead. Dain walked over and placed down another lump. Swinging the hammer, Kindra pounded on it, breaking away glass fragments and pieces of ash. Knocking them aside, she ignored some approaching footsteps and focused on the metal. Heat washed over her. Impurities broke away, and she burned a little mana to help finish cleaning it. Pushing it with the other block, she pounded on the next clump. Heat and smoke drifted around her. Pieces of slag broke free. It¡¯s strange how much junk is on it. Kindra pounded away, trying to get the same glowing block of metal. Another bloom was placed on the rock. A hammer began smashing it. Watching, Kindra mirrored what Dain was doing to clean and shape the metal. Burning a final bit of mana, Kindra used it to blow away the last of it. Smiling, she studied her work. That is very cool. Turning, she watched Dain do it without magic. He knocked away the slag and shaped it into a bar, stacking it with the others. ¡°Dain,¡± a voice called. Kindra turned and looked over at the newest visitor. She waved at the short dwarf with a massive beard that reached his belt. That can¡¯t be practical. He stepped forward with a smile. ¡°Hello, Kindra. Can I borrow your father a moment?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Kindra nodded. Dain looked up. A smile spread across his face. ¡°Hello, Stavn.¡± The dwarf walked up and looked at the ingots with a nod. ¡°We connected some tunnels and have some rats. I was thinking that she could get a little mana.¡± He looked around. ¡°It would help. She has far too little for her age.¡± Kindra leaned forward. ¡°How do you know that?¡± she whispered. Stavn looked at her with a raised brow. ¡°Her language study happened fast, even if it isn¡¯t perfect.¡± ¡°Aye. She¡¯s bright.¡± Dain turned. ¡°There is a spell that shows your level. We used it.¡± ¡°She should plan for level fifty as well. Training will help her qualify for a useful option.¡± ¡°Yes. That would be ideal.¡± Dain nodded and turned toward Kindra. ¡°Kindra, this is Stavn. You can trust him. He¡¯s going to help you get some mana, and¡ª¡± He turned. ¡°She can¡¯t read yet. We¡¯re working on it.¡± Stavn nodded. ¡°Understandable. I¡¯ll keep it in mind.¡± ¡°And?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°And offer you some guidance for future growth of your magic,¡± Dain finished. Oh, that¡¯s handy. ¡°He¡¯ll escort you for a bit.¡± Dain patted her on the back and walked to the cart of ore. He began crushing them. Kindra turned and smiled nervously at him. Well, I could use more information on growth¡­ unless you want to provide that, System. [Your growth is based on use and desire. It¡¯s that simple, Kindra.] She willed it away with a sigh. ¡°It is nice to meet you, Kindra.¡± Stavn turned and walked down the stone street. ¡°Come along.¡± Kindra hurried after him, studying his red hair and loose attire. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that hair get everywhere?¡± Stavn chuckled. ¡°Aye, but it likes to grow.¡± Kindra studied his arms. Small scars ran up and down the stout man. She pointed. ¡°Fighting is a faster way to level, but it¡¯s dangerous.¡± Stavn turned toward her. ¡°Keep it in mind. There¡¯s nothing wrong with crafting. Artificer was a good pick. I¡¯d advise something to help with it. Soldier or guard will give you a nice boost to your strength.¡± ¡°What if I want to enchant things?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Artificer and a magic class is what I¡¯d recommend for that. You regenerate it a bit faster at the cost of some of your stats.¡± ¡°So, pick a magic class?¡± ¡°For enchanting or alchemy, yes, but I wouldn¡¯t advise them. We need to hit our quotas.¡± Stavn sighed. ¡°Always behind.¡± Kindra swallowed. ¡°How hard is it to make eight in a week?¡± ¡°Very. You have to make charcoal, which takes weeks. You have to mine and refine. That¡¯ll cost you a day. Then you need to forge the blades.¡± ¡°But magic?¡± Kindra probed. Stavn leaned closer. ¡°Using it while crafting makes it grow faster. That¡¯s problematic.¡± Oh. She nodded and followed him down the streets, passing cottages and a few shops. Turning down a larger street, she headed toward a large building with ornate glass windows. They glowed with a soft light, catching the sun¡¯s rays and almost lighting the nearby town. Why does it feel so real? Death, is this your church? [It¡¯s a church, but not to me. ~Death] Are there other gods? [There are entities trying to be gods. I¡¯ll leave it at that. ~Death] Wait. Are you a god? And can you explain? [There are creatures that gain power through worship. They grant boons in exchange, attempting to gather enough power to ascend to the heavens. ~Death] He didn¡¯t answer. A shiver ran through Kindra. Admittedly, she¡¯d been desperate to leave that void. Too desperate. The thought nagged at her. ¡°You¡¯re a god?¡± [Kindra, I fill that role, so yes. And I¡¯m not your enemy. You have plenty of those. Worry about them. ~Death] Doubt flickered through her, but she could hardly deal with an entity who could hear her thoughts. Future problem. Walking up three steps, she paused, and Stavn opened the door. He walked inside, and she followed. Stone pews adorned the floor. A small pulpit sat at the front. Light streamed through the windows, and a dwarven woman in white robes turned. She smiled and stepped forward, causing her long brown braid to sway. Stavn walked forward. ¡°Hello, priestess. I¡¯d like you to meet Kindra.¡± ¡°Ah, the orphan girl.¡± The priestess beckoned her forward, a glowing smile spreading across her face. Her green eyes glistened, speckles of yellow shining through. Kindra walked down the aisle, looking at her dust-covered dress and body. Well, this is a little awkward. Stavn shut the door. The priestess began chanting. Runes whirred around her and surged forward, flooding toward Kindra like a tidal wave. Chapter 24 – Dwarven Guidance – Pt5 Magic churned around Kindra. Runes flashed like stars, and she felt a burning desire to rip the spell apart. Studying the runes, she started to form the sequence. ¡°Stavn?¡± she asked, letting her anger show. ¡°Five seconds before I react.¡± Stavn spun. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like spells cast on me.¡± Kindra reached for her gun. ¡°My apologies,¡± the priestess said, surprise showing on her face. ¡°It¡¯s to help us guide you.¡± Dain trusted them. And it¡¯d probably cause problems to stop this. Kindra let the magic wash over her, a nervous frown on her face. She chewed her lip, and the magic faded. ¡°What spell was that?¡± ¡°A spell to allow me to see your level, mana, and class.¡± The priestess quirked her head, her brows raising. ¡°How are you so weak?¡± Kindra blushed. ¡°I¡¯m not that weak.¡± ¡°My dear, you are behind what you should be,¡± the priestess said sympathetically. ¡°How?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t magic before all this,¡± Kindra replied, crossing her arms. She blew a strand of white hair from her face and scowled at the priestess. ¡°No magic?¡± The priestess¡¯s face contorted as she struggled to process it. ¡°How is that possible?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. It must be something else.¡± She walked to Stavn and whispered. Kindra sighed and looked around the church. She¡¯s a priestess. Is she worshipping this Death guy? Tapping her finger on a stone pew, she considered it. System, are there other gods? [Nice try, Kindra. ~Death] That¡¯s a yes. Or something is there. Kindra turned and looked at the two. Is it impolite to ask that question? She ran her fingers across the polished stone pew and considered doing it. An awkward tension built around her. The two continued to whisper. This is a bust. She turned and headed for the door. ¡°Kindra, wait. I apologize,¡± Stavn called, stepping forward. ¡°We needed to ensure some things.¡± Kindra spun and looked at the two. Both had disbelief on their faces. Stavn looked into her eyes and looked away, fidgeting momentarily. ¡°How did you know I was casting a spell?¡± the priestess asked, her brow raising. Kindra opened her mouth and shut it. She shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I saw and felt it.¡± ¡°You could see and feel the spell?¡± the priestess turned to Stavn, shaking her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s lying, but her eyes aren¡¯t natural. That could explain how she¡¯s seeing it. I¡ª¡± ¡°My eyes aren¡¯t natural?¡± Kindra interjected, stepping closer. The priestess turned and nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened to your body, but it was altered by extremely powerful magic. My spell confirmed as much.¡± She turned back. ¡°I highly doubt she¡¯ll get any martial class over tier two. Her affinity for magic is too high unless she has dumped every single point into spell resistance.¡± ¡°Did you?¡± Stavn called. Kindra shook her head. ¡°No, I have physical stats and intelligence.¡± The priestess turned toward Kindra. ¡°Is there a particular type of magic you¡¯ve tried to learn?¡± Kindra stepped forward. ¡°No. I¡¯m still trying to figure out the basics.¡± ¡°I have a book of beginner runes and spells that she can work through.¡± The priestess walked to the side of the church and pushed on the wall. A panel slid open, and she walked into an office. Kindra studied the wall. That¡¯s clever. She saw a small collection of books. The priestess brought one out and looked at her. ¡°Stavn will give this to your father or mother. Take care of it, or it will cost you.¡± She handed it to him. Stavn slipped it into his bag. The priestess gave Kindra a final look, a hint of fear lingering in her eyes. ¡°I do not know your plans, child, but I advise against the dark magics. Don¡¯t let that magic corrupt you further.¡± It¡¯s my stupid hair and eyes, isn¡¯t it? Kindra sighed and nodded. So, I¡¯ll probably get a caster class, like the two I had offered. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Realization hit her, and she looked at the priestess. She knows. ¡°I¡¯ll try to unlock a different one,¡± she said, swallowing nervously. ¡°Do so, child. You walk a dangerous path,¡± the priestess replied, shaking her head. Staven turned and whispered with the priestess again. She whispered something back. Kindra sighed, walked to the door, and reached for the handle. Maybe I should have stayed in the woods. She turned the handle, weariness building around her. I was not prepared for any of this. Stavn reached out and pushed the door shut. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kindra. We have to be certain. An entire village was recently killed. We don¡¯t want the same to happen to us.¡± He smiled, sorrow still lingering on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know your story. No one does, but we can¡¯t have you taking that path.¡± ¡°I understand, and I won¡¯t.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°That¡¯s a good lass. If you practice, you can unlock a good caster class at level fifty. Druid or cleric would be ideal.¡± He patted her on the shoulder and turned back to the priestess. ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°A Scout or Ranger class is still possible for her. The rest aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°How do I become a priestess?¡± Kindra asked, looking back at her. ¡°Do I swear loyalty to a god?¡± ¡°Yes. You need to make an oath. Practice the spells. See if you have an affinity, and return if you do,¡± the priestess said, her frown wavering. ¡°Go with the gods, child, and may their cleansing light heal you.¡± Kindra didn¡¯t reply, following Stavn out the door with a frown on her face. I owe Sigrid for that necklace. I owe her a ton because that priest would likely light me on fire. She walked down the stone street and looked at a distant undead. The blue magic glowed inside it, the vibrant, icy blue a mirror of her own eyes. I¡¯m going to need to make goggles or something. Turning, she followed Stavn, who moved swiftly down the cobblestone streets. Dwarves moved quickly by, heading about their business. The smell of a stew washed over her, and she passed a small cluster of carts full of random food that dwarves were buying. A few glanced at her. Scowls spread through the group, and she quickened her pace, darting quickly down the streets and into the mines. Pausing, she waited for Stavn to catch up. He entered. ¡°It is important, Kindra. Be careful, and wait to pick until you have the right class.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Kindra said. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Do you know why you look like that?¡± I have no idea. None of this makes sense. She shrugged at him. He sighed and walked down the tunnels. Kindra followed him down several passageways and around a corner, stopping as he did. Stavn paused. ¡°Did you mean what you said earlier? There is no magic where you are from?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°I know you don¡¯t believe it, but that¡¯s true.¡± He shook his head and muttered to himself, walking down a passage. Kindra followed him for a few minutes before she heard familiar squeaking. Rats, again? She blew the strand of hair from her face, and he nudged her forward. A rat peered in their direction, its little core glowing vibrantly. Kindra pulled out her crossbow. Loading up a bolt, she ratcheted it back, and Stavn examined the bow with a look of surprise. Ignoring him, she lined up the bolt, exhaled, and fired. The bolt zipped forward and sunk into the rat. It tumbled, and the rat toppled over. Stavn nodded approvingly. ¡°Where¡¯d you get that? And why didn¡¯t you mention you had a cache skill?¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the words for it, and I made it.¡± Walking up to the rat, she ripped the bolt out and pulled the mana into herself. Reloading, she proceeded down the tunnel. Stavn walked up and picked up the rat, following her. Spotting another, Kindra reloaded, aimed, and fired. A bit unsporty, but I suppose it makes sense. I¡¯d level kids this way, too. She grabbed her bolt and sucked in the mana, spiraling down the tunnel deeper and deeper into the ground. The sound of water filled the air. Another underwater stream? We could use that for power. She emerged from the tunnel and looked out into a cavern. Stone pillars supported the place. A small stream of water flowed from the wall, and magic lit portions of the room. Blinking, Kindra rubbed her eyes and looked at the growing plants. ¡°Our mushroom farm. Follow the path. Shoot anything that¡¯s eating the plants.¡± Stavn chuckled and patted her back. So, this is the equivalent of a starting quest. I¡¯m killing the garden pests. Shaking her head, she walked down the path and searched the plants. A large beetle waddled forward, and she aimed, lining up the bolt with the bug. Pulling the trigger, the bolt hit the bug with a resounding clang, vibrating and flying into the air. The beetle chirped and scurried toward the wall, a large crack oozing fluid from its carapace. Fine. Kindra burned mana and grabbed another bolt. [Basic crossbow has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 24 hours. Each shot will negate up to 15 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] Ratcheting in another bolt, she aimed, and the beetle scurried into a hole. ¡°No matter,¡± Stavn said, walking from the edge of the room. He pulled out a small bundle of sticks and charcoal. Walking to the beetle¡¯s hole, he set them into it and began constructing a fire. ¡°It¡¯ll come out of its hole. Keep searching.¡± Not nearly as threatening. Kindra picked up her bolt and walked through the farms underneath the city. Logs were perched against the large stone pillars, and mushrooms feasted, growing everywhere. This is smart. Peering around a pillar, she spotted a rat and fired at it, her bolt blowing through its side. Walking forward, she retrieved the bolt and rat, pulling the mana into herself. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, and her mouth watered. Don¡¯t do it, Kindra. It¡¯s bad enough without letting him see that. She looked back at him. ¡°What do I do with them?¡± ¡°Pile them up for now. You¡¯ll carry them back.¡± Kindra nodded and placed it on the path. Reloading, she scouted around the cavern and saw another beetle. Aiming, she fired. Is this the time for a farming montage because it¡¯s not that exciting? She mused and watched the bolt hit with a resounding crack. The carapace broke, and yellow fluid gushed from the bug. Walking over, she retrieved both and set them on the path. The process repeated, and Kindra quickly found herself bored. A small pile of pests was gathered, and she struggled to find new pests to kill. Well, so much for the tutorial level. It¡¯s boring. Opting to explore, she walked through the cavern, following the stream. It flowed and formed a small pond that was surrounded by massive pillars. Sunlight streamed down into the pond, and a bucket lowered, dropping down into it. And that¡¯s the well. Kindra nodded and studied the deep pond. Its sides were unnaturally smooth. They made the well. That¡¯s cool. She turned and walked around it, spotting some strange-looking mole-like creature. Its massive whiskers flickered, and it opened its mouth to reveal jagged teeth. Chomping down on a mushroom, it chewed, and she fired. The bolt sunk into the overgrown mole. Blood oozed from the mole, and the metallic smell filled the air. Kindra stepped forward, and the ground shook. The water and stone trembled, and she froze. Shit. Stavn cursed, his noise bouncing through the tunnels. Kindra stood there, carefully reloading the crossbow and looking nervously at her feet. I need a gun, not this. The ground shook again, and a massive grub burst from the wall, showering the place with stone. Its mouth opened wide and engulfed the mole. Turning, Kindra looked toward Stavn. He grimaced, a look of pain flashing on his face before he shot forward like a bullet. Kindra staggered backward. The grub turned, and Stavn slammed his axe into the worm, spraying green fluid across the caverns. The grub went nuts, thrashing up and down. Aiming, Kindra locked onto its open mouth and fired. The shot was easy, and the grub had less armor than assumed. The bolt blew through it, bursting out of the other side. Stavn hacked it open, spraying the walls with fluid. The grub wriggled and slammed into pillars, walls, and Stavn. He flew, and the grub burst the cuts open. Green fluid leaked everywhere. I hate these things. Kindra aimed. Where¡¯s the heart or brain? And does it matter? Aiming at the back, she fired, sinking the bolt into it. Stavn landed and dashed forward. The grub turned and opened its mouth. Dodging to the side, he slammed his axe into it, spraying himself and the cavern with the fluid. Kindra reloaded. The grub continued thrashing, and Stavn slammed his axe deep into it. Fluid flooded the room, and he leapt back, racing away. He doesn¡¯t want the mana. Kindra turned her attention back to the grub. Its thrashing slowed as the fluid drained all over the stone floor. Sheesh. How are we going to clean that up? I guess it might seep into the water. She felt her spirit lock onto the grub. Reaching out, she didn¡¯t bother sharing, ripping it into herself with a happy smile. [Your mana increased: 1138 ¡ú 1354.] Chapter 25 – The Gardens Turning away from the grub, Kindra looked for Stavn, who had fled the area as if the mana was a deadly toxin. It was only two hundred mana or so. She shrugged and looked into the smooth tunnel it had left behind. Small ridges lined it, forming stone ribs. Wonder where that goes. Ignoring it, she retrieved her bolts and walked through the area, hunting for more rats to kill. Spotting one, she shot it and collected it. The sound of feet on stone made her turn. Stavn walked down with Sigrid. Smiling, Kindra turned and waved at her. ¡°Hello, dear,¡± Sigrid said, walking over and placing her hands on the wall. Magic rippled out, mending cracks in the walls and pillars. ¡°You¡¯re fixing it?¡± ¡°Yes. She¡¯s skilled with it,¡± Stavn said, moving over and studying her. He smiled. ¡°Thank you for continuing.¡± Kindra examined him and leaned closer. ¡°What level results in¡­ umm¡­ the harvest?¡± She grimaced. God, I can¡¯t imagine having that looming over you your entire life. Sigrid sighed and turned. ¡°You found out?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra walked up to her. ¡°There isn¡¯t one, but it¡¯s a given as you get stronger,¡± Stavn said, shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re young and can afford it,¡± he said sympathetically. Kindra nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll help clear out the pests and take it.¡± She smiled. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem.¡± I need it, a lot of it. She watched the magic surge around Sigrid. Runes flashed into view, and Kindra memorized, watching as she mended any cracks throughout the cavern. Sniping a rat, Kindra pulled the mana into herself and dumped the carcass on a trail before turning back. ¡°With me, Kindra,¡± Sigrid said, walking into the grub¡¯s passage. Kindra jogged over and peered into it. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the tunnel collapse behind it?¡± ¡°No, it pushes the stones using magic. It can create interesting minerals and crystals.¡± Sigrid walked into the passage and gestured, running her fingers along a small line of quartz. Following along, Kindra walked down the passage, examining the smooth walls. Small ribs flexed in and out as if it had created small speed bumps. How much pressure can this thing put out? She studied the metamorphic rock while she walked. Running her fingers against the wall, she slowed. The tunnel narrowed, and Sigrid ducked into it. Crouching through the narrow portion, she followed through it and emerged in an intersection. Two parts headed toward the surface, and one headed deeper. Turning, the three headed deeper, traveling down the smooth tunnel. Kindra swallowed. Why are we doing this? It seems unsafe. She checked her crossbow. Does anything live down here? The tunnel went down and then leveled off. It bent here and there. Crossing tunnels began merging with it, and Kindra studied the walls, trying to memorize the path taken. Pausing, Kindra squinted at the wall. A vein of something ran through the stone. Is that copper? She tapped it with her finger. ¡°Sigrid?¡± Sigrid turned and walked up. She smiled and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a copper vein. A good find.¡± Kindra did her best to memorize the spot. I need this. She turned and followed the two. The tunnel began arcing down once more. A few minutes ticked by, and the smell of dirt and rock shifted to decay. Wrinkling her nose, she stepped forward, and the two dwarves paused. Sigrid gagged. Stavn looked pale, and Kindra peered into a room full of mana. The decayed remnants of bodies littered the floor. Bones had been smashed into the stone, creating strange white splotches. To top it off, a strange, glowing fungus was spread across it. Stepping forward, Kindra was jerked to a stop. She turned toward Sigrid, who shook her head and gestured at the mold. Kindra turned and looked at it. It was glowing. Is it toxic or something? Why come down here? Sigrid pulled up her hand and sketched out familiar runes. That¡¯s for fire. Kindra nodded, turned, and formed the sequence of runes in her mind. Like the elemental of her dream, her hand glowed. Flame formed in it and licked out. The mold erupted, spraying some sort of spore into the air. The fire flickered through it, and the green haze ignited with a whump. A breeze pulled at her back. The oxygen sucked from the room, and Sigrid grabbed her hand, pulling her back. Good point. Kindra jogged and then ran after them, pausing near an intersection with the tunnel. The smell of smoke lingered in the air, and mana flowed into her. I can level from mold? That¡¯s cool. ¡°The spores are very dangerous,¡± Sigrid said, gesturing to ensure Kindra understood the words. Kindra nodded. ¡°But they are flammable?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sigrid looked down the intersection. ¡°Why are we coming down here?¡± Kindra peered down the intersecting tunnel. A soft breeze washed over her skin. What are they looking for? ¡°Gems, potential veins, and to kill any eggs,¡± Stavn replied, stretching and walking back toward the smokey room. Kindra followed them down. ¡°Will we collapse this?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll link it to the mines,¡± Sigrid said, her eyes locking onto the walls. She paused and pointed. ¡°Stavn, another copper vein.¡± Running her fingers along the copper, Kindra smiled. ¡°I need some of this.¡± ¡°Copper?¡± Sigrid asked, her brow raised.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Yes. I need some of that.¡± Kindra turned and walked down the tunnel. She peered into the room, studying the ash for signs of life. Spotting an unburnt patch, she studied the glowing mana inside of it. Sigrid¡¯s fingers flickered, and a stream of fire bathed the stone, heating it. The spores burned and didn¡¯t explode. Are we going to suffocate? Kindra frowned and stepped back. The two others did the same, quickly moving back up the tunnels. Kindra followed, her thoughts drifting as they headed to the intersection. Reaching it, they stood there, waiting. She looked at the glowing mana inside Sigrid. It was far more than Stavn, and he had fled the grub. A nervous chill ran through Kindra¡¯s body. ¡°Mom, are you too strong?¡± Sigrid turned and gave her a pained smile. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, Kindra. Don¡¯t worry.¡± I know what that means. Kindra frowned. How do I stop that? They have to be strong, but a good rifle goes far. Maybe I can make a stronger one. She nodded to herself and looked at the two. ¡°Kindra, are you a tinker? You create little devices, like your crossbow?¡± Sigrid gestured to it. Kindra nodded. ¡°I picked that one, yes.¡± Sigrid paused a moment before turning to Stavn. ¡°And the priestess?¡± ¡°Ranger or rogue are possible, but unlikely. Her magical affinity is high. You saw it.¡± He gestured to the smoke below. ¡°She cast that spell without an issue.¡± ¡°So, a forge druid would be ideal,¡± Sigrid said, nodding. She turned to Kindra, pulled out a pick, and scratched a rune into the wall. Kindra studied the rune. That was in the spell she used for the walls, but there were others. ¡°What¡¯s it do?¡± Sigrid turned and smiled. ¡°I guess fire speaks to you easier.¡± She gestured. Runes flashed into view, and stone pulled from the wall, forming a ball in her hand. ¡°It¡¯s the rune for stone. You can use it to manipulate stone, though the proper spells require some others.¡± She paused. ¡°Your fire was similar. It was impressive that you could will it forward like that without having a skill.¡± ¡°Likely a fire affinity,¡± Stavn added. Kindra blushed. Whoops. I just used the runes from the dream. She watched. Runes flared around the stone, and it launched down the passage, hitting the wall with a loud thud. Oh! Kindra nodded. Sigrid turned and etched out seven other runes, scratching them into the wall. ¡°This one controls the stone. These four allow you to control it, and two more are used to shape it.¡± Looking at the stones, Kindra memorized the runes, forming them in her mind. She fed it a tiny bit of mana. A stone formed from the wall, becoming a little ball. Like an extra limb, she felt the connection thrumming. Willing it forward, she launched it down the tunnel. It zipped forward, hitting and bouncing off the rocky ground, rolling to a halt in the cavern below and making something move. Kindra gasped. A strange, snake-like thing moved, sinking itself into the ground. ¡°Well done,¡± Sigrid said, surprise spreading across her face. ¡°You¡¯ll make a wonderful druid.¡± She patted Kindra¡¯s back. Kindra¡¯s focus remained on the strange thing. What is that? She stepped forward, and Stavn passed her, walking down the tunnel. Kindra followed and then stopped as the cavern came into view. Massive mushrooms were shuffling into the cavern, their roots moving like large snakes, slithering and pulling them forward. An underground forest? Glowing runes and magic cast the area around them into a deep glow. ¡°We found it,¡± Stavn whispered. ¡°We don¡¯t know that for certain,¡± Sigrid whispered back, her eyes locked onto the moving trees. ¡°Found what?¡± Kindra whispered, looking over. ¡°An entrance to the underrealm.¡± Sigrid stepped forward. Kindra did the same, peering into the room. The mushrooms slithered into the room and anchored themselves in the stone, driving their roots in and causing water to spray from the ground. A stream began to form, and the mushrooms gathered around it. ¡°Are they dangerous?¡± Kindra asked, studying the strange forest. ¡°Not these,¡± Stavn whispered. ¡°Well, unless you attack them.¡± Moving silently, he walked through them, careful not to step on any. Kindra followed. Does magic let things live down here? She felt a breeze. And are they producing the breeze? She walked past a large mushroom with a trunk the size of a small car. Its roots reached out and sunk into the rotting things on the ground. With eager smiles, the two dwarves made their way through the forest. Kindra followed. Why are they so happy? The two dwarves eagerly moved through the tunnel. Other trees had spread upward. A pile of eggs was covered with them, the roots breaking into and consuming the remains. If there are drow down here, I¡¯m getting the gun. Kindra chuckled to herself and followed them, carefully avoiding the mushrooms. The lights from the fungus lit the place, casting strange shadows. Walking around a corner, she looked at a cavern. Water dripped from the stone ceiling. Stalactites and stalagmites littered the cave, and plants grew on the mineral-rich water. The mana was thick, and plants were breathing it in and out. Staring at a small mushroom glowing with mana, Kindra tapped Sigrid and walked up to it, gesturing. ¡°That¡¯s a magical mushroom, very useful for healing potions,¡± Sigrid said happily. She walked up to it and stopped, gesturing to Kindra. ¡°Gathering it will help you level if it has collected enough mana.¡± ¡°What if it doesn¡¯t have mana?¡± Sigrid shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s still very useful.¡± Kindra walked over and pulled it off the wall, pulling the mana into herself at the same time. The mushroom wilted, and Sigrid took it with a wink. Blushing, Kindra winked back and looked around the room. Moving to anything aglow with mana, she pulled it into herself. [Your mana increased: 1354 ¡ú 1498.] No wonder they said I was weak. She plucked another mushroom from the wall and pulled mana into herself. After harvesting the older ones, she turned and nodded to the two dwarves. They walked down the slopes. ¡°We¡¯ll need to be careful,¡± Stavn said softly. ¡°I should last one more,¡± Sigrid replied, shaking her head. A small flicker of rage spread through Kindra¡¯s chest. No, I¡¯m not letting someone use them like literal livestock. She followed and began working through the runes to break a magical shield. The tunnel forked, and Stavn ran his fingers on the ground, searching for signs of the mushrooms. Locking onto the direction, he took the tunnel to the right. Turning, Kindra did the same, following the two dwarves. Glowing lights in the distance twinkled. Mana swirled around her, and Kindra watched a large, glowing blob move across the ceiling. What is that? A barrage of magic filled the air. Runes cascaded forward, and horror flooded through Kindra¡¯s body. Chapter 26 – The Gardens – Pt 2 Breathe. Kindra forced the panic away. Grabbing her mana, she let her instincts take over. The runes of the shield blazed through her mind like a fire, and she ignited them. Transparent magic met caustic green. The poison sprayed across her shield, coating it in caustic greens and yellows. Stavn shouted and stepped backward. Grabbing Kindra¡¯s hand, Sigrid dragged her back down the tunnel. ¡°We can fight it from a distance.¡± She ran. Kindra joined her, racing up the tunnels and leaving the creature behind. I need to get silencers and earplugs. She felt her shield break and heard the skittering of feet on stone. ¡°Kindra, run ahead. There¡¯s nothing you can do,¡± Stavn said, hefting his axe. Kindra turned. ¡°He¡¯s going to melee it?¡± ¡°Let me seal it off,¡± Sigrid said, scowling at him. ¡°I can take it. If I avoid the webs and poison.¡± He nodded at Sigrid. She groaned. Ah, fuck it. Kindra pulled out the M4 rifle and burned mana. Runes danced around her, and she smelled her blood momentarily. [Basic M4 carbine rifle has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 1 hour. Each shot will negate up to 50 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] Pulling out a magazine, she jacked it into the gun and turned, lining up the shot. The cylindrical, multi-legged insect skittered, dozens of legs blurring as it shot down the tunnel with its cylindrical mouth open wide. A glowing ball of mana formed inside the massive centipede-like creature. ¡°Kindra? What¡ª¡± ¡°Cover your ears!¡± Kindra barked and pulled the trigger, holding it down. The gun roared, the sound ringing around her like a bell. The smell of burning gunpowder filled the air, and the strange centipede¡¯s head exploded, fluid spraying down the hallway. Staggering, Kindra blinked. Well. That¡¯s one way to do it. She detached the mag and refilled it before turning to the two dwarves. Both stared at her. ¡°What in the tarnation was that?¡± Stavn bellowed, rubbing his ear. Kindra stepped forward and felt a connection form with the dead insect. She ripped the mana into herself, letting the torrent crash into her. Rubbing her ears, she frowned at the ringing that remained. I have got to get earplugs. ¡°Kindra, where did you get that?¡± Sigrid asked, moving forward and rubbing her back. ¡°Did you find ruins?¡± Vanishing it away, Kindra grinned at the dwarf. ¡°I made it.¡± ¡°She made it?¡± Stavn shouted, rubbing his ears. ¡°Sorry,¡± Kindra said sympathetically. And get extra ear protection for others. ¡°What?¡± he shouted. Kindra chuckled and turned her attention. ¡°Aika, I¡¯m going to level.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± [Your mana increased: 1498 ¡ú 1739.] [Your mana has decreased: 1739 ¡ú 1619.] ? [Your level has increased: 6 ¡ú 7.] ? [Your intelligence has increased: 10 ¡ú 12.] [Please select four attributes to increase.] Kindra looked at them. Do I go glass cannon? Eh. I¡¯d rather not die to some virus or something. And this will help me not get deafened. [Your speed has increased: 8 ¡ú 10.] ? [Your stamina has increased: 2 ¡ú 4.] [Please select an ability or upgrade: ? - Hearty Strike: You may use mana to augment your next strike or shot, boosting the power of the strike. The boost varies based on mana spent. ? - Resilient Frame: You may use your mana to absorb damage from heat or shrapnel. The shield varies based on mana spent. ? - Transmutation: Reduce the cost of the skill by 20%. ? - Accurate Strike: Use mana to boost the precision of your next swing or shot.] She paused. I¡¯ll just make something with dexterity. She picked the third one. ¡° Aika, what did you get?¡± ¡°I upgraded my suit to give double attributes! Thanks!¡± Stavn turned. ¡°That thing¡¯s loud.¡± He walked down the passage. Sigrid raised a brow. ¡°Level up?¡± ¡°Yes, sorry.¡± Kindra followed her down the tunnel. ¡°That¡¯s fine, dear. You could use them.¡± Sigrid patted her on the back and stepped forward, walking up to the crumpled corpse. Kindra followed and glanced down at it. Wonder what I could use that for? The long insect was over a foot in diameter and over twenty feet in length. Armored plates lined its body, and both the dwarves avoided it.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Doing the same, Kindra avoided the yellow fluid that leaked from it, following the two dwarves down the tunnel and toward a soft glow. It lit the stone, revealing a moisture that clung to the rock. Thick mana hung in the air, and mushrooms came into view. Looking like living lamps, the mushrooms littered the area. Moss blanketed the stone, and a small pond glistened. Surrounding it were some large amphibians. They looked up and dove into the pool, swimming off to somewhere. Turning her focus, Kindra looked at the plants, locking onto the ones that were aglow with magic. She bumped into Sigrid and pointed. Sigrid nodded and studied the room, searching for something. Kindra did the same. What¡¯s she looking for? After a moment, the dwarves stepped forward and pulled out their weapons. Kindra walked alongside, moving into the cavern. Why are they producing light? She studied the surrounding mana. A glowing ball of it moved, bobbing forward and leaving the cavern. Reaching out, she willed her nine millimeter into her hand, slamming a magazine into place and burning mana. [Basic nine millimeter has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 1 hour. Each shot will negate up to 30 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] The glowing ball of mana prowled forward. Is that a cat or something? Kindra aimed at it, and Stavn spun, his axe blurring and sinking into whatever was there. Blood sprayed, and the invisible creature hissed, shooting backward and leaving a trail of blood. It bound into the corner and licked the wound. Kindra aimed and pulled the trigger. The sound bounced around her. The bullet streaked forward, and another spray of blood hit the wall. Taking aim, Kindra exhaled. The creature hissed and ran, bolting into a nearby tunnel. Darn. She checked the mag, and the ground trembled. Stones danced, and her adrenaline spiked. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have used the gun. Kindra bit her lip and searched. The ground quivered, and a grub burst through the wall. It emerged in a shower of stone fragments, engulfing one of the giant mushrooms. The other mushrooms lashed out, stabbing it with roots. Bursts of light flashed, creating a disorienting and nauseating effect. Runes blazed through the air, and Kindra slammed her eyelids shut, willing the counter sequence into her mind. The grub continued thrashing. The ground quaked, and she opened her eyes. With the mushroom inside turning into pulp, the grub engulfed another mushroom and slammed its body into the ground, breaking it and the stabbing roots into pieces. Ripping themselves from the ground, the glowing mushrooms began to flee. Stavn shot across the floor and hacked into the grub, spraying that disgusting fluid everywhere. The grub rolled toward him and threw itself into the air, its massive bulk flying at the dwarf. He dashed backward, a burst of runes surrounding him. Spinning, he swung furiously, and a glowing blob of mana crept into the room. No, I don¡¯t think so. Aiming at it, Kindra watched the creature leap onto the worm. Sinking in claws, it ripped into the grub. Is it trying to steal the kill? Or is it friendly? The grub thrashed, fluid leaking everywhere. The invisible creature ripped into it, and mana streamed into it. No. That¡¯s mine. Kindra pulled the trigger. The gun barked, and the bullet blew through the creature. Blood sprayed out on the wall, and a black feline appeared. It slumped onto the ground. Kindra reached out and grabbed its mana, ripping it into herself before turning to the grub. The grub slammed into the ground and rolled into its tunnel, trying to flee. To her surprise, Stavn let it, backing away instantly. Turning to Sigrid, Kindra gestured. Sigrid leaned close. ¡°Follow,¡± she whispered. The three walked into the grub¡¯s passage, following the trail of fluid that had been left behind. Weaving through the stone, they traveled for ten minutes. Kindra peered into a room and covered her mouth to mute her gasp. Glittering in the soft glow of the grub¡¯s mana, metal and gems decorated the large den. Do those things refine stuff while they go through here? Kindra turned, and Stavn shot by. He attacked the grub in a fury, cutting and hacking it open. Fluid gushed through the room, and he leapt back, moving quickly behind the two. ¡°Go on, Kindra,¡± Stavn said, nudging her forward. ¡°Try to get the mana again.¡± Kindra didn¡¯t wait any longer; she walked inside and ripped it into herself. Well, this is a lot easier. She looked around the room while the small torrent filled her. Where¡¯d the metal and gems come from? She reached down and picked up a sparkling gem of some sort. And what gem is this? The sound of picks hitting stone jerked her focus away from the gem. She turned and saw both dwarves attacking the place, ripping out metal and gems. Pulling out a hammer, Kindra burned mana, shifting it into a pick before doing the same, harvesting copper, steel, gold, silver, and any strongly glowing gems. Each harvested bit went into her cache. I¡¯m going to run out so fast. Maybe I can make a cart. Her cache filled minutes later. Focusing on her design, she walked to a bit of metal and willed it into a cart. Then, she resumed her harvest, filling the cart with the metal and ignoring the glass and gems. Someone else can have them. I need to make things. Piling up the cart, she shoved the heavy thing and blushed as it refused to move. Fine. I need some strength. Sigrid chuckled and walked over with a chain. Chain. Where¡¯d she get that? Kindra spun and saw carts that the two must have made. Sigrid linked them together and joined Stavn at the front. They pulled. Shoving on the back one, Kindra followed them down the tunnel toward the pond. Well, that¡¯ll be a great mining spot, though it¡¯s far away. Rumbling down the tunnel, the three emerged in the grove. Stavn grabbed the cat and tossed it onto the pile. He gestured at the plants and pulled the carts back towards the city. Kindra darted into the room and collected mushrooms, pulling the mana into herself while she worked. Grabbing the last one, she handed it to Sigrid and jogged down the tunnel to catch up with Stavn. [Your mana has increased: 1619 ¡ú 2357.] Kindra¡¯s mouth dropped. Well, that¡¯s utterly absurd. She scurried after the two, catching up and pushing on the heavy cart. ¡°Hey, Aika, how¡¯s it going over there?¡± She shoved and waited. ¡°He¡¯s mining and being boring, but he says to tell them that we found it.¡± ¡°Found it?¡± ¡°Yes. He found it, and he¡¯s way too happy about it.¡± ¡°Found what?¡± ¡°The lost city of the dwarves. I guess it¡¯s their Atlantis or something.¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°Sigrid, Aika says that they found it.¡± Sigrid staggered. She turned with a wide smile. ¡°They found it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Gleon said.¡± A massive smile spread across Sigrid¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful.¡± ¡°Uh oh. Can¡¯t talk now. He woke something up.¡± ¡°Woke what up?¡± Kindra waited, worry spreading through her body. ¡°Aika? Woke up what?¡± Chapter 27 – The Gardens – Pt 3 Aika peered into the gloom. Blood droplets lay on the dusty stone floor. Collapsed walls and houses lined the street, and a mountain of stone entombed all of it, leaving it in dark silence. Scales rippled across the stone, and large yellow eyes turned toward them. A massive forked tongue flickered out into the air. Barbs lined the thing, and a flash of dread shot through Aika. I¡¯m not getting swallowed. Flying backward, she took a position behind Gleon. ¡°Did you really have to wake it up?¡± she hissed. Gleon laughed and slammed his axe into the severed tail. ¡°Aye, I did.¡± He clutched his axe tightly and grinned. ¡°Come on, ye beast! Let¡¯s see who¡¯s the king of the city!¡± he bellowed and charged. Spinning her spear, Aika followed him. The exact opposite of Kindra. She thinks about everything. I don¡¯t think he thinks. The snake lunged, its massive jaws opening wide. Gleon threw himself to the side, and Aika shot backward. Tumbling across the floor, Gleon vaulted up. He grinned, and a massive, bloody tail smashed into him, sending him rolling across the stone floor. Aika shot toward the ceiling of the cavern. ¡°Kindra, can I use some mana?¡± ¡°What did he wake up?¡± Kindra¡¯s voice replied. Aika felt mana surge through her, and she fed it into her suit. ¡°Some snake monster thing.¡± [Living Mechasuit has been augmented to grant +25 to all attributes for 4 hours.] Alright. Gleon pulled himself off the floor. The snake turned, and she dove with her spear outstretched. Like a small missile, she zipped across the room and slashed her spear across a yellow eye. Blood oozed from the eye, and it thrashed, slamming its head upward and launching Aika up to the ceiling. With her wings blurring, she slammed into the stone. A wave of pain came with it. That was a mistake. Every bone in her body felt like it was broken. Falling from the ceiling, she half-fluttered and half-dropped onto the floor, hitting with a heavy thud. I miss Kindra. Coughing, she struggled to get up. Gleon thundered across the stone floor and leapt. His axe slammed into the snake, chopping through scale and spraying blood through the room. The snake punted him with its body, sending him flying into the stone wall. Launching itself forward, it opened its mouth and engulfed the dwarf, swallowing him whole. Crazy dwarf. Aika stood and looked at her spear. I can¡¯t take another hit. It¡¯ll kill me. She frowned and looked at the snake. It slithered toward her, its massive jaws opening and its body moving erratically. Like a television scene, its skin contorted, a massive spike pushing on it. Is he attacking it from the inside? Aika hobbled backward, and Gleon burst from the skin in a shower of blood and gore. ¡°Wha¡¯cha think yer doin?¡± he bellowed at the snake and hacked at it like a tree trunk, his axe spraying blood, meat, and bone everywhere. Aika hobbled backwards. ¡°Oh, and he¡¯s definitely crazy.¡± She sighed. ¡°I miss you and the guns.¡± Moving backward, she watched the snake¡¯s tail flick. It slammed into Gleon, and he hacked at it while sailing through the air. Landing, he chucked his axe, sending it blurring through the room and sinking it into the snake¡¯s open maw. The snake turned and slithered for a hole, leaving a massive trail of blood. Gleon ran forward and grabbed the massive serpent, trying to stop its escape. Hobbling forward, Aika shook her head and watched the snake slowly drag him into the hole. ¡°Come on, Aika!¡± Gleon bellowed. Massaging her ribs, she reinforced them with her mechasuit and walked after the two leaving her behind. The snake sunk into its hole. Gleon grabbed its scales and spread his feet, slamming into the wall and ripping the scales off. ¡°You lost your axe,¡± Aika said with a long sigh. Gleon grunted. ¡°Aye. Cursed beast.¡± He turned, and his fury faded. ¡°Alright there, Aika?¡± ¡°No.¡± Aika shook her head and hobbled over. Gleon walked over and scooped her up, setting her on his shoulder. ¡°My apologies, Aika. Forgot you¡¯re still so young.¡± He turned and walked into the tunnel. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°I¡¯m alright, but I need a rifle. This little body isn¡¯t keeping up.¡± She sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll work on it, but small guns are a challenge.¡± Kindra went quiet. ¡°Be safe over there.¡± ¡°Trying.¡± Aika sat there. ¡°We¡¯re following it?¡± ¡°If it got in, it can get out. We need to know how so we can reclaim the city.¡± Gleon walked down the tunnel, pulling a hammer off his back. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll find what you¡¯re looking for. The city is buried, Gleon.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°We¡¯ll unbury it.¡± Gleon stretched and followed the trail of blood down a smooth, wide tunnel. Aika studied the stone. What made these things? She shrugged and sat on his lumpy shoulder. ¡°How are you not dead? You should be.¡± ¡°You two are very weak. Extremely weak. It doesn¡¯t make sense. You should have been at least level ten by now. Twenty or thirty is far more realistic.¡± He frowned and ducked under a ridge in the tunnel. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You get mana from doing all sorts of things. How do you not have it?¡± Gleon shook his head with a look of confusion. ¡°I told you. We came from a planet without magic. That¡¯s why we don¡¯t have it.¡± ¡°That makes no sense. How would you have gotten here? And don¡¯t tell me you made something to cross realms without it because that¡¯s magic.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Something pulled us here.¡± Gleon grunted. ¡°Do you know what did that?¡± ¡°No idea. Did you see a giant metal thing?¡± Aika asked, turning toward him. ¡°Nope.¡± He paused and looked at her. ¡°And you vow that Kindra wouldn¡¯t hurt us?¡± Aika rolled her eyes. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t. I told you that¡ªwhy do you keep asking?¡± He swallowed and moved further down the tunnel. ¡°I have to be certain. She looks like an undead.¡± Is he lying? Aika frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve said that, but you seem way too nervous, given how weak we are.¡± ¡°Because I know what necromancers become.¡± He grimaced. ¡°And the final step is looking like that.¡± ¡°What do they become?¡± ¡°Monsters.¡± Gleon¡¯s eyes went cold, and he followed the trail of blood. Aika went quiet. ¡°Kindra, how did your hair and eyes change?¡± ¡°I think it happened when Death brought me back, but I don¡¯t know for sure. He¡¯s quiet.¡± Maybe it is that. She jerked and nearly fell off Gleon¡¯s shoulder. Grabbing onto the leather armor, she clung until he had passed another narrow chunk of tunnel. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Gleon said, peering down the stone passage. He hefted the hammer. ¡°Can¡¯t we just leave it?¡± Aika asked. ¡°No. I want my axe back, and I need to explore.¡± Aika sighed. ¡°Fine, but I¡¯m not helping you fight, and I need a healer.¡± She grimaced and massaged her aching ribs. I need a healing skill. Gleon turned a corner, and she looked down the dark tunnel. The smell of blood lingered in the air, and the snake turned and slithered toward them. Blood trickled from its eye. The gaping wound remained on its side, oozing blood all over the floor. I¡¯m not dying here. Aika stood. Gleon picked her up and set her on the floor. Turning back, he charged with a massive burst of speed. The snake pulled back and opened its mouth, revealing large fangs and a gash across its mouth. Lunging, the snake¡¯s head shot forward, and Gleon swung his hammer, smashing it into an exposed tooth. A resonating crack rang through the air, and the tooth shattered. Shards blew into the air, and blood sprayed from the snake¡¯s mouth. The snake reeled, jerking back. Gleon ran forward and slammed his hammer into the snake. Its coiled body flexed, slamming into him and sending a spray of blood through the tunnel. With a furious hiss, it struck with its mouth opening wide. He slammed his hammer into the other tooth. A loud clang echoed down the tunnels, and the tooth cracked. Blood spurted from the snake¡¯s mouth, and it bit down onto the dwarf. The tooth snapped. The mouth warped, and bones snapped. Gleon staggered out a few seconds later, his axe in hand. ¡°I got her!¡± He grinned at Aika and slammed his axe into the snake once more. Aika watched, leaning against the wall. Well, he did kill it, but it was dumb. She sniffed the air and wiggled her armor-covered fingers. The metal felt like an extra skin, a damaged extra skin. She swallowed and looked around the cavern. It formed a domed room that seemed unnaturally smooth; however, no ruined buildings lined the wall. Instead, it was all just stone. Did the dwarves make this? It¡¯s so round. She turned back and saw the grinning dwarf. ¡°Nice throne room, King of the Rubble.¡± She chuckled to herself. Gleon winked and nodded, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°Wait until we find the real one.¡± He stretched, and his wounds began to mend. Reaching down, he picked up Aika and placed her on his shoulder. He walked to a far tunnel, and Aika felt a light breeze. ¡°Probably the way out. Let¡¯s check it to be sure.¡± Gleon turned and walked down the tunnel. Aika leaned back and enjoyed the ride, the feeling of mana from the snake passing into her. ¡°What level should we be, anyways?¡± ¡°Depends who you ask,¡± Gleon said with a note of bitterness. ¡°Most are afraid to level. To them, you should never level or get mana. But even among them, someone her age would have at least ten thousand.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t we get more for killing things?¡± Aika asked. ¡°If they have that much mana, why don¡¯t we get all of it?¡± ¡°Mana¡¯s a little funny that way.¡± Gleon turned, following the breeze. ¡°Your body needs to be able to take it in. That puts a limit on it.¡± He turned toward her. ¡°A lot of it gets lost into the air. The plants absorb it.¡± Aika nodded and sniffed the air. ¡°Is that what you get by working at things?¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Gleon walked down the passage. The metallic scent of blood faded; stone and dust lingered in the air. The tunnels shifted to a more natural appearance, one that hadn¡¯t been made by the dwarves. Gleon sighed. ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± he muttered. He wants it so bad. Aika looked at the stone. ¡°When did you lose the city?¡± Gleon grimaced and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He looked at her. ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°No. Why would I?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re a fairy, the ally of the fae.¡± Aika scrunched up her face and made him translate to pick up the words. ¡°Oh. I¡¯ve never met one of whatever that is.¡± Gleon failed to hide the disappointment. He swallowed, marched forward, and kept his gaze on the tunnel. ¡°Gleon?¡± Aika asked. ¡°I have to believe they¡¯re out there. We need them,¡± Gleon said, turning and following the breeze. ¡°They probably are. I was born recently. Here, in fact.¡± Aika patted his shoulder. ¡°Which makes no sense.¡± Gleon paused. ¡°Sorry. It just doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Aika leaned back, looking down at her aching ribs. Is this how he got his healing skills? Getting hurt over and over? She looked at the glum dwarf. ¡°We¡¯ll free them. You¡¯ll see.¡± She peered into the distance and saw sunlight. A smile spread on her face, and something large moved in front of it. Aw, darn it! Gleon grinned and hefted his weapon. ¡°Oi! This be my domain!¡± he bellowed and charged down the tunnel. Aika groaned. ¡°I need a vacation from Gleon.¡± She braced herself, and the dwarf slammed the weapons into what appeared to be some disgusting ball of slime. The slime thing oozed forward, and he hacked it, spraying the walls with horrible-smelling fluid. Some of the juice hit Aika and burned. Hissing, she scrambled behind his head. Disregarding his clothes and well-being, Gleon hacked off pieces of the slime, painting the walls in the acidic glop. Well, we¡¯re going to need more than a rifle if we have to deal with crap like this. Aika hid, using him as cover. ¡°Hey Kindra, how hard would it be to make a flamethrower or napalm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s doable. It¡¯d be easier with fossil fuel, but I have no idea where to find that. Also, how¡¯d the fight go?¡± ¡°Snake¡¯s dead. We¡¯re fighting some massive block of slime. It¡¯s disgusting and acidic. I think Gleon¡¯s going to be naked by the time it¡¯s dead.¡± Aika wrinkled her nose. ¡°Also, healing is strong.¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hiding behind him. What about you?¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯m hauling my loot into the forge.¡± ¡°Good. Make a flamethrower.¡± Aika sighed and watched the slime spray around her. We need so much gear. Chapter 28 – The Gardens – Pt 4 Kindra shoved on the heavy cart, rolling it forward an inch and hitting the stone doorway of the forge. She stared at the small lip of stone that had blocked the wheel. The small jump in elevation stood there, apathetic to her plight. May as well be a mountain. Looking up, she saw Dain standing in the doorway with a smile. The glow from the forge lit the back of his head, making his red hair glow. He¡¯s built like an oak tree, and that light makes his hair look like it¡¯s on fire. She shoved again and gave him a begging look, smiling nervously. Dain reached forward and grabbed it. ¡°I see you went with the pragmatic approach.¡± He chuckled and pulled it inside. ¡°Interesting choice.¡± Kindra walked inside and looked around the glowing forge. ¡°Why get the gems?¡± ¡°Magical materials will come with innate properties. Sometimes those include the ability to imbue it with an enchantment.¡± Dain gestured at the pile. ¡°The steel is useful. The rest, not so much.¡± Blushing, Kindra looked at her pile. I got a lot of copper. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Copper is a weaker metal.¡± Dain smiled. ¡°But we all have to learn that sometime.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± Kindra bit her lip. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about magical crafting.¡± Dain patted her back. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Kindra. They¡¯re still useful, and you learned some things.¡± He walked to the back door, and she spun, spotting a familiar face in the doorway. Sigrid leaned close and kissed Dain before turning to Kindra. ¡°Help your father for now, sweetie.¡± ¡°Are you getting more?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Why can¡¯t I come?¡± She stepped toward the door. I need more metal. A lot more metal. ¡°It¡¯s safer this way.¡± Sigrid turned and walked away. Kindra sighed. ¡°I can help.¡± Dain chuckled, jogged over to the bloomery, and pumped the bellows. Shutting the door, Kindra followed him. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I go back?¡± she asked, walking over and studying the glowing metal inside. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to help you level and another to force you to fight things like that at your level¡ªyou aren¡¯t even level ten.¡± Dain prodded the entrance, letting air flow and the smoke billow. He shook his head. ¡°Now, what are those contraptions of yours?¡± ¡°Guns.¡± Kindra smiled and gestured at the charcoal, taking a few minutes to learn the words. ¡°You make explosives to launch metal.¡± Dain raised an eyebrow. ¡°Interesting. Can you make more?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra nodded and looked at the bloomery. ¡°If we wanted to improve this village, could we?¡± ¡°No, but we¡¯ll be doing that elsewhere.¡± Dain smiled and gestured to the bellows. Kindra pumped, and he cleared more of the opening. ¡°Hey!¡± Aika exclaimed in her mind. ¡°I recognize this. We¡¯re heading toward the village.¡± ¡°Should I tell them?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ He¡¯s charging some undead now. Talk later.¡± Kindra turned. ¡°Gleon¡¯s outside. Can I see Aika?¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s finish this first.¡± Dain smiled at her. ¡°So, just pump the bellows?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Dain smiled. Boring. Kindra sighed. ¡°Can you tell me about the gems? And magical gear?¡± Dain nodded. ¡°Your class may get a skill related to them if you push. But I can explain some of the simple concepts.¡± He stretched, popping a few of his joints. ¡°All enchantments are temporary, like the ones you create using your Enhance Item skill. However, certain materials can hold the enchantments longer, depending on the item. Some materials can power the enchantment with the magic inside of the object. Gems are particularly useful in this regard.¡± Kindra looked down at her necklace, and Dain nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s an example. Now, certain enchantments cost more or less depending on what they do. Stat increases, increased durability, and things that provide a boost come at a real price. They drain faster.¡± ¡°How long?¡± Kindra pointed at her neck. ¡°That should last you a year.¡± Dain sighed. ¡°It¡¯s low quality to be honest.¡± Kindra pumped the bellows and raised a brow. ¡°The gem?¡± ¡°And the method used.¡± Dain ran his hand through his hair with a grimace. ¡°Ah. Your mana would grow, and you don¡¯t want that.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Dain admitted. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it.¡± He patted her on the back. ¡°Can you make one with just the gem and nothing else?¡± ¡°Yes. How long it lasts varies based on the strength of the gem, the amount of mana used, and the spell you trap inside of it. Adding another material can boost it if it¡¯s the correct one.¡± Dain prodded the bloomery. ¡°Enhance Item provides the spell used to seal it and some basic spells to augment items. Specific enchantments require you to know the spell unless you advance Enhance Item in very specific ways.¡± ¡°So, use Enhance Item to practice?¡± Dain nodded. ¡°And study runes with your mother. If you can make an advanced one, it¡¯ll open other options.¡± Well. That gives me something to work toward. Kindra pumped the bellows and looked toward the descending sun. Shadows stretched through the town. The stone buildings were quiet, and the people were subdued, their postures revealing the despair and depression.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! I¡¯ve got to fix that¡­ Was my dream right? Do they use some magic shield? She looked over at Dain. ¡°Dain, do the necromancers use shield magic?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s an old spell and would stop your gun.¡± Dain sighed. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. They can stop a mountain.¡± Not if you break the shield first. Kindra pumped bellows and carefully brought the runes to mind, slowly working through the counter sequence. Nodding to herself, she pumped the bellows and heard the sound of scuffling feet. Not again. Looking up, she saw Dain move forward. He nudged her. ¡°Take a little break, Kindra.¡± He pointed to the back of the forge. Kindra jumped up and darted to the stone building. She listened and heard the sound of boots, along with some shuffling undead. Dain sighed. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± someone asked. ¡°In the forge, why?¡± ¡°Some undead went missing out in the field.¡± ¡°And? They die out there all the time. You know that.¡± Dain sighed loudly. ¡°Get her.¡± ¡°Kindra?¡± Dain called. Kindra poked her head out. ¡°Dad?¡± She turned and saw the guards, along with two decaying dwarves. The flesh was falling off their bones, showing glowing bones, living reminders of the impending fate that would meet the dwarves. The hair on her back rose. That¡¯s messed up on so many levels. She waved at the guards. ¡°See. She¡¯s here.¡± Dain pumped bellows. ¡°Must be a predator. We all know that many die while defending us.¡± The guard studied Kindra and ignored him. Kindra ignored him in turn, checking the barrels of charcoal. ¡°We¡¯re low, Dad.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll start another batch tomorrow.¡± Kindra nodded and put the lid back on the barrel. She walked over and began cleaning, gathering clumps of scrap. I hope there¡¯s some iron in here. The guards turned and shuffled down the road. Kindra dumped the remnants into a pile and studied them. There¡¯s a lot of silicon in there. There¡¯s always so much silicon. I guess that¡¯ll come in handy later. She pulled out the magnet and tried to filter out anything magnetic, separating them from the rest. I need an identification spell¡ªwait, is that a thing? She jerked up and smiled at Dain. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Dain asked. ¡°How can I learn runes?¡± Kindra asked with a growing smile. ¡°And spells and things?¡± She pointed to the pile. ¡°I need to identify that.¡± Dain shook his head sorrowfully and looked around the area, gesturing her closer. ¡°Only the approved books are allowed,¡± he whispered. Of course, they are. Kindra nodded. I really need to figure out the word for electricity if they even know it. She resumed cleaning, gathering clumps. ¡°Have any spare mana?¡± Aika asked. Kindra let it flow through the connection. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Some of those vulture bird things. He¡¯s making me fight them.¡± ¡°Be safe.¡± Kindra turned and looked at the wall. It has to be to protect them from wildlife. She turned and tapped Dain. ¡°Where do you grow other plants?¡± Dain gestured to the field around the city. ¡°The undead guard it.¡± Nodding, Kindra walked over and peered into the bloomery. The metal glowed. Smoke drifted into the air, and she felt the ground tremble. The vibrations grew, bouncing small pebbles and forcing her to be still. Seriously? Dain sighed. ¡°Rotten grubs.¡± Wait. Is grub the right word? Kindra paused and failed to figure that out. ¡°Will they kill it?¡± ¡°Depends how far away it is.¡± Dain pulled out a glowing chunk of metal, set it on a rock, and gestured Kindra forward. Grabbing the hammer, Kindra knocked away impurities. Dain added a few more lumps and joined her. Each pounded away at the stone. Kindra slowly formed a lumpy block, burning a little mana to remove the last impurities. The ash scattered, and the glowing lump of metal sat there like soft, hot clay. Kindra leaned closer and smiled. That is really cool. To think, that¡¯s what started everything. She looked at the bloomery and over at Dain. Using tongs, he plucked the metal from the rock and walked them into the forge. Shutting and locking the door with an old key, he walked back. ¡°Let¡¯s get home.¡± Kindra nodded and followed him through the city streets. The last of the sunlight lit the air in orange and red. Undead birds circled. Dwarves scurried down the streets, giving sullen greetings and avoiding the guards. Kindra did the same, veering through a few alleys to get to the house. Walking inside, she looked around the small stone structure. Like a city apartment. She scanned the small room. Can¡¯t wait to remodel this city. Dain grabbed a bucket and handed it to her. Grabbing another, he walked out the door. She followed, walking down the stone streets and waving to a few dwarves who turned. They did not wave back. Instead, they whispered and moved quickly down the street. Rotten hair. Kindra plastered a fake smile on her face and walked down the roads, looking at the other dwarves. The fake smile fit. Most looked depressed. Some had similar fake smiles, and a rare real one was found through the groups. A large barracks towered over the other building, creating an easy-to-see marker in the center of the town. Beside it sat a nice home that seemed more ornate. I guess the mayor lives there. Joining a line of dwarves, Kindra waited for the line to the well. We should have used the tunnels. It¡¯d be faster. A dwarf with a large, black beard and bald head walked up. ¡°Oi, Dain. Who¡¯s this?¡± He held out a massive hand. ¡°This is our adopted daughter, Kindra,¡± Dain replied, patting her on the back. Kindra held out her hand, and his large hand engulfed hers, pulling her into a half-hug. The dwarf chuckled. ¡°Such a dainty lass.¡± Kindra blushed. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°You too.¡± The dwarf let her go and joined the line. ¡°And she¡¯s a smith?¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Dain nodded. The dwarf leaned forward. ¡°Did you hear?¡± he whispered. ¡°Hear what?¡± The dwarf looked around the line and stepped closer. ¡°Hear about the supply shortage? We lost four smiths.¡± Kindra watched his hand drum out some inconsistent beat. That¡¯s a code, or I¡¯m a dwarf. She smiled at her inner joke and looked down at her body. Still closer to human than a dwarf. Stepping forward, she looked at the well. Dwarves lowered a bucket and filled their own before walking off, moving past the barracks and a group of guards standing there solemnly. Inching forward, she turned back to Dain. He stretched and handed her the bucket, wiping dust and ash off his clothing. I need a cleaning spell, too. System, where¡¯s my spellbook? [Request logged.] [You have one new request from admin: Kindra. Would you like to view it?] Death, you¡¯re way too clever. Kindra smiled and stepped forward. She took the rope and lowered the bucket. Pulling it back up, she filled her bucket and lowered it down, repeating the process to fill the other bucket. I need to make a pump. She handed a bucket to Dain, took the other, and walked down the stone streets. The sunlight began fading, and everyone began moving rapidly, returning home. Doing the same, Kindra followed Dain up to the door and quickly entered the building. ¡°Dain?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Is there a¡­ a reason people are going so fast?¡± ¡°The undead guards aren¡¯t the brightest. They have been known to attack people.¡± Dain turned. ¡°What word were you looking for?¡± Kindra set the water down near the fire. She began gesturing and got another vocabulary lesson about curfew, undead, the guards, and whatever else Dain thought to squeeze in. Scrubbing off the dirt from the day, Kindra listened and walked to the kitchen, where she helped Dain make supper, chopping various fruits and vegetables. I should have brought meat back, even if it was a rat. Slumping, she helped chop up some strange roots. ¡°No meat?¡± Dain asked. Kindra nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going to try an experiment.¡± Dain reached into a bag and pulled out a piece of fruit glowing with mana. ¡°Normally, no one wants these, so I have to be careful about getting them, but we¡¯ll play it off on your low level.¡± He handed it to her. Kindra looked at the glowing fruit. ¡°This gives mana?¡± ¡°Some, yes.¡± She bit into it, and an explosion of sweetness rippled through her mouth. Swallowing it, she ate rapidly. So, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m a carnivore. I just want mana? She continued eating. Well, that explains the rest of it. Dain chuckled. ¡°And that answers that. It¡¯s good to know.¡± Kindra swallowed the last of it and licked her lips. ¡°Why stay? Why not get stronger and leave?¡± ¡°We will within a year, but we need people here.¡± He looked at the door. Oh! Kindra nodded. ¡°To help?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Dain chopped another vegetable. ¡°But doesn¡¯t that make things challenging when you go to leave?¡± ¡°It does, but it¡¯s worth it. The forest is dangerous, and it¡¯s better to grow up in safety.¡± ¡°Can you hide¡ª¡± The door swung open with a loud thud. Kindra jerked backward, and a little fairy shot across the room with a grin on her face. Chapter 29 – Supply Run Kindra grinned, and Aika flew, fluttering up and stopping in front of her. Aika¡¯s silvery wings flashed as she churned the air. Metal body armor lined every part of her, and a grin spread across her face. Grabbing the little fairy, Kindra pulled her into a soft hug. ¡°Aika. Finally.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve missed you. Also, he¡¯s crazy. Don¡¯t let anyone tell you otherwise.¡± Aika pointed at Gleon. Kindra looked over and saw Gleon standing in the doorway. He scowled at Aika. Kindra turned. ¡°Is there a tunnel in your room?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sigrid nodded and stepped into the room. ¡°How is the progress coming?¡± ¡°It¡¯s linked with the mines, and they¡¯re mining.¡± Gleon smiled. Kindra turned. ¡°Refugees?¡± ¡°Yes. There is a camp underground.¡± Aika leaned closer. ¡°It looks miserable.¡± Gleon looked over and frowned. ¡°What did I tell you about that gibberish, Aika?¡± Aika stuck her tongue out at him and turned back. ¡°They made a tunnel, and I demanded a visit.¡± Dain pulled down another plate and added it to the table. ¡°Gleon, are you sure this time?¡± ¡°Aye. I found one.¡± He paused. ¡°But we had to kill it,¡± he mumbled. Aika giggled, her little fairy laugh tinkling out. Flying up, she perched on Kindra¡¯s shoulder. Kindra took a seat at the table. ¡°And the city?¡± Dain asked, bringing the plate of food to the table. ¡°What state?¡± ¡°It¡¯s wrecked,¡± Aika replied. ¡°Completely buried and broken.¡± Gleon sighed. ¡°Ignore her. She doesn¡¯t realize.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°We¡¯ll need to excavate. If we¡¯re lucky, the libraries, refineries, spellforges, and workshops will remain.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a spellforge?¡± Kindra interrupted. Dain sat next to her. ¡°A forge that specializes in imbuing more magic into an item. That lets you power the enchantment to new heights or add more than one.¡± Kindra nodded and looked across the table. Sigrid took a seat and looked at Gleon. ¡°Are you planning to excavate it?¡± she asked. Her brow raised, and a smile spread across her face. Gleon turned and smiled. ¡°Come now, daughter dear. You love that sort of thing.¡± He paused a moment. ¡°We¡¯ll make it the new base.¡± ¡°Is it defensible?¡± Dain asked, studying the older dwarf. ¡°And how much of that blood is yours?¡± Gleon grinned, dried blood decorating his outfit. ¡°It will be. It will be.¡± Sigrid set plates on the table, pausing to look at Aika. ¡°Umm.¡± ¡°I have one.¡± Aika flew down, landed on the table, and pulled out a little plate. She loaded it up and took a seat on the table. Kindra took a small portion and started eating. The food tasted like ash, and she forced herself to swallow while the two grilled Gleon for the location and proof that it was their long-lost city. Quickly forcing down her meal, Kindra turned to Aika. ¡°Was there metal? I need more metal.¡± ¡°Some, yes.¡± Aika nodded. ¡°But it seemed like rubble to me. Well, except for the one crummy robot.¡± ¡°What about the village we came from?¡± Aika shrugged. Kindra turned. ¡°What happened to that village that was killed?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be undead now. The necromancer will have had them gather things and return,¡± Sigrid said. ¡°What supplies does she need?¡± ¡°Metal and trees,¡± Aika said. Gleon turned and whispered something that she didn¡¯t understand. The three began speaking rapidly, and Kindra struggled to keep up. Are they debating my knowledge? Maybe they¡¯ll finally believe me that I came from a place without magic. Kindra gave up and looked down. Aika was eating; her metallic suit of nanites was shifting like some living skin. That¡¯s wild. ¡°I like your suit.¡± ¡°Thanks. I got a nice upgrade.¡± Aika smiled. ¡°Are we leveling again?¡± ¡°Probably tomorrow morning after I use the mana. I think I need to make guns and ammo.¡± Kindra watched her eat. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Chaotic. Gleon has some healing skill. He says injuries are good for you. They help you get one.¡± Kindra paused. ¡°Makes sense, but sounds terrible.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Aika looked up. ¡°I asked about the ship. He hasn¡¯t heard of anything like that. And he doesn¡¯t know another human on this world, but it¡¯s large. Most of it is wild now.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± Kindra frowned, drumming her fingers on the table. ¡°I wanted to salvage some things.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Aika swallowed another bite and looked up. ¡°Do you think anyone else survived?¡± Kindra blanched. Sorrow flooded through her. ¡°Do you remember how many ships we lost before that voice?¡± she whispered. ¡°I downloaded after we lost six of the eight,¡± Aika whispered. They¡¯re dead. So many dead. Water gathered in Kindra¡¯s eyes. ¡°I think they¡¯re all dead.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re somewhere else?¡± Aika said with a hopeful smile. ¡°Yeah. Maybe. I don¡¯t know what that voice did.¡± Kindra looked over at the whispering trio. Grief danced through her body. What does Earth think? Does anyone even know what happened? She swallowed, and a tiny hand patted her arm. She looked down. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out.¡± ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll see Earth again?¡± Aika smiled. She looked up with her golden eyes blazing. ¡°We have magic now. I know we will.¡± That¡¯s true. We can remake things. Kindra smiled and looked at the trio. ¡°What¡¯s the secret?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just trying to understand things.¡± Sigrid smiled and handed her a book. ¡°Take a look. This will help.¡± Kindra flipped it open, revealing pages with runes on them. Alright. Time to learn basic runes. She turned the pages and looked at the strange symbols. I just need to learn how to read dwarvish, as ludicrous as that sounds. Scanning the symbols, she tried to piece together the meaning. Sighing, she flipped through the pages and looked at the runes, searching for one she recognized. ¡°Is there a language translation spell?¡± Sigrid chuckled and shook her head before going back to her conversation. That just means they don¡¯t know it. Death knows it. Hey, Death! [No. ~Death] Mean. Kindra sighed and shut it. She stood. ¡°Want to show me their secret camp? I need to get supplies.¡± Aika nodded, finished her meal, and landed on Kindra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We can go hunting too.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Kindra grinned.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Wait for Gleon,¡± Sigrid said, turning her focus back to the food. Kindra gestured to the book. ¡°We¡¯ll study that in the morning and evening,¡± Dain said. ¡°Don¡¯t be gone too long.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kindra took her plate to the bucket of water and rinsed it off, setting it on a drying rack. Moving back to the table, she cleared away Gleon¡¯s and followed him into the bedroom. A small panel in the floor had been slid open. Dropping down, he landed with a soft thump. Kindra followed, dropping down and following him through a narrow passage. So, the rebels have tunnels under the city. That makes sense. Did they have them in the one that got annihilated? Moving down the tunnels, she wound here and there. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take me this way the first time, Gleon?¡± ¡°So you could access the city.¡± He turned into a larger tunnel. ¡°Without going through it, you¡¯d have to go unseen.¡± He sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll admit that I hoped to recruit you and keep you in the city. I¡¯m not sure that¡¯ll work out. Sigrid mentioned the problem with your hair and eyes.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kindra admitted. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why the magic failed to hide that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that strong, and those changes were caused by strong magic.¡± He paused and studied her. ¡°Any idea what that was?¡± Kindra shook her head. He turned back and walked down the tunnel. She followed him. Their walk turned into a quick-moving jog. The tunnels blurred around them, and they emerged in a larger cavern. Doors were built into the stone. This is where they are living? A door swung open, and a dwarven woman poked her head out. She stared at Kindra, her gaze shifting to Aika moments later. Her eyes lit with hopefulness, and she turned. Speaking a thousand words a minute, she asked Gleon something. ¡°Aye. It¡¯s a fortuitous sign.¡± Gleon waved and jogged by. Kindra followed him, loping down the tunnel. I need to get better at this language. She moved quickly, jogging down the smooth tunnel and up to a ladder. Gleon didn¡¯t use it. He leapt right out of the tunnel. Well. That¡¯s sort of awesome. Kindra grabbed a rung and scrambled after him, pulling herself out of the passage and emerging in the forest. Birds and bugs chirped around her. The trees towered, and Gleon grinned. He turned and looked at them. ¡°Let¡¯s go visit that cave of yours.¡± Kindra nodded and jogged after him. ¡°Gleon, why not live in the wilds?¡± ¡°We will once we get strong enough, but there is a problem. Family.¡± Gleon jogged around a tree. ¡°We can¡¯t just abandon everyone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± Kindra jogged alongside. Trees blurred around her. The smell of dirt and plants filled the air. Chirping bugs and birds filled the air, and the ambient magic grew. Veering around the trees, she heard the sound of water. And there is the spring. She jogged toward it, and Gleon slowed, pointing toward the water. Kindra¡¯s attention flickered to a large bison-like creature. It lowered its mouth to the water and used its tongue to pull the water in, taking a long drink. She examined the creature, and Gleon charged, shooting across the grounds with a reckless look in his eyes. ¡°See what I mean. He¡¯s crazy.¡± Aika sighed. Kindra pulled out a nine-millimeter and ran after him. The bison jerked up, gave one look at the dwarf, and bolted, racing off into the trees. ¡°Come back here, you coward!¡± Gleon bellowed and leapt, clearing most of the stream and landing with a massive splash. Disregarding his failure, he charged after it. Kindra looked at the stream. I can¡¯t jump that far. She raced forward and launched off a rock, landing midstream and splashing water everywhere. Forging the cold water, she forced herself through the mud and up the bank. Aika giggled and flew by. Kindra followed her, racing through the trees after their escort. Gleon charged across roots, rocks, and dirt. He spewed it behind him, and broke into a tiny clearing. Young trees were fighting to gain the spot. The bison bellowed, and massive talons sunk into it. Gray scaled wings flared, shooting out waves of dust. Kindra froze, her heart thundering in her chest. The massive reptile turned, its yellow eyes locking onto her before turning toward Gleon. He didn¡¯t stop, lifting his axe and charging toward it. ¡°He makes me be the rational one,¡± Aika said, stopping and shaking her head. The wyvern¡¯s tail lashed out, slamming into the Gleon. His axe slammed into the tail. Blood sprayed, and Gleon flew, tumbling backward and slamming into a tree. Kindra swapped guns, pulling out the M4. And here goes another bullet. The wyvern bared its teeth and sunk them into the bison. It bellowed and thrashed, trying to get the massive creature off its back. The wyvern did not care in the slightest, sinking its talons deeper. Blood poured down the bison¡¯s sides. Taking aim, Kindra lined up the shot. The wyvern sunk its jaws into the bison¡¯s back and tore. Bones snapped. The bison went limp, and Kindra felt it. She saw the magic inside the bison. The wyvern reached for it, and Kindra did the same, grabbing and pulling. Like an invisible brawl, a dominating presence slammed into her. Kindra pulled harder and aimed, looking down the barrel of the rifle. The wyvern hissed, and Kindra pulled the trigger. The gun cracked, and the bullet flew, bouncing bounced off the wyvern¡¯s skull. Blood oozed from the wound, and it glared at Kindra, pure rage filling its bloody, yellow eyes. Tugging on the mana, Kindra aimed, and Gleon leapt. He arced high in the air, and the wyvern whipped its head toward him. It opened its mouth, and an axe slammed into its skull. The scales on its face split open, and it screeched, unleashing a horrific scream. Gleon slammed his axe into it again. ¡°Quiet, yeh beastie.¡± He ripped his axe free and hacked into the neck, sending another spray of blood into the forest. The wyvern spun. Its tail slammed into him. The mana from the bison instantly came loose, and Kindra pulled it in, letting it rip into her body like a river of power. The wyvern half-staggered and half-leapt toward her, its massive wings spreading wide. Kindra pulled the trigger. The gun barked, and the bullet hit its head. The wyvern screamed in pain, and an angry dwarf landed on its neck. Swinging like a deranged logger, Gleon hacked away scales, meat, and blood. His axe glowed. His body surged, and the wyvern smashed into the ground with a large crack. Gleon rolled across the ground before pushing himself upright. Blood covered half his body, and he turned, a giddy smile on his face. Kindra felt the connection form. Mana oozed from the blood, and she licked her lips. Gleon stepped toward her, his brow raising. He turned to Aika. ¡°You promise it, Aika? She can help us?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not your enemy, Gleon. I told you that.¡± Aika sighed. ¡°Why bring it up?¡± ¡°I have to be certain.¡± He walked to Kindra and patted her shoulder. ¡°I can see it in your eyes. That hunger. That connection.¡± Aika turned and gasped. Kindra swallowed. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your eyes are glowing.¡± Gleon stopped, his hand resting on his axe. ¡°Promise me that you won¡¯t become one of them.¡± ¡°One of them?¡± ¡°A necromancer.¡± He grimaced. ¡°Even if it¡¯s the best-ranked class. Promise me that you won¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Is the class that bad?¡± Kindra asked. Gleon shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just know that anyone who picks it ends up with them or dead.¡± Okay. Don¡¯t pick that. She paused. ¡°Have you ever heard of the Blood Mage class?¡± He frowned and shook his head. ¡°No¡­ Just be careful, Kindra. If you push to darker paths, the system will not stop you.¡± He sighed and looked at the wyvern. ¡°She¡¯s not turning evil,¡± Aika said sternly. ¡°I told you.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m trusting you both.¡± Gleon gestured. ¡°Get them both, lassie. You need it, and we could use your skills.¡± Walking forward, he picked up the casing. ¡°I need a magic one of these.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Aika said, nodding repeatedly. Kindra reached out and connected to the wyvern. She pulled the mana into herself. A torrent of magic flooded through the air and pounded into her. She gasped, and some leaked out, flowing toward Gleon. Gleon reached down and grabbed the wyvern. ¡°Should make some nice armor.¡± He paused and looked at the bison. ¡°Can you carry it?¡± Kindra looked at it and blinked. Walking over, she grabbed a leg and pulled. Like tugging on a massive log, it did not budge. I¡¯d need to level a dozen times. Gleon chuckled. ¡°Never mind then. Let¡¯s get this back and go from there.¡± Kindra followed him, wading across the creek and attempting to help pull the wyvern back toward their village. After a dozen paces, she gave up and blushed. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. You¡¯ll level soon enough. A little break can help you decide.¡± Gleon dragged it around a tree. I do need to level more¡­ How much mana was that? [Your mana has increased: 2357 ¡ú 3583.] She let out a low whistle. No wonder they said I was weak. ¡°Should I level or save my mana for the morning?¡± ¡°Save it,¡± Gleon replied. ¡°I¡¯ll find some metal and things so you can make more of those.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll need to be enchanted.¡± He smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, but even that can wait. Rangers should be able to boost the shot.¡± He gestured to his axe. ¡°And someday, you¡¯ll make me a better one.¡± Kindra leaned closer and saw little runes that were baked into it. [Level 20 Piercing Axe - Grants the wielder +20 strength and negates 20 stamina on an attack.] ¡°How long will it last?¡± Kindra asked, looking up from it. ¡°It¡¯ll fade in a few decades.¡± Gleon dragged the wyvern around the trees. ¡°I¡¯m hoping to make a suit of armor from this one.¡± ¡°I want armor made from a wyvern,¡± Aika said, a small grin on her face. Gleon snorted. ¡°It¡¯ll lock you on the ground.¡± ¡°Nah. I¡¯m strong.¡± ¡°Liar. You¡¯re weaker than a baby lycat.¡± ¡°Am not.¡± ¡°Are so.¡± Kindra chuckled and followed him back to the camp. Pausing next to a tree, Gleon knocked on it, and the trunk swung open to reveal an older dwarven woman with graying hair. She looked at the trio, blinked repeatedly, and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to know where you found these two or that,¡± she said, looking at Gleon with a sigh. Gleon smiled at her. ¡°We need to get it inside.¡± ¡°Well, start chopping then.¡± She smiled and gestured at it. Gleon groaned. ¡°I was hoping the town could¡ª¡± ¡°Nothing doing, mister,¡± the woman said, scolding him and moving forward, her tan dress swirling around her legs and her ponytail of silvery hair bouncing. ¡°You¡¯re always off gallivanting, ruining armor, and searching for some secret answer. Well, the answer is right there. Work.¡± Turning, she looked at Kindra and recognition spread across her face. Pulling Kindra into a hug, she smiled. ¡°And I finally meet my great-granddaughter.¡± Kindra looked at the older dwarf and smiled. ¡°Your Gleon¡¯s mother?¡± ¡°Your great-grandmother, yes. Just call me Gran.¡± She smiled at Aika. ¡°And you¡¯re fae-touched, a true blessing.¡± She patted Kindra on the back. ¡°Thank you. Can you explain fae-touched?¡± Kindra asked, trying to clarify the words. ¡°They were a race of powerful magic users who aligned with the fairy race.¡± Gran pointed at Aika. ¡°And they still bond with them, regardless of their classes. They¡¯re the fae-touched.¡± ¡°Fae?¡± Kindra probed. What race is that? Pulling out a stick, Gran sketched something that looked like an elf. She drew three others that ended with a human. ¡°Fae.¡± She pointed to the one on the end. ¡°Elf, half-elf, human.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Gran nodded. ¡°They have an ancient affinity for mana. They once were our enemies, ensnaring maidens and tricking all our kind. Then that changed. We made a truce that lasted a long time. Then the necromancers arrived shortly thereafter.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, sweetie.¡± Gran released her and pulled out a knife. She walked over to the wyvern and started butchering. May as well. Kindra walked over and pulled out a knife. ¡°Gran, can you teach me anything about runes and spells?¡± ¡°Ah. Yet another dwarf who wants to be a wizard.¡± Gran sighed loudly into the air. Chapter 30 – Supply Run – Pt 2 Gran ran her blade along the scales of the wyvern. The forest chirped around them, the trees casting everything in shadow. ¡°Druid is more sensible.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a smith, like Dain,¡± Gleon said, shaking his head. ¡°She wants to know enchantments, not follow that fool path.¡± ¡°Fool path?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Aye.¡± Gran nodded. ¡°The class requires you to memorize your spells, writing them in books and things.¡± She sliced through tendons, blood oozing around her. The metallic scent filled the air. ¡°It¡¯s not practical.¡± Kindra knelt and ran her blade along a seam between the scales. She watched the blood spill. It pooled around her like a metallic, crimson stream. Why does it smell so good? She sniffed and swallowed. I already got the mana. ¡°But since it¡¯s for something practical, I can answer. Runes are the language of magic. Your mother will teach them to you, as I did to her,¡± Gran said. ¡°There are core runes. Using a single rune is dangerous. The rune for fire can do so many things. You need the others to tell it what you want it to do.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°And the book teaches you those?¡± ¡°The basics, yes. Beyond that, it gets very complicated.¡± Gran looked up. ¡°Wizards study those, and I advise against them. Rune mastery requires centuries of study, and we lost those books during the war.¡± She sighed and sliced up to the wyvern¡¯s neck. ¡°In short, it¡¯s not worth it even if it¡¯s versatile.¡± Cutting around it, she sliced around its neck and whistled. ¡°Gleon, chop the spine for me.¡± Gleon walked over and raised his axe. Kindra vaulted back, darting behind a tree. He swung, smashing through the vertebrae and sending a small burst of blood spraying across the area. We need a hook. Kindra looked up at the tree. We could drain it. Gleon walked into the house and came back with a metal hook and a barrel. He tossed it over a large branch and drove it into the wyvern¡¯s tail. Grabbing the rope, he began hauling it up, pulling it off the ground. Gran grabbed the rope and aided. The two hoisted the carcass up into the air, tying the rope around a nearby tree. Moving swiftly, Gran placed the barrel underneath, letting the blood flow into it. Looking at the massive carcass, Kindra studied the scales and body. A soft glow emanated from them. There¡¯s still mana in there. Interesting. ¡°Blood?¡± Kindra asked, gesturing at it. ¡°Potions,¡± Gran replied with a smile. She resumed the butchery, removing scales and organs. Several went into the home. Kindra walked up and helped, cutting off a scale and handing it to Gleon. He turned and walked a stack into the house. Kindra reached up and licked the blood from her fingers. The taste of the sweet and fiery mana mingled with the blood. That tastes way too good. She continued slicing, errantly licking her fingers when the dwarves weren¡¯t watching. Aika fluttered up and raised a brow. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It tastes so good.¡± Kindra blushed and turned back to the carcass, cutting off more scales. ¡°So, tell me, little Kindra,¡± Gran said. ¡°How old are you?¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Still fighting with your memory?¡± Gran¡¯s eyes remained locked on the carcass. ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra watched Gleon cut out the heart. He carefully dumped the blood and took it into the house. Do they have a fridge? She considered it and worked away, slowly breaking down the carcass in the late hours. The sounds of the bugs dimmed. An eerie quiet spread across the area, and Kindra looked up to see the black and white geese sitting in branches above. They looked down with greed in their black eyes. Gran looked up, smiled, and let out a low whistle. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, Kindra, we have a few others trying to grow a bit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Will the birds attack?¡± ¡°No, no. They¡¯ll try to steal things.¡± Gleon nodded and smiled. ¡°Aika, time to practice.¡± Aika groaned. ¡°No way. Ranged. Ranged!¡± She fluttered over to Kindra¡¯s shoulder, and a gasp broke the silence. Kindra spun and saw two young dwarves with black hair. They each stared at Aika with wide brown eyes. The girl held her hands out. ¡°Hi,¡± she said softly. ¡°That¡¯s Aika,¡± Gleon called with a chuckle, gesturing at her. ¡°She¡¯s friendly enough.¡± Aika stuck her tongue out at him and waved at the two dwarves. She flew over and smiled at them. ¡°Hello.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The girl grinned and held out her hands. Aika chuckled and landed on them. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Go ahead, Kindra. They¡¯re close enough to get a little,¡± Gran said. Kindra pulled out her crossbow. ¡°Should they do it?¡± ¡°If you wound one, sure,¡± Gleon called. ¡°Over here, kids.¡± He hauled a massive liver into the home. The two kids walked over, looking apprehensively at Kindra. ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s my best friend,¡± Aika said, flying off and landing on Kindra¡¯s head with a grin. Kindra chuckled and aimed at the boldest bird. She pulled the trigger, and the bolt zipped through the air, sinking into the bird¡¯s chest and knocking it off the branch. The bird¡¯s wings flapped wildly, and it hit the ground with a thud. The young dwarf boy ran forward with a small hammer in hand, delivering a quick blow to its head. Kindra pivoted, and the girl held out her hands, nervously looking at Aika with a hopeful smile. Aika flew over and landed on them. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°So we can get strong together.¡± The girl raced her over to the body and stood there. Oh. Kindra watched it flow toward all of them. She inched a little closer to the mana and ratcheted in another bolt. Aiming at another, she exhaled, and the sound of wings greeted her. Several launched off branches. Kindra fired. The bolt zipped into one, sending it tumbling down. The other birds launched off the branches, flying higher into the trees. They¡¯re far more reasonable now. A grunt pulled her attention, and Kindra spun. One of the strange shark pigs sniffed, following the trail of blood. ¡°Shoot that thing before it frenzies,¡± Gleon called, reaching for his axe. Kindra reloaded, aimed for its skull, and pulled the trigger. The bolt zipped through the air and bounced off its thick skull. The hog wobbled, and its eyes turned red. An axe slammed into it, spraying blood across the forest. Gleon dashed forward and examined it. The boy did the same, running forward and delivering a whack with his hammer. Gleon slit its throat and dragged it back towards them. Kindra looked up and saw the birds hiding behind branches. They poked their heads out and dodged back. Well, they aren¡¯t suicidal. Kindra turned and studied the pig. ¡°Dinner?¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Gleon nodded with a smile. He winked. ¡°We¡¯ll sell it in town.¡± Makes sense. Kindra walked over to the young boy. She gestured to the crossbow. ¡°Want to keep watch?¡± He grinned and put his hammer on his belt. He took the crossbow. Kindra placed her makeshift quiver and bolts next to him. She showed him how to load it. Gran walked over and gave a safety lecture. Kindra walked back and started cutting. ¡°Why not make a normal bow?¡± Gleon asked. ¡°Those are easier to aim and give more power.¡± ¡°You really didn¡¯t have it.¡± Gleon looked at her, surprise on his face. KIndra turned back and raised her eyebrow. ¡°With my strength bonus, your bow could never keep up.¡± He has a point. Kindra paused. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that apply to anything you don¡¯t throw?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gleon nodded. ¡°Most rangers compensate by using mana to boost their shots, but when it runs out, they are forced to throw things or come into melee.¡± ¡°But you can make stronger bows.¡± ¡°Yes. You can, but it¡¯s something everyone has to keep in mind.¡± Gleon smiled at her. ¡°It¡¯s important that you know before you push your magic down a path. Right now, it looks like you¡¯ll rely heavily on crafting. Your skills will reflect it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy with that.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Gran said, looking up. ¡°It¡¯s a useful path, and I approve.¡± ¡°Is there a class you don¡¯t approve of?¡± ¡°Several,¡± Gleon muttered. ¡°Don¡¯t get me started, young man. I was worried sick for most of my life!¡± Gran launched into a lecture about his class and fighting style, which apparently ended with a great deal of his blood on the ground. Kindra sliced into the wyvern and chuckled inwardly as he took the lecture in stride, grunting occasionally. The crossbow twanged, and the sound of wings filled the air. Kindra looked up. A bird with a damaged wing crashed into the ground, and the girl ran up with a hammer. Well, they¡¯ll level fast. Kindra watched her proudly hit the bird. The girl turned. ¡°See, Aika!¡± ¡°Yes, I see.¡± Aika chuckled and flew forward. A burst of high-pitched sound ripped through the clearing. Runes danced across Kindra¡¯s mind, and she instinctively slammed the counter into place. Spinning, she pulled out a nine-millimeter and saw the young dwarves drop. Aika followed, hitting the ground hard. A swarm of birds burst through the trees, their cries ripping through the air. Gran spun with a look of fury on her face. A blastwave of sound hit, slamming into her. She staggered, and Kindra pulled the trigger. The gun cracked. The casing flew, and the bullet hit the first bird, blowing through it in a spray of blood, metal, and feathers. Pivoting, Kindra looked at the flock. Okay, you dumb birds. You¡¯re dead! She unloaded, blowing through her clip within five seconds. Black feathers and blood rained down. The birds jerked up and swooped down. Racing forward, Kindra slammed in another cartridge and scooped up Aika. The birds continued screeching, and the scavengers fell, slamming into the ground. Placing Aika into her bag, Kindra burned mana. [Advanced Mechasuit enchanted with lesser magical resistance for 24 hours, granting the wearer +20 magical resistance for 4 hours.] She spun and looked at the swarm. They were everywhere. Darting forward, they ripped into the falling scavengers. Several locked onto her and unleashed their sound. Some dove toward the kids, and panic flashed through her. Shit! Pulling on the runes from her dream, she brought the runes for the fire forward and felt the horrific sound smash into her. Her mind went sluggish, and she slammed the counter sequence back into place, racing to the kids. The birds launched off the ground and sent down another barrage. Kindra picked up the dwarven girl and ran, racing back into the home and placing her on the floor inside. She bolted out the door and opened fire on the descending flock, burning through her clip in seconds. The flock scattered and unleashed another wave of sound. Sprinting to the boy, Kindra picked him up and hauled him inside. Setting him next to the girl, Kindra summoned a replacement clip and swapped them. I¡¯m going to need to go mining. Reaching out, she connected with the dead things and ripped the mana into herself while walking out the door. The flock remained. Several had landed, pecking away at the scavengers, carcasses, and the two dwarves. Stowing the gun for her spear, Kindra blurred it around her head and slammed it into a low-flying bird. The bird smashed into the ground, and a barrage of noise lit the area. Birds dove toward Kindra, and she smiled. Fine. Let us dance. Her spear blurred around her, and she burned most of her mana. [Basic armor has been augmented with enhanced durability, granting +40 stamina to the armor and wielder for one hour.] ? [Basic spear has been augmented with enhanced speed, granting +20 dexterity and speed to the wielder for one hour.] I guess I get to imitate Gleon this time. With a manic grin, she spun her spear and tore into the birds. Chapter 31 – Supply Run – Pt 3 Kindra felt time slow. She vaulted into the air and slammed her spear into a bird, sending it smashing into the ground. A bird extended its talons and slammed into her back. The talons hit the dress and didn¡¯t pierce it. With a growing smile, Kindra spun, using her spear more like a bat. She hit and slashed into the birds, whirring the spear around her like a lethal propeller. The birds blasted her with sound and flew away, landing on the scavengers and the carcasses. Reaching out, Kindra grabbed the mana from anything they killed, ripping it into herself and blurring her spear through the flock. The birds scattered, doing everything they could to avoid her. One landed and pecked Gleon. Its bill bounced off, and it flew off, searching for easier prey. Kindra dashed toward the clump attacking the hog. They scattered, rocketing away at high speed. Little devils. Scowling, she ran over and picked up her crossbow and bolts. Loading a bolt, she aimed and fired. The bird shot upward, and the bolt clipped a few feathers. Sighing, Kindra loaded another bolt, and the birds dove. Dropping the bow, she grabbed the spear. Talons raked across her scalp, scratching into her. With the spear blurring, she slammed it into the birds, slashing feathers and stabbing repeatedly. An irate Aika shot overhead, her spear whistling as she spun. Feathers and blood sprayed around her, and she charged through the birds like a wrecking ball. ¡°Die, yeh beasties!¡± Gleon slurred and bellowed at the same time. He charged and leapt, his axe slamming into the birds and the leaves overhead. Landing with a heavy thud, he leapt again, slamming his axe into a low-flying bird. Kindra watched the flock swarm Aika. ¡°Aika?¡± Blood and feathers rained down. ¡°My suit still has the buffs. Also, I need axes or swords.¡± She burst out of the group and shot toward the ground. The flock followed, and a thousand pebbles shot forward like a shotgun. They rained into the birds, and Kindra turned to see a livid Gran. She stormed forward, the stones dropping birds everywhere. The flock let loose a burst of sound and fled, flying through the trees while Aika shot after them, slashing and stabbing into the fleeing birds. ¡°Be careful, Aika.¡± Kindra looked around the clearing. Birds littered the ground; most were the scavengers. The other birds had ripped them apart, feasting and killing indiscriminately. She pulled mana toward her before turning back toward the dwarves. Gleon scowled, and Gran¡¯s face was red, her eyes alight with anger and worry. Kindra looked at a dead scavenger. ¡°How do these stay alive with things like that around?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t.¡± Gleon massaged his arm. ¡°That¡¯s the nastiest flock of Screamers I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°Where¡¯d they come from?¡± Gran asked, shaking her head. ¡°We can¡¯t have them around our settlement.¡± ¡°That cave with the spring,¡± Aika said, zipping up and landing on Kindra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°They flew in that direction.¡± ¡°Now is the ideal time,¡± Gleon said, turning in that direction. ¡°They¡¯ll be low on mana.¡± ¡°One moment,¡± Gran replied, turning to Kindra. ¡°The children?¡± ¡°Inside. I didn¡¯t want to leave them.¡± Kindra gestured to the cottage built into the tree. ¡°Thank you.¡± Gran smiled and studied her. ¡°How did you resist their magic? I can¡¯t imagine you spent much on resistance.¡± ¡°She¡¯s good at that,¡± Aika said, giggling. Kindra blushed and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. The magic was there, and I just sort of fought it.¡± ¡°Odd. We¡¯ll discuss it later.¡± Gran walked toward her home. ¡°Go ahead, both of you. I¡¯ll clean things here.¡± Pausing by the door, she spun. ¡°End as many as possible. That flock could become a nightmare.¡± ¡°We will.¡± Gleon stretching. Kindra stashed her crossbow and bolts before following Gleon into the forest, walking around the massive trees and moving closer to him. ¡°Aika?¡± Gleon called. She flew over and landed on his shoulder. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Be very careful, and stay close. If they stun you, they will eat you.¡± Gleon scowled. ¡°I¡¯m hoping they¡¯ll be out of mana, but there is a chance they¡¯ll knock me out again. It¡¯s fine if they do, but stay someplace safe.¡± Aika nodded. ¡°I will.¡± Kindra jogged up to him, her focus shifting to the nearby trees. The sounds of the bugs and birds returned, leaving the trio with nothing but their thoughts. The distant sound of water reached her ears, and she looked over at the eager dwarf. ¡°So, what relics are you after?¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Many things,¡± Gleon said with a gleam in his eyes. ¡°There was a time when our forges ran hot, making the most amazing magical things. The fae would come to purchase things. Humans and elves held us in the highest regard. When the war began, we held our own and aided them¡­ Then it all went to shit.¡± He sighed loudly. ¡°How long ago was that?¡± He shrugged. ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°How do you know that, then?¡± Kindra asked. Gleon turned. ¡°Ruins and records. You¡¯ll see.¡± Kindra jogged along the cliffs. The breeze fluttered through the trees, and the bugs chirped up a storm of noise. She turned back to Gleon. ¡°How dangerous are the things here?¡± Gleon shrugged. ¡°Hard to tell. You¡¯ll know if they¡¯re too strong; they¡¯ll come for you.¡± That¡¯s not comforting. Kindra vaulted off a large root and landed on a boulder. She jumped down and continued forward, the three moving in relative silence. Jogging toward the waterfall, she saw a small group of short, deer-like creatures. They turned and bound away, sprinting into the forest at high speed. Gleon ignored them and looked up. He opened his bag and pulled out a grappling hook and rope. ¡°Aika, if you could speed this along?¡± Aika grabbed it and zipped upward, embedding it into the stone above. Grabbing hold, Gleon scaled upward using the rope and the cliff face. Grabbing onto a ledge, he looked down and nodded. Kindra followed, scaling up the cliff. The strength really does make this easier. Scrambling up the dark wall, she quickly made her way up before repeating the process a half-dozen times. Grabbing a hand-hold next to the waterfall, Kindra pulled, and Gleon walked into the cave, wading through the chilly water. A deluge of sound blasted by, and he clapped his hands over his ears. Aika dove into Kindra¡¯s bag, and Kindra fixated on the runes, pulling herself up and wading into the water. Moving down the hall, she looked out into the gray cave. Birds lined their nests, squawking furiously. Holding his hands to his ears, Gleon grunted and staggered toward the beach, sitting beside the wall. With her spear in hand, Kindra moved next to him and studied the birds. A massive one poked its head out, its body aglow with mana. Its eyes turned red, and it unleashed a booming noise. Shrugging it off, Kindra glared at it. ¡°Come on. Try me.¡± The bird dove. Large talons extended, and Kindra snapped her spear upward. Fool bird. Its wings thrashed as realization spread on the bird¡¯s face. Slamming her spear forward, she cut deep into its chest. Red blood flowed, and it churned the air, slamming into a wall. Stabbing repeatedly, Kindra cut holes into it, and the swarm of birds hit. Talons raked across her dress and head. Beaks pecked, and she slammed her spear into the creatures, knocking them into the wall and cutting into their flesh. Pain flickered through her body. Kindra looked down to see a talon sticking in her arm. This spear won¡¯t work. Hissing, she jerked away and willed the spear away. Pulling out two knives, she burned mana. [Simple knives (x2) have been enchanted with armor penetration. Attacks will bypass 20 stamina. Lasts 4 hours.] Spinning the blades, she slashed into the swarm, cutting off wings, feet, and heads. Blood sprayed around her. Biting into one of the living birds, she drank it, letting the metallic taste pour inside. With her blades lashing out in a fury of strikes, she slashed into the flock, and Gleon bellowed. He launched onto his feet and began grabbing the birds out of the air, slamming them into the wall. Blood and feathers rained around them. Kindra bared her teeth and bit another, ripping into its throat and draining away its mana. Her wounds slowly started to close. [Innate Racial Skill Unlocked: Lesser Vampirism - Some species are evolved to harvest mana from their kills. Some took it further, using their life to supplement their own.] I¡¯m a vampire? Kindra swallowed blood and knew the answer as the taste lingered in her mouth. She dropped the bird and continued slashing, cutting down the surrounding birds. As suddenly as it started, the fight ended. The last few birds gave up and fled, flying out the door. Aika shot after them, stabbing furiously. Kindra took a deep breath. She could feel the mana around her. It sat like ripe fruit on the trees. Reaching out, she pulled. [Your mana has increased: 3583 ¡ú 3690.] I should level up. She willed one hundred and forty mana away. [Your mana has decreased: 3690 ¡ú 3550.] [Your level has increased: 6 ¡ú 7.] ? [Your intelligence has increased: 12 ¡ú 14.] [Please select four attributes to increase.] Kindra looked at them and the wounds on her body. Forget it. I¡¯m tired of getting eaten. She dumped it all into stamina. [Your stamina has increased: 4 ¡ú 8.] [Please select an ability: ? - Hearty Swing: You may use mana to augment your next strike, boosting your strength during the swing. The boost varies based on mana spent. ? - Resilient Frame: You may use your mana to absorb damage from heat or shrapnel. The shield varies based on mana spent. ? - Eyes of the Smith: Use your mana to better see flaws in the metal and how to best fix them. Costs 1 mana for 10 minutes. ? - Scavenger¡¯s Sight: Use your mana to find potential resources for crafting. Costs 1 mana for 10 minutes.] Kindra picked the last one instantly. Oh, I need that. I need that a lot. She looked at the birds and back at Gleon. ¡°Do we leave them?¡± ¡°Unless you want to do something with them.¡± Gleon nodded. Kindra looked at her absurd mana pool. I can spare a little. She burned a little mana to make a dozen more bolts. I need to find metal first. Gathering them, she placed them in her quiver and nodded. Aika flew down. ¡°There are eggs up there.¡± ¡°Free food,¡± Gleon said with a grin. He scrambled forward and started raiding the nests. Kindra did the same, scaling up rocks and picking up the eggs. She placed them in her bag. I¡¯m going to break all of these. With a shrug, she gathered them and triggered Scavenger¡¯s Sight. Like looking at some strange augmented reality, text popped up, quickly revealing the sedimentary rock that lined the place. She searched for anything with iron and failed to find it. Darn. Walking along the cliffs, she paused, and text appeared in her vision. [You have entered a concentrated mana zone. Please be aware that entities may manifest from the mana.] Gleon turned. ¡°You didn¡¯t mention this, little Aika.¡± He grinned and rubbed his hands together. ¡°Let¡¯s clear her out.¡± Kindra chuckled, and Aika groaned. Aika sighed at him. ¡°Every time you say that, we end up almost dead.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re still alive.¡± Gleon turned and headed for the crack at the end of the cave. Alright, my first dungeon! Kindra darted after him. Chapter 32 – Supply Run – Pt 4 Jogging to the crack in the cavern''s wall, Kindra followed Gleon inside. The mana hung thick in the air. She waved her arm through it and tried to will it into herself. The mana swirled around her but didn¡¯t surge inward. Darn. Moving down the passage, Kindra looked down at the stream. It burbled along the rocks, and the passage got smaller. I am not swimming through some underground stream without a scuba suit. She ducked through a small tunnel, barely avoiding a plunge. Gleon embraced it, wading through the water without a care in the world. Walking out the other side, he shook himself off, sending droplets raining everywhere. ¡°Nice skill,¡± Aika said, a smirk on her face. ¡°Get down here, you little devil,¡± Gleon yelled, splashing water at her. Aika shot upward, and Kindra emerged, cold water dripping off her. She scrambled out and tried to mimic Gleon, failing to shake the water off. It dripped around her, and she followed down another passage. This is not like the video games. She wiped water and followed a ledge above the stream. Gleon did the same, avoiding the stream below, moving along ledges and outcroppings. Stepping lightly through a puddle of muddy water, Kindra peered into the cave. I thought there¡¯d be more monsters and more loot. This dungeon¡¯s a real downer. She followed him, and the tunnel narrowed, leaving two tunnels: one with the stream and another small tunnel with a breeze blowing through it. I¡¯m not swimming. She let out a breath and followed him into the breezy tunnel. Walking into it, Kindra hunched over and was forced lower and lower. Eventually, she crawled, bumping along the stones with increased gratitude for the stamina boost. Aika zipped ahead, and Kindra followed the dwarf in front of her. He wriggled through a tight spot and burst into a small tunnel. Kindra wriggled through and looked at the tunnel. Stone pillars and pick marks lined the walls. ¡°An old mine then,¡± Gleon said, sniffing the air and holding up his finger. ¡°The breeze is that way.¡± Kindra pointed down the tunnel. ¡°Yes, but there¡¯s something.¡± Gleon sniffed again. Kindra did the same, smelling stone and water. I don¡¯t smell anything¡ªcan you improve that? She looked over, and he walked down the tunnel. She followed. The air grew stale. The mana clung to the walls, and she ran into what was once an old cart. Now, it was lost to time. The wood was gone, a pile of dirt next to corroded axles and wheels. I could use that for bullets. Walking up to it, she tapped it and flooded mana into it, turning it into a lump of rusty mess. Stashing it, she continued down the passage, following Gleon. The tunnel narrowed and tapered off entirely. Kindra used Scavenger¡¯s Sight and peered at the wall. Any iron? A soft green glow shone from the wall. She walked over to the iron ore they¡¯d been following. ¡°There¡¯s iron ore.¡± Gleon nodded. ¡°Aye, and nothing else. Come on, now.¡± He turned and walked away, leaving the room. Kindra spun and followed, walking back to where they¡¯d entered. A strange smell lingered in the air. The hair on her back stood, and she felt something stir. The mana itself shifted, pulling and knitting together like some strange loom. Strands of it wove together, and Gleon gasped. A dwarf made of pure mana stood there. His eyes glowed, and he opened his mouth. A stream of magic poured out. Icy air flooded the hallway, and Kindra¡¯s instincts took over. She grabbed her mana, formed the runes for a shield, and flooded the spell. The shimmering barrier snapped into place, and the magic crashed into it, coating it with ice and frost. The glowing, ghostly dwarf dashed forward, conjuring a blade of mana. He slammed it into the shield, and her magic shattered, turning into ribbons of light. Ice and frost swirled through the air, sending a shiver down Kindra¡¯s spine. Pulling out her crossbow, she stepped back, and Gleon charged, slamming his axe into the figure. Streams of magic leaked out, carried on a blast of icy air. The phantasm slammed its blade into Gleon¡¯s axe and kicked out with a foot, catching him in the stomach and sending him lurching backward. Kindra fired, sending the loaded bolt zipping through the apparition. It didn¡¯t seem to care a bit. No mana leaked out, and it charged Gleon with frost billowing around it. How do I hurt it? Kindra scowled and reloaded. The apparition slammed into Gleon, its blade slicing deep into him. Blood poured from his side, and Aika¡¯s spear blurred, slashing into it repeatedly. The tiniest bit of mana leaked out. Stowing the crossbow, Kindra dashed forward, pulling out the spear and stabbing it in the back. Mana wafted around her. The apparition turned, and icy magic licked around it. Lurching away, she felt the cold. It pushed into her, ripping away the heat and her strength. No. No. Shivering, she slammed counter runes into place, and the apparition charged. Impaling itself on her spear, it brought the blade down, and she dove, rolling to the side as the icy blade nicked her side. Icy agony rippled through her. Kindra gasped, and an axe slammed into the phantasm, hacking away a massive piece of mana. Howling, the apparition spun toward the enraged Gleon. He slammed his axe into it again.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Looking down, Kindra felt blood oozing from her side. How do you fight that thing? She forced herself to her feet, and Aika zipped back in, hacking and slashing at the apparition. Gleon spat a mouthful of blood and slammed his axe into it, carving off a massive piece. Raising her spear, Kindra brought it down, severing an arm. The arm disintegrated, unraveling as it fell. Like ribbons of light, Kindra saw a stream of runes. They danced along the skin as they faded. The creature hissed, spun, and an axe took off its head. Mana burst through the room like a small explosion. It flooded through her, the walls, and everything. Kindra blinked away the dazzling display and looked down at her bloody side. Shit. She searched for a bandage while the adrenaline faded, leaving pain. Cold, aching pain that spread through her bones. Gleon groaned and slumped against the wall. Kindra did the same, dropping to the ground. Her heart thundered in her chest. The smell of blood lingered in the air, and she felt warm blood pouring down her side. This was a bad idea. She looked at the stone ceiling and clenched her teeth. ¡°Take this to her,¡± Gleon muttered. Aika zipped up with a small vial in her hands. She held it out, pushing it against Kindra¡¯s lips. Reaching up, Kindra forced herself to drink it, swallowing back the strange fluid. Tasting like a dose of spicy unknown fruit, the liquid flowed into her and surged, sending warm pulses of energy through her body. The flowing blood stopped. Her flesh mended itself together, and text appeared. [Healing Exhaustion: 11%. - All magical healing applied to you will be reduced by 11%.] That¡¯s a thing? She stared at the text. [Yes. Healing capacity scales based on stamina.] Huh. Well, add that to the tutorial too. [This information has been added.] Kindra willed it away and looked at her side. Blood covered it, but the pain had faded. She poked the new skin with her finger. I should get some more stamina. ¡°Gotta teach her to make those potions,¡± Gleon muttered and stood. He groaned. ¡°Rotten magic spawn. They¡¯re the worst.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the loot?¡± Kindra frowned and didn¡¯t see anything left behind. She willed her mana up. [Mana: 3550.] I didn¡¯t get mana? Boo! Terrible game! [You don¡¯t get mana from such creations until you leave the place.] What other rules should I know about? [Items can form, but they are rare. You can find magically imbued items in such places. Magic may also test you to see growth.] Kindra cleared the message away, and a muscular hand reached down. She reached out and took it. Gleon pulled her up and frowned. ¡°Be careful of those. They¡¯re very dangerous.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Kindra wiped the blood from her hands and looked at her dress. Reaching down, she used a slight amount of mana and Transmutation to mend it before jogging up to Gleon. We need a better way to fight those. Maybe enchanted gear works better. I need to get some of that. She followed Gleon. The tunnel slowly wound upward and opened into a large cavern filled with pillars. The sound of feet on stone filled the air, and Kindra¡¯s heart sank. Canine-sized rats turned, their beady white eyes focusing on the group. Their mouths opened, revealing massive teeth. You have got to be kidding me. Kindra stepped away from the pack of mutated, enlarged rats. I need a machine gun. One of them squealed and dashed forward, its massive body moving with surprising speed. The rest of the rats followed. Dozens of them poured out of tunnels, a small waterfall of ragged fur, fangs, teeth, and tails. Kindra hefted her spear, taking another step back. Gleon bellowed and sprinted forward. Aika joined him, buzzing by with a look of glee. ¡°You¡¯re as bad as he is!¡± Kindra took another step back. ¡°They¡¯re on the ground and helpless!¡± Aika stabbed one, ripping her spear into it. ¡°Make a wall if you need to.¡± Willing her spear away, Kindra pulled out the crossbow and loaded it. At least this will work. Ratcheting back a bolt, she looked out and saw the carnage. Gleon was blurring through the horde like a weed whacker. Blood and guts sprayed around the stone room, decorating it in gore. The smell of blood filled the room, and the rats swarmed, engulfing Gleon in a small sea of fur and gore. The sea frothed and turned bloody, bits of meat, fur, and bones spraying from it. This is disgusting. Kindra lowered the crossbow, not knowing where to aim. She watched rats bite and claw at the dwarf. Gleon did not care; he spun and cleaved, hacking the rats to pieces. Aika zipped around, stabbing wildly. ¡°You do this every time!¡± she chided him. Gleon laughed. ¡°Only way to feel alive.¡± He punted a rat into the stone wall. Bones cracked, and the rat dropped. Absurd stamina. Kindra stepped back, and a rat turned toward her. She fired, sinking the bolt into it. Loading another, she watched the carnage. The two painted the cavern in blood, the smell hanging thick in the air. This would look even worse if I could see the color in here. As the last rat slammed into the wall, Kindra stepped forward, her focus shifting between the rats. A few twitched. Connections for to several, and her mouth watered. That¡¯s going to get old. She looked at the blood-covered dwarf. Would he care if I took it? Gleon grinned and shook, spraying blood across the room. ¡°Disgusting,¡± Aika said, flying high above. ¡°How much of that blood is yours?¡± Kindra asked. He shrugged and wiped the gore from his face. ¡°Dunno, but it shouldn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°How do you not get sick?¡± Kindra asked, stepping forward. ¡°Stamina. Stamina and strength are my two stats. I have a little in the others, of course. Gotta keep some balance.¡± Gleon grinned and picked up a rat. He tossed it to her. ¡°Eat it. Heal. Take the mana.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want it?¡± Kindra asked, looking down at the rat. ¡°Yes, but I need you alive.¡± Gleon grinned and looked at Aika. ¡°She¡¯s the ticket to our freedom, and I¡¯m taking it. That means you need to level.¡± ¡°I already told you,¡± Aika said, rolling her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to contact the fae.¡± ¡°Yet. You don¡¯t know yet.¡± Gleon chuckled and walked around the messy chamber. ¡°Key to their future?¡± Kindra probed. ¡°Yes. The fae had the strongest mages. He wants them back here.¡± Aika flew down. Kindra reached out and pulled. The mana poured into her like a river. She gasped and leaned against the wall, watching Gleon search for anything interesting. [Your mana has increased: 3550 ¡ú 3761.] Taking a deep breath, Kindra turned to Gleon. ¡°How strong are you?¡± ¡°Ah. That question, finally.¡± Gleon smiled. ¡°Some consider it rude, but we¡¯re family. I¡¯m over two hundred now, two hundred and forty-one to be exact.¡± ¡°How do you get hurt at all?¡± Kindra asked with wide eyes. ¡°It takes a lot of stamina to stop everything, everything. But the birds and rats? Nah.¡± Gleon stopped in front of a mine shaft. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°One second.¡± Kindra walked up to a rat and burned mana, creating several leather pouches, bags, and quivers. She picked one up. [Common leather bag.] I need to figure out the magic version. She smiled and stashed them, jogging over to Gleon and following him into another mine shaft. Chapter 33 – Supply Run – Pt 5 The trio walked along the tunnel. Pockmarks lined the walls, and Kindra grew bored. They walked and walked, eventually stumbling on a single item at the end of the tunnel. Kindra kicked at the extremely rusty pick axe. Reaching down, she burned a little mana to turn it into a brick and stashed it. I¡¯ll have to toss it into the bloomery later. She spun and followed the group, jogging out of the tunnel. ¡°Was hoping for a vein,¡± Gleon muttered. ¡°It seems anticlimactic.¡± Kindra sighed and studied the boring stone, walking back toward the smell of blood and bone. The rats were lying there. Veering down another mining path, they repeated the process over and over, waves of boredom slowly eating at Kindra. Leaving the last tunnel, Kindra sighed. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. Maybe in the future.¡± Gleon turned, and the ground quivered like an autumn leaf. Kindra froze. She stared at her feet. Do not let some slug burst through the ground. Gleon leapt forward, landing with a massive thud. Moving further down, he drummed his feet against the ground, and it shook. The walls trembled, the ground exploded, and a massive grub swallowed Gleon, engulfing him entirely. I hate those things. Kindra frowned, conjured her spear, and charged. The grub flailed, slamming into the ground. Gleon did the same, making the grub jiggle furiously. Aika zipped up and stabbed into the grub, cutting lines into it. Trying to do the same, Kindra slashed her spear through it. Stone chips rattled. The grub slammed into the ground, bashing Gleon with stone and its body. Its skin poked outward. Kindra stabbed and stepped back, looking at the strange protrusion of skin. It poked out further and further. She dodged away, the grub slamming itself into the wall. Gleon burst out of it in an explosion of goo. He laughed and chopped, acid dripping from his body and burning holes in his armor. This guy is nuts. Kindra stared, and he hacked it open, spraying guts and yellow fluid everywhere. Grabbing the body, he pulled it away and shook himself, sending the fluid flying around him. Ew. Kindra wrinkled her nose and sniffed. The tang of acid filled the room. Gleon grinned. ¡°That¡¯s where our stuff is.¡± He happily turned and peered into the hole. Aika zipped down it. ¡°It levels out.¡± He leapt, jumping into it without a second thought. Kindra walked forward and looked down into the gloom. I¡¯m not jumping into that. Aika fluttered up and giggled. ¡°Told you.¡± A grappling hook shot upward, catching the ledge. ¡°Come on down,¡± Gleon shouted, his voice bouncing around the tunnel. Kindra grabbed onto the rope and lowered herself down, landing lightly at the bottom and peering into the gloom. Gleon stood there with a massive grin. He beckoned her over. Darting down the tunnel, Kindra raced into a large chamber and froze. Metal and gems lined the walls, floor, and ceiling. Mana glowed throughout all of it. Dozens of large, larval eggs sat in a corner of the room. ¡°Break ¡®em. I¡¯m gonna mine for a bit.¡± Gleon grinned and pulled out his hammer along with a long spike. Kindra held up her spear and walked to the eggs. She swung, and the spear bounced off the rubbery shell. Rotten things! Dismissing the spear, she pulled out the crossbow, loaded a bolt, and pulled the trigger. The bolt blew through the egg in a spray of fluid. The fluid oozed out of the egg, and the larva writhed before slumping over. Pulling the mana into herself, Kindra loaded another bolt and repeated the process, slowly working through the eggs, killing them dispassionately. Jerking mana into herself, she walked forward and looked at the metal in the cavern. I need some of this. Harvesting the last one, she spun and looked over at Gleon. He was smashing gems from the wall. Kindra smiled and triggered her skill. She studied the glowing colors and walked up to the wall. Placing her hand on the wall, she created a pickaxe and triggered Enhance Item. [Basic Pickaxe ¨C This pickaxe lacks magical properties.] Kindra frowned. That spell isn¡¯t as good as I thought. She used Enhance Item. [Level 8 Durable Pickaxe augmented to grant +20 strength for 6 hours.] Slamming it into the wall, she broke out gems and metals, stashing them into her storage. Gleon whistled. ¡°Kindra, toss me some of those bags.¡± ¡°Okay, but I need them to organize things.¡± Kindra turned and pulled them out, tossing them over to him. I should have made an outfit, too¡­ I¡¯ll do that next time. She turned back to the wall, ripping the iron free and stashing it. ¡°Gleon, why do they do this?¡± she asked, smashing the pick into the wall. ¡°They consume things and spit them back up if they can¡¯t use it,¡± Gleon called. ¡°Come here and stash some things for me.¡± Kindra stashed the last of the iron and spun. She looked at the massive pile of metal he¡¯d strewn on the floor. He gestured at it. ¡°Can you stash it?¡± She gathered and stashed metals. He picked out any gems, filling all the bags with glowing gems. Her stash filled, and she turned. ¡°I¡¯m out of space.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°We¡¯ll come back, eh, Aika?¡± Gleon said with a grin, strapping bags to himself. Kindra chuckled, paused, and burned more mana to rip iron and carbon from the wall. She willed it into a pair of swords for Aika and added two for herself. Turning, she handed the little swords to Aika and walked to the rope. ¡°Are we leaving?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll check things up there and come back.¡± Gleon grabbed the rope and hauled himself out of the pit. Kindra waited. As he cleared the top, she grabbed on the rope and was jerked upward. Gleon pulled her out and set her to the side. Wrapping up his rope, he turned and headed for the exit. Kindra followed him, jogging down the tunnel and entering the large junction. A small group of pigs jerked their heads up, rats dangling from their mouths. One bit down with a loud crunch, snapping through bones. How did they even get here? Kindra reached for her crossbow, and Gleon charged with his axe held high. Every time? Kindra pulled out the crossbow. She loaded, and the pigs bolted, fleeing the dwarf that was hacking away at the closest. Blood sprayed. The pig dropped, and Gleon bolted after them. Chasing the group up the tunnels, Kindra shook her head. Well, I guess they were on the weaker side. She looped around the sloping tunnels and burst onto the surface. Ruins surrounded her, and mana lay thick in the air. The surrounding area was as dark as the cave. Must be night time. The hogs raced into the trees, and a strange presence filled the air. Like the feel of an impending thunderstorm, energy crackled across her skin. Her hair stood on end, and four large golem-like creatures stepped forward, their metal feet slamming onto the ground. Oh. Hell no. Kindra turned and ran, chasing after Gleon and the hogs. Bounding across stone rubble and large roots, she zipped into the forest with the golems on her heels. ¡°Gleon!¡± Aika shouted. ¡°Golems.¡± Gleon grimaced. ¡°We can¡¯t fight four of them.¡± He continued running, periodically looking behind him. The sound of their thundering footsteps grew louder. It beat like Kindra¡¯s surging heart. I am running out of time. Gleon spun and launched himself at them. ¡°Go!¡± he bellowed. Kindra raced forward, leaping onto a root and looking back. A robot smacked Gleon like a ragdoll, sending him crashing into a wall. Pain grabbed Kindra by the throat. No. I¡¯m not losing more people. She reached into her dimension and pulled out her M4. She burned mana, letting it cascade into the gun. Her vision dimmed. Her heart roared, and text appeared. [Basic M4 carbine rifle has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 1 hour. Each shot will negate up to 100 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] Blinking her vision back, she rested the gun against a root and exhaled. The golems surged after Gleon. One raised a fist. With her heart thundering in her ears, Kindra pulled the trigger. A booming crack ripped through the air, and the bullet blew through the golem¡¯s head, sending steel fragments flying everywhere. Pivoting, Kindra aimed, and all the remaining golems turned. They thundered toward her, and she pulled the trigger. The bullet blew out of the gun, blasting through the lead golem¡¯s head and dropping it to the ground. The others stormed forward, their feet spewing dirt behind them. Kindra pulled the trigger. The bullet cracked across the gap, ripping into the golem¡¯s chest with the sound of screeching metal. The shell flew, slamming into stone with a loud ting. Aiming at the final one, a furious dwarf slammed his hammer into it, smashing the head open. The golem dropped like a rusty piece of metal. Exhaling, Kindra felt the roar of her heartbeat. Her vision was blurry, and dizziness spread through her body like a wave. She exhaled, leaning against the tree. Did we win? ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika asked, a look of concern on her face. Kindra blinked and looked at her friend. ¡°Blood,¡± she whispered, and Aika flew off, shouting at Gleon. The dwarf nodded and jogged toward the tunnel. Kindra exhaled. I should get the shells. Reaching for one, she tipped over, landing on her side. Okay. Too much. She sat there, hoping it would pass. The sound of a snuffling hog pulled her attention. Looking over, she saw a bold member of the group walking toward her. She sighed. ¡°Just leave me alone. Okay?¡± The hog ignored her, walking forward. A little fairy shot forward. Her spear flickered and stabbed right into the hog¡¯s eyeball. It went nuts, kicking, squealing, and biting wildly. Aika zipped around it, stabbing its belly and sides. Blood oozed from the wounds, and it bound toward Kindra. Is this how I die? Kindra jerked the gun up. The hog opened its tooth-filled mouth, and a hammer smashed into it. Blood sprayed. Bone cracked, and the pig dropped. Gleon strode forward, dragging a hog behind him. Tossing it to Kindra, he nodded. ¡°Do it.¡± Kindra sunk her teeth into it and drank, pulling both blood and mana into her system. A surge of energy came with it. It coursed through her, and the headache dimmed slightly. Death, did you do this? She swallowed another mouthful and let the energy build. Gleon reached down and gently pulled her up before picking up the casings and studying them. ¡°I need one of those.¡± Kindra wobbled, willed her gun away, and rubbed her brow. Helped a little. She let out a long breath. The energy from the blood faded, leaving a deep exhaustion that lingered through her. Will stamina help with this? [Yes.] Good to know. She stumbled forward. ¡°Easy now, Kindra,¡± Gleon called. ¡°Give it a minute.¡± Aika said, flying over with a look of concern. ¡°Are we taking them with us?¡± She gestured to the glowing golems. ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know how much is from the dungeon and how much is them, but we need to study them.¡± Gleon walked back and piled the golems together. Tying a rope around them, he started dragging, heading in the direction of the camp. Kindra followed alongside, trying to blink back the growing headache. That¡¯s enough dungeon for one day. I need a bed. She walked through the quiet forest in an exhausted haze. Pausing at the cliff, she wobbled, and Gleon lowered the golems, digging his feet into the ground. Aika grabbed the other end, flying to a nearby tree. ¡°Doing alright?¡± Gleon asked. Kindra shook her head, looking out at the night sky. Stars twinkled above. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted and have a headache.¡± ¡°What skill was that?¡± Gleon asked. ¡°And why are you so out of it?¡± ¡°It uses my blood,¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°And makes the item stronger.¡± Realization spread across his face, and he tied a harness around her. ¡°Be careful with that skill.¡± He braced himself and gestured with his chin. ¡°I¡¯m going to lower you down then.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra moved to the ledge and began walking down as he lowered. Text flashed in front of her face, and she dismissed it, focusing on the descent. Landing at the bottom, she untied it and looked up. Gleon was scaling down the rope hand after hand, moving fast. She moved out of the way, and he landed with a heavy thud, whistling into the air. Kindra removed the rope, and the rope dropped, snaking down the cliff. Aika flew downward, her wings flashing in the starlight. She looks good today. Kindra yawned and followed Gleon, moving through the quiet woods and back to the refugee camp. The two walked up to Gran¡¯s home, and she swung open the door. ¡°There you are¡ªKindra?¡± ¡°Bit out of it. She lost some blood,¡± Gleon said, patting Kindra on the back. Gran¡¯s gaze flickered to Kindra¡¯s side, and a scowl spread across her face. Magic surged around her. Runes flickered in the air. Kindra tried to memorize them, struggling through the mental haze. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just worn out.¡± ¡°I gave her a potion, but she¡¯s recovering.¡± Gleon shrugged and tugged on the golems. ¡°And I have some things.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get you inside.¡± Gran took Kindra by the arm and pulled her inside, escorting her to a small room. She pulled out a nightgown and placed it on the bed. ¡°Do you need anything else?¡± Kindra shook her head. ¡°No, thanks.¡± ¡°Have a good night.¡± Gran patted her on the back and looked over. Aika zipped in and landed on the bed. ¡°Both of you.¡± Aika waved. ¡°Thanks.¡± She walked over to the pillow. Kindra pulled the dress off, briefly scrubbing dried blood off her. Grabbing the nightgown, she placed it on and burrowed under the blankets. Gran walked in and placed another blanket on the pillow, covering Aika¡¯s little body. ¡°Sleep well.¡± Kindra blinked at her groggily. ¡°Thanks.¡± She smiled and let the exhaustion take her, falling to sleep in moments. Chapter 34 – City Tensions A hazy city stood on the horizon. Smoke billowed in the air, and red scales glistened in the sunlight. Kindra¡¯s focus shifted upward. Am I dreaming again? Lizard-like eyes focused on her, and massive wings churned the air like a helicopter. Is that a dragon? She looked up at the massive creature. Its long tail flicked through the air, and a smile spread across her face. An icy breeze carried the scent of death and smoke from the smoldering city before her. Magic surged into her palm. Runes spun on her fingertips, and an icy bolt formed. Then it doubled and doubled and doubled, becoming a lethal ball of ice and magic. The dragon opened its maw; fire poured across the undead and her shield. She laughed. ¡°Yes. Burn your mana, fool.¡± She waited, building her spell as the torrent continued. As the flames finally abated, she flicked out her hand. The ice streamed forward, smashing into the furious red drake. Mana poured from her. The runes sparkled, and she felt a strange unease flow through her body. Ignoring it, Kindra poured mana against the dragon. ¡°You were a fool to come alone,¡± she hissed. It opened its mouth, revealing massive, white teeth. Its wings slowed, and a blade slammed into her. A shield triggered instantly, knocking away the blade and ending the spell. She hissed and spun, her eyes focusing on the new threat. A woman with elven features glared back. Her platinum hair was aglow with magic, and her sword slammed into the shield like lightning, moving at impossibly fast speeds. It blurred, slamming into the shield over and over. Kindra felt her mana draining away. She sighed and conjured another spell, willing the runes into existence. Unlike most, these runes were pure black. They pulsed and absorbed the light. The assault stopped, and the elven woman vanished along with the dragon. Kindra sighed and looked at the city. The guards were gone. Everything was gone. Snuffing out her spell, she sighed and began another. ¡°Well?¡± she asked the remaining undead. ¡°What are you waiting for? Attack!¡± she hissed and pointed at the city. ¡°Destroy it. All of it. Then find their new base.¡± She growled and stepped through the floor, falling through the stars and slamming onto a stone floor in space. ¡°What?¡± the words left her mouth. Her heart thundered, and a chill ran down her spine. ¡°Well now, what have we here?¡± a feminine voice whispered. Panic grabbed Kindra¡¯s mind. She spun and saw a woman with white hair and sharp teeth standing there. The woman reached out and ran a finger along Kindra¡¯s cheek. ¡°Where are you, darling?¡± she whispered in some language that was eerily foreign and familiar at the same time. Kindra¡¯s heart thundered. The woman smiled, her icy blue eyes glowing with magic. ¡°Tell me,¡± she whispered. A pulse of magic hit Kindra, and she screamed, snapping awake in a soft bed. The magic continued. She felt a growing compulsion in her mind. Runes danced across her, and she slammed her will against them over and over, ripping and shredding the spell. The magic faded, and Kindra pulled herself into a ball. Who was that? A shiver ran down her spine. She whimpered, and Gran darted into the room. ¡°Kindra?¡± Gran reached down and patted her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Kindra swallowed and shook her head. ¡°I had a dream, and something found me. One of them,¡± she whispered. ¡°Oh.¡± Gran¡¯s eyes widened. She patted her sympathetically while a long silence spread through the room. ¡°Thank you for telling me. For now, we¡¯ll prepare for the worst. That¡¯s the focus for the day. Can you make weapons?¡± she asked. Kindra nodded and looked down at the blankets. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Gran said, patting her on the arm. ¡°Even if they come early, it¡¯s not your fault.¡± She reached down and gently bumped Aika, her focus remaining on Kindra. ¡°If you could look at those golems, do. They might be able to help, and we don¡¯t have much time.¡± Kindra pulled herself from the bed, her body trembling. Who the hell is that person? She shivered and glanced at the clean dress on top of a trunk. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°Five more minutes,¡± Aika grumbled back. Turning, Kindra looked over at the blanket next to her pillow. Aika had burrowed into it. ¡°You¡¯ve really made a nest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice in here.¡± ¡°You should get up.¡± With a final shiver, Kindra walked over to the bowl of water. Wiping away the blood and dirt, she slowly cleaned before putting on a tan dress.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Combing her white hair, she frowned as the dream replayed through her head. Was that a fae? She considered it before shifting focus to the magic used. Doing her best to memorize them, she finished brushing her hair. I need some way to break their shield¡­ So, I need a stronger weapon. She shivered. Is that woman coming here? Walking over to the blanket, she dug Aika out of it. ¡°Come on, Aika. Time to wake up.¡± Aika opened an eye and groaned. Her suit shifted around her. ¡°I need to make you a set of clothes.¡± ¡°Gran already did,¡± Aika replied. ¡°I was just too tired to change.¡± She stretched, flying off Kindra¡¯s hands. Kindra turned and walked to the door. She opened it and saw a small living area with a kitchen but no windows. ¡°Are we still in the tree?¡± ¡°Under it,¡± Gran said with a smile. She set down a plate. Kindra walked over and looked at the raw meat. Gran winked and held her finger to her lips. She took a seat. ¡°Your parents are pretending that you are off patrolling the gardens. You¡¯ll want to make at least one appearance a day. But the focus will be on building a small village near the ruins. Anything you can do to help defend is appreciated. Gleon put the golems in the nearby workshop. There are some supplies there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my focus?¡± Kindra asked. Gran nodded. ¡°Yes. Aika can help us. It would be ideal for you to keep growing.¡± Oh! My mana. [You have left the concentrated mana zone.] [Your mana has increased: 3761 ¡ú 4623] Good. I need all of that. Kindra picked up a fork and knife and started eating, quickly swallowing the meat. Tastes like pork. She ate and watched Aika zip in. Aika happily began eating a piece of fruit, attacking the thing with gusto. Gran rinsed a pan. Kindra swallowed. ¡°Can you install plumbing this time?¡± ¡°Plumbing?¡± Gran asked. ¡°Yes. Plumbing. Pipes. Water.¡± Kindra gestured. ¡°How would you do that?¡± Gran asked. Kindra smiled, and a memory washed over her. ~~~ Exhibits and museum walls stretched around her. The polished floor shone brightly, and a holographic display flickered into view, showing an old town from the eighteen hundreds. Wooden buildings dotted the area, and Kindra waved her hands through the display, hitting the dirt road, a tavern, horses, and a few people. The sheriff walked out with a gun. ¡°Jake!¡± he shouted. Kindra laughed and turned. ¡°Did this really happen?¡± ¡°You know, there¡¯s a lot of debate about that,¡± her father said. ¡°People did get in shootouts. It was a wild time.¡± Kindra shook her head and waved her fingers through the tall wooden water tower. The four legs were anchored to the ground, and pipes sunk into the dirt. ¡°What happened to them?¡± Kindra asked, pointing at it. ¡°Cities happened. When the skyscrapers came around, gravity wasn¡¯t enough to move the water to the top. So, we had to move to the modern stuff.¡± Kindra nodded and smiled. ¡°Pumps,¡± she said happily, swishing her dress and grinning at him. ¡°Yes. We had to use pumps and pressure.¡± Her father walked forward and batted her hair. ¡°Civil engineers create the systems needed to distribute water. Back then, we could use a pump and gravity. Then you¡¯d dump the waste off in a river. Of course, that all got replaced.¡± He walked over to the display and hit a few buttons. The display shifted to one from the twenty-first century. ¡°We had to use pressure, which required more complicated systems. We added water treatment so we wouldn¡¯t ruin the rivers.¡± He gestured. Kindra looked at the shining city. Her smile faltered, and she turned toward the museum¡¯s door. The heavy, interlocking doors were closed. Sirens blared outside. ¡°But we didn¡¯t do enough,¡± she said sadly. Her father patted her on the back. ¡°No, we didn¡¯t, but we will. Remember what I¡¯ve told you. The ladder to the sky. They say that every step along the way teaches us to fly. So remember, dearest daughter, when hope is running out. Pause and think. Do the math, and you will know the route.¡± He chuckled, swatted her ponytail, and gestured. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s look at the dinosaurs.¡± Kindra smiled and ran for the exhibit¡­ ~~~ Kindra shook her head and wiped the water from her eyes. Aw, Dad. Wish you were here. She swallowed. The thoughts of the crew hit. Death, guide them. Gran walked over. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°Sorry. Lost in a memory,¡± Kindra whispered. She traced her finger on the table. ¡°We need a tank in the air. We can build it with stone or wood. Then, we affix a pump to the water source, probably a spring. We pull it up into the tank and run pipes into the houses. Hook that to a drain, and we¡¯ll run the waste out. Ideally, we can make a toilet.¡± She looked dourly at the chamber pot. ¡°I need one of those.¡± Gran nodded. ¡°We can do that. How does the pump work?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll build it and show you.¡± Kindra smiled. ¡°Are there any trees with resilient sap, bouncy sap?¡± she asked with a bit of hope. Gran laughed long and loud. She shook her head and patted Kindra on the back. ¡°Almost all of them. It helps them survive.¡± Well. Rubber just got way easier. Kindra grinned. ¡°Then that¡¯ll work.¡± She polished off the meal and stood. ¡°The workshop?¡± ¡°It¡¯s next to your father¡¯s forge.¡± Gran smiled and walked to the corner. She opened a door and gestured to the tunnel. ¡°Ready to go back?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra stood and followed her into the tunnel. The two jogged down it. Small tunnels ran through the ground, ending at other doors. They are good at this. Turning, she raced down the long one. Crossing the fields back toward the town. Her breath billowed. A light breeze blew, and she turned down a tunnel, walking up to a set of stairs. Gran reached out and grabbed her arm. Muffled voices carried through the stone. ¡°I told you, she¡¯s guarding the gardens,¡± Dain said with plenty of exasperation. ¡°The mayor would like a word. Go get her,¡± some dwarf replied. ¡°About what? She¡¯s a young lass, if a bit tall.¡± ¡°He needs to know what she remembers.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Get her, now. We¡¯re coming with you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting the bill,¡± Dain said with a huff. Gran opened the door and nudged Kindra. Kindra nodded and forced her thundering heart in check. There¡¯s no way he knows. Calm down. Calm down. She walked up the steps, preparing the lie in her mind. Mom sent, and the pests were cleared. Anxiety blossomed in her chest. She opened the door of the forge and poked her head out. ¡°Dad?¡± she said softly, and two angry guards turned toward her. Chapter 35 – City Tensions – Pt 2 Forcing one foot after another, Kindra stepped out of the forge and approached Dain. ¡°Dad?¡± she called. ¡°Mom said she needed¡ª¡± She turned to the guards and stopped. Breathe. Just breathe. The guards scowled. ¡°And there she is.¡± He gestured with his head. ¡°The mayor wants a word, Kindra.¡± Kindra moved closer to Dain. That can¡¯t be good news. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you,¡± Dain said, scowling and prodding at the bloomery. He sighed and walked away from it, taking Kindra¡¯s arm on the way by. Smiling, he patted her gently on the back before frowning at the guards, his eyes showing their annoyance. What do they want? Kindra moved closer. The guards turned and marched through the town¡¯s streets. She followed, slowly forcing her breathing under control. I still have bullets in the M4. Worst case, I burn everything I have and use them. She frowned. I need to make more bullets for it today. That has to happen. She added it to her list and walked down the streets. Dwarves paused and watched. Some turned and scurried into their homes or shops, wanting nothing to do with whatever was happening. Walking past a merchant selling vegetable-filled carts, Kindra entered the town square. People were gathered around a few vendors and the well. All of them parted, moving away from the guards and her. Several looked at Dain, and she approached the barracks. Guards stood next to the door, undead ones among them. Another dose of fear hit, sending a shiver down her spine. An undead canine was standing next to the door, sniffing everything that walked by. Okay. That¡¯s a problem. Willing the runes into her mind, she pulled on her mana and created a little ball. The canine turned, fur dangling from a large wound on its side. Icy blue energy crackled through its side. Its blue eyes locked on hers, and it sniffed. Its mouth opened, and Kindra flicked out her spell, sending a glowing white ball zipping across the square. The dwarves remained blissfully unaware, and the dog¡¯s eyes locked onto Kindra. It sniffed, and the ball hit it, snuffing out the magic and dropping the corpse onto the ground. Yellow fluid oozed out of it. The guards frowned. One scowled and turned. Kindra looked up at him and smiled. ¡°Sir?¡± she asked, letting her smile turn to confusion. ¡°How did you do that?¡± the guard demanded. Kindra turned. ¡°What¡¯s he talking about, Dad?¡± ¡°Do what?¡± Dain asked, sighing loudly. ¡°That watchdog just died,¡± the guard hissed. ¡°It were already dead,¡± a nearby dwarf said, chuckling to himself. Kindra let a chuckle sneak out. She covered her mouth. The dwarf grinned. ¡°Maybe they went and found somethin¡¯ better,¡± he said. ¡°Like a wyvern. Bloody beasts.¡± He chuckled and walked down the lane. The guard scowled and gestured to the door. Kindra followed Dain inside and immediately turned. She entered the nearby office and stopped, looking at the two dwarves behind a desk. One was sitting in a fancy dress, her hair in an immaculate bun. Her brown eyes locked onto Kindra, and a frown spread across her angry face. Reminds me of an angry librarian. Kindra looked at the other. He was wearing a uniform and looking as pompous as ever. His brown beard was trimmed neatly, and his brown eyes gleamed angrily. He stared at Dain. Dain gave a small bow, and Kindra mirrored it. Wonder what Dain did. That guy looks pissed. ¡°Where is he?¡± Varric hissed, placing his hand on his sword and glowering at Dain. ¡°Who?¡± Dain asked. ¡°Be specific, Mayor.¡± Kindra looked at both, confusion on her face. Who are they talking about? She mused on it. ¡°You know who. Your father-in-law. Gleon.¡± Slamming a mask on her face, Kindra kept the confusion up. Who even knows? He¡¯s probably charging something. ¡°How should I know? Crazy dwarf could be anywhere,¡± Dain replied, rolling his eyes. Kindra looked at the woman, who looked disdainfully at both of them. At least she isn¡¯t like that woman from my dream. Varric turned. ¡°Kindra, have you seen this dwarf?¡± He picked up a sketch. Kindra prepared to lie and studied the extremely crude black-and-white sketch. That could be anyone, literally anyone. A different idea came into her mind. She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± A look of glee passed across the faces of both the mayor and his wife.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Varric turned. ¡°And it seems that you¡¯ve been lying to us.¡± He smirked at Dain. Kindra raised her brow. ¡°Sir? He¡¯s right there.¡± She gestured to the guard behind her. Then she traced the paper, nodding repeatedly. Varric¡¯s look turned sour. He grabbed the paper and studied the two. ¡°No, you daft girl. He has a red beard!¡± Kindra blushed and looked at the black-and-white sketch. ¡°Oh.¡± She looked at the ground, her face going crimson as she fought the laughter. Dain snorted. ¡°How was she to know that?¡± ¡°Have you seen a man like this? Red beard? Brown eyes? Covered with blood?¡± the woman demanded, gesturing frantically. ¡°Covered with blood?¡± Kindra shook her head. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯d have reported him if I had seen him,¡± Dain said, huffing angrily. ¡°You could have just asked instead of ruining good metal.¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Varric hissed. He turned back to Kindra. ¡°You girl. What village are you from?¡± Kindra shrugged, and the woman gestured. A stream of mana flew out, forming runes before circling Kindra. Studying them, Kindra pretended not to see them. She felt something akin to a growing desire to be truthful. I can¡¯t break it. Can I resist it? ¡°What village did you come from?¡± the woman asked again. Kindra shrugged and felt a growing desire to speak. Look. There¡¯s no name in dwarvish. I can¡¯t answer it. The thought made the compulsion dim, and she shrugged again. The woman frowned. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± Kindra sighed. The magic surged and stopped almost instantly. No idea for so many reasons. Letting out a long breath, the woman tried again. ¡°Your clan name? Your birthday? Your class? Anything?¡± Kindra shrugged. I don¡¯t know the dwarven words for any of those. She smiled apologetically at the woman. ¡°I have the artificer class,¡± she said with a nervous smile. The woman sighed long and loud before turning to her husband. ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember anything, and the spell is working.¡± Varric scowled. ¡°Did you see Gleon?¡± The magic built around her. Kindra reached for the counter, pulling it into her mind. She shrugged, and the magic pushed inward. Then it bounced back, almost breaking at her touch. Groaning, the woman sighed. ¡°She¡¯s useless. Get her out of here.¡± Dain sighed. ¡°You could have just asked us.¡± ¡°If I find a hint of that supposed rebellion, I will personally execute every single person involved in any way,¡± Varric hissed, his voice bouncing through the room. ¡°As expected.¡± Dain turned and walked out of the room. Kindra followed him. She walked out of the barracks and through the crowded courtyard. A group of guards were carrying the canine¡¯s carcass somewhere, and people were avoiding them. Darting around a crowd, Kindra left the courtyard and jogged down the lane, heading toward the forge once more. Dain looked over at her. He leaned closer. ¡°Mind telling me how you lied to that spell?¡± Kindra smiled and shrugged. ¡°It puts on pressure, and you just stop it.¡± ¡°Just stop it,¡± Dain muttered, shaking his head. ¡°Like last night?¡± ¡°You heard about that?¡± Kindra asked, blushing. ¡°Everyone heard about that.¡± Dain shook his head. ¡°You just stopped the magic from a hundred high-level screamers. Magic that knocked out some of our strongest.¡± He turned toward her and raised his brow. Kindra leaned closer. ¡°I can see magic,¡± she whispered. ¡°Makes it easier.¡± Dain mouth opened. Footsteps carried down the lane, and he turned away, striding toward the forge. ¡°Interesting. I¡¯ll ask you more later.¡± Kindra looked down the lane at the two dwarves walking by. ¡°Don¡¯t ask for details because I don¡¯t know them.¡± She followed him down the street. Is it because I¡¯m a vampire-thing? She considered it while walking up to the forge and the smoldering bloomery. Smoke billowed out of the top. The breathing hole was plugged, and the glowing coals were low. Kindra grimaced. ¡°Can you save it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to try.¡± Dain walked over and pumped the bellows furiously. We need electricity¡­ One problem at a time. We already have a necromancer on their way here. Kindra leaned closer. ¡°Where¡¯s the workshop?¡± ¡°Building next to the forge.¡± Dain walked to it and pulled out a key. Unlocking the building, he opened the door. Kindra walked inside, and the door shut behind her. She looked at the few windows on the walls. Small streams of light streamed through them, lighting the place in a soft light. Well, the lighting is terrible, but so be it. She turned and studied the room. The walls were stone. A table with tools and handles sat there with two chairs in front of it. Walking forward, she poked her head through a doorway and saw shelves of supplies. Ingots were on shelves. Handle material was everywhere, and four large constructs were sitting there, blocking most of it. Walking over to one, Kindra pulled it out, dragging the heavy thing into the sunlight. Sitting in the chair, she studied the metallic shell, searching for any trace of magic. Finding none, she sighed and focused on its head, grabbing a screwdriver and hammer from the table. Finding several screws, she removed them, setting them aside and prying a panel off the golem¡¯s head. Peering into the metal ball, she blinked. The heck is this? A large crystal was mounted in the middle, and the bullet had broken it, shattering pieces everywhere. Well. We¡¯d need to detach its body to figure that out. She pulled out pieces and looked at runes carved on the metal¡¯s inside. She carefully set the pieces on the table and paused. Standing up, she walked to the door and poked her head out. ¡°Dain, paper? Pencil?¡± Dain turned and nodded. ¡°In the desk.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra shut the door and walked back to the desk. She opened a drawer at the bottom and found paper, pencils, ink, and feathers. I¡¯m not learning how to make a quill. Pulling out the paper and pencil, she set them on the desk and started writing down the runes, trying to decipher the meaning as she worked. Sketching out a round rune with a strange, star-like symbol in the middle, she heard footsteps. The door swung open, and she looked up. Sigrid smiled, shut the door, and walked over. ¡°Oh. That¡¯s a shame.¡± She gestured to the crystal. ¡°I think that¡¯s the core piece.¡± Kindra nodded and pointed at the rune. ¡°Do you know what it means?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡± Sigrid pulled out a book. She flipped it open and pointed at a rune that looked like the sun. It was round with jagged edges. ¡°This is the rune for fire. By itself, you could invoke fire from mana. However, it would burn anything around it. So, you have to add other runes, a lot of other runes. These help shape it. These direct it. These¡­¡± she continued a lecture on combining different runes to have different effects on the magic. Kindra blinked. So, it¡¯s a billion adjectives that are built upon fundamental forces? She nodded, and Sigrid flipped a page, showing her more from the book. After twenty pages, she altered the approach and began searching for the runes in the golems. The two searched and began parsing out a sequence where they could. Several were unknown, and Kindred slowly worked through the concepts and runes, working through it like a jigsaw puzzle. Chapter 36 – City Tensions – Pt 3 Kindra studied the runes that decorated a piston. The symbols danced across her vision, a language just out of reach. Why can¡¯t I see it? There has to be some pattern. Some design, right? She frowned and ran her finger along them. There¡¯s more than what Sigrid said. Some connecting principles. Some harmony. It buzzed just out of reach, like a forgotten song. Pieces of armor were everywhere, a small monument to what once had been. Pistons and gears lay strewn across the desk. Idly blowing the hair from her face, Kindra studied the runes on one of the pistons. So, these are the same, and I think they are just to boost the strength of the metal. She flipped the pages in the book to confirm it. Yes, that¡¯s right. Picking up a gear, she studied the runes. What does this do? It¡¯s not durability. She flipped through the book and failed to find the runes. Huffing, she looked at Sigrid. Sigrid shrugged, took it, and placed it to the side. Kindra grabbed the next, and a fist banged on the door. ¡°Open,¡± someone shouted. Sigrid scowled, stood, and walked over. ¡°What?¡± she shouted. ¡°We¡¯re working.¡± ¡°Inspection!¡± some voice called. Kindra frowned. Well, this is incriminating¡­ Oh! She dumped metal from her cache and pulled the supplies inside, rapidly stashing the golem and running into the storage room. She dumped metal everywhere and grabbed the golems, vanishing them into her cache. Sigrid cracked the door open. ¡°This is not necessary, gentlemen.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is.¡± The guard¡¯s foot caught the door with a soft thump. Kindra stashed the three golems and grabbed a sword along with the handle. She walked out and waved at the guards. Sigrid stepped aside, and the two walked in. They started ransacking the place, searching for hidden passages, hidden contraband, and anything else. One looked at the metal on the floor and frowned. ¡°Where¡¯d this come from?¡± ¡°Worm tunnels. You know it was reported,¡± Sigrid replied, tapping her foot in annoyance. She sighed and walked over to Kindra. ¡°Let¡¯s resume your studies.¡± She nudged Kindra to the desk with the book. Kindra sat and looked at it, pretending to trace a rune on the sword. Sigrid sat next to her, gently correcting and gesturing. Kindra became fascinated as the lesson became a rune sequence to coat something in fire. The guards ransacked the place, pausing to watch for a moment. ¡°And we do this?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Adding them to weapons?¡± ¡°Only if the guards request it,¡± Sigrid said with a nod. ¡°But how? How do you add it to the weapon?¡± ¡°There are two spells. One is the enchantment. One seals it. If you add the runes, you can fortify it. If you add crystals or the right metals, you can refill the mana, though it will wear down with time.¡± A guard snorted. Kindra blushed and turned back. They were both standing there. ¡°Find anything?¡± Sigrid asked, glaring at both of them. ¡°Any information you give regarding known criminals will be rewarded. Remember that,¡± the guard said, turning and walking out the door. The other followed. Sigrid kicked the door shut and walked over. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly. Kindra nodded and walked to the door. She leaned against it and listened. Will they come back? She listened to footsteps. They walked away and went quiet. She walked back to the table. ¡°Let¡¯s keep working on this for a minute,¡± Sigrid said. ¡°What material can you etch them with? And doesn¡¯t that weaken the blade?¡± Kindra asked. Sigrid smiled. ¡°That depends. Magical material is often more durable, and you can change that with your skills.¡± ¡°How do I get one?¡± ¡°Practice,¡± Sigrid said. Kindra traced the rune, and the door swung open, revealing the two guards. Sigrid sighed. ¡°Gentlemen, sit and be quiet if you don¡¯t believe us, but stop interrupting.¡± Kindra leaned forward and pointed at a rune. ¡°What¡¯s this one do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the core rune, binding the spell to the item. Now, you have to be careful because it can shatter if the metal can¡¯t support the spell.¡± Sigrid leaned forward and traced another rune. Kindra watched, and the guards stood there. ¡°This wraps it around the blade?¡± she asked, tracing her finger along several runes. ¡°Yes.¡± Sigrid gestured to another. ¡°This stops it from damaging the blade.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a poor choice for an enchantment,¡± the guard added, stepping inside. ¡°You¡¯re better off learning the options for the guard armor.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Kindra turned and studied his armor, focusing her vision on it. ¡°It¡¯s enchanted?¡± she asked as the faint glow of magic appeared. Small, familiar runes flowed along it. Those are really hard to see. She tried to memorize them. ¡°Yes. The armor is a durability and strength boost. The weapons come with a penetration enchantment.¡± He patted the hilt. ¡°It¡¯s good to keep that in mind.¡± Sigrid spun. ¡°Boris, I¡¯ve known you since you were a little stone. Don¡¯t start threatening my daughter.¡± She glared at him. ¡°Guards, you¡¯d best get out here,¡± Dain called. The guards turned and walked out. Kindra walked to the door and poked her head out. A large wyvern flew in the distance, and Dain pointed at it. ¡°It¡¯ll ignore us,¡± the guard said, walking back to the workshop. Sigrid patted Kindra on the shoulder. ¡°Now would be a good time to check on the gardens. You remember how to get there?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll go check.¡± She turned and walked past the guards, heading toward the tunnels and leaving the guards behind. Well. That¡¯s going to get annoying. Moving down the stone lanes, she waved at a few dwarves. They did not wave back. Several turned and walked away. Others glared, giving her looks of icy fury. Wow. They do not like me. She picked up her pace and moved quickly down the roads, turning and entering the tunnels. Descending them, she looped into the gardens and sniffed. The mushrooms were growing everywhere. A rat poked its head up, and she pulled out her crossbow. If they wanted levels, I bet I¡¯d have to fight for a spot here. Loading a bolt, she aimed and fired. The bolt zipped across the room, and the rat bolted, racing for a hole in the wall. Little devil. She scowled and walked across the room, reloading as she walked. May as well capitalize. Stopping, she turned and fired, the bolt zipping across the room and staking a distant rat. She walked over to it, pulled the mana into herself, and heard the sound of footsteps. Someone whispered. Spinning, Kindra looked and saw two young dwarves. The two boys had short, black hair and beards that were just filling in. With brown eyes, they studied her, adjusting the leather armor that covered most of their muscled bodies. Anger flickered into their eyes. One reached for an axe. The other reached for his sword. Kindra held up her hands. ¡°Guys? You can hunt if you want.¡± She smiled nervously. ¡°What are you?¡± one of the boys asked, a frown stretching across his young face. The other stepped forward, his mouth contorting into a snarl. ¡°You¡¯re one of them.¡± ¡°One of who?¡± Kindra asked, swallowing and moving away from the wall. ¡°A loyalist,¡± the boy spat. ¡°Look at you. Trying to be one.¡± He glared. ¡°And trying to get stronger.¡± His eyes flickered to the rat. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not a loyalist, and you can kill them. It¡¯s fine, really.¡± Kindra held up her hands. ¡°Then why do you look like them,¡± the boy replied, stepping forward. ¡°I don¡¯t know why my hair is white. Give me dye, and I¡¯ll dye it.¡± The boy scowled and turned to the boy next to him. ¡°Is she lying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± The other boy frowned. ¡°This is our spot. We¡¯re going to be like Gleon, the legendary.¡± He took his hand off his axe. ¡°Works for me.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°I need to go mining.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you get white hair? Dwarves don¡¯t have white hair.¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°I just do.¡± ¡°And your eyes are off.¡± Kindra sighed. ¡°I know. If you know how to fix them, let me know.¡± She paused and gestured at a rat. The boy turned and launched his axe. It whirred through the air and slammed into the creature. The other frowned and looked at Kindra. ¡°We¡¯ll be watching you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy,¡± Kindra said softly, walking toward the exit. ¡°Someday, I¡¯ll prove that.¡± She looked at the dead rat. ¡°Good luck on your hunts.¡± Moving swiftly, she headed to the exit and left the two behind. I need to ask about hair dyes. Winding up the tunnel, she turned and headed to the mines, walking quickly down the streets and avoiding the eyes of any dwarves. All of them had larger frames, and she was a little taller in comparison. They wore simple pants, shirts, and dresses. The hair colors were earthy; reds, browns, and blacks dominated it. A few dwarves with green streaks walked by. Okay. So, it¡¯s nothing wild. Similar to Earth¡­ seriously, where is the gray and white? Failing to find any, she turned and jolted. Her heart thundered, and the undead bear-like creature lurched forward. Its fur was almost gone. Bones showed everywhere, and its feet thumped down the street. Dashing away, she willed the runes into her mind. A paw slammed into her, smacking her into a wall with a thud. Oww. Groaning, she stood and looked at her arm. Small cuts ran across it. Blood trickled, the metallic scent filling the air. Turning back, she looked at the bear. It was lying there, the magic extinguished. Guess that was enough to kill the thing. She glanced out at the quiet city. But I can''t be seen with it. She dashed past it, racing into the mines and leaving the bear behind. Moving quickly inside, she stopped at the opening, grabbed a mine cart, and pushed it down the stone tunnels, searching for a good place to mine. The sounds of the city slowly faded. The tunnel moved this way and that. Emerging in a small cavern, she triggered Scavenger¡¯s Sight and studied the stone, searching and locking onto a vein of iron ore. [Iron ore, primarily made of iron oxide.] Is the system getting snarkier? She walked over and pulled out her pickaxe. Burning a bit of mana, she enhanced it. [Basic pickaxe has been enhanced. The wielder gains +15 strength. Lasts 1 hour.] Smiling, she slammed the pick into the wall, breaking away the ore. Using her vision and boosted strength, she attacked it in a fury. Stone chips flew, scattering through the air. Pieces dropped to the ground, and another dwarf walked in. He nodded to her and walked to the vein, attacking the wall in a fury. Kindra did the same, slowly building a pile of stone around her feet. Sweat trickled down her skin. Her breathing increased, and she finally stopped. Reaching down, she scooped up the ore, tossing it into the cart. The dwarf turned. ¡°So, you¡¯re the new girl?¡± He raised a brow. ¡°Dain¡¯s kid?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m Kindra.¡± ¡°Strange name.¡± The dwarf quirked his head. ¡°Where¡¯d you come from?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± Kindra lied, sighing out into the air. ¡°I don¡¯t remember a lot of things.¡± She scooped up the ore. ¡°Sorry, sir.¡± ¡°They¡¯re good people.¡± The dwarf stepped closer. ¡°The necromancers are not,¡± he said sternly. Kindra sighed and pushed a strand of hair into her face. I¡¯m going to find some dye. ¡°I know, and I don¡¯t know why it turned white.¡± She paused and looked at him. ¡°Do you know something I could use to color it?¡± The dwarf looked at her with a bit of surprise. ¡°You¡¯d do that?¡± ¡°Yes. Know anything?¡± ¡°You could try some berries?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Sorry, miss.¡± Kindra sighed. ¡°How¡¯d it happen?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t know how any of it happened.¡± She turned and walked to the cart, the thought nagging at her. Was it because Death brought me back¡ªno. She shook her head. I wasn¡¯t in the flight suit or ship. Then there are the dreams. She wheeled her cart forward, the thoughts lingering and a sense of dread spreading through her. The necromancers brought us here. That¡¯s obvious. She frowned and shoved the cart out of the entrance. Sunlight beamed down. Pieces of the decayed bear were strewn the road, and dwarves walked down the distant roads. Moving quickly, she wheeled the cart down the road and turned toward the forges. Pulling the cart forward, she walked down the road and waved to Dain. He smiled. ¡°Mining?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± She glanced at the workshop. Dain leaned closer. ¡°They¡¯re still in there.¡± Nodding, Kindra began smashing the ore. Time to make more bullets. Chapter 37 – City Tensions – Pt 4 Ore crunched beneath the hammer. The red stone crumbled, breaking into gravel. Grinding it into dust, she slowly filled a bucket. Walking over, she grabbed charcoal and limestone. ¡°Going to build a bloomery?¡± Dain asked with a smile. Kindra groaned and looked at the supplies. ¡°Can¡¯t I use yours?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in use. You should make one.¡± Dain smiled. ¡°It¡¯ll be good for you.¡± ¡°Where do I get clay?¡± Kindra asked, groaning. ¡°From the fields.¡± He gestured toward the fields that were arcing around the town. Kindra sighed. ¡°Really? That¡¯ll take a dozen loads.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Dain chuckled. He looked at the workshop. ¡°You two going to stand around all day? Why not come help Kindra get some clay?¡± Kindra turned and smirked. ¡°No. We need to ensure the criminal doesn¡¯t come into contact with you,¡± a guard said, sighing. Kindra looked at the guard. ¡°Please?¡± ¡°No.¡± Shrugging, Kindra dumped the charcoal and limestone into a little pile. Dumping the bucket of ore on top of it, she burned mana, willing it into bullet casings. The entire thing lit on fire. The coal burned. Smoke billowed everywhere, and Dain turned. He raised a brow. ¡°Really?¡± Kindra grinned and nodded. ¡°Yep.¡± A guard poked his head out and saw the smoking mess. He laughed and nudged the other. Acting game. Got it. Kindra blushed and grabbed the cart. She pulled it forward and looked at Dain. ¡°Dump it there.¡± Dain gestured to his pile of ore. Blowing hair from her face, Kindra pushed the cart over and dumped it. Maybe I should just use mana and level up. Turning, she dragged the cart back to the road. Walking back to the smoldering mess, she reached down and pulled the casings into her cache. That¡¯s really handy. Smiling, she grabbed the cart and pulled it toward the distant gate. At least I have a skill to find clay. And he can show me how to do this. Walking down the stone streets, she ignored the looks of hatred and fear, quickly striding up to the gate. The guards turned. ¡°Business?¡± one barked. ¡°Clay for a bloomery,¡± Kindra replied, gesturing to the cart. The guards walked over and searched the empty cart. Spotting nothing, they waved her through. Kindra walked out of the stone walls and looked around the fields. Dwarves were scattered throughout the area, tending to the plants. Beyond them were trees and undead. They patrolled the forest, silent sentinels against anything coming from the forest. Kindra looked at the plants and burned mana, triggering Scavenger¡¯s Sight. Ignoring almost all the text that appeared, she searched for clay and saw a pit near the forest¡¯s edge. Great. Right next to the undead. She pulled her cart down the road, affixing the runes in her mind in mental preparation. Walking toward the trees, she waited. Two undead felines turned. Jagged cuts lined their bodies. Fur dangled off them, and a blue magic surged inside. One sniffed at her and turned back. Why? Kindra sniffed, the smell of ash hitting instantly. The smoke from the forge? Is that all it takes? She walked closer, the spell at the ready. The undead ignored her, looking out into the forest without moving. Pulling the cart off the road, she grabbed the pick from the cart. I need a shovel. Breaking off pieces of the clay, she grabbed and hauled large clumps to the cart, boredom surging through her like the heat from the distant sun. To think. We did this for thousands of years¡­ Her thoughts drifted to a memory as she worked. ~~~ A seven-year-old Kindra studied the clay pot. The reddish-brown surface was smooth and a bit rough to the touch. The top tapered upward. ¡°And why did we shape them like that?¡± her father asked. She shrugged and looked at it. ¡°It¡¯s like a fat bowling pin.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s to help keep things inside while you are carrying it.¡± Her father chuckled and gestured. ¡°Come on, try it.¡± Kindra walked over to the small pottery stand. Dropping a lump of clay on the spinning wheel, she prodded it. ¡°It¡¯s like mud.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s about to be more accurate.¡± Her father chuckled and gestured to the bowl of water. Dunking her hands in it, she ran her finger alongside it, trying to shape it. After several minutes and a bit of water, she looked at her creation, a dumpy-looking bowl that would likely leak if someone glared at it. She blushed. ¡°It¡¯s terrible.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Her father laughed. ¡°People spent a long time practicing, but it was a staple for a very long time.¡± He grinned and gestured to the sink. Kindra ran to it, and water splashed onto her face. ~~~ Jerking out of the daydream, she felt water running down her body. She looked over and saw the reason why. Two dwarven girls were snickering. One gestured. Mana gathered around her hands. Rune flowed into view. Kindra studied the spell. Water was pulled from the air, forming a ball. It launched forward, and she stepped out of the pit. The ball splashed nearby, and she looked at the two girls, shaking her head. Some things never change. She walked to the cart, grabbed it, and hauled it toward the city. I need to visit the forest tonight, she thought. I need to finish my bullets and find hair dye somewhere. This is not going to work. She felt the draw of mana. It spread through the air, pulling water. Do I need to do something about that? A ball of water flew, and she stopped, letting it fly by her face and splash into the field. Continuing forward, she quickly walked to the gate. The guards ushered her inside without searching. Walking down the streets, she quickly returned to the forge and pulled the cart up. Sigrid walked over with a smile. ¡°How well do you know clay?¡± ¡°Not very,¡± Kindra admitted. ¡°We¡¯ll use some stone and clay to make the bloomery.¡± Sigrid grabbed the cart and pulled it forward, dumping a mound of clay near the other bloomery. ¡°Normally, we¡¯d use bricks and clay to form it, but we¡¯ll speed that along today.¡± With a flourish, she gestured. Magic surged from her hands. Runes shimmered, and Kindra locked onto them, trying to memorize and decipher exactly what was happening. Stone pulled from the ground, mixing with the clay and forming a large chimney. An opening formed at the bottom, and Sigrid smiled. ¡°There.¡± She turned to the guards. ¡°Waste not, want not. Come help, gentlemen.¡± The guards groaned. ¡°That¡¯s not our job,¡± one muttered. ¡°And I shall inform the mayor that you spent the day doing nothing when you know we¡¯re behind.¡± Sigrid walked into the workshop and returned with a set of bellows. She placed them next to the opening, poured charcoal inside, and walked to the other bloomery. Using a pair of tongs, she grabbed a hot coal and carried it over, setting it on the others and using the bellows to spread the fire. ¡°Come on, gentlemen.¡± The guards grumbled and walked up. One grabbed the bellows and started pumping. Walking to the ore, Sigrid started grinding it. Kindra walked over and did the same, pulverizing the iron ore into fine dust. Sigrid shoveled a scoop into the bloomery and added a layer of charcoal and lime. The group fell into a rhythm, slowly adding the material to the bloomery and building the heat to a high roar. Kindra worked robotically, her thoughts drifting. ¡°Aika? What are you up to?¡± ¡°We¡¯re with Gran, expanding the tunnels over to the cliff. They¡¯re making a new base. Oh, and those little dwarves are menaces. Avoid them at all costs!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kindra asked, dumping in more iron ore. ¡°She thinks I¡¯m a little doll. It¡¯s terrible.¡± Smiling, Kindra nodded. Yeah. I could see that. Aika does look really cute. ¡°How are things over there?¡± Aika asked. ¡°We have guards that are standing here, watching us. They are looking for Gleon.¡± ¡°He says, ¡®no surprise.¡¯ Did you get a chance to look at the golems?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra studied the bloomery. ¡°But then we got interrupted before we could figure it out. If we don¡¯t have an intact head crystal, we¡¯ll need one.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Smoke billowed from the top of the bloomery. Mixing some water with the ore, Sigrid dumped it in. Kindra added charcoal and a bit of lime. Robots can¡¯t get here fast enough. She repeated the process, alternating with Sigrid to pump the bellows. The sun arced through the sky while the group worked. To her surprise, the guards walked over and helped with some of it. As the sun descended to the horizon, Kindra used tongs and pulled out the bloom, placing the metal on a nearby anvil. Walking back to the bloomery, she repeated it, slowly gathering the pieces while Sigrid knocked off the glass and other impurities. The guards looked at them and sighed. ¡°Listen. We can¡¯t have rebels. You know what happens to rebels,¡± one said. ¡°Entire villages. It¡¯s happened over and over. Even if you kill a necromancer, another takes their place, and they know exactly what happened. Don¡¯t burn this one to the ground.¡± Dain turned and scoffed. ¡°So, stay shackled here until they end our life?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the way it is, Dain. You know that. Yes, it¡¯s terrible, but there is no stopping it.¡± The guard shook his head. ¡°We failed. The dragons failed. The fae failed, and so has every rebellion. Don¡¯t kill off more innocent people by trying again.¡± Dain grunted. ¡°I know. If he comes here, we¡¯ll report him.¡± ¡°Good. We will be watching.¡± With that, the guard spun and walked away. Kindra frowned , her memories flickering to her dreams. ¡°So, we need to be able to turn the tide.¡±_ She looked at Sigrid. ¡°Mom, is it impossible?¡± Sigrid leaned next to her. ¡°Yes,¡± she said loudly. Well. That means someone¡¯s listening. Kindra nodded and resumed working on the ingot. She pounded on it, slowly trying to shape it while knocking off the impurities that had mixed in. Struggling to remove a piece of glass, she frowned at it and burned mana, willing a chunk into slugs. Steel slugs¡­ My ancestors would be spinning in their graves. She willed them into storage while Sigrid and Dain took over. They shaped and knocked away ash and glass. ¡°How are you so good at this?¡± Kindra asked, studying the precision movement. ¡°Skills?¡± ¡°You can get some, but practice makes perfect,¡± Dain said, smiling at her momentarily before turning back to the glowing ingot. ¡°Dexterity?¡± Kindra probed. ¡°Helps,¡± Sigrid replied. ¡°As does strength, though you have to be careful with it.¡± Good to know. Kindra watched a moment more, studying their forms as they studied the metal. Pulling out a magnet, she walked around the bloomeries, gathering anything magnetic. Dumping it into a pile, she added charcoal and limestone before triggering her skill, letting the mana take care of the process. ¡°How are you doing that?¡± Dain asked, walking over and studying it. ¡°Skill upgrade. It lets me do it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Sigrid said with a smile, patting Kindra¡¯s back and watching the metal. Kindra willed the slugs into her cache and smiled. ¡°Runes?¡± Sigrid shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s get home. They are watching.¡± Dain leaned closer. ¡°And it¡¯s not impossible. We are so close now.¡± He took a long breath. ¡°We once held them for generations, and they were stronger then. This time, we end them for once and all.¡± Kindra nodded and followed them toward the cottage. How would they have lost if that had been the case? She pondered that mystery. They had to lose somehow. That¡¯s what we have to stop. She turned and looked at the two dwarves. A small ray of light hit them, showing a gleam of hope in their eyes. They are betting on the golems¡­ but how did they lose? She frowned. I need a trip to the ruins. ¡°Aika? Up for some ruin exploration after I make some bullets?¡± ¡°Yes. One second.¡± Kindra turned and walked down a street. Dwarves scurried inside. ¡°Gleon wants to go, but he wants you to figure out the constructs.¡± ¡°We need an intact crystal for that, but I¡¯ll take another look first.¡± Kindra walked into the cottage, shutting the door behind her. She turned and looked at Sigrid. ¡°Can we?¡± ¡°In your room,¡± Sigrid replied with a smile. Chapter 38 – City Tensions – Pt 5 Kindra walked into her room. She turned all her focus toward the spell that spread throughout the room. It blanketed everything in a soft light. Small runes decorated the space, and she masked her expression, memorizing the sequence and preparing to destroy the spell. Standing there, she formed the counter in her mind. A moment of pressure hit her mind, and the runes flashed out, vanishing from the space in a glitter of light. That was easy. Sigrid walked into her room, a look of concern on her face. ¡°I¡¯d like you to study basic runes while I cook.¡± She set the book down on the nearby wooden desk. Kindra leaned closer. ¡°The spell¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°How?¡± Sigrid whispered. ¡°I broke it.¡± Kindra shrugged and felt magic surge through the air. ¡°It¡¯s coming back.¡± Sigrid sighed. ¡°Basic lessons for now.¡± She walked to the kitchen. ¡°Come wash up first.¡± Kindra followed, her annoyance at the spell growing. I¡¯m going to break that into a thousand pieces. The spell did not seem to care, following both of them and making Kindra¡¯s hair stand on end. Walking to a bowl of water, Kindra grabbed the rag and scrubbed off the dirt and ash, wiping her hands and face. ¡°How were the gardens?¡± Dain asked. ¡°Fine. A rat or two. Some boys collected them.¡± He nodded and walked to the cupboard. Opening it, he sighed at the space. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the market. Study you two.¡± He turned and walked out the door. The spell followed him. Kindra smiled. ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Yes. This was expected. Quick. Let us resume.¡± Sigrid turned and took a seat at the table. Dumping out the golems, Kindra grabbed a screwdriver and removed screws. Walking up, Sigrid unscrewed and popped off panels. Kindra did the same, quickly removing the coverings and peering into each of the golems¡¯ heads. Each head contained a shattered gem; the runes faded and gone. That¡¯s unfortunate. She sighed, pulled out anything she didn¡¯t recognize, and set them aside. She grabbed some useless panels and burned mana, turning them into magazines, casings, and slugs. They vanished into her storage. Grabbing another chunk, she willed it into an M4 carbine with a half dozen clips. Sigrid blinked and picked it up. ¡°How do these work?¡± ¡°Simple.¡± Kindra smiled and pulled out a bullet. ¡°Inside it is fuel, like ground-up coal.¡± She gestured to the back of the bullet. ¡°This ignites it. And this holds it all, letting it launch the metal.¡± Sigrid paused in thought. She nodded and then frowned. ¡°But we can throw stones with magic.¡± ¡°How fast?¡± Kindra asked, raising her brow. ¡°Very fast.¡± Sigrid smiled sadly. ¡°It¡¯s interesting but doesn¡¯t change anything.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kindra asked. Sigrid patted her shoulder. ¡°It won¡¯t hurt undead, and it won¡¯t hurt them. They have shields.¡± Kindra grimaced. She¡¯s right about the undead. I¡¯ll need something for them and something for the shield. ¡°It is interesting, though,¡± Sigrid said sympathetically. Kindra smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll make the golems. We just need to get the crystals, and then they can help.¡± Sigrid patted Kindra¡¯s back and picked up another golem part. Grabbing several, Kindra sorted through them. Images from her dream flickered by. That elemental did win, slowly burning through the shield¡­ So, it must cost mana to absorb hits. She looked at the robot. Let¡¯s find out how to make that crystal. She grabbed pieces, memorized runes, and stashed them away, hurrying through it all. Finishing the last, she smiled and turned toward Sigrid. ¡°Discuss later?¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Sigrid walked over and grabbed a bucket. Kindra did the same, following her toward the well. I guess we could pull water out of the air, but that¡¯s such a waste of mana¡­ Oh, I should level. [Your mana has increased: 4623 ¡ú 4627] ? [Your actions have caused your mana to increase: 4627 ¡ú 4647] [Your mana has decreased: 4647 ¡ú 4487] [Your level has increased: 8 ¡ú 9.] ?[Your intelligence has increased: 14 ¡ú 16.] [Please select four attributes to increase.] Kindra walked to the line at the well before focusing on the text. Well, stamina is the lowest, and I could use more speed. [Your speed has increased: 10 ¡ú 12.] ?[Your stamina has increased: 8 ¡ú 10.]This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. She paused. System! Where¡¯s my skill up? [There isn¡¯t one at this level for you.] That¡¯s lame. She scowled at the text, and the system didn¡¯t respond. Blowing hair from her face, she stepped forward. Her dress fluttered in the soft breeze, and the line slowly crept forward. She looked at the crowd and the guards at the nearby barracks. What am I going to do about them and that spell? She stepped forward. Don¡¯t tell me this is some assassination game. I¡¯m not doing that. She paused, and the system ignored her. Stepping forward, she tried to ignore them. The feeling of eyes lingering on her skin remained. They are watching us. Probably Sigrid more than me. She tried to ignore it, glancing around the square. Most of the dwarves were acting similarly, avoiding the gaze of the guards. What a terrible way to live. She slowly made her way forward, reaching the well and waiting. Sigrid lowered the bucket and filled both of the pots. Kindra turned and followed her, leaving the well and walking quickly down the stone streets. Do they excavate the dirt first? She studied the stone buildings. Like living in a modern city¡­ with a lot fewer windows. She wrinkled her nose, turned down a small road, and walked up to the cottage. The hair on her neck stood, and she shivered, a wave of magic passing over her. Familiar runes danced nearby. That scrying spell is getting really old. She looked over at Sigrid. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll find him, and this will stop,¡± Sigrid replied, walking into the cottage. I hate this spell. Kindra walked inside, carrying the pot to the table. She looked at Dain. He chopped things and tossed them into the pot. Looks like stew again. Turning her focus, she studied the magic in the room, Reaching up, she touched a rune. The hair on her neck stood. That¡¯s uncanny¡­ feels like the thing that messed with our ship. Realization hit her like a hammer, slamming through her mind. You have got to be kidding me. Magic did all of this. Some necromancer or something pulled me here. A shiver ran down her spine. Why? Am I an experiment? She swallowed. ¡°Kindra?¡± Dain said, raising a single brow. ¡°Sorry, what?¡± Kindra asked, looking over. ¡°Can you with this?¡± He gestured to some strange root vegetables. ¡°Sure.¡± Kindra walked over and started slicing the lumpy, yellow vegetable. The magic around her faded, dimming like the sun outside. She let out a breath of relief. ¡°What?¡± Sigrid asked, pouring a little water into the pot. ¡°The spell¡¯s gone,¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°What does it do?¡± ¡°Likely a scrying spell. They cost a lot of mana and have a lot of limits,¡± Sigrid replied, walking over and taking the knife. She leaned closer. ¡°Wash up, and be careful. They may still be listening.¡± Kindra nodded and walked to the washbasin. Using the rag, she washed her face, arms, and hands, removing any residual dirt. I miss showers. She ran her finger across her arm and wiped off more dust. Of course. She scrubbed again and looked at the little reflection that shone back. ¡°Mom, can I color my hair?¡± She gestured to try to get her point across. Sigrid considered it for a moment and nodded. ¡°There are berries if you wish to try them.¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± Kindra nodded emphatically. ¡°I¡¯ll see if the hunters find any.¡± Sigrid turned and smiled at her. ¡°But don¡¯t be ashamed of your hair.¡± ¡°They hate it,¡± Kindra replied, the answer slipping out. ¡°I see it in their eyes.¡± Dain spun. ¡°The necromancers all have it. That¡¯s why.¡± He smiled apologetically. ¡°Forgive them, and you can dye it if you wish.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra nodded. He paused a moment. ¡°Did you have that class as an option?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°I did, but I chose artificer.¡± She walked forward and stopped. Sigrid hung the pot over the fire and took a seat. ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, dear. They¡¯ll come around.¡± Kindra walked forward and looked at the soup. Vegetables floated in the water. I miss good food. ¡°What do you think about the workshop?¡± Sigrid asked, turning and winking. ¡°It¡¯s fun and interesting, but we¡¯re missing something.¡± Sigrid turned with a large smile on her face. ¡°Yes. Let us consider what.¡± She gestured at the empty spot on the table. Kindra nodded and pulled out pieces, placing them gently on the table. Dain turned and studied the pieces, his eyes quickly moving through them. He looked at Kindra. ¡°Learn anything?¡± he asked her and turned toward Sigrid. Sigrid shook her head and looked at Kindra. Kindra looked at the old metal, picked up a piece, and brushed off the dust. ¡°Yes, several things, but nothing that Sigrid didn¡¯t.¡± She traced her fingers along the metal. Wait. Can I see what the system says? She focused on a gear. [Level 55 Fortified Gear - This gear was made from fortified steel, granting it the equivalent of 50 stamina. ?- Inactive enchantment - Level 50 fortification.] That¡¯s easier. Kindra set it down, grabbed an unrecognized gearbox, and studied it. [Level 50 Magical Distributer - This convoluted component is designed to turn magical energy into physical energy.] Her eyes went wide, and she grabbed for others. ¡°Kindra?¡± Gleon nudged. ¡°Sorry.¡± Kindra turned. ¡°This distributes magical energy,¡± she said, looking at Sigrid. Sigrid nodded. ¡°We can go over the runes.¡± Oh. She already knew that. Kindra picked up another. The floor creaked, and she spun. A dwarf she¡¯d never seen before looked at them. The woman had dark gray, braided hair and extremely vibrant green magic. The woman turned and studied Kindra. ¡°Kindra, this is Anna. Anna, this is Kindra.¡± Dain continued studying the metal. ¡°Hello, Kindra. Curious hair.¡± Anna nodded at Kindra and turned back to Dain. ¡°There is a problem, and I need you.¡± ¡°What problem?¡± Dain asked. ¡°It¡¯s delicate,¡± Anna replied, her eyes flitting in Kindra¡¯s direction. And answered. Kindra frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Nonsense. You haven¡¯t eaten,¡± Sigrid said. ¡°Dain. Take a moment.¡± Dain nodded and walked into the room, closing the door behind him. Sigrid turned and smiled at Kindra. ¡°Problems?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Always.¡± Sigrid sighed and then straightened herself. She smiled at Kindra. ¡°But you needn¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t?¡± Kindra asked, raising her brow. ¡°No, no. He¡¯ll get it sorted.¡± Sigrid walked to the fire and stirred the soup with a wooden spoon. Kindra pulled out more pieces of the golem and studied the design. So, some piston and gear-based robot¡­ Why use a humanoid design? Doesn¡¯t make sense. She picked up a gearbox and studied the gears that would have caused movement through the legs. Sigrid sat next to her and smiled. ¡°Supper for your thoughts?¡± ¡°Why build them like this? It seems inefficient.¡± Kindra shook her head. Sigrid raised a brow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Why bother with legs? You could give them wheels instead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not always about pure efficiency. These were the sentinels. They were made in the likeness of the dwarves gone before.¡± Sigrid smiled. ¡°There is beauty in that, yes?¡± Kindra nodded. Yes, there¡¯s beauty in it¡­ Magic, letting them shortcut the cold efficiency needed to push to a new age. She mused on that, looking at the stone room. Is it a hindrance? It could be. I wonder ¡ª The door swung open, interrupting her thoughts and revealing a worried Dain. He moved into the room and leaned down. ¡°We need to pack.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sigrid whispered. ¡°Surely they don¡¯t suspect it.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. The rumor about Gleon is spreading. People want anyone related to the problem gone.¡± Dain kissed her cheek. ¡°We need to go.¡± ¡°Do we have time for dinner?¡± Sigrid asked. Dain nodded. ¡°Quick.¡± He walked to the fire and pulled off the pot, moving the steaming pot to the table. Sigrid stood and pulled out bowls, placing them on the table. Grabbing a ladle, she dished out soup, filling bowls. Kindra grabbed the parts and stashed them. Picking up a spoon, she blew on the soup and took a bite. The taste of mud came with it. Like eating a tube meal on the ship, she forced it down, trying to ignore the abominable taste that seemed to have gotten worse. Chapter 39 – City Tensions - Pt 6 Kindra grabbed her empty bowl and walked it to the basin. She rinsed it and the spoon. The sound of silverware filled the stone room, and she turned back. ¡°You ate so little,¡± Sigrid said with a sorrowful look. ¡°Are you still hungry?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Kindra smiled at her. She walked to her room, opened the chest, and pulled out her three other dresses. Tossing them onto the bed, she rolled the bedding into a roll, grabbed it, and walked from the small room. ¡°Hey, Aika, I think we¡¯re moving.¡± ¡°Good. You can join us.¡± Kindra returned to the kitchen and helped Sigrid pack, placing wooden silverware into the pots. Gathering plates and bowls, she stacked them together. Sigrid tied them together with a piece of cloth. ¡°I am sorry about this. We¡¯d hoped to let you have a safe place instead of the wilds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Kindra shrugged. Sigrid smiled at her. ¡°You¡¯re a trooper.¡± ¡°I¡¯m old. Remember?¡± Sigrid shook her head. ¡°You are so young. So very young,¡± she whispered, gathering the last of the items from the shelves and tying them into a bundle. She smiled at Kindra and walked into her room, opening a door built into the floor. ¡°How do we stop them from finding out about those?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°We don¡¯t use them.¡± Sigrid¡¯s eyes glowed, and the stone crashed down like water, filling the passageway and cementing it shut. She shut the door and invoked another spell, turning the door into a chest. That¡¯s very cool¡­ but how are we getting out? She stepped out of the room. Dain shouldered a large bag and walked forward. ¡°Kindra, kill as many undead as you wish on the way out. It¡¯ll help draw attention from the tunnels and any left here.¡± Kindra nodded. Absolutely. She grabbed her bundle and followed the two out of the door. Tension hung in the air. Smoke from fires billowed and gathered around chimneys, staying as if to watch what would happen. The streets were still, and four guards turned toward them. ¡°We knew it,¡± one said, shaking his head and reaching for his sword. His dark eyes and hair were filled with rage. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Dain replied. ¡°We¡¯re leaving. Don¡¯t make it bloody.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made it bloody,¡± the dwarf hissed. ¡°An entire village slaughtered. And for what? For what? Some girl that looks half-undead? Is that why you did it?¡± Kindra swallowed and shifted her pack, freeing up a hand. She willed a nine-millimeter pistol into it. ¡°Leave her out of this,¡± Sigrid snapped back. Her hair glowed. ¡°I will end all of you if necessary. Don¡¯t make it necessary.¡± The guard scowled. ¡°You are strong, but not strong enough.¡± ¡°Final warning,¡± Dain replied, pain and anger flashing across his face. ¡°We do not wish to kill our own.¡± How do I stop this? Realization hit her. The birds from days ago sprang to mind. Willing the runes into her mind, she poked her head past Sigrid and burned a hundred mana. Her mana surged, and the spell ripped from her throat in a furious burst of noise. The dwarves staggered, two of them dropping onto the ground. The other two dwarves turned, staring at Kindra. One launched himself forward, and stone ripped from the ground, wrapping her in a cocoon. ¡°Come, Kindra,¡± Sigrid said, shaking her head at the pinned dwarves. She turned and jogged down the street. Kindra followed, running down the street and turning the corner. A pack of undead canines greeted them. They surged forward, and Kindra shifted the runes in her mind. Like a rapid game of scrabble, the spell snapped into place, and she flicked out her mana. The charging dogs dropped, skidding and tumbling along the stone, leaving smears of blood in their wake. Kindra reached out and pulled the mana into herself.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Thank you, dear,¡± Sigrid said, jogging toward the wall and ignoring the gate. Can they just jump the wall? I sure can¡¯t. Her eyes flickered toward Sigrid. Sigrid grinned. Magic and runes surged around her, blanketing the area. Then they streamed forward, a ribbon of light flowing down the dim streets. Hitting the wall, the stone warped, creating an arch. Kindra ran toward it, and something gnawed at her stomach. The streets remained quiet. Too quiet. The air was still, and a magic-laden breeze hit, making every hair on her neck stand. ¡°Run!¡± Dain bellowed. Kindra spun and saw the reason why. A massive, undead wyvern cruised through the air. Its flesh was largely gone, blue magic surging through the bones of the winged creature. Its head turned, and a strange presence came with it. ¡°Kindra, come back to me,¡± an ancient female voice whispered in her mind. Kindra didn¡¯t reply. Her eyes blazed, and she burned mana, letting it course out of her. A torrent of light flared. Runes shot through the air, and the magic hit the wyvern. The light inside snuffed out like an extinguished candle. The presence vanished, and the undead wyvern crashed toward the city, its wings folding. Kindra watched in quiet awe, reaching out for the mana and pulling it into herself. Dain scooped her off the ground and bolted, racing for the archway. ¡°No time to dally, Kindra.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Kindra blushed and looked back at the descending wyvern. It slammed into the town with a thunderous crash, bones breaking on stone. Swallowing, she turned and looked at the fields. Undead surged forward, racing toward them. ¡°I haven''t got the mana from the wyvern yet,¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright,¡± Dain said, setting her down. Kindra jogged behind him and looked at the swarming mob of undead. I don¡¯t know about that. A roar echoed from the trees, and a dwarf shot out like a cannonball. With a glowing hammer and glowing axe, Gleon whirled into the undead. Bones cracked. Pieces of flesh flew, and the undead ripped into him, clawing into his skin. God. Kindra grimaced and felt the mana from the wyvern surge into her; a fiery torrent of energy licked through her body. She felt something. Like the wyvern, it reached for her mind, and she shoved against it, fighting a presence that snaked into her mind with debilitating power. ¡°Come back to us, Kindra,¡± the ancient voice whispered. ¡°We have to go,¡± Kindra hissed and tossed a ball of glowing mana in front of her. The glowing orb hung there, pulsing faster and faster, mirroring her thundering heart. Undead turned. ¡°Kindra, darling, please. Stay there. I¡¯ll be there as soon as I can.¡± A shiver ran down Kindra¡¯s spine. No. Not that. I¡¯m not going back to the dark. Images of the nothingness flashed by. They crashed through her, creating a storm of horror and emptiness. An eternity of nothing but glowing runes. Runes surged through her, and she rushed toward the undead. One reached out and grabbed her arm. It dropped, the magic snuffing out. Gleon roared, blood oozing from cuts and wounds that now lined his body. Mana surged around Sigrid, and his wounds began to close. Surging one last time, the glowing ball of magic exploded, crashing over the place like a tidal wave. The light in the undead faded away, drifting like smoke from the flame. The bodies dropped, and Kindra ran, bolting for the trees and pulling the mana with her. The thrum of bow strings filled the air, and large arms plucked Kindra from the ground. The world blurred. Pulling her to his chest, Dain ran into the trees at a high sprint. He raced through the smaller plants that grew taller and larger with every passing moment. Shutting her eyes to fight the nausea, Kindra felt the wind. It blew across her, fluttering her hair. A lurching feeling traveled through her, and she opened one eye to see giant trees blurring by. The smell and sound of civilization were replaced with that of dirt and plants. The ambient magic in the air grew, and Kindra studied the canopy. Mana flowed up the trees and into the branches. The leaves glowed with it. What level are they, and how much work is it to chop one of these monsters down? Passing one, she saw a thick vine wrapped around the trunk. Sap oozed from the tree, and mana fed into the vine. Is it feeding off the tree? Kindra saw large thorns on it. Can it do that to people, too? She shivered and watched a bird land nearby. It stuck its beak inside, drinking the sap. A tree flashed into view, blocking the sight. Running past it, the three jogged into the trees. Magic surged through the air, runes spinning past them. Kindra looked through the series, slowly piecing together the counter in her mind. The spell winked out, vanishing suddenly. Dain continued to run. Turning her head, Kindra looked out at the forest. The trees grew larger. Vines attacked some of them, and bugs attacked the vines. I suppose some circles are forever. A bird swooped down and impaled a bug, carrying it off somewhere. Looking back at Dain, Kindra raised a brow. How deep are we going? ¡°Sorry. We need to go deep enough that they won¡¯t pursue us, and this is safer,¡± Dain said simply. ¡°Where¡¯s Aika?¡± Kindra asked, looking over at Gleon. ¡°With Gran,¡± Gleon replied. ¡°We¡¯ll meet up, but we must ensure they can¡¯t follow us. That means we need to go where even the undead won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°And where is that?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°A little deeper. There are things here that feed on the dead, and undead are meals to them.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there things that feed on us, too?¡± Kindra asked, looking out into the large trees. The ambient mana grew, and the plants seemed to be slowly drinking it in. Gleon laughed. ¡°I¡¯m the scariest thing that you¡¯ll see¡ª¡± A bison hit him, and he flew, soaring through the air and slamming into a tree. The buffalo-like creature snorted, its nostrils flaring. Kindra laughed, and it turned toward her. Oh, shit. Chapter 40 – Necromantic Interlude Pain. It raced through Diana, and she hissed, opening her eyes. An ornate table with the most exquisite foods greeted her. Seared meat was piled high. Fruit was piled in decorative piles, and glowing wine sat on the table. Looking at her empty, golden glass, she snappd her fingers and gestured toward it, a long nail cutting through the air. Oh, Kindra. You were always a troublesome one. She sighed. A servant in a black and white dress dashed forward and refilled the goblet with the glowing fluid. Diana reached out, took the goblet, and drank, savoring the sweet and spicy taste of mana. It flowed through her, soothing the backlash from the spell. Who was killing my undead like that? She frowned and looked up at the rafters of the ornate building. A chandelier lit the large, stone dining room, its candles flickering and reflecting off the glass. ¡°Mother?¡± a man asked from down the table, returning her thoughts to the pointless conversation she¡¯d left behind. Turning, she looked at the man in a perfectly tailored, elegant black suit. It fit his body like a second skin, providing a nice contrast with his short, white hair and pale blue eyes. Looking at her with an expression of concern, he frowned. ¡°Mother, did you hear me?¡± ¡°I apologize. There was a matter on the dwarven realm,¡± Diana replied. ¡°I needed to handle it.¡± Her fingers drummed on the glass. Such a troublesome project. Frustration spread through her, and she forced it down. It needed to be done. The man raised his brow. ¡°And it¡¯s handled now?¡± ¡°I have it handled and know where she is,¡± Diana replied, waving her hand dismissively. Her thoughts drifted back to the dwarven world and the girl that remained there. I¡¯ll need to find and kill the radiant caster, and I¡¯ll need to go retrieve her. She studied her hands momentarily, memories flashing by. Perhaps she¡¯ll see reason. A woman cleared her throat. ¡°Tell her, Spencer. Tell her, or I will.¡± Diana turned toward the voice. A woman sat there, swirling her wine. Her black dress clung to her body, revealing every curve. Spencer glared at the woman before gesturing toward the servant. ¡°We ran into a complication, mother.¡± His eyes turned icy, rage spreading across his face. He gestured a servant forward. ¡°Show her.¡± The trembling man stepped forward and lifted the cloth, revealing a head with white hair, icy blue eyes, and a hooked nose. The servant swallowed and quickly covered it, stepping back into the shadows without a sound. Diana sighed loudly. ¡°Savages.¡± She frowned and looked back at Spencer. ¡°Please tell me that you sent them a firm message before retreating.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have time.¡± Spencer lowered his head, swallowing. ¡°More work for us to do,¡± the other woman said, sighing loudly. Diana sipped her wine and looked at the two. So young. So young and foolish. She paused. ¡°He lost control over his shield?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Spencer admitted. ¡°They applied enough force that it snapped.¡± Very well. They need a lesson. Diana contemplated killing him for a moment before dismissing the thought. ¡°I will handle it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Spencer said, leaning back in the chair. ¡°You will both come with me. I wish to see how far you¡¯ve progressed, and I trust you won¡¯t disappoint me with some pathetic showing again?¡± Diana asked, a stern frown spreading across her face. ¡°Of course not,¡± Spencer said. He paused. ¡°How is the war going?¡± ¡°The same as ever. You must learn patience. That is our greatest skill.¡± Diana took another sip. ¡°And you must push yourselves.¡± She leaned back against the cushion, studying the two. I shouldn¡¯t have agreed to take them as my own. She drummed her fingers on the table. They do not compare to her¡­ Memories flashed through her mind. A soft smile spread across her face, and Diana took a moment.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Pulling on her skill, her vision faded away. Black streamed around her, and she felt thousands of eyes. Reaching to one, her vision snapped elsewhere. She looked into the gray of the dwarven realm. Now. Where did they go? Willing her flying minion forward, she cruised away from the city, searching the forest for any sign of the girl. Flying down, she soared into the trees and quickly found the trail. She followed it, flying deeper and deeper into the forest. The trees blurred around her. Banking around trees, she followed, the bird¡¯s gaze flickering between the ground and the pathway forward. The sounds of a stream filled the air. The birds above went quiet, and she slammed back into her body. Hissing, she felt the phantom pain of talons sinking into her back. Cursed forest. I should burn the entire thing down. She massaged her brow, letting the headache slowly fade. ¡°Mother?¡± the other woman asked. ¡°What?¡± Diana snapped, glaring at her. The other woman went quiet. ¡°I had to verify things on another world. Both of you need to acquire and learn the skill.¡± Diana picked up the goblet and drained it, letting it sooth away the headache. Crossing worlds wasn¡¯t easy, even with her skills and power. Reaching forward, she grabbed a fork and knife, spearing a piece of seared meat. Dropping it on her plate, she ate with ferocity, savoring the raw meat and taste of blood. The two went quiet, rapidly eating. A nervous servant darted forward and refilled her glass. Diana ignored her and downed the glass. Picking up a napkin, she wiped her mouth and stood. ¡°Very well. Let us handle the realm of night elves.¡± ¡°Are we burning down a city?¡± the woman asked, standing with a dark smile. ¡°We will sew the seeds. These things take time, dear. We are not the raging inferno, burning everything in our path. We are the farmers, those who expand their fields and grow their crops.¡± Diana turned and walked toward a side room. ¡°We will need to start this quickly. I do have other matters.¡± ¡°Other matters?¡± the woman asked. ¡°What matters?¡± It was a mistake. Diana turned, her voice turning icy. ¡°You overstep and have already cost me both reputation and time.¡± She glowered at the woman. ¡°I allowed you to be my daughter. Do not push it further, Elana.¡± Elana paled, swallowed, and nodded. Diana turned and walked to a room. The walls were lined with runes, etched in a flowing pattern that created a sphere of silver and gold. The candlelight glistened off the walls, casting the room in a large glow. Realm travel, so irksome. Walking into the room, she stood in the center of it and pulled on her magic. Like diving in an ocean, it crashed over her, and she looked at the two. ¡°Come.¡± The two scrambled into the room, taking a position next to her. Diana¡¯s eyes glowed, turning a vibrant blue. Willing the final runes into her mind, she focused on the night elf realm. The magic roared out of her, flowing through the etchings on the wall. Blazing like they were made from the sun, stars, and moon, the symbols flared and twinkled. Pressure surged around them, and the dazzling lights faded. Blackness tugged at their bodies, and the three slammed onto the surface of another world. Taking a deep breath, Diana blinked away the blurriness in her vision and looked into the dark. A strange purple light from the distant star lit the area. Towering trees of blue and purple filled the air, and an arrow slammed into her shield. Grabbing her skill, she extended the magical barrier and shook her head. ¡°Fool elf,¡± she hissed, turning and locking onto the target. A small group of night elf soldiers stood there wearing scanty clothing. A man¡¯s eyes blazed with a dark blue light. He nocked an arrow so fast that his hands blurred. The others did the same, causing their arrows and bows to glow. Diana¡¯s eyes focused on the glowing runes. Stamina reduction and augmented strength. The fools. She smirked. ¡°You should not have come back, abomination.¡± He released his arrow. Glowing bolts A wave of fire slammed into her shield. Diana reached out and triggered her skill. A cloud of green filled the spherical shield, surging in intensity. Looking over, she watched the two others do the same. Good. They are learning. ¡°Die!¡± a night elf hissed, and everything went silent. A beam of light smashed into Spencer¡¯s shield, and it shattered. He gasped, and his body incinerated. A growl ripped from Diana¡¯s throat. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for that.¡± She flooded magic into her shield, filling it with the toxic green mana. Ending her spell, she began another, pulling on her remaining mana and triggering Recall. The magic surged around her. Pressure built, and the world faded. She snapped back into the room. Turning, she nodded. ¡°Well done, daughter.¡± ¡°Of course. I listened, unlike some.¡± Elana paused a moment. ¡°You know that I am not your enemy, mother.¡± My outburst. Diana sighed and gestured to the empty space where Spencer should have been. ¡°You see my frustration.¡± ¡°Yes, but I am not him.¡± Elana stepped forward, her dress swishing around her ankles. ¡°The dwarven world? Is there a cause for concern? I know that the recent events were costly to you.¡± Diana blanched, the reminder unnecessary. It was the ultimate travesty to lose her like that. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± She straightened her black dress and walked out of the room. ¡°I need to prepare a replacement for Spencer. It will take some time.¡± ¡°Of course, mother.¡± Elana nodded and walked up to the table. ¡°I will ensure our duties are obeyed.¡± She took another drink of the wine. Diana did the same, draining the refilled glass. Shame. This will take a few days. She looked at the servant, who edged forward to refill it. She held out her hand and let her thoughts drift. Do be safe over there, daughter, dear; I can¡¯t have you dying on me. That would not do. That would not do at all. Chapter 41 – City Departure The buffalo¡¯s eyes glistened with the night, twinkling like little angry stars. Stars that had decided their next target. It stared at Kindra, pawed the ground, and lowered its head. Kindra reached for her rifle, and it surged forward, its hooves ripping into the ground and spraying dirt. Cold steel filled Kindra¡¯s hands. She pulled the rifle up, and the world tilted. Dain set her aside, stepped forward, and reached for his weapons. Hooves thundered, and Kindra steadied herself. Come on. She corrected the aim, and a massive boulder erupted from the ground, launching the buffalo like a pinball. It shot into the air, an expression of bewilderment on its face. A soft moo escaped its throat as if it couldn¡¯t believe Sigrid would do such a thing. Kindra spun and watched. The bison soared, its legs and tail flailing. Then, it slammed into the tree with a heavy thud. The tree quivered, a few leaves breaking free. The bison dropped like a stone, bellowing in protest. Well, that¡¯s one way to do it. Kindra watched it hit the ground hard. Bones snapped, and it bellowed, pain ringing with the sound. Well. It¡¯s not going anywhere. Kindra turned and let her mouth drop open. Sigrid smiled and dusted off her hands, her pride clear. ¡°Really, Dad? Letting a bison get the drop on you?¡± She chuckled and wagged her finger at Gleon. He pulled himself off the ground and rubbed his arm. ¡°Fool critter. Must have had an illness to dare charge me.¡± Kindra turned back to the bison. It tried to stand up, bellowed in pain, and dropped. That¡¯s gruesome. She looked at the snapped legs. Dain walked up to it and brought his hammer down, smashing into the bone with a loud clang. The bison bellowed. Kindra debated shooting and felt a hand on her back. She turned. ¡°Always take a healing skill if you get one,¡± Gleon said, stretching out his shoulder with a loud pop. ¡°Aika says that yours made you crazy.¡± Kindra smirked, and he chuckled. A thump and cracking bone caught her ear, and she turned. Dain raised his hammer. ¡°Pity we can¡¯t bring it back,¡± Gleon said, sighing and walking toward it. Kindra followed. ¡°What are we going to do with it?¡± ¡°Set up camp and harvest a bit. This is far enough, I reckon.¡± He pulled out a knife and sliced into it. Red blood poured out, and Kindra took in a long breath. That smells way too good. She looked at the mana flowing out of it. Some of the mana streamed into the dwarves, some went into herself, and some drained into the forest floor. Licking her lips, she stepped closer and reached, targeting the part oozing away and pulling it into herself like a delicate ribbon of mana. It hit, and she swallowed, enjoying the flow of heat that surged through her. ¡°Let¡¯s find some wood.¡± Sigrid walked up and nudged Kindra away. ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯ll be consumed by bloodlust or something?¡± Kindra asked, gesturing at the blood to get her point across. Sigrid blushed and patted Kindra¡¯s back. ¡°It¡¯s better to be safe.¡± Okay. So they think I¡¯m some sort of vampire thing, even though I can eat fruit and stuff. It just needs mana in it. Kindra didn¡¯t bother arguing with them. She turned and looked into the forest, trying to find a fallen tree. ¡°How do we gather wood?¡± Sigrid turned and studied the trees. ¡°We find one that is young, find one that¡¯s weak, or get Gleon to help us out.¡± Turning, Kindra walked into the trees, studying them. Mana ran up the trunks. Wish I could see levels. That¡¯d be cool. She paused, her thoughts drifting to the priestess and the spell. How much mana does that cost? Fixing the runes into her mind, she pushed a little mana into it and cast it at a large tree next to her. The magic surged out and slammed into a tree. For a moment, Kindra felt the presence. Like hitting a brick wall, it stood there unperturbed. Her spell snuffed away, breaking against the tree. So, it¡¯s strong enough to cost a lot of mana. She patted the tree on her way by, looping around and pausing to look at the distant stream. Mana flowed in the water, and trees seemed to be drinking it in. A glowing fish shot through the water, blurring with an absurd speed, its mouth open wide. Snagging an insect, it landed with a soft splash and vanished into the water. Kindra moved closer and searched. Small insects were feasting on mana and pieces of the trees. Looking up, she saw large sections of vines attacking the trees. Fascinating. Nature still finds a way, even with trees that get level-ups. Looking at the canopy, she watched a glowing squirrel-like creature hop onto the branches. It wrapped its fuzzy tail around one and chittered loudly. Magic and runes streamed out. That looks like the identification spell. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The runes hit Kindra, and Sigrid stepped forward, glowering at the critter and putting her arm around Kindra. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± The squirrel chittered at her. More magic flew, hitting Sigrid. The squirrel stopped chittering and bolted into the branches. They use magic to identify threats? That¡­ makes sense. If you can¡¯t read it, it¡¯s not weak. She smiled and looked at Sigrid. ¡°Dangerous?¡± ¡°Only for the young.¡± Sigrid patted her back and gestured toward a tree down the stream. ¡°That one.¡± She walked between the trees, moving toward a large tree. ¡°How can you tell?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Trees don¡¯t level like us. Instead, they level based on the ambient magic that they pull inside. At a certain point, too much leaks out. See the moss and vines, they¡¯re feeding on the leaks and causing more.¡± Sigrid gestured to the foliage. ¡°The leaves are far weaker than the trunk and large branches. Typically, bugs and smaller creatures will attack those.¡± ¡°Do they get classes or abilities?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°A few, but most can¡¯t. They fortify themselves with the mana.¡± Sigrid pulled an axe from her belt. She walked to the large trunk and chopped, sinking the axe into the bark and blowing small chips into the air. Walking to the tree, Kindra pulled out her axe and hit the tree with a thud. The jarring impact ran up her arms. Pulling back the axe, she saw no visual effect on the tree. That¡¯s just embarrassing. Her face went red, and she tried again, slamming the axe into the tree with a resounding thud. Pulling the blade away, she saw the tiniest mark. Sigrid chopped, sending another spray of fragments into the air. ¡°How much strength do you have?¡± Kindra asked while debating spending limited mana on another enhancement. Sigrid smiled. ¡°You are young, my dear.¡± She slammed the axe into the tree, cutting off small pieces. ¡°I have over a hundred and a lot of practice.¡± Over a hundred¡­ ¡°What level are you?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get there. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Sigrid smiled at her. ¡°I am nearly to level one hundred.¡± Kindra let out a low whistle. ¡°She¡¯d be further if Gran had let me raise her in the wilds,¡± Gleon said, walking over and slamming his axe into the tree. It sunk into it with a resounding thud. How does the steel survive if the tree is stronger? Kindra studied the weapon and saw the faint glow of mana inside. It looped back into Gleon, and he swung. The axe glowed faintly and bit deep into the tree, sending shards of wood spraying into the air. Kindra held hers up and studied. The magic remained in her body. Must be a skill or something. She slammed it into the tree and searched for a mark. She found a small dent, and an explosion of chips flew around her. Stepping backward, she looked at Gleon. ¡°What level are you?¡± ¡°In general, it¡¯s poor form to ask,¡± Gleon replied. ¡°But since you¡¯re family, I¡¯m level two hundred and forty-three.¡± ¡°How did it even move you?¡± Kindra asked, shaking her head and studying the dwarf. His large frame moved with superhuman grace, and his axe slammed into the tree. It sunk into the trunk. Gleon chuckled and pulled the axe back. ¡°Their charge is powerful.¡± He smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not enough to break my bones, but it is enough to send me flying unless I¡¯m braced against something.¡± Oh. Gravity would have limits¡­ How high can they jump? She mused on it and took another step back. His axe sunk into the wood. ¡°He also has a very powerful self-healing skill,¡± Sigrid said, turning and pulling Kindra to the side. Gleon ripped the axe free. ¡°Aye. Never pass on skills to stay alive.¡± He swung, and a loud crack rang through the woods. The tree stood there, a crack running through the trunk. With a sigh, Gleon leapt nearly ten feet into the air and kicked, his foot slamming into the tree like some absurd martial artist. The tree tipped and came crashing down, smashing into the ground with several snaps. The mana inside slowed and went still, freezing in place like some strange monument. Is that material magical now? And what does it do? Kindra studied it and turned to the others. ¡°Is it magical wood?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sigrid said, walking forward and chopping off branches. ¡°The wood retains some of its innate properties. Usually, it¡¯s a stronger version of itself.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s strong enough, you can imbue it with magic and mana to create a self-contained enchantment,¡± Sigrid said, chopping off branches. ¡°In addition to boosted stats.¡± ¡°But those require heavy amounts of it,¡± Gleon said, chopping off pieces. Damn. I shouldn¡¯t have left that wyvern behind¡­ Maybe it¡¯ll still be there. It is way down in that cave. Kindra looked at the wood. ¡°Can I use some?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gleon slammed his axe through a branch, severing it. Walking up to it, Kindra pulled out metal and placed it next to the branch. Grabbing her mana, she willed some of it into her skill and imagined the bullets. Mana flowed, and runes danced across the branch. Steam billowed into the air. The branch and leaves curled on themselves, and a burst of smoke rose into the air. There goes the extra carbon and oxygen. Metal flowed like it was alive, snaking into the smoldering mess. Don¡¯t ignite my bullets, you crazy spell. Kindra frowned, and the flames vanished. The smoke faded, leaving behind two dozen bullets for her rifle. Walking forward, she reached down, and large hands snatched them up. Gleon stared at it, moving it close to his eye. ¡°What is this thing?¡± ¡°A bullet. Remember?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°You use trees and metal?¡± ¡°Yes. But the trees have to be altered a bit to get the right reaction.¡± Shaking his head, Gleon handed them to her with a look of confusion. ¡°Never seen the like. Can you make more?¡± Kindra pulled on her mana; most of it was spent and felt more like sludge. ¡°Yes. I should be able to once my mana recharges.¡± ¡°And can you make another gun?¡± ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ll need to get¡ª¡± Kindra was jerked off her feet. Two strong arms were underneath her legs and back. She looked up at Sigrid. The normally calm woman had a look of fear in her brown eyes. ¡°Dain,¡± Sigrid hissed and whispered at the same time. Dain sprinted over, and Kindra turned. Her throat closed, and she trembled, fear and horror lacing through her. A creature stepped out from the trees. It had the fur and general shape of a massive bear. The similarities stopped there. Horns, teeth, limbs, and claws protruded from the body in a haphazard amalgamation of flesh. Extra legs kicked in the air, and Kindra felt like vomiting. What the hell is that? Gleon bellowed, his voice booming through the night. Then, he charged straight for the abomination of body parts. Chapter 42 – City Departure – Pt 2 The thing lurched, its extra limbs swaying. Its flesh split open, revealing extra mouths. They all opened. No more horror levels. Kindra shivered and pulled out her gun. Gleon¡¯s red beard blurred. His axe whistled and hacked into its body. A spray of purple blood shot into the air, spattering him and the forest. The thing ignored it. Its limbs reached for him. Claws slashed through the air, and he vaulted backward. Kindra swallowed and looked up at Sigrid. This is embarrassing. Sigrid gestured. Stone ripped from the ground and slammed into the creature, hammering it and ripping off extra limbs. The thing shuffled across the forest floor, reaching for Gleon with several limbs. His axe blurred around him, pieces of flesh, blood, and pus spraying into the air. How could nature make something that disgusting? Kindra exhaled and looked at Sigrid. ¡°You can put me down.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Sigrid¡¯s eyes remained locked on the thing. Dain moved cautiously forward and smacked the longer limps away. Kindra contemplated trying to shoot it. Though that was going to be difficult while stuck in a princess-carry by a protective dwarf. She frowned. What can I do to help? Eyes across the creature¡¯s body opened, and Kindra shivered. What the hell? The abomination lunged toward Dain, its limbs raking across his arms and chest. ¡°Dain!¡± Sigrid shouted, and another barrage of stone smashed into it, ripping away the limbs. Dain staggered back, and a long arm shot out, grabbing him and pulling him closer. Kindra¡¯s heart thundered. Her adrenaline spiked, and she saw them. Runes glowed inside the strange creatures. She rapidly worked on the counter. Gleon chopped with reckless abandon, ignoring the wounds on his body. Blood sprayed around him, and Kindra burned mana, sending a stream of glowing magic toward the creature. The magic hit it, and the runes snuffed out, canceling each other in a burst of magic. The creature screamed, horrific snarls, growls, and shrieks emerging from its mouths. Parts of it began falling off as the magic unraveled. God, that¡¯s disgusting. Kindra shivered. Gleon¡¯s axe slammed into its side, spraying pus and blood everywhere. The creature moaned, and a stone pillar erupted from the ground, staking it like a pile of rotten flesh. The thing went still, and Kindra shuddered. She looked at Dain. Blood oozed down his body, and Sigrid raced toward him, setting Kindra to the side. Kindra balanced and watched the two. Sigrid pulled him into a hug, magic flooding from her. That¡¯s a healing spell. Kindra studied it, and an eruption of putrid blood flew. She darted backward. Gleon stood on top of it and chopped again, sending out another spray. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Kindra asked, moving further away from the blood-covered group. ¡°Ensuring it doesn¡¯t come back.¡± Gleon shook his head. Rage lingered in his eyes. ¡°Damnable blight.¡± ¡°Blight?¡± Kindra probed, watching Dain¡¯s wounds close. ¡°Was it infected with something?¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Gleon chopped again, cutting deep into its flesh. ¡°I need to kill the host.¡± He slammed his axe down. A splatter of foul blood splashed next to the pair. ¡°Be careful with that,¡± Sigrid said, shaking her finger at him. Gleon chuckled. ¡°Been a while since my daughter lectured me.¡± Turning her focus to the body, Kindra studied it. There is magic inside. Is it corrupt? It flowed out and streamed straight into her, ignoring everything else. A small torrent of it filled her, and her eyes widened. What the hell? [Your mana has increased: 4487 ¡ú 4930] She reached inside, feeling her spent mana. I did get some from that¡­ Should I level? She debated it. Having more mana meant more spells. Having more levels would boost things. Her face contorted as she debated it.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Don¡¯t even give mana, rotten things,¡± Gleon huffed and swung. Kindra scrambled away. A burst of blood sprayed, and the head came off. Gleon jumped down, blood dripping from him. ¡°Washing up.¡± He turned and headed from the nearby stream. Kindra followed him. ¡°Gleon, what was that? What¡¯s blight?¡± ¡°Some spell or skill that the necromancers have. It infects things. Then, they lumber around killing things out here and becoming that.¡± He spit, disgust and disdain evident in his brown eyes. Kindra followed him toward the stream. ¡°They do that?¡± ¡°And far worse. They¡¯re monsters.¡± Gleon waded into the stream and rinsed himself off. Kindra swallowed and touched the icy water. ¡°That¡¯s freezing.¡± ¡°Aye. You¡¯re young. I forget,¡± Gleon said. He turned and looked at her. ¡°Let¡¯s fix that.¡± ¡°How?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°We¡¯ll go kill some things.¡± Gleon dunked his head in the water. ¡°She needs to practice or else her skills will suffer,¡± Sigrid said, walking up. ¡°The magic must know what to do.¡± Gleon sighed loudly. ¡°She knows plenty.¡± ¡°No. We haven¡¯t covered enchanting, casting, or nearly enough crafting.¡± ¡°Psh,¡± Gleon scoffed. ¡°She just needs to know how to use an axe.¡± He grinned and gestured. ¡°Let¡¯s start by using it on that tree.¡± Kindra looked at him and back at the tree. ¡°I can¡¯t even cut it.¡± ¡°And yet, you¡¯re going to. No using your skill to give yourself a boost.¡± Gleon chuckled and led her back toward the tree. Kindra followed and watched the black and white vulture thing land on the carcass of the bear abomination. She considered pulling out her crossbow. ¡°Do it,¡± Gleon whispered with a grin, gesturing at the bird. Kindra summoned the crossbow and loaded a bolt. Spinning toward it, she exhaled and fired. The bow twanged. The bird jerked up, and the bolt speared through its body. ¡°Good shot. Maybe you¡¯ll be a hunter,¡± Gleon said. He nodded to himself and got an idea. He walked to the tree and hacked off a branch. Walking over to the corpse, he grabbed it, slashed open the leg, and pulled out a tendon. Okay. Still gross as ever. Kindra watched him bend the branch and make a bow from it. Grabbing her bolt and the bird, he jogged back to her and held them out. ¡°Use your axe to cut off a branch, and use the bow to shoot anything that comes over.¡± Kindra stashed the crossbow and looked at the disgusting bow. Blood trickled down the sinew, and she wrinkled her nose. ¡°Ew.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Strapping lass like you needs to learn.¡± Gleon handed it to her and gestured at a branch on the fallen tree. ¡°Chop that while you wait.¡± Looking at the bow, Kindra burned a little magic to straighten the crude thing out. It straightened, and she stashed it. Grabbing her axe, she walked to the branch and chopped, the blade hardly denting the wood. Why is resource gathering so much harder in this game? [Who knows, you may unlock the rare lumberjack class.] Kindra smirked. Alright. The system is getting better. She slammed her axe into it, chopping repeatedly to slowly cut through the branch. She was not the only one. The others gathered around and did the same. While she hacked away, trying to break through the single branch, the dwarves slowly broke down the tree, piling the logs nearby. Kindra¡¯s arms screamed. She breathed heavily and slammed the axe into the branch, making a tiny, pathetic notch. This will take days. Gleon smiled at her and slammed his axe through a branch, chopping it off in a single hit. Kindra massaged her arm momentarily and tried again, slamming her axe into the notch. The jarring impact rippled through her arms, and a bold rat darted up. It started gnawing on the corpse, chittering between bites. Gleon leaned closer. ¡°Go ahead, hunter.¡± Summoning the bow, Kindra nocked a bolt and frowned. I need arrows. She grabbed a branch and the bird carcass, burning mana to turn it into a dozen arrows. Nocking one, she aimed at the rat, and a swarm of them rushed forward. They attacked the body in a fury, ripping off pieces. Kindra fired. Her arrow curved and flew off into the trees without even scaring the rats. They¡¯re in more danger from old age than me. Sighing, she nocked another arrow. ¡°Can¡¯t I use the crossbow?¡± Gleon scoffed. ¡°A hunter who can¡¯t shoot a bow?¡± He shook his head. Kindra scowled at him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a hunter. I¡¯m an artificer.¡± ¡°Yes, but you need a good second class. One that lets you defend yourself.¡± Gleon chopped the trunk, spraying wood chips into the air. Cheating, Kindra burned a little more mana to create a notch on the handled. Aiming at the rats, she drew back an arrow and let it fly. It zipped through the air and soared far above their heads. Okay. Archery is hard. Where is my skill up or class to help with that? [The second class is unlocked at level fifty, and such skills are typically not given to artificers. Though it¡¯s possible that you could gain an archery-related class.] Hmm. Kindra nocked another arrow and fired. It veered off and hit a large tree with a crack. And it¡¯s broken. Grabbing another, she repeated it. Gleon grabbed a log and chuckled, leaning closer to her. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s better to be a berserker and paladin,¡± he whispered. ¡°You don¡¯t need to deal with bows.¡± ¡°Says you. My build will be even better,¡± Kindra replied. ¡°Now, let me use it so I can get a crossbow class.¡± She paused. Or gunner class. Is that a thing? [Yes.] Kindra grinned. ¡°Fine. Use your cheater bow, but I expect you to practice when there¡¯s nothing to shoot.¡± Gleon carried a log toward the tree. With a breath of contentment, Kindra dismissed the bow and pulled out the crossbow. It¡¯s so much easier to aim. Loading a bolt, she aimed and fired. The bolt zipped across the field, sinking into one of the rats. Blood sprayed. It rolled across the ground, and every rat turned. They looked at Kindra and swarmed, their tiny legs racing across the ground. Her eyes went wide. Grabbing another bolt, she ratcheted it in. Suicidal rats! She fired, sinking another bolt into the rats. That did not deter them. The pack scurried across the ground, their beady little eyes turning red. Each mouth revealed large teeth. ¡°Umm, Gleon?¡± Kindra shouted, looking and finding all the adults gone. ¡°You¡¯ve got this!¡± Gleon shouted. ¡°Make us proud.¡± Kindra spun and ran, willing her crossbow away. The sound of chittering rats filled the air, and a scowl spread across her face. I hate this stinking planet and its mutant wildlife! Chapter 43 – City Departure – Pt 3 The sound of rats filled Kindra¡¯s ears. The smell of dirt and plants lingered in the air, and she sprinted, searching for something to give her an edge over the rats behind her. Where¡¯s Aika when I need her? Vaulting over a rock, Kindra scrambled around a tree. I can¡¯t waste all my ammo. Her eyes flickered through the forest, and she leapt off a root. Soaring through the air, her eyes went wide. A large chunk of white flesh greeted her. Not again. Not again. The large pig¡¯s eyes went wide, and she slammed into its side, bouncing off and tumbling across the forest floor. It bolted, rushing toward the carcass and away from her. Kindra scrambled up, and Gleon¡¯s laughter filled the air. Maybe they¡¯ll attack him. She dashed forward with rats nipping at her heels. ¡°Fight them, Kindra,¡± Gleon shouted, the chuckle still in his voice. I¡¯m going to kill him. Scowling, Kindra tore across the forest toward him, her anger surging like a growing bonfire. Runes drifted into her mind, and she embraced them, shuffling them together to match the runes of the fire elemental. Gleon poked his head out from behind a tree with a chuckle. ¡°See. Warrior classes are¡ª¡± Rotten terror! Kindra spun and unleashed the spell, pouring mana into it. Like staring into the forge, the night air lit, and a wave of flame crashed across the ground. The first rats hit fire and burned. The smell of burning hair and flesh filled the air, and the rats scattered, fleeing the broiling heat that licked around them. ¡°Well, so much for your plan to turn her into a berserker,¡± Sigrid said with a smile of satisfaction. ¡°She¡¯ll be a druid like me.¡± ¡°A fire druid, it looks like,¡± Gleon muttered, stepping forward and studying the distant hog chomping down on the strange abomination¡¯s carcass, ripping off pieces with a look of bliss in its black eyes. ¡°Wait. That was your plan?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°You wanted me to be reckless and wild.¡± Gleon chuckled. ¡°The best way to get the class is to get banged up in a nice fight.¡± Aika was right. After targeting a few slower rats, Kindra ended the spell. The flames vanished, leaving charred and twitching corpses in their wake. ¡°Finish them,¡± Gleon called out. Kindra walked forward and used her axe to end them, spraying blood into the air and pulling the mana into herself. ¡°Why did they attack me? It seems suicidal.¡± ¡°Most creatures can sense levels,¡± Gleon said. ¡°I¡¯m surprised the pig didn¡¯t try for you, but I suppose it sensed the rats.¡± ¡°So, they see me as weak?¡± Kindra asked, killing the last twitching rat. ¡°Yes. Your level is low.¡± Gleon hefted his axe. ¡°But you¡¯ll get there.¡± ¡°Are there things that see you as weak?¡± Kindra asked, walking toward them. ¡°Yes. There are terrifying things out there, though the necromancers drove most into the deep wilds.¡± She paused and looked around the forest. ¡°So, the necromancers and old beasts in the forest are the predators here?¡± ¡°Yes. There is a legend of a lost civilization of dwarves out there. Maybe they are strong,¡± Gleon said with a sigh. ¡°I hoped to find them.¡± He kicked a rock. ¡°At least I found some golems. Speaking of which, did you two figure those out?¡± ¡°No. We need the crystal intact,¡± Kindra replied, looking at the burned rats. ¡°What do we do with them?¡± ¡°Leave them for the forest to reclaim,¡± Gleon said. ¡°You can kill any scavengers that show up. Speaking of which, kill that hog.¡± He gestured to it. Kindra walked over to him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that we¡¯ll hunt them to death?¡± ¡°No,¡± Dain replied, shaking his head. ¡°They have magic, and the weaker creatures tend to be focused on reproduction more than¡­ Oh, gods.¡± He sighed. ¡°Kindra, stay close.¡± Kindra pulled out her crossbow and looked at what was the equivalent of a sounder of sharklike hogs. Several turned and sniffed them, opening their mouths to reveal the rows of teeth. Then they walked forward, heading for the carcasses. ¡°Do I level?¡± Kindra whispered. Gleon nodded. ¡°But stay close to us.¡± Kindra loaded a bolt and aimed at one of the weaker-looking hogs. Pulling the trigger, the bolt streaked across the air and bounced off the pig¡¯s skull with a loud crack. The pig jerked up. Adrenaline flooded Kindra¡¯s body, and the pig charged with a look of rage in its small, black eyes. A stone pillar launched it into the air, and Kindra loaded another bolt. The pig squealed, the deafening noise flooding through the forest. The other pigs turned toward them. Magic surged in the hogs¡¯ eyes, and the flying hog hit the ground, its bones snapping on impact. With a final horrific squeal, it went quiet, and Gleon charged toward the sounder, letting loose a roar of his own. Kindra burned mana. [Basic crossbow has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 24 hours. Each shot will negate up to 15 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] Reloading and aiming at a pig¡¯s neck, she fired. The bolt zipped forward and sunk into it. Gleon arrived moments later. Bounding into the air, he brought his glowing axe down with a thunderous smash, slicing through a pig¡¯s spine. It burst open.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Dang. That¡¯s impressive. ¡°Come on now, you two need levels too,¡± Gleon called, ripping his axe free and charging the next hog. The hogs turned and ran, bolting away from the wild dwarf. Kindra loaded another shot and failed to see a hog or Gleon. ¡°Dad, must you always do this?¡± Sigrid called with a note of exasperation. A thud rang through the air, and Gleon walked out from behind a tree, dragging a pig behind him. He dragged it over and tossed it onto the abomination. ¡°Gather round.¡± Kindra moved forward with a soft chuckle. She looked at the magic leaking from it. Most of it was seeping into the ground. She reached for it. ¡°Do dwarves have a way to get more mana from it? Like eating it?¡± ¡°We can draw some from the stone,¡± Sigrid said, smiling at her. ¡°Our bond is with the elements.¡± So, I need to pretend the same. Kindra nodded and walked to the carcass. She tugged the leaking mana into herself. ¡°Load up on ammo. You¡¯re taking watch tonight,¡± Gleon said, smiling and gesturing at the corpses. ¡°But I need to sleep,¡± Kindra protested, reaching down and touching the pig. She burned the rest of her mana, and the carcass rippled. Bone bolts burst from it, spraying blood into the air. Reaching down, she grabbed the bolts and ignored the rich metallic scent. The vibrant blood glowed with mana, and her mouth watered. Stupid, mana-craving body. Sigrid smiled approvingly. ¡°I know you are fighting it. We appreciate it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kindra asked, staring at the shimmering red fluid. ¡°Why does it matter?¡± ¡°Because that is a very dangerous path,¡± Dain said, patting her back. ¡°If you give in to the predator and seek to feed, you can become a monster.¡± ¡°Bah,¡± Gleon replied, rolling his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡± He sniffed the air and looked up. Kindra did the same, looking up to see birds perched in the branches. A slow rumble echoed through the ground, and she froze. Not another grub thing. Her heart thundered, and Gleon turned, not seeming to care. What? Kindra turned and saw Sigrid. Magic surged through the air. Runic patterns flashed in and out of existence as a hole formed. The dirt and stone packed together, creating the foundation for some small structure. The stones piled themselves together, flowing into walls and a roof. Grabbing a piece of the ironwood, Dain shaped it, turning it into a crude door. He walked over to the small hut and placed it in front of the door. That¡¯s impressive. Kindra studied it with a look of awe. In a few minutes, Sigrid had made a stone cottage, albeit a small one. What could they build if they could level? That thought lingered. The people were capable of being living construction crews. Images from Earth flashed into her view. We could build something even better and do it with magic. A smile spread across her face, and an elbow bumped into her. Gleon pointed at the scavengers above. Kindra fired off a bolt, sinking it into one of the birds. The bird came crashing down, and several flew higher, fleeing the range of her crossbow. ¡°Now, get your bolts,¡± Gleon said, carving off a chunk of boar meat and heading to the building. Grabbing the handful of bolts, Kindra stowed them and darted to the building with small slits in the side. The inside was small, stone slabs acting as their beds. A stone hearth was in the back, and Dain darted outside. Gleon placed the meat on the hearth and walked out. Kindra watched as they gathered wood and returned, placing it inside. With a flick of her hand and a surge of magic, Sigrid ignited the gathered wood and formed a small fire, using a stone to cook the meat. ¡°Kindra, you¡¯re on watch,¡± Gleon said, gesturing to the slits in the wall. ¡°Wake me when you run out of bolts.¡± Sitting on a stone ledge, he leaned against the corner and shut his eyes. Sigrid smiled and moved closer. ¡°I know things have been chaotic, but they¡¯ll calm down.¡± Kindra swallowed. Chaotic seemed like an understatement. It had been one long rush to try to get used to some foreign world. ¡°And we¡¯ll get things sorted,¡± Sigrid finished, patting Kindra¡¯s back. ¡°The city?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Are we ever going back?¡± ¡°Not like we were,¡± Sigrid admitted with sorrow in her voice. ¡°We¡¯d hoped to last a while longer.¡± The sorrow in her posture was evident. Dain walked over and pulled her into a hug. ¡°We did what we could, as fast as we could.¡± He looked at Kindra. ¡°It¡¯ll be harder now. Making things while on the run is difficult.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± She smiled at both of them. ¡°Thank you for taking me in, teaching me, and giving me the guidance you could.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Sigrid smiled, the sorrow lingering in her eyes. Realization hit Kindra hard. She thinks we¡¯re going to die out here. Either to the beasts or necromancers. She spun and looked out of the slits. That¡¯s not happening. Gleon may be crazy, but he¡¯s right about that. The two behind her went quiet, moving toward the fire. A swooping sound filled the air, and Kindra saw one of the black and white birds land on the rats. Loading another bolt, she aimed through the slit, lining the bolt up with the bird. Pulling the trigger, she fired. The bolt zipped through the dark and clipped the bird¡¯s side. Feathers blew into the air, and it lurched into the air, fluttering and hitting the ground hard. Loading another shot, she aimed and fired, hitting the bird and finishing it. Pulling the mana toward her, she reloaded and heard snoring. That was fast. She turned and looked at Gleon. He sprawled across the stone, a low rumble echoing from his nose. Kindra giggled and shook her head. He¡¯s something else. She peered out of the slits and waited. The birds did the same, refusing to come into her range. This is going to be boring. Sighing, she leaned against the wall, and her thoughts drifted to the crew and Earth. So many ships had been lost when the wormhole collapsed. The admiral hadn¡¯t seen the dust, nor had the sensors. Her eyes widened. Was that magic? She looked at the glowing mana in the air. It had to be that. Mana and some necromancer. Did they pull me here and change my body? She considered it while waiting. With magic, it was possible. Time moved slowly while she mused on it and the new world, her new world. The smell of cooking meat filled the air, and Sigrid handed her a piece on a stick. Kindra turned. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Kindra began eating the kabob, her thoughts drifting back to the day that the wormhole had collapsed. Did they survive? She tried to figure that out, and the sound of wings hit. Kindra raised her crossbow and looked out. A black and white bird swooped down, landing on a carcass and ripping out a piece of meat. She fired, her bolt sinking into the bird and knocking it over. Effective but it¡¯s sure not sporting. Reaching out, she grabbed for the mana. It lingered, and she frowned. Is it still alive? She wrestled and failed to grab it. Darn bird. Loading another bolt, she peered into the black. Birds squabbled in the trees above. One swooped down, landing behind the bodies. Kindra sighed. And now I¡¯d have to walk out the door. She looked at the piece of wood that could be slid back into the stone and considered it. The sound of wings hit, and she spun, looking out the slit. A small army of the birds flared wings, landed, and hissed at each other. Taking aim, Kindra fired. The bowstring twanged, and the bolt flew, streaking across the dark sky and sinking into a bird. Its wings flared, and it toppled, blood oozing from it. The flock took off, leaving behind the bravest. Kindra reached for the glowing mana and the mana from the wounded bird behind it. It flowed back into her, and she searched for another target. Come on birds. I need to grind some levels. She waited for the next target, firing as it came into view. Minutes slowly turned to hours. She fired into birds, rats, and whatever else that happened to stop by. The pile of bolts drained away, and exhaustion slowly overtook her. Firing off the last bolt, she kicked Gleon awake and fought her growing exhaustion. Kicking him again, she yawned, and her eyelids drooped, slowly falling shut. The noise faded with them, leaving nothing but calm, tranquil, and dangerous silence. Chapter 44 – Rebel Camp Hazy trees towered around Kindra. An uneasy silence lingered in the air, lurking like the countless creatures that were out there, hidden. Her focus shifted, and she studied the trees. Mana flowed through them, lighting the green forest with a soft glow. It is beautiful. And strange. So many strange dreams. ¡°Come out, or lose your previous forest,¡± she said, raising her hand and willing her magic forward. Runes took shape around the flowing tendrils of magic. An image appeared in her mind. A regal-looking elf focused on her. His golden hair flowed in the breeze, and he flicked out his hand, willing the magic to crash against her spell. ¡°You will not win.¡± Shoving the magic back, Kindra snapped her fingers and gestured to the woods. Large undead raptors stalked by. Talons protruded from their feet. Missing green feathers revealed decaying skin, and they ran, racing through the forest with their tails wagging. She strode forward, fighting against the magic that tried to end her spell. ¡°Come out, come out, little elves.¡± The forest remained silent. Walking around a tree, she looked across the clearing. The raptors surged forward. A wave of other undead dinosaurs followed, thundering out of the woods. The ground shook around her. Looking at the treetops, she saw homes built on the branches. ¡°And thus begins the final stand of the elves,¡± she said, her voice bouncing across the clearing. A barrage of arrows flew from the trees, slamming into the undead and raining toward her. Her magic flared, and a shield slammed out. The arrows smashed into it like a rain of wood and metal. ¡°Pitiful,¡± she muttered and stepped forward, the strange language dancing off her tongue. Chanting, she willed her magic into a stream, focusing it into a ball of flames. The archers in the treetops shouted. The undead crashed forward, stone smashing into them and grinding them into the ground. Her spell surged, and Kindra¡¯s shield dropped. She hurled the ball of fire into the houses, and an arrow slammed into her chest. Hissing, she brought back the shield and looked down. Her heart thundered. Pain rolled through her body, and blood poured from the wound. ¡°So annoying.¡± Coughing up blood, she reached into her bag and pulled out a glowing potion. Downing it in a single gulp, she ripped the arrow free and watched her fireball cruise forward. Stone and water rose to meet it, and it exploded, sending waves of fire rolling through the trees. Smoke filled the air. Homes caught fire, and Kindra coughed up another mouthful of blood. These happened, didn¡¯t they? The thought and pain gnawed through Kindra. ¡°Kill her!¡± an elf shouted, appearing and drawing an arrow. Kindra smiled. She invoked another spell. It sat there, pulsing with an ominous black, and a roar thundered through the air. The ground shook, and a voice filled her ears. ¡°Kindra. Kindra, wake up.¡± ¡°No,¡± she muttered, her dream freezing around her. It began to break, pieces falling away like a shattered mirror. ¡°Kindra, get up.¡± The fragments fell, crashing down around her, and she opened her eyes, blinking and looking around the small stone building. Those dreams suck. She sighed, her arms surprisingly warm, considering her surroundings. Sigrid smiled cheerily. Her red hair dangled over her shoulder, and she patted Kindra. ¡°Back with us?¡± Kindra looked down at the fur that was covering her. Last I remember¡­ She blushed. ¡°Did Gleon wake up?¡± ¡°He did.¡± Kindra rubbed her eyes and looked around the room. Two dwarves were missing. ¡°Where are they?¡± Sigrid sighed outside. ¡°We had some visitors, and my father was never one to ignore company.¡± She gestured to the door. Placing the fur to the side, Kindra stood and poked her head outside. A large bear growled, sending a low rumble through the air. Blood ran down its black fur, and a massive wave of mana sat inside, thrumming like a small sun. How strong is that thing? It charged toward Gleon, its mouth opening to reveal teeth larger than Kindra¡¯s fingers. The teeth shone a vibrant white, magic surging through them. Gleon hefted his axe, spat, and charged it.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Are they going to be okay?¡± Kindra asked, leaning closer to Sigrid. Sigrid placed her arm around Kindra. ¡°Of course. Your father and grandfather are strong.¡± She peered out the door. ¡°And I¡¯ll help if needed.¡± Kindra watched and frowned, gnawing on her lip. They still think I¡¯m a kid, don¡¯t they? A loud thud carried through the air. Gleon¡¯s axe bounced off the bear¡¯s skull, leaving a deep gash across its face. Blood ran from down its black fur, and the bear sunk its teeth into Gleon¡¯s leg, shaking him like a rag doll and slamming him on the ground. Blood sprayed. The metallic scent hit her nostrils. Nah. Time to hunt bear. Kindra pulled out her rifle, the cold metal appearing in her hands. ¡°He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Sigrid said, patting her and reaching forward. Magic surged around her hand, runes flashing in and out of existence. A spear of stone shot from the ground, slamming into the bear¡¯s neck. Blood sprayed, and the bear coughed, releasing Gleon. He tumbled across the ground, blood spilling from his mangled leg. Nah. Kindra aimed and pulled the trigger. Her gun barked, the sound bursting through the forest. The slug flew, and the bear¡¯s eye exploded, spraying blood and viscera into the air. The bear bellowed, jerking to the side and turning toward them. Kindra aimed, and Dain slammed his hammer into its head. The bear staggered, turned, and stumbled forward. Exhaling, Kindra looked down the barrel of the gun. She exhaled and pulled the trigger. The gun barked. Sigrid jumped, and blood exploded from the bear¡¯s fur. It turned and ran, fleeing for the woods. Exhaling, Kindra aimed, and an angry Gleon blurred across the ground. Leaping into the air, he brought his axe down in a furious chop, sinking it into the bear¡¯s spine in a spray of blood. Woh. Kindra¡¯s eyes widened. Blood sparkled in a few errant rays of sunlight, and her stomach grumbled. The smell filled the air, and she stepped forward. Sigrid¡¯s hold tightened. ¡°You know I¡¯d never try to eat you, right?¡± Kindra said, turning toward the dwarf. Sigrid swallowed, pain flashing across her face. ¡°Yes, but it would be best not to give in to the urges.¡± Kindra nodded. It¡¯s just food. She reached down and grabbed the casings, stashing them for replacement bullets. Looking up at the trees, she searched for fruit. Mana-filled fruit isn¡¯t bad¡­ Should I tell her that? She turned. ¡°Mana-filled fruit tastes good.¡± Sigrid turned and smiled. She nodded. ¡°That it does. Let¡¯s try to find some.¡± She walked out of their little hut and searched the trees. Kindra stepped out and looked at the canopy, failing to see anything resembling fruit. Maybe they have nuts? She searched and failed to see any. Dain walked over to the bear. ¡°Is it safe to return?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gleon replied. ¡°They¡¯ve lost us.¡± He wiped off his axe and sheathed it. Kindra looked back at the hut. Wood and other supplies filled the building. ¡°Why¡¯d we gather all that ?¡± ¡°In case we had to spend a few days inside. And it¡¯s a good hunter¡¯s cache,¡± Gleon said, looking over with a smile. ¡°Can I use some of the ironwood then?¡± Kindra asked, looking at it with a smile. I have a lot of mana. I can get some bullets, real bullets. ¡°Sure,¡± Gleon replied, gesturing to the stack outside the hut. Kindra darted to it and pulled out more metal. In theory, I could downgrade to my pistols if I use a high enough enchantment¡­ half and half. She nodded to herself and pulled a few logs to the side. Burning mana, she watched it steam and smolder. Stepping back, she waited, and Sigrid watched with a curious expression. ¡°It¡¯s like coal?¡± she asked. ¡°Sort of. That¡¯s not quite as good, but yes. The idea is to have it all burn at once. That pushes the bullet out.¡± Kindra reached down and drew in the dirt, drawing the casing, the bullet, and the powder. ¡°And what lights it?¡± Kindra pointed at the end of the bullet. ¡°The pin. It pushes on a special chemical, called primer, that lights on fire when pressure is applied.¡± She looked over at the mess she¡¯d made. The smoke and steam drifted away. ¡°It¡¯s a non-magic way to throw small rocks?¡± Sigrid asked, taking the bullet and studying it. ¡°Yes, at high speed. Very high speed.¡± Kindra said with a nod. ¡°A pointy rock,¡± Sigrid amended with a nod. A smile spread across her face. ¡°Thank you. I will experiment.¡± She handed the bullet back. Kindra gathered the bullets. ¡°Experiment?¡± ¡°Replicate it with magic itself instead.¡± Fair enough. Kindra nodded. ¡°I¡¯d like to see that.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Sigrid said. ¡°You¡¯d make a good druid.¡± Kindra straightened. A wave of magic flowed forward. Runes danced through the air, and she scowled at it. ¡°Scrying spell.¡± She gestured at it and formed the counter in her mind. The spell hung there like a living eye. ¡°That¡¯s what I was afraid of,¡± Dain said, sighing loudly. He scowled. Gleon chuckled and waved. ¡°Where is it, Kindra?¡± She pointed up at the magic. A glowing axe shot through it, ripping it apart. Runes broke into pieces, falling down like fragments of incorporeal glass. ¡°You broke it.¡± Gleon grinned and nodded. He jogged over and grabbed his now non-glowing axe. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°How do we stop that?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Enchantments or be somewhere that is just trees.¡± Gleon gestured to the forest around him. ¡°They won¡¯t get much from this.¡± Kindra turned and nodded. That¡¯s true. She looked up at the canopy above. ¡°Will they try again?¡± ¡°Periodically,¡± Gleon said. ¡°I was debating staying here, but the undead didn¡¯t find us in the night.¡± He tossed his axe over his shoulder and looked at the three. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sigrid said, walking over to the bear carcass. I sure hope they don¡¯t expect me to carry that. Kindra walked up and looked at the monstrous thing. The size of a small car, it had to weigh at least a ton. I can¡¯t carry that much¡­ She paused. Or can I? ¡°Get the other leg, Kindra,¡± Sigrid said, gesturing. Kindra grabbed and struggled to get the heavy thing off the ground, the weight far more than she¡¯d realized. How thick is this thing? She scowled and tugged, trying to get it fully off the ground. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright,¡± Gleon said, grabbing the front paws and hoisting them over his shoulder. Dain took the paw from her, patting her on the back. ¡°Keep an eye out while we walk. Some things hunt based on the smell of the blood.¡± He hoisted the bear off the ground. Kindra stepped to the side, looking at the large creature. Magic remained in the fur and meat. She pulled some leaking mana into herself. I wish transmutation made magic gear. I need to figure that out and turn this into leather armor. The group lumbered forward, and Kindra shifted her focus to the trees. She looked out at the jungle and followed the three toward the cliffs. Chapter 45 – Rebel Camp – Pt 2 The group made slow progress, the massive bear carcass slowing their pace. Weaving through the trees, Kindra looked around. The branches swayed in a soft breeze. The sound of chirping birds filled the air, and eyes stared from the bushes. Reaching for her crossbow, Kindra stared at the yellow and black, slitted eyes. Scaly eyelids flicked, and a red tongue flicked out. ¡°What is that, Dain?¡± Kindra asked, pointing into the bushes. A squat, scaly snout popped out. The large lizard flicked out its tongue, and she moved closer to him. ¡°Shoot it, Kindra,¡± Gleon said with a grin. ¡°Use that bow.¡± Kindra pulled out the crossbow and loaded a bolt. ¡°Wait,¡± Gleon called. The lizard sniffed, its nostrils flaring. It stepped forward, revealing its long, green body with large wings that doubled as front legs. It chirped at Kindra, sniffing the air. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot,¡± Gleon said softly. ¡°Step away from it, Kindra.¡± Kindra took a step back. ¡°It¡¯s a wyvern?¡± she asked, studying the flowing green mana. ¡°Yes, a young forest wyvern.¡± Gleon stepped forward. The young wyvern sniffed at him and turned back to Kindra. It stepped forward, chirping softly and looking up at her with vibrant yellow eyes. ¡°What¡¯s it doing?¡± Kindra asked, stepping next to Dain. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re meant to be a wyvern rider, like the dwarves of old.¡± Gleon studied it. That would be cool. Images of flying around on a wyvern filled her mind. A smile spread across her face, and the wyvern chirped at her again. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that means,¡± Kindra said to it. She turned. ¡°Are they smart?¡± ¡°They can be. Some used to bond with dwarves.¡± Gleon stepped toward it, and it darted away, running behind Kindra with a chirp. It poked its head out and chittered at him. ¡°What am I supposed to do? Do I bond with it somehow?¡± Kindra turned, looking at the wyvern. It looked up at her, sniffed again, and chittered, moving closer to her and opening its mouth, revealing large teeth and a mouth that could fit half of her inside it. Stepping closer to Sigrid, she swallowed. ¡°Is this safe?¡± ¡°Stand closer to the middle,¡± Sigrid said. ¡°It may be after the meat.¡± She resumed moving. Walking backward, Kindra stepped toward Gleon. The wyvern followed, walking across the forest, bounding across the land like a strange living spring. Why me, though? I¡¯m an artificer, and I¡¯ve killed two of them. Staying close to Sigrid, Kindra walked with one eye on the creature. It followed and chirped at her, poking its head up and looking into her eyes. She felt a rush of mana hit her, but no runes appeared. What? Is it casting without runes? She studied the magic. It formed some intricate pattern that surged around her. ¡°It¡¯s using something on me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably searching for a bond,¡± Gleon said with a grin. ¡°Bond with it.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Accept the magic. Let it in.¡± Kindra opened herself to the magic. It flooded into her. [This juvenile forest wyvern wishes to bond with you¡­ Error: Magical incompatibility.] The spell snuffed out. The wyvern chirped at her sadly. ¡°Sorry. That would have been fun,¡± Kindra replied apologetically. Darn. So much for being a wyvern rider. She kicked at the dirt. Sigrid turned. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It said my magic wasn¡¯t compatible.¡± Kindra shrugged at it. ¡°Sorry.¡± The wyvern chirped at her, and Gleon tossed a piece of meat at it. It caught it in its mouth and followed, chewing the meat. ¡°Shame. That would be quite the bond,¡± Gleon said, moving along the cliffs. I agree. Kindra¡¯s focus flickered. What¡¯s magic compatibility? [Your innate magic is compatible with certain potential skills, bonds, and classes. Your mana is not compatible with that bond.] Well, why not? [Because you lack a strong nature affinity. You can develop one.] Kindra paused. Is there a way to track that? [Ticket submitted.] That would be helpful. She looked back. The wyvern continued to follow. At least it isn¡¯t giving up. Kindra watched the wyvern bound forward, its focus shifting to the bear and Gleon. It chirped at him. ¡°Greedy thing,¡± Gleon said with a chuckle, carving off and tossing another piece of meat. The meat arced into the air, and the wyvern lurched off the ground, catching it in its mouth and swallowing it without chewing. The wyvern landed with a large thud and dashed into the brush. Kindra turned her focus to watching the mana. The wyvern dashed through the forest toward another ball of mana. I wonder what that is. Sigrid turned. ¡°Did it give up? I¡¯d hoped it would try again or try others?¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I think it¡¯s hunting.¡± Kindra watched the blobs of magic merge. The large one turned and bound toward her. ¡°It¡¯s coming back.¡± The wyvern burst around a tree with a large rodent in its mouth. Looking like a large gliding squirrel, the carcass flopped up and down. The wyvern bound toward Kindra and showed it to her, its yellow eyes glistening. ¡°Very impressive,¡± Kindra said, a smile spreading across her face. Is that what I want for a second class? It does sound awesome. She waved at the creature. The wyvern bobbed its head up and down, moving closer. Is it going to give it to me? Pausing, the wyvern jerked its head up and stared into the distance. It looked back at Kindra and chittered. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that means.¡± Kindra shrugged, and its gaze remained locked onto something. She turned and looked. A ball of mana was moving toward her at a high speed. Kindra squinted, and a blurring fairy shot out of the trees, her wings fluttering in the air and her silver hair streaming behind her. A large, green ribbon was tied around her waist. A young dwarf burst out of the trees, her green dress flowing around her. ¡°Aika, come back!¡± the girl shouted. ¡°No! I¡¯m not a doll!¡± Aika zoomed forward and landed on Kindra¡¯s shoulder, looking at the wyvern. ¡°What? Do we kill it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s looking for someone to bond with,¡± Kindra replied. Aika untied the ribbon. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± She leaned closer. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be the most ferocious fairy around, not a doll.¡± ¡°Go bind with a wyvern.¡± Kindra laughed and pointed at it. ¡°That¡¯ll make you ferocious.¡± It chirped. ¡°How do I do that?¡±Aika asked with a grin and wide eyes. ¡°Umm¡­ For a fairy? I have no idea.¡± Kindra shrugged. Sigrid laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t think she can. Both need to be compatible. Fairies typically bind with fae or casters. Creatures like a wyvern only bind with promising Rangers or Druids.¡± ¡°Why? Why bind?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°For fairies? I¡¯m uncertain. For wyverns or other creatures, it¡¯s a symbiotic bond to aid each other with respective skills.¡± Kindra looked back at the wyvern. It darted past her toward the young girl, chirping softly. The girl¡¯s eyes went wide, and a boy poked his head out. A burst of mana surged from the wyvern and hit him. He gasped, and the wyvern tore past Kindra, heading straight toward him. A surge of magic flooded from the wyvern and hit the boy, solidifying like a rod of magic that linked the two. Kindra¡¯s gaze remained locked on the magic, the first magic she¡¯d seen that didn¡¯t involve runes. Surging with light, it grew and then vanished instantly. Well, that was amazing. The wyvern skidded to a halt. The boy grinned and rushed forward, reaching out to pat the wyvern like a big, scaly dog. ¡°Well, now. Not every day you see that. Congratulations, Roto,¡± Gleon called with a chuckle. ¡°How come he gets a wyvern, and I don¡¯t,¡± the girl called with a frown. ¡°Wyvern?¡± Gran poked her head out of a nearby tree and stared. ¡°Gods guide us all.¡± Roto patted the wyvern. It offered him the dead squirrel, and he shook his head. ¡°You can eat it.¡± The wyvern did just that, swallowing down the squirrel. So, I do need to plan my next class. Maybe crafting is a better fit anyway. Kindra nodded. Magical and mundane items seemed ideal. She looked at the sorrowful girl. Gran patted her head. ¡°Be happy for your brother.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not fair,¡± she protested. ¡°I want a wyvern I can fly on.¡± ¡°Work hard, and you may get one,¡± Gran replied. She paused and studied it. ¡°We¡¯re going to need a better place to hide it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll expand the cave entrance,¡± Gleon said, gesturing toward it. Kindra studied the wall and saw mana. However, unlike the ambient mana, it flowed in convoluted patterns, runes fading in and out as it moved. ¡°Aika, come back. We aren¡¯t done playing dress up,¡± the girl said loudly. ¡°Nope.¡± Aika shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not your doll, Sara. Dress up the wyvern.¡± She gestured to it. Kindra looked back and saw Roto patting its head. It sat there with a happy, lazy expression. Gran shut the door and walked up to him. ¡°Roto, we need to talk to the rangers. They¡¯ll help you understand your new responsibilities.¡± Gleon turned and walked straight for the cliff. Kindra followed and studied the flowing mana. Is that an illusion? She followed Gleon, who stepped right through it. Walking up to it, she raised her hand and waved it through the magic. Very cool. Stepping forward, she walked inside and looked at the small cavern. It extended into the stone, and doors dotted it like a strange checkerboard. Aika fluttered out. ¡°Welcome to the rebel hideout.¡± She grinned, and the sound of small feet reached Kindra¡¯s ears. She spun and looked at the little dwarf with two black braids. ¡°Aika,¡± Sara said, a sad look spreading across her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to play?¡± Aika didn¡¯t stand up. ¡°Sara, I can¡¯t right now. I need to show the camp to Kindra.¡± Sara sniffled, wiping her small hand across her nose and looking at the ground. ¡°You don¡¯t have to dress up. ¡° Aika winced and turned. ¡°Save me, Kindra,¡± she whispered. ¡°Sara, why not show us the camp?¡± Kindra asked, walking over to her and looking down at the young dwarf who came up to her chest. Sara looked up and nodded, water in her eyes. She looked at Aika and slumped. ¡°Sorry, Aika. It¡¯s just¡ªI always dreamed¡ªof having a fairy familiar.¡± ¡°Maybe you still will,¡± Aika said, flying over and hovering in front of her. ¡°Maybe you will.¡± Sara wiped her eyes and shook her head, her cheeks red. ¡°No. The fae and fairies left us a long time ago.¡± ¡°Why did they leave?¡± Kindra asked, stepping closer. Sara stepped back and looked at her. She swallowed. ¡°Because of you,¡± she said and looked at Aika. ¡°That¡¯s what I was trying to tell you.¡± Aika sighed. ¡°She¡¯s a dwarf like you. Her hair and eyes are different, but she¡¯s not one of them. I promise you that.¡± The warm necklace sat against Kindra¡¯s chest. She looked down and saw the glowing mana. A spiral of mana surrounded her body, runes surging here and there. I need to thank Sigrid. Sara turned and studied Kindra. ¡°How¡¯d your hair turn white?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I woke up and couldn¡¯t remember.¡± Kindra smiled at her. ¡°But I promise that I¡¯m not here to hurt you.¡± Aika smiled at the young girl. ¡°And we¡¯ll find a way to contact the fae. It just may take a while.¡± Sara turned back. ¡°And you¡¯ll help me find a fairy?¡± She paused. ¡°Or a wyvern like my brother?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll help you,¡± Aika said, smiling at her and landing on her shoulder. ¡°Now, let¡¯s show Kindra around the place.¡± ¡°Their house is over there, right?¡± Sara asked, walking toward a tunnel into the mountain. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± a voice called from the cliffside. Sara walked toward it, Aika still perched on her shoulder. Kindra followed them. I hope this one lasts longer than my last. Chapter 46 – Ruins Kindra walked through the illusion. Runes sparkled around her, ribbons of twinkling lights in the curtain of magic. That¡¯s amazing. She paused and memorized for a moment. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika called. ¡°Sorry. Isn¡¯t this amazing?¡± ¡°Gran helped make it,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s an illusion enchantment.¡± She pointed at the ceiling. Kindra looked up. A glowing gem was embedded in a plate of metal. Mana flowed out from the gem, moving through an intricate pattern of runes that were made with some other metal. Amazing. Kindra¡¯s eyes widened. Like a circuit for magic... I need to figure that out. Excitement flickered through her, and she memorized the pattern. ¡°Kindra?¡± Sara called. Kindra forced her eyes away. ¡°Sorry.¡± She darted down the cave, following the smooth halls and passing several doors. Pausing in front of one, Sara gestured. ¡°This one is yours.¡± She turned and looked at Aika. ¡°Are you sure we can¡¯t play some more?¡± ¡°Not right now,¡± Aika said, flying closer to Kindra. Kindra walked up, opened the door, and looked inside the small home. Small benches lined the wall. Shelves lined one wall, and a stone table sat in the middle of a small room. That¡¯s it? They have magic that can literally speed up construction, and we¡¯re squatting in a rocky hole? She swallowed. A hand reached out and patted her on the back. ¡°We¡¯ll adjust,¡± Sigrid said, nudging her inside. From the inside, it was not better. It was akin to living in a cement room. She looked at the two doors built into the wall. Please tell me there are beds in there. ¡°We¡¯ll cozy it up.¡± Sigrid smiled at her and pulled the bag off her shoulder. She opened it, revealing various items from the home. Kindra walked up and took a small group of plates, moving to the shelf. ¡°We need to get plumbing.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Aika said with a nod. ¡°This one needs some work.¡± ¡°No. We need a golem,¡± Gleon said, poking his head in. ¡°What do you say, Kindra? Aika? Up for a little exploring?¡± Kindra slid the plates onto the shelf and walked to the doors, poking her head inside. The sight of a bed with a blanket made her smile. Thank god . Taking her bag, she walked to the small bedroom and placed it inside, setting it next to the bed and running her fingers across the blanket. It is soft. Do they make a cotton equivalent? A little fairy fluttered into the room. Aika smiled. ¡°Ready? We need to keep Gleon alive. He¡¯s useless without me.¡± ¡°I heard that!¡± Gleon called. Kindra emptied most of her cache, dumping the golem parts in the corner. Checking the rest of her supplies, she walked out of the room and waved to Sigrid. ¡°Be safe,¡± Sigrid called out. ¡°I¡¯m going to help expand things here.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra smiled at her and walked out the door. She looked at Gleon. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s find that golem. The answer to all our problems.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡± He turned and marched down the tunnel. Following Gleon, she moved down a tunnel and veered down another, passing through a wooden door. A breeze hit her. ¡°There¡¯s another opening?¡± ¡°We linked it with the worm tunnels, and they are making a mushroom farm,¡± Gleon said, striding down the hallway and entering a large, round one. Kindra studied the walls. Worm tunnel. She ran her fingers along it and triggered Scavenger¡¯s Sight, searching for anything useful. Silicon. Lots and lots of silicon. She paused and looked at Gleon. ¡°We¡¯re stopping?¡± ¡°Aye. We need the rest of the gang so that we can take a golem without destroying it.¡± Kindra nodded and looked down the tunnel. The smooth stone slowly arched away. ¡°How big do those worms get?¡± ¡°Very, but they move to the sands as they get bigger,¡± Gleon said. ¡°I¡¯ll take you some time.¡± ¡°What do they eat there?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°There is a lot of life there. It burrows during the day and comes out at night.¡± Gleon looked behind her and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve seen some of the creatures that live there. They¡¯ll stay underground if the resources are right.¡± Oh. Gleon waved. Kindra spun and looked at the two approaching dwarves. The female¡¯s brown hair was in a tight bun, her leather armor clean and rosy spots on her darker cheeks. The man¡¯s brown hair was short, and so was his beard; a thick patch of stubble was all that remained. Each was wearing enough weapons to be a small armory. Hammers, axes, and swords lined their belt and back. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°You out to be ashamed of yourself, Tob,¡± Gleon drawled. ¡°You look like a fool.¡± ¡°Takes one to know one!¡± Tob grinned, revealing a smile with one missing tooth. ¡°You¡¯ll be sorry when your beard gets caught in something again.¡± He laughed, the loud, deep sound bouncing down the hall. Then he looked at Kindra and Aika, his vision focusing on Aika. ¡°And you must be Aika. Pleased to finally meet you. Sorry, you¡¯ve been stuck with the wild one.¡± Gleon scoffed and punched him in the arm. ¡°She¡¯d be dead if she went with you. Tilly has to keep you alive.¡± He smirked. Tob scoffed and clapped him on the back, the loud sound ringing through the tunnel. ¡°And yet, I¡¯ll bleed less than you, sure as shit.¡± Gleon chuckled and turned. ¡°Kindra, this is my old friend Tob. Tilly¡¯s his wife. Don¡¯t know how she stands him.¡± Tilly stepped forward and looked at Kindra. A frown wormed across her face before vanishing. The awkward moment hung in the air, and Kindra swallowed. ¡°Nice to meet you both. Tell me, how is it that you two met?¡± Tilly asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Kindra replied, looking at Aika. Aika shrugged, extending her arms in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t really know. I saw some text that didn¡¯t make sense. It asked if I wished to be something more and if I wanted to be with Kindra. I agreed. Then, there was a flash of pain, and I was next to her. It was very strange.¡± She looked at herself. ¡°The system said it was investigating what happened.¡± Kindra winced. ¡°I hope it wasn¡¯t too much pain.¡± ¡°It was worth it. Look at me.¡± Aika grinned and gestured at herself. Her metallic skirt and shirt stood there like some strange liquid metal, not even moving as she moved. ¡°Where did you get those clothes?¡± Tilly asked, moving forward and studying them. ¡°Made them,¡± Aika said, grinning. ¡°They are my armor.¡± She fluttered into the tunnel. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m going to get more kills than Gleon.¡± ¡°Fat chance of that,¡± Gleon said. He turned toward Tob. ¡°Try to keep up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bleed all over me,¡± Tob replied, chuckling and walking down the tunnel. Kindra followed, watching the group. Tilly shot her a look of concern before moving down the tunnel. They do not like me. Kindra sighed and followed, walking down the tunnel silently. While her mind stewed, a soft breeze rippled by. The smell in the air shifted, and Kindra smelt something wrong, really wrong. She sniffed again. What is that? Her stomach churned. Turning a corner, she warily peered into the gloom. The tunnel swung and joined a large room. A strong scent came with it. Kindra wrinkled her nose as the smell of rot and decay hit. The two men turned serious and stopped making rude gestures at each other. Each pulled out a weapon and crept forward. Kindra followed, searching the mana for anything. Spotting a strange blob of glowing mana, she pointed. ¡°Aika, it¡¯s over there.¡± Aika zipped in front of Gleon and gestured, pointing into a small cave. The two men moved quickly and peered inside. Looking inside, Gleon gagged and grimaced. ¡°Do it. First kill to you, Tob.¡± ¡°Forget that. You do it.¡± Tob punched him. ¡°I got last.¡± Gleon gagged, and Kindra peered past him. Some strange, massive dirty thing greeted her. Bones, bodies, and plants were engulfed in some glowing slime. It oozed forward, small tendrils reaching out. Tilly looked at it and sighed. ¡°Rotten creeper.¡± Magic surged around her. Runes flew into the air, and the stone under it opened, forming a large hole. The slime dropped, splashing on the stone ground. The stone rippled and sealed itself off, leaving a glistening trail of slime and nothing more. ¡°You¡¯re just burying it?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Yes. They are annoying to fight. You have to slice it into tiny pieces. Not small. Tiny,¡± Tilly replied, sighing and shaking her head. Kindra chuckled and nodded. She sniffed. The smell lingered, and the sense of wrongness permeated the air, gnawing through her senses. It¡¯s just the slime. Stop that. She turned and followed the group down the tunnels. The smell of rot lingered, and the group traveled through the tunnels of the worms. [You have entered a concentrated mana zone. Please be aware that entities may manifest from the mana.] Following a fork, they spiraled downward and hit the polished stone tunnels that had been part of the dwarven city. Stepping onto the stone, Kindra shivered. The sense of wrongness thrummed around her, dragging its fingers across the stone and making the hair on her neck stand on end. It whispered on a soft breeze coming from the tunnels, and she turned toward it. It¡¯s not the slime. What is it? She stared into the tunnel, and the group turned, walking away from it. Kindra followed them and studied the different doorways. The sense of wrongness slowly faded, leaving a quiet. Like the layer of dust on the stone floor, the quiet hung heavy in the air. Filing through a small crack, Kindra followed through a narrow tunnel. It squeezed down on them, and she wriggled through a long passage. ¡°Couldn¡¯t have made it wider?¡± she asked. ¡°Waste of mana,¡± Gleon said with a chuckle. ¡°How do you know where we¡¯re even going?¡± ¡°We know.¡± Kindra wriggled through and emerged into a room. A layer of dust, dirt, and gravel lined the floor. The air was stale, and the lingering sense of wrongness returned, along with the sound of feet moving softly. The dwarves turned and looked down the hall. Cottages, shops, and other buildings lined the cavern walls like they¡¯d been built into the caves. The sound of scuffing feet grew louder. Kindra turned and looked down the hallway. Glowing dots surged in the distance. They shuffled forward, kicking up dust. Gleon gestured and moved against the wall. Kindra followed, leaning against the hard stone. She studied the forms. What are they? The mana thrummed inside of them, and runes sparkled into view, whispering at something that she didn¡¯t understand. She leaned forward, and the runes surged. The creatures thundered forward, dust billowing with every mechanical step. Kindra gasped and looked at the hodge-podge of golems. A deep sense of wrongness came with them. Looking more like horrific amalgamations of flesh and metal, the things clanked forward. One turned toward her, revealing the face of some dwarf that had replaced its lower jaw with metal. Feeling a desire to throw up, Kindra gagged, and the creatures thundered forward. Chapter 47 – Ruins – Pt 2 Machine and flesh bore down on the group, metal feet clanking on stone. Gleon raised his axe and ran forward. Kindra pulled out her crossbow and shivered. What the hell happened to those things? She jacked in a crossbow bolt, and the two dwarfs slammed their weapons into the strange cyborg creatures. Blood and metal broke away, spraying across the dusty hall. With gears whirring, one slammed a piston-like arm into Gleon, launching him down the hall. Dodging a strike, Tob growled. ¡°Back to the abyss with you, apparitions.¡± Oh. Kindra aimed and fired, her bolt streaking across the air and sinking into a shoulder. A spray of blood splashed across the ground, and it charged at her, its piston-like legs slamming against the stone. Its eyes blazed with a strange fire. A boulder hit it, sending it crashing into the wall. Loading another bolt, Kindra aimed and watched Gleon hurl himself into the fray. A metal arm flew off in a spray of blood. It clattered down the hall, and Kindra looked at it. A bone jutted out of the metal. Can you do that? Swallowing down bile, she searched for an opening, trying to get a clear shot while watching the two dwarves fighting together. They moved harmoniously, their weapons slamming into the constructs. Pistons churned, bones snapped, and the two dwarves smashed pieces off of the creatures. Looking down, Kindra watched the arm decay, turning into a small stream of mana that rushed out into the group. That¡¯s sort of amazing. She jerked her attention back to the fight and fired. Her bolt blew into one¡¯s arm, and Gleon lashed out, hacking into it with his axe glowing. Kindra reloaded her crossbow and waited. Tob chopped into another, and she fired, sinking a bolt into one¡¯s chest. A burst of black and red sprayed from it, and Kindra wrinkled her nose. That¡¯s foul. The bloody oil sprayed on the floor, leaving a slippery puddle. Pulling out another bolt, she jacked it in, and a boulder smashed into one of them, flattening it against the ground. The two remaining fell moments later, and Kindra walked up to them. She studied the creatures that were fading away. ¡°Apparitions,¡± Gleon said, kicking one. ¡°They¡¯ll fade away.¡± ¡°But why would mana do that?¡± Kindra asked, looking at the three. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. Logically, there has to be a reason.¡± She paused and waited. Gleon shrugged. ¡°It happens where the mana gets dense.¡± He turned and walked down the hall. System, why does this happen? Grabbing her bolts, she darted after them. [Convergence. In places with too much, it takes a shape, trying to be something more.] Strange. Kindra followed down the hallway and studied the ambient mana. Like a sea, it eddied and swirled around the dwarves, bumping and spinning. Ripples formed in it. She looked down and saw a vastly different sight. It didn¡¯t bounce off her. She cut through it like a razor blade. What? Spinning, she looked behind her and saw a small gap in the mana that drifted shut. ¡°Keep up, Kindra,¡± Gleon called. Turning, Kindra darted forward. Am I absorbing it from the air itself? I mean, it¡¯s optimal, but that¡¯s bonkers. A small smile spread across her face, and she zigged around the hallway, trying to get more of it. Tilly turned and chuckled. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°An experiment.¡± Kindra blushed and darted up to her. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll find a golem? A real one?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Gleon said, a smile spreading on his face. ¡°With them, we¡¯ll end this war for good.¡± Kindra nodded and followed them down the hallway. Silence and mana hung in the air. Dust coated the tunnel. The doors vanished, and the tunnel ended with a single ball of mana in the wall. She tilted her head. What is that? It glowed a soft red. Gleon turned. ¡°Sara, do you see a way forward?¡± ¡°I¡¯m unsure. Give me a moment.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kindra pointed at the ball of mana. Gleon turned, grabbed his hammer, and threw it. It whirred through the air, and the wall moved. Flowing like loose mud, the living block of stone charged, its body pulling into a blocky, humanoid shape. Kindra took a step back and pulled out the rifle. She aimed, and Tob slammed a hammer into the creature. A thunderous boom rolled through the tunnels. Cracks shattered across its stone flesh, and it slammed a rocky arm into Tob, sending him rolling. Darting to the side, Kindra exhaled and fired at the concentrated mana in the middle. The gun barked, and the bullet hit stone, sending fragments flying everywhere. The elemental turned toward her, and a hammer smashed into it. Gleon wrenched the hammer back and slammed it down again, blasting a spray of fragments into the air. What is this thing? Kindra jacked in another shot, and the elemental smashed its fist into Gleon¡¯s shoulder. A resounding crack filled the air, and Kindra pulled the trigger. The bullet blurred, and the stone exploded. Fragments burst into the air, and the elemental turned toward her. An ominous wave of heat filled the air. Magic gathered around it, runes flickering into view and flowing into the stone. ¡°Run!¡± Gleon barked, sprinting down the hall and grabbing Kindra on the way by. With a burst of energy, he shot down the hallway. Kindra bounced. Her hair fluttered, and she looked up to see Aika fluttering ahead. At least she¡¯s safe. She looked over and saw Tob and Tilly sprinting alongside. The sound of falling stones filled the air, and she looked back at the cave. An eruption of stone rained downward, and the elemental moved through it without a care. ¡°Is that real?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Aye. Stay safe,¡± Gleon said, setting her down and turning. He bellowed and charged toward it.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Tob followed, and Kindra lined up another shot. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Tilly said. ¡°They¡¯ll get it.¡± She patted Kindra¡¯s shoulder. Leaping in the air, Gleon slammed a glowing hammer into it. Cracks ripped through it, and the smell of sulfur and ash filled the air. What? Kindra shivered. A feeling of wrongness filled her, and she studied the glowing mana inside. Why does it feel wrong? The magic surged. Runes spun into view, and the dwarves attacked it with the fury of two racing miners. Stone shards blew off it, revealing a core of molten metal. The metal blazed with magic, runes blurring through the air. Bellowing, it slammed its stone arms at the dwarves. Tob dodged to the side, and the strike connected with Gleon, knocking him to the ground. He vaulted up, spat blood, and attacked in earnest. Stone blew into the air, and the core of molten metal shone. Magic surged through the air. Hammers pounded, and a spear of earth smashed into it. The elemental staggered, and Gleon swung, smashing his hammer through it and sending the glowing ball rolling across the floor. The sense of wrongness increased. It hung in the air, and Kindra¡¯s stomach churned. The ball softly glowed, and runes gathered around it. The stone began flowing toward it like tiny streams of mud. What? A hammer came crashing down, slamming into the orb. It cracked. The smell of sulfur filled the air, and magic flooded from the core, billowing up into the air like a patch of smoke. The horrific smell set her on edge. Every hair stood on her body, and Kindra bared her teeth as an overpowering hunger flooded through her body. The cloud of magic began to move, flowing toward the stone. The hunger surged, and she let it lose. Her magic snaked into the cloud. It writhed, and she felt a presence in her mind. ¡°Release me!¡± a gravely voice thundered. Kindra pulled, dragging it toward her. What is it? [Kill it for me, will you? ~Death] She paused, and it jerked against her magic. Like a fish trying to get free, it slammed against her magic. ¡°Shame they don¡¯t give mana, but it¡¯s impossible to kill ¡®em,¡± Gleon said with a long sigh. Kindra stared at it. Is this its soul? [And the mana that¡¯s keeping it out of my domain. ~Death] A thousand questions danced through Kindra¡¯s mind. The elemental jerked and slipped toward the wall. Kindra tightened her hold and pulled it toward her. Am I eating this thing¡¯s soul? [No. You¡¯re breaking the magic that¡¯s keeping it alive. ~Death] Isn¡¯t this your jurisdiction? [Yes. That¡¯s why I¡¯m replying. Break the chains of magic that bind it to the realms. It¡¯s time for it to move on. ~Death] Kindra ripped it forward, pulling on the magic like some strange mental tug of war. ¡°Unhand me!¡± the voice bellowed. ¡°Who are you?¡± Kindra asked, pulling the mana closer and closer toward her. ¡°I am Bodon, king of the dwarves! I ascended and became much more.¡± Kindra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re the king of the dwarves?¡± ¡°Yes, unhand me, peasant!¡± Kindra ripped the mana forward. ¡°Wait! I can tell you the secret.¡± ¡°What secret?¡± Kindra pulled it closer. ¡°The secret to immortality. You can become like me, one of the true kings of the dwarves.¡± ¡°Tell me how to make a golem.¡± Kindra paused and looked at the dwarves and Aika. They were all staring at her. ¡°Kindra?¡± Gleon asked. ¡°What¡¯s got you distracted?¡± ¡°Talking to this elemental thing.¡± Kindra gestured at it. ¡°It says it¡¯s Bodon, the king of dwarves.¡± Tilly raised a brow. ¡°It¡¯s talking to you?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m trying to get it to tell me how to make a golem.¡± ¡°I can do that. Let me go so that I can write out the runes.¡± ¡°No way. Just tell me. Describe them to me.¡± ¡°Describe them? I can¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Describe them.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a squiggly one. It¡¯s difficult to describe. If you let me free, I¡¯ll draw it.¡± Kindra frowned. [End him, please. He can¡¯t help you, and you¡¯ll figure it out. ~Death] Why don¡¯t you end him? Kindra thought back. [My domain is over death. That came with some irksome restrictions. ~Death] ¡°Kindra?¡± Gleon asked. ¡°Sorry. Too many conversations.¡± Kindra shook her head and felt the connection weaken. The magic pushed toward the ground, sinking into it. She ripped it backward. ¡°Last chance, Bodon.¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t a King Boden,¡± Tob said, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard that name before.¡± The spirit thrashed against her. Kindra felt panic roll through the connection, and she ripped the mana free. It slammed into her, and the entire world went white. Staggering backward, she blinked out at the bright white. A young man with spiky black hair appeared. Death looked at her and smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t interact with the living? Then how did you interact with me?¡± Death smiled. ¡°Kindra, you¡¯re bright. Figure it out. Oh, and he was not a king. That will be very obvious soon.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kindra asked, looking at him. He grinned and stepped closer. ¡°Because you¡¯ll meet one soon enough.¡± He winked and snapped his fingers. Kindra slammed back into her body. The world was aglow with mana, and a strange shimmering thing hung in the air. It turned toward her, hovering in the air. Another figure appeared next to it, a man with spiky black hair. He winked, gestured, and both vanished. Was that a soul? [Yes. You deserved to see it. ~Death] Kindra looked at the dwarves. All of them were staring at the air. ¡°What was that?¡± Gleon asked, his eyes wide. Chapter 48 – Ruins – Pt 3 Kindra looked at the staring dwarves. ¡°That was a soul.¡± ¡°And the person next to it?¡± Gleon asked. ¡°Death.¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°I think he¡¯s a god or something.¡± ¡°Death,¡± Tilly whispered. She looked up at the tunnel and clasped her hands together, her eyelids drooping shut. Is she praying? She has to be. Kindra looked up. He can answer. Will he? [I do get a lot of them and answer a few. ~Death] Huh. Kindra peered past the praying dwarves, looking into the tunnel. Loose gravel littered the area. She studied the gravel, looking at the glowing pebbles and feeding mana into her skill. Several pebbles lit up. [Elemental Earth - This earth was infused with the magic of an elemental. It may be of use to several crafters and a few gardeners.] [Elemental Iron Shard - This iron was infused with the magic of an elemental, potentially allowing it to become a magical creation.] Kindra darted down the hall. She scooped up the pebbles, stowed them, and grabbed a perfect sphere of glowing metal. [Elemental Core - This was the core of an elemental and has a variety of uses.] ¡°Elemental core,¡± Gleon said. He stepped forward. ¡°Do you know more about Death?¡± ¡°He came to collect the elemental¡¯s soul after telling me to break the magic keeping it here.¡± Kindra swallowed and met his gaze. ¡°Gleon, why would he ask that?¡± Gleon glanced at the other two and back at Kindra, a strange look on his face. ¡°I¡¯m unsure.¡± ¡°How did she kill it?¡± Tob interjected, stepping forward. He frowned and looked at her hair before turning to Gleon. ¡°Who is she, really?¡± ¡°Just a dwarven lass who survived the attack,¡± Gleon replied, sighing and heading down the hallway without another look. Kindra scooped the last stone and scurried after him. What is he not saying? ¡°But how did she kill it?¡± Tilly insisted. Kindra turned and shrugged. ¡°I could see it. I don¡¯t know why, but Death said I could end its hold on the orb.¡± ¡°And it claimed to be a king?¡± Tilly asked. Kindra nodded and followed across the stone-covered hallway. Dust hung in the air, and her nose crinkled. Don¡¯t sneeze. Clamping her mouth shut, she followed Gleon down the hallway to the crack. A small breeze washed through the crack, and a growing sense of wrongness filled Kindra¡¯s nostrils. ¡°I think there is another elemental down there.¡± Kindra gestured. I¡¯ll ask him about this later. Gleon peered inside. Stowing his weapons, he lowered himself down, free-climbing the rock wall. Kindra waited and looked over. ¡°Aika, can you scout it for me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Aika zipped inside. ¡°What really happened with that thing?¡± ¡°I ripped the mana from the elemental. Death said it would kill the elemental, and it did.¡± ¡°Good. There is something wrong with them¡ªoh, this is a mining tunnel and not far.¡± Tob gestured to Kindra. ¡°After you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra walked to the ledge and peered down. Aika flew up and gestured at hand-holds. Reaching out, she grabbed them and began a slow descent, her heart thundering in her chest. Dumbest thing I¡¯ve ever done¡ªwell, if I exclude the choice to leave Earth¡­ Earth. A surge of emotions spiraled through her. People she¡¯d lost. Places that were out of reach. Forcing the thoughts away, she lowered herself down, her fingers digging into the stone and perspiration spreading across her brow. Shoving her foot into a crack, she moved her hand, and a stone snapped. Her foot jerked free, and her weight slammed against the handhold. Rock dug into her skin. She smelled the metallic scent of blood and grimaced. Reaching down with her foot, she shoved it into a crack and forced herself to put weight on it. Reaching down, she moved her hand, wedging it into a crack. ¡°Alright up there?¡± Gleon called with a soft chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll throw a rock at you,¡± Kindra replied, clutching the stone and moving her other hand, leaving a small trail of blood on the stone. She lowered down her foot, and a hand steadied it. ¡°Got you,¡± Gleon said with a smile. He plucked her off the wall and placed her on the ground. ¡°You¡¯re reckless,¡± Kindra said, taking a long breath and looking at her fingers. ¡°Little bit. We weed to ensure you get some good skills and a good secondary class.¡± Gleon chuckled and turned. Aika fluttered out in front of him, and Kindra peered down the tunnel. ¡°Is this a mining tunnel?¡± Kindra stepped inside of it and searched. A sulfuric smell lingered in the air, and a shiver ran down her spine. ¡°Looks like it.¡± Gleon walked into the tunnel. Tilly landed with a soft thump and patted Kindra¡¯s back. Kindra followed the group into the tunnel and walked down the hewn stone, slowly heading deeper into the ground. The scent grew, and the air grew hot. The sound of footsteps filled the air, and Kindra moved cautiously down the mining shaft, circling downward. The tunnel suddenly opened up. The sound of stone, feet, and chatter filled the air. What is that language? A burst of heat washed into their tunnel, and the dwarves stopped. The heat grew, and Kindra stepped back, moving away from the entrance. ¡°Aika, what is it?¡± ¡°Some living fireball or something. It¡¯s strange and doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Kindra scrambled backward. How do you fight a living fireball? Chuck magic at it? She shook her head and looked at the dwarves. A large glob of fire appeared, and a flaming arm reached out. Tob¡¯s hammer glowed and smashed into it. Fiery blood that looked like lava splashed on the ground.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. This makes no sense. Magic makes no sense. Kindra took another step back and studied the runes blazing around the creature. It surged forward, flames washing into the tunnel. Gleon met it head-on, his glowing axe ripping into the elemental. The lava-like blood hit the ground with a sizzle. How do I help? Kindra pulled out her crossbow. Would this even work? She moved to the side of the tunnel, and a burst of fire engulfed Gleon. She fired, and he burned. The smell of burning hair filled the air, and the bolt sunk into the elemental. Fiery blood oozed out of it, and Gleon burst from the flame. With the grace of an enraged lumberjack, he hacked into the creature while his beard burned. Uh oh. Kindra loaded another bolt, and Tob went wild, slamming his hammer into it. A wave of magic gathered around the elemental, building like a storm. Runes danced into view, and Kindra felt the counter snap into place. Burning mana, she let it go. A burst of icy water crashed into the elemental. Steam erupted. The spell snuffed out, and the dwarves rained blows upon it, sending streams of boiling blood spraying across the room. The elemental spun, rotating itself like a living ball of fire. It manifested an arm, and Gleon hacked it off. The fiery blood fell onto him, reigniting his beard. He unleashed a stream of profanity that Kindra failed to understand. Loading another shot, Kindra aimed for the glowing mana in the sphere and fired. The bolt sunk into it. A clang rang through the air, and the elemental lashed out wildly, fire blazing everywhere. The dwarves slammed weapons into it, cursing it while their beards smoldered. Ratcheting in another shot, Kindra chuckled and watched a green surge of magic hit the two dwarves, washing away their wounds. Tilly is good at that. Kindra ratcheted in another shot, and molten blood sprayed across the floor, hissing while it cooled. The elemental lashed out, and a hammer crashed into its chest. Blood sprayed everywhere, and a loud crack rang through the air. Kindra watched the magic of the elemental come undone. The glowing gem inside its chest dimmed, its mana flooding the air. Kindra reached for it, and something connected to her mind. ¡°Please,¡± the voice whispered. Kindra paused. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Please end this torment. Set me free. I can¡¯t¡ªnot anymore.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t what?¡± ¡°Serve him in this way.¡± ¡°Serve who?¡± Kindra frowned. ¡°The fallen king. He remains, like so many of us. Please¡­ He¡¯s pulling.¡± Kindra watched magic surge into the room. It grabbed onto the spirit, and she ripped the magic free, pulling it into herself. A glowing presence flowed upward. ¡°Thank you.¡± It vanished. Kindra swallowed and looked at her mana. [Your mana has increased: 4930 ¡ú 5521] I should level. It¡¯s only 180 mana. She looked at the dwarves. Aika fluttered forward. ¡°No more fire guys. They¡¯ll burn my wings.¡± She scowled. ¡°Kindra should level,¡± Gleon said, peering around the corner. Kindra nodded and turned her focus inward. Let¡¯s see. I¡¯m level nine. What were my stats? [Speed: 12.] ? [Intellect: 16.] ? [Dexterity: 12.] ? [Strength: 12.] ? [Stamina: 10.] She willed her mana inward. [Your mana has decreased: 5521 ¡ú 5341] [Your level has increased: 9 ¡ú 10.] ? [Your intelligence has increased: 16 ¡ú 18.] [Please select four attributes to increase.] Well, stamina is the lowest, and I¡¯m bleeding. I should boost that and some strength. Kindra selected them. [Your strength has increased: 12 ¡ú 14.] ? [Your stamina has increased: 10 ¡ú 12.] [Please select an upgrade: ? - Familiar Specialist: You may create additional mechanical familiars; these gain one-tenth of your stats and require ten times your level in mana each day. ? - Replication Specialist: Transmutation may be used to create a copy of items you don¡¯t understand. ? - Ammo Specialist: You may augment items so they produce temporary ammo that fades after being fired. ? - Battle Specialist: Enhancement effects are doubled for you and your familiar. ? ] Kindra looked down the list and began vetoing. Ammo specialist? That has use, a lot of use. But does it scale upward forever? Can I make a rocket launcher and get free rockets? I could make a perpetual energy machine! A giddy smile spread across her face. [Ammo Specialist update: The enhancement fades after a variable number of shots depending on the mana used.] She sighed and looked at the others. Battle is good. I could augment myself. Replication? I can do that anyway. I understand everything except runes, and I¡¯ll figure them out. She looked at the top. And those would be useless in combat, but I won¡¯t use them for that. I¡¯ll use them to automate things. She grinned and picked it. [Familiar Specialist selected.] Smiling, she looked over at Aika. ¡°Get anything good?¡± ¡°Just an attribute boost.¡± Aika flew over with a grin. ¡°And I can upgrade my suit again.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get more mana and some metal.¡± Kindra looked back at the dwarves and nodded. ¡°I hit level ten.¡± ¡°Keep in mind that what you do will impact it. So I advise against going too fast,¡± Tilly said, patting Kindra¡¯s shoulder on her way by. ¡°Most kids level twice a year while pooling for the future.¡± She walked up and inspected the two dwarves, a smirk spreading across her face. Kindra looked at the two. Gleon¡¯s long beard was now short, a few inches at most. She laughed. He looked at her and scowled. Aika burst into a fit of laughter. ¡°Your precious beard, gone, just like that,¡± she wheezed. Gleon scowled at her. ¡°Get over here, you little demon.¡± Chapter 49 – Ruins – Pt 4 Aika dove behind Kindra and laughed, the soft sound bouncing around the stone walls. Kindra chuckled with her, looking at the charred dwarves. Burns remained in their clothes, and smudges of ash were on their faces. A few hairs smoldered, and Gleon chuckled, shaking his head and knocking away the charred remains of several hairs. Tob sighed and massaged his chin. Errant singed hairs fell out, and he sighed. ¡°Every damn time.¡± ¡°Why even have them?¡± Kindra asked with a large smile. Gleon scowled. ¡°It¡¯s a mark of honor.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll regrow within the week,¡± Tilly replied, chuckling. ¡°And it looks fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not. It¡¯s the greatest travesty that has¡ª¡± Kindra gasped and looked at the strange dwarf who¡¯d entered the passage. His eyes were red, his skin appeared to be gray, and he was wearing gleaming armor. Reaching down, he grabbed for an axe, yelled, and charged. Gleon spun and did the same. His axe slammed into the metal armor. Sparks flew into the air, and the dwarf slammed his axe into Gleon¡¯s leather tunic. Kindra jerked her crossbow up. She aimed, and Tob launched himself forward, his hammer slamming into the armor with a crunch. The red-eyed dwarf coughed blood and dropped, slumping to the ground. The sound of footsteps filled the air, and two dwarves charged out of the tunnel. Aika zipped out after them, and Kindra jogged forward. She peeked around the edge. The cave had opened into a stone hallway, and a group of the strange dwarves raced forward. Four of them hit the two in a clash of metal. Aika zipped into the air, and a boulder ripped from the wall, shooting toward her. Rage flowed through Kindra, and she swapped the crossbow, pulling out the nine-millimeter and resting it in her palm. Glowering at the caster in the back, she looked down the barrel and burned mana. [Basic 9 millimeter has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 8 hours. Each shot will negate up to 30 stamina when fired. This effect lasts ten seconds after being fired.] She exhaled and pulled the trigger. The gun barked. The mage jerked back, and the bullet blew through her chest in a spray of blood. The caster screamed. Magic pulsed around her, and an enraged Aika shot forward with her armor aglow. Her spear whirred. Stone ripped from the ground, and Kindra pulled the trigger. The gun barked, the bullet sang, and blood sprayed from the caster¡¯s chest. She wobbled, and Aika slashed across her throat. The caster dropped, blood flowing onto the floor. The remaining four dwarves went wild, cursing and slashing recklessly. Rotating, Kindra exhaled and waited for a clear shot. Aika zipped down and stabbed one in the back. It spun, and Kindra fired. Blood sprayed, and a rock smashed another into the floor. A surge of magic washed across Tob and Gleon, their wounds closing. The sounds of battle died with it, blood oozing across the floor. The smell washed over Kindra, and she felt like gagging. What? Surprise and disgust spread across her face, and she leaned down and sniffed. Why does it smell rancid? The mana oozed out of them, and she tried to figure out why it felt strange. Mana flowed elsewhere, and she frowned, reaching for it and jerking it back toward them. Another presence tugged back. What? She grabbed it and jerked it into herself. A smoldering heat flooded through her. Strange. Why is it hot? She reached out and grabbed the streams going elsewhere, pulling them back. Tilly leaned closer. ¡°Be ready for others. Your weapon is loud.¡± Kindra flushed and nodded. ¡°Why attack them? They¡¯re dwarves.¡± ¡°Because they¡¯re more monster than dwarf,¡± Gleon said, shaking his head and reaching down. He grabbed one of the bodies and pulled it up, pointing at fading marks on the skin. Kindra leaned forward. ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easier to see in the light, but they made a pact with the elemental lords.¡± Gleon shook his head and frowned. ¡°A pact?¡± Tilly nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t fully know the details, but it changes them.¡± Kindra studied the body, and a wave of wrongness washed over her. It surged, and she jerked up, pulling her gun up and looking down the sights. A stone golem walked into view, its heavy feet thumping against the stone. It turned, and Kindra gasped. Is that a dwarf? The humanoid stone golem looked at them with brown eyes embedded in the stone. Kindra shivered. ¡°Join us,¡± it bellowed, its voice shaking the stone and echoing through the cavern. ¡°Not on your life.¡± Gleon charged with Tob on his heels. The golem replied in kind, whirring forward. Kindra swapped her pistol for the rifle. She exhaled and aimed for its eye. With her heart thundering, she pulled the trigger. The gun barked. The bullet zipped forward, and the eye exploded. Blood, gore, and stone burst into the air. The golem crashed to the ground, and the two dwarves smashed into it, breaking off pieces with their weapons. Stone shattered. Blood sprayed, and Kindra watched the runes inside the body fade. Why do those look familiar? She frowned, and the realization hit. It had several that were in the plague that had brought back the undead. Different, but some are the same. Another spray of blood hit the air, and a spirit wafted into the air, surrounded by a web of magic and runes. Kindra reached out and ripped the spell away. The spirit turned toward her. Warmth surged through Kindra, and the spirit vanished. Strange. Kindra looked at the golem. The stone was strangely flesh-like. Blood oozed on the floor, and a dozen dwarves burst around the corner.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Angry red eyes turned toward the group. ¡°You¡¯ll pay fer that,¡± one snarled. It reached for an axe, and stone smashed into the group, ripping from the walls and crashing down on several. The rest dashed forward, and Kindra swapped back to her pistol, stepping closer to the group and aiming. Gleon crashed into them. The sound of steel on steel filled the air. Blood oozed from wounds, and Kindra fired. The gun cracked out a warning. The bullet zipped forward and blew through a dwarf¡¯s head. It crumpled, and a rock smashed into another. Aiming at another, she heard Gleon grunt. Blood ran down his body. A sword was buried in his chest, and he coughed, spraying blood into the air. Shit! Kindra unloaded, rapidly emptying the magazine and reaching for a spare. Aika zipped forward, her spear blurring and stabbing at the dwarves, opening small wounds. The dwarves ignored her, and Gleon fell, hitting the ground with a thud. Green magic flowed through the air, and three dwarves charged toward Tilly. Kindra slammed the replacement magazine in. Her emotions surged. Breathe. Time seemed to slow as her heart thundered. She pulled the trigger. Breathe. The bullet exploded through a dwarf¡¯s head. Breathe. She exhaled and forced her trembling hands steady, pulling the trigger. The gun barked. Blood sprayed from the dwarf, and she pivoted. Breathe. Exhaling, she fired. The gun barked. The bullet ripped through the armor, and blood sprayed from the dwarf¡¯s heart. A furious Gleon ripped himself off the ground and slammed into the three dwarves like a wrecking ball. His axe blurred, and gore burst into the air. Kindra turned her focus and saw Tob. He was covered in blood. It ran down his body in small rivulets, and he wobbled. Green magic surged through the air, and heavy steps sounded from the hallway. Metal crunched on stone, and Kindra swapped her guns. Gleon and Tob staggered toward Tilly, leaving a trail of blood. Tob growled, his hand pouring out a rain of bloody droplets. Kindra forced her eyes away, raising the gun and fighting with the emotion that wrapped around her throat. Don¡¯t panic. Breathe. A metal creature burst around the corner. It turned toward them, revealing a glowing gem in its head. The golem crunched forward, and Kindra fired, her hands shaking. The bullet went wide, blowing past the golem and bouncing off the rock wall. Damn it, Kindra. She swallowed. Breathe. With her throat and the cave closing around her, she exhaled and fired. The bullet burst out and punctured a hole through the metal thing. Its large legs continued forward, an unrelenting and unstoppable force. The air grew thin, and a voice rippled through Kindra¡¯s mind. ¡°Kindra! I need mana!¡± Aika shouted. Kindra willed it to Aika, and Aika zipped forward, her entire body glowing. Like a dazzling flare, she shot into the bullet hole, vanishing into the golem. ¡°Aika, no!¡± Kindra shouted. She aimed and hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll hit you!¡± The golem thumped forward, and its eye burst from its socket, tumbling down the stone. The golem spun, its gears whirring wildly. Kindra stepped backward, following the retreating dwarves and moving as quietly as possible. ¡°More mana!¡± Aika shouted. Kindra willed more mana into Aika, letting her take some absurd amount. Like a living bullet, Aika burst from its skull. The golem slapped upward, barely missing her. Aika zipped around it and dove through an eye socket. Its fist connected with its head. Metal crunched, and gears squealed. Smoke and sparks burst into the air, and the golem crashed to the ground, metal smashing onto stone. Aika burst out of a hole and grabbed the eye gem. ¡°Kindra! Grab it!¡± Kindra dashed forward. She reached down and placed her hands on the golem, willing it into her storage. Grabbing swords and armor, she did the same, stashing as much metal as she could. Turning, she ran back toward the dwarves. Gleon coughed, blood oozing down his chest. Tob stood there, blood coating his body. Kindra blanched and nearly fell over. How did this go so wrong? She grimaced, and footsteps filled the air. ¡°Go,¡± Aika whispered, gesturing to the tunnel. ¡°Kindra, take the mana from it if you can.¡± Kindra grabbed the mana and ripped it into her. She turned back toward the tunnel. ¡°I¡¯ll help, Aika.¡± ¡°Kindra, I need you,¡± Tilly whispered, gesturing to Gleon. Looking down, Kindra realized. I have to carry him out. She swallowed. ¡°Aika¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve survived worse.¡± Aika flew to the corner. Reaching down, Kindra grabbed Gleon¡¯s legs. She followed Tilly toward the tunnel, struggling to keep the dwarf in her hands. His weight dragged against her fingers, and she willed mana inward. Should have done this sooner. [Your mana has increased: 5341 ¡ú 5684] ? [Your mana has decreased: 5684 ¡ú 4584] [Your level has increased: 10 ¡ú 15.] She willed it all into strength before the prompt could show up. [Your intellect has increased: 18 ¡ú 28.] ? [Your strength has increased: 14 ¡ú 34.] Strength flooded through her muscles, and she willed the other notifications away. I can get them in a minute. She moved up the cave and away from the sound of footsteps. ¡°Be safe, Aika.¡± Chapter 50 – Ruins – Pt 5 Aika perched on a small stone outcropping. The sound of steps filled the air. She exhaled and held up her spear. Just buy them time. Mana flowed into her, surging with power. [Your level has increased: 10 ¡ú 15.] A smile spread across her face, and she willed updates to her attributes. [Your speed has increased: 18 ¡ú 28. Current value: 28+20. ] ? [Your dexterity has increased: 18 ¡ú 28. Current value: 28+20. ] ? [Your strength has increased: 18 ¡ú 28. Current value: 28+20. ] She grinned. Well, Kindra may not approve, but I¡¯m not surviving if I get hit. [Choose an upgrade: ? - Heightened Bond: Mana from kills is increased and flows more easily to your bonded. ? - Reduced Bond: Solo kills will slowly advance your level. ? - Severed Bond: You retain half your levels if you sever your bond.] Well, that¡¯s obvious, but I get it. She picked the first one, and another popped up. An eager grin spread across her face. [Choose an upgrade: ? - Guardian Suit - You may sacrifice nanites to reduce damage to yourself or your bonded. In addition, your bonded may use 50 mana to summon you to them . ? - Infiltrator Suit - You may go invisible after a minute without attacking . The invisibility fades after attacking. ? - Evasive Suit. - Your suit will help you avoid strikes, boosting your speed and dexterity by 15%. ] She paused to study them. One¡¯s good for scouting, but I want to fight. She looked at the other two, and a dwarf appeared below. I can protect Kindra this way. She picked the first one and dove, launching herself off the wall with her wings blazing. The air rushed around her, a soothing, calm stream to her thundering heart. Slamming the spear forward, she slashed it across the dwarf¡¯s throat on the way by. Blood sprayed into the air, and the dwarf gurgled something. The nineteen others turned. A burst of green light lit the injured dwarf, and Aika zipped through the dwarves, slamming a spear into the robed one in the center. His eyes glowed a vibrant red, blood oozed from the wound, and Aika ripped the spear out. A large hand swung at her, a burst of stone ripped from the ground, and Aika dove, shooting between his legs. The stone smashed into another dwarf, and she cackled, the sound echoing everywhere. A hammer swung toward her like a bat. She shot around it, focusing on avoiding the ongoing strikes and stalling. The healer snarled and barked something. Weapons swung, and she wove through them, spinning and twisting like a ribbon in the wind. A sword swung, and she shot straight up. It blurred next to her head, and she shot upward. A stone ripped out of the wall, crashing toward her. Aika stopped and dropped, falling like a brick. The stone smashed into a dwarf. He shouted something incoherent, and a group of dwarves burst free, running up the hallways. Aika hissed. Damn it. She flew forward, and an axe swung. The massive thing was as big as she was. It slammed down toward her body, and she reached upward, grabbing the side and twisting over it. Stone fragments and dust erupted around her head. ¡°Kindra! Incoming!¡± Aika launched herself off the ground and flew without her wings. Her spear sunk into a dwarf¡¯s throat. She ripped it free, flew to his shoulder, and used it as a platform, leaping off of it. I underestimated my strength boost. With a manic look on her face, she slammed her spear into a large eyeball. It exploded. Fluid and blood rained around her, and she ripped it out while falling to the floor. It rushed toward her. A sword blurred by her head, and she hit the floor. Rolling, metal crunched into stone. A blade smashed into stone, and she vaulted off the ground, launching upward with her wings blazing. The robes of the caster blurred by. An explosion of sound echoed from the nearby tunnel, and Aika slammed her spear upward. It sank into the healer¡¯s jaw, pushing further and further into his head. An axe slammed toward Aika, and she shoved off of it, abandoning the spear. Thank goodness that fairies are fast. Flying up, she watched blood spray from the healer¡¯s chest. The axe ripped free, and the healer coughed blood, spraying it into the healer. The attacking dwarf looked horrified, and Aika dropped, falling toward the ground and pulling out a short sword.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Flaring out her wings, she swooped and flew up. A large fist swung toward her, and she dropped, hitting the ground lightly before launching herself upward. Slashing at dwarven knees, she blurred by and fell to the ground, blood raining around her. Landing, she vaulted backward and looked at the healer. Magic gathered around him. The wounds slowly closed, and Aika leapt. She slashed into another dwarf¡¯s knees, sheathed her sword, and grabbed the falling spear. Dropping toward the ground, a hammer swung toward her, and she flared her wings, vaulting off the hammer and slamming her spear into the dwarf¡¯s eye. It exploded. Fluid rained down, and he screamed, the screech echoing around the tunnel. He slapped his hands toward his eye, and Aika ripped the spear out, dropping down and slashing at his wrists. Blood erupted around her, and a hammer hit her. The jarring impact spread through her body, and she lurched to the side, flying through the air. And this is what I love about aerial combat. Shoving off the hammer, she flipped into the air, and the hammer smashed into an axe. They¡¯re getting smarter. She dropped down and stabbed a dwarf on the way by, using her weight to rip the spear out. The healer barked something. Dwarves turned and ran for the tunnel. ¡°Kindra, incoming!¡± Aika scowled, landed on the floor, and launched herself upward. How do I kill them with that horrible healer? She jabbed her spear into a leg, spun upward, and shot toward the floor, ripping the spear out on the way down. The ground below shifted, going completely flat. Aika flared her wings, and a hammer slammed into her, knocking her toward the stone. Scrambling up the hammer, she shoved off, and the stone surged upward, flowing like loose mud and engulfing her in it. It hardened, encasing her in stone. Aika wriggled, trying to burst out of the rock. ¡°Kindra! Summon me!¡± Magic surged around her, and a strange pressure built. The dark stone vanished, and she burst into the air, gasping for air and looking up at the stone. A gun barked next to her, booming a wave of noise down the tunnel. She sat up, looking down at Gleon. He lay there, breathing heavily. Blood trickled from his mouth, and the gun barked repeatedly. Aika stood and turned. Blood burst from the wave of dwarves, and Kindra slammed a new magazine into the pistol. A rope pulled Gleon upward, and Aika jumped off him. Flying there, she watched a dwarf stumble and fall, blood oozing from his chest. ¡°Follow him, Kindra.¡± Kindra reached out and touched her spear. [Basic spear has been enhanced with +20 strength to the wielder for 2 hours.] Aika grinned and shot down the tunnel, her wings blurring behind her. The air whistled through her hair. Bloody dwarves lay on the ground, and a wave of green light settled on them. With her wings fluttering, she zipped down the tunnel and slashed the spear across necks, spraying blood into the air. Jabbing it into a helmet, she stabbed red eyes and heard shouting. ¡°Devil fairy!¡± a dwarf shouted. Aika ripped out her spear and leapt to the next dwarf, slamming the spear down through the armor and sinking it into his chest. Ripping it free, the ground erupted around her, and she shot into the air, retreating down the tunnel and away from the flowing stone. It cascaded behind her, a river of stone that flowed and splashed along the halls. Shooting into the tunnel, she shot upward and saw Kindra hauling herself up. The stone behind her flowed upward and then hardened into solid stone. She blurred upward and shot over the lip. Stone flowed from the wall, sealing it off. Blurring forward, she looked at Gleon. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°It punctured his heart,¡± Tilly said, grabbing him. ¡°I have him stable, but you don¡¯t recover from this quickly. He¡¯ll need rest.¡± Kindra grabbed him and walked down the tunnels. The sound of stone rumbling filled the air, and Aika dodged against the wall. Maybe I should have gotten invisibility. She waited and watched the stone flow away. A passage opened up, winding around the corner. Aika zipped over to it and waited, trying to hide among the stone. The group jogged up tunnels, and Aika crouched against the wall. The first dwarf rounded the corner. He poked his head out and barked something to the others before rushing forward. His footsteps filled the air, and Aika waited. The crack of gunfire echoed through the tunnel. Footsteps thundered, and the mage appeared. Launching herself off the wall, Aika blurred. Her wings pounded, and she slammed the spear into the mage¡¯s temple. Bone crunched, blood sprayed, and the mage dropped. Ripping her spear free, Aika charged another, stabbing and slashing while zipping through the group. The dwarves turned and shouted. ¡°Aika, watch out!¡± Aika shot toward the wall. ¡°Clear!¡± Gunfire rolled down the cave, the gun blasting out metal and death. Blood sprayed. Dwarves staggered, and the remainder fled, racing for the tunnel. Aika followed, slashing and stabbing. A hammer caught her, carrying her toward the wall. She launched off it and drove the spear into an eye. While the dwarf toppled, she zipped forward, stabbing and dropping the rest. Zooming toward the dwarf at the front, she braced the spear, and he spun. With his red eyes and face full of rage, he spat and raised his axe. ¡°You woke the titan. Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll live,¡± he hissed. Aika ignored it, and the axe slammed toward her, a massive chunk of glowing metal that seemed to follow too easily. She flared her wings and fell, opening them and shooting between his legs. The wing raced through her hair. Her heart thundered, and she slammed the spear into his spine. I love flying. With her wings blurring, she ripped it free and dropped. The axe ripped through the air above her. Currents of it rippled around her, and she fell, dropping on the ground and rebounding off it like a spring. The axe blurred, and she slammed her spear into his throat. The dwarf fell, blood leaking from the wound. ¡°Kindra. They¡¯re dead. Do you have mana? I can boost my suit.¡± She landed on the weapons, and magic surged through her. Willing it to the axe, the metal flowed around her, making her nanite dress thicker. Like a snug, second skin, the metal rippled across her small body. She looked down at it and smiled. Being a fairy is awesome. [Advanced Mechasuit upgraded to level 15. New stat boost: 30.] She grinned and bent down. Gleaming coins caught her attention, and she hopped over to the caster. She opened the purse and studied the metal. What is that? She picked the coin up. A large elemental was on it. The coin glowed in her hand. It felt warm. Too warm. She placed it in the bag, grabbed the purse, and raced for Kindra. Maybe she can figure it out. Chapter 51 – Ruins – Pt 6 Kindra reached behind her and pulled, ripping the mana toward her. A sense of wrongness filled the air, and she frowned. What is causing that? She looked at the cave walls. Moisture clung to a few cracks, and the sound of wings filled her ears. I should pick my upgrades. She pulled them into view. [Please pick an upgrade: ? - Enhancer - Item enhancements are 25% stronger. ? - Fabricator - Transmutation costs 25% less. ? - Combatant - You may sacrifice a familiar or crafted item to boost your item stats for a temporary duration. Specific duration and boost vary based on the item.] Only things I make? She wrinkled her nose and ruled Combatant out before looking at the others. Both are good, but I need more bullets and to make things. She picked the second, bolstering transmutation. [Please pick two upgrades: ? - Machinist Cache - Increase the capacity by 500 pounds. ? - Guided Hand - Use magic to help fix flaws during crafting. ? - Salvager - Upgrade your Scavenger¡¯s Sight to better understand the things you salvage and how to salvage them. ? ] Kindra paused and looked at them. Two? That¡¯s strange. She blew a hair out of her face and plodded down the stone hall. The send one didn¡¯t make sense. She could do that with transmutation. Is it different? [Slightly. Magic will help control your body.] She shivered, a remnant of dread passing through her body. Vetoing that option, she picked the other two and waited to see if she¡¯d get another. None appeared . Did I level too fast? [Aika got a few choices. However, you may wish to wait longer between each one. ? A system upgrade is being developed to aid.] Good to know. She walked down the hall, and Gleon coughed, a small bubble of blood forming in the corner of his mouth. ¡°Is he okay?¡± ¡°He¡¯s healing. Slowly.¡± Tilly marched around the corner. Kindra followed. ¡°Aika, did you get upgrades?¡± ¡°Two of them. They¡¯re great¡­ Oh. And there is a grub up here. I think he¡¯s sleeping.¡± ¡°Tilly, there may be a grub,¡± Kindra whispered, winding down the tunnels back toward the tunnel. Tilly sighed. ¡°Thank you.¡± The sound of her footsteps faded. Kindra walked carefully, carrying Gleon and trying to avoid making any noise. The stone walls stood solemnly around her. Her eyes cut through the darkness, lighting the place in shades of gray. Darkvision is pretty cool. Turning a corner, she felt a soft breeze. A glowing form appeared, and she moved cautiously across the floor. Just go slow and ¡ª The entire floor shook. The grub flailed, its heavy body slamming into stone. Aika blurred through the air, and a squeal echoed down the tunnels. A small, glowing creature bounced around inside the grub, and the grub slammed its body against the stone, sending dust and stone flying. The creature inside bounced like a rubber ball, smashing into the sides of the grub. A blurring Aika slammed her spear into its face, sending a spray of ichor against the wall. The grub rolled, twisting while its massive mouth opened, revealing strange circular teeth. Kindra froze, waiting while Aika slammed her spear into it. With a burst of movement, the grub lurched forward, and the mouth closed around Aika. ¡°Aika?¡± The grub thrashed, smashing its body down and sending Aika flying inside. She bounced around, and ichor oozed from the grub¡¯s side. ¡°Can you get me out?¡± Kindra triggered her skill to summon Aika, and Aika burst into existence, her armor, face, and hair drenched in smelly fluid. Kindra wrinkled her nose and gently set Gleon down. She pulled out her rifle and aimed. The grub thrashed, slamming itself into the ground and ripping some of the wounds open. Suddenly, it stopped. The light from the creature inside began to extinguish, and the wounds began to close. Aika blurred across the room, her spear whirring around her like a propeller. Kindra reached out and pulled, ripping the mana out of the dying creature and into herself. The grub¡¯s wounds stopped closing, and Aika opened several new wounds, blurring around it and avoiding the large mouth. Ichor oozed from it. The grub slammed into the ground, and Kindra felt the ground shake. Her feet hit the stone, and the grub wriggled toward her at high speed. She pulled the trigger. The bullet went through it in a small explosion of fluid. It coated the walls. The casing flew, and Kindra fired again. An eyeball exploded, and the ground opened under the grub. It slithered into the tunnel, its large, oozing body covered in wounds. Aika followed, hacking and slashing into it. Kindra felt her mana pulsing and pulled runes into her mind. ¡°Aika, watch out!¡± She focused on the runes. Flames rippled into her hand, and Aika zipped out of the tunnel. Fire burst forward, racing eagerly toward the grub and igniting it. The ground shook. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and everything went quiet. Aika zipped over to the tunnel. ¡°I think it¡¯s dead.¡± Kindra pointed the gun down and walked over. She peered into the tunnel and saw a charred grub. That¡¯ll work. Reaching out, she pulled the mana into herself before walking back and picking up Gleon. He mumbled something. Kindra looked at Tilly and followed, heading down the tunnels. ¡°What happened to the dwarves?¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t dwarves anymore. The magic changes them.¡± Tob sighed and leaned against the wall, shuffling slowly. ¡°They make binding pacts with the elementals. It can turn them into living stone.¡± ¡°Why do it?¡± ¡°Power, of course. They can live far longer and have additional skills from their core element. Yours seems like fire, I might add.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Gleon¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he wiped blood from his mouth. ¡°Did we win?¡± ¡°No.¡± Tilly shook her head. ¡°You had your heart impaled instead.¡± ¡°Put me down.¡± Gleon struggled and pulled out of Kindra¡¯s arms, landing with a heavy thump. Kindra frowned. ¡°You need to stop charging in.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± Aika added, flying over and landing on Gleon¡¯s head. She bonked it. ¡°Get a bow or something. You¡¯re losing your edge.¡± ¡°Pah,¡± Gleon scoffed, swatting at Aika with his large, meaty palm. ¡°They just got in a lucky shot.¡± ¡°Because you were letting them.¡± Aika smirked at him, landing on his head again ¡°Little demon.¡± Gleon scowled and hobbled down the cave. ¡°Just like my mum.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Aika nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t be there to protect you forever.¡± Gleon scoffed and swatted at her. ¡°Overgrown fruitfly.¡± ¡°Blustering bison.¡± Aika flew off and smirked at him. Kindra chuckled and followed, shaking her head. She looked at his gear. ¡°Why not wear armor, Gleon?¡± ¡°No point. I get bonuses without it, which makes it pointless.¡± Gleon stretched and wiped the blood off his large arms. He hobbled down the hall, and the magic inside him flowed like a small river. Kindra followed them down the hall, periodically checking behind them. Turning a corner, she watched Aika land on Gleon¡¯s head. He swatted at her. Laughing, Aika zipped into the air and shot down the hallway. Kindra smiled and followed the three dwarves. ¡°What do we do about the elementals down there?¡± Tob turned. ¡°We¡¯ll worry about it later. They¡¯ll be busy.¡± ¡°Busy doing what?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Preparing to invade the surface. We¡¯ll have to deal with them, but we have more pressing problems.¡± ¡°Umm, this seems pressing.¡± ¡°It is, but we need to fortify the city from them. And we need to fortify it from the vampires. When they come, the dwarves below will die regardless.¡± Gleon sighed and nodded. ¡°We need to learn the secret of the golems and prepare a new location.¡± ¡°So, we run?¡± Kindra asked. What about the people who are going to die? She frowned. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Tilly said, patting her on the shoulder. ¡°The necromancers are extremely strong. They¡¯ve ruled over our people for generations, and¡ª¡± ¡°We¡¯ll end them. We just need those golems.¡± Gleon grinned and swatted at Aika. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be scouting?¡± ¡°I did. There¡¯s a tunnel.¡± Aika smirked at him and gestured. ¡°See. Tunnel.¡± Gleon hobbled along and chuckled. ¡°What happened to your hair and eyes?¡± Tilly asked, turning to look at Kindra. Kindra shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Tilly turned toward Gleon. ¡°Found her like that,¡± Gleon said with a slight grunt. He coughed, and blood oozed from his mouth. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Aika asked, perching on Kindra¡¯s shoulder. He coughed repeatedly, the sound bouncing through the tunnel. Shouldn¡¯t he be getting better? Blood trickled down his chin, and he wiped it off, steadying himself against the wall. ¡°Just had to get it out.¡± Gleon stood and looked at his blood-covered hand. He shook off the blood and plodded down the hallway. Kindra followed, slowly making her way down the tunnel and up to a wooden door. Tilly knocked on it, tapping out a rhythm. The door slid open, and a dwarf poked his head out. He looked at the group, and a smirk spread across her face. ¡°Finally meet your match, Gleon?¡± He grinned and ran his fingers through his beard. Gleon scowled at him. ¡°That a challenge?¡± The guard looked at Gleon¡¯s blood-plastered armor. ¡°Nah. I¡¯m clean.¡± He stepped out of the way with a chuckle. Gleon walked inside and slapped his shoulder, leaving a blood smear on the tan leather armor. Kindra chuckled, and Aika laughed. The guard¡¯s focus shifted. He smiled at Aika. ¡°And you kept him alive, Aika?¡± ¡°Sure did.¡± Aika winked and flew over. ¡°It was a challenge. He said something about life without a beard isn¡¯t worth living.¡± Gleon scoffed and swatted at her. ¡°You¡¯re a terror.¡± Aika laughed and flew around the room with a smile on her face. Kindra chuckled and slid by, following her down the hallway and toward her new home. She walked up to the door and knocked before walking inside. Sigrid turned and smiled. ¡°Welcome back. How was it?¡± ¡°We did find a golem, but it was rough.¡± Kindra slumped onto a bench and looked around the stone structure. How do they live like this? She searched the room. Pots, pans, and plates were stacked by a hearth. A chamberpot sat in the corner. ¡°How do you live in the dark all the time?¡± Kindra asked, looking at Sigrid. Sigrid turned and sighed, the sorrowful sound saying everything. ¡°If we are exposed, we have to hold off more predators. There aren¡¯t enough of us left for that.¡± Kindra swallowed. ¡°How strong are they?¡± ¡°Impossibly strong. Gleon claimed to kill one once.¡± Sigrid shook her head. ¡°He was there. In that village when the necromancer attacked it.¡± She paused. ¡°It was a miracle that you survived. One we don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°How did he kill them?¡± ¡°Her shield broke. I don¡¯t know why.¡± Kindra swallowed. The runes from her dream danced through her mind. They were familiar. Very familiar. She¡¯d ripped them apart right before she¡¯d left the darkness. What was that place? And why were their runes for a shield? Sigrid looked at her. ¡°Do you remember anything from it?¡± ¡°No. Why? Was I there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I was hoping you knew what happened. He says that he was smashing against her shield. She laughed and laughed while people around him were slaughtered. Turning toward him, she held out a hand, and the shield burst into a thousand pieces. Then he cleaved her heart out.¡± Sigrid traced the stone. ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it, but you then appeared, and the mystery grew. After all, you somehow survived. You and he alone.¡± Sigrid went quiet, her fingers drumming on the table. Kindra flushed and waited. Did Death put me in her body? Or was she in mine? A chill ran down her spine. Sigrid looked up. ¡°Do you remember anything from before it?¡± ¡°Not since the ship.¡± Kindra trembled. ¡°I heard a voice. Then there was pain. Pain and runes. I spent a small eternity there. Then I was here.¡± Looking up from the table, Sigrid nodded. ¡°A problem for another day then. Let¡¯s get supper and get you to bed. I¡¯m sure it has been a long day.¡± Kindra walked toward the kitchen. Yeah. That¡¯s true. Errant memories of the runes flickered through her mind, and a nagging pain haunted her throughout the evening. Chapter 52 – Interlude – Diana Water dripped from a stone ceiling, falling and splattering into a red, bloody puddle. The smell of stone, metal, blood, and pain filled the cell. Diana breathed it in, enjoying the feel and taste of it. Turning, a strand of white hair fell into her view, and she studied the man before her. Shackled to the wall, blood oozed from cuts on his muscled arms. Runes on the wall and in the shackles glowed softly, and footsteps pulled her attention. What now? A flash of anger passed over Diana, and she spun, glowering at the humanoid shape of mana. It moved down the steps and walked forward. Elana stepped into view, walking to the cell and looking at the damp, bloody floor. ¡°Gross.¡± She huffed and crossed her arms, further pushing up two large breasts that poked out of her red dress. ¡°What is it, Elana?¡± Diana spun back toward the man and pulled out a small comb. She ran it through the hair, examining the errant white strands that had joined the black. Progress. ¡°The council sent a missive. They are having a meeting today.¡± Elana sniffed. ¡°Waste of blood.¡± She gestured at the floor and the man. Diana sighed. ¡°You know that it is not. Now, I need quiet.¡± She turned her gaze back toward the man, pulling up a glowing knife and driving it into his skin. Moving precisely, she drew elaborate runes with the blade, his blood acting as the ink. Finishing a chain, she paused. The bloody flesh glowed and then went dark, the magic fading away like the blood. The flesh stitched together. Moving down, she repeated it, slowly carving another. The knife traced and cut skin like a pen of magic. With each marking, the man¡¯s appearance shifted. His nose softened. His fangs grew, and Diana plucked a vial of glowing red liquid from her belt. Elana gasped. ¡°With all due respect, I think that¡ª¡± ¡°Enough, Diana. Stop thinking short term. It¡¯s unbecoming of an immortal, even if you are young.¡± Dipping the blade into the blood, she resumed her work, carving another set of runes into his flesh. ¡°You will need to master this, Elana.¡± With that said, she flourished the blade and waited. The runes faded. The man¡¯s face and eyes glowed with a soft blue light. Any trace of brown slowly faded away, and the man screamed. He thrashed against the manacles, and Diana sighed. ¡°Is he breaking?¡± Elana asked, stepping around the bloody puddle and walking up to him. Diana frowned. That would be a loss. She watched. His body dug into the chains, blood oozed from his nose, and he mumbled something. ¡°It¡¯s so tedious,¡± Elana said, scowling at him. ¡°But it is worth it.¡± Diana waited and watched, her concerned eyes scanning his body. Will he survive? Quiet settled on the cell. Another drop of water fell from the ceiling, splashing in the red puddle. The stone walls stood silently, quiet sentinels to the ancient structure. The two women waited, and the man went still. Diana reached forward and placed her fingers against his neck, searching for a heartbeat. She felt it thundering through him like a drum. Waiting, she frowned and looked at the walls. Another meeting. Why is he calling it? She mused on it and the progress throughout the realms. The elementals have been quiet, as have the demons. It¡¯s a shame I don¡¯t have time to visit. She looked down at her body and sighed . Soft wrinkles were on her hands. Scars lined her hands and arms. She sighed and looked at the man. His pulse returned to normal. She removed her hand and brought the knife forward, dipping it into a vial of blood before resuming her work on his arms. Blood dripped. Magic hung in the air. With each cut, she fed mana inside and watched. Hairs on his head grayed, and he thrashed against the manacles, forcing her to pause. Elana leaned forward and sniffed. ¡°Are you certain this is worth it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Diana turned and looked at her. The doubt remained on her face, doubt that shouldn¡¯t have been there. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Elana?¡± ¡°I have heard things. How can you be certain that others on the council won¡¯t betray you?¡± Diana laughed and shook her head. ¡°No. The necromancer wars ended long ago. It was¡­ pointless. We lost much and accomplished little. Never again.¡± She studied the woman. ¡°You are young. So very young. You¡¯ll understand in time, and you¡¯ll learn how futile your bursts of emotion are. They are not but fleeting fancies in the massive passage of time.¡± ¡°What of the rumors from the dwarven world?¡± Elana asked, stepping forward and holding out her hand. ¡°The rebels don¡¯t matter. They are weak.¡± Diana paused and considered it. ¡°Very well.¡± She handed the knife to her. ¡°You know the place and have the mana?¡± ¡°Yes. Is there a way to get a skill for this?¡± Diana shook her head, anger flashing through her. ¡°That rotten system. We will find out who did it, but that¡¯s a problem for another day. The ancient ways still work, even if they are more difficult.¡± She traced a rune on his arm with her fingernail, dragging it along his skin. ¡°Go.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Elana stepped forward, dipped the knife in the blood, and cut into his flesh. The blade glowed. The blood sizzled, and the man screamed. It ripped through the room, bouncing off the stone walls, floor, and ceiling. Ignoring it entirely, she continued to slice into his flesh. Blood dripped. The magic built with each cut, and he thrashed against the manacles. Elana¡¯s demeanor went cold. She gritted her teeth, and the knife slipped. Diana gasped as the jagged, broken rune surged. She grabbed the knife and sliced quickly, finishing the rune and waiting. The magic surged around her. The man slammed against his chains. ¡°Elana, I taught you better than that,¡± she hissed. ¡°He was fighting me somehow.¡± ¡°Of course. I told you he would. They always do even without realizing.¡± Diana leaned back and frowned. He won¡¯t survive. The man¡¯s face contorted. He continued screaming, and blood oozed from his mouth and nose, dripping down his face. Another stream rolled down from his eye. ¡°Is that what happened? Did she fight? Did she¡ª¡± ¡°Elana,¡± Diana hissed. ¡°I will not discuss that. Now, you should practice your control. Try again.¡± She handed the knife back and nodded. He¡¯ll die. She may as well get use from this. ¡°No blood.¡± Elana blanched. ¡°That bad?¡± ¡°Yes. Look at him.¡± Diana gestured to the man. His face was contorted, and large teeth grew out of his bloody mouth. ¡°He won¡¯t last another hour.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we fix it?¡± Elana reached forward. ¡°I could try it again.¡± ¡°No. This is not some cheap enchantment sold on some black market. Nor is it an artifact from a great artificer. This magic is far more.¡± Diana¡¯s eyes blazed a vibrant blue. The magic in the room rippled around her, washing in and out of the man. His glowing ball of mana inside crashed through him like a lightning storm. With each strike, things altered. Hair grew. Muscles expanded, and his bones cracked. ¡°The perfect body is not born. It is made, and that requires the precision of the divine.¡± Diana ran her fingers across his face. ¡°Alas, he will never know what it is like to taste the blood or walk our path.¡± ¡°Divine?¡± Elana asked, reaching forward and carving a rune into his flesh. ¡°Oh, make no mistake. There is a divine realm, and we will find it.¡± Diana smiled and watched hairs burst from the man¡¯s face. ¡°And when we do, we shall ascend higher than ever.¡± Diana spun and walked away. ¡°Practice. Kill him when you are finished or when he causes trouble.¡± Her shoes clicked on the stone floor, and she spun and walked up the hallway, passing through an open gate and heading up the steps. Shame that we lost him. Finding a new replacement will be annoying. She walked up the spiral of stairs, stopping at the door at the top. Reaching forward, she placed a key into the door and swung it open, revealing a stone room filled with undead. They lined the walls and ceiling, guards against the secrets kept below. Walking toward the wall, she stopped at a stone and slid it out, revealing a small gap in the stones. Corking the vial of blood, she placed it inside and fed mana into the glass bottle. Runes glowed, and she examined the blood. I¡¯ll need more for the next one. She groaned and slid the stone back into place. Turning, she walked to the door and opened it, revealing a carpeted hallway. Torches flickered in braziers, and undead soldiers lined the hallway like statues, their armor polished and clean. A maid scurried by, curtsying, before moving toward the kitchen. Diana studied the mana inside of her. She can¡¯t be more than level sixty, a shame. She sighed, turned, and walked down the halls, her heels clicking on the wood. Entering a room, she walked to a desk and picked up a piece of parchment. Lady Diana, The council will be convening today at noon. All are to attend. There is news, and we must act quickly. By way of information, we will be pushing against the elemental world once more. It is regrettable, but several elemental lords have aligned, and some have aligned with other enemies. That must be stopped. Prepare yourself, your house, and your troops. Eternally, ~Justin Diana sighed and tossed the letter on her desk. Why are we going back to that hellscape? It¡¯s such a waste of time and energy. She frowned, her thoughts turning to her supplies. Those were in order. However, there was a small complication. I¡¯ll need to harvest the dwarven world and pick up Kindra. She drummed her fingers on the polished wood desk. Will she accept, or will she cause me trouble? Walking out of the room, she proceeded down the hallway and out of a large set of double doors, swinging them open to reveal a courtyard with undead. Rose bushes filled the courtyard, a seeming contradiction between life and the dead next to them. Walking down the steps, she followed a stone path through the courtyard before turning toward a large building next to a wall. Smoke drifted from its chimneys. Undead stood outside, and she threw the wooden door open, revealing a large workshop with a dozen humanoids. The dwarves, humans, and elves looked up. They rapidly bowed, and she ignored them, studying the strange objects around them. Shimmering metal, smooth white plastic, and a few circuit boards were on the benches. ¡°How is progress?¡± Diana asked. A dwarf swallowed and stood. He kept his gaze on the floor. ¡°The white substance is strange. We don¡¯t know its exact makeup.¡± ¡°And that strange, green thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s some strange mix of metals. We are working on it,¡± the dwarf replied. Diana snarled. Nothing. It¡¯s been centuries! She stared at the dwarf. ¡°I need results. Now,¡± she hissed. ¡°Of course, my lady. We will solve it.¡± ¡°See that you do, or end up like the others.¡± Spinning, she walked out and slammed the door. Incompetent louts. Maybe Kindra will remember. Chapter 53 – Golems Chapter 53 ¨C Golems Kindra stood on the edge of a cliff. The sky was a hazy red. Dust and smoke flowed around her. The smell of it, along with blood, hung thick in the air. Another dream? Kindra looked at the dreamscape, and her nostrils flared. Inhaling the destruction, she looked up at the sky. A half dozen moons were in view. Each shone red, ominous mirrors of the surrounding destruction. And I¡¯m burning something. She looked out at the bodies that littered the ground. The red humanoids looked like devils. Horns protruded from their heads. Large black and brown eyes looked up at her, no emotion or life showing in them. ¡°Monster,¡± a voice snarled, more animal than human. Like gravel running down metal, it rumbled across the still air. ¡°Demon,¡± Kindra purred back, spinning and looking at the towering creature. Nearly twice her height and six times her weight, it towered there, wings swaying from its back and a large red tail flickering. The demon¡¯s mouth pulled back, revealing fangs. His eyes glistened with rage, and he reached across his armored chest, drawing a large sword. It glowed, lighting his polished armor and red skin. ¡°Today, you die.¡± ¡°Wrong. Tell me of the celestial realm, demon,¡± Kindra replied, her lips pulling back to reveal her fangs. ¡°There is no celestial realm.¡± The demon smirked and charged, his blade ripping through the smoky air and slamming into a shield of magic. Her shield of magic. Kindra sighed and rubbed her brow. ¡°Did you learn nothing from them?¡± She gestured to the bodies on the ground and rolled her eyes. ¡°Now. The celestial realm. Tell me or suffer far worse.¡± The sword smashed into her shield, slicing across the transparent surface. Kindra shook her head and raised her hand. Mana flowed from it, forming a glowing ball. ¡°Last chance.¡± ¡°Die!¡± The demon lunged, his sword bursting into flame. It washed over the shield. Kindra laughed and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Demon. You lack power. You lack practice. And you are lesser.¡± She flicked out her hand. Magic streamed through the air, and her shield flickered. The magic caught the demon in the chest. Blood sprayed. Viscera flew, and her spell blasted the demon backward. He landed in a heap, blood pouring from his body. Kindra walked toward him. ¡°I¡¯ll consider healing you if you make it worth my while.¡± ¡°Die, bitch.¡± Fire exploded out of him, and a shield snapped into place. Kindra sighed and watched it bathe him and her in flame. Did it kill itself? She tapped her foot and prepared another spell, focusing on the dead around her. Green and black magic gathered around her, growing denser and denser. As the flames died, she dropped her spell, and it poured out across the ground, rippling across the undead. ¡°Come to me, my new minions,¡± she hissed in a low voice. The demonic corpses ripped themselves from the ground. Bloody bodies stood, their insides aglow. ¡°Let us find the next village,¡± Kindra said, striding down the bloody field. ¡°The realm of the celestials is out there, and we will find it.¡± The undead followed her. The smell of blood, death, and smoke lingered in her nostrils, and the ground shook. ¡°Kindra,¡± a deep voice called from nowhere. What? Kindra continued down the hill, her shoes sinking into the dark soil. A few scattered plants remained, and she targeted a new group of corpses. Always more dead. ¡°Kindra!¡± the voice shouted, and the world shattered like a broken mirror. Pieces flew, and Kindra¡¯s eyes jerked open. With several long breaths, she looked at the inside of the stone cottage. Gleon stood above her, a smile on his face and eagerness in his brown eyes. Kindra blinked and looked up at Gleon, groaning. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Time to get up.¡± Gleon smirked, shaking her again. Her body bounced on the mattress. ¡°Stop that.¡± Kindra jerked back, pulling the blanket up over her nightgown. ¡°We have a golem to solve.¡± Gleon grinned and rubbed his hands together. He gestured to the large golem in the corner of her room. It sat next to her desk. ¡°How¡¯d you get in my room?¡± Kindra rubbed her eyes and stretched. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Sigrid called. ¡°He¡¯s excited. Like a puppy.¡± Gleon chuckled. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep all day. We have secrets to uncover.¡± He spun and scooped Aika off her pillow-bed. ¡°Wake up!¡± he boomed. Aika¡¯s eyes snapped open, and she scowled. ¡°Rotten, beardless dwarf. Leave me be.¡± She smacked her fists against his hand, and he laughed. The booming sound filled the room, and Kindra groaned, covering her head with a pillow. Gleon pulled it away. ¡°No time for that. We have work to do.¡± He chuckled, and Aika shot out of his hands, heading back toward the pillow. He snatched her out of the air. ¡°Lazy, little fairy.¡± ¡°Bloody, beardless dwarf,¡± Aika snapped back, scowling at him. ¡°Little bug.¡± ¡°You know that your hair is thinning, right?¡± Aika smirked. ¡°How dare you!¡± Gleon tossed her into the air. Aika zipped around the room, chuckling to herself. Her metallic nightgown shifted, becoming a small dress. Kindra forced herself up. Those two got close. She picked up a tan dress from the shelves and waited. The door shut, and she slid out of her nightgown, putting on the dress instead. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Walking to the door, she paused. Am I throwing myself into work to avoid dealing with everything? She blanched and swallowed, knowing the answer even as she asked. Her thoughts drifted to the ship. Did any survive? And how would I find them? She chewed on her lip and frowned. The answer required far more tech than she had. It also required her to deal with that ball of guilt and fear. Nope. Shaking her head, she pulled the door open and was greeted with the smell of cooking meat. It sizzled on a pan over the nearby fire. Rubbing her eyes, Kindra walked out and looked at the group of three dwarves gathered around the table. ¡°¡­elemental lord?¡± Sigrid asked. ¡°Maybe. We¡¯ll have to clear ¡®em out eventually.¡± Gleon stretched and looked over at Aika. ¡°Remember anything about the fae realm?¡± ¡°I told you that I wasn¡¯t ever there.¡± Aika sighed and shook her head. She turned toward Sigrid. ¡°How many times has he had a concussion?¡± Kindra laughed and walked into the room, taking a seat next to Aika. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense.¡± Gleon wagged a finger at her. ¡°All fairies come from that realm. They are bound to it. Just as the elementals come from the elemental plane and the demons from the demonic realm.¡± Aika flew up and landed on Kindra¡¯s head. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I¡¯m special that way.¡± Gleon turned toward Kindra. ¡°What about you? Remember anything?¡± ¡°I remember being on the ship.¡± Kindra gestured. ¡°Then I was here, but I¡¯ve had strange dreams.¡± ¡°Dreams?¡± Dain asked from the kitchen. ¡°Yes. I was on the demonic plane, searching for the celestial one. It was strange.¡± Kindra shook her head. And I think it happened. A shiver ran down her spine, and the images of the dead flashed into her view. Her skin went cold. ¡°Dreams are funny that way,¡± Gleon replied. ¡°Probably nothing. Best not to worry about it.¡± He turned back to Aika. ¡°And you¡¯ve known Kindra all her life?¡± ¡°Yes. I told you that.¡± Aika sighed and shook her head. ¡°We played together when she was little.¡± She grinned. ¡°You can trust her. I do.¡± She nodded and patted Kindra¡¯s arm with her small hand. Kindra smiled at her. ¡°How much do you remember?¡± Aika blushed. ¡°I remember the tea party in your dad¡¯s lab. And I remember the first robot.¡± She giggled hysterically. Kindra blushed and covered her face. ¡°Oh no. Anything but that.¡± ¡°Best memory.¡± Aika laughed. Gleon leaned forward. ¡°What realm were you on? The human realm?¡± ¡°Is the human realm called Earth,¡± Aika asked. Kindra turned. ¡°We came from Earth. Then we were pulled somewhere¡­ I don¡¯t know what happened after that.¡± Dain walked over. ¡°Do you know how to get back? The magic symbols?¡± ¡°No. We didn¡¯t have magic,¡± Aika replied, stretching and landing on the stone table. She walked around the dishes. ¡°A fairy from a world without magic?¡± Gleon scoffed and shook his head. He reached for her, and she darted away. ¡°It¡¯s nonsense.¡± Aika flew up and stuck her tongue out. ¡°Is not. I explained it.¡± ¡°That just made it stranger. Probably a fever dream.¡± Kindra chuckled. How do you explain the concept of an AI to people who don¡¯t know anything about electricity? She smiled and stretched. ¡°Sigrid, can I help?¡± ¡°No, no. It¡¯s done,¡± Sigrid called, pulling the pot from the fire. She walked over and scooped the steaming hash and meat onto their plates. Kindra smiled up at her. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Sigrid smiled back. These two really deserve kids. Kindra¡¯s thoughts drifted to the necromancer and her dreams. I have to break that shield. How do I break that shield? Can I enchant the bullets to break it? She mused on it, carefully recalling the runes while Sigrid started praying. Blushing, Kindra looked up. ¡°Death, do you care?¡± [No. I¡¯m not out demanding things like that. There is enough to do.] ¡°Is there a celestial realm?¡± Kindra waited, and the prayer ended. The group began eating. She did the same, spooning the food into her mouth. No response came back. Hmm. There probably is. She ate the vegetable hash and meat, savoring the flavor. This is fresh. She looked over at the dwarves and watched their faces. ¡°Do you like it like this? Fresh?¡± Gleon nodded, a smile spreading on his face. ¡°Nice bite to it.¡± He shoveled a heaping fork into his mouth. Kindra polished off the last of her bowl and stood, carrying it to the sink. ¡°Any progress on plumbing? Pipes? Water?¡± She gestured. ¡°Yes, we made a tank,¡± Sigrid said, turning and smiling patiently. ¡°But we do have to focus on defenses first.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra smiled at her. ¡°What else was on that world of yours?¡± Gleon asked, his smile pulling up into a smirk. ¡°Oh, just you wait. There are so many things that we¡¯re going to make.¡± Kindra smiled. As soon as I kill that necromancer. She washed her plate, the smile drifting away while the dirty water swirled. There were others, and they had used her to kill thousands. That had to be the truth. No wonder Gleon¡¯s so nervous about me¡­ and the townsfolk. Memories of the dead swirled around her like the water. She felt the grief growing, and Aika bonked her head. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika asked. Kindra swallowed. ¡°Sorry.¡± She pulled out the plate and placed it on a drying rack, letting it drip. Then, turning, she saw Gleon place the large golem next to the table. He grinned. ¡°Shall we?¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s figure this thing out.¡± She walked to the table and took a seat, studying the golem. Chapter 54 – Golems – Pt 2 Chapter 54 ¨C Golems ¨C Pt 2 The golem was corroded and covered with grime. The pieces were worn and old. Reaching forward, Kindra ran her fingers across the metal, wiping off a layer of dust and ash. Are you the secret to defeating that necromancer? She watched Dain leave, his boots clunking on the stone floor. He vanished into a room. Kindra turned back to the golem. Okay. The real trick is understanding every piece. How do I do that? She frowned and triggered Scavenger¡¯s Sight. The entire golem lit up. [Corroded Steal Golem.] She dismissed. That is not helpful. Boots clunked across the floor. Dain returned with a set of tools. He walked up to the golem and started taking it apart, removing a large panel from its chest. Looks like the other one. Kindra studied the gears, pistons, and runes inside. ¡°Why build them this way?¡± she asked. Dain looked over. ¡°I¡¯m uncertain.¡± He sighed, his long beard bumping into the golem. ¡°This knowledge was lost.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ll get it back,¡± Gleon said with a large grin. He looked over and reached for Aika. Aika stuck out her tongue and leapt away, flying up and peering inside the golem. ¡°Seems inefficient¡­ Where is the, umm, Kindra, what¡¯s the word for motor?¡± ¡°I have no idea,¡± Kindra replied, swapping back to English. ¡°They don¡¯t know much beyond simple things from the medieval time.¡± She frowned and looked back, swapping to dwarvish. ¡°How do you power it?¡± She gestured to get the words across. ¡°Magic,¡± Gleon said, chuckling and shaking his head. He pointed at the rune-covered metal and gems inside. Kindra studied them, focusing on the runes. So, this is how they made basic sentience? She frowned and looked at Sigrid. Sigrid set down a book of runes, and Kindra flipped it open, working through it at a glacial pace. The three dwarves began taking the golem apart, and another realization hit Kindra. She glanced back at the dwarves. ¡°Do you expect me to figure this out?¡± Sigrid turned and smiled. ¡°Of course not, sweetie. We want you to learn and grow, though. This will help.¡± She patted Kindra on the back and placed a gear in front of her. Kindra blushed. They see me as a child. They really do. She studied the gear and the runes on it. Many of the runes were familiar. So, a strength boost and the sealing spell? She mused on it and examined another piece that had the same runes. Well. These did not make it move. Maybe they used a skill like mine for that. She looked over. Sigrid opened the head, revealing a faded gemstone inside. Kindra studied it. Is that quartz? She shot it a look of confusion. Sigrid gently placed the gem on the table. She sat next to Kindra and pointed at a tiny rune written on it. Kindra leaned closer and saw runes everywhere. A maze of them spread across the gem. She blew a strand of hair from her face. This is way beyond everything. Sigrid frowned and flipped open the book, trying to find the runes. Reaching over, Kindra picked up the gem and traced the runes with her fingernail. I¡¯ve only seen these¡­ A memory slammed into her. She was typing with Death, and runes were streaming around her. He used them. But how do I break this down? How do I attack a problem when I don¡¯t even know where to begin? ~~~ Kindra looked at an old memory. She was eight and in her father¡¯s lab. He looked down at her, a cheery smile on his face. His eyes sparkled, and he spun away from his computer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, little inventor?¡± ¡°I broke Aika.¡± Kindra swallowed and held up a robotic doll. It stood there limply. ¡°How?¡± ¡°I tried to upgrade her, and I broke things.¡± Kindra wiped at her nose. ¡°Can you help?¡± He paused and nodded. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s get her fixed up. What went wrong?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how this one works.¡± She gestured at the robot. ¡°And the manual?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to understand,¡± Kindra admitted. Her father chuckled. ¡°They often are. So, how do we approach it?¡± Kindra sighed. ¡°Dad, not this again.¡± ¡°Yes, this again. How do we attack a problem we don¡¯t understand?¡± He opened his mouth and closed it, miming eating. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°One piece at a time.¡± He grinned. ¡°Exactly. Break the problem down to the smallest pieces and attack each one.¡± He picked up the robot and gestured to his desk. A window popped up, revealing Aika¡¯s code. He smiled and turned back. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get her fixed up.¡± Kindra moved forward, her focus turning to the computer. A window of code stood there, and she studied the lines of code. ¡°What do they mean?¡± ¡°I bet you can figure it out. Walk through each one and try to determine what it¡¯s doing.¡± Kindra did just that, walking through each line and spotting the patterns¡­ Patterns and simple versions. The thought slammed into her, pulling her out of her memory and back to the crystal in front of her. The three dwarves were busy pointing and debating. Ignoring them, Kindra focused on the runes, searching for the patterns on the crystal and memorizing runes. Willing each one into her mind, she focused on them. I¡¯ve seen those in other spells¡­ She paused and studied a sequence. That one. I saw it when I was dead. She made a mental note and moved to the others, memorizing the four chains of runes. I¡¯ll have to experiment with them. She stood up, walked to the golem, and peered inside. An engraved piece of metal sat there, and she shrugged, placing the crystal inside. Feeding a single mana into the crystal, she watched the runes light. The crystal spun, the golem lurched, and the magic faded, causing it to tip over. She grabbed it. Answers one thing. That¡¯s the motor. ¡°Easy now,¡± Dain said, reaching over and propping it back up. He took the crystal. Kindra nodded apologetically. ¡°Sorry. Got excited.¡± She turned back to the golem and sat on the stone floor. Reaching into her stash, she pulled out weapons and started making a miniature version of the golem, delicately creating the skeleton using Transmutation. Aika flew down and joined her, assembling it with a curious look. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°We figure out how to get sentience in it. That¡¯s obviously the motor even if I don¡¯t know how it works.¡± Kindra handed her a small gear. Aika slid it onto the robot. ¡°This is all about its movement.¡± Kindra peered inside and studied the metal rod that connected to the gem. The connected to a box. ¡°Dain? Can you get that out for me?¡± she asked, pointing at it. Dain leaned over and nodded. He picked up a screwdriver and began unfastening the box. Gleon peered inside and looked over with a nod. ¡°What is it, Dain?¡± ¡°Gearbox,¡± Dain said, disconnecting the various rods connected to it. He pulled out the box and set it on the table. Kindra stood and studied it. Dain reached over and gently pried off the lid, opening it to reveal something akin to a transmission. Gears on connecting rods were set up to slide in and out, carrying the power through the creation. This is impressive. Kindra studied the mechanisms and the runes. Some were to fortify it. Others were different, but were on rods that could move the gears. She memorized the box and looked at the three. ¡°What makes it think?¡± She gestured to her head. ¡°Something has to decide what to trigger.¡± Sigrid turned and sighed. ¡°We think the answer is there.¡± She gestured to the crystal. Kindra nodded. It¡¯s possible one of those sequences does that. I can mess with them in a minute. She turned her focus back to her tiny replica, using her magic to build out the last of the parts. Aika blurred by, happily assembling the pieces. Kindra studied the gears, pistons, and rods that made it all function. Looks like a wrecked car transmission. She smirked at her own work and shook her head. I¡¯ll make a drone next. Assuming this works at all. I may need a gem, too. A hand swung down and patted her back. She looked up. Dain smiled. ¡°Impressive.¡± ¡°You do know I¡¯m not a kid, right? Remember?¡± she asked, looking up into his brown eyes. ¡°Kindra, sweetie, to a dwarf you are. You can¡¯t be more than thirteen cycles, and we can live for a thousand.¡± Sigrid smiled at her. Kindra paused. ¡°How many cycles?¡± ¡°Thirteen, give or take a couple,¡± Gleon said with a nod. He paused a moment and looked at the other dwarves, gesturing. ¡°What?¡± Kindra frowned, trying to pick up the meaning. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Sigrid shook her head. ¡°They were debating if magic could have altered that.¡± ¡°It might have.¡± Kindra paused. The gravity and dilations could have, too. With no answer to her age, she focused on her replica golem. She touched it and triggered her skill. Magic thrummed around her. It surged into the miniature golem, lighting up the drive train. Runes surged and gathered there. A tether formed in Kindra¡¯s mind, and her eyes went wide. It¡¯s like another limb? That¡¯s strange. Like a foreign third arm, the golem¡¯s senses sat there, a strange invader in her mind. She reached out and willed it toward the door. The little golem lurched up, spun, and walked to the door. Its little legs clanked on the stone, and Aika giggled, following it across the floor. Kindra smiled and willed it back. The golem spun and clomped its way toward her. Well, it works, but that¡¯s about the most inefficient system ever. She reached down and picked it up, focusing on the runes inside. Well. Two of those are the same. One¡¯s similar, and the other is completely different. She nodded and memorized. I need paper and pencil. She looked up at the dwarves to ask. They all stared at her. Gleon grinned. ¡°Well now, one step closer.¡± He bound over, reached down, and picked up the golem, setting it onto the stone table. Kindra stood. Is it even worth fighting? They have treated me like a daughter. She looked at Sigrid. ¡°Sigrid, do we have paper and pencil?¡± She gestured. Sigrid shook her head. ¡°Not yet. People have been busy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to make some. My memory is good, but this is a risk.¡± Kindra spun and headed to the door with Aika following her. Chapter 55 – Golems – Pt3 Chapter 55 ¨C Golems ¨C Pt3 Kindra walked out of the hut and headed down the tunnel, slipping by a few dwarves and heading for the growing light. Blinking repeatedly, she forced her way into it, moving to the exit. The forest was lit with the sun above. Birds were chirping in the branches above. A soft breeze blew the leaves, and a guard spun toward her. He raised his brown and stepped forward, his polished armor gleaming in the blinding light. ¡°Business?¡± ¡°I need to make paper.¡± Kindra smiled at him, and he frowned back. Then he staggered, his eyes going wide. Aika burst into laughter and landed on Kindra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Kindra, this is Kode. Kode, this is my bond.¡± She smirked at him. Kode stared at her, bowing slightly. ¡°Must you hide every time, lady fairy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Aika smirked. ¡°It¡¯s funny, and you all act weird around me¡­ Except Gleon. He¡¯s cool.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean offense by it, my lady. Forgive me?¡± Aika sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Kindra. He¡¯s doing it again.¡± She looked back at him. ¡°When I figure out how to contact the fae, I will.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lady.¡± The guard bowed and gestured toward the illusion. ¡°You¡¯re free to go.¡± Kindra walked up and looked through it, studying the forest. Seems clear. She stepped outside and walked into the woods, enjoying the smell of dirt and plants. ¡°Does that happen a lot?¡± she asked Aika. ¡°Always. It¡¯s sort of fun, but it¡¯s also really annoying.¡± Aika sat down, her legs dangling down Kindra¡¯s chest. ¡°I have no idea how to contact the fae or get them allies. For all I know, they¡¯re dead.¡± She paused. ¡°Yes, I had that dream when I died, but that wasn¡¯t real.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They spoke English. Know any fairies who¡¯ve been to Earth?¡± Aika snickered. Kindra chuckled. ¡°I see your point.¡± She walked around a large tree, searching for one to use for paper. ¡°Maybe it was a translation?¡± ¡°Nope. He was speaking something I didn¡¯t know and then swapped.¡± Aika sighed. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not helping us with languages here.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out.¡± She picked up the pace, jogging into the forest and enjoying the little sun that broke through the thick canopy above. The breeze rippled by her, blowing her hair here and there. Slowing, Kindra turned. I need a compass. She jogged toward the distant river, moving back toward the cliff and using it as a guide. Her thoughts flickered to the shield that she¡¯d used in her dreams. She began working on the on the counter runes while she ran around trees. Jogging forward, the sound of the birds chirping faded, leaving nothing but the sound of rustling leaves. Like nails on a chalkboard that made her hair stand, the silence ripped her thoughts back to her surroundings. Pulling out a nine millimeter, she burned mana. [Basic 9mm has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 12 hours. Each shot will negate up to 25 stamina when fired.] Keeping it ready, she continued her path, jogging toward the stream and searching for any sign of the cause. A howl rang through the air, and a feeling of dread passed over her. Another howl happened moments later. Turning toward the cliff, Kindra swallowed. ¡°Aika? Do you see it?¡± Aika blurred toward the sound. ¡°I may need mana.¡± Kindra nodded and willed some over to her. Aika shot into the trees like a bullet, vanishing behind a trunk. Moving closer to the cliffs, Kindra stood next to a bush and hoped it would obscure her. Howling bounced around her, and she aimed, searching for the source. ¡°Found them! Canine things. They can¡¯t jump that high or climb.¡± Kindra spun and looked at the cliff, burning more mana. [Basic dress has been enhanced for 6 hours, granting +15 strength and +15 stamina to the dress and wearer.] Grabbing small ledges, she began scaling the face. This has gotten a lot easier. She grabbed the stone and pulled, lifting herself higher and higher. Spotting an outcropping, she crawled forward. ¡°Incoming!¡± Aika shouted mentally. Kindra ripped herself up the cliff, scaling it like a desperate spider. Faster, damn it. Faster! Her heart thundered. She clawed against the stone, scratching her fingers and ripping herself upward. A large, black canine burst out of the forest and leapt. It opened its mouth to reveal massive teeth. Its fur rippled in the wind, and a speeding Aika slammed into it like a bullet, driving her spear deep inside while smashing into it. The wolf slammed into the rock, its blood spraying into the air. Aika ripped the spear free and shot upward. The dire wolf dropped, its tail flailing as it hit the ground and bled. Looking up, it snarled, and a half dozen others burst from the forest, launching themselves off the ground. Kindra grabbed the outcropping and hauled herself up. A half dozen massive wolves flew through the air toward her, and she raised the gun, pointing at the first wolf while letting her emotion fade away. The wolf¡¯s eyes met hers. They gleamed with predatory insight, magic leaking from them. Kindra pulled the trigger. The gun barked. The bullet flew, smashing into its skull with an explosion of blood and bone. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Spinning robotically, Kindra aimed at the next wolf. The greed in its eyes faded as realization hit. She fired, and the bullet blew through its skull, spraying the forest. The other wolves flailed, and a fairy blurred by, her spear moving at high speed and slicing deep through their fur. Blood leaked and oozed, the vibrant red sprinkling to the ground below. Kindra pivoted, dismissing the gun for a hammer and swinging. Like a bat hitting a baseball, a crack rang through the air, and the wolf smashed into the other, flying off and dropping down fifteen feet with a heavy thud. Dismissing the hammer, Kindra pulled out the pistol and looked down. The surviving wolves turned and ran, sprinting for the trees and leaving the wounded or dead behind. At least they aren¡¯t suicidal. Kindra aimed and fired, the slug sinking into one¡¯s back. It yelped and continued running. Aika shot by moments later, her spear blurring and cutting into each. Kindra watched them fade. I need to get her axes. She dismissed the gun and looked out into the forest. And I need to get the carcasses back. She pulled out a sword and turned part of it into two fairy-sized axes. There we go. Smiling, she stashed them. ¡°Aika? Clear?¡± ¡°Yes. I got two more.¡± Kindra looked down. I wonder how far I can jump down now. She turned and lowered herself down instead, dropping down the last ten feet and landing with a light thud. The sound of footsteps made her spin. She turned and saw Kode walking up. He looked at the wolves and looked back at her in surprise. Kindra reached out and ripped the mana into herself. ¡°Hi, Kode.¡± ¡°Hello, Kindra. I¡¯m impressed.¡± He looked at the ledge. ¡°Smart.¡± Reaching down, he grabbed carcasses, easily lifting them off the ground. ¡°Your family will have first rights, but we need the food, and it will go bad.¡± ¡°What are the policies right now?¡± Kindra asked. I don¡¯t even know. Kode chuckled and shrugged. ¡°Try to help each other? That¡¯s all we can do.¡± ¡°Makes sense. Aika said there are a few more in the forest.¡± She reached down and grabbed one. Kode snagged it and nodded toward it. Kindra turned and headed for the trees, following Aika¡¯s trail. ¡°And you came to make paper?¡± Kode asked, blood dripping from his fingers. Some of it got on his long, blond beard. ¡°Yes, but I was heading to the stream first. I wanted to get a drink and find some supplies.¡± ¡°Makes sense. I can escort you and come back.¡± Kindra sighed. Maybe I can sneak some blood. She rounded the tree and found two more dead wolves along with Aika. Aika fluttered forward and sighed. ¡°There were at least six more, but they ran off.¡± She grinned at Kode. ¡°Did Gleon tell you to follow us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to have backup for the young.¡± He smiled. ¡°You¡¯re young!¡± Aika said, scoffing. ¡°Yes, but so are you.¡± He chuckled. Kindra walked up and picked up the corpses, pulling the mana into herself and lifting the corpses. Bending her head, she sank her teeth into its neck and drank, pulling the metallic-tasting fluid into her mouth. Like the rarest, most delicious steak, it roared through her veins, and she felt a surge of energy come with it. Why is that so good? Releasing the corpse, she licked her lips and wiped them with her hand, looking over and seeing Aika tormenting their new guard. ¡°¡­ Can¡¯t even grow a beard!¡± Aika smirked. ¡°You¡¯re very improper, you know that?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m not a lady. I¡¯m Aika, the mechafairy!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what that means.¡± Kindra laughed. ¡°Come on, you two.¡± She turned and headed to the stream, enjoying the smell of the bloody carcasses beneath her nose. The sounds of the birds above resumed, and Kindra felt eyes on her spine. ¡°Aika, be careful. The scavengers are out again.¡± Kode nodded. ¡°They always do this. Drop the carcasses if needed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just kill them.¡± Aika grinned and flexed while fluttering up into the air. A large black and white bird swooped down. It opened its beak, and Aika zipped by it, moving at high speed. She has gotten faster. A lot faster. With her wings throwing herself through the air, Aika blurred past the bird, slicing its throat on the way by. Blood sprayed into the air, and it crashed into the ground. Kode reached over and grabbed it, adding it to the pile. Aika flew by, soaring over to Kindra with a grin. ¡°Thanks for the levels.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a lot faster.¡± ¡°The strength helps. I¡¯m balancing it all a bit.¡± Aika grinned and landed on the wolf carcass. She looked up at the trees. ¡°Oh. I have something for you.¡± Kindra willed the two small axes out onto it. Aika snatched them up with a grin. She swung them, testing them out. ¡°Thanks. The spear is great, but sometimes I need to chop things.¡± ¡°My feeling exactly.¡± Kindra smiled at her and walked around a tree, freezing on the other side. What the hell is that thing? Looking like an overgrown hippo, the gray-skinned creature waded out of the river, its skin glistening. Water dripped down it, and it opened its mouth, revealing massive tusks and some molars capable of grinding anything away. ¡°Back up, Kindra. Slow,¡± Kode said. Kindra took a step back, and its head jerked up. Meeting her eyes, Kindra felt the magic hit. Oh shit. Chapter 56 – Golems – Pt4 Chapter 56 ¨C Golems ¨C Pt4 Runes burst into the air. The birds above continued chirping, seemingly ignorant of the mutated hippo that looked at Kindra with an eager eye. Its feet dug into the damp earth, and Kindra dropped the carcasses, willing out the rifle and pouring mana into it. [Basic M4 carbine rifle has been enhanced with armor-piercing rounds for 2 hours. Each shot will negate up to 40 stamina when fired.] The hippo charged, racing across the ground at an absurd speed and throwing dirt into the air. The magic thrummed around it. With her heart thundering and dirt on her face, Kindra jerked the gun up, firing without a second thought or chance to aim at the point-blank creature. The gun boomed, and blood exploded from the hippo¡¯s skull, spraying the surrounding ground and Kindra. The magic on it dimmed even as it crashed into Kindra like a dead bowling ball. She tumbled across the ground with the carcass, rolling across rocks, roots, and mud. Coming to a stop at the base of a tree, Kindra groaned. Her entire body throbbed. Her heart thumped through her body, and bloody mud was splattered across her face. Groaning, she waited for the world to stop spinning. It whirled around her, her brain thundering in her head. Well. That was a mistake. Using a nearby tree, she stood, wobbling and listening to the muffled sound of the forest. Do I have a concussion? She blinked and felt something running down her neck. Reaching back, she dabbed her fingers in some sticky, wet fluid. Is that blood? She brought her fingers forward and sniffed. A metallic scent entered her nose, and Aika landed next to her. Kindra blinked. ¡°Aika?¡± she slurred. Aika said something Kindra couldn¡¯t hear, her heart drumming through her skull. ¡°What?¡± Kindra asked. Aika turned and started shouting at Kode. He bolted over and pulled out a vial of red fluid, handing it to Kindra. ¡°Drink it.¡± Kindra downed it. Tasting like a juicy berry, it washed around her mouth. Not as good as blood. She swallowed and felt the magic fill her, building like a storm. The pounding in her head slowly faded, and the sounds of the forest came into focus. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Sorry about that. Caught me by surprise.¡± Kode looked back at the carcass. ¡°It would help feed the camp.¡± Kindra reached out and latched onto the mana, ripping it to her. [Your mana has increased: 4584 ¡ú 4621] ¡°We can drag it back. Give me a minute.¡± Kindra walked over to the stream and rinsed off her face and hands. Looking into the water, she examined her reflection. I can¡¯t believe this is where I landed and how I ended up. Kindra studied the white hair and blue eyes. I look like an undead. No wonder they all give me that look. Grabbing some sandy gravel, she pulled out a sword and burned mana to turn it into a compass. A wave of heat washed over her. Steam billowed off the gravel, and it rippled, becoming molten glass. How is this not burning me? [Your magic protects you and it.] A needle of steel formed. That should be magnetic. Kindra watched the glass envelop it, encompassing it along with some of the water. As suddenly as it started, it stopped smoldering and became a small compass. The needle pointed toward the cliff, and she spun it, watching the needle and hoping it would line up again. The needle swung, pointing back at the cliff. This will help. She smiled and tucked it in her pocket. ¡°What is that?¡± Kode asked, meeting her gaze. Aika laughed. ¡°A¡ªKindra, how do you say compass?¡± Kindra gestured. ¡°It points the same way all the time.¡± His brow raised. He held out his hand, and Kindra handed it to him. Spinning it, he examined the needle, watching it spin back around. Kindra chuckled and walked over to the carcasses. ¡°I hope you have a lot of strength.¡± ¡°He does.¡± Aika flew over to him. ¡°Come on, Kode. You can check back at the caves.¡± Kode walked over, examining it every few steps. ¡°Does it work everywhere?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I have to find out.¡± Kindra smiled and grabbed the bird and wolves. She dragged them over to the hippo. ¡°Do we make something?¡± He looked at the pile, grimaced, and handed her the compass. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a wooden whistle and blew, sending a trilling sound bouncing around the forest. ¡°A few scouts will come over to help.¡± Kindra nodded and piled them up. ¡°Do you see any easy to cut trees or anything I can use for ink?¡± She peered around the clearing and up at the canopy above. ¡°Aika? Can you chop down some small stuff?¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Aika shot upward, her silvery wings blurring through the air. She zipped into the branches and chopped into the foliage. Leaves fluttered down, and the birds went quiet. Picking up her gun, Riley waited. ¡°What is that thing?¡± Kode asked. ¡°Gun. Fires things at high speed.¡± And I need to upgrade it to handle a necromancer who can cast a magical force field. She mused on it and watched smaller branches rain down. A large leaf tumbled down, drifting in the wind. The sound of chopping faded, and Aika burst out of the foliage, a large hawk diving after her. It extended large talons, and Aika suddenly shot upward. Like a sparrow against an eagle, she flew circles around the bird, slashing and cutting into it while the eagle spun and tried to catch her. ¡°Die, dumb bird!¡± Aika shouted, slamming her spear into a wing joint. The eagle¡¯s wing went limp, and it fell, tumbling like the leaves and hitting the ground with a crunch. Kindra looked up. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Aika flew back into the trees. Kindra stepped forward and watched the bird flap its wings, trying to take off. It looked at her and hissed, magic streaming out of its beak. Kindra watched it, forming the counter runes as it formed. A burst of wind hit her, sending her hair fluttering. As quickly as it started, the winds fell away. The bird hissed, and Kindra pulled out her spear, swapping it for the gun. ¡°Well, now, that¡¯s handy,¡± Kode said, walking up and looking at it. Kindra nodded and stabbed. The spear blurred forward and bounced off the bird¡¯s feathers. You have got to be kidding me. Kode chuckled and held out his hand. ¡°Allow me.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Kindra handed it to him. He spun, the spear glowed, and Kindra focused her attention on the runes. Is that Power Strike or something? I should learn the sequence. She memorized, and he ran the bird through, ripping out the spear and looking into the canopy. Kindra looked up and saw branches rain down. The sound of small chops filled the air, and she glanced back at the carcass, slowly pulling any leaking mana toward herself. Walking around the clearing, she gathered leaves and sticks, piling them off to the side. The sound of footsteps filled the air, and she spun. Two dwarves jogged toward them, and a large branch crashed down, hitting the ground with a thud. The guard looked up, confusion on her face. ¡°Aika. She¡¯s chopping.¡± ¡°Good enough, Aika. The other dwarves are here.¡± Kindra walked over and grabbed the branch. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Kindra.¡± The guards stared at her and began whispering. Whatever. Kindra spun and added the branch to the pile. Using transmutation, she watched the pile smolder, the smoke streaming away while the wood changed. Aika burst out of the trees. She looked down and grinned. The leaves next to her rustled, and a small, brown feline poked its head out, meowing at her. She spun and looked at the cat. ¡°What?¡± The cat meowed. ¡°I don¡¯t speak cat.¡± Aika shrugged at it. ¡°Kode, what is this thing?¡± One of the guards stepped forward. ¡°That¡¯s an Otail, Lady Aika. They hunt insects and often end up as pets.¡± The cat turned toward the dwarf, meowed happily, and jumped. Kindra watched it fall. Well, I hope it has a skill to ¡ª A flash of magic surrounded it. The momentum slowed, and it drifted down the last twenty feet, landing lightly. Kindra grinned. Okay. That¡¯s cool. She turned back and grabbed her paper. ¡°Aika, I don¡¯t suppose you saw any berries I could use to dye my hair?¡± ¡°Nope, but we¡¯ll find some.¡± Aika flew down. Kindra grabbed the stack of paper and looked over. The dwarves had grabbed the various carcasses. She darted after them, heading back toward the settlement. Aika landed on her shoulder and sighed. ¡°Sorry that they keep looking at you like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I look like an undead, and they can see it.¡± Kindra felt something brush against her leg. She looked down at the cat, and it looked up at her, meowing. ¡°Fine. Up you get.¡± The cat launched off the ground and landed on her other shoulder. Kindra chuckled and followed the guards. The cat¡¯s tail wrapped around her arm like that of a monkey, anchoring it to her. Aika flew over and looked at the cat. It meowed at her and began cleaning its face. ¡°That¡¯s very strange for a wild creature,¡± Aika said, looking at Kindra. Kindra nodded. ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Many species for symbiotic relationships, Lady Aika,¡± Kode replied. ¡°It helps both. The cat will help remove smaller pests, and we¡¯ll keep it safe from the bigger threats.¡± ¡°Like the wyvern?¡± Kindra asked. Kode spun, raising a brow. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you heard about that.¡± ¡°We were there when it happened,¡± Aika said, chuckling softly. Kindra laughed and followed him, looking up at the trees. I guess I could go based on the mana inside. She studied the lines in the nearby tree and followed the group of dwarves. The two were older, a lot older. The mana inside shone like a radiant sphere. Walking around the trees, they walked into the cliffs. The guards broke away, carrying the carcasses to a nearby building. Kindra turned to the cat. ¡°This is home.¡± She walked into the tunnels, and the cat leapt off her shoulder. It sauntered down the lane with a swagger in its step. Kindra chuckled and walked further and further into the cave before pausing in front of her new home. She walked up and knocked before poking her head in. Sigrid looked up. ¡°Kindra, dear, you don¡¯t have to knock. It¡¯s your home.¡± ¡°Sorry. Just wanted to warn you.¡± Kindra stepped inside and froze. The three were gathered around a crystal. A bowl of glowing ink was at their side, and a quartz crystal was on the table. ¡°What is that?¡± Gleon turned and grinned. ¡°The key to our future,¡± he said dramatically. Chapter 57 – Golems – Pt5 Chapter 57 ¨C Golems ¨C Pt5 Kindra stepped further into the cottage and studied the crystal. Sigrid turned back to it, carefully filling engraved runes with the ink. How is she doing that? Kindra took a seat and studied. Mana flowed down Sigrid¡¯s arm and into the paintbrush, mixing into the ink and making it glow. Like a master caligrapher, she gently filled the rune, carefully filling it with the glowing ink. As the last part filled, the rune surged. The ink hardened into a glowing metal. Wait. What is that ink? Sigrid looked over and smiled. ¡°So, enchanting is a delicate art even with skills.¡± ¡°Is there an enchanter class?¡± Kindra asked, sitting down and studying the rune. ¡°Not directly. Most crafters can get skills for it,¡± Dain replied, patting Kindra on the back. ¡°Wizard classes can, too,¡± Sigrid replied. ¡°But those classes are a nightmare. You may as well not have a class than take that one of those,¡± Gleon said, shaking his head. ¡°Artificer is better.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kindra probed. Sigrid gently traced a rune with her finger. ¡°Because over the requirements for it. It takes decades of study to upgrade it beyond uncommon.¡± She looked up. ¡°Wizards are the most versatile classes but require you to learn everything. Everything. You¡¯d need to study, have a strong connection to magic, and an innate understanding of a school of runes.¡± She smiled. ¡°I did get the option for my second class. Many did, and a few picked them.¡± ¡°Did you?¡± Kindra asked. Sigrid shook her head. ¡°No. It was common and not worth it.¡± Kindra nodded. That wouldn¡¯t be worth it. ¡°What skills do you get if you have to learn everything?¡± ¡°Things to make it easier, less costly, faster to cast; things like that. That¡¯s true for all classes. So most get skills to help with runes, which is why many view it as worthless.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Death, how long did they have the system before we met?¡± [Time passed strangely in there. They had the system for nearly a decade before you were back. I am sorry about that, but it was necessary. ~Death] ¡°Are you one of them?¡± [No. They are a blight on this portion of this galaxy. Kill them for me.] Well, that¡¯s something. Kindra willed the text away. Sigrid smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯d advise a druid class for you. I specialized in earth, stone, and healing. It¡¯s a good fit for artificers.¡± ¡°Or a martial option,¡± Gleon added. ¡°The abilities will synergize with a good melee build.¡± Sigrid leaned over and shook her head. ¡°The priestess said that she¡¯s more aligned to a mage.¡± ¡°Ah. A shame, but with Aika, it makes sense.¡± ¡°It does?¡± Kindra interjected. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have a familiar like her as an artificer.¡± Gleon studied Aika. ¡°That is a mystery to us.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Me too. I was supposed to be making a little robot. Instead, I got Aika, who¡¯s way better.¡± ¡°A nice upgrade, but it is strange.¡± Gleon chuckled and studied the crystal. Sigrid picked up the brush. ¡°She will likely be a fire druid or fire mage given what I¡¯ve seen.¡± She paused and met Kindra¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll want to practice feeling the mana around you and control what¡¯s inside of you. Memorizing fire runes will help. I¡¯d recommend it while I¡¯m working on this.¡± She picked up the book and flipped the pages, pointing at a rune. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between a mage, a wizard, and a druid?¡± Kindra asked, looking at the rune. She recognized it instantly. It had been everywhere in her dream with the fire elemental. ¡°A mage is a versatile caster that learns multiple schools of magic. Druids use nature and elemental magic, specializing in a few different types.¡± Sigrid sighed and shook her head. ¡°Wizards do all of it, but through raw knowledge.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra smiled at her before returning to the book, looking at the potential sequences and bumping Dain. ¡°Can you teach me how to read it?¡± She gestured to the writing. Dain smiled, patted her back, and read. Kindra listened intently. So, these are different types of fire spells. A bolt of it. A stream, a whip, and ways to make it explode. She memorized the runes. Dain smiled and flipped the mage, revealing more script. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Kindra gestured to her paper. ¡°The alphabet?¡± Dain smiled, stood, and walked to a cupboard. He pulled out ink and quill, walked back, and wrote them down on paper. Time to learn the alphabet. She traced over the fifty-three letters while Sigrid resumed her enchanting project. Looking up, Kindra watched. ¡°What¡¯s the ink?¡± she whispered. ¡°A mix of magical metal filings and sap from ancient trees,¡± Dain replied. ¡°She¡¯ll draw the runes to stabilize the enchantment she¡¯ll place inside.¡± ¡°How do you power it?¡± Kindra asked, looking at him. ¡°It depends on the enchantment. Some require mana.¡± Gleon reached under his shirt and pulled out a glimmering chain. ¡°This boosts my stamina by my level. It powers itself from ambient mana, linking to me.¡± He gestured to the golem. ¡°This would need a source.¡± ¡°Do you need mana?¡± Kindra asked him. Gleon nodded. ¡°I keep some for my abilities and items, but not like casters. They need to keep a lot of it.¡± He leaned forward and smirked. ¡°Leveling is better.¡± Sigrid sighed. ¡°Ignore him, Kindra. He prefers the fighter style with more passive boosts. But he still has several skills and some mana to power them. He can use both types of enchantments.¡± Gleon chuckled and studied the crystal. Kindra turned back to the book, flipping the page and studying it. Is this still fire? It has the fire rune but something else, too. ¡°Lava spells,¡± Dain said, gesturing to each. He started and the top, running his finger along the text while reading it aloud. Kindra listened and memorized, slowly building her vocabulary and the runes to further augment her fire. She learned how to launch molten stone in various forms. A pattern quickly emerged. Like firing a gun, the spells focused on delivering a lethal concentration of heat. So, I use gravity indirectly and rain it down, or I fire it off with a pebble to act as a bullet. She nodded. Makes sense, and this is smart. She paused and looked at Dain. ¡°Why are the cities so primitive if you know this?¡± Dain grimaced and didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Please, tell me. I need to know.¡± Kindra studied the dwarves. They all went quiet and didn¡¯t speak. ¡°The necromancer kills you if you get too strong, right?¡± she pushed. Dain patted her on the back. ¡°Yes, but you don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Kindra reached over and hugged him. ¡°Thanks for taking me in, and I am sorry.¡± She smiled at him and Sigrid. And I will find a way to stop it even if I have to make an atomic bomb. Turning back, she looked at the spells and flipped the page. Dain dragged his finger along pages, stating the words as he went. The difference in the spells became obvious, and the pattern snapped into place. Spells to create walls, tornados, infernos, and other combinations. Spells with more and more air appeared. ¡°You likely will struggle with these. Artificers usually tend toward earth and fire,¡± Dain said as he finished. ¡°But these may be options for you.¡± ¡°Can you cast them using the runes?¡± ¡°Yes, if you don¡¯t take a second class or if you have the wizard class,¡± Sigrid said, nodding. ¡°But both come at a steep price. It takes more mana, and they are difficult to truly master.¡± ¡°And enchanting?¡± ¡°Same thing, but artificer means you can.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kindra smiled at her and looked back at the book, studying the different spells. So, these are better at area damage but not that much better. She looked at Dain. ¡°Why use these instead?¡± ¡°Elemental harmony. If your spirit is more harmonious with air, these are the type that you will get. If you wish one, focus on it.¡± Dain gestured. ¡°Fireball and Firewall are particularly useful. You can even use them to refine metal.¡± Kindra nodded. ¡°Makes sense.¡± She studied the list of spells. Which ones will I get? I did use one like Firewall. Looking down at it again, she flipped the page, and her eyes widened. Water? She looked at Dain. Dain smiled and gestured. ¡°Let¡¯s work through it.¡± Kindra began working through the few spells. Both were related to steam, and it quickly became apparent that Dain wasn¡¯t a fan. Water and fire aren¡¯t that bad¡­ though these would be very hard to use. She finished off the page and shook her head. ¡°Are these common?¡± ¡°No. Water and fire do not often mesh.¡± Sigrid looked up and nodded. ¡°They are not ideal. I doubt you¡¯ll get one.¡± I don¡¯t know that I¡¯ll get any. Kindra smiled at her and looked back at the book. She flipped pages, stopping when she saw something like Gleon¡¯s healing skill. She gestured at it. ¡°Ah, healing. You may be minorly compatible.¡± Dain smiled and pointed at the first word. Kindra started sounding them out, slowly moving down the page of basic healing spells. Some were to heal cuts. Some were to heal bones, and others were to boost regeneration. She slowly worked through them. A calm, quiet settled across the room. The group worked, and Kindra heard the soft breathing of a sleeping Aika. With a smile, Kindra worked through the page, and Gleon gasped. Kindra looked up. The crystal was glowing, and a feeling of dread carried through the room like clouds in a storm. Hairs on Kindra¡¯s neck stood, and the runes inside sparkled like ominous death. Why is this bothering me so much? She leaned forward and studied the familiar runes in the sequence. Realization hit her like a jackhammer. I know those runes¡­ They were in the plagued creatures. A look of horror spread across her face. Chapter 58 – Golems – Pt6 Chapter 58 ¨C Golems ¨C Pt6 The crystal thrummed, glowing an ominous blue. The runes sparkled, and Kindra swallowed, looking around the stone room. Do I tell them? That crystal likely needs a soul¡­ Death? [It does. It¡¯s necromantic in nature. ~Death] Does that bother you? [Don¡¯t get me started. I eventually collect, but it¡¯s irksome. ~Death] Another realization slammed into her, and Kindra stared at the runes, dread churning through her body. The runes were uncannily familiar. They had always been present when she was stuck in nowhere. Death, was I trapped in something? [Yes, but that is for you to uncover. ~Death] Kindra swallowed and looked at the crystal. We can¡¯t do that. That¡¯s too far. She looked at the three and shivered. I can¡¯t do that to someone else. ¡°Let¡¯s plug it in,¡± Gleon said cheerily, picking the crystal up and placing it in the golem. It sat there, doing nothing. He scowled at it. ¡°Sigrid?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recognize some of the runes. We may be missing something. Or I may have an error in the runes.¡± Sigrid held out her hand. Gleon reached into the golem and pulled out the crystal. He scowled at it and studied the runes. ¡°Looks accurate to me.¡± Sigrid took it and studied. Kindra looked at the table. Do I tell them? Will they turn to it in desperation? She grimaced. ¡°Kindra?¡± Dain asked. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°It needs a soul,¡± Kindra whispered, looking up at him. ¡°You¡¯d have to kill something and capture it in it.¡± She grimaced. ¡°Please don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± Gleon asked, his brow raising and his body tensing. His hand slipped off the stone table. ¡°I just know,¡± Kindra said, shivering. ¡°Please don¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t, sweetie. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Sigrid said with a nod. She frowned. ¡°Is there another way?¡± Kindra shrugged and looked at the book. ¡°It¡¯s not in there,¡± Dain said. He let out a long breath. ¡°So, what do we do?¡± ¡°Are we sure we should rule it out?¡± Gleon asked. ¡°We could find some critter.¡± Sigrid frowned. ¡°Gleon, we can¡¯t be like them.¡± ¡°We have no choice, Sigrid. You know that. Our people suffer. Our world suffers. We must do this.¡± Gleon frowned. ¡°If I die, put me in one.¡± His eyes blazed. ¡°We discussed this once. Did you forget?¡± Dain turned. ¡°Kindra, could you give us a few minutes.¡± Kindra stood, her body shaking as the dread of the nothingness hit. ¡°I know this world is on the brink, but please don¡¯t do this.¡± She shivered and walked to the door. They¡¯re going to do it. I know they will. She walked out the door and looked up and down the dark lane. Everything seemed a little darker like a torch in her mind had snuffed out. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika whispered, landing on her shoulder. ¡°Someone did that to me,¡± Kindra whispered. ¡°I know it. I could feel it as soon as she completed them.¡± ¡°Is that how you got here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Kindra swallowed and leaned against the stone house. ¡°And it¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°Kindra. I remember the choices on the ship. We didn¡¯t have a choice but to get going,¡± Aika whispered. ¡°Do they have a choice?¡± Kindra frowned. What would I do if I were them¡ªwhat should I do? She turned. ¡°Aika, what are the odds they will succeed if they do?¡± She paused and sighed. ¡°Zero, right?¡± Aika shrugged. ¡°Sorry. I can¡¯t process things like that now.¡± Kindra dove into her mind, searching for answers. ¡°So, they¡¯re desperate and have to act. They will do this. It is the only option they see, but it will fail. It already did.¡± She turned toward Aika. ¡°So, we need to scrap this plan and make a new one. One that works.¡± Aika nodded and fluttered toward the opening. ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re going to level?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra popped out the guns and reloaded the magazines. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She turned and jogged after Aika, heading for the exit. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Jogging up to the entrance, Kindra waved at Kode and peered outside, spotting nothing beyond the trees and forest. Being a guard sounds very boring. She jogged out of the illusion and followed the cliffs, heading toward the stream with Aika flying by her shoulder. Footsteps followed her, and she turned to see Kode. ¡°Escort duty?¡± ¡°Yes, and watch is boring. We have others on it.¡± Kode looked over. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Searching for some supplies. I need to make some things.¡± Kindra jogged under a tree. Like an autocannon, though, that means making a tank. So, maybe I settle for an absurd amount of ammo for now. The leaves swirled in the wind, and the sound of birds filled the air. Kindra jogged and studied the cliff, triggering Scavenger¡¯s Sight and searching for metals apart from silicon. Text flashed in her vision, and she glanced between the text and the cliff. Most of it was shale with a smattering of other. She walked down the cliffs, kicking at the ground and hoping to spot anything. Looking over, she focused on the distant mana and saw several other notifications. [Level 89 Magical Wood - This wood can be used to craft various items. The mana has granted it increased strength and durability.] Oh cool. She scanned the trees, seeing various levels, some climbing into the hundreds. Could I use wood instead of metal? Probably not. She frowned, studied the trees, and veered away, heading for one of the lower-level trees. ¡°Over here, Kode.¡± She jumped across some large roots and looked up at the canopy. Text floated in front of the leaves. Well, I can turn them into things. Shame the system doesn¡¯t tell me what. [You know way too many things for that.] Kindra chuckled and jumped down from the root, walking over to the smaller tree. She reached out and touched it. ¡°Any good at chopping wood, Kode?¡± She pulled out an axe. Kode walked up and pulled one out. ¡°It is a young one.¡± He moved to the side and swung, sinking his axe into the side. Kindra swung. Her axe blurred and sunk into the tree. Alright. Finally, enough strength for something. Pulling it back, she began chopping, slowly driving her axe into the tree. Sap began oozing out of it. What can I use that for? [Level 21 Magical Sap - This may be used for lots of things, including the base elements. You could also try to eat it.] She sniffed the sap. Smells like dandelion. Strange. She chopped into it again, ignoring the sap and slowly hacking deeper and deeper into the tree. Fragments blew out around her. Sap oozed from the tree, and her arms grew heavy. After ten minutes, Kindra was panting. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, and a loud crack sounded from the tree. It teetered, its branches and leaves fluttering in the breeze. Kindra bolted, and Kode shoved. It came crashing down. Leaves swirled, branches snapped, and it hit the ground with a loud thud. Watching the tree, Kindra smiled and reached out, pulling on the mana and ripping it into herself with a smile. So, I can harvest trees, too. Interesting. She walked forward and looked at the tree. Reaching down, she ran her fingers along it. ¡°What are you going to do with it? Firewood?¡± Kode asked, wiping sweat from his brow and looking around the forest. ¡°Something like that.¡± Kindra reached down and used Transmutation. The entire tree lit on fire. Smoke and steam billowed, and Kode leapt away. The soil charred. The birds above went quiet, and Kindra stepped away from it. ¡°What?¡± Kode stared at her. ¡°Why? Why just light it on fire?¡± ¡°Give it a minute. I¡¯m cooking.¡± Kindra smiled. ¡°You are not cooking. You¡¯re just burning a tree.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an expression.¡± She laughed and watched the fire snuff out. The magic surged through the tree. A dazzling ribbon of runes streamed through it. ¡°Charcoal isn¡¯t made by lighting things on fire. Didn¡¯t Dain teach you that?¡± Kindra ignored him and stepped closer. She watched the mana pull it all into a pile. There it is. Several pounds of the stuff. She smiled and reached out, putting it all into her storage. I¡¯m going to need to upgrade that. Turning, she paused to pull up her progress. [Your mana has increased: 4621 ¡ú 4636. ? You currently have 2682 usable mana.] Level fifteen. So, the next level would cost me three hundred mana. I can afford it. And I do need to be quicker. She considered it a moment longer and willed her mana to flow into her body. [Your mana has decreased: 4636 ¡ú 4336.] ? [Your level has increased: 15¡ú 16.] ? [Your intellect has increased: 28 ¡ú 30.] ? [Your dexterity has increased: 12 ¡ú 14.] ? [Your speed has increased: 12 ¡ú 14.] [Your machinist cache has been expanded by 25%: 2000 lbs ¡ú 2250 lbs.] Stretching, she turned and headed for the cliffs, swapping her axe for her pistol. ¡°Ash? You made ash?¡± Kode sighed and shook his head. Kindra chuckled and headed toward the stream. ¡°Oh, Kode. You guys don¡¯t understand, but you will. Make no mistake, you will.¡± Chapter 59 – Golems – Pt7 Chapter 59 ¨C Golems ¨C Pt7 The water burbled, blissfully apathetic to anything around it. A few birds stood on the edge, scooping and drinking the clear fluid. Plants waved in its soft current, and fish darted through it, silver streaks in the liquid that brought life. A large fish swam forward. Massive fins churned against the current, and it lounged in a glowing pool, its scales gleaming. A bug foolishly zipped overhead, and it leapt, breaking out of the water and snatching the bug out of the air. Landing with a splash, it returned to the bottom of the glowing pool. How much mana is in that water? Kindra studied it. It¡¯s a lot. She studied the roots that sank into the water. They¡¯re pulling in mana, too. Fascinating. She looked at a massive tree next to the water. Its bark had gone almost black. She burned mana on Scavenger¡¯s Sight. [Level 50 - Ironwood. This wood has fortified itself with iron, granting it additional strength.] Cutting that down is going to be a nightmare. Kindra pulled out an axe and studied it. I could sharpen it a lot or make a saw. Maybe I should make a saw. Then I could cut that tree down. She looked at the stream and backed up several steps. Racing forward, she vaulted over the water and walked to the tree. She ran her fingers along the bark while circling it. A saw that¡¯s like six feet across. ¡°Kindra, we¡¯ll never chop down an ironwood,¡± Kode called, landing with a thump. ¡°Why not?¡± Kindra called while running her fingers along it. ¡°It¡¯s like trying to chop down steel. You¡¯d need a lumberjack class.¡± ¡°Then how do other things grow?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°And how do ¡°They die eventually. Or an animal kills them.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Kindra pulled out two swords and burned mana, transforming them into a two-person diamond-tipped saw. She turned and grinned at Kode. ¡°Help a girl out.¡± She gestured to the other end of the saw. Kode groaned. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± ¡°I need supplies. This tree has some.¡± Kindra gestured to the other end of the saw and carefully thought about the enchantment that she wanted. I can limit it. It will only work on trees and grant additional strength to the user while cutting through magical defenses. She burned five hundred mana. [Basic Diamond Tipped Saw has been enhanced for 4 hours, granting 25 strength to the users and negating 25 stamina in the target. This effect is quadrupled against trees.] Kindra wobbled. The smell of her blood passed through her nose. Okay. That was a bit much, and I need to find something to eat. She looked at Aika, who was flitting around, acting as the lookout. ¡°Tell me if you see something to eat, Aika.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± Aika zipped up into the canopy. Kode took the other end of the saw, and his eyes went wide. He looked at Kindra. ¡°That¡¯ll give us a shot.¡± Kindra grinned and propped the eight-foot-long saw against the tree. She pulled it toward her, scraping it against the bark. Kode pulled it back, and the cycle began. The saw slowly ripped dust from the tree, inching inward at a glacial pace. The two fell into a rhythm, and the sound of their sawing carried out into the trees to join the sound of fluttering wings. ~~~ Aika flew. The wind rushed by her, and she breathed deeply. Flying is amazing¡­ Maybe I could make a mechasuit for Kindra. That¡¯d be awesome. She grinned and shot through the leaves, weaving through them and slowing. A large nest was perched in the branches, and a large bird was dozing in it. Pulling out her spear, she moved backward, hiding behind the tree and flying upward. Like predator birds everywhere, she flew upward, darting around the branches and bursting from the canopy. A layer of green greeted her. It rustled like water. The breeze played with her hair, and Aika flew upward, watching the sky for other avian predators. A massive wyvern churned the sky in the distance. A flock of small birds burst from the canopy, and Aika rose even higher. The clouds above seemed even closer. A moon drifted across the daytime sky, and the sun warmed her skin. With a breath, Aika spun and dove, tucking her wings against her back and aiming for the sleeping bird. Gravity quickly took over. With her spear cutting through the air, she dropped like a stone, shooting through the leaves and branches.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. A massive bird¡¯s eye snapped open. It looked up, and Aika hit it like a speeding car. The spear slammed into its chest like a bullet. Grabbing the axe at her side, Aika swung, and the bird screeched. The sound pummeled into Aika. Blood rushed to her skull, and she dropped. With the air streaming around her, she landed on a branch, and the sound of churning wings filled the air. The smell of blood hit, and Aika dashed underneath a branch, moving like a squirrel. The bird slammed into the branch. Leaves tumbled. It shook, and the bird hissed, murder lingering in its yellow eyes. Aika flipped upward and slammed her axe into its side. A burst of blood rolled out of the wound, and the bird¡¯s beak opened wide. It flew toward Aika¡¯s head, and she let gravity take over, dropping like a rock. The bird followed, launching off the branches. Aika spun and flared her wings, soaring around the trunk. The eagle followed, its beak snapping behind her. Swooping upward, Aika grabbed a branch and wrenched herself back. Like a rebounding ball, she shot in the other direction, blurring over the bird¡¯s back and slamming her axe into it. Blood sprayed around her. The bird fell, spiraling down like a stone. Aika shot after it. I need my spear. With a loud thud, the bird hit the ground. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Aika swooped onto the bird and grabbed the spear, pulling it free. She grinned and looked at the large bird. Can I carry it? Grabbing a large talon, she leapt, her wings churning against the air and slowly lifting the bird off the ground. A strange quiet filled the air. Aika turned toward Kindra, and a snapping branch made her look up. A furious bird dove. Its yellow eyes blazed with anger. Its beak opened, and Aika felt space open. Like stepping through the ocean depths, pressure surged around her, and she found herself next to Kindra. The bird¡¯s wings flared. It hit the ground, and a bang echoed through the forest. Aika watched feathers explode from the bird. It hit the ground and didn¡¯t get up. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Always, Aika.¡± Kindra smiled at her. ¡°And thank you.¡± She jogged over and grabbed the birds. Aika spun toward Kode. ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± ¡°Always finding trouble.¡± Kode smirked at her before leaning closer. ¡°You really trust her? What is that thing?¡± ¡°A gun. She was making something for it before.¡± Aika smiled. ¡°You can trust her. I promise you that.¡± ¡°But why does she look even more like an undead than most loyalists?¡± Aika frowned and flew closer. ¡°I think they took control of her mind. She doesn¡¯t remember, but I know she isn¡¯t evil. In fact, we¡¯re going to kill the necromancer.¡± She nodded proudly. Kode sighed and shook his head. ¡°You can¡¯t kill them. No one can. Gleon says he did, but it¡¯s a lie. One will be back, you¡¯ll see.¡± Aika shrugged. ¡°We will. Your golems have nothing on us.¡± Kindra walked over and handed Aika a primitive-looking rope. ¡°Can you tie this off so we can leave them to bleed out?¡± Aika grabbed it and blurred into the air. I need to check that nest. She tied the rope around the lowest branch before flying up into the tree. The sound of the saw filled the air, and she landed on the nest. Three large eggs were sitting there. She sniffed them and picked one up. Clamping her arms around it, she flew down and placed it near the birds, pausing momentarily to look at the two. The saw slid back and forth. A skiff of sawdust was on the ground, and flakes steadily fell from the groove they were making. They¡¯ll get it. She flew and peered through the trees. Spotting nothing, she returned to the nest and brought the two other eggs down. Setting down the last one, she flew over the stream and looked down it. Greedy plants lined the banks. A few patches of plants grew in the water, and a fish launched itself from the water. Aika grabbed her spear. Gleon never had this problem. She twirled her spear and slammed it into the fish with a resounding clang. The fish flew toward Kindra, and Aika was knocked backward, tumbling through the air before righting herself. ¡°Well, well,¡± a voice called. ¡°Look who has become fish food.¡± Aika spun and stuck out her tongue. ¡°And look who gave up his artificing career. How long has it been? Ten minutes?¡± She giggled. Gleon chuckled and ran forward, vaulting over the stream and grabbing the fish. He looked back at Aika. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Aika winced. ¡°Are you going to do it?¡± ¡°We have no choice, Aika. Don¡¯t you see that?¡± Gleon asked, walking toward her. ¡°We have to change something.¡± ¡°You have us, and we¡¯ll make something to kill them.¡± Gleon shook his head. ¡°Aika, we need every edge. Every edge. We lost with the golems. A gun will not do it. The spells we showed you this morning should have proven that.¡± He jumped over the stream. ¡°I¡¯ll release them when the necromancers are dead.¡± Aika nodded and didn¡¯t fight it. ¡°Gleon? How many have you seen die to them?¡± she whispered. Gleon turned, surprise showing on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve watched six entire generations be culled like cattle.¡± Aika blanched. ¡°Do it, but don¡¯t tell Kindra. It¡¯s a touchy one for her.¡± He nodded and ran back toward camp. Aika shook her head. We¡¯ll find a better way. She flew back toward the tree and heard the warning cry of thousands of birds. Launching herself upward, she flew up through the canopy and watched a massive plume of small birds erupt from the forest. Locking on the direction, she flew toward it. What is going on over there? Chapter 60 – Golems – Pt8 Chapter 60 ¨C Golems ¨C Pt8 The canopy below moved like the ocean, small waves rolling through the leaves. A trail of trees had died, their leaves turning a dark brown. Aika noted them and flew toward the source of the disruption, the line of dead trees. Leaves on one of the trees began to die, the color fading impossibly quickly. Diving between the branches, she swooped down and searched. The clean, crisp smell of the forest was replaced with something worse: the scent of rot and decay. Like dead fish that had been left in the sun, it washed over the quiet forest, building in a horrific intensity that made Aika¡¯s stomach churn. Looking down from the branches, she saw why. A massive glob of something like a primordial ooze slimed across the forest floor. Branches, leaves, and other items were stuck in its body. It slimed to a tree and engulfed it like some strange, living parasite. The tree began to wilt. Sap poured into the ooze. It¡¯s feeding on the forest. Aika watched as the tree¡¯s color faded to nothing more than a dark black. The ooze burbled and headed toward the next tree, its colossal mass leaving a trail of itself behind. That is the strangest thing I¡¯ve ever seen. Aika turned and saw a large squirrel bolt by. Why are they so scared of it? She flew into the air and watched the giant mass engulf another tree. Flying past the blob, she looked down and examined the trail. Strange lumps were sitting in the slime. She fluttered down and studied them. Are they valuable? Looking back, she watched and saw a stream of insects swarm the trail. They began feeding off the slime. Huh. That¡¯s wild. She turned and watched the ooze engulf another tree. Tendrils reached up and burned into the tree. Is that an acid? She watched a falling leaf hit the slime. It sunk inside, decaying as it went. ¡°Kindra, there is some slime thing over here that¡¯s burning its way through the trees.¡± ¡°Strange. I¡¯ll ask.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Aika flew high in the air, and a blast of slime shot out of the ooze. The glowing globule flew toward her, and she jerked up. Okay. That answers that. She zipped up into the branches, and the spit splattered against the leaves. The smell of smoke filled the air, and Aika flew away from the tree. ¡°Kode says it spits slime and that he wants to know where it goes so we can gather things it drops,¡± Kindra whispered in her mind. ¡°Tell us if it heads in our direction.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Aika flew through the branches and peered down at it. Where is it heading? She peered out of the canopy and looked down. The ooze was engulfing another tree, drinking it dry. The leaves wilted and turned gray. That¡¯s sort of amazing. Aika watched and listened. Is it heading toward them? Looking down, she saw streams of insects running up to the slime. And is that acidic? She looked back, and a loud crack rang through the air. The ooze exploded, sending a spray of itself crashing across the forest floor. What? Aika turned toward the source of the sound. A beetle the size of a small car scurried forward, following the slime toward the ooze. Well. What did it do? Aika watched it stick its mouth into a puddle and slurp up slime. Moving forward, it repeated the process and sent out another loud click. It rang through the air like a gun, and the beetle scurried forward, its large legs following the slime. ¡°Now there is some beetle thing.¡± Aika waited and watched. It ran forward, gobbling down the slime. ¡°Kode doesn¡¯t know what that is, but it sounds close.¡± ¡°It is.¡± The beetle waded forward, sunk its mouth into the puddle, and the ooze pulled itself off the ground, engulfing the bug completely. A muffled crack rang through the air, and a spray of ooze blasted out, spraying trees and smoldering. The beetle charged and thrashed, pushing itself out of the opening. The ooze sealed itself off and then a bolt of fire hit it, igniting it like a fuel tank. A massive wave of heat surged through the area. Leaves charred. Smoke billowed, and the ooze burned. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°He said it was weak to fire¡­ I feel that was an understatement.¡± Aika looked back at the raging inferno and agreed. The ooze was a giant pillar of flame. ¡°Could have used that to smelt things.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Watching the blazing fire, Aika looked at the charred trees. The leaves above singed. Is she going to set the forest on fire? The fire wasn¡¯t moving down the slime trail. It stood there, a massive beacon of flame. Shadows flickered throughout the forest. How long is this going to burn? The flames roared for another minute before slowly fading away, leaving a smoldering pile of slime with a charred beetle corpse inside. Aika sniffed the air and landed, scooping up a slimy rock. ¡°What are the rocks?¡± ¡°Something like coal from the wood that it drained. Grab them if you can. We¡¯re back to sawing.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Aika looked at the black trees. Those are charcoal? She scooped up another rock and headed back to the distant tree, dropping them by the two. ¡°There are entire trees like that.¡± ¡°The scouts and others will come for it soon,¡± Kode replied, pulling the blade back and sending a soft spray of both sparks and sawdust into the air. Kindra pulled it back, sending out another stream of sparks and sawdust. Aika flew into the air and back toward the slime. Where are the scouts? They can fish the coal out of the slime. She fluttered around trees and found the remnants along with a new sight. The invading bugs continued their quest, and birds dove, attacking them in earnest. ¡°There are so many birds over here.¡± Like a storm of feathers, the birds landed, pecking at the bugs and each other. Other creatures joined the mess, each hunting in the wake of the destruction the ooze had made. Aika grabbed her spear, and a loud crack pulled her attention. Kindra? She turned and flew toward Kindra. The sound of rushing leaves and breaking branches filled the air. With a thunderous boom, the tree hit the ground. Aika glided over and found the two panting. Kindra lifted her head. Sweat streamed down it, and sawdust was everywhere. Aika flew down and studied it. Is there metal in here? She picked up some silvery shavings. ¡°Feeding frenzy over there?¡± Kode asked, lifting his head and leaning against the tree. ¡°Yep. The bugs are after the slime. The birds are after the bugs.¡± ¡°I¡¯d avoid it for a while. We¡¯ll collect after.¡± Kode looked at the tree and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re going to get the lumberjack class.¡± Aika laughed. ¡°I can totally see that. Kindra the lumberjack.¡± She snickered. ¡°She¡¯ll chop down the entire forest.¡± Kindra stuck her tongue out. ¡°Nothing will steal this tree, right?¡± ¡°No. Why?¡± ¡°I want to see the feeding frenzy. Come on, Aika. Show me.¡± Kindra grinned and headed through the trees, pulling out her crossbow. Aika zipped after her. ¡°Are we trying to level?¡± ¡°A bit. I need all the mana I can get to make this gun.¡± Kindra grinned and walked around a tree. Aika followed. The sound of fighting creatures filled the air, and she poked around a tree to watch. Like seagulls fighting over trash, the birds were unleashing magic on each other and the bugs, periodically grabbing and swallowing. The bugs continued unabated, rushing in to harvest the slime. Seems suicidal. She watched a grub swim into the slime. Like a strange, gross cacoon, it engulfed itself inside and began to feed. Kindra¡¯s crossbow twanged. The bolt zipped across the air and speared into one of the birds. Aika turned and grinned, hefting her spear. ¡°Stay close,¡± Kindra thought into her mind. ¡°I will.¡± Aika landed on Kindra¡¯s head and looked up. A large hawk burst from the branches and plucked a bird off the ground, hauling it back up into the trees. Another bolt flew, sinking into a large bird that was scooping up bugs. The smaller birds pounced on it, ripping off feathers and flesh. ¡°Why are they fighting for this? Animals shouldn¡¯t behave like this.¡± Aika frowned, and a group of hogs emerged from the trees. They pushed through the birds, their snouts opening to reveal rows of teeth. One chomped on a bird, and it screeched, ripping away feathers before flying off. ¡°No idea.¡± Kindra stepped closer to the slime, moving stealthily toward it. Aika flew off her head. The pigs began devouring it, shoveling down the slime and bugs as fast as they could manage. A crossbow bolt flew, streaking across the air and sinking into one of the hogs. ¡°Are they sick?¡± ¡°No¡­ This is risk and reward.¡± Kindra reloaded. Aika looked at her. ¡°Reward?¡± ¡°That slime is full of nutrients and mana.¡± With her wings fluttering, Aika followed Kindra closer to the slime. She watched as the hogs began growing. A large grub burst out of the slime, now nearly the size of a large dog. Well, that explains it. Kindra¡¯s foot touched the slime, and all the nearby slime sank into the ground as if it were nothing more than water. The nearby bugs and birds turned and ran, some heading for the remaining slime and others chasing the free food. Like a small stampede, they charged across the ground. A distant grub burst from the slime and slammed into the ground. Is that how those are made? It thrashed, slamming its massive body into birds and bugs alike. Kindra jogged toward the slime, and a ball of fire formed in her hand. It cast the area in a soft light before streaking toward the stampede. Pulsing, it slowed and hung above the group. They ignored it, and it seemed to surge in power. ¡°I take it back. She won¡¯t be a lumberjack,¡± Kode whispered. The ball exploded, bathing the group in flames. The smell of burning flesh and feathers filled the air. A nearby black tree caught flame, and it cascaded, following the line of slime and coal like a fiery avenger brought to life. A wave of heat washed by. Creatures burned. Flames snaked from tree to tree, and Aika stared. ¡°Kindra?¡± ¡°Whoops. Forgot about that.¡± Kindra blushed and looked at the two. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can stop it.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. Let¡¯s go.¡± Kode stared at the fire. ¡°It¡¯ll burn out eventually.¡± He turned and walked back toward the tree. Kindra spun and followed. ¡°Will we get the mana from it?¡± Aika fluttered after them. ¡°Some, yes,¡± Kode called, heading back toward the tree with a chuckle. Chapter 61—Observed Chapter 61¡ªObserved Kindra looked back at the raging inferno. The fire crackled, and the remains of the tree fell, dropping into a pile of blazing heat. The nearby trees wilted. Are they going to catch fire? Or does mana stop that? ¡°Kindra, don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t spread far,¡± Kode called. She turned and jogged after him, pulling up her mana. [Your mana has increased: 4336 ¡ú 4909.] Well, that was effective. She grinned and jogged to the fallen tree, the breeze blowing through her hair. The smell of smoke faded, leaving the smells of the forest. Shame that I could get more mana from that slime. Walking up to the fallen tree, she studied it. Can I just burn the mana on it? She reached out and ran her fingers across the rough bark. In theory, this is likely just carbon and iron mixed. She walked over to the stump. ¡°It¡¯s pretty,¡± Aika said, landing on the stump and looking at the thin bars of steel that spider-webbed through it. ¡°It¡¯s valuable but heavy,¡± Kode said, running his fingernail across the stump. ¡°You can make very sturdy things with it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Kindra ran her fingers along the tree. Time to make a fifty caliber. She placed four swords on the tree and triggered Transmutation, dumping all of her remaining mana into the materials. It smoldered. Steam billowed into the air, and Kode jerked up. ¡°What are you doing? Do you know how valuable that is?¡± ¡°We can just cut down another one.¡± Kindra smiled and stepped away from the smoldering tree. Steam billowed around them, and a twig snapped. She spun. ¡°What in the tarnation are you up to now?¡± Gleon asked, leaping over the stream and landing next to the tree. He sniffed. ¡°Making a gun,¡± Kindra replied, raising a brow. ¡°Finish your work?¡± ¡°We did.¡± Gleon sniffed the air and looked at the tree. ¡°Ironwood? You¡¯re using intact ironwood? Do you know how hard it is to find this stuff?¡± ¡°No. It was just standing there.¡± Kindra shrugged. ¡°Aren¡¯t there others?¡± ¡°I think I saw one.¡± Aika grinned. ¡°The problem is getting one that¡¯s intact. They destroy most axes when you cut them down. It takes a level one hundred lumberjack to¡­¡± Gleon trailed off and looked at the stump. He looked over at Kode. ¡°How did you cut it down?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. She made something.¡± Kode shrugged. Kindra chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a saw.¡± ¡°But the teeth?¡± Gleon demanded. She winked and looked at the remains of the tree. A small portion of it was gone, and a large machine gun was sitting there with a belt filled with bullets. Several other bullets were lying on the ground. Grinning, Kindra reached down and stashed them all. She looked at the tree. Wish I could fit that in my stash. She turned back. ¡°I¡¯m out of mana. You can have the rest.¡± ¡°There may be some ocol if it didn¡¯t all burn,¡± Kode added, gesturing toward the forest and distant fire. ¡°Burn?¡± Gleon turned and laughed. ¡°Did you light it on fire?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra blushed and looked at the clearing in the trees. A small ray of sunlight poked through the hole she¡¯d made. The sky was a light blue. Not too different from Earth. ¡°Give me that saw,¡± Gleon said, chuckling and holding out his hand. Kindra handed it to him. ¡°Don¡¯t go too deep or fast. It will break.¡± He placed it on the tree and started sawing, running it back and forth and sending a soft ribbon of sawdust into the air. Kindra turned and listened. The birds and bugs were quiet, the leaves fluttered, and she searched the trees. Mana flowed through them. Are the animals off fighting for the slime? She listened and looked up. A flock of birds flew by, heading toward the smoke. It has to be that. Looking back at the tree, she watched the two sawing before turning back toward Aika. ¡°See anything to hunt?¡± ¡°Fighting for the slime, probably.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Kindra turned. ¡°Gleon, is it better to level by killing?¡± ¡°Faster, yes. Better, no. It impacts your skills and things. For an artificer, it¡¯s important to spend time doing that.¡± Gleon looked up. ¡°I¡¯d make you chop this up, but it won¡¯t do much for you.¡± He resumed sawing. Kindra walked to the stump and sat on it. She sat on it, and Aika flew over to Gleon. He whispered something to her, and she took off, flying back toward camp. ¡°Aika?¡± Kindra thought toward her. ¡°I¡¯m going to report this.¡± Searching the nearby forest, Kindra listened. The leaves rustled, and the creatures were quiet. An errant flock of red and yellow birds passed overhead, and the sound of large wings filled the air. She looked up. Another wyvern? A large, glowing bird greeted her instead. It looked down with glowing blue eyes. Runes swam around it, and a burst of fear spread through Kindra. She reached toward her empty mana. What¡¯s an undead doing way out here? The undead bird remained aloft, spiraling over the hole in the forest. A deep trill rolled from its throat, and Gleon jerked up. ¡°Shit,¡± he hissed. ¡°Gleon, what do we do?¡± Kindra asked, looking up at the bird. ¡°I¡¯m out of mana.¡± ¡°For now, nothing, but be ready. They¡¯ll be coming.¡± Kindra grimaced. I can¡¯t fight undead. I have no mana. She looked for anything that would let her get some. Spotting some fish in the stream, she pulled out her crossbow and jacked in a bolt. Aiming at the shimmering fish in the water, she exhaled and fired. The bolt hit the surface, deflected, and missed the fish. It shot off down the stream, a flash of silver in the water. Grabbing another bolt, Kindra jacked it in. Maybe I should have made so many bullets. She frowned and looked up. The bird remained. It circled the hole in the clearing. It knows we are here. ¡°Gleon, how do we get?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll have a ranger coming soon.¡± Gleon looked over. ¡°See any more ironwood?¡± ¡°I¡¯m out of mana, but I can try to find out.¡± Kindra hopped off the stump and looked at the surrounding trees. ¡°They¡¯ll be alongside the stream, most likely.¡± Kindra nodded and walked up to the trees, studying them. I need mana. She searched for a bug or anything else to let her get mana. Should I try to chop down a tree? It¡¯ll give me a tiny bit, though it¡¯ll make a lot of noise. Another screech rang through the air, and Kindra jerked up. The spiraling bird vanished, flying in the direction of the smoke. Is that good or bad? Kindra walked up to a tree and knocked on it. Is this ironwood? She looked into the stream and saw another fish. I wish I knew how to spearfish. Taking aim, she fired. The bolt blew into the water and deflected off the fish. It looked up at her, magic and anger surging through its eyes. Kindra scrambled away, and a large icicle flew over her head. You have got to be kidding me. Avoiding the water, she walked back toward the two. ¡°I have no idea.¡± ¡°So, you were using a skill to find it?¡± Gleon asked. Kindra nodded. ¡°Get some mana. Find some bugs. They¡¯ll be around.¡± That¡¯s embarrassing. Kindra walked around the area, searching for anything to kill. She didn¡¯t find anything when she flipped over rocks, leaves, and branches. Well, they are all over at slime land. Giving up, Kindra darted back toward the fire and slime. She ran through the forest, vaulting off roots and quickly making her way back. The smell of smoke lingered in the air, and animals continued to squabble. Breaking through the trees, Kindra turned and saw the undead bird. It circled the path of destruction, a beacon of information that was likely being fed back to somewhere. Even as she thought it, another bird joined it, spinning in harmony. That one is alive? Kindra swallowed and looked up. The two birds weren¡¯t fighting, unlike the distant animals who risked the heat and smoke for the distant slime remnants. Moving closer, Kindra examined some nearby trees. Several had been scorched by the flames. Walking over to a small one, she pulled out an axe and began hacking away. Wood flew. The smell of smoke drifted through the air, and the birds circled above. With a resounding crack, the tree trunk snapped. Kindra vaulted off the ground and kicked, shoving the tree and pushing herself backward. Landing lightly, she watched it tip. It slammed down into the ground, and she reached out, grabbing the mana. It did not yield. Like playing tug of war with a stump, she gritted and pulled. Do not tell me I have to kill the roots of this one. She ripped on it, and it didn¡¯t move. Giving up, she shook her head and looked up. The two birds continued circling, and another undead bird blew past them, flying and hovering over something in the distance. Great. The necromancer is scouting. Stashing the axe, she pulled out the crossbow and looked at the distant birds and bugs. She aimed and fired. The bolt streaked across the air and hit a bird. She grinned. I guess this is one way to do it. She grabbed another bolt. Chapter 62 – Observed – Interlude Chapter 62 ¨C Observed ¨C Interlude Diana¡¯s vision was a hazy blue as she peered through the eyes of an undead bird. Smoky air passed around her, felt and unfelt, smelled and unsmelled. A bird nearby circled, and she reached out with her mind, pulling more minions toward her targets. There you are, darling. And you¡¯ve gotten stronger. She watched Kindra race back into the forest toward the unwanted dwarves . They¡¯ll have their use. Diana smiled and willed her bird back toward them. ¡°Diana?¡± a voice whispered. The low tones vibrated through the room, carrying immense power. A shiver ran across her spine, and her focus returned to a large room. A chandelier of enchanted lights sparkled overhead, and a polished stone floor reflected the light. Sitting at the head of the room was a man whose skin was practically glowing to those who couldn¡¯t see mana. To Diana, it was like looking into the sun. His entire being surged with it. His blue eyes blazed. ¡°I ask your apologies, my lord,¡± Diana said carefully. ¡°Business, of course.¡± She folded her hands in her lap, letting them rest against the black dress. Other necromancers turned. With white hair and blue eyes, they looked like a strange family, even with other species present. The most common were elves, half-elves, and humans, each sitting in a cushioned wooden chair. ¡°Will you have the supplies we need?¡± Klaus asked, his ancient voice booming through the domed room. ¡°The realm of the dragons must fall and soon. There are other realms that require focus.¡± ¡°Of course, my lord.¡± Diana bowed her head. ¡°We are ready.¡± Klaus nodded once in her direction before his focus shifted. He looked at a man with short, white hair and a nice suit. ¡°What of the fae realm?¡± ¡°Their wards are strong, my liege,¡± the man replied. ¡°But we are breaking through.¡± ¡°Your focus will shift.¡± Klaus gestured. ¡°Your focus will be on the draconic realm. It must fall and soon.¡± He paused momentarily, scanning the room. Diana straightened, holding her head high. What game is he playing today? He would not have summoned us for this. She waited for another comment. A door opened, and servants entered. Wearing crisp, white attire, a mass of servants entered and spread through the room, one in front of every necromancer. Diana looked at the servant before her. The elf looked at her with a deep rage. She smiled at him, revealing her fangs. He glowered back, his rage a contradiction to the pure white pants and shirt. His core glowed. He must be at least level four hundred. Quite the find. She smiled at him. ¡°Now, it is a time of celebration,¡± Klaus said, standing from his padded chair and walking up to the servant in front of him. ¡°Would you care to tell them why?¡± he asked the elf beside him. ¡°Nature, smite you,¡± an elf hissed, her voice rippling through the room before runes ignited around her. She screamed and hit the ground, falling to her knees. ¡°Your god doesn¡¯t exist,¡± Klaus replied. He smiled. ¡°Today is a great day. A day of celebration. For we have discovered a new realm. A realm that will help us grow further.¡± A soft ripple of noise spread through the group. Diana looked at him and let her surprise show. He did not tell me? She frowned. Why would he not tell me? ¡°Many of you have heard rumors. Rumors of a craft made of metal and other things. A craft capable of traveling the realms without magic.¡± A silence fell on the room. Diana looked at him. We solved it, then? We know where it is. She smiled at him and nodded. ¡°Pardon the theatrics, my trusted. I know how hard you¡¯ve worked to uncover the secrets, and I trust that you will uncover the mystery of that craft.¡± Klaus smiled and raised his hands. A spinning globe of Earth appeared overhead. It rotated, revealing the oceans and land. ¡°You will never guess why it took us so long.¡± He paused and looked at the first row. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Diana swallowed. Is this a test? She looked straight ahead, refusing to show any further weakness. ¡°Relax, I meant it.¡± Klaus chuckled and then went serious. ¡°It seems that there are realms without magic. As this one did not have it, we weren¡¯t even aware it existed. Nothing more than a magicless husk of a world.¡± He nodded toward a necromancer. The man bowed back. ¡°Forgive me, my liege. But why would we want such a world?¡± ¡°The fae council found it, and it has magic now.¡± Klaus smiled. ¡°But I will ensure they do not establish yet another foothold. To that end, I offer a gift and make a request.¡± He paused, and a deathly quiet spread across the room. His eyes lingered on every necromancer. Diana nodded back to him as his eyes swept over her. ¡°We break their worlds now,¡± Klaus said, his eyes flashing with magic. ¡°I expect the draconic realm to fall within a month. The elemental lords must fall, and we must march forward before they spread further.¡± He stepped next to the woman beside him and pulled back his lips, revealing long teeth. ¡°Drink. Get stronger. And push your realms. We have new ones to conquer.¡± He sank his teeth into the woman¡¯s neck, drinking deeply. She stood there, her rage faltering and the light in her eyes slowly going out. As the woman dropped to the ground in a bloody heap, Klaus licked his lips. ¡°Enjoy the gift. Make your plans. For we have worlds to conquer.¡± He spun and walked to the door in the back of the room, leaving them behind. Diana sank her teeth into the man next to her, pulling in mouthfuls of vibrant, rich, metallic blood. It flowed down her throat, and she felt her body pulling the mana into her without a single thought. It simply did it. Ah. Perfection. Bliss. She swallowed, and the man dropped to the ground, blood oozing onto the floor. The metallic scent filled the room, and the others began to file out of the room. Diana followed them. A new realm. Interesting. Realization hit her, and she masked her expression. No magic. Nothing on it will be strong enough to be worthwhile. She sighed. I suppose that means I will need to focus on my realms. She walked out of the room and pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing the blood from her face. ¡°Diana,¡± a voice called. It rumbled with power, and she spun toward a necromancer. He walked up with a soft smile, his eyes dragging across her body. ¡°How are you adjusting?¡± ¡°Very well, Craig. Thank you for your aid in that regard.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Craig smiled and leaned closer. ¡°What of the complication?¡± Diana smiled. ¡°I have eyes on the little rebellion now.¡± ¡°Do you wish aid? I need yours. The elemental lords are causing problems.¡± ¡°No, no. They will fall. They always do.¡± Diana leaned against him. ¡°Let me issue a few commands, yes?¡± ¡°Of course. I could use your aid with the elementals.¡± Craig wrapped his arms around her. Diana slipped back into the mind of her undead. Like tugging on a thousand leashes, she pulled, gathering guards from all the nearby cities and willing them toward a single one. ¡°Do not kill Kindra. You will know her when you see her.¡± Focusing on the undead in the city, she issued further commands. ¡°Kill the rebels and any dwarves that may have even thought of disobeying. End them. Do not harm, Kindra. We have much to discuss.¡± She felt her minions move. Fearful dwarves fled to their homes. She ignored them. They¡¯d pay for this insurrection, but that could wait. Her focus was on the gathering army that would need to invade their poorly hidden base. Shifting her focus to birds, Diana studied the ground and the footprints. A smile spread across her face. Found you . She chuckled and willed her army forward, sending some toward Kindra. ¡° Go. Ensure the rebels can¡¯t escape.¡± Snapping out of it, she pulled on her mana, willing runes into existence. They flickered around her like stars, and she felt a tether form to a distant mind. ¡°My queen?¡± a dwarven voice called. ¡°If you and any of your kin wish to live, you will follow my undead and see to it that the rebels do not escape. I have no doubt that they will try to tunnel out. Do not let them! And do not kill my daughter. You¡¯ll know her when you see her.¡± She broke the connection like a cut string. Time to prepare for my arrival. Chapter 63 – Observed – Pt 3 Chapter 63 ¨C Observed ¨C Pt 3 Kindra ran, the forest floor blurring underfoot. Flocks of birds flew by, and fear rippled through her. What? ¡°Hurry, Kindra. We need to get back.¡± Aika¡¯s voice whispered through her mind. Racing across the forest floor, she burst through the trees and leapt, soaring over the stream. The water burbled by. A silvery fish darted past, and she landed next to Kode. He turned and jogged through the trees. Kindra followed and heard a distant whistle. It¡¯s the undead¡­ Did I mess things up with that fire? She grimaced and ran toward the cliffs. How do I get a radiant enchant for Aika? Frowning, she felt her mana. That¡¯s not enough for anything. Racing across the forest, an eerie quiet greeted her. A chill lingered in the air, and she passed a shattered corpse. Its bleached bones were scattered across the ground. Small patches of rotting meat clung to some of the bones, and Kindra vaulted over it. Shame there¡¯s no mana. She heard footsteps and the sound of bones breaking. Racing around a tree, she found Gleon. He slammed his axe into an undead canine, launching bone fragments and rotting flesh everywhere. The magic inside faltered slightly. It lunged, opening its mouth and clamping teeth onto his leg. The teeth failed to break the skin, stopping abruptly. The canine tried to dig its teeth in, and an axe slammed into its skull, shattering it into pieces. It staggered backward, teeth flying into the air. Kindra watched the runes and reached out. For a moment, she sensed it. Some remnants of the canine remained trapped by the magic. Kindra ripped the magic apart and pulled the sliver of mana into herself. Well, that one is super weak. She jogged after Gleon, who sprinted and leapt, swinging his axe and slamming it into an undead dwarf. It staggered to the ground, and he slammed his axe into it, smashing the head off of its body. It tumbled across the ground and hit a tree. Connecting to it, Kindra pulled, ripping the magic from it and into herself. Little more. Gleon continued his charge, dashing through the trees. Kindra raced behind him, moving swiftly through the quiet forest. The sound of metal on bone filled the air, and she burst through the trees in time to see a golem. Horror flooded through her, mixing with dismay at the horrific sight. Deep inside the mana was a glowing ball of light. It made her want to vomit. The golem whirred and slammed a metallic arm into an undead bear. The bones cracked, and the bear slammed its claws into the golem, digging into the metal. I hope it breaks. Skirting around the edge of the group, Kindra saw several dwarves out fighting the undead. They¡¯ll just keep coming. She felt her mana and dashed up to the golem, touching it with a finger and willing a rune sequence into her mind. [Level 18 Golem has been enhanced with +5 radiant Damage for 6 hours.] With her mana gone, she darted away, racing toward the cave and leaving the battle behind. Sigrid stepped out of the cave, waving toward her. Kindra dashed to her and followed her inside. Most of the opening had been walled off, steps led up to a small balcony with slits in the stone. ¡°Forgive us for the golem, sweetie,¡± Sigrid said, pulling her further inside. ¡°How is the mana?¡± ¡°Gone. I¡¯ll try to get more, but it¡¯ll be difficult.¡± Kindra grimaced, and Aika landed on her shoulder. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Aika asked. ¡°Kill what we can while we gather refugees and prepare to leave,¡± Sigrid said, letting out a long breath. ¡°We were too close to the city.¡± ¡°How long do we have?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°We need to be gone by tonight.¡± Sigrid pulled her down the tunnels. Kindra followed. ¡°What about Gleon?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be fine. He knows when to retreat.¡± Sigrid walked up to the door and stepped inside. She began packing. Kindra did the same, grabbing the things from her room. This place did not last long. She bit her lip. ¡°Is this my fault?¡± she called, pulling the blanket off the bed. ¡°No, sweetie. It was inevitable. We hoped to solve the golem mystery, and we did. Now, we¡¯ll move on to a better spot.¡± ¡°Back tunnels?¡± Kindra asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra resumed packing, stuffing her attire into the bundle. Grabbing it, she walked out of her little room. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°Checking on Gleon.¡± ¡°Be careful.¡± Kindra watched a small stream of mana flow into her. ¡°Sigrid, how did the dwarves lose?¡± ¡°They just kept coming.¡± Sigrid shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s what the legends said. For every necromancer killed, a new one would come. Sometimes it would take time, but they never stopped.¡±Sigrid filled a pot with silverware and placed it on the table. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Strange¡­ I¡¯m missing something. Kindra walked up to the shelves and began emptying them. She filled the pot. ¡°Does killing a minion grant mana?¡± ¡°A little, some give more than others.¡± Sigrid gathered the food supplies and placed them in a bag with a sigh. She looked at Kindra. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you are from another world or not, but I am sorry for what it¡¯s worth.¡± ¡°Thank you for taking me in.¡± Kindra smiled at her and saw the sorrow. It lingered through her eyes. ¡°And don¡¯t worry. The necromancers made a mistake.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sigrid asked. ¡°Yes. They let me live.¡± Kindra grabbed the chamberpot. And I¡¯m not living like this. She turned, and the ground trembled. Like a growing earthquake, the vibrations grew stronger. Dust filled the air, the pot rattled, and the sound of breaking stones filled the air. Kindra darted to the door and peered outside. Dwarves scrambled around the opening to the cavern. A massive tunnel had been bored across their seal. A large undead grub was thrashing wildly, breaking stones and knocking all of their barricades apart. Turning her head, she was greeted by a rockslide that had completely engulfed the back of the cave. So, we¡¯re trapped in here. Kindra darted back inside and grabbed things. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to leave through the front.¡± Sigrid poked her head out and scowled. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a fight. A real fight, Kindra. That means you need to stay close to me.¡± Kindra nodded and didn¡¯t argue. She scooped up her little robot from the corner. I¡¯ll figure you out later. Hoisting a bag over her shoulder, she turned and looked at Sigrid. ¡°Can you stash them?¡± Sigrid asked. ¡°Maybe?¡± Kindra grinned and tried it. The things vanished. Chuckling, she ran around the room and stashed the others before following Sigrid out the door. Dwarves were streaming out of their homes, running up toward the breach. Sigrid jogged down the tunnel, and Kindra followed. I need more mana. A lot more mana. She frowned and willed some of her spent mana inward. [Your mana has increased: 4909 ¡ú 4925.] ? [Your mana has decreased: 4925 ¡ú 4605.] ? [Your intellect has increased: 30 ¡ú 32.] ? Kindra willed the points into speed and dexterity. [Your speed has increased: 14 ¡ú 16.] ? [Your dexterity has increased: 14 ¡ú 16.] [Please pick an upgrade: ? - Regenerative Blood - Your wounds will slowly heal. Drinking the blood of living creatures will better heal your wounds. ? - Hex - Sacrifice blood to augment the effects of free-cast spells. ? - Feed - You may pull the blood and mana from nearby creatures if their magical resistance is lower than a quarter of your level. This will kill the creature.] Kindra¡¯s foot skidded against the stone. She nearly fell over, flailing to keep her balance. With a look of embarrassment, she looked back at the options. That seems horrific¡­ How am I getting this as an artificer? [This is a racial advancement.] And can I use it on undead? [Not at this level.] What about plants? [Not at this level. It needs blood.] Kindra shivered and looked at them. The last one was a fast way to kill low level things, but that wasn¡¯t necessary. She looked at the others. Healing would help. She grimaced and picked it up. A strange sensation passed over her and then faded. Sigrid slowed and tugged her toward a group of defenders that had begun restoring their barricade. Looking out of the cave, Kindra saw undead emerging from the trees. They streamed forward, and the golem was on the warpath. Light radiated around it, and it whirred around, slamming its limbs into undead. The corpses faltered and dropped. At least it¡¯s working. A group of dwarves followed the golem, attacking and ripping apart the corpses. An occasional boulder slammed into the undead, and a massive bison burst out of the trees. Lowering its head, it passed through the undead and slammed into the golem, sending it flying with a burst of light. The bison staggered, and an axe chopped through its spine. Kindra turned and looked at the battered golem. It was lying on the ground and not moving. Great. That plan backfired. She reached out and grabbed mana from the dead bison and several others, pulling it toward her and watching the dwarves. Gleon was smashing his axe into them. Other dwarves were doing the same. How long can they keep this up? She turned and looked at Sigrid. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°Wait for the others to gather their things. We¡¯ll prepare and force our way through, heading deeper into the forest.¡± Kindra nodded and smelt blood. She spun and stared. A sword was embedded in one of the dwarves. The skeleton ripped the sword out, sending a spray of blood into the air. ¡°Fall back!¡± Gleon shouted. The dwarves surged backward, gathering in a wall at the entrance. Kindra swallowed. How are we going to get out of here? Aika blurred over and ducked behind Kindra. Whistles rang through the air, and Sigrid pulled Kindra closer. The undead surged forward, pushing and shoving toward the gathered group. ¡°We go together!¡± a dwarf shouted. The dwarves around her pulled out weapons. This is a terrible plan. Kindra gulped and was pulled into the field of undead. Chapter 64 - Confrontation Chapter 64 - Confrontation Kindra staggered forward, the dwarves crowding together. Looking out at the defenders, she watched them smashing into a variety of undead. This is not going to work. She looked over. ¡°Aika. I¡¯m going to enchant your spear, but be careful.¡± She reached over and burned mana. [Basic spear has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage for 4 hours.] Aika darted off her shoulder. ¡°Yes!¡± She zipped into the field of undead, and a wave of light set off under their feet. The group stepped forward once more. Old swords slammed onto shields. Claws and horns did the same, the dwarves on the outside grunting. Some slammed hammers through the cracks, and Kindra focused on the dying undead, ripping ribbons of mana into her while the group¡¯s momentum ground to a halt. This is not good. Kindra focused on the mana, pulling it to her and looking at the defenders. I need to enchant their shields and weapons. She stood there with a frown. The smell of blood spread through the air, and a surge of green magic hit a defender. Their wounds closed. ¡°Thanks!¡± he shouted, slamming his hammer into a feline undead. Kindra felt bodies push into her. She bumped into the tight group and tugged on Sigrid¡¯s arm.¡°Sigrid, let me enhance a piece of gear.¡± Another dwarf thrust a large hammer in front of her. Imaging the runes, she tapped the weapon and burned mana. [Basic hammer has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage for 4 hours.] The hammer swung away. ¡°Thanks,¡± the dwarf called and slammed his hammer into an undead dwarf. A wave of light followed, and a corpse dropped. ¡°Can you do it again, Kindra?¡± someone shouted. Kindra felt her inert pool of mana and winced. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Let me know if that changes.¡± Kindra nodded and stepped forward with the group, inching toward the forest. A fairy blurred through the undead. A stream of light rippled outward, and some undead fell to the ground. The mana flowed toward Kindra, some splitting into the other dwarves. She pulled it toward herself and took another step forward. Another burst of green magic filled the air. Kindra spun and looked over to see a dwarf bleeding. A jagged cut across their shoulder slowly closed. When we run out of mana, we¡¯re dead. Kindra swallowed and stepped forward. ~~~ Aika flew like a hyperactive sparrow. She wove through undead legs, slashing with her spear. Little waves of light radiated with each strike, and the undead lurched. A large leg flew toward her, and she dropped. Hitting a stone on the forest floor, she leapt and slashed her spear across the canine, slashing into it repeatedly. It jerked after her, and she stabbed. As it dropped, she zipped forward to the next targets. With her spear bouncing across the bodies, she soared up and out, breaking free of the chaos and soaring into the air. A grim sight greeted her. A half-dozen defenders were covered in blood. The group had stalled, the undead swarming them like an endless stream of ants from an angry hive. A bird dove, swooping down toward her with its beak open wide. Aika dropped, shooting back down toward the ground. Landing lightly, she ran forward, scraping her blade across the legs of the undead. Mouths snapped downward. Blades swung, and she jumped around wildly. Stabbing a canine in the belly, she ripped it free, landed, and jumped backward, slashing the canine¡¯s head on the way by. The magic rippled through it, and it dropped. Vaulting to the side, she slashed, landed, and leapt onto the back of a bear. Its body shook, and she stabbed her spear into it, running and pole vaulting off its head. Soaring toward the defenders, she frowned. Three defenders were bleeding. Kindra was enhancing a shield, and they still weren¡¯t moving. Come on! She frowned and dove, unleashing strike after strike. The undead didn¡¯t care, moving over the bodies and pushing toward their quarry. ~~~ The sound of battle raged. Kindra looked out at the group. Why didn¡¯t I save mana for this? She grimaced and heard the screech of fangs on metal. Jerking her head, she watched the metal shield crumple. It ripped from the defender¡¯s hands, and jaws crunched around his leg. Reaching forward, she enhanced another hammer. A dwarf shoved the wounded defender free, pushing him back into the group. A surge of green magic hit him, and the wound began to close. ¡°Kindra, reduce the time,¡± Sigrid whispered and held out a hammer. Kindra triggered her ability again. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. [Basic Hammer has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage for 1 hour.] The hammer vanished, heading out to the defenders. Light radiated around the group, and another hammer appeared. The stream of mana increased, and Kindra pulled it in, causing a ripple through her mana, granting her more energy to use. [Basic Hammer has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage for 1 hour.] She frowned and looked at the stationary group. Shields had been pulled in. Weapons hammered into the outside undead. They swarmed forward, and bursts of light radiated from four points around the circle. Another hammer appeared in front of her, and Kindra pulled in the mana before using her skill again . [Basic hammer has been enhanced with +5 radiant damage for 1 hour.] The hammer vanished, and additional waves of light magic rolled from the circle. Kindra looked back at the cliff. Ten steps. We made it ten steps. The trees, twenty feet away, seemed extremely far. Worse still, they were full of undead. The two dwarven kids were huddled in the middle, the young wyvern bumping nervously in Roto. Kindra pulled the mana toward her and willed the number into view. [Your mana has increased: 4605 ¡ú 4677.] She reached over and enhanced an axe with radiant damage. It quickly made its way outward. A large undead bear shoved its way through the others. It lurched onto its back feet, and a blurring Aika assaulted it, stabbing its neck repeatedly. Light burst around her, falling like strange glitter. The bear thrashed, and an axe clipped its paw. A burst of light spread through it, and Gleon stepped in, slamming it again. The bear dropped, and Kindra reached out, pulling the mana into herself. ¡°Is she getting the mana from these?¡± a dwarf muttered. Kindra ignored it, pulling it inside. ¡°Of course. She added the enhancement,¡± another replied. He turned. ¡°Kindra, got enough?¡± ¡°Give me thirty seconds,¡± Kindra said, looking at the wall of soldiers. At least we¡¯re holding. The ground trembled. Stones danced on the loose dirt. A few undead nearly fell over, and Kindra froze. Shit. She looked down at the ground. The dwarves went quiet, leaving nothing but the sound of steel and bone. The weapons clanged. Sweat dripped from the nearby defenders, and the ground trembled once more. Looking down, Kindra¡¯s mind raced. What do we do about this? ¡°Druids at the ready!¡± Gleon bellowed, slamming his axe into an undead dwarf and sending rotting flesh flying. The putrid stench wafted by, and the ground erupted under him. The undead grub swallowed him and thrashed, slamming into the defenders like a bowling ball. Dwarves rolled, undead surged, and the smell of blood filled the air. Shit! Kindra summoned her crossbow and grimaced. This won¡¯t do anything. She turned and watched a separated dwarf get swarmed. Undead ripped into his body. His blood sprayed, and he screamed. A burst of stone tossed him back toward the group. Blood showered everyone, and a dwarf caught him. A surge of green magic filled him, and Kindra looked at the now still grub. Gleon burst out of it, sending a small flood of foul-smelling acid all over the ground. His hair was a mess, blood covered his face, and he panted heavily. ¡°Rott¡¯n buggers!¡± he bellowed, his arms red and bloody. Turning, he began slamming his axes into undead. His wounded arms slowly healed, and Kindra reached for the mana, pulling it into herself. The group stepped forward, and she enhanced another hammer. With a half-dozen weapons around her, she watched the light surge. It streamed out with each strike. The undead began to fall, and the group took another step toward the trees. Are we going to get out of here? Kindra focused on pulling mana in. ¡°Aika?¡± Aika burst from the undead, cutting down some skeleton dwarf on her way by. She zipped into the group of dwarves and landed on Kindra. ¡°There are undead everywhere.¡± Kindra looked at the forest. Hundreds of eyes looked back. The hordes of undead pushed forward, and Sigrid held out a hammer. Pulling on mana, Kindra burned the little mana on it. ¡°Can anyone else do this?¡± ¡°You need to know the sequence,¡± Sigrid replied, patting her on the back. ¡°I wish we¡¯d gotten it before.¡± Whoops. Kindra blushed. ¡°Sorry.¡± A spray of blood splashed across her face, and she turned to see a guard bleeding. The undead dwarf swung his sword, and Aika slammed her spear into his eye. A burst of light rippled out. Kindra stepped forward, and the smell of smoke caught her nostrils. Turning toward the city, she saw smoke. What the hell? Distant screams from the distant city filled the air, and the group ground to a halt again. The city¡¯s burning, too? Kindra swallowed as despair flashed through her. Another hammer was thrust in front of Kindra. Reaching out, she burned mana, enhancing it. Please let that help. She waited, watching waves of light pour off the defenders who rotated their positions to follow an angry Gleon. He turned toward the city, smashed down an undead, and bellowed. A burst of energy filled the group, and they charged through the undead, smashing rotting bodies on their way. Kindra followed the group, led by a ravaging Gleon. His axe was everywhere, glowing energy filling the air as he struck. Should we be heading to the city? Kindra swallowed and looked at Sigrid. ¡°We have to help them. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Sigrid patted her on the shoulder and stepped over a corpse. Three people have died already! Kindra shuffled forward, pulling mana and following the charging group of dwarves. Chapter 65 – Confrontation – Interlude Chapter 65 ¨C Confrontation ¨C Interlude Varric glowered, and a dwarf groaned. The smell of blood and smoke lingered in the city¡¯s air. The sound of distant fighting could be heard in the moment of silence. Undead birds flew overhead, circling and relaying everything back to their master. We stand on the brink of disaster. Anger roared through him. I should have killed them all. ¡°Relax, dear. We will capture the others,¡± his wife said, stepping forward and glaring at the manacled dwarf. ¡°Who else?¡± ¡°No one,¡± Stavn whispered. ¡°They ran. You know that.¡± Varric¡¯s foot slammed into the priestess, knocking her to the ground. ¡°The girl, Kindra. What did you see?¡± ¡°She is an artificer. I swear it, Varric. You know I wouldn¡¯t lie,¡± the priestess replied, pulling herself into a ball and revealing the manacles on her arms. Runes etched in the metal glowed with a soft light. ¡°What else?¡± Varric demanded. ¡°She has too much affinity to mana. She¡¯ll be offered a highly-ranked caster class.¡± The priest looked up. ¡°Please, Varric. I am not with the rebels.¡± ¡°Did she kill the undead?¡± Varric asked. Maybe that¡¯s why they want her¡­. Perhaps that will be enough to appease them. Another to join their ranks. Though, they have never taken a dwarf before. The priestess looked at him, blood trickling from her split lip. Her hair and robes were covered with dirt, and she nodded at him, uncertainty flickering through her brown eyes. ¡°Of course,¡± his wife said. ¡°And she is to join them. She has their gift.¡± She grimaced. ¡°Pity we didn¡¯t realize it then. It was apparent.¡± ¡°How does one unlock such an affinity?¡± Varric whispered, leaning closer to her. ¡°How do I get it?¡± The priestess trembled. She lowered her gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Varric snarled and turned away. Useless. He paused. I¡¯ll ask the girl. He turned his focus back to Stavn. ¡°I will kill every member of your family if you do not speak. Who else is in the rebellion?¡± he hissed. Varric¡¯s wife walked over to another prone dwarf lying on the cold stone in a puddle of blood. She raised the whip. ¡°Please,¡± another prisoner whimpered. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you anything. Just let me go.¡± Varric spun and walked to the dwarf. ¡°Who else is aligned with them?¡± he asked, baring his teeth and reaching for a knife. He pulled it from his sheath. The dwarf looked up. ¡°And you¡¯ll set me free?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be rewarded,¡± Varric said, nodding. He looked up at the spiraling birds who kept a watchful eye on everything. ¡°There are secret tunnels in the mines and farm below. They lead¡ª¡± ¡°No!¡± Stavn barked, slamming against his shackles. The stake in the ground surged with light, and a whip cracked across his chest, ripping skin from his body. Varric kept his focus on the dwarf. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°They lead to rebels in the town,¡± the older dwarf finished. ¡°That will lead you to all of them.¡± He held up his shackled hands with a look of sorrow. ¡°Where are they?¡± Varric demanded, tapping his foot on the dirty stone. ¡°Draw them.¡± The man reached down and began sketching a path. ¡°Traitor,¡± Stavn hissed. ¡°You are all traitors to your own people. You¡¯d rather¡ª¡± The snap of the whip rang through the air. Blood ran down his chest, and Varric walked into the nearby barracks. Marching to a nearby bed, he ripped the blanket off and walked out, dragging it behind him. Cutting off a strip of the blanket, he grabbed it, tied it around Stavn¡¯s mouth, cinching it shut and smacking him upside the head. ¡°Bite through that, and I¡¯ll cut out your tongue.¡± Varric turned and walked back to the other dwarf, who¡¯d outlined the tunnels on the ground. He studied them and turned toward the mines. The nearby smithies were smashed into rubble. They smoldered, sending up plumes of smoke. Rotten traitors. He scowled and looked at the entrance. It smoldered, the coals lighting the hill and city with an ominous red glow. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Turning back to the guards, he met the captain¡¯s eyes. ¡°Go. I want every traitor in chains before she arrives.¡± The captain saluted and ordered guards forward. Varric looked at the sketch and back at the kneeling man. ¡°Who else?¡± Stavn¡¯s voice rang. ¡°Traitor. Monster. B¡ª¡± A whip cracked across his back, ripping away flesh. Varric walked forward. Taking his knife, he shook his head. ¡°Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve sacrificed to keep us alive? Do you?¡± He spat on Stavn¡¯s head. ¡°They would kill us all, you fool.¡± Stavn met his gaze. ¡°Bastard,¡± he snarled, and whip cracked. He grimaced, blood running from the wound. Sheathing the knife, Varric turned and gestured to a guard. ¡°Break his jaw. He won¡¯t need it anymore.¡± The guard stepped forward, pain in his eyes. He walked up to Stavn and stared, his arms trembling. ¡°Do it,¡± Varric hissed. The guard raised the hammer and swung, arcing it through the air and slamming it into Varric¡¯s side. His ribs snapped. The traitorous guard raised his hammer, and Varric tumbled, staggering to his knees. The crack of the whip filled the air. I¡¯ll kill him. The guard yelped and slammed his hammer onto Stavn¡¯s shackles. The metal glowed, absorbing the impact without a care. Varric lurched up and coughed, blood oozing from his mouth. He looked at the treasonous dwarf as rage flooded through his body. He broke my ribs. The guard spun, his hammer swinging once more. Varric lurched backward, and a burst of flame engulfed the guard. He screamed while his flesh melted. The smell of burning flesh and hair filled the air, and the hammer dropped to the ground. ¡°Heal him, or you are next,¡± Varric¡¯s wife hissed at the priestess, fury in her eyes, the blue replaced by a glowing red. The priestess gestured, and Varric felt his bones realign. Agony raced up his side, and he coughed, blood running down his chin. He coughed again, sending a spray of it out onto the prisoners. Reaching up, he wiped away the metallic liquid, the scent lingering in his nose and the taste still on his lips. Moving forward, he grabbed the hammer and spun. It whistled through the air and slammed into Stavn¡¯s jaw with a sickening crunch. Blood and teeth hit the stone. He looked up with rage in his eyes. ¡°Try me,¡± Varric said, glaring and spinning. He looked at the charred remains of the guard. Idiots. Don¡¯t they realize what this will cost us? He turned back and spit residual blood on Stavn¡¯s head. Hefting the hammer, Varric raised it. ¡°Let this be a lesson to all of you.¡± He swung it like a bat, smashing it into his jaw once more. The loud crunch rang through the air, and Stavn dropped to the ground, blood oozing from his mouth. Rage surged through him as he turned and glared at the other prisoners. ¡°I am trying to save our people. You fools would doom us all.¡± An older dwarf raised his head. ¡°Better dead than slaves.¡± He glared and looked at Stavn. ¡°May the gods condemn you and them.¡± ¡°The gods are dead. How have you not realized that?¡± Stavn walked to him and embraced the rage. It mingled with the taste of blood in his mouth. They need to learn. It is necessary. We survive. He raised the hammer. ¡°Tell me every rebel you know. Which ones remain in my city?¡± ¡°Your city?¡± another dwarf called, fury in her green eyes. ¡°You have failed us.¡± Stavn swung the hammer, slamming it into her side. Ribs snapped, and she curled on the ground. He lifted it again. ¡°If you won¡¯t do this the easy way, we¡¯ll do it the¡ª¡± ¡°Leave her be!¡± a young voice shouted. Stavn jerked up. Who? He looked over to see a young dwarf, no more than eight years old. His short black hair was a mess, and his clothing was worn. Holes were in his pants, and rage burned in his brown eyes. The boy held up a small hammer and stepped forward. ¡°Leave them alone.¡± ¡°Leave,¡± Stavn barked. ¡°Before you lose your life and hers. This is not a game. This is not a fight you can win. Do you know what she will do if she discovers the rebellion remains?¡± He stepped toward the child. ¡°Turn us all into that.¡± He gestured to the undead dwarf that staggered into the square. It lurched forward and then dropped to the ground in a burst of light. A small fairy with silver hair and a silver dress flew into the air. Aika turned her focus toward the group gathered, and people everywhere gasped. ¡°Praise be,¡± a guard murmured. ¡°The fae,¡± she whispered. Stavn stared at her. His mouth dropped open. How is she here? She can¡¯t be here. ¡°The fae returned?¡± a prisoner asked, looking at Aika. Aika stared at them. She looked at Stavn and scowled. ¡°Let them go. Let them go, right now.¡± Stavn stepped backward, his anger giving way to relief. The fae. We can leave. He reached for the keys on his belt, and a cold laugh bounced across the city. ¡°No, he won¡¯t be doing that, my dear,¡± an ancient voice called from the sky. A bolt of lightning crackled into Aika, and she fell to the ground in a charred heap. Stavn looked at the undead wyvern that had landed outside the building. Elana stepped off of its back and looked at the people gathered. ¡°So much trouble. Mother is displeased.¡± She smirked. ¡°Please, my lady,¡± Stavn said, holding up his hands. Elana laughed, and a cloud of sickly green magic flooded the square. Chapter 66 – Confrontation Pt3 Chapter 66 ¨C Confrontation Pt3 Kindra marched with the group. Undead sizzled and fell, swept away under the augmented weapons. This is a bad idea. Dread churned within her, and she pulled on every scrap of mana she could find. ¡°Aika, did he stop?¡± No response came back, and a cloud of green magic burst out of the middle of the city. The familiar runes glowed, and Kindra¡¯s mouth dropped in horror. Not again. ¡°Run!¡± she barked alongside dozens of others. Dwarves burst from their homes. The group of rebels broke, everyone fleeing the magic. Aika. Kindra stopped, darting away from Sigrid and dashing down the cobblestone streets. Fixing the counter runes in her mind, she looked down the street and toward the square. A woman with long white hair, a short nose, and icy blue eyes stood there. Wearing a silver dress, Elana looked almost regal if it weren¡¯t for the horrific magic pouring out of her. A blight that was all too familiar. Laughing at the fleeing dwarves, Elana gestured with another hand. Kindra watched the magic forming. It flowed and gathered into a concentrated ball before streaking across the sky. Kindra darted out onto the street and raced toward Aika¡¯s charred remains. Her body lay there, and the sound of breaking stone mixed with screams. Reaching into her storage, Kindra pulled out the fifty caliber. The cloud of green encompassed her like some horrific mist, and the runes in her mind flared. The magic around her did the same, and a presence slammed into her mind. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Kindra echoed back. ¡°My sister,¡± Elana called from the tower. ¡°Return to us. Mother wishes to speak with you.¡± A shiver ran down Kindra¡¯s spine. She felt pressure slam into her mind. ¡°Stop this poor behavior, sister.¡± Kindra frowned. ¡°Sister?¡± ¡°Of course. You were prepared for a far better life. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Elana¡¯s laughter faded. The sound of crashing stones filled the air. ¡°Kindra!¡± Sigrid shouted in the distance. ¡°Kindra, where are you?¡± Kindra froze. ¡°Remember?¡± ¡°It can be difficult, but I will aid. Come to the square and cease fighting my spell,¡± she snarled. Kindra felt a strange, soothing presence wash over her. It was warm, comforting, and smelled like hot chocolate. It¡¯s so nice. She stepped forward, and runes shimmered by her eyes. Realization slammed into her like a bullet. Kindra exhaled and stepped forward again. She let the runes in her mind fade and began working on another, stepping forward and looking down the barrel of the gun. Burning the last of her mana, she triggered Enhance Item. [Fortified 50 Caliber (Tier 1) has been enhanced with Minor Shield Penetration for 2 minutes.] Stepping forward, Kindra raised the gun and looked down the barrel. Minor runes danced around her, and she lined the shot with Elana¡¯s head. ¡°There you are,¡± Elana said. She smiled. ¡°I think I have the perfect gift for both you and mother.¡± She snapped her fingers, and the magic stopped rolling off her. It lingered through the air, and Kindra recalled the runes. Like a ripple upon the waters, the magic shook. The fog vanished, and Elana¡¯s face contorted in anger. She glowered at Kindra. ¡°What the hell do you think you are doing? Would you throw your future away?¡± She looked at the gun with confusion in her eyes. ¡°Why would you have that? Did you take a lesser class?¡± She gasped as if she¡¯d been stabbed. Buy time. Buy time and fire. Kindra stepped forward. ¡°Lesser?¡± ¡°Yes, you dolt. The ranking matters! Why would you pass up a far superior class only to get that¡ªwhat is it?¡± Kindra smiled and studied the white-haired woman. She does look like me. ¡°It helps me see things,¡± she lied. ¡°And why would I have sacrificed the best class?¡± She stepped forward. Elana sighed. ¡°Well then, use it to watch me help you ascend to something far better.¡± Magic gathered around her, and Kindra pulled the trigger. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. The cold metal moved with her finger. The firing pin slammed into the cartridge, and the powder inside exploded. Welcome to the modern age. The gun cracked, and Elana¡¯s head exploded. What? No stamina? Kindra stared in shock. The woman fell backward, and the casing bounced off a stone wall. How was it that easy? ¡°Kindra!¡± Sigrid shouted. Kindra darted forward instead. Aika. Where is her body? She reached toward the corpse and froze instead. A cloud of black and red swirled and churned into the air, pulling itself out of the corpse. It whirred toward her like some living horrific force, magic forming a shield around the strange entity. She connected with it and felt the dark presence inside. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this,¡± Elana hissed into her mind and slammed into Kindra. Familiar runes flashed into view. Kindra felt the thing trying to enter her body. Massive pressure shoved her mind down. It grew and grew and grew. Her heart thundered in her head. Her body quivered, and Kindra ripped the magic away from being, pulling it into herself. The magic flooded her like a tidal wave, and the darkness came with it. Both surged into her body and mind. The pressure grew, and she screamed. ¡°Don¡¯t fight it!¡± a voice hissed. Kindra slammed her will into it, ripping the mana into a churning vortex inside. Like claws digging into her brain, the thing clawed toward her, and she shoved. The thing burst out, black smoke oozing into the air and dissipating, turning into nothing. With her vision blurry and her heart thundering, Kindra staggered forward, stashing her gun. [Your mana has increased: 4677 ¡ú 12390.] Kindra stared at it, her mind and body swimming as the mana churned through her body. What the hell? A low whistle rang through the air, and she blinked, clearing away the text and looking out at the swimming mana. It churned through her body and eyes. ¡°Kindra?¡± a blurry Gleon called, walking up and passing Sigrid. He held up a blurry axe. ¡°Gleon?¡± Kindra blinked at the blurry surroundings. ¡°Do you see Aika? I think she died.¡± ¡°Are you infected?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m immune for some reason.¡± Kindra blinked and felt mana engulf her. She blinked and struggled to find the meaning. Calm down, mana. Calm down. She pulled some into her center and willed it with the ball inside. [Your mana has decreased: 12390 ¡ú 11310.] [Your level has increased: 17¡ú 20.] ? [Your intellect has increased: 32 ¡ú 38.] Pausing, she distributed it among dexterity, speed, and stamina. [Your dexterity has increased: 16 ¡ú 20.] ? [Your stamina has increased: 12 ¡ú 16.] ? [Your speed has increased: 16 ¡ú 20.] The pressure began to drop, and she blinked up at Gleon¡¯s axe. ¡°Gleon? What?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just checking something,¡± Gleon said, lowering the axe and dashing forward. He scooped up Aika¡¯s charred body and looked around the square. Kindra rubbed her eyes and did the same. The captured, the guards, and the mayor were dead. Thier bodies were lying there, runes lingering in their flesh. Not again. ¡°They¡¯re infected, Gleon.¡± Gleon handed her Aika¡¯s body and gave her a deep look. Kindra cradled Aika in her arms and burned some of her new mana. A wave of healing passed over her body, and Aika¡¯s eyes opened. She looked up and smiled. ¡°Welcome back,¡± Gleon called, hefting his axe and walking up to the corpses. He chopped, cutting a head off. Kindra grimaced and looked at the text in front of her face. [Please pick an upgrade¡­] ¡°You!¡± a voice snarled. Churning wings sent bursts of air downward, and Kindra looked up, dismissing the text. A livid woman with white hair glared down from what had to be an undead dragon. The massive creature¡¯s skeleton churned the air, and Gleon jerked up. Magic flooded the air. Diana glowered, her dragon landing and smashing a cottage with its tail. She turned and then gestured. ¡°Kindra, my daughter, kill him.¡± Kindra swallowed and reached for her gun. ¡°What?¡± she whispered. Who are these people? Diana nodded. ¡°Kill him. Make him pay for what he did to you and¡ª¡± Gleon leapt. He swung his axe, fury glinting in his brown eyes. It arced through the air and slammed into a transparent magical shield. Bouncing off it, he landed, and Diana laughed, sliding off the dragon. Straightening her dress, she gestured, and magic streaked out, snaking toward him and slamming him into the ground. ¡°Come my daughter. Take your place with me.¡± She gestured. Runes filled the air, and she barked a compulsive order. ¡°Feed!¡± Chapter 67 – Confrontation Pt4 Chapter 67 ¨C Confrontation Pt4 The magic and the command swirled around her. It sank into Kindra¡¯s mind, and she stepped forward, saliva filling her mouth. Walking toward the prone dwarf, she licked her lips and inhaled the smell of blood and death. Why am I doing this? ¡°Kindra!¡± Aika shouted in her mind. Like a bucket of icy water, her name snapped her back to reality. It flooded through her. A chill spread through her mind, and she took another step toward Gleon. ¡°Monster,¡± Sigrid shouted. The ground around them churned, and a bolt of glowing energy flew through the air. Kindra turned her head in time to see the mana hit Sigrid. It ripped through her, and horror filled Kindra¡¯s throat. She felt like sobbing and vomiting. Blood and bone shards filled the air. Sigrid dropped, blood pooling around her. All she wanted was a life. Tears ran from Kindra¡¯s eyes. The magic slammed into her, and she stepped forward. A volley of arrows flew toward them and bounced off a large shield. ¡°Go, my daughter. Feed. Claim your destiny,¡± Diana whispered, her voice thrumming with magic. Kindra stepped forward, willing the counter runes forward. With each step, she finished another rune. Standing over the prone Gleon, she fixed the final rune and felt the spell falter. A presence slammed into her mind. ¡°My daughter. Today is the day. We rise together. Don¡¯t fight it. Embrace it. Your destiny. Your future.¡± The familiar voice echoed through her mind. The words struck resonant notes, and Kindra gasped as her rage ignited. ¡°You,¡± she whispered. ¡°You were the one who kept me there.¡± ¡°No. I was the one that brought you back from the brink of death. I was the one that helped you on a better path. Don¡¯t you remember, Kindra?¡± A wave of magic crashed by, and Kindra saw a ship flying through space. It spun out of control, the window blurring by. She saw inside, she was reaching for the console. Blood oozed from her nose, and she went limp. The ship spun, flying wildly through a wormhole. It passed through and spun toward a green and blue planet. It descended and hit the atmosphere, fire erupting everywhere. The ship shattered, breaking into four pieces. Each plummeted toward the rocky ground, and magic engulfed them. Looking down, Kindra saw seven people with white hair, one of whom was Diana. She looked up, magic blazing from her and engulfing a fragment. It slowed. The fire went out, and it landed softly in the snow. ¡°They will need help,¡± an ancient voice thundered from one of the men. A shiver ran down Kindra¡¯s spine. That voice. I remember that voice. It said something else, though. Diana ran to the ship fragment. She looked inside and gasped, clutching her heart. ¡°So many dead. Gods guide them onward.¡± She moved to the window and smashed her hand against it. Magic flared, and the glass shattered. She dashed inside and looked at Kindra. ¡°This one is still alive!¡± A man stepped forward. Swirling green magic spread from his hands, flooding into Kindra. The runes were familiar but wrong. Those weren¡¯t the runes I saw. Kindra screamed, thrashing against her belt. ¡°What is this?¡± Diana asked, turning. ¡°They¡¯ve never encountered magic before,¡± the ancient voice said, booming through the air. ¡°Help me. This will be an adjustment and may kill them if we aren¡¯t careful.¡± Diana dashed to Kindra, freeing her from the restraints. ¡°My daughter. Someday, you will help us off this broken world.¡± The vision distorted, flashing to a world that was covered in monsters. Snow clung to the ground. Plants were scrawny and struggled to survive. The sight shifted, zooming out to reveal snow and darkness everywhere. Haggard villages struggled to survive. Why was the planet green before? Kindra blinked. ¡°Remember,¡± Diana whispered, and the world faded away. The smell of blood filled the air. The compulsion to feed on Gleon grew, and Kindra embraced the rage she¡¯d spent ages cultivating. Lies. The memories of her dreams filled her mind, and the realization hit. She was using my body. It was her voice. Stepping over Gleon, Kindra looked down and took a deep breath. You don¡¯t go down like this. He looked up at her, pain in his eyes. Struggling against magical shackles, he tried to say something. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika shouted, still lying in her hands. ¡°Forgive me, Aika.¡± Kindra dropped her, pulled out the gun, and flooded mana into her mind. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The magic smashed into the spell. It flickered, and she spun, lining the shot. Diana¡¯s face contorted. ¡°Fine,¡± she hissed. ¡°Die with them.¡± Kindra pulled the trigger and held it down. The gun erupted. Bullets streamed through the air, and Diana laughed. ¡°You think that your pitiful device can kill a lich? My dear, you do not fathom who you are fighting.¡± Diana laughed and gestured, magic gathering around her. Bullets bounced off the shield, and Kindra panicked. Every dwarf, herself, Aika¡­ Everyone was at risk. She dumped everything she had, draining her mana and blood. [Basic 50 Caliber has been enhanced with Extreme Shield Penetration for 30 seconds.] The gun nearly jerked Kindra off her feet. The shield exploded, and Diana¡¯s chest blew open. Blood and gore splashed across the courtyard. Kindra wobbled, her heart drumming through her skull. Did I do it? She blinked, and a large cloud of smoke billowed out of the body, gathering in a ball. Reaching out, Kindra ripped the mana away from the smoke. A scream rang through the air, and she fell, her vision blurring while her heart drummed loudly. Hitting the ground with a thud, she lay on the cold stone, blood trickling down her face. What? She struggled to keep her eyes open. Blurry shapes ran forward. A dragon roared, and streams of light lit her vision. What are they doing? She blinked and felt her consciousness slipping. The muffled sounds around her dimmed, and a strange-tasting fluid filled her mouth. A soft warmth filled her mouth, and she swallowed it greedily. ¡°¡­ what was that?¡± Aika asked. Kindra opened her eyes and saw the blurry shapes above her. She swallowed, and a warmth spread through her chest. The sounds around her came rushing back in a cacophony of noise. Dwarves were shouting. Some were sobbing, and Aika landed on her chest. Her hopeful eyes stared down. ¡°Kindra? You okay?¡± ¡°No.¡± Kindra coughed, spraying the healing potion everywhere. ¡°Easy now,¡± Gleon said, patting her on the back. ¡°Knew you had it in you.¡± ¡°Sigrid,¡± Kindra choked out. ¡°Is she¡ªis she¡ª¡± Gleon grimaced, the pain showing on his face. ¡°She¡¯s alive.¡± Kindra looked at the pain on his face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll recover.¡± Gleon reached down and pulled her into a hug. ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered. ¡°Thank you for fighting for us.¡± Touching her gun with her foot, Kindra willed it away and looked over. The undead dragon was lying there in a heap. ¡°The undead?¡± she whispered. ¡°Turned feral.¡± Gleon patted her on the back and held up the rest of the healing potion. Kindra took it and downed it, bracing herself against his sturdy body. ¡°Aika?¡± ¡°Attacking undead.¡± A large hand clapped Kindra on the shoulder, and she spun, looking at Tob. He grinned at her. ¡°Well done, my lass.¡± Kindra stepped forward and looked down the road. Dain was cradling Sigrid against him. She darted forward, running down the road and gasping. Blood and bone fragments littered the road. Sigrid opened her eyes and looked down at her missing arm. She turned and smiled at Kindra. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Kindra¡¯s throat went tight. Water pulled at her eyes. ¡°Your arm?¡± she whispered. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright. I can get by,¡± Sigrid said, looking at her with a hopeful smile. Gleon walked up and nodded. ¡°Aye. And we¡¯ll find someone who can regrow it.¡± He rested his hand on Kindra¡¯s shoulder. Kindra swallowed and looked at the nearby dwarves. Several had the runes glowing inside them. I can purge that. She felt a hand on her arm and looked down. Sigrid smiled up at her. ¡°Thank you. Thank you for not listening to her.¡± ¡°Of course. She was lying.¡± Kindra smiled. ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°We die,¡± a dwarf replied. He stalked forward. ¡°Others will come.¡± He looked at Gleon and reached for his axe. ¡°You know that.¡± Gleon launched off the ground, soaring overhead and landing with a heavy thud. His eyes blazed. ¡°And we will be ready and waiting.¡± He smiled. ¡°It¡¯s time for us to take back our world.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve killed us all,¡± the man replied, glaring at all of them. ¡°Back off,¡± Roto barked, stepping forward with a sword in hand. He clapped Kindra on the back. ¡°If they return, we¡¯ll be ready.¡± Gleon nodded and strode forward. Kindra felt a hand tug on her. She looked down at Sigrid. ¡°Come on, sweetie.¡± Dain carried her toward the barracks. Kindra followed. Is she dead this time? [Yes. And thank you. ~Death] [Your mana has increased: 11310 ¡ú 227913.] Kindra looked at the message and felt the mana churning through her. That¡¯s worth dozens of levels. She followed the two toward the barracks. ¡°Kindra! I got the best upgrade!¡± Oh, right. Kindra walked inside and slumped onto a bench. She willed the skill-ups into view. Chapter 68 – Confrontation Pt5 Chapter 68 ¨C Confrontation Pt5 [Please pick an upgrade: ? - Power Shot - Infuse mana into a ranged weapon to deliver more force to your attack. ? - Lethal Strikes - Your attacks do more damage when aimed at vital locations. ? - Guided Strikes - You may use mana to guide your weapon strikes. ? - Conjured Shot - You may enhance an item to create temporary ammo. Cost varies per shot.] Kindra paused and studied it. One would help craft, one was more lethal, but one would let her turn mana into an efficient attack. She picked the last one, and new text popped up. [You have unlocked the ability: ? - Feed - You may pull the blood and mana from creatures within 100 feet if their magical resistance is lower than a quarter of your level. This will kill the creature.] I guess I used that skill too often. She willed the text away and leaned against the wall. A head fell onto her shoulder. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m a bit worn out,¡± Sigrid said softly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Sorry to worry you,¡± Kindra said and looked at the dwarf, who had cared far too much. A smile was spread across her face. ¡°Happy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sigrid reached up with her sole arm and wiped at her eyes. ¡°We can fight back. We can have lives.¡± Kindra nodded. Are there others? I¡¯ll need to prepare if there are. She looked up and saw Dain. ¡°We have a bit of a problem,¡± Dain said, sighing loudly. ¡°People are infected.¡± ¡°I can get rid of it,¡± Kindra said, leaning against the wall. ¡°Bring them in, and let me touch them.¡± She imagined the runes and sat there. Aika burst into the door, her large feet clanking on the stone. She turned and grinned. ¡°What the hell?¡± Gleon said, staring at her. Kindra turned and stared. Looking like a young elf of some kind, Aika was taller than Gleon. Aika stretched her skinny arms and grinned. ¡°I got an enlarge skill!¡± she said with a massive grin. Kindra laughed and shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Aika walked over, her heavy metal boots clanking on the floor. She sat on the bench next to Kindra. ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°Order! Order!¡± a dwarf outside shouted. ¡°We will have order!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not listening to you. You¡¯re only level fifty-two!¡± someone else shouted. Gran started shouting, and dwarves filed into the room, walking toward Kindra with a look of confusion. Willing the counter sequence into her mind, she reached out and touched one, watching the magic fade from their body. Dain watched, moving closer and raising an eyebrow. ¡°Do you know the runes?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra nodded and looked at the dwarf in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± the dwarf countered. ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra gestured to the next. Dain moved closer. ¡°Could you sketch them out?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kindra pulled out her paper and pencil. She rapidly sketched out the sequence while Sigrid and Dain watched. ¡°How did you uncover those runes?¡± Sigrid asked, leaning closer. Kindra sketched out another and glanced up at the gathered dwarves. She held out her hand, and a stream of dwarves passed by. The magic vanished from each of them, and Sigrid took the paper with the unfinished sequence. She studied it while Kindra focused on removing the magic. The people passed through, and the shouting outside erupted. Dwarves that Kindra didn¡¯t recognize shouted at each other in a building fury. ¡°We are next in line. The Ironhand clan has always ruled over this city!¡± someone shouted. ¡°Ah, hang your useless clan!¡± another shouted. ¡°Abusing us for decades.¡± ¡°Quiet!¡± Gran barked. ¡°We will not devolve into petty squabbles. For now, we will focus on the wounded, any undead, and then we will meet to discuss this in the morning.¡± ¡°Discuss?¡± the Ironhand guy shouted. ¡°There is nothing to discuss!¡± ¡°Ah, hang your clan!¡± another shouted. ¡°Enough!¡± Gran shouted, and the ground trembled. Kindra bounced on the stone seat, hitting the dwarf in front of her and removing the plague. ¡°Stop fighting!¡± Sigrid shouted angrily. ¡°Now is the time for celebration.¡± A dwarf poked his head in and gestured to Dain, who walked over to the door. Kindra gestured the next dwarf forward, and things outside went quiet. At least they are done fighting. She looked over at Sigrid. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, okay?¡± Sigrid raised a brow. ¡°Just going to speed this up.¡± Kindra darted through the dwarves, touching anyone infected and watching the runes snuff out. ¡°Can other people do this, system?¡± It didn¡¯t answer, and she shrugged. Wonder where the ship is on this planet¡­ and how am I going to find it? She darted through the line, and the dwarves stared at her. ¡°Aika, tell them they¡¯re cured. They¡¯re giving me that look again.¡± Aika flew by and began touching them. Dwarves started thanking her profusely. Kindra ignored it, darting outside and looking at the gathered dwarves. Some were heading back toward their homes, and a few looked pissed. They started shouting. I guess we did just lose the government. Kindra wrinkled her nose. Not that I want any part of that. I need to find the ship and figure out where this planet is. Kindra turned away and failed to see any more infected. Groups of dwarves were forming, gathering, and staring out toward the walls with strange looks on their faces. ¡°They¡¯re gone?¡± a young dwarf whispered, tugging on his father¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯re free?¡± The older dwarf reached down and clapped him on the back. ¡°Aye, we are.¡± Whispers broke out among the group, and two dwarves walked toward them, large cats slung over their backs. Kindra¡¯s focus flickered to him. Tob and Tilly walked down the street. With a wink, Tilly waved at her. ¡°Oi! Who¡¯s gonna help with the feast?¡± Tob called, a smile spreading across his face. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Some dwarves ran forward and began making a fire pit. Kindra waved and walked back into the barracks, sitting next to Sigrid and gesturing for the paper. Pulling out her pencil, she sketched out the rest of the runes as Tob began singing songs. Struggling to understand the deep, elongated words, Kindra sketched, glancing over at Sigrid. ¡°Will they be back?¡± Sigrid nodded. ¡°Likely, my dear, but we¡¯ll be ready. Your grandfather has been working on some things, as have the smiths.¡± Kindra paused, looking up from the paper. ¡°The golems?¡± ¡°And other magical gear. There are records of some relics that we used to make, and if we can counter this spell, we have a chance.¡± Sigrid leaned over and watched. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the one for radiant damage against undead, too.¡± Kindra resumed sketching, finished the sequence, and handed it to her. Grabbing another paper, she began sketching the sequence for the radiant enhancement she had used. The sound of flames and the smell of cooking meat filled the air. The singing grew slightly louder. ¡°What are they singing?¡± Kindra asked. Sigrid sighed. ¡°A drinking song.¡± She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nonsensical.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Kindra asked, her pencil flicking across the paper. Sigrid began to sing along with them. ¡°Oh, Bacardo was a legend, ? some say the greatest dwarf. ? A brewmaster of great renown, ? a class he had at birth. ? He leveled with the brew he made ? and every finished mug. ? And that is what I¡¯m drinking for! ? A drinker has to chug!¡± Kindra chuckled. Nonsense¡­ Wait. Is that a class? ¡°So bring the barrel over, ? and let me have my fill! ? For magic¡¯s so darn practical, ? I need a drinking skill!¡± Gleon¡¯s voice boomed with the chorus, and Aika groaned. She shook her head. ¡°Not again.¡± ¡°Oh sure, the fae are out there, ? living in the trees! ? They live long lives and survive ? but lack the finer things! ? Not a single one among them ? has the class most grand. ? Brewmaster and a drinking class, ? that¡¯s the master plan!¡± Kindra chuckled and turned toward Sigrid. ¡°Is that a real class?¡± Sigrid laughed. ¡°I have no idea, but I highly doubt it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not real. He¡¯s an alcoholic,¡± Aika said, blurring into the room. ¡°He said he needs it because he has too much stamina.¡± ¡°Alcoholic?¡± Sigrid asked, raising a brow. ¡°Drinks too much.¡± Aika dove between them. Little Sara scampered into the room with an eager smile. Her black hair bounced, and she slowed, her eyes darting around the room. ¡°Have you seen Aika?¡± she asked. Aika poked her head out. ¡°Sara, I don¡¯t know how to get you a fairy familiar.¡± ¡°But you can try?¡± Sara asked, moving closer and holding out her cupped hands. ¡°Can¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± Aika shrugged. ¡°If I figure it out, I¡¯ll try.¡± Sara¡¯s smile broke into a massive grin. She held out her hands and gestured to Aika. ¡°Want to go to the party with me?¡± Aika stood. ¡°But no being a doll, okay?¡± Sara nodded, and Aika flew over to her, landing on her shoulder. The two headed for the door, and Kindra finished sketching the runes. She handed the paper to Sigrid and leaned against the stone wall. Sigrid studied it. ¡°Thank you, Kindra.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Kindra leaned against the wall and listened to the celebrating dwarves outside. A soft smile spread across her face. One step at a time. Footsteps sounded on the stone, and Dain walked over, sitting next to them. He leaned over and looked at the parchment. Whispering something to Sigrid, he hugged her. Kindra tried to overhear it. Did they find someone to help her arm? That¡¯s a thing here, right? She drummed her fingers on the stone bench, and a small group of dwarves walked inside, Aika standing on Gleon¡¯s shoulder. What¡¯s this? Kindra turned. A dwarven woman handed each of them a makeshift sandwich and walked out the door, shutting it behind her. Gleon walked over and sat, the smell of a potent ale lingering on his clothing and breath. He took a large bite out of his sandwich and bumped Kindra. ¡°Well done, lass.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Kindra murmured. She watched the dwarves return from the dining room with chairs. They gathered them into a circle. ¡°Very well, Gleon,¡± a skinny dwarf with red hair said. ¡°Explain to us why some other necromancer won¡¯t just come back. If you killed one like you claim, why won¡¯t we have another come?¡± ¡°We will,¡± Gleon said simply. ¡°That¡¯s why we need to prepare. We can¡¯t waste time squabbling.¡± He paused. ¡°We need to inform the other cities as well.¡± ¡°We cannot win this war,¡± a female dwarf said, a large scowl on her face. She turned toward Kindra with a frown, her gaze lingering on her hair and eyes. Looks like that hasn¡¯t changed. Kindra ignored her. Gleon scowled. ¡°Now is the time to be free. We finally have a chance, and you¡¯d what? Have us scurry back under a rock. Live like cattle? Live like insects beneath their boots? Let them kill the elders?¡± He shook his head, his red bear swaying. ¡°No. This is our world, and we are keeping it this time.¡± His eyes went hard, and the woman didn¡¯t reply. Dain nodded. ¡°It is necessary. We need to move forward. To take our planet and be dwarves again.¡± ¡°I need to level,¡± another dwarf interjected. ¡°Aye. You all do,¡± Gleon said. ¡°So we can win this war. Our focus should be on training and preparing.¡± He leaned back and stretched. ¡°We¡¯ll be here to help, but I¡¯m going to ask for volunteers for the night watch. We can get back into the rhythm of things and start progression.¡± Kindra sat there and listened. The dwarves rotated between topics, and awkward gazes passed in her direction. The reason became apparent, and she stood, quietly walking to the door and slipping outside. A cool breeze washed over the town. Dwarves were gathered around bonfires that blazed around the barracks. Smoke billowed from fires, and the smell of cooking meat filled the air. Some turned toward her, their smiles shifting into frowns. Kindra moved quickly, darting through the crowds and heading toward the mines. It¡¯s time to take care of this problem. A soft smile spread across her face, and she jogged, moving quickly down the streets. ¡°Kindra?¡± Aika called into her mind. ¡°Taking care of something. I¡¯ll be back.¡± She jogged up to the mine and inspected the stone. This should work. Pulling out an arrow, she placed it against the rock and flooded mana into Transmutation. Stone flowed out and then smoldered, turning bright white. Kindra blinked, shutting her eyes and waiting for the glowing lines to fade. Peeking them open, she looked down at the glasses that had formed. The lenses slowly cooled. Recalling the runes from the hidden cave, Kindra willed the idea forward with a quick prayer that it would work. She used Enhance Item, draining some of her blood. [Basic Glasses have been augmented with a minor disguise illusion, altering eye color to brown. Please note that some may see through this illusion.] Kindra placed them on her face. I¡¯ll make them sunglasses if I have to. She looked at her white hair. I can take care of this tomorrow. Watching a comet fly by, she walked down the stone path, heading back toward the dwarves with a smile on her face.