Tim expanded his Danger Sense like a cloud permeating floor to floor and followed Inte forward. Its cellar consumed more square footage than the modestly wealthy home above by about a third. Dryfu flew off his shoulder to scale the stairwell curling up to the next landing and rooms Tim’s skill wouldn’t reach as promptly.
Tonda prowled past the library of bookshelves to a door off the kitchen leading into the cellar.
Inte’s path took them to a cult-de-sac of bedrooms. Unoccupied spider webs clung to the doorframes with generations of effort left behind. The door hinges squeaked as Tim pressed one open. An empty bed and cozy interior had been tucked away to dust and time long ago. Its windows shielded it from outside with curtains striped in a straw like texture. Tim’s Analyze picked up a thread of enchantment, then deeper into the pattern, sensed protection spacious and willing for him to be there. They were installed by a like-minded wielder of spells in range of Tim’s, and in their programmed purpose, he joined the mission to protect the home, and the fields cloaked in shadow beyond.
Tim backed out as Inte stepped into the hall.
“Nothing in there.”
Who’s your favorite? Dryfu called from an upper room on the far end, stretching the limit of their mental connection. Mana depleted to receive the message, so he spent little to replying.
Nice work, bud.
Ja-Seong hadn’t heard them and still didn’t as Tim walked into the office with the corner angle windows overlooking a sloping and fallow field. Glow bugs and a wonderful ecosystem of life existed as one day among a thousand, unaware of the nivelador furious at work scribbling into a wealthy fat book lying flat on his candle-lit desk.
Ja-Seong picked up a jar and stabbed his quill into its ear, angry at the bleak return as he lifted the tip back to examine the ink pool.
Tim was surprised he’d made it to the door without Ja-Seong noticing, so he waited until he finished refilling his pen to announce himself.
“Hey you guys!” Dryfu shouted on a wing before Tim could snatch him.
It was as if he read Tim’s mind about the thing most stupid to do, then did it uproariously. Like a jerk.
Ja-Seong threw the jar over his shoulder in an involuntary reaction, Tim suspected. The nivelador spun with quill raised, a crackle of blue magic concentrating into his menacingly sharp tip.
Ja-Seong’s attention bounced from the drifting Dryfu encased in armor Tim feared might not hold against whatever the nivelador thought he could do with his quill, to Tim, who raised harmless palms to cease the war before it started.
The blue magic died from the quill and he lowered his hand to his chest, blowing a mighty sigh and eying Tim with condemning concerns. Tim rolled his eyes up to his friendly chuckling with the volume of a plopping turd.
You know I’m funnier than you. Relax. Dryfu dipped closer and in a gentle upward slope rose to meet the nivelador at eye-level. “I don’t work for the Dutchy. I’m Tim’s–”
“I know,” Ja-Seong said and let the words fall to silent wonder as he beheld the stykiller. Then to Tim, “I have begun writing our contract so we can begin leveling.”
Ja-Seong’s urgency out-scaled Tim’s by enough margin he had to ask, “Do you mean now?”
“I saw your way here. It is a curse of the Nivelador. When we choose our host, we must be aware of what we’re empowering.”
Tim did not know this.
Dryfu hid his eyes and flew to a dresser carved from marble with ivory handles and a door full length mirror tucked into the corner of the room. Tim sent Analyze to its glass and inspected a depth of passage sealed off, but warm from recent movement and spent magic.
“I’ve kept this mirror from Pilk’s family estate,” Ja-Seong. “If you’d like, this can be your first Enclave Gate. The enchanted glass will increase efficiency and stabilization.”
The craftsmanship to add engraved embellishments to the edges and footstands gave it a family heirloom’s valor. “I think that would be great,” Tim said, tying the thought to his mission under Pilk’s Mantle and the meaning of starting his Enclave spells with this historic piece. “How’d you know about my Enclave Gate mission?”
Ja-Seong nodded at Dryfu. “Your guide told me. We’d already met. I like him.”
“Who doesn’t?” Tim joked.
Ja-Seong produced a quill on his fingertips. “Indeed.”
“I would like to name the Enclave Gate after Ziz’s young friend, Cabir,” Tim said. “The inn, after Ziz, and all I can do to build this Farmstead into a fortress against the rift lord.”
“As you wish, Leifman Tim.” He bowed a nod. “You have my services.”
Ja-Seong wrote their contract in the air, scribbling lines of light blue letters above his signature, then handed the quill to Tim, eyes beaming with pride, like a father. Only a few inches of height separated the two, though the wisdom housed in the old man’s eyes was broader by untold length.
Tim signed the deal and his HUD contract identified Zizzleman’s Inn and Cabir’s Gate with the current host, Ja-Seong as their nivelador. Their contract page flickered with a wave of light leaving his final stroke and sealed the transparent paper into a trifolded page.
Ja-Seong took the paper and filed it in his robe where it disappeared into a seam not there but one moment prior. “I’m ready if you have the leveling jewel.”
“Wait,” Tim said. “What about my friends? Do we have time?”
Ja-Seong nodded. “This is your calling. They are on their own. You are the priest. Where is your peace? I appreciate your concern. I suspect they will be in Rumboem Valley. The bad nivelador,” “Is my calling–”
“Ja-Seong held up a finger. His time-worn suffering and arthritis were evident in his strain to produce the gesture of command. “Maybe, but is it now? You don’t want to go anywhere near Rumboem without leveling up. They’ve already visited their inn in Childockia. Any warrior knows he must count the cost and whether he has the sum to survive. Don’t worry, I’ll spend MP on a spell that’ll limit your recovery time, I hope, to a day.”
“A day.”
Ja-Seong shrugged. “We might not have that long before the ricken track you here. It sounds like you took out mere pups in the Shuff Field brawl. You’ll have to sleep for the changes to be most efficient, but before you do, like I said about not having weapons, this place could use a Protection spell. Cast your Enclave Tree and then Protection before you rest, please.”
Tim proceeded to the mirror. The wood finish contained more scratches and chips than he’d have chosen for his first Enclave Gate. “Is it big enough?” He wanted to add “sturdy,” but Ja-Seong’s gaze held wisdom in gathering his intent and he smiled warmly.
“Enclave Gates can be upgraded to fit more than one person at a time, as well as upward to the size of a train, from what Pilk wrote about. Go ahead. When your skill levels, you’ll gain options to expand its size as well as strengthen and protect from damage by your enemies.”
Tim drew Farji, charged Enclave Tree and Enclave Gate’s sub-path through the spell vibrating up and down his arm as though it housed a million fire ants storming for an invasion. He aimed the sword at the center of the mirror. His reflection darkened to a shaded grove with a healthy oak tree. The vision approached the tree as though drawn to it by the increasing energy pulsing through his arm and sword. An eye split in the bark, vertical slits peeling out from a blue glow beaming from the blade. White light filled the inside and shone through the bark until the whole tree glowed like the sun.
A return zap shocked Tim’s arm so fiercely, he almost lost the sword to a backward hurl. The tip caught in the wood floor and the light from the mirror faded.
Ja-Seong steepled his hands before his waist and bowed. “Well done. Your Cabir Gate is ready.”
The mirror shimmered with a midnight blue surface as wet as a bath held upright. An energy emanating from deep within throbbed in Tim’s head and chest, linking him to its portal while also pushing him away as a warning not to take the travel lightly.
Tim left the room and slowly wrote a poem of Protection while pacing the fields around the Farmstead. God humbled him in those steps to remember his Oil and Water Evolution Path and the extra care he must give to maintaining his root. His Father was the Vinedresser, but Tim the steward of the produce. It was okay to be angry about the evil putting his friends in danger. Tim had to redirect his anger to help him remain steadfast in the waiting. Besides, serving the friends he was with by casting Protection over this cozy plot of land gave him peace that he was here for a reason. Soon the care over his spell graced him with the passing of time. Waving his hands to the mental beat, he wove tighter layers of increased strength the closer he got to the house, then dotted the doors and windows on the first floor with extra dollops of good lovin’.
Tim’s prayers also included wisdom over where to set the Enclave Tree. Near Aeu’s Well once it was filled had been the idea until he considered setting it up here. Risks in the distance and danger between homesteads raised alarms. By the time he reached the door, with his Protection spell complete, he decided the Enclave Tree would be planted here, and the first Enclave Gate in the mirror Ja-Seong showed him. It could be farther, but having some separation between Gates allowed for contingency plans. Enclave Tracks would be next, and he could unite the Padstoligan People, Chiltonton, Childockia and the Outer Isles… as many as he could; they were all worthy of whatever effort he could manifest with the opportunities and gifts given by their Creator.
Lying in his bed, Tim worshiped the vinedresser for preparing this vineyard of opportunity. Thankfulness led to hope in power greater than his own.
When he woke, his hands were sore, and his nose itched. A metallic taste in his mouth and the smell of burnt fibers made him wonder if he was okay. Then the message from Dryfu assured him with:
Timothy Leifhead, or something.
Congratulations! Your awesome guide has led you to Ja-Seong the Magnificent. And you’ve gained a sick amount of levels, my dude!
Dryfu cleared his throat and flowed into dulcet notification tones.
The Jewel Recognized Growth in the following:
Ranger class gained 5 levels! Now Level 25. All spells gain 25% extra area of effect and duration at a quarter of the cost. Not bad, new guy.
Your Dual Weapon Fighting Specialty now grants 75% chance of critical strike on the second weapon’s attack. Since you have reached the highest level for this benefit, you are granted a second specialty. As noted before, the boosts will apply retrospectively, since you’re level 25.
Defensive: gain +1 Defense to every piece of armor and defensive item. At class level 5, 15, and 25 you gain 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
Single melee: gain +2 Attack to single handed melee weapons. At class level 5, 15, and 25 you gain +4, 6 and 9 respectively.
Projectiles: gain +15% accuracy and +1 Attack. Every other level gain 5% accuracy and +1 Attack cumulatively.
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Tim had a boost to taking damage, so he didn’t think Defensive would be right. More striking to his curiosity was the tie between Single Melee and Dual Weapon. While he used Aura Bow and had the Crossbow enhancement on his bracer, his dual weapon boost to critical hits meant he should use his single melee weapons for the killshot. He had to admit a bit of sandy waters between long distance and hand-to-hand style fighting with his equipment and skill building. Dragon Heads was a strong spell, but so was Peel. Projectiles continued to gain as levels increased, while Single melee had a cap at level 25.
The benefits apply to your Friendlies as well, Dryfu added.
Good to know. And they all have short distance attacks.
Correct. If we don’t have a weapon, Single Melee counts our bare hands and gives the benefit.
Okay, that settles it. I choose Single melee.
Babababoom! Your will is my command.
Plus, we get to stay fighting face to face, like I like.
I know, weirdo. Can I continue?
Please.
Aura Mage gained 6 levels! Now Level 23. You can now transform into Full Aura Form when at 20% health. Fading is now 20% less likely.
Priest gained 7 levels! Now Level 13.
Granted new spell: Sanctified. Spell makes an item unbreakable and boosts its Crystal effect and power by 25% for the duration of the Mission.
Limit: one item per mission and must be touching item when spell is cast.
By exceeding fifty total levels, you’ve unlocked Tier 5! Strength maximizing…
I thought it was tier 6 at level 50.
Right, in one level. You get it a little early at 25 in Ranger, but you’re also a Level 23 Aura Mage and 13 Priest. Game recognizes game, as you say. Gain another fifty total in those two classes and the System will grant you tier 6. Fair?
You got it. Still seems a bit of a steep price.
Do you want these perks or not? You’re like a kid smooshing ice cream in his fat face, asking for a candy bar to clean it off his chin.
That’s a weird simile, but I get it. Go ahead.
AF regen rate increased 35%. C-mana regen increased 50%. You can also equip, create and modify up to Tier 5 items.
Warning: you are now the fifth-ranking Aura Mage and 13th Ranger. Jealous people are about to get real angry. And motivated. You’ve done stepped on their pride, now.
I can’t wait to meet them. Do you know any?
No. The rankings are private save for the number you’ve reached.
Top skills:
Healing Bridge gained 10 levels! Now Level 11. AOE is 333 Yards and cost starts at 50 MP per target, varying by individual’s Constitution and degree of damage.
Spirit Memory gained 6 levels! Now Level 13.
Aura Blades gained 5 levels! Now Level 10.
Tripple Whammy is now half as easy to combo with Double Whammy. Strength +
You can now master a Tier 5 weapon.
*Tip because I’m that kind of stykiller, Practice with a Tier 5 crafted by someone else before modifying your current weapons to a Tier 5. It will increase the efficiency of your crafting and feel for the weapon in use.
So, before I modify Princess Pearl to Tier 5, I should buy a Tier 5 of a similar brand and practice shooting it?
Exactly. I mean I said it already, but if that sounds clearer, all power to you. Study the masters before becoming one.
Continuing with skills gaining 5 levels:
Crafting > Lv. 10 – includes ability to imbue items natural or aura based with spells.
(4 levels gained in the below skills)
Danger Sense > Lv. 18
Magic Hunt > Lv. 17
Hunting gained > Lv. 12 – Tier 4 perks - Hunting advantage builds with kills per species.
*Advantages include: stealth, first strike, defense, retaliation, and mobility. At 100% HA, a species is 99.9% dead on arrival, you sexy killer, you.
Onward!
Look at that, another Tier 5 perk - an evolution of Takakuma Waker to Tier 2. You dirty dog. Now you have a 25% chance to free any spirits from whatever prison holds them. If they have carcasses, you gain a 25% better product for use, you know, like Rangeran.
Did you gain some levels too? You sound cockier. Tim quickly checked Dryfu’s character sheet and read Legendary Dykiller Level 23 before it snapped shut and locked in a folder path disappearing from his HUD faster than he could track.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I did, but that’s none of your business! I don’t need your jealousy on my conscience. You should ask Tonda, I’m sure she’s dying to show you her new tailspin move.
Where was I? Magic Hunt gained 4 levels! Aww, isn’t that cute? You’re now Level 19.
Are you jealous I reached level 25 before you?
You twit. You can thank your Leifman bonus for that. I’ve reached twice that in past, better lives. One of these days we’re gonna have a talk about the downside to such attention. The Gatekeepers blessed you and not your brother with the gotr blade. My guess is your brother was made a priest to help you. With those blessings the attention of the wrong kind will find its way to your doorstep. My job as guide is to prepare you for that day, and Level 25 is great, but nowhere near what you need to finish this mission.
You’re cheerful, you know that? Is–
Back to work-
(4 levels gained in the below skills)
Ally Maker > Lv. 12.
Will that help me and my jealous enemies?
That depends on what kind of negotiating you can manage when they find you. Hopefully before.
Got it.
Can I proceed?
Please!
Dragon Heads > Lv. 5 + mana cost is lowered to 20MP for Dragon Eggs.
Poison Resistance > Lv. 10
Torture Endurance > Lv. 9
Familiar gained 4 levels! Hey, that benefits me! > Lv. 7
Keeper > Lv. 15
Hand to Hand > Lv. 7
(3 levels gained in the below skills)
Healing > Lv. 13 - all sub-levels gain 2 levels. (Recovery is Lv. 12; Bridges is Lv. 3, Cleanse is Lv. 5)
Draw > Lv. 7
Aura Bow > Lv. 8
Analyze > Lv. 10 + can view weakness for Tier 3 enemies and below.
Peel > Lv. 8
Riding > Lv. 7
Protection > Lv. 15 and -15% to cost per square foot
Tracking > Lv. 10 + Sudden Death – once per sleep cycle your Tracking skill is enhanced by half again strength in finding your target. Analyze and Danger Sence are likewise boosted.
(2 levels gained in the below skills)
Battleground > Lv. 12
Parrying > Lv. 11
Trapping > Lv. 6
Dose > Lv. 7
Fear Breaker > Lv. 3
Crossbow accuracy gains +2 Greenshot
Longbow accuracy and power gains +2
Double Whammo gains 2 levels > Lv. 7 +2 crit strength, +25% chance of crit attack
(1 level gained in the below skills)
Triple Whammo > Lv. 2
Swoon > Lv. 4
Politician > Lv. 7
Ranger Bleed > Lv. 2
New Mission: Protect the Farmstead.
By planting your Enclave Tree and opening the first Enclave Gate here, you’ve taken a risk in bisecting your power base between Open Arms and the Farmstead. Ensure you haven’t bitten more than you can chew, and your next stay at this inn will reward you.
Reward: magi pistol frame molder blueprint
Once completed, the Potential Mission, “We the People” will be unlocked.
For fixing the princess?!
You got it. At least that’s a start. You also need a Tier 5 Aura Crafter and some of the alloy that the cartel has a monopoly over.
Would you like to proceed to spending AP, then roll for health? You’ve been granted a D-20 for your HP and MP rolls. Be sure to thank your Nivelador on your way out. Or do you have any questions? Your quest list is getting long, and I feel like I’m losing you.
Tim’s stomach roiled with nausea, the effect of his transformation casting him into a sea as vast as his imagination. I appreciate that you asked. Nerve pain shot from stiffened muscles. I feel like God is squeezing my spine. Is this normal?
That is the collection of power pressed into your body from the Nivelador’s spell. It won’t fully release until you finish the selections. Even after, skills or gains could evolve if the spell brought them close enough to the brink. Most have some food and water and if you’re up to it we can take a walk around the grounds. The acreage open to the Farmstead is sealed from the outside, so Ja-Seong has opened the mirrors to bring daylight. I sense Foraging is close to another level. We can exercise that a little before bringing you back for another meal and an early night.
The weight of all the lives he cared for passing the same time in danger twisted a pang of nausea in his gut.
This is for your good and theirs, priest. Don’t forget.
You’re preaching to me now?
Have I stopped?
No. I guess not. I can ask more about the skill advances after we’re done, and I can try them out a little.
Suit yourself. A little stretching might be good for that collection of new gains. Ja-Seong spent a pretty penny on that spell. With Niveladors and leveling inns, you get what you pay for, and not all skill XP translates into that particular skill gaining a level. Some bleed into the main class without affecting the skill. The Nivelador’s job includes gathering in a clean swipe all the XP earned in that skill to best see the chance of it leveling in the spell.
Fancy. Tim rolled for health. HP gets 18 rolls: 19, 20, 20, 4, 13, 16, 19, 8, 19, 8, 14, 19, 5, 20, 16, 4, 5, 11 = 240 new HP!
MP rolls: 12, 12, 4, 5, 5, 11,12,17, 17, 12, 20, 14, 15, 9, 17, 7, 3, 11 = 203 new MP!
New MP Max: 708
New HP Max: 1,329
That ought to help the spend to Peel, Double Whammy and Tripple Whama Jamma on some booty.
Are you sure you know what you’re talking about right now?
I mean bad guy booty, and not like that. You know me, man.
New Regen maximums:
MP Regen: baseline 12 per ten seconds
HP Regen: baseline 16 per ten seconds
36 AP to spend (Multi-class Character Handicap: Chosen from one of your classes’ levels gained this evolution.)
Currently, his AP read:
Str 30, Dex 30, Con 34, Wis 48, Int 40, Char 30
Constitution and Intelligence caught his eye and rose above the other needs and nice to have thoughts of how to spend his AP. Constitution, for how Dryfu advised it could be how he scales up his cultivation strength, which ties into c-mana channel health and efficiency as well as regen. Wisdom was for harnessing and manipulating spells, and with his Enclave spell, he would need to hold it together between stations. He also had straight up attack and offensive spells like Peel to build around.
12 to Wisdom = 60
12 to Constitution = 46
6 to Strength = 36
3 to Dexterity = 33
3 to Charisma = 33
New totals:
Str 36, Dex 33, Con 46, Wis 60, Int 40, Char 33
Not (bad), Tim started thinking when a surge of otherworldly energy transported into his blood and pushed out. Or at least it felt that way, as the metamorphosis took place. Stretching brain muscles throbbed a sickening migraine, beading sweat and spasms beat him for what could have been a twelve-round fight with Buster Douglas if it were anything.
Evolution: Cultivator has increased breathing power by 20%, boosting regenerative and transmission of c-mana to skills. Strengthen this muscle in meditation and live action to decrease resistance from c-mana generation to skill execution. Cultivator bloodline is also enhanced in Drawing from enemies. 20% defensive addition against the HP decrease when drawing higher tiered skills or aura from your opponent.
With the announcements complete, a reverberating discomfort turned his mind to consider how hot dogs might feel if they had a soul to endure the changing from butthole to bun candy. His whole body felt chopped up and smashed back together. Stronger? Of course. Wiser? Statistically speaking, yet difficult to fully discern among the clouds of his new horizon. More dexterous and charming no doubt. Lady Jil, watch out. Hopefully his peeling and accuracy on attacks and crafting would benefit from the upp’d dex.
Tim was a good boy, accepting Dryfu’s invitation to sleep in the aura cycling comfy bed, covers up to his neck with aloe kisses to soothe the burning insides.
Ja-Seong and Inte kept him company between naps, where he stayed awake long enough to eat and drink, but struggled to speak and get out of bed, so they more or less just chit chat about something Tim thought was mildly confusing but funny.
Rayv reported back that he’d found the remnants of Tim’s wraiths. They’re already making their way here. First, they had some hunting and nourishment to obtain one last night before arriving.
Tim rambled about Jil, Thron and Roz, what told him, and then listened.
The bad nivelador would be aware of their friends being trapped, for he has many friends down here. “There’s a chance he knows a leveling happened and could track us. Best we be prepared,” Ja-Seong said.
“And if Jil is chasing him, that could draw her here.”
“Now you’re thinking. Best you sleep.”
Tim rested in the comfort that he’d delivered his urgent news and let sleep take him.
