(Tuesday. Date: 23-04-2463)

We moved on and an hour or two flew by quite quickly. Drake and Amara lead up front followed by the two E-rank teams, then Matilda, Melody and then me. There had been a few more attacks, as the path we walked seem to grow more endlessly.

The beast’s we encountered steadily growing larger and stronger, to the point that the newly Gifted had to back Matilda and other D-ranks up. They worked well in coordinating the recruits, making them act as distraction’s and buffeting against the waves of growling fur. I came to understand that during one such attack, the wolves bunched themselves together and moved oppose to where I positioned myself.

I would walk to one side of tunnel and they would start fighting to move frantically to the other. I used this to the teams advantage unbeknown to them. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother, Rhys,” said a voice. I blinked away from the dregs of my thoughts and saw that it was Melody speaking to me. Matilda was moving ahead of us but not by much.

“Thank you…?” I said, but it came out more as a question.

“I met Abigail once,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. I imagined I wore a similar smile when speaking of my mom. She always provoked a response of warmth and kindness in others. She was a timid person in reality, but always strived to show other’s a kind smile and greet them with an embrace. “It was back when you and Tilly were together. She welcomed me like I was part of your family.”

“Yeah, she was like that with pretty much everyone,” Matilda cut in before I could respond. “Those who were rude to her or hurt Rhys as a kid would run for their lives when she came for them.” I looked up from the ground to stare at Matildas’ back as I nodded at her words.

“Kayla’s no different,” I said, and Matilda snorted at that.

“I haven’t seen her in years,” Melody noted.

“You should, she would love the company,” I replied to Melody. “She even recently got a bunch of expensive new clothes as well,” I muttered. Feeling odd, as If I was inviting the gorgeous Cleric over for a date and using my sister as an excuse. Melody was about to reply when a shout came from up ahead and our groups converged.

“What is it?” someone asked.

“Is it the script?” Another asked in return.

“Where’s the witch?” Drake’s imperial tones rang out. I saw Amara scowling distastefully at the back of his head, as if, in doing so she would actually burn a hole right through him with her gaze alone.

“By three enter. By three keys will they face. By thee Guardian’s they shall perish,” Amara said not having moved out from behind Drake. The imperious archer jumped slightly and turned to scowl haughtily at the Blood Witch. He then nodded, smiling as he held the answer. “Alright. We’ll split up. I’ll take Matilda...” He started but his voice trailed off as he met Matilda’s flat stare.

“No, you idiot,” Amara interrupted, “Mother help you. You’re as dumb as you are pretty.”

And I caught on immediately, riding the Blondie can fuck off band wagon.

“We don’t split up, because there is no need to. The script only really talks of the ending. The final encounter. Not how we split ours number to get there,” I said smiling and shaking my head at the archer.

I looked at Amara and saw the Blood Witch smiling at me delight, her black skirt bouncing as she moved. The pale flesh of her pert ass catching my eye, and then gone as she stopped by Melody. The Cleric giving her a look and a weary sigh.

“Shut. Up. Awakened. You haven’t a fucking clue what you’re talking about,” Drake hissed at me.

“Oh? And you do Drake,” Matilda’s words snapped his head around to glare at her as he drew his seething attention away from me.

“Come Tilda,” he said mockingly, “you honestly think some retarded weakling from the Outer Rim is smarter than I am.” He laughed incredulously. “Some parentless nobody. Who quit it’s only fucking job, just this morning?” He sneered at her, spittle flinging out from his mouth as he took in a deep shaking breath. All pretence of his friendly demeanour towards her gone.

Matilda looked from him to me, and there; deep within her dark purple eyes glimmered the same regret I held. “Yes, he is. Or haven’t you noticed? Too busy working your charm perhaps?” She asked, taking a step forward.

The archer blinked, then his eyes narrowing in suspicion, they quickly widened as he stepped away from her imposing figure. Moving himself over towards the other group of Newly gifted.

“Fine! We’ll do it your way. Come on then Awakened. What should we do? Maybe some mining? Or should we simply stop and profit from the work of others? Hmm, well? Come on baggage-boy,” he kept at it for another thirty seconds till he then realised I wasn’t going to reply. This only angered him more.

I coughed to clear my throat as all eyes turn to me, and I was reminded of my co-worker’s pitying looks as they watched me walk into Jim’s office. Had that been today? It was hard to remember. “Amara, could you please repeat the script,” I asked the Blood Witch who smiled, repeating as she did so. “Before. When we first entered this gateway. Howard only managed: ‘By three.’ Some genius had the idea of splitting our group into three’s. That didn’t work,” I started. Though a part of me was wondering now, if that had been Drake’s idea or mine.

I didn’t actually know any of the details of what had happened during the gateway, but the results were obvious. “So, the hints we can take are: Three entrances. Meaning the possibility of multiple layers to this gateway. By three enter. We’ll probably need three keys for these three entrances. So those two are directly tied together. As for the Guardians well…” I shrugged. “We’ll either face one guardian or all three at once. Which is why we’ll move as a group,” I shrug again, “just pointing out the obvious really.” Then I thought for a moment

“Anyone have any trap detection?” I asked aloud. The majority of people shook their heads. But Amara, Maggie, Melody and Steward each raised their hands. I knew Drake most likely had such a talent, but he wasn’t playing as part of the team. Which was fine with me. “Okay those with trap detection move up in front. We’ll have a tank or warrior class besides each of you.”

Looking to the others in our group, it was fairly obvious by their equipment that the majority of the recruit were warrior class gifted. “Alright we’ll move in fours, those in front will consist of someone who can detect traps and a guard of warriors. Once detection is made, I want the front four to split into gaps and guard. This’ll allow the second group of four through to disable. Once that’s done the third group of four will take lead, and then we’ll rotate out. Detect. Guard. Disarm. Rotate. If there’re beasts, we’ll pull back and fight them in an area where their bodies won’t accidentally trigger something.” Glancing around, I waited. “Agreed?” I asked the slack faced stares.

Joshua’s big frame nodded, “agreed,” he replied and like a crack in a dam his answer was the first droplet of many more.

In one fell swoop an ‘Awakened’ had taken the group leader position right out from under Drake.

The only problem was that being the leader, was like walking across a length of fraying rope. Each mistake made; each gamble lost unfurled the thread’s you were balancing on. People started to move themselves into teams as I watched on. Matilda stepped up beside me, her armoured shoulder bumping me lightly. But she didn’t say anything, and I was happy with the silence. The spike of regret that intermingled with my roiling jealously was abating now. My anger towards her cooling, but now doubt had crept in. Doubt in myself, the baldness I felt to finally speak up for once and not be drowned out my others unreasonable prejudices.

Am I any better though? Doubtful.

“Let’s go. We’re moving,” said Matilda’s. Her voice brought me out of my thoughts. “Right. Let’s move,” I grunted.

~*~*~*~

We’d been stopping almost every couple of yards, to disarm various traps. All were magical in nature, but I didn’t know enough about magic to discern what they were capable of. No attacks came either, which honestly surprised me. And I may have made a slight oversight when two of the other group’s warriors took my packs and slung them over their shoulders.

I fought against pacing as we moved as slow as a snail.

That changed however when we left the first of the tunnels and ventured into a wide-open chamber. Overhead was the familiar the rocky and earthy formations of the cavern, extending over us till it stopped and became a square granite brick. I froze, lowering my gaze to take in the giant entrance before us. Enormous white granite steps rose up towards an equally proportioned bronze coloured door. Then my eyes were drawn to the two stone and clay sentinels, guarding either side of entrance.

They were Golems Knight, and were Incredibly deadly, C - B rank monsters.

Like a figurine of stone that imitated a knight of old Earth legend’s. The one on the left side held a shield before its chest. Before that was a sword planted into a slit on the stone pedestal.

On the right side, a knight held two crossed short hand axes over its chest. I watched the dim pulse of the strange lifeblood run down the veins-like cracks that ran in rivulets down their bodies. Like droplets of water meeting, they interconnected across the figures. I gulped and It sounded incredibly loud in the stunned silence. “Those are...” I started but stopped, worry that my voice may trigger them to act.

“Yes...” Matilda said in a whisper from beside me. Then I felt her hand tugging against my own, our fingers intertwining with one another’s.

Golem Knight. Berserker. Golem Knight. Weapons Master.

“We need to move slowly back towards the way we came,” I said quietly. As Drake and the other group; with the two carrying my packs moved beyond and back out into the passage. Then I heard a deafening scraping sound ring out as the Shield knight’s sword began to slide out of the stone, slow inch by slow inch.

“What the... No!” I Melody cried out suddenly from behind and I spun just as the wall rippled and closed over the tunnel sealing us from our way out.

Quest Objectives:

Slay the Guardians of Bresacs Tomb: 0/16.

Collect the Keys to Bresac Armaments: 0/3.

Kill the Wraith’s of Bresacs the Hound Keeper: 0/3.

(Warning!) Quest is mandatory and cannot be denied. Penalty for failure is DEATH.

“Ah shit,” I muttered grimly. The sword steadily unsheathing itself from the ground. I blinked rapidly. The Knights were at least somewhere between 15-20 feet in height. Normal attacks wouldn’t do much damage to them, but as I flickered my Magical sight on and over them, I saw the roiling mass of Mana pouring all throughout their bodies.

Less so in the Berserker, but I guessed that that would change the moment the shield knight fell, maybe. Or after a certain amount of time had passed even. Looking at the people around me, I saw that everyone was focused on the Golem Knight’s now. “Does anyone know what a golems weakness is?” I asked everyone.

Then Amara’s ashen face turned to me, “mana cores. The bigger the Golem, the bigger the core.” I thought on that, as I fought against the mental image of my heart exploding, and Annaleigh replacing it. I dismissed the morose image and stared at the Golem Knight. Just slightly under its right collarbone was the actual core of the Mana lifeblood, flowing in a steady outpour.

I flexed my right hand as a plan formed in my mind. Health: 495/500. Mana: 505. Fatigue: 18. I grimaced at the 5-point loss of my health caused by Amara’s tentative ministrations. “Everyone back against the wall and spread out,” I turned to Matilda. “No matter what keep Melody safe, She’s our only healer.”

Matilda blinked rapidly and then frowned at me as if I was an idiot for stating the obvious. But then her expression froze when she saw my determination. “Don’t be an idiot,” she hissed immediately at me.

“I’m not!” I said, overdramatically placing my hand over my heart, wounded by her ever-cutting words. Then I turned away, “Annaleigh!” I shouted into the air. “You warned me about this. Something about forming contracts with you.”

“Rhys, what the hell are you doing?” Matilda shouted after me as I stepped away from them.

“He’s fucking cracked!” squeaked Amara in a mad giggle.

“Rhys,” Melody hissed warningly. But I just waved them away.

Then I shivered as the Mothers voice, trailed up my spine. “Hello, my dear monster to be,” her voice came from everywhere within a sphere around me, and I saw everything slow to a crawl outside the bubble. “You’re not within my domain, so I cannot show myself physically. To do so where you are, would attract the Deep-one. And we’re not ready for that yet.”

“Right, anyway. The reason I called was my current situation,” I told her, trying to keep us on track.

“Ah, yes. You do find yourself in some over-stimulating situations my dear creature.”

I Ignored her and carried on, “I’m going to be needing those contracts you mentioned previously, like … very soon. If we’re not all death by then...” I trailed off as Annaleigh started to hum to herself.

[Item: x?? Contract of Sal’re’al. Type: Contractual Binding. Class: Unknown.] The prompt popping up and blocking my vision. “There, should be with you now. I’ll come visit you later on in the week, so we’ll chat then. Bye-bye,” then she was gone. Time flickered back to regularity, and I cracked my neck with a satisfying pop. Turning to look at the collected faces of Amara, Matilda and Melody. Their expressions one of concern and fear, though Amara’s had a tinge of excitement bordering on arousal in the way she kept squirming and rubbing her thighs together.

“You wanted to know why I quit early,” I shouted at them as the golem completed unsheathing it’s sword from the ground. Taking off my glasses I stored them in my inventory and felt the lush thrill of fear and battle. Incite unfurled away from me, smoky tendrils trailing out beneath me like slithering ghostly shadow’s, as I walked towards the golem.

“Wait for it to swing, then strike,” I whispered a little shakily to myself.

“Holy fuck! He’s gifted?” Someone exclaimed behind me. I smiled devilishly up at the golem as It stepped forward off it’s pedestal to tower over me. It’s sword pointed down in a two-handed reverse grip. I heard the people scream out, telling me to run. Instead I summoned my knife: Heava’liku, spinning the blade on the flat of my palm. It’s weight strangely reassuring and comforting.

The knight brought it’s sword up hanging like an executioner axe above me, then it brought tip straight down. Haste bloomed around me, and time crawled as I sped up. Jumping I pushed the flat of my shoes against the flat of the golems blade, as it sped past me slowly. Then I took another step, and another, then again. Leaping off that and back flipping into the air I paused as my momentum changed and I hung there precariously. My bloodlust sending forth feeler like probes at the golem but inciting no response. Oh, well.

The knight’s sword slid into the rocky ground for several feet, trailing a bloom of dirt and dust. Then I threw out my left hand activating Telekinetic Reach. -30Mp. Even as the world crawled around me, I pulled back my arm when I felt the magic take hold to sling shot myself across the distance. I slammed into the knights shoulder. My free hand gripping and finding purchase as I crouch against its collarbone. Then, my right arm was phasing through the stone, knife extended out to pierce its core.

As quick as thought, and just as I felt the tip of my knife scrape along the surface of its Mana core, scarring it lightly. A massive gravelly stone hand smacked into my back as if squashing an annoying bug. The blow stunning me, and I almost let go, but sheer determination bade me to hang on. The hand closed around me, the pressure of it’s contracting grasp, gave me pause to scream and curse at it. It tugged at me, a probing thing as if to test if I was alive still.

-35Hp. Torso: 85% Damn, how was it keeping up with me? I still had several seconds left on Haste. Then the offending hand tried to pull in earnest, my hand gripping the ridge of the stone shelf acting as it’s collarbone. The tips of my finger’s digging in and scrapping as I was pulled off. I cried out just as Heava’liku carved an inch-deep grove into the Shield Golem’s core.

Mana spilled forth, cascading down the length of my arm, the sensation was initialling a thrilling thing but then the burning light washed over my right arm. Like thousands of fire ants all nipping and crawling down over your skin. I felt my veins boil and begin wiggling like live eels. Then my whole arm was free yet charred and horribly melted. I caught a glimpse of my arm’s CND flickering red as the numbers plummeted down.

With a thought I unequipped my Gauntlet of the Veil. No use in losing such an item due to my arrogance. I then saw why the knight was some how keeping pace with my enhance speed. The Berserker was now in on the action and apparently bore a similar ability to Haste. It had moved even as its counter part had slowed. Then I was flicked about and thrown, sailing across the short distance of the chamber. My back exploded with pain as I crumpled against rocky wall, the throw having enough force that I practically folded under the pressure, forming a depression in the area I hit.

I then fell the short distance to fetch up face down on the ground, my head turned away from the knight’s. -63Hp. Torso: 58% I was a damn idiot. Wanting to show off. To show these people than even I could be incredible. Do incredible things. But the golems were on another level. They covered each other perfectly. One: speed and offense. The other: defense and endurance. They made up for what the other lacked and I realised, I couldn’t do this alone.

I needed the others. I had a few fights with some Rat-men, and I thought I could conquer the world. I felt the dashing of dirt against my side as someone skidded to a halt near me. I heard Melody whispering a prayer and gold rose light incandesced like wisp’s above me. I almost told her not to bother, that it wouldn’t work.

Flashes of the lucid thoughts I’d held, just last week in this very same gateway. I thought of my potions and of my instant recovery’s. I had wanted to conserve them, to not use them. Saving them for when they were really needed. Then the wisps of golden light flecked red and sunk into my flesh. And purity assailed the core of my very being, examining it and finding it lacking.

They began to restructure my core, to strengthen it and in so doing; were healing me. There was more to healing than I first realised. But more on that later.

+35Hp. Health: 432. Torso: 95% Fatigue: 39%

I got up to my knees and took a deep gulping breath. Melody was muttering and shaking her head beside me, blabbering on about how insanely stupid I am. “Yeah- whatever. You healed the stupid right out of me. You happy? Now move away a minute,” I grumbled at her. I did a quick scan about and saw Amara and Matilda. The pair standing with their backs to us in a line of defense. “Here take these-”

“What are you…?” Melody started to ask, as I reached into my Inventory and withdrew x2-Lesser potions of Healing and x1-Minor potion of Mana. “Rhys. These are-”

“Use the two healing potions only when necessary, they don’t heal much. The mana potion is for you. You’re the healer after-all,” I explained and stood up to join my companions. I had been an idiot to show off. Defeating Khrum and Sprall had made me believe that no matter how high a challenge my opponents were, surprise and swiftness would easily bring them down. I was wrong.

Gifted formed groups so that they could cover for one another. Though eventually, I knew I would be powerful enough to tackle any and all challenges. There was always someone or something, smarter and stronger out there than I was.

Attribute unlocked: Wisdom: 12. At this Attribute’s current level, your Mana Regeneration rate is: +2Mp per every 6 seconds.

“Ugh! You have got to be shitting me-” I shook my head, blinking at the prompt. “No wonder I’m so stupid. My wisdom is so shitty,” I let out a laugh.

“Rhys! What’re you going on about?” Matilda hissed over her shoulder at me. The guardians hadn’t moved from where they stood, just off of their pedestals.

“Never mind, I’ll explain later. Suffice it to say. I’ve been Gifted for three- four days, tops. Feels longer,” I scratched at the back of my head. “To simplify matters till I can tell you three properly. I’m a Gifted that grows in strength by killing monsters and completing quests. I’ve already cleared a Blue gateway, filled with diseased bipedal rats,” I shook off the mental image of the female ratling being fucked.

Why did weird shit have to pop into my mind at the oddest of moments.

“You did what?” Melody and Matilda asked simultaneously.

“And I’ll explain later,” I waved it off dismissively, “just not right now. I can use Mana without chants or prayers. No, I don’t use Hymn’s, I’m not a warlock – I think. Right now, I’m more of a Magician/Rogue hybrid.” I looked over to the wall, where all the newly gifted were bunch up against. Their faces slack and frightened. “I was an idiot,” I stated firmly.

“Uh- yeah. No shit,” Amara snickered.

“We’ll need to work as a team for this. Amara, anything your Blood Witchery can do?” I asked the Blood Witch. Matilda’s and Melody’s heads snapped over to gaze in surprise at Amara’s small petite figure.

She shook her head, “none. Though I can probably summon something to bind them. Only problem is the shield knight has higher defense, so he won’t be bound so easily.”

I nodded at her words. “Matilda, I need you to run distraction on the shield knight while Amara work’s to bind the Berserker. Melody, I’m going to involve the E-ranks in this,” I said firmly and raised my hand as I saw her about to object. “I know, I know. It’ll be dangerous for them. But we need everyone in on this. I’m going to have them play hit and run on both targets. They’ll hit the berserker first while Matilda is keeping the shield knight’s distracted. Then as the berserker goes to pursue them; I’ll attack at it’s back and draw it to us,” I said wiggling a thumb between Amara and I. “Melody and the E-ranks will then back up you, Matilda. Amara and I will keep the Berserker company long enough for her to work another binding. Then we’ll rinse and repeat. Melody, I’ll need you to keep them moving no matter what. Okay?” I asked, worry clear in my voice, a few breath’s passed before their hesitant nod’s.

Was this really the best idea I could come up with? No probably not – But I was new to being gifted. I’d had seen how several teams had worked over the last two years. I had also seen them plan endlessly only to die miserably, screaming as they were torn apart. Was I fit to lead? Absolutely not. Was I the only one doing something other than staring helplessly in denial? Yes.

Yet, seeing their scared faces drove home that Kayla was waiting for me. Just as they all probably had someone waiting for them. “Alright, let’s cautiously move over to Josh’s team and explain the plan to them. Hopefully they’ll see sense and help us,” Matilda offered gruffly. As if already expecting them to argue against my mad plan.

They did actually, though for a totally different reasons. “I doubt we’ll do much damage against either Golem,” Josh reasoned.

I could see his point and agreed. “Which is why your acting as a distraction. You distract the berserker and Matilda draws the shield knight away. Once the berserker is distracted, you’ll move on to support Matilda. Give her a break and a chance for recovery. Amara and I will deal with the berserker till Matilda is ready to draw the Shield Knight once again. Once I see that your on your way back. Amara will have hopefully done binding the berserker. We’ll repeat this till either one is dead, then we can focus our attention on the other. If something goes horribly then – then we’ll improvise. None of us are cut out for this fight, so we need to coordinate and act swiftly. If everything go tits up, retreat to the wall.” Then I withdrew x2-Lesser Fatigue potions and tossed them to Matilda. She looked at the yellow vials quizzically. “Use them when your really tired. They don’t do much in singular uses, but together they’ll lessen fatigue.”

I squared my shoulders and looked over to the golem’s standing sentinel before the entrance. “Hopefully this’ll go smoothly, and we’ll get it in one pass.”

Then, I promptly remembered that there were sixteen of these things, and I felt my shoulder sag fractionally. “Amara,” I whispered to the Blood Witch as she came to stand beside me. Josh’s group were already moving off towards the centre between us and Matilda who was on the far-left side of the chamber now.

“Hmm,” she purred, and I felt her inch closer to me as a shiver visibly ran through her.

“How long does it take for you to activate a binding big enough to hold a golem in place?” I asked. “I probably should’ve asked this before,” I added. Feeling quite stupid at how quickly I’d overlooked the other’s capabilities.

“It’ll take about 20 seconds,” she answered, and I winced at how long it would take. “But I’ve already begun the process,” she said, and I looked at her. Not seeing nor hearing her chant or prayer. Nor even gesture through the sequences to begin her spell.

Yet I saw her magic and it was unlike anything I had seen before. Magic tended to coalesce as shapes or formations. They spun and intwined through the process of spellcasting. But Amara’s magic, was a living thing. Bloody red glyphs emblazoned to life across her skin. Marking her like so many branding’s.

Then She closed her eyes and a glyph blazed ominously on her forehead. Which then split open revealing an obsidian void, at its centre a red jewelled eye. The eye spun about in the darkness of the slit to face me, and I tried my best not to flinch at its intense focus.

Amara raised her arms, extending them before her. I drew my attention away from her third sight long enough to watch as blood flowed sinuously out through the glyphs. They converged on the palms of her small hands. Little balls of ruby red, that roiled cloudily beneath their surface. Amara’s magic was all kinds of crazy and cool.

I understood now why Blood Witches and Blood Mages were so feared. Blood magic was more in truth, flesh magic. Blood Gifted made formations, using either their own or others blood. It worked a lot like sacrificial rituals, the more given, the more power obtained. Witches tended to form glyphs and sigil’s within their bodies and project that same spell outside themselves.

But this sort of blood magic used the casters vitality. Which was surprising when I realised through Magical Sight, that Amara had also cast a Vampiric Drain on not just the health of whomever she wished to attack, but also their mana.

Her black swept back behind her head as she finished casting. The blood ruby balls of magic cupped in her hands. There was a flash of red from her third eye, and the blood balls in her hands disappeared as a red spell formation sprung into being beneath the feet of the Berserker. I heard Matilda taunting the Shield Knight and I twisted to watch as the mana within the Shield Golem started to throb erratically.

Then a portion of the Mana rushed throughout the interior of its stone and clay body. It gushed out with a silent hiss from a small fissure in the Shield Knights back. The bright pulsing Mana misted with a flash of red to be then drawn through to Amara’s outstretched hand. Amara’s Blood magic went about devouring it and replenishing her own reserves of Mana. The spell formation beneath the Berserker Golem activated and tendrils of blood rippled up from out of the spell.

They coiled around the Golems legs, snaking their way up it’s shins, knees and then thighs. Latching ropes of blood snagged the Golems arms and encircled its neck. Only then did the golem begin to budge against the bindings. Amara swayed unsteadily and stumbled into my side. “Hey. Are you alright?” I asked her concerned. Watching as her blood tendrils fought to bind the Berserker in place as it thrashed.

“Everyone move now!” I called out. They all jumped at the sound of my voice, and I realised I wasn’t the only one shocked at Amaras’ display of power.

“Been … too long - since I’ve had a meal,” her voice was dazed, and her expression was both weary and satiated. “I Haven’t fed from another’s Mana in years. After Blood Gifted were culled. I just hid my magic, hid everything,” she explained to me. Her hands drifting and fluttering across my arm and chest.

“We need to move. They’re attacking,” I said, firmly taking her hand in mine. I caught a glimpse of Matilda ducking under the shield knights swing with a knee-slide, that carried her to one of it’s legs. There, she hacked mercilessly away at the back of the Golems knees, each swing biting deeper and deeper into the stone legs. The damage was minimal, but I imagined a hundred of her blows might actually end with her cleaving straight through.

Joshua’s team and Melody marching ahead of us, dived headfirst into attacking the bound Berserker. Steward unleashed a bolt from his crossbow, his aim tracking the golems static head as the it strained to escape the blood bonds. The bolt then slammed into its face, but had zero affect, other than making the golem try even harder to be free.

Maggie lifted her hand and as quickly as possible, she recited a chant. A small magical formation circling her outstretched hand in a blue latticework of hexagon within circles. Then a bright white bolt exploded out from the spell with enough force to make her arm recoil and sending her stumbling into Jason, who managed to keep himself and her moving.

The bolt struck the crossbow quarrel protruding from the golem’s head. The large mana bolt crashed into the golem with a deafening boom that snapped the berserker’s head back from the blow. The combined attack left a chunk of stone missing from the golems head. Then it was Joshua’s turn and he sprinted ahead fractionally as the others slowed. But instead of attacking he spun to face his team and crouched, bringing his hourglass shield up above him.

Then Jason was sprinting forward to rebound off the shield as Josh flung him up, behind and over. Jason barrelled through the air to slam his sword deep into the other side of the golem ruined visage. Though it really had no external damaging affect. The fact that his blow connected with a channel of Mana flowing through the golem body. Made it’s inside recoil as if in shock and pain.

The golem let out a faceless roar, as Mana thundered through its veins. Then Jason was falling, caught up by Josh and slung to the side to continue running. “Impressive,” Amara said quietly from my side and I had to agree.

I felt a warm sense of pride rising within me for the newly Gifted team. They were passed the Berserker now and off to combat the Shield Knight, to relieve Matilda for a spell.

“Ready?” I asked Amara. The Blood Witch nodded, her dream-like state making her head rock slightly from side to side, like she was listening to music only she could hear. A silent concert of blood and magic. She made a dismissing gestured, and cancelling her spell made the struggling Berserker topple over, like the imaginary string’s hauling the golem up had been snipped.

But it was quick to recover and twisted to regard the fleeing team. But instead of following; it’s stony, ruined and featureless face twisted to regard Amara and I. “I just knew something would go wrong.”

“Why isn’t following them?” Amara asked me urgently, her tone now sounding more stable than dream-like.

“It’s just a guess, but the deactivation of your binding may have shifted the golem’s agro to us instead of the actual damage dealer’s.” It crouched onto all fours then, it’s image hazing over and evaporating. Instincts kicked in and I picked up a squealing Amara. Activating Haste and jumping into the air. We shot up as I felt the massive drain on my fatigue, then the wind whipped about us as we fell. Amara’s small black skirt hiking up to reveal her black lacey panties but what was between her legs was what caught my attention.

I saw the Berserker golem smash into our previous location, axes already sweeping in to hack apart the area. Our fall began to gradually pick up speed as weight and gravity pulled on us. Then the golems head twisted uncomfortably and spun on its body backward to face our falling figures. “Hang on tight!” I shouted to Amara and then the familiar haze-like afterimage filled the Berserker previous spot. It was upon us then. Looming over us its arms already blurring inwards to slash us in two. Curling us up into a ball, I rocked us forward feeling the slight swipe of air passing over us. As I deftly avoided it’s weapons.

I heard Amara gasp and scream in fright and maybe even a little pleasure. We rolled into the Berserker’s massive body and slid down it as another axe passed over us skimming by a hair’s length. I slammed Heava’liku in a reverse grip down, into the stone of the Golem. The charcoal and silvery blade trailing mist through the deep gash I was leaving as we slid down it’s body and around, out to the other side.

Then we were falling again, I gripped Amara tightly to me and seeing no other way I activated Telekinetic Reach. -30Mp. Reaching out my hand; now devoid of my knife, we hurled ourselves down into ground. I impacted badly, my ankle twisting it as we hit. -25Hp. Right-leg: 78/100% Crashing down, I rolled bringing Amara with me as took the brunt of the damage.

My hand cupping the back of her head, fingers threading her silky black hair to pressed her protectively against my chest. We came to a stop and I sat us up, my ankle beaten and bruised silly. Numerous cut’s and scrapes from the ground layering my body.

I more resembled a lower level street beggar than anything else now.

Amara stirred in my lap. Her jade green eyes peaky up at me blurrily. Like a jungle covered in a dewy mist, she stared up at me. Then a loud crash made the ground tremble and we both looked over to see the Berserker’s body flopped down unceremoniously and hit ground like a ragdoll.

As it crashed down, I heard the call of my name come from our left, and I looked over in shock to see Matilda riding the Shield Knight. Her great sword wedged into a crack on the Knight’s shoulder as the recruits fought to draw it’s attention. She reared back pulling, wedging and tugging for all her she was worth. But who was calling me? “Rhys! Where is it’s core?” I heard Melody shout clearly over the din of the golem hammering it’s face into the chamber wall, guided by Matilda.

Oh, right - I never did tell them. Did I? My head spun for a moment then refocused. “It’s – it’s beneath the collarbone right side,” I shouted back. Then I removed a Lesser potion of healing but paused before downing it’s contents, “Amara?” I said my voice sounding a little dry. Blinking, she returned back to herself and smiled up at me. There was fragment of madness to her smile in that moment.

“Hmm?” She hummed questioningly at me. Then snuggled in further on my lap, getting more comfortable.

“A-any injuries?” I asked, a note of concern for the Blood Witch.

She blinked owlishly at me, her smile gaining in it’s intensity. “None– silly. Drink your potion,” she said sweetly. Then her hands cupped beneath my own raising the vial to my lips. I watched her expression for a moment. As my own lips parted, my head tilting back slightly to accept. As I did, so did she; mirroring me. Her black lipstick stained lips parting as my own did for the potion. I saw her red tongue undulating in her mouth and rolling across her glistening white teeth.

Damn, if she didn’t have an affect on me. Then I realised how closely we were approximated to one another, the soft pert globes of her ass pressing comfortably and almost without pressure or weight into my lap. She felt damn right comfortable in my arms, and right then I wanted nothing more than find a quiet spot and ease myself inside her.

As if understanding exactly what I was considering, Amara squirmed harder into me, wriggling her hips as devilishly smile her face. Then she popped herself off my lap in a slow wiggling roll that made my cock pulse and my hands curled into fists. Then potion kicked in and I felt mildly better, my ankle no longer as sore and my head was clearer. +25Hp. Right-leg:85%

I stood, Amara needlessly helping me to stand. Her hand staying within my own, gripping it tightly. “It would seem that our dear Berserker is stunned, Amara?” I asked looking at her and saw that she was already in the process of binding the Golem. Like before, a flash of glyphs across her skin, their brands glowing brightly red. Then blood flowing down my arms to ball in her hands. A moment later, her third eye flashed with magic and thick tendrils of blood snaked out of a spell formation to coil themselves around the Golems body.

As soon as it was done. I re-equipped my gauntlet and ran over, jumping so that I landed in a crouch atop the downed Berserker. Moving to its collarbone I paused and without any fanfare or hesitation I drove my arm down. Phasing through the stone with my blade extended. The core pierced easily as my knife slid through. The Mana within the golem began to erupt violently as quickly as my arm had entered. I withdrew not wanting to be mana burned; or whatever it was I’d felt before. The Berserker’s glowing veins in its head, neck and shoulders, started to pulsate rapidly. Realising what was coming, I jumped away to land at Amara’s side. Then the golem spread forth a dazzling array of cerulean light, that seeped through the veins of its body; which became nothing more than grey dust afterwards.

“Well... that was anticlimactic,” I muttered standing from where I crouched with Amara.

“Just how it is sometimes. Come. We’ve another to fight and finish you know,” Amara answered me.

“No. I just...” I said sighing, my voice trailing away as she dragged me after her.

Health: 432. Mana: 461. Fatigue: 69%

In the end I wasn’t needed. Matilda had simply stayed on the Knight shoulder and kept stabbing down till she found the Mana core. Which She’d swiftly ripped out from the golems body and tossed aside. Slay the Guardians of Bresacs Tomb: 2/16. Congratulations. Level up: x6.

“Wait. What. The. Fuck. I just levelled six times … Is this- Is this from the Berserker alone? Or from both... even tough I didn’t...” My voice fell off as I realised everyone was staring at me. I saw that Matilda and Melody both wore bemused expressions, as Amara played about tapping her finger on the Mana Core and ignoring me completely.

I rubbed my hands together nervously, “I take it you all, want to know?” I asked everyone. Joshua and his team remained silent yet nodded. Matilda stared flatly at me not commenting, but making her stance known.

“Yes Rhys. An explanation would be wonderful,” Melody said without a hint of sarcasm.

“There’s a problem to that though,” I replied rubbing my brow.

“What? To telling us?” Matilda asked me and I nodded in response.

“You have to sign a contract-”

“What does the contract say?”

“I don’t actually know.”

“You don’t know. Yet we have sign it,” Melody stated evenly.

Again I nodded, “Yes.”

“I’ll do it,” Amara cooed, at either me or the Mana core I wasn’t entirely sure. I pulled up the quest tab in my inventory and slid my finger over to the contract but paused before taking it out.

“Seriously though, if no-one wants to sign it. I suggest you go to the far side of the room,” I told them and waited in case any of them decided just that. Shrugging I moved my hand through the screen, but my fingertips hit the something like a button, and pressed. Suddenly everyone either jumped or flinched away from something I couldn’t see. I frowned at each of them seeing them blink in surprise. Then they began poking at the air and I understood exactly what was happening. It was a little amusing watching them interact with what could only be a system window. It also made me a little self-conscious. I wondered if I looked just as bewildered and stupid as they did, prodding at the air.

Seeing as they were going to be reading for a hot-minute, I took the opportunity to walk over to the dust pile left by the Berserker. Above the powdery grey pyramid, was the Golem’s identifier along with a greyed out [Dead]. Looting the Berserker, I gained: 350G, 15Mc as well as x5 Mana Core fragments, and the Runic Stone: Berserk. Which was a passive skill. When health drops below 25%. User will activate Berserk and all damage will be negated for 1 Intervals. Affects: Fatigue. Just as I was about to use the Runic-stone, I paused. I wasn’t alone in this struggle anymore, so why should I profit alone?

I nodded; firmly deciding to share the loot going forward, though I was keeping the gold to myself of course. I had ideas after-all and maybe... just maybe these people could be the first to join me in my pursuit. Stashing away the Rune Stone I walked back over to the Shield Knights pile. “How come I can’t see what their contract say? I’ll have to ask Annaleigh about that,” I said with a thoughtful nod.

Though I was suspicious of what they were reading, and why it was taking so long. Another 350G and 15Mc. I was also perfectly surprised to find yet another Rune Stone as well. [Item: Runic Stone. Type Spell Ward. Cost: 15M. Cool-down: 15 seconds. Caster can erect a wall of Mana that reflects all types of magical attack.] “Why isn’t it-” I about to ask when the Rune was immediately absorb as I tried to use it.

Alert!

Runic Stone cannot be learned. Incompatibility found between Accessible Magical Strand and Spell Ward. Runic Stone: Denied. “Well… That’s a new one.”

The spell seemed amazingly straight forward as well, and all I wanted was to claim it for myself. But I couldn’t. Sighing in resignation I turned back to the group and found who would benefit the most from the stone.

“Melody,” I shouted to the cleric, who then looked up at me and blinked in surprise when I threw the Rune Stone to her. “That’s a Runic Stone. Funny little thing’s that give you spells- Anyway, it’s a Spell Ward – spell. Cost’s 15 Mana to cast and can reflect all magical attacks, though I imagine it shit against physical. It also has a fifteen second cool-down,” I nodded finishing.

Melody just stared at me, mouth agape. Then Matilda let out a dry chuckle that sounded a little bit hysterical to me. “And just how do you know that, huh?”

“I read it,” I answered simply. To which she looked more surprised and stopped laughing, to blink at me. A prompt surprised me, as it filled my vision. Amara Farias Ayala has accepted her oath of loyalty and secrecy. She will join your party once you’ve reached level: 45. Now Amara will reap in the benefit’s provided by your Mana Cube System. Once she is fully acclimated to this gift, she will gain the ability to use internal Mana. To grow as you can, but within her respective gift.

I blinked – read the prompt – blinked again. Then I shut my eyes only for a new message to appear, its chime rattling through my skull nosily.

Be careful [Rhys] now you’re no longer alone in this. Were you ever truly though? “Well that’s considerably ominous,” I said a sigh, “and fucking cryptic.”

“What is?” asked a voice and I didn’t need to open my eyes to know who it was. Amara came over and sat beside me, resting her head against my shoulder. Her arms hugging her knees in an oddly fragile look. Melody Quinn has accepted her oath of loyalty and secrecy. “What did the contract say?” I asked Amara, switching subject instead of trying to explain the deeply troubling thought I’d had just now.

“I’m actually bound by contract to not tell you,” she sighed and shook her head. “Not until a certain someone has had the chance to discuss it fully with you. Though I can say that it does cover everything about you, and what you’ve done since you became Gifted. I skimmed over them though. I want to understand you as you. Not the you, you are when I’m not there.” Her voice taking on that dream-like quality again. Her head pressing deeper into my side. I smiled at her words, nonetheless.

It told them everything I had done. So much for my own secrecy, I guess.

Melody walked over to us then. The Runic Stone still in her hands, unused. I briefly wondered what would happen if somebody actually declined the contract. How would that affect us going forward on this quest? I didn’t know and that troubled me deeply. I didn’t want to force these people into a situation they thought they couldn’t escape, without selling their souls or something to me.

I heard Amara’s breathing even out, as she fell asleep. Melody gazed down at the sleeping Blood Witch, then at me and shook her head in exasperation. “What?” I asked and my voice came across a little whiny.

“Nothing you need to know - at least not yet anyway,” she answered coyly. I frowned at her in annoyance, I wasn’t one to just simply ignore such obvious and blatantly vague hints. But I did for now, having a more pressing matter to discuss.

“Melody,” I said her name and she turned to face fully towards me, sensing the seriousness in my tone. “Was there a price? Something you had to pay?” I asked worriedly.

She shrugged, “not really. It was more of a … suggestion. Something that’ll need to be discussed between us, and after you’ve talked with ... Annaleigh.” As she finish speaking, I glimpsed past her shoulder towards Matilda and saw her staring back at me, an odd expression flittering across her features.

Then she lowered her eyes back to the screen that I couldn’t see and continued reading. I drummed my fingers nervously, playing them across my forearms till Melody finally sat down on my right, like Amara pressing herself in close to me. Resting her own head on my shoulder.

Wait a minute, I thought quickly. A sudden urge to run filling me. Does the contract tell them everything? Like everything! Like my thoughts or just... I didn’t bother following that line of thought any further. I waited and waited till eventually I could feel my eyes slipping shut, Melody recently having fallen asleep as well and Amara snoring softly. Their warm body wiggling against me every now and then. Warmth suffused the inside of my chest and throat.

Matilda Simmons, Jason Brent, Maggie Hakwin, Steward Osul and Joshua Gilbert. Have accepted their oaths of loyalty and secrecy. My eyes strained to stay open, to see Matilda’s expression. Had she doubted me? Had she thought this some sort of nefarious plot to take away her freedom. To charm her. To coerce her to my side. Did she think of me like she thought of Drake? That I might be manipulating her, in some way. Was that her line of thought; reading through her contract? My eyes sealing shut as if by wax and I couldn’t pry them open again. No matter how hard I tried. I drifted off to slept in the company of two gorgeous women and a third glaring daggers over at me.

Congratulations [Player] Level up: x6.

Level 18: +5Ap awarded. Reward: x2-Lesser potions of healing.

Level 19: +5Ap awarded. Reward: x2-Lesser potions of healing.

Level 20: +5Ap awarded. Reward: x2-Minor potions of mana.

Level 21: +5Ap awarded. Reward: x2-Minor potions of fatigue.

Level 22: +5Ap awarded. Reward: x2-Instant Recovery.

Level 23: +5Ap awarded. Reward: x2-Minor potions of healing.

Stats:

Health: 650/650

Mana: 760/760

Fatigue: 13%

Attributes:

Strength: 39

Vitality: 38

Intelligence: 38

Agility: 40

Sense: 36

Luck: 24

Charisma: 36

Wisdom: 12 [2Mp per 6Secs]-

Remaining Points: 00

This novel is the work of Rhys Thomas. If you are reading this and it has not been published by Rhys Thomas, then this work has been stolen. Please report this to Amazon and me at email: [email protected]