PoV: Opal Kingston - Gem

  We make our way inside, picking an open row of seating next to an older looking, floofy gentleperson. I can’t exactly tell what they are, nor does it matter much. The alien eyes me suspiciously for a bit, big eyes widening even further as it recognizes that we’re humans.

  “Yepyep,” I say. “Just made it to this floor a few days ago. Got lucky, so we’re on the up ‘n up. Name’s Lapis. Pleasure to meet ya,” I say, holding out a hand. “Ah, shaking hands is a form of greeting where I’m from.”

  I put just a little bit of drawl in my voice, and they seemed rather amused by it. Long, slender fingers extend from the fuzz all over their body to shake mine, as they return the greeting. “Baron van Torin,” he says. “You’re human, yes?”

  “That’s the one,” I say. “What’s your species named? I haven’t… properly spoken to one yet.”

  “Ah, yes. We are known as the zoof.”

  A small smile flickers across my face. The floofy zoof. How greatly amusing. I love them already. “An elegant name,” I praise, and the furball seems appeased.

  “Quite, indeed. I am pleased to see that this newly integrated species has more refined taste,” he says.

  I snicker, just a bit. “Oh, that’s more of a personal merit,” I say. “Humans come in all shapes and sizes. Some are worthless. Some are worth much. I like to think I’m in the second category.”

  “Very well,” the baron says with an amused drawl. “Then I shall compliment your taste in particular. In fact, I shall extend your party an invitation to visit me at my manor. I will be holding a dining party in a week. If you would care to attend, I would be amenable to talk measures of business.”

  Huh. How convenient. A week, huh? This could be another avenue to get the floor quest done, but really, I wanna use it as a way to smack as many rich and powerful up the head all at once as I can. A smile on my lips, I nod. “I’m glad to have met a man such as yourself, baron. We shall gratefully accept, or at least, hope to attend if the tower permits it.” To sell the bootlicking, I give a small, seated bow, which makes the zoof clap in amusement.

  Before his answer comes, though, there is an announcement up front. A pre-show to the auction, introducing the purpose, talking a little about its history. Perfect time for me to zone out. Frankly, I’m already disinterested in more talking.

  Lying is fun, but my fingers are itching to do things by now. Thatch pats me on the back empathetically, or maybe as praise for the party thing. I’m glad I lied about my name, really. Baron von Torin. Hah. He won’t know what hit him.

  Time ticks by, and I spend it meditating, occasionally looking to Jess and Thatch. The woman looks like a statue hewn from ice, sitting perfectly still. Thatch fidgets more. He is our best negotiator, and he played his part really rather well. It’s my job now to cause some chaos, but he’s clearly nervous.

  I put a hand on his shoulder, too, squeezing a bit to help calm him down. He gives me a small smile.

  The auction starts in earnest. They bring out the first item, announcing it. “And now, to begin, we have a ring of shaping! This magical trinket will allow you to bend your skills to your whims, introducing more flexibility into the constructs! The bid starts at two-hundred silver chits!”

  We don’t bid. Of course we don’t, there’s no way for us to get anything. If we grab something, It’ll have to be in the scramble afterwards. Some rich fop pays way too much for it, and the item is carted away to be taken later.

  The second item comes. Then the third, fourth, fifth… It’s almost boring again. Some of the effects are fun. The seventh item is a cool gemstone with some fancy power. I don’t listen, cuz I’d care too much.

  Minutes tick by like running water, and I lean into my plush chair, waiting on as the baron bids a few times. A nice pair of boots go to him. I kinda want a nice pair of boots… Shame I can’t steal too much at once.

  Eventually, they pull out bigger items. More enchantments, rarer stuff. Raw ingredients for blacksmithing and armoring… It’s neat to see, and I’m sure it’ll be useful, but I’m just not that interested.

  Every moment I spend sitting, I feel that electric need to move and do build up in me. I tap my foot impatiently, leaning forward a little. C’mon. Show me the ant eggs. Show me. I wanna see ‘em. I wanna blink forward and snatch them. I really hope no one’s listening to my thoughts right now.

  And no one is. Nothing happens. Another meaningless item of meaningless power passes me by, and then comes a cart. Bingo. Eggs.

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  The announcer puts on her usual spiel. “And now, a rare thing indeed! Eggs from a hive. Ant eggs. You all know just how diligent they are, amazing workers and bonded companions. Trackers, workers, constructors, whatever you may need! The bid starts at 10 gold chits!”

  I wait. Thatch and Jess tighten, but we don’t move yet.

  Not when people bid, not when people start yelling higher numbers. 20. 30. 50. 65 chits.

  That’s what they sell for. I breathe. The eggs get carted back again, and the attendant passes through a curtain, briefly brushing it open.

  There.

  Mana twists in me, and I squeeze Thatch’s shoulder, letting him know it’s go-time. My skill tears me from the plane, and the world blurs for a moment. When I reappear in the back, I instantly put a hand on the mouth of the startled attendant.

  My sword weaves from sparks of power in my hand, and I lever it at another attendant’s throat. “I’ll be taking the eggs,” I announce, wearing a friendly smile. When I move to do just that, no one stops me. I lift them from the cart. Mana pulses out from it, and a ringing alarm starts blaring.

  A grin forms on my face. Showtime.

  - - -

  Instantly, the atmosphere shifts. I hear the alarm blaring, and the commotion outside. I can also hear the opportunists.

  The tower is all about putting yourself above others, so I’m not surprised when rather than security, there are more climbers, decked out in shoddy half-gear pushing through the curtains. I catch the opening, blinking past them, letting them crash into the security in the back.

  I take a step back out to the front, and almost catch a fireball to the face. Abilities are already flying, and I whistle, quickly deflecting a sword coming for my face. “Ey! Watch where you point that thing!” I yell, ducking under another.

  Seems like they’re swinging at me on purpose. Ah well. I slash again, using my class-granted skill, [Echo], to leave behind an immaterial slash. Some poor idiot runs into it, netting them a nasty cut on the chest. They’ll probably live, tho.

  An ice shard flies by me, nailing someone in the foot, and I [Blink] halfway up the stairs. Two people instantly tumble into me, fists swinging and screaming obscenities at each other. I step back from one swing, then quickly rely on my power to toss them both over me, still smashing their faces in while sailing through the air.

  The crash makes me wince, but I’m already [Blinking] past another round of attacks.

  Security keeps rushing out from the back and in from the front, but they can’t do jack about shit. Dozens of climbers are blasting their abilities everywhere. Hells, even the baron is involved, throwing illusory golden coins all over the place, smashing into people’s heads.

  He spots me and tosses, yelling at me. “Duck!”

  “Goose!” I reply, doing as he asks and lowering my head. The gold splatters against someone who was invisible behind me, sending their body tumbling down the steps, into others. Thatch arrives by my side, smashing his fist into someone’s head. A second later, that same person gets my pommel to the stomach, and another kick from Thatch sends them flying, too.

  Something small, a beast of some kind, leaps at me and scratches at my face, giving my cheek a couple cuts as I scramble to get it off, before it suddenly drops to the floor, frozen entirely. I hop over some chairs, taking cover from more abilities as Jess joins us, throwing out shards of ice and fireballs.

  “Remain calm, everyone!” comes the blaring announcement from the speakers. “We have-”

  I press the eggs into Jess’ hands. “Leave,” I tell her, a wide grin spreading on my face. “I’ll be the distraction.”

  Without giving time for any arguing, I grab the nearest mask from someone who passed out, strap it to my face, then [Blink] to the middle of the stage, stabbing my sword through the announcer’s leg. The man screams. “Panic!” I yell into the magic microphone, then give a raucous bout of laughter. “The ironhide bandits are taking this town over!”

  My announcement is met with an absolute barrage of magic, dozens of spells flying my way, but I quickly [Blink] up, grabbing hold of a chandelier, and swinging from it. I crash into a flying scithian, hacking at their crystalline wings while laughing.

  Adrenaline pumps through my body. A knife flies at me, and I push off the other humanoid in mid air to avoid it. I look down, and there’s a sword raised to meet me. I [Blink] low, then swipe their feet out from under them. Someone else steps forward, but the [Echo] of the kick knocks them over, too.

  My [Bound Armament] flashes out, now much more nimble with two hands, and I brush two slashes aside, whirling the mass of steel around me to create space. Whenever someone moves in, I just [Echo] a spin and stab forward, drawing blood, making someone crumble, and [Blinking] through the opening.

  It’s so fun. Even as a fist meets my face, sending me flying into the wall and making the lacquered mushroom crack as blood streams down my nose. Even as a blinding radiance settles on whoever punched me, burning their skin. Even as a dozen chairs explode into vines that try to grab onto me.

  Everything goes to shit. I fight two dozen climbers for brief moments at once. I swing across the ceiling. I take three stabs, and a good ten punches that leave me bruised and my crystalline bones creaking. And then, finally, someone breaks a hole through the wall. In one swift motion, I pull the mask off my head and [Blink] to the outside.

  Instantly, I roll on the floor, then look up, smearing blood across my face to look pathetic, and start sprint-limping away. I don’t even really need to fake the limp. I did get stabbed.

  No one questions yet another run-away. By the time people do call my name, it’s from behind me, and I just grin even wider as I [Blink] out of the city.

  Complete success.

  I hope I get to steal again soon. Causing havoc is just so fun!