[Notice: Skills leveled up]
[Exhaustion, Level 6 (+1) -> Exhaustion, Level 7]
[Vision, Level 4 (+1) -> Vision, Level 5]
[Stamina Modification, Level 1(+1) -> Stamina Modification, Level 2]
[Notice: Stat increase]
[Speed: 14 (+1) -> 15]
"Seems like it's time we stop then."
Seems like it.
"What are we at now?"
I'm not sure, I'll have to check.
--Kaelen Calder | {Abel Cyrus}--
[Level 4], [EXP to next Level: 91]
[Health Points: 36/36], [Mana Points: 11/11], [Stamina Points: 2/82], [Lux: 57]
[Attack: 17], [Defense: 23], [Dexterity: 14], [Speed: 15], [Intelligence: 14], [Wisdom: 11], [Adeptness: 15]
--Skills--
[Exhaustion, Level 7], [Forge Mastery, Level 6], [Death Watcher, Level 6], [Vision, Level 5], [Thrown Aim, Level 4], [Wind Luck, Level 4], [Sword Mastery, Level 3], [Spirit Talker, Level 3], [Increased Luck, Level 3], [Spear Mastery, Level 2], [Bow Mastery, Level 2], [Muscle Memory, Level 2], [Stamina Modification, Level 2], [Weapon Speed, Level 1], [Blazing Speed, Level 1]
--Sigils--
[The Sigil of Resurrection]
It's definitely better.
"It's still not good. We still can't fight him with the differences in our stats, it's still too big."
True, but we'll have more health after escaping the sun than otherwise. We'll still do better than either of our other attempts.
"Except that we have no wiggle room for [Exhaustion] this time."
We may be able to recover some in the down time whilst Brother Shade transports us to the Perimeter.
"I still can't believe you did the same thing as last time only to then go to the Festival despite turning down Talyndra."
We needed to be able to focus on this, we had to get as high stats as we could.
"If Talyndra saw us-"
She didn't, so there's no problem here. It's time we face Brother Shade.
He walks around the Festival looking for the area he had been kidnapped beforehand, finding the same board of photos.
"Do we just wait here?"
Not sure-
Brother Shade: Turn around. Don't bother trying to Fabricate anything. I've got more than a knife pointed at you. If I even sense a little bit of Lux leave you, you're dead.
He turns to face Brother Shade.
"Now, surrender. Maybe even throw in a little bit of begging on my knees."
Abel: I surrender. Do what you want you perv.
Brother Shade: You've made a big mistake Kaelen Calder.
"... He knows our- MY name. He knows my name without either of us saying it. Why does he know my name?"
I don't know... But it's definitely not anything good.
Abel: I know.
Brother Shade: I doubt you do.
Abel: I think you'd be surprised.
Brother Shade Fabricates a metal bat and hits him over the head with it, dragging him away as he loses consciousness.
"You are so going to die."
Almost certainly. But we can still try, you know?
"I guess. And if this doesn't work?"
We let Ela die to the sun instead of us. I don't see any other way around this besides what we're trying to do here.
"You better pray you make this work. Because I'm not letting Ela die, I can't do that to Talyndra."
Sorry, seems I have to go now. Loosing... My... M.......
When his mind returned to him, he was in the dark.
Abel: So, Brother Shade, how exactly does this form of transportation work?
Brother Shade: ... Curious. I was almost certain that I erased my presence with the shades.
Abel: You did. As I said, I know more than you may have guessed.
"What are you doing?"
Distracting him? I'm not sure. I'm trying to see how long I can prolong our journey if at all possible, to hopefully recover some [Exhaustion].
"How are my stats anyways? Have they changed at all or is this a lost cause?"
--Kaelen Calder | {Abel Cyrus}--
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
[Level 4], [EXP to next Level: 91]
[Health Points: 35/36], [Mana Points: 11/11], [Stamina Points: 12/82], [Lux: 57]
[Attack: 17], [Defense: 23], [Dexterity: 14], [Speed: 15], [Intelligence: 14], [Wisdom: 11], [Adeptness: 15]
--Skills--
[Forge Mastery, Level 6], [Death Watcher, Level 6], [Exhaustion, Level 6], [Vision, Level 5], [Thrown Aim, Level 4], [Wind Luck, Level 4], [Sword Mastery, Level 3], [Spirit Talker, Level 3], [Increased Luck, Level 3], [Spear Mastery, Level 2], [Bow Mastery, Level 2], [Muscle Memory, Level 2], [Stamina Modification, Level 2], [Weapon Speed, Level 1], [Blazing Speed, Level 1]
--Sigils--
[The Sigil of Resurrection]
"Huh. Seems like we actually can recover a bit of stamina and [Exhaustion]. You better get talking then."
Good, that was kind of my plan. Good to know that it might actually do something.
Abel: I know where we're going. I know you have a Sigil. I know what's beyond the Perimeter. I know everything.
Brother Shade: Oh? What's my Sigil then? What are the rules of the Pact I made? What is the Perimeter and why was it made? Who am I and who do I work for? Why is it I'm taking you to beyond the Perimeter? And why do you think I care?
Abel: Uhm... Uhhh... Well... Hmm.
Brother Shade: Which part stumped you? All of it?
Abel: The Sigil of Shades. You can manifest and create shadows.
Brother Shade: That it? Is that all you have?
Abel: ... Maybe...?
Brother Shade: I don't suppose I should've expected more from you. I am genuinely surprised that you know what you do, I apologise for putting unfair expectations on you.
Abel: Don't be. I guess I was being a bit too presumptuous for my own good.
Brother Shade: What's the plan here? Why bother telling me what you know? You could've kept that a secret and use it later to much greater effect.
Abel: Honestly? I didn't have much of a plan, I was hoping to scare you or something.
Brother Shade: I see. You could've had a worse plan I suppose. Unfortunately it was still a very bad plan and failed.
Abel: I see that.
Brother Shade: Now then-
Abel: Can I ask you something?
[Notice: Skills leveled down]
[Exhaustion, Level 6 (-1) -> Exhaustion, Level 5]
"Keep working your magic."
Brother Shade: No. I've had enough of talking with you, we're here.
Abel: What? Already? But I-!
Brother Shade: What? Did you think I had to be focused to move this thing? No. I don't. So all you've done is waste your own time, not mine.
He felt the world shift and turn, and then he felt the light on his eyes as the shadows around him dissolve, revealing the endless desert. Brother Shade pushes against the sky, opening it up.
Brother Shade: Any last words?
Abel: Burn in hell?
Brother Shade: Very ironic of you to-
Abel: Yeah yeah, I know that you're throwing me out into the sun.
Brother Shade: You're no fun.
Abel: I know.
Brother Shade stuffed a gag into Abel's mouth, threw him and his chair, sending them a number of meters into the space beyond the Perimeter, as the sun rose into its top and brightest position. And the second he hit the ground, he shifted his weight to flip the chair to force the back to face upwards.
"Get ready to start Blazing and then Fabricating immediately, start doing so now and then when the Sigil in the chair burns you can start fueling and building the shadow shield immediately."
I know, I remember what I saw when you did this.
[Notice: New Mission]
[Accept / Decline]
"Accept it."
I can't. Don't you remember what it did to me? I'm not doing that again.
"At least look at it. You don't have to agree to it after. We should at least know what it offers."
I- Fine! [Accept]
[Notice: Status effect gained]
[Burning, Tier I]
[Notice: Status effect pre-nullified, change reverted]
[Burning, Tier I (-1) -> Burning, Tier 0]
[Mission: Kill "Brother Shade"]
["Brother Shade" has been designated as a "MINIBOSS" by {REDACTED}. You, "Abel Cyrus" or "Kaelen Calder", are to kill "Brother Shade".]
--Rewards--
[Simple Future Sight, Level 2]
[Instinctual Dodge, Level 1]
[EXP: 216]
[Accept / Decline]
[By accepting these rewards you will be forced into a PACT with {REDACTED}, if you fail to complete the mission you will be RESET and all stats and skills will be stripped and carry over into other save states.]
[Skill-based rewards are permanent and carry over into other save states. Stat-based rewards are not permanent and will not carry over into other save states.]
Definitely not, [De-
"Not so fast Abel. We need to seriously consider this, it might be our only chance to survive this encounter."
Shouldn't you of all people be advocating for declining this the most? It was Talyndra who this made me hurt last time. Made me kill without any remourse.
"Abel, we need to be able to survive this. We need to accept this so that we can save Talyndra and Elara. I need you to accept this."
Only if there is no other way. If I fail here then you can have this body back and accept it.
"That's... Good enough."
[Decline]
