This chapter is the longest so far, though not by a long shot. Anyway, I plan to rawdawg all the chapters until I finish book 1 before I do some edits to make the writing consistent and smooth.
But if you guys feel the chapters can read cleaner, I'm open to give it another pass of proofing.
Chapter 58: Suffering From Success (III)
Dawn's eyes fluttered open as she noticed someone tripping over the cantrip spells she had laid around her temporary lair. A moment later, a terrible kinetic force surged from the wall, setting upon whoever had triggered the spell. A painful cry rang out as shards of stone flew in all directions.
Jumping to her feet, Dawn bolted out of the crevice. Despite the tremor running through her mana apertures, she drew out as much mana as she was capable of, preparing to attack, only to find a figure, a shade smaller than her, lying there and groaning in pain.
"What the fuck?" the boy said through clenched teeth. "Why are you attacking me without any grievance between us?"
She narrowed her eyes, scanning him while still not releasing her hold on the mana, the staff practically urging her to release the spell. After what she had experienced, she would be a fool to let her guard down just because the boy before her seemed harmless.
Wait, isn't it the fellow she saw on the very first day she came into the bog? The boy who was training his movement skill, pitting himself against that giant frog?
Still, she didn't lower her guard. "I haven't cast anything," she said. "It is you who tripped over my ward, disturbing my rest."
The boy snorted, which gave rise to a fit of coughing as blood spilled from his lips. Without warning, he thrust one hand into his belongings.
Her mana flared at the sudden movement. A gust of wind rose, with stone splinters flying out in response. The boy's face turned ghastly pale, incapable of even protecting himself from the pressure.
Well, Dawn hadn't held back much.
"Pull your arm out of the bag," she ordered, "and do it slowly."
The boy met her gaze and complied, though there was a furious look in his eyes.
"It's only a healing potion." He held a blue vial towards her. He cautiously asked, "Can I take it?"
Dawn had noticed the grievous wounds on his body. Her cantrip spell alone wouldn't have been enough to batter him so thoroughly. He really was a little pitiful. But she still couldn't help deliberating over her options. As far as she was concerned, it would be best if she asked him to get out of her lair. Even if he wasn't there for any nefarious reason, his mere presence might alert that rogue ascendant who was after her.
Besides, if that man really found her, then this poor boy would be nothing more than baggage that would endanger her safety. Dawn had barely managed to escape herself. She wasn't confident she could do it with someone as powerless as him.
Having decided that, she was about to ask him to leave when a blood-curdling cry reverberated through the cavern. The boy shivered.
"Did your injuries come from that?" she asked, pointing with her chin.
He nodded without a word.
"That's clearly something way beyond your capabilities. How did you incur its wrath?"
He bowed his head, saying nothing.
Dawn bit her lower lip. That cry had likely come from a Silver-ranked monster. If she threw him out of her hidden lair, there was little chance of him surviving. Not to mention, it could bring more trouble her way. Deliberating over that, she couldn't help but sigh.
"Fine," she said. "You can stay here, but only until you have nursed your wounds."
The boy lifted his head, met her gaze, and nodded, uttering only a quiet, "Thank you."
After the girl moved aside, withdrawing all the pressure along with her prized staff, Ember settled himself against the wall to nurse his wounds and perhaps even advance his Mana Foundation.
Chugging down the healing potions, Ember calmed his breathing to work on his nerves first. While it was never a good idea to overuse healing potions, or any potion for that matter, he had no other choice. At least his advancement hadn't come unannounced. Hopefully, it could mend some of the strain on his mana system that the healing potions could not restore.
Noting the girl looking out from the opening of the crevice, he hesitated no longer and allowed the advancement to take hold once the potion took effect. Ember had no clue how he had managed to suppress it for so long, but as soon as his mind settled, a surge of mana flooded through his mana channels and apertures, far greater than during any of his previous advancements.
Usually, there was little to no pain during an advancement of his Mana Foundation, but this time, Ember had to set his jaw and clench his fists to push through the process.
"You are advancing," a voice said. "Are you insane? In your condition, even if nothing unprecedented came about, your Mana Foundation would be pushed to such a brink that you would have to be bedridden for weeks. Then there are all the wounds you carry. Zion help me, why did I have to come across someone as scatterheaded as you?"
Ember managed to open one eyelid to find the fair girl standing before him. Her face was paler than his, though her eyes were as energetic as ever. Now they radiated a silvery glow. More concerning was what she had told him. He had no clue how she had reached that conclusion, but as a scathing agony ran through his insides, Ember had no choice but to see some merit in her words. His heart clenched, and excess blood burst through his innards. He coughed, blood spraying from his lips and nose. His eyes became bloodshot from the torment.
"Steady yourself." A cold palm rested on his shoulder. "Use your breathing art to expel the blood and some of the mana. I will take care of your inner wounds."
Ember had already mastered his breathing art, but he still had no clue what she had asked of him. He simply let it run its course, which seemed to work as thick blood poured from his lips and nostrils. Then a scalding warmth pushed through that cold palm and surged into his body. It didn't combat the explosive mana running through his mana channels. Instead, the rich life force completely avoided the path of his berserk mana, mending the wounds in his internal organs and strengthening them to withstand the advancement.
Her healing worked its magic. Whatever healing spell she had cast upon him was powerful enough to mend his injuries and save him from his predicament.
Finally, he could concentrate fully on the advancement, which was already halfway complete. Each of his apertures surged into a vortex of mana, widening and deepening the amount of mana each one could store. Ember took the opportunity to liquefy more and more of his mana.
The advancement took longer than usual, lasting over a quarter of an hour, but Ember emerged from it in fair shape, with only his mana channels and body a little strained. That was to be expected after everything he had gone through.
[Congratulations! Your Mana Foundation has advanced to Tier 4!]
[Mana Augmentation (Iron) +4 --> 5.]
[All three of your skills, Meditative Muse, Keen Mind, and Breathing Arts, have assimilated.]
[Skill acquired: Walking Meditation (Iron): +1.]
[+600 EPs.]
Despite the lingering feebleness, Ember's lips curled upwards into a smile as he opened his full status window.
Ember Blackstone
[Human (Iron) - Tier 5 (Progress: 7655/9600)]
Class: N/A
Titles: Knight Squire, Gifted, Hunter.
Mana Foundation: Tier 3 → Tier 4
Mana Aperture: 30
Breath of Mana: 124 → 127
Attunements:
Mind (Minor - 15.8%)
Kinetic Force (Minor - 11.2%): Kinetic Push (Tier 3)
Attributes:
Might: 15.4 → 17.7
Speed: 23.5 → 24.3
Will: 41.1 → 50.2
Insight: 71.3 → 93.1 (+10)
Mystic: 94.5 → 122.2 (+10)
Immunity: 49.2 → 55.7
Class Skills:
General Skills: [Skill Slot: 62/71]
Common: Language Acquisition Max | Archery +7 → Max
Copper: Hunting +5 → 8 | Advanced Swordmanship +5 → 7 | Toxin Tolerance +2
Iron: Mana Shaping +7 → 8 | Split Focus +6 | Blitz Steps +5 → 6 | Mind Wall +4 → 6 | Mana Augmentation +3 → 5 | Walking Meditation +1
Although there was no stark improvement in either his Insight or Mystic, that was only because they had grown to such a degree that even a twenty-point increase would look like only a small boost.
At least the description of his newly merged skill seemed more significant.
[Walking Meditation (Iron): +1
From walking and breathing to something as complicated as combat, all would flow akin to a form of meditation.]
Although the description didn't say much, it hinted that anything Ember attempted with this skill would lead him effortlessly into a flow state. Hopefully, this would aid him in gaining more skills.
On that note, he wasn't far off from meeting the requirements for Tier 6, only missing about two thousand Evolution Points. Tier 5 in Mana Foundation would be effortless as well, as Ember had already met the tougher criteria. Though the loss of three skill slots would hurt the most, as even upon reaching Tier 6, Ember wouldn't have enough skill slots to acquire the Silver skill prompt he had received, much less one of the Gold ones.
The only way he could get out of this predicament was by obtaining an apprenticeship in magic or craft artificing.
"I really might have to look for someone in House Oberon."
That would certainly throw his plan of extracting himself from clan politics into disarray. But if there was no other option, Ember would have no choice but to bite the bullet. He wouldn't want to delay his advancement to Tier 7.
Perhaps if I manage it early, I might have a shot at Tier 8 and have enough skill slots for one of the Gold skills.
Ember shook his head. The three tiers of Silver rank each granted fifty-four skill slots, three times that of the Iron tiers, but advancement in Silver rank was similarly more difficult.
That made him wonder. Can I reach Tier 7 while somehow saving twenty-seven skill slots?
Ember did some quick maths in his head to gauge the possibility. It would take six Iron skills reaching their Silver-class threshold to achieve that. So, not completely impossible, but unlikely for him to manage in the time he had.
Besides, Ember would need something combat-oriented for the trial, and the Silver-ranked Will Enforcement seemed to be the better option compared to its two Gold counterparts.
He had no idea how useful either of the Gold skills would be. Even if he acquired one, it would be like bartering a well-trained Silver skill for an untested Gold one with no mastery. The only way it would be worthwhile would be by levelling up the Gold skill, which would be even more difficult than improving the Silver ones.
"Done gloating over your status?" the girl said, yanking him out of his fantasy.
Ember swiftly turned to face her. "I wasn't gloating," he said, then cursed himself inwardly. "Thank you for your healing."
"So you know what I have done," the girl said, clicking her tongue.
Ember didn't know what to say to that. I might be a little self-absorbed, but I get a pass after what I have been through.
He didn't bother to explain himself. Standing up, he hesitated, ready to carry out his promise by removing himself from her lair, when she spoke again.
"What are you thinking? The thing that you angered might still be in the vicinity."
Well, Ember hadn't heard any more screeches, but what she said might very well be true.
"Give it a few more minutes," the girl advised, "and then you can slip away. Or, you can stay here for as long as you like."
He shot her an imperturbable gaze. The moment he had appeared, she had seemed very much against accepting him into this crevice even for a minute. Now, not only had she aided him greatly by healing him, she was even making such a concession. What had changed for her to show such lenience?
She only smiled lightly. "Now that I consider my situation, it's best if I leave from here and let you have the lair all to yourself."
It was only then that Ember considered why she was hiding. She didn't appear to bear any injuries. Draped in enchanted clothes, he couldn't discern much, but she seemed to be in fair shape. Her face, though, was paler than his.
"Did you get separated from your group?" Ember asked.
Ember took her silence as acquiescence. Why else would a lone girl be venturing through such a dangerous place? Moreover, she seemed to be a healer. Ignoring the massive basilisk, there were countless dangerous things lurking in this gloomy cavern system for a healer to face alone. Well, she seemed capable of casting combat spells, and that staff of hers looked rather fancy as well.
Still, Ember, in good conscience, couldn't let her venture off alone, not after she had healed him.
"Considering the situation, there could be anything awaiting us," he said tentatively. "It's best we stick together for the time being."
The girl spared him a glance. "I can take care of myself. You worry about yourself."
Ember frowned. Why was it so difficult to meet someone sensible? The girl seemed to be from some noble clan. Considering her healing capabilities, she might be from House Killjoy. The Bloodline clans certainly had their advantages, but he didn't believe even a primary healer like herself would be so high-handed as to ignore her own safety. Then, suddenly, it occurred to him.
"Oh, you have a guardian, don't you? But then why are you hiding here?"
"As I mentioned, you should worry about yourself."
"That is why I am asking," Ember said seriously. "Without you, I might not be able to survive on my own."
The teen shot him a puzzled glance, seemingly at a loss.
Since she seemed too proud to ask for his help, Ember would go out of his way to help her. After all, she had aided him when he needed it. Besides, it was good to travel with a healer, let alone someone with such superior healing capabilities. Rain would have had no chance of healing his wounds while unclassed, yet it seemed to require barely any effort from this girl. A Bloodline really was miraculous.
The girl stared at him, scrutinising him to see if he was being serious. Ember met her gaze with complete solemnity, causing a sigh to escape her thin lips.
"I have no guardians protecting me," she said, "and tagging along with me will only put your safety at risk."
"You don't have a protector?" Ember repeated. Then he smiled. "Then wouldn't it be perfect for me to join you? That way, I can also repay you for healing me."
The girl groaned. "I'm not getting through to you, am I?" She shook her head. "Go rest or meditate. You are in no shape or form to be of any help."
"Then it's decided," Ember said with a grin. He was ready to recover his mana but faltered, turning towards her once again. "By the way, I'm Ember. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"As you should," the girl snorted. "Dawn."
"I'm sorry?"
"That's my name."
"Oh," he scratched his head, "a good name, Dawn. Thank you for your aid. Oh, it finally dawns on me that I seem to have seen you somewhere."
Dawn groaned. "Just stop talking, or I'll be starting to regret helping you."
"I remembered. It was a week ago; I almost ran you down with that fat toad chasing after me."
"I'm regretting it already."