Icarus Awakens

Reaching the ground, Daniel found the duskers emerging following the all clear. The adventurers - a term Daniel found he far preferred to Blessed - were also retreating from the battlefield to return to their rest. Most had been woken from their sleep. It seemed his request was being honored, so he busied himself.

One of the major discoveries Daniel had made regarding his class was how he gained enchanting formulae. His Encyclopedia could capture information from monsters and already made enchanted items. While the former method was far slower, he had a suspicion that the formulae acquired this way were unique or at the very least more diverse than what was readily available.

That thought was baseless, but at the same time, Daniel would like to see someone else who could make an exploding crossbow bolt. Ok, now that I think about it someone else can probably do that. Either way, the scanning function required him to heighten one of his features, a process that invested mana in one of his passive buffs to improve it for that day. Since he’d already done that on the way to the village, it was ready to go.

You have scanned multiple Monsters, listed below. You have met the requirements to unlock multiple Encyclopedia entries, listed below.

Scanned Targets:

• Young Shank Stomper, Deceased (Whole) - 6

• Young Shank Stomper, Deceased (Damaged) - 40

• Shank Stomper, Deceased (Whole) - 5

• Shank Stomper, Deceased (Damaged) - 2

Encyclopedia Entries:

• Monster: Shank Stomper, Detailed

• Affix: Bonecut

Another affix? So far, Daniel had only unlocked the lightning affix which gave weapons lightning damage. It was simple and effective, while this new one was more interesting.

Bonecut (Affix: Enchanting, Domain: Enchantment, Level: -)

An affix that may be applied to Items you enchant. This affix allows you to use Nonmagical bone scavenged from Creatures as a Material: Enchanting of a level equivalent to the origin. Use of this affix requires bone of a mass suitable for the desired creation.

-

Affix (Concept, Domain: Enchantment/Transmutation, ???):

An affix is a modifier that may be placed on Items to alter its properties while staying true to the original Formulae. The total number of affixes that may be placed on a crafted item is equal to the Level of the Crafter or the item, whichever is lower.

“Huh.” Daniel tried to think about how he could use the bone arms of the monsters until the scent of blood made him turn away. He noticed several of the villagers watching him, looked down at the dead kangaroos with knives for hands, and made a guess. “I’m good over here if you guys want these!” All of the duskers nodded and began to collect the bodies, starting with those that were most intact. He decided to decline asking for an arm at this point, not having anywhere to carry it and not wanting to make Khare or Hunter do so either. With the money that his golden armor should bring in and the idea to hunt after a week or so’s vacation, there’d be more opportunities. A bit lazy? Maybe, but after almost a week of marching through the desert Daniel just wanted some R&R. Besides, he was trying to keep his class a secret.

He reached the top of the dune near where the caravan was resting and was met with roughly one hundred recently agitated people trying to get some rest. They were all tired. He was tired, but a sudden monster attack would put you on edge. By contrast, the villagers below seemed to have just started their day. Nocturnal? How do they deal with mana restoration?

His team was trying to get rest themselves. His team. Whatever title was appropriate for empowered people in general, they were adventurers. The thought of having shot down three monsters without batting an eye, all the while instructing someone else, made him pause.

Rising from the most comfortable of their bedrolls, Thomas yawned. “Oh, hey Guy. You ok?”

“Yeah, just tired.”

“Most of us are,” Evalyn commented from where she had what used to be a thick tablecloth pressed over her head.

“We were just in a fight Ev, how can I go to sleep?”

“What did you call me?” Her attempts to fall asleep were forgotten as the makeshift blanket was tossed aside.

“You don’t like it?” Thomas received a handful of tossed sand in response. Tak metaphorically piled it on.

“We fought. You ran with the villagers.”

“Pwwf.” Thomas wiped at his face. “I’m not a fighter! I promised myself I wouldn’t get into any more stupid fights after it wasn’t a matter of life or death.”

“Couldn’t you have just shot a few arrows though?” Daniel asked. “That’d be enough to get you advancement, or at least part of the way there.”

“Guy, I can’t- wait, never mind. What class did the bug get?”

Cleric and gossip, exactly the worst person to tell a secret. “I can’t tell you. I promised Kite I wouldn’t.”

“Who?”

“The dusker.”

“Oh. That’s a weird name for one of them.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Would you two please stop talking!” Evalyn fiercely whispered. “I don’t even know how late it is but I’m going to have a headache tomorrow if you keep this up!”

Thomas held up his hands. “I’m sorry but I’m wide awake. Talking helps me settle down.”

Evalyn sighed and pulled out her instrument. For a moment, several people in the group thought she’d hit him with it. Instead, she held the reinforced accordion in her hands. Not as graceful an instrument as, say, the violin Daniel’s sister used to play, but it was a sensible choice for someone who frequently took it into battle. “Alright, fine. I have a song ability that can make you go to sleep.”

“For how long?” Thomas asked cautiously.

“Unfortunately, just as long as you’d normally sleep. It’s not a combat ability. And before you ask or think to later, I’m not using this again. It’s not good to.”

“Then why have it?” Daniel asked. “Also why not use it every night?”

“It’s mostly helpful if used right before dawn, assuming you’re up at that time of night for some reason and need to recharge mana.” Evalyn adjusted knobs at the end of her instrument, light shimmering on occasion as she did so. “But, if you use magic every night to get to sleep, you’ll find that you need it sooner or later. You have to be careful with powers that affect the mind, repeated use can lead to problems. In this case, it’s worth the risk.”

“Well yeah, that’s with repeated use. What’s the risk of using it for just tonight?”

Evalyn looked at Thomas like he was personally responsible for the sand she had to brush from her hair every day. “The risk of this not working, meaning I’ll have to beat you unconscious.”

Thomas quickly sheltered in his bedroll, as if that would save him. “You’re mean when you’re tired.”

Evalyn straightened, shook her head, and began playing. “Just shut up.” The music she played was soft and muted, likely adjusted to not disturb anyone else or carry to the village. It also wasn’t based on the songs Daniel had shared from Earth when they were preparing to kill a dragon. That was good, he was worried she was just going to remix his stuff from now on. Some of his taste in music was embarrassing in ways only he understood.

Suddenly, there was a weight to the world. Exhausted as he was Daniel almost passed out but kept aware enough to roughly set up his bedding where Hunter was sprawled in the sand. The ringcat didn’t have his armor on. Khare must have already taken it off.

Hey Hunter, Daniel thought slowly, laying down himself. You did good.

Hmmmm. Good… shots… The music was getting to the ringcat. Monsters couldn’t benefit from Bardic music, not the kind that enhanced allies, but Hunter was in many ways an exception.

Sorry I fell asleep earlier. We could have talked or trained, or something. There was no response. Hunter wasn’t asleep yet, he didn’t think so, but they were both being influenced by magical music and a very long day. It would be so easy to leave it at that and let go, but he couldn’t. Are you alright Hunter?

Hmrf. Yes.

Are you sure? There was something there. Not just with Hunter, but both of them. Daniel knew Hunter had been affected by what had happened at the lake, even if he didn’t remember it. Being controlled was the thing he hated most in this world and one of the reasons he only just tolerated Moment of Clarity. As for Daniel?

It wasn’t special anymore. That’s the conclusion he’d come to. Hunter had been with him for almost all of his time here, a friend and confidant who was his alone. The ringcat’s burgeoning independence, evidenced most clearly in the developments with Tak, changed that. He was jealous of some things, sure, but in a crazy way he missed when things were simpler because it was just the two of them against the world.

If it was just that, Daniel could understand the wedge he feared was starting to be eased between them. Hunter was being withdrawn, speaking minimally even though he’d improved to the point of talking in full sentences. What worried him most was he still didn’t know what had happened when they’d entered Aughal and if that was playing a part in the change.

Am fine. Need sleep.

Ok. It’s just… Daniel was already breathing slowly, but would have taken a long breath anyway. Kindness and understanding. Kindness and understanding, he repeated internally. I’m worried. If it’s something I’m doing, or not doing, please tell me. If not, then I just want to make sure you’re ok.

Am fine. Daniel felt sand being disturbed nearby by a short flick of Hunter’s tail.

Are you sure? He asked again. This time, there wasn’t a response. Troubled, Daniel shifted to lay on his back, took one look at the sky, and then closed his eyes again.

…

Evalyn stopped her music after a few minutes, pleased by the slow breaths of her companions and the closed mouth of Thomas in particular. Lullaby. Such a pure Bard power. An escape to dreams on troubled nights. One of the first she’d received too. Despite what she’d said tonight, she’d used it many times with her sister when they lived in Eido. Her parents, especially her father, hadn’t been thrilled to learn what class she’d received, but a class was a class and they hadn’t had one.

Coming to the Thormundz had meant an easier life and an escape from poverty. Beyond that there was just the hope that their service would reach the attention of the Octyrrum. That one of them would get a class, and she had. Evalyn had to think that seeing her like that, playing soft music to the sister who had still carried the memories of what she’d experienced coming through Threst, had done something to relieve her parents that she wasn’t ‘that’ kind of Bard.

Not to say that she wasn’t entirely that kind of Bard. Evalyn liked to have fun, meet people, and occasionally take things further. That wasn’t because she was a Bard, that just made it easier and gave her an excuse. But in the end, they’d gone away. She missed them, but she did not cry or let their memory weigh her down. It wasn’t callousness, it was a secret that she was sure only she knew. Her family wasn’t gone, nor were they dead.

She’d always felt it, the small pulse in her chest that mimicked but did not match her own heart. A simple bond, formed even before she’d gotten her class. A reminder and a promise. Somewhere, Emily was alive. When Evalyn knew more, when she was stronger, she’d find her. But for now, she needed to sleep.