The Pilot of Wrath

Chapter 15 – Prime time

On the way out of the cave Matt learned what Tobias had gotten from his chest. Something called a rendering pad which allowed him to construct 3D models in real time with material specification. Apparently, it would let him go from a render to a completed object in the forge. Another item was a deployable energy shield that he only had to charge with mana, He hadn’t had a chance to test it, but it sounded interesting. The last item was another upgrade token for personal equipment.

When they reached the end of the cave, Van was still waiting for them but this time there was the carcass of something. Matt wasn’t sure what it was, and he asked the core what had happened.

“The bear came back. This time it didn’t just ignore me.” Van said. The corpse was mangled, not from the autocannon but from the tomahawk. “I didn’t see it approach so things got messy.”

“I can see that.” Matt said as he inspected the raking claw marks on the mech’s armor. “Was it a good fight?”

“Eh, I have had better.”

Matt pushed more mana into repairing the damage as he caught Van up on what had happened in the cave. While Matt repaired the damage to the mech, Tobias fiddled with his new energy shield. It was a small ring with a handle crossing the center. Tobias held it out in front of him and pushed mana into it. A shimmering barrier of mana snapped into being, creating an oval shaped barrier more than large enough to cover him.

Matt noticed that the mana shield was not pure, it was Tobias’ affinity tinting it a darker color. As he watched Tobias pushed more mana into the shield, adjusting its shape but also the density. It grew darker and darker until it was like looking through a heavily tinted car window. He could still see through it but there was something off about it.

“What’s going on with the shield?” Matt asked. Tobias snapped it off and looked over at him.

“It is designed to use the affinity of the user. I thought void was supposedly difficult to do that with, but it appears the System doesn’t have issues with making things for it.” He rattled off. “This has implications, Matt. If I can replicate this, there are amazing possibilities.”

“Oh, what did you have in mind?”

“Well, the first is Void Shields. Like in 40k. Incoming projectiles and the like are shunted into the void. Why try to defeat the kinetic energy when I can make it no longer exist, completely nullifying it.” Tobias was ranting now. “This needs testing lots of testing and study. How is mana consumed, at what rate, does input matter, does the density affect performance?”

Matt liked the idea, he didn’t know much about 40k, only some of the more popular lore. A shield that didn’t rely on just defeating projectiles through mass and density had to be a good thing.

“Do we want to set up for the rest of the day so we can test some things? I know it’s still early, but I would rather test gear before we need it.” Matt asked, giving his reasons for an extended stay.

“Works for me. Oh, look there.” Tobias said, pointing to a small break in the trees.

Matt looked where Tobias was pointing and saw what looked like a deer. His identify called it a woodland stag. The creature bust have not liked the look of them because it trotted off into the woods, not quite running but quickly moving none the less. Matt said he would go after it, thinking some venison sounded good for dinner. He shoved his helmet back on and stalked off in pursuit of the stag, promising to stay in touch with Van and Tobias.

Matt wasn’t worried about losing his way in the forest, the cliff was a hard barrier that he could always orient to then follow back to camp. His thermal outlining the deer as it pushed through the brush, Matt followed. He wanted to get a clear shot on it so he wouldn’t have to track a blood trail after shooting. It was keeping up a good pace as Matt followed, staying always just a little too far ahead to try and shoot.

Tracking a deer through the woods was a very mentally taxing experience. The woods had developed a lot of undergrowth in this area, no longer the nice open forest floor as when they first entered. The brush didn’t matter much to the mech, but it was sometimes dense enough to obscure smaller game. Matt was so focused on the deer that he didn’t even notice the brush thickening around him and the arch that he walked through.

“Damn it all, not again.” Matt said as he sensed the mana suddenly change and found himself in a clearing again. This clearing didn’t have a cabin, instead having what looked like a manor with brick walls, small windows and a very heavily built door. With a sigh, he approached the front of the building, seeing the door open and a tall woman step out and onto the wide walkway.

The woman was not only tall but very well-muscled, traps and arms well defined even through the long sleeve shirt she wore. She was wearing what looked like a long sleeve green t-shirt, black jeans and some sort of boot. Immediately Matt noticed the difference between her and Hal. Even her red hair was cut on the shorter side and pulled back into a ponytail. She stopped a few meters from the door and waited for Matt to approach.

“I guess I’ll cut to the chase and get this started.” Matt began once he was close enough. She smirked and raised an eyebrow at him. “Hi, I’m Matt, a pilot and am traveling with my construct, Van, and my friend Tobias.”

“Well met Matt.” She began. “You are indeed a bold one. Why don’t you come in so we may discuss matters further.” The last part wasn’t a question, but it wasn’t a demand either. To Matt it seemed like the next line in a script being read.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Matt said, following her inside and noticing a stark difference to the House Hal had shown them. The interior of Hal’s cabin had been decorated like a very modern high-rise apartment, right down to the modern art. This house in contrast was much cozier or perhaps homy was the word. The brick ended, replaced by bright colored walls and wood floors, a large entry way had several doors leading to what Matt assumed was the rest of the house.

As the goddess led Matt through the home, he began getting nostalgic for his adoptive parents’ house. It wasn’t any one thing about the house that did it, but the entire ambiance of walking through made him feel safe. After a walk through the halls, whey entered a sitting room or maybe it would be called a lounge. There was a fireplace on the far wall, logs stacked but unlit, with a flagstone hearth. The goddess sat in one of the armchairs near the fire and gestured for Matt to take a seat across from her.

Matt stood his rifle in the corner behind the offered chair before saying. “I don’t mean to be rude, but Van and Tobias are waiting for me, not sure if they will panic at me being gone overly long.” Matt really hoped she wouldn’t take offense at that, but he decided being upfront would be a good policy for interacting with gods who could end him with a thought. It turned out he had nothing to worry about.

“Matt, you have nothing to worry about. Time is nearly stopped in the outside world, or I should say, its accelerated in here.” Her voice was rich and smooth but felt like there was an edge just beneath the surface. “Even that stag you tracked is just on the other side of the clearing, ready for when we are done here.”

“Ah, well, in that case lets proceed.” Matt said.

She gave that same smirk before she started. “I am known as The Eternal Warden, but my given name is Victoria. My friends call me Tori, though not in public.”

“Are we friends?”

“I think that yet remains to be determined, young pilot. I have high hopes for our future together, but we have some things to iron out first. I have been watching you for several days, ever since Kran En’Halkath brought you to my attention.”

Matt just stared at her. “Hal told you about me, what was in it for him?”

Victoria hummed and tilted her head from side to side as if debating on what to say. “How can I put it, Hal is a merchant and as such he has quite the nose for good business. We have interacted before in a professional capacity, I never could associate with the merchant types for too long, nothing against them but we don’t get along. There is also the fact that I have a reputation as well as the suppression effect even over other gods.”

“So, I’m just a bargaining chip for you two?” Matt asked, trying to keep his tone neutral over the thought of being nothing more than property to be traded.

“Oh, no. Not in the slightest. He traded information not your patronage. The agreement we make will be between us and no one else.” She looked a little abashed at how Matt read the situation. “As I said, I have been watching you to get a feel for who you are as a person as well as your capabilities.”

“Yeah, about that, it’s a little creepy that you were just spying on us. We knew that Hal was looking in since Tobias is blessed, but I didn’t think others would be.” Matt said, trying not to shiver at the complete loss of operational security.

“Matt, this is the first phase of the integration, all the gods can look in on you mortals. This is how they find those that they want to extend offers to and form partnerships with. Besides, you don’t seem to mind the System watching everything you do. They are limited in the information they can give others however, I can’t tell you what someone else is up to on another continent.” Victoria explained.

“In that case, let’s move on. Why were you watching me for days?”

“Honestly, I would have kept watching but you are progressing at a startling pace. I’m of half a mind that the tutorial is too soft on the others, granted they have other things to focus on besides fighting but that’s semantics. It is important to me that I met you before you reached your E grade evolution.” Victoria laid that right out for Matt but went on before he could ask why.

“The reason I wanted to meet you before that is because I think I can offer more than just a blessing. Having seen how you fight and how you act, I would like to make you my prime apprentice. Its not just a blessing but also a legacy, a method in which I help you more than you help me.” Victoria said.

Matt asked what that entailed, and Victoria went on to explain that as her prime apprentice he would have many more opportunities for the future. Where a normal blessing had some impact on a person’s experience, it was a mostly one-way street with the divine being that gave the blessing getting the most from the experience gain. A prime apprentice would gain more than the divine being not only in the way of experience but also from knowledge.

Victoria then said that she didn’t need the power, though she would get some, she had plenty already. What she wanted was an ally for the future, playing the very long game. She refused to elaborate on what she needed an ally for because the System wouldn’t let her until phase 2 of the integration.

“You know Matt, I am allied with several pilots that became gods and they would have killed for the start you had. I believe it’s in part to your worlds influence and what weapons and armor they have but also the choice for your Core Enhancement. It normally comes later but to start with an awakened core is brilliant.” Victoria said after explaining her position on why she wanted to make him a “Prime” as they called them.

“Yeah, it’s defiantly been helpful, but I don’t really have much to compare to, I haven’t met any other pilots or anyone for that matter.” Matt replied, sounding a little tired toward the end.

“Oh, don’t worry, you will meet other initiates soon.” She said in a very comforting yet mysterious tone.

They continued talking for a while longer, Matt asking questions about the relationship and about her in general. She was a combat god, her focus was on those that stood strong against dangers, hence the bit about being a warden in her title. She also said that for this part of the 1st phase, she couldn’t offer much in the way of tutelage and nothing in terms of material support but that would change in phase 2.

Matt addressed his major concern about gods and blessings. “So, what happens if I do something you don’t like?”

She gave him the side eye. “What do you mean?”

“Like, if I decide not to engage an enemy because it’s too strong. Or having to break contact from a superior enemy like with the spiders.” Matt said, giving some examples. He could feel her aura expanding after his question but then receded almost instantly when he gave examples.

“Ah, well that’s not really a problem, just don’t sacrifice others to a fight and completely abandon them for no reason.” Victoria answered, easing up on the glare. “Not every fight is winnable and there is no valor in needless sacrifice. Dying for honor is a major factor in why so few initiates make it to C grade let alone the higher grades.”

“Good to know.” Matt was happy that he wasn’t going to have to be some zealot for this to work.

“Matt, we are very aligned, as much as an F grade mortal and a god can be.” Victoria began in a soothing tone. “We are more than just focused into the same path; our values and beliefs are also similar. I don’t know much about your life outside the System and don’t need to right now, you can share later if you want. Failure is to be expected at some point, not every fight is winnable. “

“You would know better than I do.” Matt said. All around, he was feeling pretty good about this. His aura sensing ability had shown her to always be honest except for the questions that the system wouldn’t let her answer.

“Indeed, I do.” Victoria began. “Now, Matt, do you accept my blessing and to become my prime apprentice?”

Matt nodded and she reached forward, touching the pad of her thumb to his forehead, holding it there. He felt a tingling warmth spread from the spot and flow through him. He closed his eyes and tried to sense what was happening. It was like the incident with the venom, but his internal energies didn’t fight the golden glow spreading through him. The energy was also not trying to kill him, instead doing something that Matt wasn’t completely sure of. Once the warmth reached the end of his extremities, Victoria pulled her hand away and Matt opened his eyes.

To Matt it looked like Victoria was a little tired, like she could use a nap or a very large cup of coffee. “That really took a lot out of you, didn’t it?” He asked.

“Yes, but I will recover in a few moments.” Victoria said before leaning back and observing him. “Take a look at your notifications while we wait.”

Blessing Received: The Eternal Warden.

Blessed is those who hold the line.

Matt reviewed the simple message before saying. “Pretty straight forward if you ask me.”

Victoria laughed. “This is why I wanted to get to you before E grade. As you grow, the complexity of the blessing and its legacy grows. This is but the first part of a greater saga. In time, you will influence it with your own deeds and the power of your will.” She was starting to look better, having regained much of the color in her face.

They continued to make small talk for a while longer. Matt learned how to commune with her for future talks or when he needed to get ahold of her. It would take some mana, and some other materials were required. He also spoke broadly of earth’s history, catching her up on some major events. It turned out that the last time she had been there was some time in the 9th century. Matt found that interesting since so much had changed since then which led him to asking a question that had been on his mind.

“What does fighting look like at the higher ranks?” Matt asked. Wanting to know how much would change for his future style of combat.

Victoria hummed while she thought about how to answer. “It’s much the same as what you know right now but the power scale is much larger. A fight between two B grades could easily level the forest you have been walking through. Weapons might change a bit as you develop into higher levels of technology. Speaking of which, go easy on the others you meet, you had a great head start over them.”

“I will keep it in mind. Can I ask your opinion on what to use my upgrade tokens on?”

“Ah, I was wondering if you would ask. If I were you, I would upgrade your helmet. That will give you the most improvement to your fighting right now. It will also allow some crossover to the construct, but I fear it will not work when you disembark.”

Matt thought for a minute on that. “Are you sure I shouldn’t use it on my tomahawk?”

“Ah, extra-System beings and your disregard for grade suppression. A normal mortal would not question my suggestion, but I am glad you did. I don’t want a yes-man, and this shows you are very much a free thinker.” Victoria seemed genuinely happy at his question. “Is your, um, tom-hawk, your most powerful weapon?” Matt shook his head and she continued. “While it may be very effective, it’s not your main fighting weapon, so no. This is also considering your rifle, while it could be upgraded, it would not give you much more of a tactical advantage right now.”

“Ok, I see your point. I’ll use it on the ole bucket when I get back to camp.” Matt said. “Thanks for the advice, I’ll consider my equipment more carefully in the future.”

“A wise decision.” Victoria said with a sage nod of her head. “Now I think we are about out of time here. Come, grab your gear and I will show you out.”

They walked back to the front door and stepped outside. Matt could just see the stag, just past the edge of the clearing, facing broadside to him. He turned to his host and patron and said his goodbyes. “Thanks for everything Victoria. I guess I will be hearing from you soon.” He said and extended his hand to her.

“Please, just Tori. It was nice to finally meet you in person Matt. Good luck and don’t die too soon.’ She replied as she took his hand, giving a firm shake with a sly grin.

Matt laughed, shoved his helmet back on and unslung his rifle before pulling the viper hood back over and activating the camouflage enchantment. He turned toward the deer, seeing the cabin wink out of existence in his rear camera. Taking careful aim, he put a single round in the deer’s head, dropping it where it stood. He decided to gut it there rather than back at camp, so he went about the messy business.

The walk back was indeed simple, he was able to follow his own tracks right back to the cave entrance where Tobias had already set up a fire. Van was the first to greet him upon his return since Tobias had his nose pressed firmly into a book.

“Matt, something is different. What did you get up to out there?” The core asked as the mech’s head turned to face him.

“Had a little divine encounter. Help me string this up and I’ll tell you all about it.”