They began by heading North, through the great woods and to the smaller border villages near where they’d faced the thunder drake months earlier. Along the way they took out any large groups of monsters they could find, acquiring as many points as possible. It was a big journey, and meant weeks together in close quarters, but it felt different.
It was fun.
The group was far less worried about the competition or learning to work together. They’d already done that, and been tested, facing an army of undead that should have been their end. While there was still plenty of room for refinement and new tactics, there was an ease to it that hadn’t been there before.
They laughed together, went out of the way to help one another, and fought with a camaraderie that could only be earned. Even Cara was slowly coming out of her shell–at significant prompting from Selina–and would engage in the good-natured teasing that seemed to be the group’s way.
It was a strange feeling for Ethan. He knew there was more ahead of him, even impossibly ambitious tasks, but for once the intensity of the role he’d been put in seemed reduced. He wasn’t worrying about being the prince’s body double, he wasn’t even that worried about Ellevaro’s schemes. He was just living life a day at a time, slaying monsters, helping people, and growing stronger.
He almost felt free, and true freedom felt attainable for the first time.
That didn’t mean they weren’t hard at work, of course, as each member of the group had their own focus. The chance to enter the Forgotten City had seemed distant before, if alluring, but now it loomed large, and each one of them wanted to be ready for the challenges and opportunities it would bring.
Valanor was painfully aware of his missing Bond and stunted abilities, and threw himself entirely into the effort of making himself the best Vanguard possible. The only real difference was being able to move his shield, but Ethan saw quickly how important that was.
Before, Valanor had essentially been nothing but a single living shield. He had to take every hit–and could–but managed little else. He was also forced to shift his entire position in order to keep the enemy in front of him, but the techwork device on his arm changed this. He was deflecting strikes now, and able to move his body and shield independently. It amounted to him being able to keep far more enemy attention on himself, and with less effort. Despite the helmet, Ethan would have sworn the man was smiling during combat now.
Savilar’s focus was largely just trying to find a place for himself in a group he wasn’t a perfect fit for–ironic given it was his team. He could no longer keep up with Cara or Ethan for damage, and Valanor needed him less and less to tank. For a time the Rift Hunter shifted his focus to protecting Selina and guarding their backs, but the Runemistress’s new mobility power made that far less necessary.
She’d gained two new abilities while Ethan had been training for the duel, though she was hesitant to get more without her final Bond. The group had gently pushed her toward finding her last Familiar before the City, but she was adamant that she not pick the wrong one. Given the Bond could be with her for centuries, they weren’t going to insist on their own timeline, despite the advantages that Dawn rank would bring.
Regardless, she had little trouble keeping up with the group given the supportive nature of her role. Not only was she growing increasingly proficient with her shields, but her new afflictions made the rest of the team even more potent. Ethan and Cara found their targets dropping more quickly than ever, and certainly had no complaints.
The Archer’s goals were simpler: Dusk rank. She’d unlocked all of her abilities years ago, but had rarely been in a position to push herself. She had protected the same villages from the same monsters, with no time to pursue specific challenges. As such, she’d stagnated, with all of her powers being stuck around the fifth and sixth Dawn.
Like Ethan, she struggled little with understanding and communing with her Familiars, but her powers had refused to move forward without being used in new and novel ways. An uncomfortable truth was that Hunters needed to walk the line between life and death to really see growth, and those opportunities had been rare for her. That was no longer the case.
In their first week on the road they hunted forty-three monsters, clearing seventeen Notices. Of those, many were entirely new experiences for Cara, and she quickly saw results. She quietly hoped that her most important ability, at least–her conjured bow–would reach First Dusk before the Grand Tournament came to an end in a few weeks.
Ethan was in the same boat, with a similarly narrow focus. He only needed one more Mystic ability to complete his entire power set, and had his eyes out for the elusive light. But he also had two particular powers that he desperately wanted to reach First Dusk before entering the city.
The first was [Volatile Infusion], the very first Flare ability he’d unlocked. It had been a staple of Ethan’s combat style since his first days as a Hunter, and he’d found numerous uses for it. From its most basic, intended purpose of leaving traps for enemies to step on, to charging daggers for deadly long range attacks and distractions, it had done a lot for him.
Unfortunately it was starting to become eclipsed by his other powers. It couldn’t match the raw power of his Ruin Affinity, and despite the challenge of preparing a [Nova], the resulting explosions made his daggers comparatively weak. He was counting on the Dusk evolution changing all that.
His other focus was also an early ability, as he really wanted to improve [Internal Combustion]. While it was one of his weakest abilities on the surface, it was now a crucial part of his power set due to its synergies. [Volcanic Bolt] would multiply its stacks, and [Nova] was entirely dependent on it to function. Meanwhile it amplified the damage of both.
As such, Ethan spent the majority of the hunts trying to fight almost exclusively with those two Flare powers. It was frustrating, and not something he could risk doing in the truly dangerous encounters, but by the time they’d reached two weeks on the road, it had already paid off.
Ethan Bishop [Assassin] (6th Dawn: 89%)
Ruin Affinity: (3/4)
- Knife in the Dark (8th Dawn: 89%)
- Fleeting Shadow (7th Dawn: 64%)
- Assassination (6th Dawn: 61%)
- Gain 1 more ability to unlock!
Devee [Mind of the Devourer] (First Dusk: 0%)
Dimension Affinity (4/4)
- Rift (8th Dawn: 76%)
- Dimensional Mantle (7th Dawn: 23%)
- Hydra's Reflection (7th Dawn: 81%)
- Unstable Bleed (First Dawn: 93%)
Revan [Body of the Guardian] (9th Dawn: 23%)
Flare Affinity (4/4):
- Volatile Infusion (8th Dawn: 92%)
- Internal Combustion (First Dusk: 0%)
- Volcanic Bolt (5th Dawn: 42%)
- Nova (2nd Dawn: 78%)
Onitomo [Soul of the Mystic] (First Dusk: 0%)
Mystic: (3/4)
- Trick of the Light (8th Dawn: 34%)
- Many-Faced Blade (First Dusk: 0%)
- Ghost in the Reeds (6th Dawn: 64%)
- Locked
Additional Status
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Skills: (3)
- Wall Climbing (9th Dawn: 72%)
- Predator’s Gaze (5th Dawn: 54%)
- Hand of Unknown (Locked/Broken)
Titles
- Fools Rush In
- Checkmate
- Flaw Seeker
- Synergist
As the rest of the group settled into tents on a green hilltop, the fading sunlight painting the sky a fitting Dusk orange, Ethan examined his new skill with excitement and trepidation.
Ability Evolution!
Ability: [Internal Combustion] (First Dusk: 0%)
Type: Flare, Debuff, Damage over Time
For a small ongoing mana cost, you may apply an instance of [Internal Combustion] with each successful melee attack. Targets afflicted with [Internal Combustion] will take a small amount of Fire damage, and become more susceptible to Fire and Lightning attacks. Additional hits will apply more instances of this affliction, and refresh existing instances.
Dusk Evolution: Every time an instance of [Internal Combustion] is applied, there is a low chance of applying an additional instance to a separate, nearby target. For an increased mana cost, the odds of activating this secondary function may be increased to high. If no other enemies are present, new instance will be applied to the primary target.
Ethan grinned in satisfaction. There were a lot of ways this could have gone that he would have been happy with, but this was perfection. It would give him a little more edge when it came to sustained damage–his greatest weakness–but also provide an excellent way to finally make some area attacks.
He doubted he’d ever be specialized in that style of combat; he’d seen what that looked like when the border guard had wiped out fields of undead. But that didn’t stop his team from encountering large groups of enemies, and now he’d really have a way to contribute. One that didn’t involve hopping in and out stealth dozens of times, and leaping about like a maniac. That had its place, and frankly it had its charms, but efficient it was not.
He was still imagining what the next large fight might look like when Savilar exited his tent suddenly.
“I need to head back to Corvale immediately,” he declared. The rest of the group quickly came to join him–the last time he’d made such a pronouncement, an army of undead was on its way.
“Trouble?” Valanor asked.
“Just my duties requiring me,” Sav replied. “You can all keep hunting, if you wish. I shouldn’t be long, and we can arrange to meet up again.”
“Showers?” Selina said, looking a little desperate.
“It has been two weeks,” Cara agreed. “We stayed close to the capital for this exact reason, and I wouldn’t mind getting some new supplies. Food is becoming the same meal three times a day.”
“We’ve spoiled you, Archer,” Ethan said with a laugh. “Didn’t you used to live off of rabbits and twigs?”
“Keep talking, Bishop, and I’ll stop catching fresh meat for the group.”
“I’ll be good,” he said hastily.
Valanor sighed. “We’ll go back with you, Sav. Not a bad idea to check the scoreboards and evaluate the new Notices.”
Strangely, the Rift Hunter didn’t seem happy for the company. He might be more bothered by his fifth-wheel role in the group than I realized, Ethan thought.
“Very well, but I mean immediately. That means breaking camp, and riding past dark.”
“You heard the man, let’s move it, everyone!” Valanor barked in his drill sergeant voice.
***
Ethan didn’t mind the unusual travel, moving through the kingdom at night. He was able to ride in the wagon with Selina and Cara, happily watching the stars as the team moved swiftly back to Corvale. He was increasingly enjoying moments like these, feeling the intense need for momentum slowly leaving him.
It wasn’t that his desire to grow stronger or achieve his goals had lessened by any degree, but the time pressure was finally relieved, and it was giving him a clarity of vision he’d been lacking. The looming threat of the duel was gone, and he saw true freedom on the horizon. For the first time he was able to look at everything in front of him, and decide for himself what the best course of action would be. That simply wasn’t possible when a voice kept saying ‘but if you don’t focus on this you’ll probably die next month’.
As such, he found himself in a good mood after eating, bathing, and sleeping in. He allowed himself to be distracted by the feeling of a fresh start, which was why he didn’t notice the crowd gathering immediately, as he stood at a stall in the market square. Only when the merchant hurried him along before she could go join the growing mass of people did he realize what was going on.
There was a church procession coming. It was going to happen again.
This time he didn’t let himself get caught up in the crowd, pushing past the dour townsfolk as they slowly made their way to the other side of the market. Ethan knew this stuff happened now, and had chosen how he’d fight against it; he didn’t need to see it again.
He had nearly left the square when he paused though. It could be Gloria, he thought, thinking of the kind woman who ran the underground group of healers. He quivered slightly with frustration. He’d needed to avoid the group since he’d been discovered as a Doctor, and hadn’t seen Gloria or her family in months. Ethan was watched too closely, and until recently he’d had nothing to contribute. But he needed to know.
Furious, he found a place to wait. It was out of the way so he could make a quick exit, but with a clear view of the wooden platform that had been set up for the spectacle. He felt his face heat up and hand drift to his weapons as High Priest Abigail appeared, moving up the stairs, and surrounded by the Church’s knights. With effort Ethan controlled himself, but it involved promising himself revenge a half dozen times to do so.
Finally the prisoner came into view, being escorted by the white knight himself, with his distinct red cloak. Ethan couldn’t stop himself from glaring at the Church warrior. The last time he’d seen the man had been when he’d executed Glenn, and the images were seared into Ethan’s skull.
Surprisingly, the knight seemed to spot Ethan as well. He was climbing the stairs when he glanced over at the empty food stall Ethan was hovering near, and did something of a double take. So you remember me too? Ethan thought, wondering how many healers and supposed-healers had fallen to the man’s golden blade.
There was something else though, in the exchange. The knight looked away from him quickly…as if with shame? Was he used to his anonymity, and the obvious accusation in Ethan’s eyes gave him a small touch of guilt? Maybe it had been executing other knights. Ethan didn’t understand the cross-over between the orders, but Savilar had been part of both organizations, so it was possible the man had even known Glenn and Maggie.
Regardless, the strange interaction tickled something in Ethan’s mind, and for a time he couldn’t take his gaze from the white knight in the red cape. Conversely, the man kept his eyes locked on the woman before him, seeming to refuse to risk looking in Ethan’s direction again. Ethan made the uncomfortable decision at that point to look into something he hoped to be wrong about.
The odd moment was distracting enough that Ethan almost forgot the reason he’d risked staying. Finally he examined the poor woman being brought to the platform and let out a relieved breath when he realized he didn’t recognize her. Not willing to stay a moment longer, he quickly turned and moved down another street. He couldn’t help that woman, but resolved once again that he would help everyone when he brought the Church down.
He had barely moved a dozen paces, however, when he felt someone grab his arm. Ethan turned in surprise to see Mary, the red headed daughter of Gloria and Sam, and someone he’d begun to train as a Doctor.
“Where have you been?” she said without preamble. Ethan’s eyes darted in every direction, relieved to see they were mostly alone on the street. He guided her off to the side, hoping they weren’t too conspicuous between a pair of buildings.
“We can’t be seen together,” he said hurriedly.
“No one knows who I am,” Mary said with the dismissive certainty of youth. “Now tell me where you’ve been! You abandoned us! You made us think we’d finally found a path forward. True healing! Then you disappeared!”
Ethan had to stop himself from clamping a hand over the girl’s mouth to silence her. “You need to keep your voice down,” he said. Seeing her building steam for another rant, he quickly held up his hand before her face, showing off the ugly burn scars from the brand. “They found me, Mary. They figured out what I could do, and they took it away.”
That finally seemed to reach her, and she quieted. “How are you alive?” she whispered. “Why aren’t you up on that platform?”
“Too much to explain. They still need something from me, or I’d be long dead. But never mind that. They’re tracking me, Mary. They keep tabs on me, and I can’t go anywhere near–” He cut himself off, not willing to risk saying anything specific. “It’s too dangerous to be around me. You understand?”
She nodded quickly, her eyes now darting around in suspicion. “I’ll tell my dad and mum,” she said, then turned and raced off without another word. Ethan let out a relieved breath as she did so, likewise looking around to confirm they hadn’t been overheard. Seeing no one, he resumed his trip home, making sure to take a different route than Mary had.
His mind was racing in every direction as he neared the cozy cottage. He was considering the logistics of writing some kind of medical textbook, or even learning how to make knowledge runes when he saw Selina waiting in front of the house. “Selina!” he called, moving more quickly. He’d already planned to visit the Runemistress, and this saved a trip.
“Do you know if the Runic Guild keeps records of the Church executions? There’s something I need to check.”
She shook her head in confusion. “Um, hello Ethan, good to see you too. Yes we keep those records, but it’ll have to wait.”
“Sorry, hi. What’s going on?”
“The team needs to move out, and quickly. Something has dislodged a large group of monsters, and we’re being sent to help.”
Ethan’s mind immediately snapped in focus. “Alright, lead the way. Where are these monsters headed?”
She paused slightly before answering. “Toward the farming community you always call Shawarma Village.”