Skandr didn't have time to use Lightning Reflexes on the two melee fighters as the gnolls burst out of hiding. Thoughts of why they were hiding in the first place, complaints about what was doing this, everything, it all bled away. Astrid raised her shield and hammer and waded into battle. However, two packs of gnolls from the first floor were far from dangerous enough to be particularly dangerous to the party now. Five gnolls, levels 6 and 7? Easy to kill. Astrid and Muti strode out, dealing death with almost punitive ease. The single level they'd gained was far from enough to allow them to deal with the gnolls like Astrid had to the wargs in Schteldt, but the increase to their Power and Fortitude specifically helped the pair to cripple and kill more easily while risking fewer injuries.
A part of Astrid wondered what she could do now if she'd taken Armor Mastery or Tough Skin. In moments like this, she'd be nearly impossible for the gnolls to harm in any meaningful way, and she could just shred through them with reckless abandon. But those Skills wouldn't serve her goal in the long term. As Skandr crippled the sole ranger that stood with its bow raised and Muti struck it down, Astrid couldn't help but cast her mind forward for a moment. She'd been in Kznietch for a little over a month and a half, and she'd gained over a level and a half. Would it be just four more months before she passed the benchmark at level 11 and evolved Quick Recovery to Bronze?
At that point, she'd be higher level than most of the people she ever saw in the streets. Higher level than all but 20 or so of the citizens from Stalhardt, and she could walk around stronger, faster, and more dangerous than most people in her hometown. It would be amazing if Ahna would have gained a single level by then. And then the next level would probably take her best friend another two years to gain. By the time Ahna even reached her first watershed level of 6, it would have been at least ten years, probably closer to fifteen.
And a year from now, Astrid wanted to be looking at Iron tier.
She thought about what her Skills could merge into with her Class's evolution. She thought about the possible futures she could create for herself. Could she be some sort of Knight who fought for honor? Or a Paladin who protected the innocents? Perhaps she could even find a way to dabble in magic and become something like a fabled Runic Warrior or an Earthshaking Destroyer. She'd never heard of that second one, but the reality was that Astrid, with every day, grew richer and stronger and just… different from who she'd always been. She left her friends behind, and now she delved with a Barbarian, one of the people she'd always feared and hated.
Muti stepped behind Astrid, and it was only because the Warrior saw her approach that Astrid knew that she'd been successfully "tricked" by the Rogue's practice. The teeth and fangs were in the bag, she knew. Nodding appreciatively to herself, she held her hands out for the results from Skandr's harvesting and then put them away. Before she could close it, though, Muti's hand darted in and dropped her own harvest into the bag. She grinned, though it was more of a baring of her jagged, sharp teeth than a more Human smile.
"You have grown co… complacent." Muti said, her eyes glinting. "There will be many opportunities for me to teach you to be focused and aware that patterns change."
Astrid groaned, knowing the pain that she was in for with that phrase. "Whenever you say something like that, I know you're going to make me miserable."
"I will make you learn." Muti corrected. "Our bond persists! I will grant you learning as you grant me shelter under the shade of your tree."
"If that's what you want, I'll listen to what you have to teach." Astrid waved off her companion as they set off towards the exit from the Dungeon.. "Skandr, what did you think of the variation you made in your spell today?"
"Too slow for the second wave, and the increase in potency doesn't matter for the opening salvo. It's too small to make any marked difference, at least, not with the enemies we're fighting on the second floor. Maybe, on the fourth or fifth, it'd be enough to merit the additional manaspend and doubled casting time. For now, it's a dud."
Astrid knew what he was saying, but more and more she was grateful she didn't turn out as a Mage or Wizard. She just wanted to get better Skills and maybe get a Class that would let her use a little bit of magic. Was that too much to ask? Maybe… Just… something that would let her use her mana, at least? She had it, and it just did nothing!
"Do you have any more iterations on it that you're thinking of testing?" Astrid asked as she kept an eye on Muti. The Rogue had hated and cursed herself for her failure to detect their ambusher those weeks ago. She focused more and more on the world outside of themselves as she fought to ensure there wasn't another who managed to harm them in the same way once again. It was admirable, and Astrid kept her attention on Muti more than on the surroundings, trusting her companion to find anything that Astrid herself would have been able to.
"No. There are other ideas, but with my limited understanding and Skills…" Skandr shrugged. "At 11, I'll be able to upgrade Mana Sense or Mana Manipulation, so those in tandem with general Lightning Magic at Bronze will allow me to experiment and find out more things. It's exciting, really! I mean, I had my little hopes for the Class and all, but seeing that I actually have a future again is just… I love it!"
"Then let us know when you're ready to begin testing again."
"I will not participate."
"Yes, Muti, I know you hate magic. That's not the point! I'm just happy!"
"And I'm willing to help you out, Skandr, so that should be enough. At least, until we can find another two party members."
Muti squinted a little, but did agree.
"I don't know if we'll be able to find a frontliner here." Skandr grunted. "There could be someone, but I doubt they haven't been picked up. Even Markus's party struggles to find anyone to frontline with them."
"And there's no way we're finding anyone in a supporting role either." Astrid shrugged, their steps skirting around the detection area for a pack of gnolls.
"So we'll be stuck together like this."
"For now. Not that I mind too much."
The two Humans laughed as Muti continued leading the path back to the city.
***
Klara
Different from when she was around other people, Klara settled into her "delver" mentality. There was an enemy here. She couldn't see, smell, hear, taste, or feel his presence. Even so, he was here. His shadow darkened the light of her town, and he threatened her people. He would tear the life from those who she'd vowed to protect. And she would find him and let the sun scorch every vestige of life from his corpse. After all, that was what all people knew she would do to any misbegotten idiot who crossed her in her territory.
Her nearly invisible "eyes" spread through Kznietch. She kept them high in the sky for now, as she didn't want to deliberately tip off the enemy that she was searching right this moment. They already knew she knew they were here. She'd made small hints obvious after a week of no news or sign of the interloper. It was almost a pity that they hadn't just decided to try to assassinate their targets while taking the rest with them. If they had, though there would have been at least one death, she could have tracked the subtle marks she kept on each of her delvers to find and kill the agent.
It was heartless, but that was life. She'd mourn their deaths, and she'd move on without remorse. As it was, Klara kept her eyes and "eyes" peeled for any movement. The three potential targets were delving, so it was the most likely time for her enemy to make his move. In a way, it was exciting. After all, it'd been decades since she'd thrown herself at the enemy. Even though she probably wouldn't ever cross the threshold to evolve to Mithril tier, she certainly could still kill a couple idiots who got big for their britches.
And who knew. Maybe their experience would somehow become what was necessary for Klara to finally see level 91. For now, though, Astrid and Skandr were talking to each other as they stepped out of the Dungeon. Muti was keeping an eye out, though it was obvious that her two companions weren't distracted either. Klara watched until they were safely in her inn, and then she closed her eyes and truly felt her body in the bath. It was still warm, as it should be, and she allowed herself a small smile before sinking back and leaning against the wall.
***
"Then that will be 10 silver and 8 copper, reduced to 7 silver and 6 copper." Anders pulled the money out of his desk as always, laying it out on the table in three stacks. Muti's was, as always, smaller than the other two's, but she didn't complain. Instead, they all pooled the cash together, Skandr taking 2 silver for himself to pay towards the loan. Seemingly, Aarta wasn't as angry or pushy now as he used to be, given the dire straits that Skandr and his party were in now. In fact, sometimes Skandr reported that the Lemur Kin was downright friendly and accommodating.
"As a point of congratulations," Anders continued, "you've now paid off half of the value of the potion. Just a couple more weeks like you've been and you'll be completely clear of the debt to the Guild."
"Thank you." Astrid nodded. "Now, I think we'll get some food and call it a night after we finish our daily errands."
The three of them would go to make the 2 silver payment for Skandr's debt before returning for the night. The three party members now had rooms directly beside each other's and though they often took their dinners at different times and places, they would see each other to ensure that nobody had suddenly gone missing. Astrid accepted a letter delivered to Tomas the bartender as they walked past. It would be from her parents, going off the usual schedule. She'd read through the report in the safety of her room, and placed the letter inside her armor as they walked out.
Walking through the city towards the center, there was a certain air of seediness. Astrid hadn't ever trained to be a guard or a militia member, but she knew the signs. Her mother had long talked about the signs of a dissident and of a city that had allowed that corruption to spread. Here, only a few blocks were tainted by the touch of the terrible, but it was obvious to her.
Finally, as they walked up to the alley where one of Aarta's men would be, Astrid felt something crawl up her neck. The feeling of being evaluated, though not in a way that she could remember ever having experienced before. As her two party members reacted the same way, she looked all around herself. When she turned completely around, there stood Aarta.
For the first time, Astrid saw the Kin in the light of day, and she was… unimpressed.
There was nothing about the creature that communicated power, strength of mind or character, or anything more than… maybe its existence. The Lemur's face was long and pointed, with fur and whiskers on its snout. Two fuzzy ears poked out of the top of its head, and faint stripes coursed through its hair. Its eyes were large and unsettling, and its small body was shaped just… strangely. It was distinctly not Human, and it set Astrid's teeth on edge. With Muti, she didn't feel nearly so uncomfortable, but maybe it was just time and exposure.
"Hello, friends." It nodded. "I see you are here, Skandr. More payment to make?"
"Yeah." He sighed. "This is all we can manage for now."
"You need to eat! To sleep! To buy weapons! You do not need to worry about this! You have gotten so much better, no?"
"A little, but not enough. I just don't want this hanging over my head, you know?"
"Mmm. Like a Feline, ready to pounce. Something dangerous above you, no?" Aarta nodded knowingly. Astrid wasn't sure how to feel about it.
"Sorta." Skandr replied. "So, here's the payment."
"No, I won't accept it. I must allow you to eat! Take five days, no interest! On Aarta!"
"I couldn't accept that!"
"But I insist!"
"Even so, I couldn't. I need to take care of myself and my people!"
"And you can do that with more money, no?"
It was the same discussion the two had every time they met, supposedly. When the Lemur had brought it up the first time, Skandr had scrambled to accept the offer, but when Aarta had then pulled out a thick parchment to sign on, he'd gotten cold feet.
"—then I will accept your words." Aarta said, waving his hands. "You are too soft! You must be hard to delve! That is what everyone says, and you should take advantage of me whenever you can!"
"Take advantage? Not of my old friend!" Skandr replied. "Now, we're going to eat and sleep. It's been a busy day."
"Then rest well friends. I am glad to have seen you!"
The Lemur walked away, three large guards in tow. Before long, they were gone, and the party turned on their heels and left the Kin's territory. Astrid suppressed a shudder as they left, and as soon as they escaped his territory, she felt she could breathe more easily. She suspected him, but she also realized that she was biased enough against him to think so even if she had no good reason to do so. He did have some motive, though, and every one of his moves seemed to be calculated to grant him the greatest amount of leverage and power over others as possible.
In front of them, Muti, as always, growled and bared her teeth at whoever she thought merited the treatment, which was, incidentally, everyone who crossed their path. The Barbarian took great care to offer safety and security to her people, and she would continue in the front of the party to keep any potential sources of danger back. Astrid had long since given up on attempting to dissuade her of that. She strode into the inn and towards the bar, where she placed the regular order
"Tomas, five servings for now. Three of meat."
Delving days got servings of meat, and Muti always loved to indulge in the red meat. She would, if given permission, eat all the meat she could lay her hands on, but Astrid and Skandr refused to spend the extra coppers if they weren't going to be getting the benefit as well as their Rogue. Muti pouted, but didn't make any trouble. Instead, she looked longingly at the others just as soon as she'd scarfed down her own meat, all the while shoveling more and more of her hearty soup into her mouth. It didn't matter how far away they were, she would do it.
This day, like most, passed with the three eating, though Skandr went to sit with several of the people he knew from before Astrid and Muti had shown up while Astrid nodded at Muti as the Warrior settled beside Markus and Bogdan's party. They were good company, and Astrid always enjoyed the time spent together. Before she could sit down and really settle into the food, though, a flicker of light settled across her bowl. She didn't pay it any attention at first, but when it flashed another two times, she groaned and accepted her fate.
"Getting summoned?" Bogdan chuckled. "You should go."
"I will." She grumbled back, lifting the bowl to her mouth and drinking the hot soup as if it weren't something that needed to be chewed. Turns out, with enough determination and hearty swallowing, that could be considered barely true.
"Take care of my bowl?"
"Sure." Markus laughed. "I got summoned last week. We were about to go out."
"Yeah, yeah. Your life is so hard." Astrid chuckled. "Least you got to taste your food!"
"Fair enough. I concede. Have fun."
Astrid growled good naturedly as she strode down the hall to the mysterious reason for her summons.