The Pinnacle Warrior

Just before she approved the selection of Quick Recovery, Astrid asked the Great One for an explanation of the change in the Skill, making the Skill description flash in front of her.

Quick Recovery, Bronze: Increases the passive rate of mana, health, and stamina recovery by 40%. Once per hour, the Skill’s holder can activate the Skill to recover 20% of all mana, health and stamina.

Astrid smiled as she gave her permission for the Skill to be upgraded. As it sublimated to a greater tier, there wasn’t much of an instant change in the way that she felt. Of course, she could feel herself become less tired, but that could just as easily be attributed to the increase in her attributes, as well as the fact that she’d just gained a level. Even so, that change, if it existed, didn’t matter. Instead, what would be most impactful in combat was that biggest change: now, when she used the active aspect of the Skill, it recovered twice as much. Yes, the Skill wasn’t flashy as the Skills she wanted and would need against Iron tier monsters and it still could only be activated once per hour, but this Skill was why she’d been able to survive any number of difficult situations. It was why she’d progressed through Schteldt’s Dungeon branch, and it was how she’d survived the surge there. This upgrade meant her recovery was reduced from her being able to get back to her peak in ten hours to only five, and that was a percentage instead of having her recovery slow more and more as she gained levels and her body became more inhuman. All this also wasn’t counting the way that her passive recovery bonus had doubled as well.

“After that, we didn’t need to go hunt any more, gnolls, did we?“ Felix asked as he stood next to Astrid as she finished accepting the fundamental changes to her body.

“No, we didn’t. That said, I’m almost a little upset that we’re going up now.” Astrid answered.

“You think we’re in a state to keep doing this? Especially since the Silver Wind is going away?“ Felix demanded, his eyebrows climbing to his hairline as he asked as much.

“No, I don’t. That’s why we’re leaving today instead of tomorrow. I just think that with what Skandr has been able to do as well as our growth as a whole, I think if we stayed for another day, we might be pretty close to challenging the Boss. Just a pity that we’re pushing that off.”

“I don’t think we’re that close to level 9, Astrid. I’m at… almost 8,000/12,000. That’s a couple more days.” Felix countered, Benedict behind him nodding with an exaggerated look on his face.

“Yes, but I don’t think that we need to worry at all about levels at this point.” Astrid disagreed. “I know we just learned that it was weakened, but we just killed a level 25 Drake. Yes, the fight was bloody, and we were in very real danger the whole time and lucky to survive, but the reality is that we just killed something over twice our level. I don’t want to do it again, because I’d be crippled because of what it did to my legs without the Silver Wind’s help, but we can do it. We can kill the Boss, and doing that now is going to provide even more opportunities for us to prove ourselves to the Great One!“

“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.“ Felix hedged. “I almost wish that Benedict hadn’t made the point that he did before about this being our proving ground. After all, you’re not going to fight anything above your level anymore, and most of the stuff that we’ve been fighting has been at or below your level, but for us two, it’s too damn dangerous to take so easily. It’ll be weeks before we’re ready.”

“Putting aside the fact that I don’t think you need to be level 9, much less 10, before we get to the fifth floor, here’s the math for it. You need 4,000 experience to get to level 9, right? Then another 13,000 to level 10. If we share all experience equally, you’ll hit level 10 before I hit level 12, so you’ll be closer than you think to that level. To add to that, I don’t think either of the three of us who’ve hit level 11 plan on taking any experience anytime soon. Finally, with our upgraded Skills, we’ll be able to push further than before.”

Felix went quiet, and Astrid thought that she had made a pretty good point until he asked with a faint quiver to his voice, “How are you able to just ask about this? We just had the assistant Guild representative and his bodyguard try to take us prisoner and make us slaves. It was an hour ago that we learned that there’s actual traitors in the Guild, that they’re actively looking to dismantle the Guild’s authority and force delvers to work for the noble houses. Worse, for some reason, the Duchess and the Guild don’t have enough power to keep them from doing that, and after being told all that, you’re just talking about how exciting it is to get to level 11. That was two Steel tier enemies that we would have been forced to become slaves by. And you’re talking about delving. What is wrong with you?”

As he spoke, his voice continued to build in intensity and volume until he was nearly shouting in her face. For a brief moment, Astrid felt her own anger flare in response, but she instead gritted her teeth for a moment before nodding.

“Is there anything else we can do about it?” She asked quietly.

“What?”

“Is there anything we can do about what we just experienced? Is there anything we can plan to keep ourselves safe from Steels? From whatever noble is doing this? If there’s something that I’ve missed, I’d love for you to tell me.” Astrid looked at her friend and shrugged. Standing like this, she was so much taller than him, but she felt short as she acknowledged her own weaknesses and inability to do anything. When Felix silently averted his gaze, she sighed. 

“I hate it. I hate that there’s nothing we can do, and right now we are just chickens that they can pick up and move and command and there’s nothing we can do about it. This goes for the Guild, for the army, for the nobles, and for the Duchess as well as whichever noble this was. I don’t know why the Guild, which should have the most powerful delvers in the country, has to turn a blind eye to things like this. I don’t know why the nobles are able to do this, I don’t know a whole lot of anything. More than that, even if I did, I couldn’t do anything. So, instead, I’m going to push myself and anybody who’s willing to come along with me to get to a point where we can defend ourselves already. Everything I’ve heard has told me to stay out of the capital at least until I become Steel tier, and hopefully once we get there, we’ll be able to protect ourselves. So, I’m talking about delving. As far as I know, that’s the only thing that we can do to get ourselves into a more beneficial position.”

“Smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” Christophe grunted as he inserted himself into the conversation. Astrid glared at the man, but he didn’t react at all. “The reality is, that most of the time, Bronzes never hear about any of this. It’s pretty bad luck that it turns out that one of the most highly placed agents of one of the nobles we’ve ever found turns out to have been in Kznietch, but if it helps, it’s going to open the Guild up to another purge. It’s gonna be hard for any of the nobles to keep anything together now, and while that’s not exactly what I imagine you’d like to hear, it’s what’s gonna happen. You’ve lost the opportunity to be innocent and to not know about the politics happening underground and behind closed doors. Unfortunately, most people only learn about these things when they can begin do something about it. You didn’t. The hope is that you’ll never run into anything where you have to be subjected to the whims of people stronger than you like this again, at least until you can have some prayer of engaging with them, so I tried to put it out of your head. You’re too weak to do anything right now, so stop worrying about it.”

With that, the Ranger shrugged and stalked away, not leaving any opportunity for discussion open. Instead, Astrid turned her attention to where the rest of the Silver Wind had been locked in quiet conversation. Out of respect, she hadn’t attempted to eavesdrop, but out of curiosity, she’d also heard nothing coming out of the area. They’ve had some ability to keep the sound from traveling beyond their immediate surroundings, so it wasn’t worth trying anything anyways.

“Are you ready to go?” Tristan asked. “If not, we can wait a little bit, but we’re moving soon, with or without you.”

“No. We’re ready.” Astrid replied as she looked at her allies. Skandr and Benedict both stood near the sled, where they’d finagled the original straps into a pair of harnesses of sorts that they could both pull on at the same time.  Beyond them strode the vigilant Muti, who had been more and more focused on their surroundings with every moment. Now, there was something in her bearing that seemed frustrated. Even so, she didn’t voice anything and instead continued to keep an eye out on their surroundings. As soon as Astrid mentioned that they were getting ready to go, the Rogue turned from her evaluation of the area around them, instead striding directly towards the drake corpse. When she came close, Astrid was struck by a sudden realization and couldn’t help but speak up.

“It’s not your fault that they got us. They were just so much stronger that we didn’t have a chance.“

“Yes.” Muti nodded once. Her thick braids remained totally tight, at least the club hardened by Astrid’s blood where it hung below the edge of Muti’s leather helmet. She continued, “Still, it is a sign that I must strengthen my own awareness. So I shall prepare myself.” Muti‘s voice was slightly sullen, but she didn’t say anything beyond that. Instead, she found where on one of the drake’s back legs she could get a good handle and adjusted her grip so that she could put her shoulder against the forward bend of its foot.

Not knowing what, if anything, else she should say, Astrid settled on grabbing the end of the drake’s tail. It wasn’t made to be pulled on, given that it was a gradual taper with nothing that protruded to grasp, but Astrid eventually just settled on cutting a handhold into the tail where she could insert her fingers. Not for the first time in the last week, she wondered how she had become so comfortable with gore and bloodshed to do this, but instead of continuing to think about things that didn’t matter, she just dug her fingers in and readied herself to haul the thing out of the Dungeon. Before long, Felix was ready as well, and the three led the other six forward, though given how Christophe had completely disappeared, there was no doubt in Astrid‘s mind that the Ranger was scouting out ahead of the rest. She had no problem with that, and simply continued pulling.

Behind her, Skandr and Benedict grumbled loudly as they were forced to pull on the sled, but the only response they received was laughter at their expense. When Benedict started to whistle a tune that Astrid was unfamiliar with, Felix groaned loudly before looking at her with a piteous look on his face. “Please make him stop. I already had days of this.”

“It’s been months!“ Benedict retorted with a grin as he adjusted his part of the harness to his waist and pulled out his flute. “You can live with me whistling a song to help us along!”

***

When they finally stepped out of the Dungeon, Astrid had forgotten that it was still the middle of winter. Given that it was well past sundown and the sky was fully covered by thick clouds continuously dumping snow, the journey back to Kznietch was going to be even worse than getting the large carcass up the stairs of the Dungeon. The snow kept piling up around each limb as it was hauled through the fields, large drifts of white inconvenience piling over every extremity while they pulled it towards their destination. Once they were fully free from the Dungeon, Astrid indulged in flaring Quick Recovery and was ready to keep moving. On the other hand, Felix was humble enough to say when he needed a break, though Muti would never admit weakness in anything. Regardless, Astrid noticed how the Rogue took heavy breaths and easily fell into a sitting position whenever Felix mentioned that he was ready for a break.

As they approached the walls, Astrid felt her mood sour on Skandr and Benedict laughing at their three companions as the sled pulled easily over the snow. At least they’d groaned and lamented when the tool was pulled up the stairs and caught in the thick grasses of the Dungeon. There had been no end to the pair’s complaints, about how the sled was constantly ripping red grain from the roots and slowing them down before, about how they weren’t physically inclined, and so much more. Now it was in its element and allowing the two less physically inclined delvers to lead the way, they were completely insufferable.

“Halt! Who goes there?“ The guards at the walls demanded while Skandr pulled his hood from his face and grinned at the pair of men.

“Just me. You know, and the rest of my party after we’ve come from multiple days in the Dungeon.”

“Skandr? Didn’t realize you were going in for so long! And all of this is yours? Congratulations!” The man’s response was genuine and proud.

“Basically.” Skandr answered as he reached into his pouch on his waist and pulled out a copper tenner. He flicked it over to the guard who caught it with a surprised grunt.

“You’re giving tenners now? Must’ve been a good day, even more than I thought.”

“Something like that.“ Skandr said as he made to pass into the city. To his surprise, the guard stepped forward, his arm between the street and the delver.

“You know I’d let you in. I trust you, I know you’re good people, but the reality is that we’re not allowed to let anybody come in right now. I don’t know the specifics, but there’s something that was going on at the Guild, I don’t know if you heard about it, but unless Klara can vouch for you, you’re stuck outside of the walls until tomorrow.” His face twisted in apology and then in regret as he pulled the tenner from his side and offered it back to Skandr.

“Keep it. It’s not a toll that I’m paying, it’s just something that I do to make sure that you remember me.” Skandr nodded, though his jaw tightened. “Is there any way we can have somebody go give news of our arrival or something? I mean, I don’t wanna have to be out here if possible, and I think that Klara knows who we are, given how long we’ve been here.’

As he said as much, Klara appeared behind the guard without preamble.

“Thank you for doing your job, guardsman. These have my approval to enter, as well as the party standing behind them. They are identified as the Steel tiered party, the Silver Wind.”

“Yes, ma’am.“ He responded as he stepped to the side and gestured for them to come in. As Astrid and Muti resettled the drake on their shoulders, Astrid, for the first time, was truly thankful for the subtle enchantments that covered the streets and kept them from building up as much snow as the path to the Dungeon had. Before walking in, they shook the corpse to dislodge most of the snow, and then made their way forward into the bounds of the city. As they made their way towards the inn, the “Klara” in front of them disappeared with a flicker of light after nodding once to Tristan.

“Wouldn’t that be nice. Being able to use a Skill to go out in the cold and take care of things for you instead of having to go out by yourself.” Skandr grumbled.

“Maybe you’ll be able to someday. You know, if you stop focusing on how to kill things and instead on how to make copies of yourself.” Benedict smiled at his companion as the sled started scraping along the cobbled stones of the street. Every passageway and alley was empty, quiet, and dark. A handful of lampposts still glowed, but they’d all been reduced in intensity due to the lateness of the hour, making for a cool, somehow intimate environment as they finally approached their destination after hours of traveling.

“Was that actually her?” Astrid asked Tristan as she continued hauling the drake. “I’m sure at least one of you can make a convincing copy.”

Tristan let a little boyish grin spread across his face at that. “Yes, we have a couple ways of making something like that happen, but instead, we sent Christoff ahead to let her know we were coming. We figured she was probably already aware enough that we were on our way, but it was for the best to have her totally sure that we were coming and our general planned arrival time.”

Astrid narrowed her eyes, but nodded once as she continued her job. It was only a couple minutes later when finally they were in front of the inn and Felix was the first to release the drake‘s corpse. Nearly immediately afterwards, Astrid, and then Muti followed suit, letting the heavy corpse thud unceremoniously to the ground. And then, Klara was there, a genuinely happy look on her face as she opened her arms and said, “Welcome home.”

The party smiled widely as she asked, “Now, tell me what you’ve got there.”