(Second Book Complete!) Runeblade: A Delving & Skill Merging LitRPG

They sat there, on that lonely hill that held Father’s final rest, until the sun started to go down.

It was cathartic in many ways, even if it was painful. He’d been given a certainty in Father’s passing, where previously there had only been likelihoods. While that certainty did not bring him peace, nor did it release him from the burden of grief, there was a weight of the unknown that had been removed from him.

He had sat there and talked for hours, sharing anything and everything that came to mind with his bond-brother. Anecdotes of his life with Father, one unstable and constantly moving, but one that had its own joys. Of seeing far more of the Sea than most ever did, of training, of stories, and of shared meals and passed down insights.

Eventually though, the time came where they had to make their leave. He would be back, before they left on their long journey, but before then there was time that needed to be spent amongst the living. Devising a plan for Three Fields to survive the coming shift in danger, securing them for the long term, catching up with old friends and allies, and preparing for their trip to Deadacre.

They made their way down the hillside, Kaius riding his brother’s back as they picked their way through the boulders that studded the grass.

As they walked, he thought of their earlier conversation, the way the shape and direction of their future had come together so quickly. Porkchop was a stalwart companion, and had not hesitated to take up his blood debt as his own. Yet, he did not want that to entirely flavour their relationship.

There might have been a level of necessity in their pursuit of power, and a level of need to pursue his father’s killer and the destroyers of his dynasty, but that did not mean that the path there needed to be fixed.

Porkchop was his own person with his own goals, and Kaius would not leave them by the wayside.

“Are you sure it’s okay? Our path through the frontier lands, and our trip to Deadacre? Is there not anything you wanted to do when you crossed the mountains?” Kaius asked suddenly, breaking the silence of the golden hour.

Porkchop chuffed, the sudden rise and fall of his chest nearly unseating Kaius. “This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to explore beyond the sea, grow strong, and see sights unseen. I wanted to live on the move, and go where other greater beasts did not. Kaius, the only two-legged city that a meles could ever hope to see normally are the elven conclaves, and no one wants to deal with their incessant prattling so we all avoid it.”

“You’re sure?” Kaius replied.

“I’m sure. I’m practically getting a grand tour of places I would have no hope of seeing myself. As long as we don’t end up settling down for good for years to come, I will be happy.” Porkchop insisted.

Kaius snorted, staring out over the rows of fields that grew all manner of mid-summer crops, all remarkably large and robust thanks to the might of class and general skills. He couldn’t see himself setting down roots for a long time, and not just because he had too many threads pulling him in multiple directions.

He felt the call of adventure just as strongly. Vaastivar, let alone the world, was full of known delights and unknown mysteries. With ruins, a dozen different peoples, and many a wild place to explore, he couldn’t ever see himself not wanting to lay his eyes on as many of them as he could.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that. Three Fields is just about the closest to a home that I have, and I’ve never even once considered moving here permanently. Life moves just a little too…slow.” Kaius replied, watching the small trails of smoke that rose over the next hill. Evidence of the sleepy village that was nestled behind it. “But please, if something comes up that you want to do, tell me. I would not dictate our every move.”

Acceptance and assurance flowed across their bond, and Kaius let the silence continue. He looked forward to getting back to the Stout Oak, there were plans to lay, and much to discuss. Thankfully, Hurrin had told him that he would keep the place closed for the next few days to give him some privacy.

The villagers might have been respectful, but they still gawked at him and Porkchop all the same. It got a little awkward after a while.

…

Thankfully, Cham had been manning the gate again, so it had been easy to get entry back into the town proper. It was a pleasant short walk through the village through the fading light of the afternoon, many a familiar face giving him a respectful nod, before they turned to gawk at him and Porkchop as soon as they thought he couldn’t see.

It was a funny experience. Most of the people he knew well in Threefields could be counted on two hands, with maybe a third and fourth for people he knew enough to chat with, such as Cham. Most of that second group being the members of the hunter’s lodge, who he saw more than most when they ran across each other in the Sea.

That said, Three Fields was a small place, and it was few the people he did not at least know their names, and fewer still that he did not recognise.

Arriving at the Stout Oak, Kaius dismounted and led the way in, wincing slightly at the discomfort of sitting astride Porkchop’s armoured barding. Hopefully, before they left, they would be able to replace it with something a bit more fit for purpose and compatible with his bond-brother’s armour skill.

Pushing open the tavern door, he was quickly treated to a blonde missile streaking its way across the room.

Illendra smashed into his chest, nearly driving the air from his lungs as she wrapped her arms around him.

“Kaius! I’m so sorry. I hope you’re okay.” she whispered, squeezing him tighter.

Grinning as he patted her back, Kaius returned her hug before he released his old friend. “I’m okay. Not great, but okay. I knew something like this was likely when he didn’t come for me, it was just painful to have my fears confirmed.”

Illendra looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of a lie. He didn’t know what she found there, but she nodded a few moments later. “If you’re sure. Come take a seat, Pa is off grabbing the other elders, so I’ll fetch you two a beer and some food. Stout again?”

Kaius grinned and shook his head, unsurprised that Hurrin knew he was coming. News travelled fast in Threefields.

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“Something a bit lighter this time please, just an ale.” he responded.

Illendra nodded. “And for you?” she said, asking Porkchop.

“Just some stew… I’m not sure if I particularly like beer.” Porkchop admitted.

Illendra smiled, before she stifled a laugh with her hand. “Don’t let Pa here you say that, he’ll be crushed.”

Kaius smiled and took a seat. Illendra joined the two of them at the table a moment later, bringing their drinks and food. They sat there, chatting for what felt like the better part of an hour before the elders showed up, catching up for lost time. No doubt Hurrin had taken his time fetching his colleagues, giving them a moment to just…talk.

It was nice to hear what his friend had been up to. Apparently she’d found a lad, some hunter from the next village over. It was still early days yet, but she seemed fond of him. That, at least, put a bit of warmth in his chest. He might have been jealous once, but those days were long past. Now he was just happy a friend had found a bit of joy, and it was someone who could hopefully keep her safe in the coming uncertainty.

The door to the tavern swung open once more, and the five heads of the village entered. Each gave him an appraising look, their faces filled with a mixture of sympathy, respect, and determination.

The room fell silent as they took their seats, though Illendra ran to grab them drinks. It was a heavy quiet, neither him nor the elders quite sure where to start.

“I’m sorry to have served you with such news right on your victorious return, Kaius.” Yanmi finally said, starting their talk as was her duty as the mouth of the village.

Kaius gave her a sad smile. “Like I told Illendra, I already half expected it. Though, even prepared, no man wants to hear of their father’s passing.”

The elders nodded.

“Too right, lad. Too right. I lost me own young, so I know the sting of it.” Jekkar said in his customary curt voice, commiserating in his own uniquely gruff way. Kaius tilted his head to the man, acknowledging the gesture.

“It galls me to do this, but we have plans to make, and it’s plain as day that young Kaius won’t be sticking around for all that long.” Saldar said, looking genuinely pained to be the first to break the respectful space they held for his grief.

Beside him, Porkchop settled into his meal as he sent amusement across their bond. “That one’s nearly as stuffy as a Matriarch.”

Kaius managed to suppress his smile at the quip. Just.

“That we do, and I appreciate the gesture, but Saldar is right. We have much to discuss, and I would be on the road within a few days at most.” he said, breaking the news of his quick visit.

If they waited too long in the town, then the rising level of mana and growing strength of the now-ubiquitous beasts could be a significant barrier to a speedy journey.

“So soon?” Eilish asked, surprised.

Kaius nodded. “Enough time to resupply, and hopefully replace Porkchop’s barding.”

The elder’s looked at Porkchop curiously, clearly uncertain of why they would want to swap out depths-wrought armour.

“I’ve gained an armour skill, one that is incompatible. Something that is closer to under-armour, and can let Kaius sit on my back without steel jabbing him would be much more preferable.” Porkchop explained.

“In that case, I should be able to help. Come see me first thing in the morning, and I’ll try rush it through by the evening. No charge, after what you’ve given us I think we can all agree we’re so far in your debt that I don’t ever hope to repay it.” Eilish said, eyeballing Porkchop’s barding. Clearly the master-craftswoman already had some ideas, but was saving them for a more dedicated discussion.

“Speaking of debts, these skills are a … lot. I would hear what you have planned for us.” Yanmi broached carefully. He understood, it was a heavy gift, and one that in this world would usually come with strings of adamant attached.

“I want you to form yourselves into a regional powerhouse. Leverage them to consolidate the other villages here, preferably quickly while you still have the time to expand the walls. Share them with everyone. At least those that can be trusted not to blab with outsiders.” Kaius said.

The elders stared at him in shock. Kaius expected that. It wasn’t everyday that someone pressed for Legacy skills to be spread rather than jealousy hoarded.

“Everyone? Are you sure, lad?” Hurrin whispered.

Kaius nodded. “They’re all defensive in nature, and it’ll be the best thing for solidifying the hold of Three Fields over the surrounding region. It’ll take years for the potential to be realised, but it’ll hopefully ensure that Three Fields survives and hopefully thrives in the coming days. My only hope is that you’ll keep them secret for the next few months, to make it less obvious that they came from me.”

Yanmi nodded. “That could work… We could each pretend we had one of them each, and decided to pool them together to help the community. It would buy us the leeway and trust needed to grow the town.”

“What I want to know is why now? What made you give away so many advantages?” Saldar asked, staring at him intensely.

Kaius chuckled. If only the man knew that he still had six more where that came from, and Porkchop seven.

“They are a fraction, but most importantly it is because of the revelations I experienced in the Depths. The meles do not hoard legacies, instead sharing them freely. Their dens are all the stronger for it. It is also my belief that the main reason we have been caught flat footed by the second phase is that we never gained the strength to trigger it. If we had, this all would have been over much earlier, and the average person would be far better prepared to weather the storm. There’s a good chance that others have legacy skills in the villages, my hope is that you will be able to tempt them into sharing.“ Kaius explained.

Even if it still felt wrong to share a secret that had been beaten into him, he knew that there was wisdom in the way of Porkchop’s people. Beasts and Tyrants would be far less of a threat if the average person had a smattering of legacy skills and an Uncommon or even Rare class.

“Most importantly, I believe that the Aspects will be as much if not more impactful than legacy skills, and I intend to be one of the frontrunners. Once I have secured Honours for being the first, I will send word on their function to further bolster you.”

Jekkar cocked an eyebrow at him at that. “Mighty sure of ye self there, lad. How can ye be certain that you will be the first?”

Kaius grinned, letting a little of the song that had ignited within him in his time in the Depths shine through.

“I can quite confidently say that no other first tier has the advantages that me and Porkchop have, nor the experience or sheer bloody minded drive. We will find them, and we will make use of them, even if we only beat second best by a handful of months.” he assured.

Saldar frowned, still unconvinced. “But what would you have of us? All you have given are hopes for the future, there has been no word of payment.”

Kaius grinned at the man. “Simple. A harness for Porkchop, supplies for my journey, and a fortress full of strong and capable allied delvers should I have need of them. I would not call the good folk of the frontier to war, but I do not know what the future holds. If strength in numbers is required, or a bastion is needed, I would prefer it to be strong allies of my own people.”

The elders paused, digesting his words. One by one they nodded, even Saldar, before Yanmi met his gaze once more.

“That, I think, is more than fair.” the village head rose to her feet, reaching out to him with a hand. Kaius clasped it.

The fiery woman smiled at him. “Though if our yet to be named Dynasty is to be an ally of yours, Kaius, I would know your name.”

Kaius grinned, letting the question hang for a pregnant moment. “Kaius of Unterstern, pleased to make your acquaintance, Yanmi of Dynasty-yet-to-be-founded.”