Chapter 3: An Untested Blade
“When the Breaking happened, our ancestors thought the djinn were the greatest of their problems. Over time they learned to use relics to absorb corruption from the bodies of the djinn and keep others from spawning from its corpse. These Wardens became corrupted, since they had not yet learned how to remove the taint, and became Warlocks. Warlocks were unable to see or hear the Voice anymore, but gained etheric powers and the ability to control djinn connected to their linked elements. At first, people were full of joy, believing these Warlocks to be their new saviors. But, as they grew in power, a madness grew within them. When they decided it was time to act against the Warlocks, it was already too late as theys had grown vastly in power. Civilization, which to this point had held on by a thread, broke. Lich ranked Warlocks, controlling legions of djinn, destroyed all that had been saved when the sky fell. We have learned from the mistake of our ancestors,suffer not a Warlock to live.”
- an excerpt from the History of the Breaking by Hierophant Gerome of House Casway 489 AB
Cain- Sunday, August 4th, 564 AB
My father led the way, his bear cloak dropping to the floor as he summoned his Relic Armor. It flowed down from the hand holding his axe, a dark grey metallic liquid that hardened into segmented plates across his arms, torso, legs and head. My father had reached Exarch rank when I was still a child so his armor was complete. My brothers still had a way to go. William was close to Knight tier but his left hand was still exposed, the armor not having grown that far yet.
I was at the back. New to my powers, I reached within me and felt the pull. A smoky, blue-silver liquid flowed up my fingers,across my palm and the back of my hand, ending just past my wrist. My father pushed open the doors, I could see smoke rising up from the town as a fire raged. For a moment I wasn’t in the convent and was watching my old home burn to the ground. Shaking off the memory, I focused on the present. Djinn were assaulting the walls. This wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was their rank. Not just imps and beasts but soldiers, and I even spotted a Jtun.
My father stopped, looking about. “William, you and Cain stay back and defend the Convent,” he commanded. “If any of the nimbler djinn get past us you keep them from breaking inside. This isn’t a regular attack, expect them to be more intelligent than normal.”
“Why?” Finely asked.
“There is a Warlock among them somewhere,” Father said. “It’s the only way there would be so many high tier djinn here. There has been no ether storm recently to explain their ranks or numbers.”
The presence of a djinn put us all on edge. Even the highest tier djinn were ruled by their bloodlust and hunger, but a Warlock was capable of making long term plans. Of lying in wait and growing in power before striking.
“Yes father,” I said.
I knew the real reason he had told me to stay back was because he didn’t trust me in combat yet. I had bonded with my Relic minutes ago and was untested with it. My father jumped forward, clearing nearly thirty yards with his high-level strength and agility. William and I stood guard until we heard the doors open behind us and Mother Leora came out.
“If you are going to stand guard, I have more important places for you to do so,” she said. “You sir,” she pointed at William. “Take the south side of the convent, the wards there are weakest.” She turned to me. “I want you outside the dormitory, my girls are all there and they are the most important thing this church holds. Guard them with your life.”
“Yes ma’am,” William and I said.
I followed Mother Leonora to an outbuilding separate from the church. She opened the door, and I could see frightened faces of young women, all wearing the white dresses of aspirants. Mother Leonora walked among them and froze.
“Where is Aranea?” she asked.
“She went out to the hives behind the church to gather flowers to hang in the windows,” one of the girls said.
“That foolish child,” Mother Leonora said, her tone worried. “I can’t leave you all to go get her...”
“I’ll get her,” I said. “Wait here.”
I didn’t wait for her to say no. “Hurricane Step,” I said, activating my new skill.
A warden had to learn to use their skills non-verbally but for most that wasn’t something they learned to do until they were Knight tier. I stumbled as I became physical again, the sensation of being wind not something I was sure I’d ever be able to describe. I ran forwards, finding a large orchard.
Quest
Type:
Rescue
Difficulty:
Hard
A young woman is being attacked by djinn, rescue and get her to safety without letting her be harmed.
Reward: Shield, B Grade, 250 XP
Yes/No
I selected yes and an object appeared in my vision. It hung in my vision in the same place even when I turned my head. I ran towards the quest marker, having a direction to go in now. My eyes flicked back and forth as I ran through the rows of trees. Hearing a scream, I shot forwards, and saw a golden-haired girl about my age running as three wind imps gave chase.
“Hurricane Step,” I said again, and appeared between the two of them.
Slashing with Achlys I only managed a minor scrape along the false rocky exterior of the lead imp. I was used to wielding a sword, and the lack of reach would take a lot of adjustment on my part.
“Fog Form,” I said, and the attacks of the three imps passed right through me.
Rematerializing, I stabbed forward, shoving the blade of my dagger through the imps head this time and putting it down.
2 XP gained, 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 2 ether regained
The Voice’s confirmation of my kill was something I would have to get used to. The imp fell to the ground, most of its body turning to dust. Leaving a dry husk behindt. The girl turned to stare, and I had to hold back a snarl of frustration.
“Get to the dormitory!” I shouted.
Claws ran along the leather breastplate I wore, cutting through its weak enchantment, but not getting to my skin beneath it.
“Cyclone Strike,” I said.
My body spun in a blur as my dagger slashed out across both imps and they fell back. The Wind damage wasn’t as effective on them since they were wind imps. But they weren’t immune to it, and it gave me some space.
“Lunar Smite,” I snapped off.
For a moment, a ghostly etheric blue blade extended from the broken section of my sword as if the blade were still whole. I slashed in an arc cutting into both the imps and they collapsed as husks to the ground.
6 XP gained, 2 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 4 ether regained
The whole fight had taken place in less than a minute but I still felt tired, my heart racing with fear and adrenaline. These were wind djinn so my Relic was only half as effective at filtering the corruption from it as it would be against Mist djinn. Turning around, I let out a sigh of exasperation as I saw the girl was still there staring. Bending down I rammed my dagger into the corpses absorbing the corruption still in their bodies to keep them from respawning.
5 Corruption absorbed by your Relic, 1 Corruption absorbed
Grabbing her hand, I pulled her after me as I ran back the way we had come.
Another djinn dropped down in front of us. This one was made of flames with hard red metallic plating forming bones, and a mask that served as its face. I blocked the first swing of its claws on the blade of my dagger, spinning around it and ramming my dagger into its back once, twice, three times before it dropped to the ground. The flames across its body snuffed out with its death like a blown out candle.
12 XP gained, 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 6 ether regained
Level Up! You have reached level 2! 15 Stat points are available to spend, Ether core increased by 5.
Quickly kneeling down, I rammed my dagger into the beast’s body, absorbing its corruption as well.
6 Corruption absorbed by your Relic, 6 absorbed into your Core.
Fire ether and corruption were non-adjacent elements to me and, as such, were absorbed by my core and relic at a one-to-one ratio. I grabbed the girl’s hand again and kept pulling her behind me as we ran. I couldn’t use my movement skill and keep her with me, so we were forced to just run.
A sun djinn dropped out of the air and I dodged the strike from its two swords. Interposing myself between it and the girl, I took a hit on my bracer, the golden edge of its bladed limb tearing up the leather.
“Lunar Smite,” I said.
I speared it through the chest as the blade of etheric light suddenly extended through its chest, the blade of light looked almost physical as if the broken sword remembered what it had once been. The Sun Beast wasn’t dead yet but it was close, a quick slash from my dagger was enough to finish it off.
14 XP gained, 1 Corruption added to your core, 10 ether regained
Level Up! You have reached level 3! 30 Stat points are available to spend, Ether Core increased by 5.
My core had gotten bigger, but I could only absorb corruption equal to my etheric core maximum charge or I’d become oversaturated. Kneeling down I absorbed the corruption from this djinn.
7 Corruption absorbed by our Relic, 7 absorbed into your Core.
Pulling the girl after me we reached the church and ran along its wall using a hedge as cover to avoid being seen.
My feet skidded to a stop as I rounded the corner of the church and saw a swarm of wind, fire, and even a few sun djinn swarming around the dormitory. William was beside Mother Leora as they held the doorway.
The fire djinn were trying to set fire to the building, but the enchantments woven into the wood kept it from setting on fire. The girl tried to run forward but I pulled her back.
“We have to help them,” she insisted.
“You can’t help anyone,” I reminded her.
Looking around I spotted a bush and pushed her under it. “Hide here,” I ordered.
Reluctantly she crouched down and I moved forward. I didn’t rush into the group of djinn; these weren’t a bunch of imps. There were Beasts and several soldiers among them. Looking at the town I could see the fight still raging, we wouldn’t be getting reinforcements anytime soon. William had left his side of the Convent with the Mother Superior and they were holding their own well. I was readying to rush in and help them when a man fell from the sky.
He hit the ground, rising to his feet. Armor the color of mercury covered his arms, head, and torso, ending at around his knees. It was obviously Relic armor, but black lines crossed it like a network of roots, clear evidence of corruption. The Warlock deflected a blast of wind with a barrier ability and the fire of one of William’s attacks slid off his armor, doing no damage.
Quest
Type:
Hunt
Difficulty:
Lethal
A Warlock has been spotted and needs purging, kill the Warlock and purge the corruption within his body.
Reward: Breastplate, S Grade, 1000 XP
Yes/No
I accepted the Quest but doubted I could complete it.
“Give me the reliquary,” the Warlock ordered.
“You are not welcome here, tainted,” Mother Leora said, a ball of lightning shooting out from her palm.
The Warlock shifted to the side, his body like living wind as he twisted around the etheric projectile. The djinn formed ranks in front of him, directed by his will. They moved forward in a sudden surge, assaulting the doorway of the dormitory. William was pushed back by a sword of flames burning through his leather armor as he fought with his longsword. The Mother Superior supported him from behind.
Realizing they wouldn’t hold, I let out a breath and put aside my fear. I was only Page tier Warden, and level two. I quickly opened my character sheet, pausing for a moment to dump all my stats, splitting them between Agility and Might. Extra hit points and the like wouldn’t help me now, I needed to be fast and strong.
“Ghost Walk,” I whispered, and all sound cut off around me.
Moving forward, I rammed my dagger into the back of a Fire Beast’s spine.
11 XP gained, 1 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 7 ether regained
I said the words for Lunar Smite and Cyclone Strike, activating both at the same time as I spun into the middle of the group of djinn. The combined Moon and Wind etheric damage managed to drop all the Beasts and Imps in one strike.
78 XP gained, 10 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 25 ether regained
Level Up! You have reached level 4! 15 Stat points are available to spend, Ether Core increased by 5.
My ether core was filled to the top even after spamming two of my abilities. I activated Lunar Smite again along with Mist Blade, moving into the back ranks and slicing into two soldier djinn. They turned around, but I moved faster than them and got in two more hits before the burning soldier djinn could use their claws, skills, or tridents against me.
50 XP gained, 2 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 28 ether regained
Pushing forwards I cut into the back ranks of the djinn. In a few moments my rampage would be noticed, but for now I was protected by the area of silence. The Warlock was walking towards William, his body language projecting nothing but absolute confidence. Activating Cyclone Strike again, I cut into the imps and beasts taking down a score of them in less than a second.
66 XP gained, 9 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 19 ether regained
Level Up! You have reached level 5! 30 Stat points are available to spend, Ether Core increased by 5.
The other djinn had noticed me. Without even looking I opened up my character sheet and dumped every point I had into Agility. I had only a bit to read my character sheet since bonding to my Relic but I knew I gained more stats per point of Corruption in my core. I wasn’t sure how full I was. I could feel it burning in my Core and knew I was close. The djinn swarmed towards me, but I had already teleported away.
I appeared directly behind the Warlock analyzing his name which appeared above his head in red.
Gaius Seider – Warlock – Fire – Level 22
His health bar showed he was full, having yet to take any damage from either William or Mother Leora. My dagger stabbed out ,bypassing his armor with Mist Blade active, and sank into his heart. His health bar dropped by half as my attack did critical damage to his hit points. He whirled on me but I had already teleported behind him, reactivating Mist Blade. Using Cyclone strike and Lunar Smite together, I lashed out, cutting the imps and beasts down around me like stalks of wheat.
73 XP gained, 9 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 17 ether regained.
“Hurricane Step,” I said again, my voice audible with Ghost Walk having worn off.
Appearing behind the Warlock again, I stabbed Achlys into his torso. He took way less damage now that he was aware of me and twisted his body to mitigate the damage he took. William was suddenly on the other side of him, his sword swinging down gleaming with brilliant sunlight as he used one of his Sun skills.
The Warlock, once cocky and full of victory, was now on the backfoot. While William was only level fourteen, he was still a skilled swordsman, and had managed to not fold under the strikes of the higher-level Warlock. William’s armor was damaged, but he had been healed of his wounds, probably by the Mother Superior. A blast of lightning hit the distracted Warlock, further lowering his health bar by a half.
I teleported around him, frustrating him as my dagger ignored his armor. Then he hit me with a back fist, and I went flying into the wall, cracking my head on the stone. Djinn swarmed me as I pushed myself to my feet, dazed.
“Cyclone Strike,” I said, operating only on instinct now, my health bar at critical levels.
44 XP gained, 7 Corruption absorbed into your Core, 14 ether regained.
Djinn fell down around me, and a blast of lightning scattered them into bits as a knight struck the ground in their midst. William hooked the Warlock’s leg with his foot, knocking him off balance. Taking advantage of his lapse he thrust his sword forwards, empowered by one of his Wind abilities, driving it through a broken section of armor and into his chest.
The Warlock collapsed to the ground and a golden glow suffused William as he leveled up. I nearly collapsed, coughing hard, blood coming out with my spittle. My chest burned as I went down to my knees, clutching at my chest.
Quest Failed
You did not kill the Warlock and will receive no rewards for this Quest.
I barely even noticed the Quest failure. William and I hadn’t been in a party together so I got no credit for the kill.
A blade touched my neck, and I looked up to see the storm Warden who had saved me holding a spear to my neck.
“What is your corruption level?” he asked me, his tone telling me that hesitation could cost me my life.
Pulling up my character sheet I looked at it quickly.
“Fifty-seven out of fifty-nine,” I answered.
“Why would you go into combat with your corruption levels so high?” the Warden asked me.
Mother Leora hurriedly approached us. “Sir Valren, stay your anger,” she said. “This man was made a Warden less than an hour ago.”
Sir Valren studied me with a new intensity. “And yet still he rushed headlong into battle?” his eyes scanned me as he read my description. “Only Level five, and yet you attacked a level twenty Warlock? I wonder if you are brave or foolish.”
“My brother needed help,” I responded.
I saw the girl I had rescued run past and Mother Leora wrapped her arms around her.
Quest Succeeded
You have successfully completed the Quest, Rescue, Hard and delivered the young woman to safety without her suffering harm.
Reward: A B grade Shield has been added to your inventory. 250 XP gained
Level Up! You have reached Level 7! 45 stat points available. Ether core increased by 10
I dismissed the notification, as it was rude to read such things while in a conversation with someone else.
“So, it is loyalty that drives you,” Sir Valren mused. “What is your name Warden?”
“Cain Le’meer, Sir,” I answered.
“Le’meer,” he said, brows furrowing. “I am not familiar with that noble house.”
“It is not a noble house,” I admitted. “I am a bastard, sir. It is my mother’s name.”
“I see,” Sir Valren said.
Heavy footfalls approached as my father ran towards us, his face worried. He saw me and William still breathing and relaxed.
“Thank you, Sir Valren, for saving my two children,” he said.
“They had already done most of the work before I arrived,” Sir Valren said, bowing his head in respect to my father. “Sir Lanceren, bring your son Cain to me before you leave. There is something I wish to speak with you about.”
“Of course, my lord,” father said, bowing to the other Warden.
Sir Valren swept his spear around, absorbing the slain djinn on the ground and left.
William walked towards me and held out the Warlock’s spear. I shook my head, but he didn’t pull it back.
“It’s yours,” he said. “I got the credit for that Quest, but you were the one who did the most damage to him.”
“He was?” father asked, looking me over. “Cain, how much Corruption is in your core right now?”
“Fifty-seven out of fifty-nine,” I said, my chest burning.
“Mother Leora,” my father shouted. “My son needs a Weaver immediately.”
“Calm yourself,” Mother Leora responded. “He is not in immediate danger of oversaturation, and we will not abandon our traditions to get rid of temporary discomfort. Hold onto that spear for him for now. Come with me Sir Cain.”