The Elemental Relics

I was expecting a lot more excitement but here I am being an errand boy.

Ali looked down at the bag he carried. There were some ores and a letter that he had to deliver to a store owner. The bag was a lot fuller earlier but, after doing a dozen deliveries, the load had lightened greatly. This had sadly been his routine for the last couple of weeks. He reported to Ahuru in the morning and was presented with a map, instructions and a large bag filled with various items. He was the delivery boy who had to deliver everything before supper. The first week was rough as he got lost often. Bit by bit, he became more familiar with the map and the town so his trips went faster and faster. Eventually, he could reliably finish his routes before lunch without breaking a sweat with the load he had to carry.

I wonder if Ahuru will increase my load now that I finish faster.

Ali took a sip of his water before he got up for his final delivery. Wearing the uniform standard for the delivery boys in Dalcis, he fit into the town perfectly. No one paid him any attention and even the recipients of his deliveries treated him like trash. For the delivery profession, it was quite common to get yelled or screamed at due to the unrealistic expectations of the customers. Despite his treatment by the denizens of the town, the teenager still enjoyed running down the streets, taking in the sights and sounds. The town was far livelier than his village and he had grown attached to the experience. Like the locals, he was on his toes whenever the patrols passed by. He heard enough stories in the last couple of weeks to know no one was safe.

This must be it!

The building matched the description he was given and it was located where he expected to be. Ali checked if there was a backdoor but there wasn’t one for deliveries. He entered through the front door and went straight to the checkout desk.

“I have a delivery for Marciso from Ahuru.”

The skinny man behind the desk introduced himself as Marciso. Unlike the other delivery recipients, he was very respectful towards Ali which was a nice change of pace. The teenager handed over the remaining ores in his bag along with the letter. Marciso excused himself as he took the letter with him to the back, leaving the ores on the counter still.

I hope he doesn’t take too long. I’d like to get back by lunch.

Ali took a moment to look around the store, admiring the intricate jewelry that were on display. Before he left for the exam, he met with instructor Bardanes to ask the man about metal elements and their real world applications. The instructor said skilled craftsmen with metal elements were capable of intricate designs like jewelry that would make them a lot of money. From the man, Ali learned that there were many civilian applications as abilities weren’t solely limited to combat and war. Marciso, at first glance, lacked the body to survive in a war but the jewelry on display was a good indication of his mastery over the metal element.

Are there abilities that are only good for civilian applications?

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As you have experienced, the user may choose what abilities to obtain. There are certain abilities that have more applications outside of military purposes so it is a viable choice to go down that route. In addition, those skills have their own way of leveling up the individual so it is possible to become high level by mastering a craft without ever needing to engage in combat.

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As Ali wondered why the store owner was taking so long, he heard a loud commotion outside.

“Stop that criminal! He’s trying to flee!”

There were screams outside but Ali hesitated to exit the store. He didn’t want to get involved, especially if there was a chance he could be mistaken to be an accomplice. The shouting got louder until it sounded like the guards were right outside the store.

This cannot be good!

“Calm down! We don’t need to go with such a drastic route, do we?”

Is that…a hint of fear?

Ali moved as far from the front door as he could. He hated the fact that there was a negotiation happening right outside the store and he was trapped inside. The back and forth exchange went on for a while before the supposed criminal shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Oh great leader of the people! Please save the people of Usnana from the corrupted officials! Their greed and power have blinded them to the suffering of us regular folks. May your revolution bring positive change to those who have been neglected all these centuries. I will be the spark you have asked of me! Let me be the first of many in our struggles for a brighter future! For the common people!”

Spark?

Something heavy, far heavier than the punches and the kicks of the golems aboard the airship, hit him. Ali eventually opened his eyes but he felt them stinging while his ears rang. He tried to move his arms but he couldn’t feel them at all. From vibrations, he could sense a lot of people moving around. Every breath hurt his lungs and he felt helpless in all of this.

Am I dead?

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Currently, you have 2/29 HP.

HP regen is busy healing your wounds.

>

What happened?

When there was no answer, Ali knew he was wasting his time. The system could tell what happened to his body but it had no way of determining external factors. His mind was still fuzzy as to what happened but he would have to wait for his body to recover first. Then, he felt a presence nearby. Moments later, he felt himself picked up and carried somewhere. He tried to say something but nothing came out. The more he struggled, the quicker his vision blackened. A few moments later, he lost consciousness, unsure where he was taken.