The Elemental Relics

Ali eventually decided not to share the matter with the laborers. They hadn’t been together long enough for him to earn their trust. In addition, none of the laborers looked like they could fight. He would simply watch for a chance to turn things around. Until then, he needed to fill his stomach and rest. Once he wolfed down some of the food provided by the crew, Ali went to sleep with Tian keeping an eye out. From the conversation the air serpent overheard, he suspected that the crew wouldn’t take action aboard the ship due to the evidence that could be left behind. They would wait until they were in a Vliland warehouse where it would be much easier to hide a dozen corpses. The influx of refugees would make a couple of random corpses easy to overlook.

Ali, can you wake up for a moment?

The teenager didn’t hear any urgency from the air serpent so he knew his life wasn’t in danger. However, he also knew Tian wouldn’t wake him up without a good reason. He sat up on his bed and barely suppressed his gasp. He checked to see none of the laborers were awake before he exited the room to use the restroom. Once he was certain he was alone, he turned to the air serpent.

Did you level up or….

I sneaked away because I sensed something. It called out to me.

What is this… it?

Tian described the presence he sensed within one of the crates that the laborers were delivering. With his curiosity getting the better of him, the air serpent got close to the crate, hoping to hear something. To his surprise, something exited through the crate wall and merged with his body. He felt no pain and the change made him feel stronger. When he checked, a pair of wings, resembling those of a bird, grew out of his body.

They do look good on you.

Hearing the compliment, Tian did a quick figure eight in the air. While the air serpent admired his new wings, Ali checked the prompt.

<

Providing information on the air serpent…

{

Creature: Air Serpent

Level: 4

HP: 19/19

MP: 0/0

Strength: 6

Constitution: 6

Intelligence: 5

Survival: 11

Wisdom: 6

Attack Type: Blade (Melee)

Damage: 6

Defense Type: Arcane

Defense: 3

Special: Wings of Rain

}

Wings of Rain is a special rare boost for air serpents. The boost allows an air serpent to learn water element spells. Currently, the air serpent only has the water element spell, Rain Dance.

[

Ability: Rain Dance

Level: 1 ( 0 / 26 XP to Level Up)

Level Up Requirements: Boost water element abilities of same or high levels casted by allies of the caster.

Type: Support (Buff)

Description:

With the caster at the center, a small drizzle, lasting for one hour, begins in an area with a radius of a kilometer. Those using water elements and are allies of the user get an immediate boost while under the drizzle. Boost is doubled for the user.

Cost: None

Cooldown: 1 day

Buff: +10% Attack, +10% Defense, +10% Movement Speed, -5% MP cost for abilities at or below the level of rain dance.

]

>

Ali felt slight frustrations as he didn't have any water element abilities. The large area buff would be quite useful in either going on the attack, defense or simply flee. In addition, he could see how the MP cost could add up once he had more powerful abilities. Sadly, he had no hope of getting a different element ability from air ones. He had learned that dual element users were extremely rare. Most of the ones known were born of parents with two different main elements, a privilege he never had. While his new inheritance relic might possess a powerful water element ability, he knew he was long ways from unlocking any of the abilities. The odds of him lucking out were so low that he wouldn't waste time daydreaming about such a scenario.

As nice as the wings look, my ability isn’t very useful for either of us.

Well, that may change if we make friends with water element users. For now, let’s keep this a secret and see how we can reunite with the others.

Ali returned to his sleeping quarters and managed to stay asleep until the following morning without incident. He joined the other laborers for breakfast, enjoying the light atmosphere in the mess hall.

“Attention, Passengers! We will be landing in Vliland shortly.”

Better get ready for a fight.

The teenager was displeased with his trap ability being sealed off. The prompt stated that he needed someone with a high level ability to break the seal. It didn’t help that the seal breaking abilities were very niche so the odds of encountering someone with such an ability was very rare, nearly as rare as someone with a sealing ability. The prompt confirmed Ali’s suspicion that he was extremely unlucky to have encountered a very powerful individual. He had to report this to Menna with hopes she could protect him from future kidnapping. Finding someone who could break his seal would be a nice to have.

“Time to get to work,” said one of the crew members as he entered the mess hall. “Get the crates unloaded and you’ll be paid what you’re owed.”

As the laborers happily went to the loading bay, Ali summoned Tian to keep an eye in the warehouse for anything suspicious. He doubted the killers would be too careful since they expected the upcoming job to be swift and easy. The laborers’ eager attitude would further lower their guard, giving Ali a chance to get away.

Are you going to save the laborers, Ali?

I’ll try if I don’t have to die with them.

Ali knew better than trying to be a big hero. Without true strength, a desire to be a hero would only end in death. If he had his trap ability, he would be more confident in saving everyone. In his current state, he had to play it safe and put his own life first.