The Empires Rise

I spend an hour calming my mind while meditating and thinking of potential spells I could try and acquire. My first thought is to go down the route of damage-dealing spells. This progresses down to controlling more nature-based spells.

Then, I consider increasing my healing potential. Having more spells to keep people in the battle might be beneficial since we don't know how long the attack on the settlement will last. Bouncing between the two options, I figure either wouldn't hurt. Then I get a brilliant idea that's been looking me dead in the face this entire time. Is it possible that I could make a nature spell that includes my healing capabilities?

Develop plants that can radiate healing or give buffs. Those would be just as efficient as if I were near someone. I will need someone with more magical knowledge to progress the idea further. Not long after this thought, I decided to head to bed.

- Time until Attack 18 Hours -

Waking up to the sun in my eyes, I cover them while groaning.

"Drake!" I hear in my mind. "It's time for you to start your training. Also, there has been some movement from those in the settlement."

Slowly getting up, I see there is a notification from last night.

- Due to Eleanor destroying a Level 2 monster encampment, the time till the monster attack has been extended. -

Thinking about it, I was glad. The further we can push the attack off, the better off we will be in the long run. Hopefully, we can at least delay it till late morning of tomorrow.

Looking at Ritotorous, I respond, "I see we have pushed the attack further back."

"From what I know of the inhabitants, it might have been Eleanor. It would have made sense for her to go and get some form of sustenance."

"It was Eleanor, the notification said." Shrugging my shoulders since it is good news and one less thing to worry about this morning, I prepare for the day. Less than 5 minutes before I leave the door, I walk towards the training grounds when my sibling intercepts me.

"I heard from Dad that you two talked last night. Is everything alright?"

Thinking about the one main lesson my father taught me last night, I wondered if she had a bloodline, but I held back from asking directly. "I would say it was very... Eye-opening. I learned a bit about what was hidden in plain sight. And it shocked me as to how old he was."

"Oh, he even told you how old he was. Must have been some talk." They respond like it isn't anything crazy.

"This," I gesture, "I knew I would get this treatment from you. Normalizing the fact that our father is Five. Hundred. Years. Old."

"I knew that long ago since he helped me control my bloodline. DUH!" They say sarcastically.

"So, you do have a bloodline. I guess that is only expected. With your amazingness, it's not hard to see him trusting you with such vital information."

"Drake," they look at me with sympathy. "It's not that he didn't want to tell you, but those of us with active bloodlines must take an oath on our bloodlines." There is a serious look in their eyes as they say this. "Several people in the government have bloodlines capable of enforcing said oaths."

"What kinds of people are those?" I ask with morbid curiosity.

"Bloodline Hunters, I have seen them in action too. Let's say it wasn't a pretty sight by the end of it." Seeing their face pale at the mention of one of these hunters, I choose to move on with the topic.

"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"Dad and I were talking. We are considering getting a group together and heading out to level up. Maybe we could find some resource boxes to help the settlement."

"Just the two of you?" I ask.

"No, we will bring some more people with us since Dad is rusty with his blade work."

"How big of a party is going out? Won't you guys need a healer? What about mom?" I ask in rapid succession.

"It is going to be a party of five. I can heal people, and she will work on her profession." They answer quickly, "And, Drake, we are adults. We can take care of ourselves. We must figure things out; telling you everything will bog down your days. So, your task is to go and train. Laxreal stopped by this morning, telling us to send you as quickly as possible."

I grumble at the mention of Laxreal asking my family to send me over. It feels like I am still a child.

"Whoa there, buddy," Xelyphe stops me before I storm off. Don't go in there with that attitude. It isn't his fault, he asks one of us. It would be best if you got up earlier. However, it is hard to tell when that guy sleeps, as he is undead. Does he even sleep?" I hear them ask themselves as they turn to walk away. "Anyways, we are off."

I look ahead of them and see several groups of people gathered together, preparing gear to head out. There appear to be three groups with only two people, two with three people, one with four people, and my sibling and father's group with five people. While doing the math, I found that 21 people from the settlement were heading out.

"Wait, can I at least see you guys out? Maybe I can try giving some encouragement to those that go out?"

They think on this offer. "Sure, why not."

Following along with the groups, I hear them talk about what they might encounter. As the gate gets closer, I build up my courage to speak to everyone.

"Everyone," I shout to get their attention. "I would like to give some advice but also some encouragement to all of you."

Seeing the groups stop, turn, and then wait for me to continue, I start. "When you go out into the fog in groups of five, please be careful. The reason I say this is two-fold. First, there is a chance you will be split from each other. I am sure you have heard the stories of my group going out. Second, if you need to return at any point because it is too dangerous, do so. Your lives are more important than any rewards you might receive by endangering yourselves."

Looking at the groups in front of me, I can see some people are just nodding to get me to let them go out sooner since I am delaying them. Thinking of my plan, I continue, "Now, I know you are ready to go—one last thing before you do so. I want to hold a competition. This competition will be based on several factors, and rewards will be distributed accordingly. First, those groups have the most collective level-ups. Second, for those groups bringing back the most resource chests. And third, the group that can push back the timer on our countdown till the attack the most."

"What are the rewards for each of these?" I hear someone shout from the back. Looking closely, I see that it is Nelaedeth. Being a dwarf, it is hard to see her in the crowd.

"Honestly, I can't specify any rewards as of right now. I was hoping to let you choose a reward that would fit you from the spoils brought back." I see people shifting in discomfort. Thinking about this more, I realize the problem. "Any loot you pick up from the battlefield is yours to keep. I am talking about the chests that get set back to the settlement or to have one request of myself instead of that."

"That is all well and good. How will you be able to tell who gives what?" Narus says.

Looking around for my feathered friend, I send a thought to him. "Will we be able to tell which chest is brought in by which group?"

"Yes, it will have a looted-by tag at the bottom. This hasn't been an issue since you were with all parties when they went out the last couple of times."

"Thanks," and I reply to Narus, "Chests will have a looted-by note at the bottom when the settlement receives them."

"And what of the time delays we provide? How will we know who gives the most?" Rognar asks.

"The notifications inform me which group increases the time. Are there any other questions?"

Seeing none, I wave at them as they head out. Not long after, I get a notification.

- Quest Given: A Lord's Bounty -

Looking at the notification in interest, I try to get more information from it.

- Settlement Quest: A Lord's Bounty

The Lord of the settlement has charged your group with three different tasks. Level up, collect resource chests, and delay the attack on the settlement.

Tasks:

Level-up party members: (0/?)

Collect Resource Chests: (0/?)

Delay the attack on the settlement: (0/?)

Reward:

Class Experience

Class Equipment Box

The Lord has offered bonus rewards for being the group that exceeds the rest in any of these tasks. -

Seeing how the system has put my words into a quest, I became curious if there is a way I could have more quests issued to quickly power-level my fellow settlers. I continue to think about the quest I gave as I walk to the mage tower to train with Laxreal.

Arriving not long after, I enter and see Laxreal sitting near one of the desks in the middle, looking towards the door with an expectant gaze. "I see you have finally decided to show up. Took you long enough." He starts with a curt tone.

This is an entirely new side of Laxreal. With all the different 'faces' he puts on, I have concerns he might have multiple personalities. I shake those thoughts out of my head as he asks me a question: "What have we found that has delayed you so much this morning?"

I inform him of my discovery of being able to hand out quests. "That is an interesting phenomenon, but let's not delay any further; we have lots of ground to cover."

I watch as he rushes up the stairs. I soon follow along and get into the same room as yesterday.