The Pinnacle Warrior

After discussing it and doing some additional research on it, Astrid came to the decision that, yes, she should take another passive Skill, and that it should be Steady Load. Armor Mastery had a proven track record of merging well with Shield Wielding and any weapon Skill, but Grom and Astrid both agreed that the boost to her Alacrity would be more impactful than the boost to her armor. 

"Better to turn blows aside than to accept them." An old adage given to each person who ever put armor on. Astrid agreed with the sentiment. 

The question was if there would be any impact to the Class evolution that came at Iron from Quick Recovery. The Skill was important, and probably the core of her ability to thrive so far. It would grow more and mor important as it scaled to each higher tier, so Astrid hoped there would be some massive impact on her Skills when she reached Iron. But there wasn't any way for her to say if that would be the case, because there weren't any Classes listed in Grom's book that had Quick Recovery. 

"Even if you 'only' get a three Skill merge," Grom shrugged, "it'll mean at least one solid Iron tier Skill at the time of evolution. Probably two, given your general abilities. Don't worry about it."

Astrid held in her heart the hope for four Skills, when that time came, but she knew enough not to get her hopes up too high. Instead, she looked at the various results that came from Shield Wielding and Blunt Weapons Mastery and how they could combine with her newest Skill. There were possibilities ranging from Swift Strike, allowing the user to hit multiple times in the time they ordinarily could only do once, to Quickstep, allowing the user to draw on stamina and mana to speed themselves up. There were so many options ranging in every direction that Astrid quickly decided to stop planning about possible futures and instead just move forward with getting the Skill.

Would you like to confirm that your selected level 6 Skill as a Warrior is: Steady Load (Bronze)?

Just as soon as she nodded, Astrid's legs and arms bounced involuntarily, as if she'd been set outside in the cold. But instead or regular shivers, her body just twisted and turned without her approval. Then the feeling was gone. She rolled her shoulders, trying to understand just what had changed, but since it was a passive Skill, she just felt less encumbered. Maybe…?

Regardless, Astrid forced aside thoughts of using a single hammer's blow to smite her enemies as they got large and larger. Instead, she had to imagine dodging their strikes easily and crippling them with a dozen fierce blows of her hammer and avoiding every threat that approached. It wasn't as appealing of a dream, she had to admit. But at Iron and Steel tier, she'd be that much better for it, right? She tried to convince herself as she stood.

"Sorry to frustrate you." Grom shrugged as he extended a hand to shake. "I know that you'd had your heart set on an active Skill." 

Astrid sighed as she shook Grom's hand. "It's better this way. Consolidating Skills is ideal for Iron, since I'll only have the five slots. If I end up with two Iron Skills as I evolve, it's for the best." 

Grom laughed, looking at her sullen posture. Astrid just shook her head and walked out of the office.

"Get clean and come out." Grom called after her. "We'll have a little celebration for you tonight, then tomorrow we can figure out where you're going next and when you're leaving."

Astrid just waved a hand dismissively at Grom as she walked up to her room. Before she could pass through the main room, though, Elpeah caught her elbow. Looking down at the younger Vanguard, Astrid was struck by how she was basically the same age as the other delver. Why did she feel so much older? 

"What is it?" Astrid kept her face calm as she asked. Elpeah could get easily scared off.

"You're leaving? For forever?" Elpeah asked, her face stricken.

"Um… yeah?" Astrid wasn't sure how else to respond. "I'm level 6 now, so I'll need to go to a different entrance of the Dungeon that has higher level monsters for me. I want to keep getting more levels, you know. So… I won't be back here any time soon. Maybe you'll be able to catch up?"

"Maybe." Elpeah's voice faded weakly. "I just wanted to… I don't know. Have some more time to learn from you." 

"You should learn from Grom." Astrid shrugged. "He's a frontliner, and he's made it further than I have. He's got experience teaching people, and if people listen to him, they'll be a lot better than they are now."

She didn't know what else to say, so she nodded and said, "I'll see you at the little party we're having tonight."

Elpeah pushed a smile onto her face, and walked back to her party's table. There, friendly faces greeted her and brought a pang to Astrid's heart. She wanted that. She wanted to have a party, people she could trust in the Dungeon. On the other side of the room, Svana and Tobias sat together. They waved. Astrid ignored them. She was done here, and she was done with them. If only they'd been—

Astrid cut the thought from her mind. Wishing that on other delvers was unbecoming. She strode into her room, stripped off her armor and gambeson, staying in her dirty underclothes. Gathering her things, she returned to wash with more of a hurry than usual. After all, people were waiting for her.

***

She carefully styled her hair for the first time in months. For all this time, Astrid had devoted herself completely to delving, and her hair had gone from tightly braided to stay under control under her arming cap and helm to loose and wild around her head as she washed and slept. Tonight and tomorrow, though, she wouldn't delve. She would only celebrate with friends and others, and prepare for the next step. Now, she'd be able to take the time to pull part of her mane into a looser half up braid that served to hold back the most disobedient locks underneath. Even wet, her hair refused to lay completely flat, and Astrid didn't mind letting it free. After all, she was too.

When she'd dressed and walked out into the inn's main room, Astrid was greeted by a party she'd mostly expected. After all, she'd seen this same thing be put on for Lariche and her party not so long ago. Last time, there'd been an entire cow, and the remains were used in stew for a couple days. It was a nice memory. For her, though, Stark had prepared a pair of goats, each dressed exquisitely, the juice dripping to the massive tray beneath them. Astrid's mouth began to water as she took in the sight of her meal, and she stepped forward excitedly.

The first surprise of the night, and the best one, was when Moira and Guinevere ambushed her and took an arm each of hers as they escorted her to the seat of honor. There, at a table with real wine on it, Astrid's seat was prepared.

"Did Grom send for you?" Astrid giggled as her friends treated her like nobility. 

"Even though we haven't had good conversations with you," Moira said in her deadpan way, "that doesn't mean that we don't listen. We knew it would be today. Everyone did."

"Yes, Astrid." Guinevere agreed with a theatrical sigh. "I am sure you forgot about the rest of us in your hurry."

"I would never!" Astrid protested. "I was looking forward more to spending time with you two after I finished here. I promise!"

"Of course." The two said almost in unison as they helped her into her seat. Astrid thunked into her seat as she reached out for the chilled wine. It was divine in her mouth, though she honestly could have done without the alcohol. She groaned softly as she settled more firmly into her seat and theatrically threw her arms over the armests. Once she was in position, she spoke.

"Welcome to my celebration! Thank you for being here, and I hope that you enjoy the food!"

Though the cheers that rose were scattered and there were a mere twelve people total in the room, Astrid felt the swell of pride rise within her. Yes, this was a small group, but ten of them were there as friends, as people who looked up to her, who saw her potential future spread before her. The other two… Astrid refused to think about them. Instead, she laughed as Guinevere whispered something about fitting into her armor and Moira took it maybe a little too seriously. 

"A cheer!" Grom shouted over the quiet celebratory sounds. "A cheer for our latest graduate, a delver whose dedication to improving her own strength so that she can go about protecting those around her surpasses that of any other I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. A toast to Astrid's continued success, to her mounting strength, and to her impressive kindness!"

Astrid felt tears prick at her eyes as she raised her wine and took a deep swig from it. Maybe it was too fine a vintage to do that with. Maybe it was piss. She'd never be able to tell, and as soon as her cup was dry, she filled it with more. The second and third cup were emptied before long, and the pleasant warmth spread through her body. Guinevere slipped her a pinch of monkweed, and the buzz that'd fogged Astrid's mind bled away to a faint lubrication instead of anything overwhelming.

An hour passed in happy feasting, eating the goat and bread and stew and enough dressings to them to make her burst. Halfway through her meal, Frederick and his party approached the head table, and Astrid happily waved them forward. Before he or any of the party could speak, Astrid pulled a handful of copper pieces from her pocket to distribute. 

"In hopes that my good fortune passes to you," she said, "I'll give you some of my earnings from today, my last day delving in Schteldt. Thank you for coming, and for being here. Thank you for your patience with me as I've so selfishly taken the opportunity to delve from you. Please, let me know what I can do for you, and I'll happily do it."

Frederick shrugged, a smile quirking his face. For the first time, now that Astrid had relaxed enough through not pushing for the next level, for hurrying to escape this tiny town, she looked at the party as they were as individuals instead of merely as delvers. Their leader, the fearless Fencer Frederick, carried himself confidently, though his clothing was worn and patched. The clothing was well fitted and semi fashionable, if older. His face bore several blade scars, as if he'd been a knife fighter before he'd been Bestowed with a Class. The face, under the scars, stubble, and grin, was plain, though his curly dark hair was undeniably fitting with his facial shape. 

"We simply wish to give our congratulations, and perhaps ask for any last minute advice you may have for new delvers such as ourselves." His tone… tried to be high brow, as if he'd been of good breeding. Something Brighid had always said was a sign of a con-man. He was trying too hard. Didn't matter though!

"I've given all the advice I've got." Astrid shrugged. "Grom and Stark are the men to ask. I've… failed too much and learned too little to give advice." Despite herself, she looked at the empty spot at Tobias and Svana's table, at Guinevere sitting alone. The Apothecary lightly slapped at Astrid's arm, and she could hear the insistence at not apologizing.

"I don't have anything to say. Just a cheers for you before you go." Lyra, the Scout said. She had long straight blonde hair, and her smile seemed stiff, as if she didn't often use it. Astrid raised her cup and drank with the other delver. Seeming to have completed her goal, Lyra stepped back, happily out of the focus.

Gustave was the next to approach. "I just have one question," he said as he raised his own tankard in salutation, "and it's what you think a Medic should do when they're not actively healing their party?"

"I…" Astrid shrugged helplessly. "Try their best? Hell if I know. I've been in a party that has a healer a total of two times. Once, they tried to ruin my delving career, the second time, they were ok and helped. Use your Skills that aren't healing when you can, I guess? I'm hoping to learn more about delving with a party soon."

"Fair enough. Thanks for the help, Astrid Warrior." Gustave smiled as he nodded, his light blonde hair having escaped its tie while his blue eyes glimmering in the firelight. "Hope to be on your level before too long."

"I'm sure you'll try." Astrid chuckled as she threw back the rest of her drink. She wasn't sure what it was at this point, but she enjoyed the movement and action of drinking. 

The mousy mage Quintus was the penultimate to approach. He was pale, and looked more like a Scribe than a delver, but Astrid hadn't met many Mages. His freckles dusted his face as if the earth he controlled with his magic had stained him. The monocle on his right eye glowed faintly, and before he spoke, Astrid asked, "Is that equipment? What does it do? Can it… like shoot something?"

Quintus blushed as he shook his head no. "No, nothing so fancy as that. It's a… well, it's a piece of equipment focused on identifying the minerals and materials of the earth that surround me. I only knew anything about granite before all this, and my work was done with chisels, so I can't say that I have much confidence in being able to find the right materials to use in a fight against monsters. Luckily, my master gave me this enchanted piece of equipment when he—"

"That's enough, Quinny." Frederick pulled his party member back. "I know it's exciting, but tonight's her night and she deserves to talk with the people she wants about the things she wants to. Don't take the whole night talking about your master and carving."

"She wasn't—were you bothered? I'm sorry, sometimes I just get excited—" Quintus shuddered as he raised his hands in apology.

"I asked." Astrid laughed. "I wanted to know! Maybe it's nothing like what I imagined, but that's no problem! Thanks for telling me, and for the well-wishes!"

The Earthmage blushed, raised his tankard and drank the tiniest bit before stepping back and allowing Elpeah to approach. The Vanguard's eyes glimmered with tears, and Astrid stood to gather her in a hug. 

"Oh, there's no tears here! I'm happy to have been here and I'm ready to move on! I have other monsters to kill if I'm ever going to become a delver that's enough of a hero to be known across the Duchess's lands! Tell me, what ails you?" Astrid purposefully made her voice booming as she looked down at the pretty, petite Vanguard. That she was so small but a frontliner made Astrid grin wider.

"I.. I want to be as strong as you!" Astrid could smell more alcohol on Elpeah's breath than on herself. That was impressive, but not particularly admirable. "I want to be able to protect my party while still being dangerous!"

"Then swing your weapon!" Astrid grinned down at Elpeah. "Who cares if you miss? It's still dangerous!"

"Just don't catch me in your swing!" Frederick laughed. Elpeah, embarrassed, laughed while blushing a bright scarlet.

"You match my hair!" Astrid declared as she lowered her head enough for her hair to come near Elpeah's face. "It's a cute look on you. Look how Quinny here is looking at you!"

"Oh, I wouldn't—I mean, unles she wanted—or I just—" Quintus's face flushed even more red and Astrid, laughing harder, pulled them both under her arms. She was about to say something when a voice, one she hated, interrupted.

"Leave off the rookies. I'd like to exchange with you my sincerest congratulations as we both stride forward on our paths to greatness."

Astrid's heart thundered in her chest as Tobias, the ugly, overweight, selfish prig of an orc's dungheap came close. Then, the damned pervert came closer to her, his arm extended as if she'd give him a hug. While both holding back the urge to hurl and to beat him to death with his own dismembered arms, Astrid stood to her full height.

Grom was the closest to her in height, and she was at least 10 cm taller than him. Tobias, ugly bastard that he was, stood at least 30 cm shorter than Grom. Luckily, her hammer was in her room, and Astrid decided to strike back in the same manner that she'd been hurt before. Words and reputation. Her face crooked in what she was sure was a disgusted sneer as she nearly shouted at the Healer.

"Don't fool yourself. I have tolerated you at best and I never forgave you. I hope the Duchess blesses me enough to never be cursed by being dirtied your presence ever again. Don't approach me again, don't talk to me, don't follow me. I will never delve with you again, barring exceptional circumstances, and even then, it'll be a frigid day in the tropical forests of the Tribes. Good riddance."

"I beg your pardon?" Tobias's mouth hung open, actually somehow surprised. 

"Then beg, you pissant." was Astrid's quick reply.

"I thought… we got over this pettiness!"

Astrid threw her arms open. "Are you stupid? You tried to frame me as a violent, murderous monster for no reason other than because I look a little like I might be a Barbarian! You disregarded commands from Grom and spat in the face of my kind intentions. You tried to ruin my life, and you think that, because you're almost level 4, I'm going to forget this?" Astrid scoffed. "You're the priggiest goblin loincloth I've ever had the displeasure of meeting, and I hope that the fear that has plagued me because of your callous disregard for my personhood is something that haunts you for the remainder of your life.

"And before you complain about how I've forgiven her, don't think that Svana is free of this disregard I feel either. She's explained that there's no reason for what you both did. Just malicious hatred. I worked with her begrudgingly, but I can't say that I can trust her to watch my back. The only positive thing I can say is that I don't wish the same misery and failure on her that I do for you. 

"Now," Astrid stood and turned away from the Healer, spitting to the side in disgust, "I think I've had enough to drink. Maybe I should call it a night on the drinking? But the party… the party continues!"

There were some reactions to what she'd said, but Moira and Guinevere, those who'd heard her deepest fears about her future and her terror at being mistreated at every turn by him, laughed. Moira took a baked potato in her hand in beaned Tobias in the head with it. It exploded, and before he could react, Stark was there and dragging him away. As the festive mood slowly returned, the guest of honor smiled widely. Astrid couldn't remember the rest of the night, but she could say, for sure, that she didn't stop drinking anywhere near when she said she should.