Book 2. Chapter 28

Book 2. Chapter 28

Once when Brin had been Mark, back in high school, he’d been a little more than rude to Rudolph Hansen. Brin had yelled some insults and expected to be paid back in kind. Instead, Rudy turned around and decked him. It was an eye-opening experience for Mark, to get laid out on his back with one punch. It wasn’t so much a lesson he could put into words; some lessons aren’t like that. They’re lessons you learn with your soul. But if Brin had to put it into words, he’d say something about humility, and the sudden knowledge that he wasn’t actually invincible or even really all that tough. It was a lesson he wished every young man could learn.

It was something Zilly needed to learn. He just wished it didn’t have to be him that taught it. He wished it didn’t have to be today.

Zilly lifted her sword. “Are we doing this or not?”

“No,” said Brin. “Not today. I don’t know if you’ve heard what happened–”

“I’ve heard. That’s why it has to be today.” She said it completely unapologetically, face firm. “I think it was meant to be this way.”

“Did Tawna put you up to this?” Brin practically growled.

“No. Fate had nothing to do with this. Just luck,” said Zilly.

“I killed a person today,” Brin said quietly.

Zilly’s sword lowered just a bit. A real steel sword, though dull. “I know. I know you, Brin. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel like hitting something right now. Tell me you’re not at your best and I’ll call this off. Tell me. Go ahead and tell me!”

The corner of Brin’s mouth twitched, but he resisted the urge to smile. It would have been an angry, joyless smile. A [Scarred One’s] smile. Because she was absolutely right.

Yes, he had felt guilty, but the walk had helped. About five minutes into his walk, all the guilt had quickly faded and replaced by quiet, simmering anger. Anger at [Witches], zombies, the Prefit, Hogg, the town, this miserable world. And now Zilly, for making him do this, even though he absolutely wasn’t safe to be around.

When he met Zilly’s eyes, her smile grew wider and wider. She was the same. What was she hiding between that sardonic smile and inappropriate sense of humor? He wasn’t sure he wanted to know any more.

Looking around, more and more people entered the town square, no doubt some of them had run to grab their friends as soon as he’d entered the field. If he didn’t put a stop to this now, half the town would be here to watch.

“Fine. Let’s get this over with,” said Brin.

He picked up the other steel practice sword. He swung it twice, getting a feel for its weight. Heavier than he was used to. He practiced with wood because glass was about the same weight, but of course Zilly would use metal.

“Ready,” said Brin.

“R–”

Brin dashed forward and started swinging. Zilly reacted, blocking his strikes. The first bout was a few quick testing blows, and then he jumped back again.

He was impressed with himself, honestly. Even in his current mental state, those had been quick, accurate, restrained blows. He’d worried that his emotions would force him to fight wildly, but he felt cool control.

She wasn’t as quick as he’d expected. Speed was a factor of Strength. Dexterity helped reaction time, reflexes, and finesse, but he wasn’t very far behind her in that either. This wouldn’t take long at all. The next clash would end the fight.

Zilly’s eyes narrowed, guard ready. He hadn’t caught her by surprise the first time. He wouldn’t this time, either. He didn’t need to.

He dashed forward. He swung twice. She blocked. He saw an opening, but at the last second he changed his aim on a hunch and smacked her hand with the dull blade.

“Ow!” said Zilly, and dropped the sword.

There was no mistaking it. A red welt formed on the back of her hand.

Brin closed his eyes. “Zilly...”

“That doesn’t count! Hand injuries don’t end the duel!”

Brin turned his head to the side, trying to keep her treacherous words from reaching his ears.

“Zilly. [Iron Body] can’t be turned on and off. If you had chosen that, there’s no way you’d get a welt like that,” said Brin.

Zilly stopped rubbing her hand. She held her sword in the guard position again. Admirable. There was no way her hand didn’t still sting like crazy.

Brin dropped his practice sword and started to pull on his magic. “That means you didn’t take [Iron Body]. You took [Blade Mastery].”

“So?”

Brin clenched his teeth to hold back a wave of emotion. He grimaced with bare teeth, and when his words came they came out as shouts. “You’re going easy on me! After all this! After everything you did to get me to do this and to make sure I wouldn’t hold back, you’re going easy on me!”

Of course he didn’t actually think she took [Blade Mastery]. A quick [Inspect] put that theory to bed.

Name Zilyana (Zilly) Mentirose Race Human Age 14 Level 16 Class Unknown Description Zilly is using Hide Status to pretend to be a Warrior

This time, he knocked her down flat.

Congratulations! You have defeated: Zilly [16] Reduced experience awarded for non-lethal duel.

Level up! Level 19 -> 20 +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Vitality, +2 Mental Control, +1 Will, +2 free attributes.

Rudolph Hansen was a very unpopular person. He acted out in class and made himself a general nuisance. Not in a cool “I have friends” way, but in an annoying “I wish I had friends” way. After he decked Mark, he got suspended for two weeks. Strangely, Mark was thrust into new levels of popularity after getting hit in the face. Three different girls had gone out of their way to thank Mark for getting Rudy suspended. When Rudy returned after two weeks, the teachers had gotten too used to Rudy-less peace and tranquility and weren’t willing to put up with him anymore. He’d quickly been suspended again, and then expelled.

This taught Mark a whole different lesson. As bad as it was to get punched in the face, being willing to get punched in the face for a righteous cause could actually be a good thing.

That’s why Brin was certain he knew exactly what was going to happen next.

He was wrong.

When he undid [Directed Meditation] and let the world back in, the surrounding people were clapping politely. None of them looked overly bothered or alarmed by what he’d just done. Most of the eyes landing on him were approving.

He shook his head, not really believing it. A significant reminder. This was not his world. These people did not live his life. They knew the price of power, and they were happy to see Zilly pay it if it meant saving her life one day.

“G–good fight, Zilly,” said Brin.

She was still face-down in the dirt where he’d left her. She turned around to her back, but didn’t even seem to see the hand he reached out to help her up.

She didn’t respond. She was breathing heavily and didn’t look particularly wounded except for a growing bruise on the cheek near her eye. She’d probably been certain she was going to win, even before using her Skills. It was understandable she’d be in shock. He’d just turned her entire life on its head.

He used [Inspect].

Name Zilyana (Zilly) Mentirose Race Human Age 14 Level 16 Class Rogue Description: Zilly is a close friend. She is using Hide Status to pretend to be a Warrior. Skills:

Perception - Zilly’s non-primary senses are all increased, scaling with Mental Control. These senses include those involving heat, electricity, balance, and vibration.

Dash - Zilly’s movement speed increases significantly when entering or retreating from combat. Increase starts at 300%, scales with Dexterity, and can be increased with a heavy mana cost.

Kick - Zilly can perform a powered kick that disrupts spell-casting and Skill preparation, and dispels ongoing magical effects.

Overload - Zilly can channel mana into a weapon, making it more powerful.

The Overload must’ve been the thing she was doing to her sword to make it seem heavier. “Making it more powerful” was vague; he’d have to ask Hogg exactly what it did.

[Dash] must’ve been the Skill she used at the end, when she’d suddenly sped up. The Skill said it improved her speed when entering or leaving combat. She’d gamed the Skill by constantly moving in and out so that it would stay active for longer. It was an impressive strategy.

[Kick] was a little worrying. He’d had daydreams of morphing glass armor all around his body, but what good was that when any random [Rogue] could take it out with one kick?

He had a million questions for Zilly, but he couldn’t ask them now. There were too many people around, and he doubted she was in a state to answer them regardless.

He shrugged and turned to leave.

Only then did he finally hear a disapproving voice. “Thank you for leaving broken glass all over the place where my children play.”

It was a woman’s voice, but he was too embarrassed to search the crowd to find who’d spoken. He used [Shape Glass] to pull all the bits of glass towards him, where he deposited them all in a jacket pocket. The two big pieces of his broken sword he carried under his arm.

It wasn’t as cool or dramatic a display as he wished it could’ve been. He still wasn’t great at levitating glass and could only get the really small pieces. The rest he had to pick up piece by piece, but at least his Class let him sense where they were so he was sure he didn’t leave any behind.

Zilly ignored him as he worked. She ignored everything, stunned. It was only when he was done picking up all the pieces and started to leave that she said something. “I want a rematch. One week.”

“Fine with me,” said Brin. If she couldn’t beat him today, she couldn’t beat him a week from now. In a week, she wouldn’t be fighting a common [Glasser]. She’d be fighting an [Illusionist].

Congratulations! You have earned a new Skill. Please select from the following. Upgrade - Summon Glass Increased ability to summon glass. Increases ease of summoning different glass varieties. Upgrade - Memories of Glass

Becomes -> Memories in Glass

In addition to a perfect recollection of memories involving the knowledge of glass, this Skill allows you to store your memories in Glass, to be retrieved and reviewed at your convenience. Stored memories do not need to involve glass.

Glass Evaluation You gain a greater ability to understand the properties of glass you touch.

He’d discuss things with Hogg first, but he already had a good idea which one of those he was going to take. That wasn’t the thing that had him so excited, though.

You have 1 free General Skill available. Select now? Please prepare for Class selection.

It wasn’t optional. The System was giving him just enough time to get somewhere to lie down, and no longer. He dashed his way home, threw himself on his bed, and it started before he even hit the mattress.

Class selection initiated.