Chapter Seventeen: Debrief

Chapter Seventeen: Debrief

Tom awoke to a bright sun hanging low in the morning sky. He groaned, struggling upwards, but found only Darius and Tanya awake.

Morning, Tom, Tanya said cheerily. It seemed a decent nights sleep had done wonders for her energy.

Darius gave him a grin and a nod. We were thinking it is best that everyone gets more sleep, he said.

Morning, Tom greeted them groggily, Thanks.

Rosa jerked beside him as she woke, giving a deep, sharp inhale. What..? Its so late! We should be moving!

A late morning will make no difference, but being exhausted on the road would. Its fine, Tom said, gently rubbing her shoulder. After a few moments, he felt the tension in her release.

Youre right, of course. Whats for breakfast, then?

Tanya began to break out the usual fare of bread and cheese and preserves, along with honey for Sesame, hay for Dusty and Coal, and some leafy greens for Granny. Marius woke a few moments later and joined them. He summoned Coro, and the lion, now fully recovered, got a steak big enough to feed four people. Sesame gave it a side-eye.

I am thinking I must get a storage item. How do you all have so many? I am jealous, Darius commented.

We were friends with an enchanter, Rosa said. She mentioned it casually, but Tom detected the barb in it. She wanted to needle Darius with their good fortune.

Tom understood why she found him so frustrating. His casual arrogance combined with his extreme handsomeness was incredibly off-putting. But Tom found himself liking the man more and more.

Until he had met Cub, he had not had a proper male friend in many years. Scriber was more of a mentor to him, though he did count him a friend, too. Eli was much older, and a little reserved, and Markus, while nice, was also quite shy.

Tom knew he was a quiet person, though he thought that might be slowly changing. It made building any kind of friendship with Markus difficult. But Darius seemed to sense the difference between the two of them, and left Markus to his own devices so as not to stress him unduly.

Tom, though, had found himself drawn into conversations with Darius more and more. As it happened, they found they shared many interests. They both had a background in swordfighting, and both loved discussing martial arts. They both had an interest in creatures and mana-beasts of all kinds, even if they had different reasons for their interests. Darius liked to know how best to defeat them, how best to gain any advantage over them, whereas Toms interest was more pure curiosity.

They both loved to travel, and were both proud of their homes. They had spent many hours on their journey telling each other about their respective cities and surrounding wilds. Tom couldnt wait to see Horizon, and the Monastery.

Tom had resigned himself to Rosa and Darius being at odds. She was dealing with an enormous amount of stress at the moment, with the safety and whereabouts of her family in question, and when the questions were resolved, one way or the other, they would have already parted ways with Darius.

Such was life. He would enjoy the arrogant healers company while he could.

So, Tanya said, breaking Tom from his reverie. What the fuck happened with those orcs yesterday?

The mood dropped as everyones thoughts flashed back to the day before, and the huge, strange orcs theyd encountered.

They are the orcs we have seen in the Proving Grounds, Darius began. What I heard matches them.

Tom nodded at the confirmation. Theyre definitely different to the ones in the Deep. It seems likely theres another Smith leading these ones.New novel chapters are published on

I agree, Rosa said. She tapped a long finger against her chin. These brutes are far bigger than the ones from back home. They were quieter too. No, not quiet. They were still rowdy, just not raucous, I think.

Everyone nodded in agreement. The orcs in the Deep always seemed a hairsbreadth from complete savagery. These orcs were savage, but He waved his hands helplessly, unable to articulate the exact differences.

We get it, Rosa said. Weve all got plenty of experience with the orcs in the Deep, after all.

That was you, then, with the snake? Tom motioned vaguely above his head, referring to the ball of light that had appeared and begun firing beams during the fight.

Markus nodded. I got two skills, that miniature sun that fires beams of light, and another one, too.

Markus began to search around himself, and eventually found a decent sized rock nearby. He picked it up and clenched his fist around it. There was a pause for a second as he strained then, with a sharp crack, the rock split down the centre.

Passive bonus to strength, he said proudly, dropping newly split rock and dusting his hands.

Everyone was suitably impressed. Markus was going to be a fearsome combatant the further down his path he walked. He would be a potent addition to any team, and that was not even counting his empty spot for a third Ideal.

So, who else has gotten something from this fight? We were close to the line; there is no better time for uplifts, I think, Darius grinned at them.

They could all see who had gotten uplifts via their party interface in their wisps, but theyd all been exhausted and running for their lives. Plus, there was no point reading when you could just ask.

Nothing for me, Tanya said. But I didnt do much.

Nonsense, that firing rod is fearsome. You killed more than Darius, Rosa told her.

A cloud passed over Darius face. If there was a sure way to get under his skin, it was to imply he was not brave or skilled.

I am a healer, he said, eventually. Then he turned his nose up at her.

The rod will take another couple of days to recharge, I think, if its not completely broken.

Tom grimaced. They would need all the advantages they could get.

Well, Rosa said. I have good news, at least. My Smoke Shroud has uplifted.

Tom clasped her shoulder and smiled. Rosa beamed back at him.

Yes, for once, Tom Cutter, I have gotten an uplift and you have not. So fuck you, she said cheerily. Then her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Her wisp floated over. Her eyes flicked back and forth as she read from it.

Fucks sake, Tom!

I havent uplifted anything! he protested. I swear!

Well, thats good. I guess I am just fucking blind or stupid then! Is that it!?

Tom glanced at her wisp, then confirmed with his own. He had indeed uplifted a skill.

I didnt know! he said.

Oh, Rosa said, her voice dangerously low. That is okay then. You are just uplifting skills in your sleep these days, then.

Tom sputtered helplessly. Darius roared with laughter.