“So,” Millie said, “what do you reckon the chances are that some guy blowing himself up in the middle of your living room was a one-off kind of a deal?”
“Not good,” Zoe’s roommate groaned, raking her claws through her fluffy hair. “Not good at all.
Millie knew that it was rude to keep staring at the woman’s monstrous features, but she did it anyway. After a certain point, she decided that just doing it was better than making a poor attempt to act like you weren’t. Millie also knew that genuine interest wasn’t necessarily more comfortable than the more typical disgust, but it had to count for something—maybe.
It was a bit unusual for her to meet two manawarped people in the same week, and even stranger to continue interacting with them a month later. The sheer amount of prejudice towards anyone with a core put up substantial barriers.
Lord Loch said once that despite all Nordvask’s reputation for civil liberties, the kingdom’s attitude towards manawarped was in some ways much harsher than elsewhere. ‘Ask a typical Verdanport resident what they think of manawarped and they’ll rattle off all the usual tepidly progressive, cosmopolitan drivel,’ she recalled him telling her. ‘Saying things like that is easy when you can walk from the north gate through to the south without spotting a single person who might be a little—what’s the phrase—partly human. But eventually, one begins to wonder why that might be the case.
Hanging out with someone like Sasha was more than a bit different than aiding and abetting a higher demon. The former would make some people uncomfortable. The latter was like, super illegal.
Lord Darius Loch himself was the one who said to keep Zoe a secret, though, which meant that it wasn’t Millie’s problem. For the most part. The current situation was making her reconsider the depth of her own involvement.
“Kind of rude of the guy to damn near kill me like that,” she complained, “especially after I went through all the bother of lugging him all the way across town. A bit funny, too, if you think about it. Me helping a guy to a healer just for him to try to kill her, then that ends up almost killing me, then she kills him and it’s me who comes out of it with the healing.”
Millie couldn’t help but notice Sasha’s ears turned in her direction, even while looking away. Those ears were very fluffy, making her want to touch them. “I don’t think funny is the way I’d describe it,” Sasha replied. Finally looking at Millie again, her eyes narrowed. “Is everyone around here touched in the head, or is it just the two of you?”
Unable to hide her grin, Millie was left wishing she could fake taking proper offense at that.
_____
The two demons had left the alchemy shop behind. They were now traipsing through the trees, cutting a new path on their way to the abandoned mine. Neither of them was sure how involved they wanted to be with the whole thing anymore, but they’d agreed to scope out one of the likely cultist lairs.
Remembering the fungal ghouls from her expedition in the earlier half of the day, Zoe brought up the possibility of the cult setting up a base of operations somewhere down there. Stella, while acknowledging that ghouls weren’t an expected monster type in the area, questioned why they would have let Zoe down there if that were the case.
It was a good question. The best explanation they came up with was that it could be a brazen way to divert any suspicion. It was well-known that Zoe had been pestering the old guildsmaster for some time. If they did have some laboratory or something deep down there, it might have taken them a few weeks to hide it better and to clean up anything too suspicious.
Then, they’d let her do her delve. It would let them test their ability to hide and defend their lair. A lone healer who didn’t suspect anything would be easy enough to handle if things went poorly. In that case, they’d solve the problem she’d inadvertently caused by making her death look like a foolish adventuring accident. In the case where their stealth measures worked fine, the guildsmaster allowing her entry would divert outside suspicion.
Both of them admitted that it was a bit far-fetched. Still, Stella said that it was exactly the kind of place a novice cult would hide in, and Zoe also recalled the one excessively barricaded tunnel. Poking around for a bit was worth a shot.
“Hey, Stella?”
“What is it this time?” The shopkeeper asked.
“I’ve been putting off some class upgrades. I have my own ideas on what to take, but I thought getting advice from an older, more experienced demon would be a good idea.”
Stella’s purposeful march ground to a complete halt. Meanwhile, Lilith cackled like the deranged demon spirit she was. “Your own ideas on what to take? Bitch, you don’t have any. And why are you asking her and not me? After all I’ve done for ourselves? Am I really so worthless that even my lesser half doesn’t want to listen t0—” Zoe went ahead and tuned out her imaginary… acquaintance.
Stella’s reaction was more interesting, anyway. “You’re not screwing with me, right? You actually want my opinion on your class upgrade?”
Zoe nodded. That’s the point, yeah? Why would I be screwing with you? Maybe being open with the details of your powers is even more taboo with demons than with the humans around here? She didn’t ask any of that, though—just nodded and waited to see how Stella would continue.
“Uh, okay,” the shopkeeper said after scrutinizing Zoe for several long moments. “You’re one weird demon, you know that?”
“Well yeah, I’m unique, special, and one of a kind.” Zoe didn’t quite hear what the older demon said in response, but she did catch the phrase ‘way to put it.’ She was more focused on pulling up the three class evolutions she had available for Demagogue.
[HUNTER OF THE SILENT STORM]
Rank A
Cloaked in shadow and ephemeral like the wind, dance with the secret truths and lies of the world—silent until you strike as lightning.
-Effects-
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
> +80 Perception, +50 Acuity, +20 Power
> Bonuses to all deception, illusion, stealth, information, mind, lightning, shadow, wind, and weapon skills.
> Increased chances to earn deception, stealth, mind, lightning, shadow, wind, and weapon skills.
> Grants Hunter’s Mark, Shadestep, Silence Aura, Wind Manipulation, Lightning Strike, and Dagger Mastery
> Grants additional skills at further advancement stages.
> Adds Wind, Shadow, and Lightning Alignments.
Lightning is actually quite loud—it’s a good thing this one comes with a skill to enforce Silence.
[WEAVER OF THE ENDLESS MIRAGE]
Rank A
This world is an illusion. Many are those to pierce it’s veil—fewer are those capable of weaving it.
-Effects-
> +75 Perception, +75 Acuity
> Extensive bonuses to all mind skills.
> Bonuses to all spirit skills.
> Grants Mind Manipulation, Light Needle, Create Illusion, and Soul Sight.
> You can cast skills without expending mana.
> Enables system privileges for displayed information.
[INCARNATION OF THE WRAITH]
Rank A
Some are bound by the physical laws of this world. Others lack the means to affect material change. Take this opportunity to walk a path limited to neither.
-Effects-
> +50 Perception, +50 Power, +50 Acuity
> Bonuses to all body and mind skills, all body and spirit skills, and all spirit and mind skills.
> Bonuses to all shadow and metal skills.
> Grants Mana Manipulation, Wraith Step, Spirit Conversion, and Withering Blade
> Enables system privileges for displayed information.
Becoming a Wraith is much better when you don’t have to die first. Or would it be the second time for you?
Zoe got the choice to choose from these three potential upgrades at the same time she got the option to change her secondary class of Bloody Devotee to her current primary class, Sanguine Disciple. That one had been simple and easy—a clear and direct upgrade. But for the past month, she’d left her other class to languish on the backburner.
The problem was that they were all strong contenders, but also all rather vague. She’d been tempted to choose Incarnation of the Wraith originally. That was because she was still lusting after the Mana Manipulation skill—but she now already had that one, and it was even at Rank II.
This time, it was the middle one—Weaver of the Infinite Mirage—that called to her. Like before, it was mostly due to a single effect, that being the line that said she could cast skills without using any mana. It was, frankly, ridiculous. Hell, she’d be equally tempted if it was the only thing that taking the class would give her.
And with all that being said, it wasn’t like Hunter of the Silent Storm looked any worse. While there was no one piece that made it stand out, the array of bonuses was expansive.
Zoe gave her new partner a quick, watered down explanation of each option. She was well aware of just how high quality her options were, and she kept in mind both the way Stella reacted to the topic and the fact that the other demon though she was a higher rank. With all this in consideration, Zoe left out the ominous flavor-text and dropped them all to Rank B. Dropping it further wasn’t much of an option, since the classes were clearly fantastic no matter which letter she slapped on. She also left out the specific stat bonuses, only revealing which stats got any.
After she finished, they both stood around in silence. Zoe realized there was some additional information that would be relevant. “Oh, I should probably mention—my elements are hellfire, shadow, metal, and blood. And I really am a healer, that’s my other class. Well, sort of.” Sanguine Disciple continued to provide a great deal of—say, flexibility in the realm of healing.
Stella remained silent. Zoe grew increasingly uncomfortable, but didn’t think saying anything more would make it better. Eventually, they resumed walking, and that’s when the shopkeeper broke the silence.
“Since you asked for my opinion, I think you should pick the—what was it, Incarnation of the Wraith? That first one would be stronger if your advancement was already headed in that direction, which I don’t think you are. I could be mistaken—if I am, then I suppose you would know. I just don’t see the benefit in chaining yourself to extra alignments and adding a slew of new skill archetypes, not when you’re already a powerful demon at your rank.”
Zoe digested that information. Makes sense—but to be honest, I suppose she could tell me anything and I’d just nod along and think it was wise. It fit with her own underdeveloped opinion, though.
The subtle dig for information on Zoe’s rank didn’t go unnoticed. She wasn’t going to say anything, though—not yet. She still felt like she needed more strength and a better understanding of all her emerging allies before she revealed that she’d only just made it to Rank E.
“As for the second one—well, eh?” Stella waggled her clawed fingers. “From the little I know about how you tend to operate, those skills do sound like a better fit. Thing is, the two main benefits of that one are either not as much a benefit to you or also covered by the last one.”
Huh. Zoe frowned. I—yeah, I didn’t expect that. She’d been dismissing the middle option as vague and less interesting than the others in every way besides the massive draw of functionally infinite mana. Yet here she was, listening to another demon act like those vague and uninteresting effects were an obvious fit. Which means that I’ve overlooked things, or I guess I’m just equally vague and uninteresting myself. And obviously, it would have to be the first one.
But there was something else Stella said—something more important. “Why do you say that getting to cast skills without mana isn’t beneficial for me?”
“Huh? Oh, that.” The shopkeeper waggled her fingers again. “I’m not saying it’s not a benefit. All I’m saying is that for being the number one thing that class has to offer, it’s kind of wasted on you.”
Wasted? Zoe didn’t know what to possibly make of that. How could it be wasted? It felt almost embarrassing to ask.
So luckily, she didn’t have to. “Mana isn’t the most important resource for you anyway—or at least, it’s probably not going to be the critical determinant in your ability to kill or survive. That’s a big difference from how most humans operate, or even many demons at our rank. But as we keep advancing? We rely on mana less and less, and you’re already further ahead there then the average demon.”
Zoe had to admit it. She was lost. I have no goddamn clue what she’s talking about. Do demons stop needing to use mana? What would they—we—use instead? And what makes me—oh. Zoe finally realized. I know what she’s talking about. She’s talking about blood.
This was the cusp of another big revelation about how this new world worked—Zoe was sure of it. She didn’t have the full picture, and maybe it wasn’t just blood. No, there was almost certainly more to it. But she didn’t get much time to ask either Stella or Lilith, or even to ponder on her own. Nor did she get a chance to ask what Stella though the last class actually had going for it.
They’d cut their own path to avoid through the trees to avoid being spotted on the main footpath. But the distance from the edge of town to the old guildsmaster’s property wasn’t far. Now, they’d arrived.
They both came to a stop at the edge of the trees. “Well isn’t that interesting,” Stella murmured. Following her gaze, Zoe squinted at the old cottage and the figures greeting each other on the steps of the wooden porch.
“Interesting indeed,” Zoe murmured back. Saying something to the retired adventurer and gesturing to both the town and mine was none other than the mountainous figure of Mayor Stokes.
