Talyn: Rebirth Ch. 9

Here's another chapter with Talyn, and a villain who may or may not have more appearances in the story...

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Chapter 9

Timmy paused, wondering whether he was making the right decision briefly, but shook off his doubts after a moment, returning to packing his things quickly and quietly. Perhaps other people would think he was being overly paranoid, especially Darla, but Timmy’s Survival Instincts skill had yet to steer him wrong.

He was currently down no less than six levels due to the clones he’d lost capturing the group of mercenaries and the ones currently protecting their base, which meant he was even weaker than his clones, and wasn’t that galling. No, when his skill was screaming at him to take a walk, he was damned well going to take a walk. If Darla survived, she could chew him out then… assuming she remembered who he was.

“Doesn’t this, you know… seem a bit cowardly?” the clone standing nearby asked, watching Timmy with a smile on his familiar face. Timmy rolled his eyes at his clone, giving him a skeptical look.

“I’m effectively level six for another five days, Darla got half the cult killed ambushing a group of mercs way more powerful than we were supposed to nab, and Survival Instincts is screaming at me to find greener pastures to settle down and try again. Do you want to stick around?” Timmy asked, raising his eyebrows as he packed in another piece of his gear. He was fortunate that his class reduced the amount of alchemical gear he required, even if more would be easier. “You can stay if you really want to.”

“I’m not that stupid. I like my insides where they are as much as the next Timmy. I was just saying that this seems a bit cowardly.” The clone replied evenly, and Timmy glared at him. They both knew perfectly well that the clone was full of shit, because if Timmy were the clone, which he sort of was, he’d be giving himself shit too.

“Some days I think that choosing the clone-master alchemist path was a really stupid idea. I’m too much of a smartass for my own good.” Timmy muttered, going back to packing his backpack.

“Yup. You’d have reset your class to something else if this didn’t give you so many ways to get out of deadly situations. How many of us have you managed to lose in three levels again?” the clone asked, and started counting on his fingers. “Let’s see, Timmy, Timmy, Timmy, Tim, Tim-timiny, Timmy, Timmy…”

“Yes, yes, we all know how many Timmy’s have given their lives for me to survive.” Timmy interjected, glaring at the clone. “Now, would you help me pack, so we can keep living?”

“Sure thing, Timmy.” The clone replied, grinning broadly.

Timmy just muttered under his breath, resolving to improve his attitude in the future. Assuming he survived.

***

Talyn let out a faint sigh, rotating her right wrist slowly to try to get it to relax. Using a hammer upside down to try to drive pins out of hinges wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, and things might have gone badly for her if Melody hadn’t given Aslith the short sword. A pair of cultists had come downstairs, presumably to check on something, and the black-haired elf had murdered them before Talyn had even realized they were there. That was the difference between her and a Level 14 Wood Elf, she supposed. Besides, a little more humility would be good for her.

The adventurers were interesting as well. Reagan was a Level 14 Star Dark Elf, which sounded impressive to her, and was a well-built, handsome man with grayish-purple hued skin, blue eyes with black sclera, and white hair. If she were attracted to men, Talyn suspected that she’d have been interested in him, but she wasn’t.

Gordon was a Level 14 Warlord Human, which confused Talyn slightly, since she wasn’t sure if the warlord part was his sub-species or his class. She suspected that it was the sub-species, but regardless, the burly, bushy-bearded man had picked her up effortlessly as he laughed. He was taller than her by a good margin, with lighter skin and brown hair and eyes.

Elda was last, and she was a Level 14 Feline Animus, and Talyn had to resist the urge to touch the woman’s ears. Rather than ears on the sides of her head like a human’s, the blonde had a pair of cat-like ears tufted in black, and she had a tail with a black tip. Coupled with her cat-like amber eyes, she struck Talyn as a human-like mountain lion. That was despite the fact that Elda was surprisingly petite and small.

None of them were in good clothing, either. They’d been left with basic tunics, shorts, and that was it. They also hadn’t been fed, and been left to deal with their excrement themselves. Talyn wasn’t enthused with the smell, but neither were they. They’d eagerly seized on the chance to use the water from the flask to wash up quickly, Aslith had claimed the leather armor once Talyn declared herself uninterested in it, Gordon took the short sword, and all of them had nearly gorged themselves on some of the food from the cultist’s room, until Reagan warned them that they might make themselves sick. Elda had taken a dagger from one of the cultists, while Aslith had taken one of their short swords and another dagger.

Now they were about as ready as they could get, with the dark elf looking like he wasn’t happy while he tested the bowstring of the bow Talyn had found.

“Not my preferred sort of weapon, but we do what we must.” Reagan muttered, glowering at it.

“Oh? What sort of weapon do you prefer?” Talyn asked, pausing for a moment, then admitted. “I can’t tell what sort of classes you have, since I’m too low-level.”

“Ah, right. You don’t know.” Gordon said, looking a bit chagrined. “I’m a Defender, one of the warrior-based classes. Planning to pick up earth magic or light magic as I level it up, to become either a Stone Bulwark or Everlasting Shield if I can. The problem is with Reagan and Elda.”

“The priestess used a curse on us that keeps us from using our magic.” Elda explained, scowling. “It’ll fade in time, but that will likely take a couple of weeks.”

“There are people in town who could remove it, but that’s a bit far away for us. So, I suppose I’ll be trying to remember the archery lessons from my misspent youth.” Reagan said, letting out a heavy sigh. “I hated those lessons. I wanted to be learning history instead.”

“But to answer the question quickly, I’m a Rogue, with an emphasis on speed and agility. Reagan is an Acolyte, but doesn’t have a holy symbol, so his magic would be weaker even if he could cast spells. Elda is a Fire Adept, and is even more dangerous with her staff.” Aslith said, pointing to each of them in turn. “Do you have any abilities which might be helpful?”

“I… don’t know.” Talyn said, thinking for a moment. “I have Demon Eyes, Demonic Armament, Demonic Durability, Enhanced Charisma, Minions with a contract focus, and Melody.”

“I have Celestial Eyes, Guardian’s Teleportation, Rapid Movement, Renewing Barrier, and Weapons of Light.” Melody chimed in. “Renewing Barrier creates a short-lived shield around the target that blocks all attacks in either direction with modest durability, but also heals the person inside slightly. However, I think Talyn’s Minions ability might help. If I’m right, since it’s a contract, it might override the curse if placed second.”

“Huh?” Talyn asked, looking at Melody in confusion. “Wait, is my Minions ability a curse?”

“Whoa, that’s… you can’t make Thralls, can you?” Gordon asked, his eyes narrowing, and Talyn got a sudden sense that he wasn’t quite as friendly anymore.

“No, she can’t. She chose a contract route for minions, which gives a modest power boost to her and any subject of it depending on their levels. What’s the text, Talyn?” Melody asked, poking her head out the door to check the next room.

“Let’s see here… ‘You may have up to two minions. These individuals gain power based on your level, and you gain power based on their level. Either party may break the minion contract at any time.’” Talyn said, pulling up the description again. The others all relaxed, and she continued. “How would it help, then?”

“It’s a contract, Talyn. That means you can attach some requirements to it. It might be able to override the curse as part of that, but it also might not.” Melody explained.

“It does sound like a slightly better form of a standard leadership skill. Many of those allow a commander to improve the capabilities of subordinates.” Reagan observed, nodding slowly. “This one appears to be slightly more formal in some ways. Our apologies, Talyn, but skills that create slaves, thralls, or which otherwise take away another’s self-will are banned in the nations we come from.”

“Oh. Well, that makes sense.” Talyn said, pausing, then shook herself, relief slowly washing over her. “Anyway, we’ve wasted a lot of time. Do either of you want to test whether this would work or not? I’m not going to push either way. Heck, I don’t even know how to use it.”

Elda and Reagan exchanged looks, and after a moment the animus inclined her head slightly, and Reagan laughed softly, smiling.

“It looks like I’m going to be the one trying this out, since I’m the least dangerous of us.” Reagan said dryly. “Alright, let’s make this quick.”

“Great!” Melody said, clapping her hands together. Her eyes were practically dancing as she added. “Talyn, kiss him.”

“What?” Talyn yelped, as the man’s eyes went wide.

“Kiss him. While trying to use the skill.” Melody said patiently, smirking as she added. “It isn’t like you don’t know how to kiss people. I know you did it a few times in your previous life. Possibly a few hundred times.”

“T-that… that isn’t the point!” Talyn replied, refusing to look at Reagan as her cheeks heated. “I’m not attracted to men, you should know that!”

“Not my problem. Especially since I didn’t say you needed to kiss him in any particular way.” Melody said, rolling her eyes. “He has hands and cheeks, little miss mind-in-the-gutter.”

For a few seconds Talyn just stood there, staring at Melody as her cheeks burned. Then the others began to laugh, even Aslith cracking a smile while Elda giggled under her breath.

“I… suppose I can do that much.” Talyn said, feeling like crawling into a hole and being buried. That was mortifying. “I hate you.”

“No you don’t.” Melody replied pleasantly. “We both know better.”

Before she could say anything more, Talyn stepped forward, taking Reagan’s hand, and she focused on her Minions skill, trying to figure out how to use it as she leaned over his hand and kissed the back of it. Briefly. The next instant a translucent window appeared in front of her.

Do you wish to offer this creature a contract as one of your minions?

This contract will attempt to override the curse afflicting the subject, and while it is in effect, they must make all reasonable attempts to keep you safe. This contract will last until either party breaks it, for one month, or until you and the subject have reached a safe location.

Talyn blinked, reading it over twice, then focused on offering the contract. The window vanished, and Reagan’s lips pursed as his gaze focused on the air between them. After a moment he nodded, murmuring. “Refreshingly simple, and reasonable. It lasts until both of us reach a safe location, for one month, or until one of us breaks it, and I have to do what I can to keep her safe. As long as it’s reasonable.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t seem bad.” Gordon agreed, tugging on his beard. “If we do well, we can be in town this evening. Assuming it’s noon, like I think it is.”

Reagan nodded, and the next moment Talyn felt a surge of power wash over her, and her eyes went huge at the sensation. She felt like she could pick up one of the doors one-handed… but then the sensation faded slightly.

“Huh, an interesting sensation. But first, a test. Light.” Reagan said, and a pinprick of light appeared above his hand, shimmering and dancing, shedding light through the room. Most of the others winced, but the man let the magic fade as he smiled broadly. “Excellent, it worked.”

“You appear to still be yourself to me.” Aslith said, followed by Gordon, and Talyn blinked, then smiled. Of course they’d have thought of that.

“Good. May I?” Elda asked, a determined glint in her eyes as she turned to Talyn. “I would like to torch some cultists.”

“…Certainly?” Talyn said, and quickly repeated the process with the animus, which was accompanied by another surge of power. She was trying very hard not to think of Elda as a catgirl. Not when any one of them could probably kill her, even unarmed.

Then it was time to go, and Talyn felt a surge of excitement wash over her. She was going to get to see some people with classes show her how it was done.