Riftside - Chapter 51

The crackles of electricity made Pa's beard puff up as he pulled back from Arclight's corpse, fingers twitching.

“Damn thing won't let me cut it,” he muttered, shaking his arm. “Even dead, the lightning persists. How am I supposed to dissect it?”

I watched from the doorway, popping berries in my mouth. Despite being stored in my spatial overnight, the massive beast's body still sparked and sizzled.

“Did Roq sense anything else in there?” Ma asked, her hand warm on my shoulder.

“Just a bad attitude and a superiority complex. No mind gem or class gem,” Roq grumbled in my mind. “Though I maintain we should try hitting it really hard. That usually works.”

“He says no,” I translated. “But wants to try smashing it.”

Pa barked a laugh, still flexing his fingers.

“Of course he does.” He grabbed a cloth to wipe his hands. “We'll have to wait for the charge to dissipate naturally. Could take days.”

“What if it doesn't?” I asked.

Pa combed his beard with his fingers. 

“I'll have a chat with the craftsmen. See if anyone has any ideas of how to deal with it, or maybe even create a special tool to help? I will find a way, son.”

The shop door creaked open and Eryn slipped in, way earlier than agreed, but with her came the scent of fresh bread.

“Morning,” she called softly. “I brought breakfast from the Hollow Hearth. Matron Kora insisted on doing her part for Dawnwatch's heroes.”

Ma immediately swept forward to take the basket.

“Perfect timing! Come, all of you. I'll add this to the breakfast.”

We gathered around the shop counter, the familiar routine somehow both comforting and bittersweet. Today wasn't a normal morning. Today we'd be entering the Twisted Titan and I had this nagging feeling in my stomach. I wouldn’t go so far to say I was afraid, but things could always go wrong.

“Stop being so dramatic,” Roq complained as I picked at my bread. “It's just a dungeon. With bigger monsters. And more death. Actually, continue being dramatic.”

“So,” Eryn said between bites. “Should we discuss the gems?”

I nodded, pulling out the leather pouch containing our reward from Harold. Twenty gleaming mind gems clinked together as I set them on the table. Pa put another bag next to it, containing the thirteen gems we'd gathered from our Shardfang hunt before being rudely interrupted by the oversized kitty.

“Thirty-three total,” I said. “Thirty will get you to your breakthrough.”

She shook her head.

“I've been thinking, and there’s no point to do it now without the class gem.”

“What do you want to do then?” I asked.

“We need more storage space.”

Her response was so, well, her, that it made me smile.

“You're sure?”

“Think about it. What good is being level ten if I can't take a class? Better to upgrade our spatial storages for this run. Imagine the extra loot we can bring out.”

“Do it! More carcasses means more forging. And more forging means more things for me to beat into submission!”

“So, twenty for my level three upgrade, as I’ll be picking among the adventurers, taking me from ten to twenty slots. Ten for your level two, doubling you to ten slots so you can bring in even more.”

“Leaving three extra to bring in,” she added. “In case we need to refresh.”

“More slots also means we'll need to commit more VIOLENCE to fill them! I like it. I like it very much. Tell her what I said. She can touch my head if she wants. Maybe even bake me a blueberry cobbler!”

I shared Roq's enthusiasm, if not his exact reasoning. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't had the same thought, though I'd never have put the pressure on her. The gems were hers by agreement. I owed them to her, and Knut next... But if we filled our spatials with the right loot today, guided by Roq, we might even get as much back.

“Alright then.” I poured the gems onto the table and pushed ten across to her. “Ladies first?”

She gathered them up carefully.

“Here goes nothing.”

I watched as she pressed the first gem against her storage tattoo. Her eyes closed in concentration as the gem slowly dissolved, sinking into the geometric pattern. One by one, she absorbed the rest, her breathing steady and controlled.

When the final gem vanished, a thin metallic line extended from her wrist tattoo, travelling up her inner arm. It disappeared beneath her armor and reappeared at her neck, ending up at the corner of her left eye, making a small sigil — barely noticeable unless you knew to look for it.

“How does it feel?” I asked.

She blinked several times, touching the sigil gently.

“Strange. But good. Like... having an extra sense.”

“It suits her,” Roq commented. “Though it could use more spikes. Everything could use more spikes.”

“Roq approves,” I said, making her smile. “Says it suits you.”

“Did he suggest adding spikes?” Eryn asked.

I laughed.

“How did you know?”

She just grinned and gestured to the remaining gems.

“Your turn.”

Taking a deep breath, I began pressing gems to my own storage tattoo. Each one dissolved slower than the last, the power building like pressure behind my eyes. When the twentieth gem finally sank in, my existing tattoo evolved, and I felt it spread out on my elbow and shoulder.

“How's my sigil?” I asked.

“Beautiful,” Eryn said, leaning forward, gently touching a finger to it. “It's more complex now. Like an abstract artwork more than the simple geometry it used to be.”

“Now THAT'S more like it!” Roq said. “I can feel the added space! I can really swing my limbs around in there now! Though still lacking in appropriate amounts of—”

“If you say spikes, I'm putting you back in storage.”

“I was GOING to say aesthetic appeal. But now that you mention it, yes!”

I was saved from Roq's artistic critique by Pa getting to his feet.

“Almost forgot,” he muttered, limping quickly toward the workshop. “Don't leave yet!”

Ma's knowing smile made me suspicious.

Pa returned moments later carrying a wrapped package bigger than his head.

“Been working on this since you brought down that Platemaw,” he said, setting it carefully on the table. “Finished it last night.”

With trembling fingers, I pulled away the cloth wrapping. I’d already have a suspicion what it might be, but when I saw it, my breath caught.

The helmet was a masterwork of monster bone and steelhusk, incorporating the Platemaw's skull in a way that preserved its natural armor while adding strategic reinforcement. The eye sockets had been filled with crystal from the crystalkins. Sheets of Shardfang scales overlapped along the sides and back, protecting the neck without restricting movement.

“Now THAT is proper battle wear!” Roq approved. “And he even—”

“Don't say it.”

“THERE'S SPIKES, ASH! ACTUAL SPIKES!”

“Pa,” I whispered. “This is amazing.”

“Try it on,” Ma urged.

I ran my fingers along the four small horns which sat two on each side, angled backwards. More decoration than spikes, but Roq didn't seem to mind.

“SPIKY SPIKE SPIKES! YES! Now we can smash things to death with your head, too! Go Pa!”

The helmet fit perfectly, the padding inside hugged my head like a hand in a glove. I'd worried the crystal-covered viewports would impair my vision, but it was clear as air, with only the slightest pink tinge.

“How does it feel?” Pa asked, and I could hear nearly as well as without the helmet.

“You've outdone yourself, Pa. Did you measure my head while I was sleeping or something?”

“How did you know? I could have sworn you didn't wake up!” he said.

Eryn laughed.

“You’re a real adventurer now,” she said and nudged me with her shoulder. “And with those big shoulders and arms, you look like a hero.”

“Thank you, Pa. Thank you, Ma. This is too much.”

Ma leaned forward, adjusting the helmet slightly.

“We want you safe,” she said softly. “Both of you.”

Her eyes met Eryn's, including her in the statement.

“We will be,” I promised, though my hand unconsciously sought Eryn's.

“You haven't checked the stats yet, have you?” Pa asked.

I opened my soul chart and swiped to view the item, giving a whistle. 

“It's rare, Pa!”

“Yep!”

“That's fantastic!”

“That would be my middle name.”

“Pa!”

“Don't wear it out, son.”

I rolled my eyes and shared the stats with Eryn, barely believing my eyes.

Name: Bonebound Vigil

Type: Helmet

Rarity: Rare

+1 Strength

+2 Vitality

“Do you know how to repeat the process?” Eryn asked, showing her mercantilism, and a broad grin spread across Pa's face.

“Yup.”

“No way anyone here has made anything like this,” she said.

“Nope.”

“You're going to get the recipe recognised, aren't you?”

“Yup.”

He looked like a cat who got into the cream.

I stood and stared at my reflection in the workshop window, slowly turning. Combined with the armor, the helmet completed my transformation from smith's apprentice to classed adventurer. The blue-ish scales matched those covering my torso and halfway down my arms and legs, while the crystal eyes caught the light and looked fierce.

“I'm wearing a class-blessed kingdom's ransom,” I whispered.

“And worth every copper,” Ma said, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Better get moving now, son,” Pa said, his eyes suddenly suspiciously bright. “Don't want to keep your team waiting.”

I nodded and started to gather the rest of my things. Belt, pouches, backup weapon...

“About that,” I said, hefting a steel mace from the weapon rack. “Just in case.”

“BETRAYAL!” Roq howled. “INFIDELITY! SHAME UPON YOUR HOUSE!”

“We talked about this. What if you need to transform again?”

“Then you should use your FISTS like a… a…or your head! You got spikes now!”

“Id be like a classless oaf, right?”

“Maybe a rock then! Anything but another... another... HAMMER-ADJACENT WEAPON!”

I sighed, swiping the mace into my storage.

“You specifically mentioned mace as an acceptable weapon before, and its close enough to what I'm used to so I won't end up cutting my own nose off. Quiet down.”

“FINE! But its not really. Just so you know. I might even have to avoid transforming again because of this,” Roq said, clearly miffed.

“Ready?” I asked Eryn.

She nodded, touching her bow and quiver. She had plenty of arrows in her spatial storage, and most of them were specially made just for her.

“Ready.”

We headed for the door, Pa and Ma following after to watch us leave. The sky was clear of clouds and there was a light wind to keep it from being stifling. A perfect day for dungeon diving. Hopefully it would be equally good riftside.

“Son,” Pa said, stopping us. “Don’t abandon your friends. We both know what it means that you’ve become a party leader. Make sure they all come home safe.”

I squeezed them both in a hug, and then we left.

“Just remember,” Roq said as we started down the street. “If you so much as LOOK at that mace suggestively, I will never forgive you. And I will tell everyone about the time you tried using me to open nuts.”

“That was one time!”

“And the crack in Ma's table will live on forever, Ash. Forever.”

  *

A short while later, I glanced at the insides of Sentinel Station, standing in the yard, and adjusting my new armor. The solid weight of the scales were comforting. Around me, adventurers and scavengers bustled about in final preparations.

“At least try to look a little more intimidating,” Roq suggested. “We are leaders now. Maybe growl a little? Show them your teeth? Headbutt someone with those horns on your head and show them who’s daddy!”

I ignored him, scanning the faces around me. Knut stood calm and collected, methodically checking his shield straps with the patience of a veteran who had done so a thousand times and planned to do it a thousand more. His expression held none of the apathy I remembered from our first hunt together. Eryn caught my eye as she secured her quiver, giving me a small smile that carried more meaning than words could express.

Then there was Enar, gripping his spear like it might try to escape. His knuckles had gone white around the shaft, and a sheen of sweat already dampened his forehead despite the cool morning air.

“Poor boy looks like he's about to faint,” Roq observed. “Though I suppose you must have been no better your first time. My metal aches at the thought of how lost you were without me. So useless and scared and… Hey. Are you listening to me?”

I smiled as a memory hit me with startling clarity. I’d been standing in this same yard two months ago, trying to hide my own nervousness behind excitement and bravado. I'd been just another scavenger then, dreaming of adventure while praying I wouldn't get anyone killed. Now I stood among the adventurers, leading my own party, which somehow felt both right and terrifying.

“Yes, Roq. I hear you.”

“Good. I am always worth listening to. Remember that.”

Enar swallowed hard, his eyes darting to me then away. I recognized that look. It was the same one I'd worn when Commander Edwin had first organized us into groups.

I crossed to him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. He jumped slightly, then tried to cover it with a shaky smile.

“It's normal,” I said quietly. “The nerves, the doubt? We've all been there.”

“Even you?” His voice cracked slightly.

“Especially me. But you've got something I didn't have back then.”

“What's that?”

“Us.” I gestured to our group. “We've got your back. All you need to do is stay focused and follow the plan. Never run, and never try to be a hero. You’re not in a random party, Enar.”

“And try not to throw up on anyone,” Roq added helpfully.

“Not helping.”

Enar's grip on his spear loosened slightly.

“Thanks, I won’t fail you.”

A hush fell over the yard as Commander Edwin climbed onto the same steelhusk stump he'd used two months ago. But this time, his expression carried none of the calculated confidence from before. His face was grim, and the scars on his left cheek looked angrier than usual.

“Two months ago,” he began, his voice carrying clearly across the yard, “We fought our way into the Twisted Titan to cull its spawn. We barely survived, and the monster waves have grown since then.”

The silence grew heavier after his words, and I couldn’t help but think back on that time. A time which sure had flown by quickly.

“This time, we go further. We’re hunting for the breeding chamber.”

A murmur rippled through the scavengers. My grip on Roq tightened instinctively.

“If we don't shut it down, the next wave could breach the village walls. But if we shut it down, we can buy ourselves a lot of breathing room. A month they estimate. That is how long it takes to replace eggs, ready to spawn the new monsters.”

In the silence, I could hear the weight of what he wasn't saying – how many would die if we failed. Probably many, as we weren’t getting any reinforcements from the king or the guild. We were all on our own but for the random adventurers arriving in town every now and then. That number was steadily rising, but it was far from enough to play it safe.

“Stay focused,” Edwin commanded. “Trust your groups. Fight as a unit. I am not losing anyone today. And no heroics.”

His gaze locked with mine again, and I felt the silent acknowledgement of my new role. I nodded back, feeling the responsibility settle across my shoulders like another layer of armor.

“Now. Prepare. We leave in three minutes by the west gate.”

“Dramatic,” Roq commented. “Though he could have added some flair. Maybe have the new girl shoot some fire? Or maybe one of the mages could create explosions?”

Movement caught my eye. Benedict watched Nabeeh with undisguised contempt, his arms crossed as he stood slightly apart from our group. His perfectly pressed clothes looked absurd next to her travel-worn robes.

He stepped closer to her, voice pitched low but carrying enough for me to hear.

“Stay out of my way, desert rat. I won't have you ruining this run.”

Nabeeh's fingers twitched, small sparks dancing between them as she smirked.

“Worry about keeping up, ice prick. I'd hate having to save you.”

Wade sighed heavily behind them, rubbing his temple.

“This is going to be a long day,” he muttered.

I walked over and stepped between them, not bothering to hide my exasperation.

“Cut it. Both of you. Save it for the monsters.”

Benedict clicked his tongue and looked away, but mercifully said nothing more. Nabeeh's grin only widened, clearly enjoying the whole thing far too much.

Knut's deep chuckle rumbled beside me.

“Team not boring, eh?”

“I do like her,” Roq declared. “She has proper appreciation for violence AND dramatic timing.”

I sighed and moved towards the gate, glancing around Sentinel Station one last time. The wooden walls seemed both stronger and more fragile than before. Tough enough to keep out individual monsters, but an organized horde? The thought of Ma and Pa, or the citizens and merchants who relied on the rift for their livelihood...

“Getting gloomy there, partner,” Roq said. “Want to hear a joke about a hammer and a nail? Never mind, I'd probably screw it up. Get it?”

I didn't laugh, just twisted Roq and rolled my shoulders. The weight of the armor felt just right.

Eryn walked over.

“Are you ready?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Remember, you’re not alone, either.”

I exhaled slowly, nodding. This time there was no excitement bubbling inside me, no thrill of adventure – just the cold certainty of what needed to be done.

“Thanks to all our crazy hunts? Yes,” I said quietly. “This time we're not just fighting for loot, but to make sure these monsters don't kill our family and friends.”

She held my gaze for a long moment before smiling weakly, understanding passing between us without words.

Knut's heavy hand landed on my shoulder, breaking the moment.

“Enough waiting,” he declared. “Time to make noise!”

Edwin raised his hand, and the yard fell silent as the gates creaked open with agonizing slowness, revealing the killing field beyond. The steelhusk forest loomed ahead of us, its ancient trunks standing like silent sentinels.

I moved with the adventurers, our boots crunching on the packed earth. The scavengers fell in behind us. This wasn't like last time, when I'd entered just hoping to get some loot,  no, this time we were taking the fight to the monsters.

The gates closed behind us with a hollow boom, and ahead, the Twisted Titan waited.