Riftside - Chapter 44

I took a long drink of beer, staring at the bottles behind the bar as I pondered Knut's words. There were so many shades to what he was proposing, as there were colors in those bottles.

“Give me a moment,” I said quietly.

Knut nodded and headed for the storage room, probably to check on our guest. I moved to sit at our usual beam, placing my mug and Roq on the worn wooden table.

“Let's discuss proper vengeance!” Roq said. “I'm thinking bloodshed, chaos, and maybe some dramatic speeches about justice while we crush their bones to dust. We could start small. Just a few severed limbs to get warm? Then work our way up to TOTAL ANNIHILATION!”

I stayed silent, tracing my finger along the grain of the table.

“And obviously, we'll need to collect trophies,” Roq continued. “Maybe their teeth? No, too small. Skulls are classic, but bulky to carry. Oh! What about their weapons? We could melt them down and forge them into something truly terrifying! Like a spiked throne… for me!”

When I didn't respond, Roq's enthusiastic rambling slowly trailed off.

“Ash?” His tone shifted, becoming almost hesitant. “How... how are you doing?”

I sighed, dropping my head into my hands.

“This might be the toughest decision of my life, Roq,” I said quietly. “At least so far. Whatever I choose, I'll have to live with it. Forever. And not just me. Ma, Pa, Eryn... everyone I care about will be affected by what I decide right now.”

“I—” Roq paused, his mental voice uncharacteristically gentle. “I understand. Well, theoretically. I don't actually have to live with anything since I'm an immortal soul weapon and will likely go on to have a thousand owners across the worlds. But I can see how this would weigh on a fleshy biped like you.”

“An eye for an eye,” I muttered. “And there'll be none to defend against the monsters. Everyone knows that.” I took a drink. “Yet House Domitius attacked us. I know what I want to do, Roq. I want to make sure I can protect Eryn and everyone I care about.”

“Protection through power,” Roq said softly. “Not a bad instinct.”

“But Knut is right. It could be done by giving up the smithy.” My fingers tightened around the mug. “But that would kill Pa's spirit. How could I do that to him? Smithing is the thing keeping him going. After they lost Samuel, their son, and then the smithy burned down… If we give this away, I don’t think—”

“Is this one of those times where you'll talk it over with your family?” Roq asked. “Get their input? Share the burden of choice?”

I considered for a moment to go talk to Pa and Ma, and get Eryn’s input. But Knut was right. This decision was mine to make. My responsibility. If they protested afterwards, I would listen, but no, it would have to be all me. I would take the burden on myself and deal with it afterward.

“I need to be the one to make this choice, Roq. Not shift the weight of decision over to them just to make things easier on myself.”

“Ash?” Roq's tone was careful now. “Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?”

I wrapped my hand around Roq's handle.

“Yeah, I think I am, Roq.” I sat up straighter. “It's time someone showed the nobles what happens when they mess with the people of Dawnwatch. The time of nobles has come and gone. It’s about time those of us who risk their lives get a bigger piece of the pie and more control over their lives.”

“Knut!” I called out.

He appeared from the storage room, wiping his hands on a rag. One eyebrow rose as he looked at me, before a grin spread across his face.

“See you made choice,” he said. “Can't promise outcome, or even if right one. But promise much excitement and blood.”

“I want you to gather a posse and send someone to confirm the location of Ivan and the others. Have them keep watch over the bastards until we get there. Make sure there's no way for them to escape.”

“This guy?” Knut asked, jerking his thumb toward the storage room. “Really letting go?”

“I've got a plan,” I said. “I'll keep my word about letting him leave Dawnwatch alive. But I'll make sure he doesn't make it back to report anything, nor hurt anyone else.”

Knut nodded, his grin turning sharp.

“But there's one thing I want to do before we leave,” I said.

“Long as ready by nightfall,” Knut said. “Want to attack under cover of darkness. Most safe.”

I nodded and walked into the storage room. The thug looked up at me, his good eye wide with fear.

“Tell us where to find Ivan and the others,” I said. “Once we've dealt with them, I'll let you go.”

“You promise?” he asked, voice trembling.

I paused for a moment.

“What's your name?”

“June,” he whispered.

“Would I bother learning your name if I was just going to kill you?”

June slumped in relief.

“They're camped East of town, maybe two hours walk. There's an old waterbed there. That's where you'll find them.”

I nodded.

“Thank you, Knut,” I said, turning to the others. “Johan. Finn. I'll see you later.”

I stepped out of the Timberline, drawing in a deep breath of fresh air, and fighting against the tension of what I'd set in motion.

But the thing that helped the most was seeing Eryn hurrying up the street toward me, her braid swinging. The sight of her made my chest tighten, my heart swelling with love for this incredible woman who'd chosen to fight and stay by my side, putting her trust in me.

“What's a pretty girl like you doing in a frontier town like this?” I called out.

She chuckled, quickening her pace.

“Looking for a brave blacksmith to sweep me off my feet,” she shot back with a playful wink. “You haven't seen one around, have you?”

I headed down to meet her halfway, drinking in the sight of her. She stopped as I approached, head tilted slightly, studying my face.

“What's wrong?”

I paused, taking a moment just to look at her. Having her close steadied and grounded me against the coming storm. Would the violence ahead change us? Change what we had?

“Oh, for the love of... put me in storage before you two start getting all mushy!” Roq said. “I refuse to be present for this.”

I fought back a smile and swiped Roq into storage.

Eryn raised an eyebrow, and I stepped closer.

“What's going on?” she asked softly.

Instead of answering, I leaned in and kissed her, savoring the warmth of her lips against mine, trying to memorize this moment of peace before everything changed.

She pulled back slightly and punched my chest lightly. 

“Say something, you big oaf.”

I met her eyes.

“We found them.”

Her face hardened instantly, all softness vanishing as her expression set like stone.

“If you think you're going to deal with them without me, you'd better think again. Don't make me put an arrow through your knee, let Roq heal it, and then put one through the other!”

“Oh? We’re already at that stage?” I said, giving her a mock-expression of disbelief.

“And wipe that look off your face,” she continued, jabbing a finger into my chest. “They tried to mess with my loved ones—my family. The monsters killed my parents. Never again. Not while I still have a breath left.” She scowled. “I'll put arrows through their hearts and stomp on their throats until every last one of those silver-spooned devils goes the way of the monsters.”

“That’s the girl I fell in love with alright.”

She smiled and pushed me back slightly.

“Actually, I came to find you for a reason.”

I tilted my head. 

“What?”

“Harold came by,” she said. “He bought the Shardfang armors.”

I blinked in surprise.

“What? Why would he buy them? He’s not adventuring anymore.”

“I think it's his way of apologizing,” she explained. “For letting this happen under his watch.”

“How much did he pay?”

She smiled.

“Why don't we head back to the smithy? Let Ma tell that story.”

She turned and pulled out of my grasp, her braid swinging as she started jogging toward the smithy.

“Eryn!” I called, breaking into a run after her. “Ma’s bad habits are rubbing off on you!”

Her laugh carried on the wind, bright and clear, as I chased her through the streets of Dawnwatch.

  *

Eryn beat me to the smithy door, but I caught up just as she pulled it open. The shop still smelled of smoke, but much less than it had even hours ago. All the windows were open and there was a constant draft.

Ma and Pa sat at the counter, sharing a quiet moment together. They exchanged a knowing glance as I entered, both wearing mysterious smiles. Pa held a glass of the good whisky he saved for special occasions.

“What's going on?” I asked, glancing between them. “Eryn said Harold stopped by?”

Pa leaned back in his chair, a warm smile spreading across his weathered face as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass.

Ma set down her teacup.

“Well,” she began, “Two adventurers came by earlier, interested in the Shardfang armors you made.”

I settled onto a stool, doing my best to wrestle up some patience before she slowed down even further. “They tried to haggle,” she continued, “But I stood firm. Told them it was one Mind Gem per armor, a fair price considering the quality.” She clicked her tongue. “But they insisted on getting all three for just two gems.”

“What did you do?” I asked, already grinning. I'd seen Ma negotiate before, and she rarely relented.

“Oh, I pulled out all the stops,” she said, warming to her tale. “Explained about the premium materials, the expert craftsmanship.” She winked at me. “Even mentioned how the gems would help my son reach level ten.”

Ma paused to take a deliberate sip of tea. I shifted impatiently.

“Come on, Ma. Do we really need to do this today?”

She set down her cup with infuriating care.

“Well, right in the middle of our discussion, Harold walks in. The two adventurers immediately complained to him about my 'unreasonable' prices.”

I leaned forward.

“And?”

“Harold didn't even look at them. Just pulled out a purse and said the guild would buy all three armors.” Ma's smile widened. “You should have seen their faces! They started stammering about how they'd pay the three gems, how they were there first.”

My heart began to race.

“What did Harold do?”

“He'd already handed me the money, hand't he?” Ma's voice softened.

“Three mind gems?” I asked. 

Am I truly one mind gem away from becoming a classed adventurer?

Ma reached beneath the bench, pulled out a small leather bag, and dropped it onto the counter. “Why don't you see for yourself?”

Ever so carefully I took it, and treating it tenderly, as if it might disappear, loosened the drawstring and peered inside.

My breath caught. 

Four Mind Gems gleamed back at me, their blue-white patterns swirling beneath their pristine surfaces. 

The last ones I needed. 

The final step to reaching level ten.

The room spun slightly. I couldn't seem to form coherent thoughts. This was really happening. After everything we'd been through...all the crazy stunts we pulled and monsters we’d killed while still being scavengers.

Suddenly arms wrapped around me. Ma, Pa, and Eryn enveloped me in a group hug, their joy and pride washing over me in waves.

“You did it, son,” Pa whispered.

I pulled Roq from storage, wanting to share this moment with the bloodthirsty hammer.

“Oh no,” Roq groaned immediately. “No more emotional displays! Put me back in storage before I rust from all this... sentiment.”

“Roq!” I said. “We have them! The last four Mind Gems! Ma and Pa got them!”

There was a beat of silence in my mind.

“WHAT?” Roq's mental voice exploded with excitement. “Why didn't you lead with that instead of subjecting me to this group embrace? This is magnificent! We're going to be unstoppable! Quick, consume them! We will break through and lay waste to our enemies!”

“We need to send for Commander Edwin,” I said, still wrapped in the group hug. “I want to start as soon as possible.”

Eryn pulled back slightly, grinning.

“Already done,” she said. “I sent word before coming to find you. He should be here any minute unless there’s a monster wave that needs handling.”

I placed one of the gems on my tongue, wondering what the breakthrough to level ten would feel like. No adventurer had ever answered a straight question about it. 

The gem dissolved, sending familiar warmth coursing through my body.

“Three gems left to consume!” Roq said. “I can almost taste the power! Hurry up and eat the others!”

  *

The stairs creaked under the weight of my steps as I climbed to our second story with Commander Edwin, Roq safely stored in my spatial storage.

“Congratulations on your achievement,” Edwin said as we reached the top.

“Thank you, commander,” I said, leading him to our table, pulling out a chair and gesturing for him to take the other.

My heart raced as I retrieved one final Mind Gem from my storage. Even after all the gems I'd consumed, this one felt different. Special. The last step before everything changed.

Edwin's eyes tracked the gem's swirling patterns.

“You understand what this means, don't you? The choice you're making?” he asked.

I placed the gem on my tongue. The familiar warmth spread through me, but this time it felt more intense, like standing too close to the forge. My skin tingled as the power settled into my bones.

“Finally!” Roq's voice echoed in my mind. “I thought you'd never finish! Now we can move on to world domination!”

Edwin leaned forward, his scarred face intent.

“This isn't just about power, Ash. Being classed means responsibility. Are you truly ready for that burden? And don’t even let me get started on the rules you’ll need to follow and abide by. It isn’t just becoming classed, it is a different life entirely.”

I met his gaze steadily.

“I've been ready since I was fourteen, watching monsters devastate our village. I've trained. I've studied. I know what's at stake.”

A low chuckle rumbled from Edwin's chest. He reached into his coat and withdrew a stone tablet.

“Then let's make it official.” He placed the tablet on the table between us. “I need to verify you've reached the threshold.”

I removed my glove and pressed my palm against the cool stone. Warmth tingled up my arm and writing appeared on the tablet.

NAME: Ash Aldrich

LEVEL: 9 (10/10)

STRENGTH: 22

AGILITY: 15

VITALITY: 18 

MIND: 12

TOTAL STATS: 67

Edwin's eyebrows shot up and he gave a low whistle.

“These might just be the most impressive pre-classed stats I've ever seen.” He tapped the tablet thoughtfully. “How in the class-blessed bell have you managed this?”

“I'd be happy to tell you sometime, Commander.” I couldn't help but grin. “But not right now.”

“Eager, are we?” His stern expression cracked into a smile. “Can't blame you. Congratulations again, Ash. You've reached the first threshold. The line that separates scavengers from true adventurers.”

He sat back, his voice taking on a formal tone.

“What we adventurers do isn't about personal glory or wealth. We're the shield between humanity and the darkness. Every month, more rifts appear. More monsters emerge. Without classed adventurers, Noros would have fallen years ago.” His eyes grew distant. “We hold the line. We push back the tide. And now you'll join our ranks.”

I nodded, the weight of his words settling over me like a flood wave. All I’d ever wanted was to get classed, but only now that the true weight was starting to press down on my shoulders, did I understand what it would mean. Obligations and putting other people’s lives before mine were just two of my new duties.

Speech completed, Edwin's smile returned.

“Show me the gem.”

I put my glove back on and retrieved the class gem from storage, making sure it materialized into the palm of the glove. The crystal pulsed with deep crimson light, like a heart beating in my palm.

“A warrior's gem indeed,” Edwin said, examining it. He touched his wrist and two identical red crystals appeared on the table. “As I’m sure you know, there are two paths for the warrior class. The tank, like with your friend Knut and myself, focuses on defense and protection. And then there’s the damage dealer, like Rowan, striking hard and fast. Which path calls to you?”

“What path is my gem?” I asked.

Edwin shook his head.

“That's why I brought both. We won't know until it's identified. I'll trade you whichever you prefer for yours.”

“I will walk the path of the damage dealer,” I said firmly.

Edwin nodded and put the right gem back in his storage, together with mine.

“I'll have yours identified,” he said. “If it turns out to be a tank gem, you'll receive additional compensation from the guild. Tank gems command a higher price than damage since they don’t appear as often.”

“Thank you,” I said, reaching for the gem he'd left.

Edwin straightened in his chair. When he spoke again, his voice carried the weight of ancient ritual.

“The final step to join the ranks of the classed adventurers lies before you,” he intoned. “Place the gem against your forehead and let the transformation begin.”

“How long will it take?” I asked.

Edwin's tongue darted out, wetting his lips as he shrugged.

“It's different for everyone. Some finish quickly, others…” He trailed off, his expression carefully neutral. “It takes as long as it takes.”

I smiled and stared deeply into the heart of the pulsing red crystal. This was it. Everything I'd worked for. With a quick nod, I pressed the crystal against my forehead.

The world exploded around me and disappeared in a blinding red firestorm that raged with white-hot agony where the gem touched my skin. 

It felt as if someone had driven a burning spike through my skull. 

Before I could even process what was happening, Edwin moved with shocking speed. His hands shot out, grasping my arms and yanking me upright. My chair clattered to the floor behind me.

“What's going on?” Ma called up.

“Dropped a chair,” Edwin said as he half-carried, half-dragged me across the room to my cot in the corner.

My legs wouldn't work.

The pain spread like liquid fire down my neck, each heartbeat pushing it further through my body.

“I'm sorry,” Edwin whispered, lowering me. “I lied. It's not fast, and it's not easy.” His weathered face swam in my vision as darkness crept in at the edges. “This will be the worst day and night of your life, but I trust in you.”

I tried to respond, to ask what was happening, but my jaw wouldn't move. My entire body had gone rigid, muscles locked in place as tremors wracked through me. The agony spread, having reached my chest now. Each breath felt like inhaling molten metal.

“The good news,” Edwin continued, pulling thick ropes from his spatial storage, “Is that when it's finished, you'll be a classed adventurer.”

He began methodically binding my arms and legs tightly against my body. The ropes bit into my skin, but that pain was nothing compared to the inferno consuming me from within.

“Your body is changing,” he explained, his voice maddeningly calm as he worked. “Your mind too. All the energy from the Mind Gems you've consumed is working its way through you, reshaping you into something more than human.” He tested the knots. “Remember, on the other side lies the power to protect those you care about.”

Edwin put his scarred face close to mine.

“And if your mind doesn't make it through in one piece,” he whispered, “Rest assured I'll do what's necessary to protect your parents and Eryn. You have my word. I will end you myself.”

He straightened and walked to the stairs, pausing to look back at me. 

“Good luck, Ash,” he said, loudly, then descended, leaving me alone with the agony.

Through the haze of pain, I panicked, voices rising from below.

“He needs to be left completely alone to meditate,” Edwin said. “The process will take as long as it takes. I suggest you all head to the Timberline to wait. I'll send for you as soon as he's ready.”

“Oh, okay,” Pa said. “We'll stay here for a bit though, take care of a few things.”

Ma's voice drifted up. 

“Thank you for taking such good care of our boy, commander. We appreciate and will make it up for you. Free repairs or upgrades on the house.”

The sound of the retractable stairs being pushed up cut off any further conversation. The trapdoor sealed with a final thud, leaving me alone in the gathering darkness.

I tried to call for help, to scream, to make any sound at all, but my jaw remained locked, my body frozen in place as tremors of pain wracked through me. Even breathing became a monumental task, each shallow gasp bringing fresh waves of torment.

My thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm. I couldn't focus, couldn't string together coherent ideas through the red haze of agony. Fragments of memory flashed through my mind. Ma's smile, Pa working at the forge, Eryn's laugh, Roq's complaints. But they slipped away before I could grasp them, lost in the endless sea of pain that radiated down my arms, every nerve ending screaming in protest.

The gem burned against my forehead like a brand, each pulse sending fresh waves of torment through my reforming nervous system. My muscles were tight as the ropes that held me in place.

Everything I was — everything I had been — felt like it was being burned aw, leaving only pain, endless and all-consuming.

My consciousness shattered like a mirror, each piece reflected a different memory, a different sensation as the transformation moved down my body. 

But then, as the pain reached my wrist, I heard a voice.

“What in the forge-cursed RIFT is HAPPENING OUT THERE?”