Chapter 34: 33. Mission Prep

The morning came quicker than Jake had hoped. He felt a nudge on his side, heard someone call for him, and he could hear the rustling of bodies and the murmuring of voices. His bland dreams receded and his eyes cracked open. He stared through the blur of his eyelashes towards the ceiling, trying to ignore the sight of Yae hovering to his left. She saw the movement, giggled, and stuffed her finger into his cheek. Jake groaned and tried to roll away. That’s when she snatched the pillow from beneath his head and slapped him with it.

“Wake up, Jake. It’s time to go,” she said, dropping the pillow on his head before descending the ladder. Jake sighed as he sat up. He stared down at the table where Tul and Xul were tending to their gear and then looked to the door. He triggered his rock magic and peeled away the locks on the door in case they wanted to leave. Then, in a fog, he rolled out from beneath the bed and clambered down the ladder. The boy made his way to the table where he joined Tul and Xul. They looked at him oddly and then at each other.

“You tell him,” Xul muttered.

“No, you tell him,” Tul retorted.

“I’m not telling him,” Xul lowered his eyes to his weapon and focused on it entirely. Tul hesitated, his eyes flicking between Jake and Xul, but he too chose to fiddle with his spear. Jake lifted his eyebrows as he looked at both of them. Was there something on his face?

“Go take a shower, Jake,” Yae sighed from the kitchen area as she finished making tea. She carried over two full cups for Tul and Xul. Nothing for Jake was placed out. She kicked at him as he groaned and shoved him across the room into the shower area. She slid the door closed, and Jake began to hear her yell at the other two.

Standing there, Jake stared up at the pipe and grimaced. He looked down at himself oddly. Then, he realized the problem. Boldly, the boy dared himself a sniff and was greeted by a ripe stench of sweat and dried effort. It wasn’t bad but the odor was noticeable enough. His nose twisted at the smell and Jake quickly shed his clothes and began the daily ritual of cleansing his body of filth. He made sure to clean his clothes as well.

By the time he finished and returned to the living area, Tul and Xul were gone. Yae stayed behind, sipping at her cup as she stared off towards the window. When Jake emerged, she turned to look at him. A smile on her face showed she was satisfied. Jake flashed her a brief smile in return as he walked to the table. On his way, he snatched a small band and tied his hair up behind his head. It was getting longer and longer. Soon, he wondered if people might start mistaking him for a girl.

“Better?” Yae asked.

“Better,” he answered, flopping down into his cushion. “You didn’t tell them to stay behind? What happened to our day of fun?”

“They have to take missions today. Their teams were given a quota for the month and they’re being sent to help.” As she spoke, Yae prepared Jake a cup of tea. It was warm and full of delicious flavor that soothed his bones. It also helped him wake up. The hot water of his shower had knocked the crust from his eyes but the tea was what jarred his brain to life.

“So, then it’s just us two?” He asked, a bit nervous to do so. Yae nodded.

“Just us, for now of course.” She sipped from her cup and then turned her eyes back to him. They were sharper than before. “You need to check in with your team too, mister. I am happy you would like to spend the day with me but the tunnels are important.”

Jake frowned and looked away. He wasn’t trying to dodge his obligations. He just thought it would be nice to spend time with his friends for once.

“Okay,” he grumbled. “But if there’s no work, then we can?” There was always hope, and Yae affirmed it with a brief nod.

“Maybe. We’ll see.” She hummed as she finished her cup of tea. Instinctively, Jake clutched his cup and slowly slid it away from Yae’s reach. She had stolen it once. Not again. At his motion though, Yae looked at him oddly.

“Nothing,” he muttered as he forced the cup to his lips. He sipped down another mouthful before fully draining the cup. When it was empty, he passed it to Yae’s extended hand and then got up to prepare himself for the day. Yae gathered all the cups into the basin and began to clean them.

When she was finished, she plucked a small pack from beneath her bed and then tied her hair up into a tail behind her head. She adjusted her clothes, checked over the limited medical supplies she had been accumulating, and then met Jake by the door. She went down the ladder first as Jake sealed the home. As she touched the bottom, Jake landed beside her with a soft thump.

“Did you jump?” She spat, a bit frightened by his sudden appearance.

“Yea,” he said with a grin. But, to Yae, it wasn’t a joke. She glared at him.

“Reckless and stupid as always,” she scoffed before snapping her head around and marching off. Jake itched at his forearm and bit his tongue. It seemed Mora wasn’t the only person not a fan of his skills.

“I have to pick something up before we go to the compound. Is that okay?” Jake hurried to Yae’s side and fell in step with her, matching his stride to hers. They were about the same size in terms of height, but her stride was shorter than his. Whether it was just how she walked or on purpose, he didn’t bother to ask or find out. He didn’t mind the longer walks.

“Sure. Is it a replacement sword?” She pointed at the sad-looking hilt on his hip. While it looked fine from the outside, it was not fine at all.

“Yea,” he nodded. “I had to spend all of my earnings to have it made but the blacksmith said it would be ready today.”

“Today doesn’t mean the morning, Jake,” Yae sighed, rolling her eyes as they turned a corner.

Jake stopped in his tracks and gently grabbed onto Yae’s shoulder, stopping her as well. Another Oryk stood there, struggling to hold up a few crates. The two moved out of his path, freeing up the way as he struggled not to drop his cargo.

“Should I check later, then?” As the incident passed uneventfully, Jake and Yae continued their stroll.

“Yes. Let the blacksmith do their work. I would go after lunch,” she advised. Jake agreed and decided then to head to the Scout compound. They turned around and adjusted course, moving now in the opposite direction. They walked in silence through the shopping district, keeping a steady closeness to one another as they both enjoyed the pleasant air of the village’s morning routine.

Most of the shops were still boarded up and closed. Though, the taverns and small cafes which dotted the village were wide awake and full of patrons. The scent of food permeated through the air, filling Jake’s nose with an array of fresh scents. Of all the smells, though, the scent of freshly baked bread was the one that caught his attention the most. Few cafes made their bread fresh and the number of bakeries within the village was limited both by resources and by skill. Thus, the scent was always a unique one to catch. Especially so far underground.

Most of the patrons at the food stops were workers. The basic laborers of the village, the shopkeepers who had finished preparing their stores, and the one or two groups of Warriors or Scouts that had made a stop before their day of tunnel traveling. The waitresses performed their daily dances through the crowds, balancing and manipulating their dishware with practiced ease. The cooks chopped, sliced, ground, mixed, boiled, and prepared the food to be consumed. The patrons all enjoyed the result of the production.

The air was full of the smell of food, the chorus of conversation, and the heat of life. This was Jake’s favorite part of the day. There was always a bit of chaos and movement in the village but the morning always seemed to be the most endearing. Everyone was on the same wavelength- waking up, enjoying their peace before a hard day of work, and spending time with the people they cared for. The morning cycle was a daily reason why Jake needed to fight the Maedra.

The walk to the compound quieted once they stepped out of the shopping area and into the main street leading to the three compounds. With the noise level now drastically lower, Yae gave Jake a nudge with her shoulder.

“What?” He muttered, glancing over at her.

“You always look amazed whenever we pass through the village. Every morning you have that look on your face.” Yae’s lips curled into a smile as she spoke. Heat gathered in Jake’s face and he grumbled out a response. He spoke too quietly, though, so Yae nudged him again. “I think it’s cute,” she whispered.

“Gross,” he mumbled and looked away. Yae giggled at him. Rather than deal with her teasing any longer, Jake tried to steer the conversation away from him. “Where are Tul and Xul going today?”

“White tunnels. Tul is on escort duty for a caravan with his team and Xul is helping gather some Tyrodite,” she said. Jake felt relieved hearing their tasks. Just knowing they would be going into the White Tunnels rather than Blue Tunnels was enough to ease his mind.

Xul probably wasn’t a fan of his task, though. Tyrodite was heavy, coarse, and very dusty. Still, gathering the material was necessary. It was an important versatile material for, Ewana. It could be used in weapon production and for building structures. Tyrodite was strong and durable, and its edges could be sharpened to be used for cutting and slashing. If cut into bricks, it made for a very sturdy construction material. The downside was that collecting the material required a lot of effort and laborers struggled sometimes to extract it. The Maedra weren’t attracted to it thankfully. So areas around the material tended to be safe.

“And you?” Jake asked. Yae shrugged.

“I’m on standby today. They didn’t say why but several Healers are being prepared. Probably another big push into one of the tunnels.” No wonder she had her medical bag. Yae usually only pulled that out when she knew she might have to tend to someone.

“Interesting,” Jake muttered. He hadn’t heard any rumbles about a new mission or something on the scale she might be talking about. Then again. Half of the Pharos squad was missing when Jake returned from his failure of a mission.

“Worried?” Yae asked, looking up at him. Jake pondered for a few seconds as to what the feeling was but he wouldn’t say it was concern that he felt. Something didn’t sit right with him but it wasn’t worry.

“No, but it’s fine,” he gave her a nudge as they turned the corner for the Scout compound. The moment they did, he spotted a familiar shape standing by the archway. Jake clenched his teeth and rolled his eyes. It seemed day two would also require an escort.

“Good morning, hothead,” Mora met them at the entryway. Yae’s eye squinted as she peered up at the larger woman. Jake sighed.

“Hello, Mora. Here to hold my hand again?” He asked, wondering if he was going to be made to miss breakfast again.

“No. I was just curious. After yesterday, I thought you might not come back,” Mora’s lips curled into a wide grin before she started to laugh. Her chest wobbled as her annoying cackling scratched at Jake’s ears. He wasn’t amused. She laughed probably longer than necessary for extra effect, then quieted down finally and smiled.

“When you two are done with your morning date, report to the team room. It seems we have a big job today.” Without further explanation, Mora turned and walked off, heading for the Association building. Jake pressed his lips together. The details were lining up. And he wasn’t stupid.

“Looks like we’re going out together today, Yae,” Jake said, his eyes locked on Mora’s back as the woman walked off. He could see Yae staring at him in his peripheral vision, but he never looked at her. He was already nervous enough.

---

After enjoying a painfully quiet breakfast with Yae in a mostly empty cafeteria, Jake made his way to the Pharos Team. With his magic easier to control, Jake launched himself up to the higher floor rather than take the stairs. It drew some looks but most of the scouts brushed it off after his prior showing. He didn’t knock on the Pharos door either and simply strolled into the room.

No one greeted him directly as the entire team was seated over by the briefing area. The gear in the equipment area was neatly stacked and organized. The kitchen area had a bunch of snacks and food that had already been pilfered, and the briefing area was covered in maps and markings. At Jake’s appearance, the team all turned to look over at him. The sudden spotlight made him feel out of place.

“Am I late?” He asked, confused and concerned. No one had told him to arrive early nor had he been given a specific time to show up.

“No. Come over here and sit down.” Nuro’s tone was different. The lighter, joking pitch was gone. Replaced by a more serious and focused tone. Jake didn’t try to complain or question him. He listened and made his way over to the briefing space and found an empty chair to sit in. Out of respect for the others, Jake made sure to sit towards the back and out of the way.

“Back to the question-no, we do not have support from Wyvern,” Nuro said. The answer to whatever question had been asked caused a wave of emotion to spread through the team.

“So we’re going in to die?” Wyicks sneered. The demon-like individual folded his four arms over his chest, his eyes slitting as he glared at Nuro.

“Wyvern isn’t the only team we can rely on, Wyicks. What about Hammer, Tomb, or Lida?” Tua chimed in as if hoping to restore some kind of faith in whatever they were talking about. But, Nuro shook his head. “Okay, death it is then.” Tua sighed and cradled his head in his hands.

“It’s as if they’re treating us like a Warrior team, Nuro. You know we don’t have the equipment for this.” Mora seemed far better at controlling her emotions. If she was put off by whatever they were discussing, her tone didn’t reflect it.

“I understand the fear, the annoyance, and the hesitation you all might be feeling. However, the Council has determined that we are the most capable of performing this task. It’s why they gave it to us. If we fail, then the main force will be exposed. They can’t spare any support to us or they will lose strength in the front.” Nuro leaned against the main briefing table and looked down towards the large, three-dimensional map set on it. There were four red arrows on the map, all organized down one large path with two smaller arrows flanking the larger ones.

“Excuse me,” Jake pipped up and raised his hand. He was late, he understood that, so he didn’t mind the hard looks he was given. But, he had no idea what was going on. “What is this?” He asked, nodding toward the map.

“You don’t need to worry about it, healer boy.” Wyicks snipped. Tua sighed and elbowed the demon. Wyicks grumbled at the jab. Nuro shook his head and then motioned for Jake to approach. Jake hopped out of his chair and walked up to the map.

“A scouting platoon went out three days ago and discovered a large Beast nest nearby. Dangerously close to the village. If left alone, they’ll eventually sniff out the village and attack.” Nuro used a long rod to circle the location of the nesting area on the map. Indeed, it was close. It was just about the same distance Jake had walked the prior day. Which was odd.

“Did the platoon find a new tunnel or something?” He asked. If the nest was that close, then the fact it hadn’t been found before was concerning.

“No, a cave-in happened… here.” Nuro’s pointer slid back and then tapped the map at a point even closer to the village. “Laborers in the White Tunnel here broke through a support stone by accident and the ceiling collapsed. Enough rock fell that revealed an open space above the tunnel. The scout platoon that went to perform reconnaissance discovered three tunnels branching out from the large space. The platoon split up to check each of the tunnels and that is when they found the nesting area down the left tunnel.”

Now he understood. As Nuro had described, the ceiling had collapsed and suddenly- an upper level was connected to the lower one. If that cave-in had never occurred, the Maedra would never have been found. Nor would they ever be a threat.

“So the village is coordinating an attack on that nesting area and we are playing a side role in one of the other tunnels,” Jake said. Now that he understood the gist of the mission, he was able to piece together what the prior question meant. Nuro nodded.

“And we’re doing it with no Warrior support,” Wyicks chimed in, making his disdain for the operation clear. Jake grimaced but he understood the council’s choice. They were likely expecting the Maedra to be focused only in that one tunnel. Wasting resources in the other tunnels would be foolish. Except, the Maedra weren’t to be underestimated. Wyicks wasn’t wrong for being annoyed.

“Okay. Sorry for the interruption.” Jake moved away from the map and returned to his chair. As he did, Fien opened her mouth.

“Sir,” her voice was soft and light, much like Yae’s. It matched her petite and tiny figure. “Is the King going to be present?”

King? Jake hadn’t heard that before.

“No. The cavern was large but it wasn’t connected to the main fissure. The King won’t be present.”

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“King? Who’s that?” Jake asked. Wyicks groaned at the question. Tua elbowed him again.

“There is a very large Beast that walks in the main tunnels connected to the fissure. Whenever we fight in the main tunnels, the King sometimes is a problem,” Tua explained. For a few seconds, Jake still felt lost. Then, it dawned on him. They might have been talking about the Maudrake.

“Including the King, there are no Beasts expected to be in our tunnel. We will provide security within it to protect the main force should that expectation be wrong. We have been given this task because the Council trusts we can do it without Warrior support. We are a Red Scout team. Warrior support is optional for our missions. Adjust your equipment as necessary and bring everything you might need.” Nuro slid off the table and collapsed the stiff rod in his hand. He dropped it onto the table map and then moved up to the map on the wall.

“We will be leaving in three hours. The main force will assemble outside of tunnel thirty-four. Scout teams will move first into the tunnel, with us following second in line. Taurus Squad will lead us out.” Nuro stood beside the map as he spoke. The arrows he had dotting the reference sheet did the pointing for him.

“Taurus?” Wyicks asked. By his tone, he didn’t seem to like that. Nuro nodded.

“Taurus. They will lead us to the cave-in and then up into the large area. Three Warrior teams and two other Scout teams have been sent ahead to secure the area.” Nuro pointed at the large circle on the map. There were five markers inside the circle, representations of the squads already in place. “We will break off once we arrive and head into the right tunnel. As we separate from the main force, we’ll be assigned a runner. Their sole job is to leave if we make contact and to warn the Commander who will be at the staging area. Our task, if we make contact, is to hold until a Warrior team can be dispatched.”

“And how long will that take?” Tau asked. Based on the prior information of them already not having support, Jake had a feeling he knew the answer to that. Nuro shrugged.

“Unclear. There will be no Warrior squads left behind in the staging area, so we can assume it won’t be until the main force returns.”

“Again. They’re sending us out to die. It’s not an ‘if’ we make contact, it’s a ‘when’.” Wyicks huffed and shook his head.

“He has a point, Nuro. It really seems that way,” Mora finally spoke up again, adding to the tension. Nuro’s expression didn’t change though. As the leader, it was his job to keep the team focused. They had their mission and they would execute it. Whether they liked it or not.

“Then we just need to make sure we don’t need support. If we come in contact with the Beasts, we will maintain Shell Formation and hold our ground. No funny business. Understood?” At his question, everyone except Jake nodded. He wasn’t quite sure what the Shell Formation was but he had a feeling he would find out. With his task being only to Heal, there was a low need to keep him overly informed, which was fair. Telling Jake too much information would just be a waste of breath when his sole purpose in life was just to fix booboos.

“Good. Check your gear, make any preparations you need, and meet me outside in the courtyard in three hours. Dismissed.” Nuro stiffened slightly as he spat out his last word. The team rose to their feet in unison with Jake a few beats behind. Then, they scattered. Fien, Wyicks, and Tua all went immediately to the equipment area. Mora went to the kitchen, Nuro turned to the map behind him, and Pari crawled onto the couch for a nap.

With time not on his side, Jake hurried out of the team room and jogged down the hallway. The hallway was a buzz of activity now, compared to how it was the other times. Scouts with a range of equipment, clothes, and demeanors moved in and out of their respective team rooms as they prepared for the operation. Even the main area was alive with activity. Several teams moved to and fro, runners dashed frantically behind the counters, and the clerks shouted over the noise to try and handle the rush. Jake found the noise to be very annoying, so he made sure to leave quickly.

Outside wasn’t much better. Teams were lining up and organizing themselves in different formations. Individuals practiced and prepared their equipment, and healers were being distributed as needed. Jake looked around briefly for his friends but with the sheer number of Oryks running around, it was impossible to spot them directly. He didn’t try too hard anyway. He didn’t have time.

The boy rushed out of the Scout courtyard and used wind magic to accelerate his speed as he cut through the long street leading to it. When he entered the shopping area, he stopped using magic but continued to maintain a hurried pace as he maneuvered nimbly through the crowd. More people than usual were in the way. Most of the patrons were either armed or looking for gear, so he had to use a bit of force to wedge his way through. He avoided a few grabby hands that tried to snatch him up for his rude shoving but he made sure to yell back an apology. Half-assed as they were, Jake had other priorities.

He reached the blacksmith’s shop after around ten minutes of straight running and budging. Surprisingly, a handful of Warriors were loitering around the door as Jake approached. He nudged his way by and pushed open the shop, right into the face of another Warrior. The Oryk was twice Jake’s size and fully equipped in heavy armor. The Oryk glared down at the boy and pushed him out of the way. Jake didn’t take kindly to that and used wind magic to knock the Oryk off his feet, blasting him into the middle of the street.

“You little rat!” The man shouted from beneath his metal helmet. Jake opened his hands and conjured a handful of wind cones. They swirled threateningly around his arms, twirling as he aimed them at the Warrior. The Oryk peered menacingly through the slit in his helmet and his hand hovered over the heavy sword on his hip. However, the hesitation told Jake enough. The Warrior likely didn’t feel confident he would win.

“I could use some warming up. How about you?” Jake hissed through his teeth. He twisted his hands and extended two mana tails behind him. At their tips, four fire balls ignited and began to twirl around them.

“Screw you, kid,” the Warrior spat. He released his blade and motioned for his crew to follow as he walked away. Jake canceled out his spells and hurried into the blacksmithing shop.

“Ah-Hulgrok!” The assistant was the one at the counter and he was handling another pair of Warriors. Hulgrok was nowhere in sight but Jake could hear clanging behind the backdoor. The clanging stopped after the assistant’s shout. “It’s the boy! He’s here for his gear!”

“He’s early!” Hulgrok retorted. Loud clattering, banging, and a few curses thundered from the back room. The assistant, the Warriors, and Jake all stared at the old wooden door as the ruckus didn’t seem to end. Eventually, though, the dwarf finished with his mess and the room went silent. The door swung open and Jake watched Hulgrok lumber out from the dark space.

“Come ‘ere boy,” Hulgrok ordered as he tossed a bunch of stuff up onto the counter. Jake’s eyebrows rose as he glanced at the assistant. The assistant shrugged and then turned his attention back to the other customers. “I said-!” Hulgrok started.

“Alright!” Jake cut him off and hurried up to the counter. Though, he stopped and huffed as he stared straight at the wood. “I’m short, Hulgrok.”

“Then grow taller” he spat impatiently. Jake sighed and looked around the room. He spotted a small stool near the helmet section and snatched it so he could stand on top of it. Now that he could see over the counter, he and Hulgrok stared at each other. Hulgrok looked bemused by Jake’s scurrying about. “Ye in a rush or somethin’?” Hulgrok grumbled. Jake nodded.

“I’ve got a mission in under three hours, so I need a weapon,” Jake said. Hulgrok scoffed as he pushed the mass of stuff he’d brought over to Jake. The boy looked down at the gear curiously, and then at Hulgrok. “What’s this?”

“Yer gear,” Hulgrok huffed and crossed his burly arms over his barrel of a chest. “A backpack for yer small stuff. A strap for yer blade. A hooded cloak to cover yer head and clothes. A pair of boots because those sandals aren’t gon’ hold up forever. Not down ‘ere. Gloves. I found ‘em in the back. Yer gon’ use ‘em more than me. And pants. They’re short but will do better than that frill ye’ve got on.” As he pointed out each piece of gear that he was giving to Jake, the boy curiously checked it out.

It wasn’t new stuff but everything was in decent condition. The backpack straps were slightly frayed and there was a tiny hole in the bottom of it. Its compartments however were hardly used. There was a main pouch with a small meshing along the back of it. On the outside, there were two smaller compartments likely for little bottles, elixirs, or notes. The cover was just a flap with a buckle and strap. The buckle was tarnished and the strap looked rough, but it would hold up.

The strap for his blade looked like a waist strap. It had three points of contact. The main loop would go around his hip, a second loop around his thigh, and there was another strap that would wrap around the weapon and hold it in place. It was all leather and tarnished metal. However, just like the backpack- it would last.

The gloves, pants, and boots were the most worn. The left glove was missing two fingers, the index and ring, and the palm was practically falling apart. The right glove had a hole in the thumb and the index finger looked like it might be better off being cut off. The boots lacked decent treading on their soles and the strings were frayed. But the leather looked decent and there were no holes in them. As long as they fit his feet, they would be comfortable and keep his toes fairly warm. The pants were frayed at the ends, had holes around the knees, and the material looked stained. They were black, though, so it was hard to see the stains unless someone was staring hard enough. Some of the belt loops were broken, too, but the belt was leather and looked like it would do fine for the time being.

The hooded cloak, on the other hand, looked new. It wasn’t frayed. There were no holes. The threading looked clean and it lacked any stains or scuffs. Even as he searched and looked for some form of blemish, he couldn’t find one.

“Hulgrok, this looks ne-” Jake continued to search for an issue when he finally spoke up. Hulgrok slammed his hand on the table, cutting him off.

“Put it down, boy, and look at me,” Hulgrok’s voice thundered into the room. Jake jumped a bit and quickly placed the hooded cloak onto the counter.

“Yer gear is yer life. Good gear will take ya far. It’ll keep ya warm, protect yer stuff, and keep yer weapon from rustin’. Ya came in here yesterday lookin’ a mess. Ya ain’t a scout, I can see it. With this, yer at least close.” Hulgrok’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Jake. He spoke harshly, roughly, and held Jake’s gaze. When he finished, he reached down into a small sack and pulled out a black sheath with a weapon already stuffed into it. “Here is yer blade, kid. For what ya paid me, it’s the best I could make.”

For a brief moment, Jake hesitated. The black sheathe was new and clean. The hilt of the blade jutting out extended just long enough for Jake’s hand to comfortably grasp it with a bit extra space for him to grow into. The hilt was contoured and curved and there were divots in the cloth for Jake’s fingers to grip more comfortably. The pommel of the hilt was bulbed, rounded, and provided a stop to keep Jake’s hand from sliding off. The guard separating the blade from the hilt was made in a low-profile style. It was circular and jutted outwards smoothly to prevent Jake’s hand from sliding onto the blade and to maintain a very slender and sexy flow to the weapon. 

Gripping the hilt and the sheathe, Jake pulled the blade free to inspect it. His eyes fell on a weapon that reflected the craftsmanship of the dwarf. The blade was sleek, highly reflective, and clean. The edge of the weapon shimmered in the lighting of the room and the blade looked sharper than anything Jake had seen. The blade itself was curved, just barely, and one-sided. The back of the weapon was flat, sturdy, and provided a stiff spine. The curve of the blade started just at the halfway point of the weapon, and the tip was on the same plane as the pommel. This helped with balancing and the weapon felt natural in Jake’s hand.

“Yer a mage, is that correct?” Hulgrok asked while Jake stared in awe at his new weapon.

“Y-Yea,” Jake muttered. He sheathed the blade before he stared any harder at it and set it back down on the table.

“Ya do any of those enchantments?” Hulgrok reached over and plucked the blade off the counter. He pulled it free and then set it down on top of the sheathe between himself and Jake.

“I do. Am I able to enchant this?” He could guess where Hulgrok was going with his questions, or at least he tried. Hulgrok nodded.

“Ya can. The metal I use is capable of withstandin’ yer magic. It isn’t the best but this Ravine is quite good for spittin’ out decent materials. Anywhere else and this would’a cost you twice as much.” Hulgrok held up three fingers. “Three. Three enchantments are all ya get, boy.”

Jake peered down at the blade and his eyes looked at it from tip to pommel. Hulgrok had said there was room for three enchantments but Jake didn’t exactly find the best place to put them. He would have to engrave the sigils into the weapon somehow and placement would be important. He didn’t want to weaken the blade by accident.

“Where can I place the sigils?” He asked. Hulgrok chuckled and placed a thick finger right where Jake didn’t want it to go- right on the blade.

“Right ‘ere. Ya may think this blade is weak, but it’ll hold. The metal is made for it. One sigil per side and one on the bottom of the pommel.” Hulgrok moved the finger to the bottom of the dagger, pointing out the reason he had left the pommel flat. “That there’s three.”

While he didn’t like the idea of putting sigils directly on the blade itself, he would have to trust the dwarf. Dwarves were supposed to be skilled blacksmiths and craftsmen. If Hulgrok was saying the metal could handle the stress, then Jake would believe him. He picked up the dagger and closed his eyes. He steadied his breathing, envisioned the sigil he wanted, and pumped mana slowly into the blade to prepare it for the enchantment. Mana also began to collect in his free hand, focusing the power into his index finger as he readied himself to carve the sigil.

When he opened his eyes, the blade was glowing a faint red from the mana pulsing through it. It was a satisfying and relieving sight. The weapon didn’t deform or crack. It absorbed the mana he fed it and contained it without a problem. Jake’s mana flow practically extended into the weapon with ease, and the dagger felt like it was a part of him.

“Oh-ho, what a show…” Hulgrok muttered, stroking his beard as he watched. The assistant and the Warriors he was helping turned to watch as well. Jake didn’t mind the spectators but he did find it a bit distracting to have so many eyes on him.

Slowly and with painstaking care, Jake burned a high-level sharpness sigil onto the blade first. He carved it as small as he could, focusing all of his attention on the linework before he scratched in the Seraphym text to empower the sigil. When it was set, the sigil began to glow and the sharp edge of the weapon shimmered slightly. He turned the blade over to expose the other side and then he began to etch in a durability sigil. Once more, it was a high-level sigil. One that would nearly triple the strength of the metal and ensure the edge wouldn’t chip or deform on him. The sigil added a blue hue to the spine of the blade.

The last sigil Jake added was a new one he had read, a Utility sigil that he found within a Light Magic book- Channeling. The sigil turned the object into a medium for magic and would allow the item to hold up to a certain amount of mana depending on the sigil’s strength and the quality of the item. If the mana pumped into an item was elemental, then it could be utilized to cause magic damage using that element. The damage would be fractions compared to a real spell. The effectiveness would still be enough against weaker enemies, though. If Jake overused the enchantment, he hoped the Durability sigil would do its job.

Once the sigil was complete, Jake put it to the test. Rather than dump the more powerful Fire element right off the bat, Jake focused Wind-based mana into the blade. The sigil on the pommel flared a faint green as it drew the mana out of Jake’s hand. As Jake fed magical power into the dagger, the entire weapon began to glow faintly. Green mana swirled around the blade and accumulated near the edge. Jake swung the blade a bit, careful not to target anything in particular. The blade was light in his hands, almost weightless. Likely an effect of the Wind element. At his back, the dwarf clapped his hands.

“Congrats, boy. Ya made a Spell Blade,” Hulgrok began to laugh as Jake finished with his work. Jake raised his eyebrows as he set the weapon down on top of its sheathe.

“A Spell Blade?” He asked. Hulgrok nodded, his hand moving to his beard for a few strokes. His eyes lowered to the dagger.

“Indeed. Enchanted or Magical blades are common among yer more active adventurers but most of those weapons have yer common buffs; Sharpening, Durability, Weightlessness, Penetration, Fatigue Reduction, or some Element sigil to change the damage properties.” As Hulgrok went on to explain the different common sigils found on the generic weapons, he motioned for Jake to look over towards the weapons on the shop wall. There were a bunch of blades, axes, and a few maces. Not all of them had sigils etched into them but a few did. They were more expensive, of course. “Your weapon, though, is different,” he added.

“How? Is it because of the sigil?” Jake asked. Hulgrok reached down and grabbed the blade, twirling it nimbly in his fingers before raising the pommel, exposing the sigil on it.

“Yes, my boy. This sigil is not an Elemental sigil. It is a Utility,” Hulgrok said. Jake was both amazed and amused that the Dwarf had noticed the difference in the sigil. Its generic make-up looked similar to any other enchantment sigil, however, the specific detail of the lines categorized it as a Light-based sigil. The words inscribed defined it as a utility sigil while also giving the sigil its properties. Only skilled craftsmen or mages would have the eye to notice.

“There is no specific element to this sigil. As long as there is mana, it will absorb and use the element provided. The sigil is geared towards Mages in this sense, thus making it a Spell Blade. This enchantment would be useless in the hands of a normal adventurer.” Hulgrok twirled the weapon again, showing off his finger-work, and then returned the weapon to its leather home. Then, he passed it to Jake.

The Dwarf had a good eye but he missed the key detail showing that the sigil did have an element- Light. Jake didn’t correct him, however. Learning that all not individuals knew what Light magic looked like, Jake could certainly use that to his advantage later on depending on what kind of advantages the lack of common knowledge would open. If Light magic wasn’t well-known in the world and others thought it to be a rare type of magic, Jake could use his enchanting skills to make a profit. Although, he would only do such a thing if he were in dire need of money. Taking advantage of a gap in the market wasn’t illegal but he wondered if it were fair. Without his blessings, Jake would never have learned enchanting magic. To use his blessings to make some quick coin gave him a bad taste.

“Haven’t seen a mage of yer type in a while, boy. Yer young but smart. Don’t let that youngness get ya killed. And don’t be so smart ya turn stupid.” Hulgrok patted his round gut as he bellowed a deep, long laugh. Jake sighed at the words of wisdom but Hulgrok was right. Jake needed to keep his wits and would need to be smart about his battle choices- smarter than the last time he fought the Maedra.

Jake sorted his gear and began to put it all on. He put on the pants first, pulling them up his legs beneath his skirt, and then unhooked the threads to pull the old fabric away. Knowing he wouldn’t be using it anymore, he offered the fabric to Hulgrok.

“Ah, sure. I can use it to wipe my tools!” The dwarf cackled as he snatched the cloth out of Jake’s hand. The boy rolled his eyes as he continued to dawn his equipment.

 He tried the boots next, ensuring that they were comfortable and that they fit. He didn’t have socks so they did feel a bit odd at first but he figured he would get used to it. The blade strap was adjustable so he could size it to his body and then looped the excess leather straps into small hoops. His blade sheathe slid snug into the designated hip location and the strap cinched down nice and tight- his dagger wasn’t going anywhere.

The cloak was a bit big and it swallowed up his head but he would grow into that as well. The gloves were also a bit large in the palm and wrist but the lack of some of the fingers made them more comfortable. Whether that was design or accident, Jake didn’t care. They would work. He fiddled quite a bit with the backpack straps, cinching them down to make the fit of the pack comfortable. Hulgrok and the warriors helped him with its positioning, giving him some tips on the proper way to carry it. When he was set, Hulgrok gave him some bands to tie up the straps so they didn’t dangle loosely by his sides.

For his starting set of adventuring equipment, Jake could make it all work. Over time he would get money to fund the purchase of more specific stuff that would suit his needs. However, there was no need to waste the generosity of a friendly blacksmith. Everything together likely cost far more than what Jake had originally paid. The dwarf likely saw the loss of coin as an investment in hopes to lure Jake back for future business. Now that Hulgrok knew Jake was a mage who used daggers and swords, there was even more reason to garner Jake’s favor. Clever dwarf. Unnecessary, though. Hulgrok was a good man and the quality of the dagger spoke for him. Even if Hulgrok hadn’t thrown in the gear as extra- Jake would’ve returned anyways.

“Thank you, Hulgrok,” Jake smiled as he extended his hand. Hulgrok grinned through his reddish beard and cupped the tiny hand into his meaty grip. “I’ll be sure to come back if I need anything else.” Both as thanks and to assure Hulgrok that his investment wouldn’t go to waste, Jake made sure to pick his words carefully. The dwarf chuckled and smiled as well.

“Good tah hear,” he rumbled. “Be careful in those tunnels. The Beasts love the taste of mages.”

Jake gave the dwarf a final nod and bid his farewell. After a brief wave to Hulgrok and his assistant, Jake hurried out of the shop and ran back in the direction of the Scout compound. Now that he had his weapon and gear, it was time to go to work. While the mission plan stated the chance of encountering the Maedra was low, he wasn’t going to put his life in the hands of chance. To him, there was no chance. Making contact was a certainty. The Maedra would be in that tunnel. Thinking otherwise was foolish but it wouldn’t matter

No matter how many Maedra came to meet them, Jake would make sure to come out victorious this time. It was fine to make a mistake on his own. Failure in front of Nuro and the others wasn’t an option. He would have to perform his role to the best of his ability and if necessary, he would need to utilize his magic to keep his team safe. The task of a healer was to support and recover.

Who said support was limited to just buffs and bandages?

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