After Max told us to prepare for the Goblin hunt, Sarah and I left to purchase food for the party, since my inventory as well her storage spell keeps the food fresh forever.
"So Jay... Did you have any more visions, like the one in which you saw the grave?" She asked hesitantly.
"Nothing new, I guess it was just a random thing I saw." I shrugged.
"You know, you are strong. I mean, even though you had no memories of the last, you never panicked about it. You just walked forward with the flow... Unlike others." She said in a low voice.
"Hmm? Where's this coming from? Do you know someone who had a similar thing happen to them? Well.. I just didn't feel anything at that time, other than curiosity. And as for now, I have you. So thanks for helping me, Sarah." I said honestly.
We fell silent and ended our shopping after a while.
"Be prepared Jay." Sarah said as she left for her inn.
Huh, I wonder what's up with her today...
At the inn, I decided to use 10 of my skill tokens to unlock new skills, feeling new powers brimming through me.
Rewind Glimpse (Time, Iron)
Description: Briefly rewinds the target's last physical movement by 1 second, forcing them back into their previous stance.
Cost: 7 MP
Cooldown: 1 min
Temporal Sense (Time, Iron)
Description: Slightly improves reaction time and perception of fast movements.
Duration: Passive
Dark Grasp (Dark, Iron)
Description: Creates a shadowy hand that assists the user, it can attack, hold items, and take a critical hit before fading.
Cost: 9 MP
Duration: 5 minutes or until it takes critical damage.
Cooldown: 45 sec
Dusk Veil (Dark, Iron)
Description: Wraps the user in a shroud of darkness, reducing visibility to enemies while granting minor stealth for 10 seconds.
Cost: 10 MP
Duration: 30 sec
Cooldown: 2 mins
Gale Dash (Wind, Iron)
Description: The user propels forward with a burst of wind, increasing movement speed by 200% for 3 sec.
Cost: 6 MP
Cooldown: 20 sec
Cyclone Push (Wind, Iron)
Description: Creates a small gust that pushes enemies or objects 2–3 meters away.
Cost: 3 MP
Cooldown: 10 sec
Spirit Sight (Spirit, Iron)
Description: Allows faint detection of nearby life force or spiritual energy.
Duration: Passive
Guardian Wisp (Spirit, Iron)
Description: Summons a floating orb of spirit-light that blocks one attack (up to moderate damage).
Cost: 15 MP
Cooldown: 2 min
Double Voice (Echo, Iron)
Description: All actions leave behind a faint echo, repeating the attack/spell at 30% power.
Cost: 15 MP
Duration: 10 sec
Cooldown: 2 min
Overtone (Echo, Iron)
Description: Attacks that hit the same target consecutively resonate, increasing damage slightly (stackable up to 5 times).
Later, Max taught me the steps to develop my resonators in a way that makes them progress smoothly. He said:
There are three ways to grow resonators, first, consuming essences dropped by the monsters of the same rank as you. Second, through training in an environment related to the resonators you have. Third, by getting your mind and body in harmony, for that you need to Train, Meditate and gain experience.
And of course Max's family is great, so they already know the best way is from the third method. So he taught me the right ways to meditate, perfect exercises I should do and when I should rest.
I could feel the resonators reacting to me when I was meditating, which in itself was fascinating. But due to my quirk of lesser resonator comprehension, it will take me at least twice as long as it took Max or Sarah to get to bronze rank. Or so they said.
The next day we met up at the guild, where the second party led by Alaric Quickfrost was waiting. Their team focused on being strong in all areas, hence, had every person specialising in something... Well except for one, that is.
Alaric himself was the team's defensive mage with ice magic, while his twin brother Hayden Quickfrost focused on attacks as the vanguard with fire magic. Their second mage, Clive Quiniora was half human-half elf, and could use multiple elements. Their newest member Infernia Roxalia was a Draconic-Human, her quirk letting her grow wings that let her fly, she had the resonators fire, earth, might, - and molten. She had reddish hair, emerald eyes, a sharp face and an incredible body.
Infernia was flexible in combat and could fit in any role.
After introductions, Max briefed them on the quest, along with mentioning the dangers to be vary of.
"Max, you have gone soft since reaching bronze. They are just goblins, we will beat them no matter the numbers!" Alaric said with a confident voice.
"I have gone soft? We will see about that Alaric. I will be observing you, so better be in your best form." Max replied with a comment of his own.
"Look at these two going at it already." Cleo giggled in a low voice.
After the conversation between the bronze rankers ended, Max walked forward, facing us, "Anyways, all of you listen, we will be meeting with a silver party, sent by my father. They will arrive tomorrow at dawn. Make sure you are at your best behaviour, they won't tolerate nonsense, you hear that Alaric?" He said in a strict voice.
After a bit more discussion on the preprations for the quest, we all moved forward towards the location where all the goblins have gathered.
As I was walking at the back of the group, Infernia approached me, "Hey, Jay Chawla right?" She said.
I nodded, "Yup, You are..Infernia. Nice to meet you! I was fascinated by your quirk you know. Ability to fly at will."
"I can't really fly all that high right now. I am what you would call as a fletching. I need a lot of practice at flying, before I can fly high and fast."
"Makes sense, you will make it work, I am sure."
Infernia stops in her tracks and sighs, "Jay, I know what you are."