Our discussion at the guild hall shifted from what Ella had learned to the matter of our next job. The problem was that, regardless of what we wanted, Ella still needed a core, especially if we planned to venture beyond the safety of the cities in search of the colony. And that, in turn, depended on having the resources and knowledge to survive in this world.
I mean, Ella would probably be perfectly content holed up in the library all day. But leaving her behind like that, day after day, while the rest of us kept moving forward? That wasn't really an option.
Henry was the first to voice it outright. "Alright, Ella, we need to find you a core," he said as he leaned back. "Without one, you won't be able to join us on most missions."
Ella nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I've been thinking about that. I've heard of a place not too far from here," she began. "It's a shop that specializes in cores, offering a wide selection to choose from. Apparently, they also provide consultations to help you discover which type of core is best suited for you."
Amelia nodded as she listened. "That sounds perfect."
Surprisingly, it didn't take long to locate the small, unassuming building, nestled among its residential neighbors, as the only indicator was a small, welcoming sign, adorned with the shop's name, swaying gently in the wind.
"Looks like we've found the place," I said, glancing up at the sign. "Gusto's Cores and Glory." humm.. Sounds interesting
As we stepped inside, I took a look around. The shop was cozy and well-lit, with shelves lined with various magical artifacts. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting adventures and mythical creatures. Behind the counter stood a short, cheerful-looking man with a rehearsed smile, his eyes twinkling with enthusiasm.
"Welcome to Gusto's Cores and Glory," he greeted us warmly, his voice that of a seasoned salesman. "How may I be of service?"
Amelia took the lead. "We're looking to find a core for my friend here," she said, motioning toward Ella. "We heard your shop is the place to go."
Gusto's eyes sparkled with delight. "Ah, it will be a pleasure to assist you," he replied warmly. "My name is Gusto, and I'm the owner of this humble establishment. Please, follow me."
We followed him into the back room, and as soon as I entered, I was met with a mesmerizing array of cores on shelves, each pulsing with a unique energy that filled the room with a soft, ambient hum. Ella observed the room in awe, her eyes darting from one glowing core to the next, completely rapt in the display.
"Okay," Gusto said, gesturing toward the counter. "I'll bring you cores one at a time and see if any of them react with you." Then he paused, "Just so you know, there's a one-silver consultation fee. You know, in case a core leaps out and accidentally melds with someone. Unlikely, but... protocol."
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
He gave a half-hearted shrug. "Shop policy."
With a sigh, Amelia fished a silver coin from her pouch. "Fine."
Gusto smiled and got to work, pulling cores from shelves and presenting them one by one to Ella. We watched in growing silence as each core dimmed or fizzled out in her hand with no sign of a connection.
The shop, once filled with an expectant buzz, grew quiet. Gusto's smile started to strain. The more cores he brought her, the more strained his expression became.
"That's… strange," he muttered, shifting from foot to foot. "I've never had a session where not a single core even flickered."
He scratched his head and chuckled nervously. "Maybe you're just... uh, unusually hard to match?"
Amelia crossed her arms. "If that's all, then we'll take the silver back and leave."
Gusto flinched. "Now, hold on—"
"You charged us," she cut in, her voice sharp, "and gave us nothing. I would like my money back."
The word hung in the air like a dagger.
Gusto glanced toward the door, then back at us, clearly uncomfortable. "Look, I-I can't refund the silver, it's store policy." He laughed weakly. "Sorry, really. This... this has never happened before."
Wow… at least make it believable, I thought as I rolled my eyes.
Amelia didn't budge. Her glare said she was a moment away from escalating things further.
Sweating slightly now, Gusto raised his hands. "Okay, okay! How about this–" He gestured hastily toward a shelf in the back corner, cluttered with mismatched gear and faded labels. "You can take anything from the salvage pack. No charge. Broken stuff, old cores, whatever's back there. Seriously. Just take your pick."
He hurried over and pulled aside a dusty curtain, revealing bins full of rejected parts and cracked artifacts.
"They're… not great," he admitted, "but maybe you'll find something interesting? Some people do."
Some people do? So he's seen this happen before… what a scam. Nonetheless, we wandered through the cluttered mess. The smell of oil, dust, and faint ozone hung in the air. Most of the junk looked hopeless, but the others seemed content to rummage through it.
Benjamin grabbed a cracked pen and a handful of battered journals. Henry inspected a spray bottle-looking thing that sputtered weakly when shaken. But it was Ella who truly lit up. She loaded her arms with a wild assortment of broken cores and rusting machinery, her eyes gleaming with ideas.
"You mind if I take all this?" she asked, already grinning.
Gusto stared at the pile she carried, clearly regretting the offer, but he forced a smile and nodded. "Sure. If you want it, it's yours."
Amelia stepped forward, her smile vanishing into a flat, unimpressed stare. "Thanks for your time," she said, the words sharp enough to cut glass.
Gusto folded his hands behind the counter like he'd rehearsed it. "I'm sorry I couldn't find your friend a match," he said, voice full of empty sympathy. "But, if you're ever in the capital. The Goods Imperium does fine work. They might have something more... suitable."
"We'll keep that in mind," Amelia said flatly. Without another word, she turned and headed for the door.
"Well," Henry said, cracking a grin as we walked down the street. "That guy just scammed the hell out of us."
Amelia didn't even look back. "If I ever see him again, I'm breaking his jaw so he cant give me that smug smile."
"I mean, technically, we did walk away with something," I offered, motioning to the pile Ella carried.
"Scrap. We walked away with glorified trash." She glanced over her shoulder, eyes narrowing.
"What's next on our list?" Henry asked, his eyes scanning the busy street.
"We need to find a quest that Ella can participate in," Amelia replied, her voice thoughtful. "Let's head back to the guild and see what they have posted."
Before long, we were gathered around the bulletin board, our eyes scanning the myriad requests posted.
"We need something that Ella can participate in," Henry said, his eyes moving over the postings. His brow furrowed in concentration, clearly determined to find the perfect task.
"How about we do these?" Amelia suggested, pointing to a combination of mundane tasks, such as package delivery, and a slightly more complex adventure to cap off the day. "It should give us enough money so we won't need to worry about jobs for awile."
Ella peered over Amelia's shoulder, her curiosity piqued. "I've never thought about doing deliveries before. Could be fun!"
As we divided the tasks, Henry and I set off toward our first destination, a small shop tucked between a bustling bakery and a weaponsmith's forge located on 16th Street.
Making our way over, I couldn't help but admire the atmosphere of the day. The streets of Stormwatch were alive with activity. Merchants shouted out deals, trying to outdo each other with promises of "freshest fish!" or "finest fabrics!" while children darted through alleyways, their laughter echoing off the cobblestones. The city's vibrant energy was invigorating, though a bit overwhelming as we wove through the crowds.
Our first delivery was simple, a bundle of herbs and potions for a tiny apothecary. When we stepped inside, the shopkeeper, an elderly woman with sharp eyes and a warm smile, looked up from behind the counter.
"Ah, you with guild?" she asked in a strange accent, reaching out as I handed her the package.
"Yep, special delivery," I replied with a grin.
She chuckled, slipping a couple of sweets into our hands as thanks. "For road," she said with a wink. Henry and I exchanged amused glances before heading back out, popping the sweets into our mouths as we navigated to the next stop.
Our second task brought us to the outskirts of the city, where a modest-looking stable sat quietly near the city wall. From a distance, it looked like any other, with its weathered wood, a sloped roof, and a few pens out back. But as we drew closer, it became clear that the structure was larger than it first appeared, stretching back far enough to nearly brush the base of the wall itself.
We handed a wrapped bundle of tack and feed to the stable master, a broad-shouldered man with windburned skin and a gaze that lingered a little too long. He gave us a gruff nod, muttered something that might've been "thanks," and turned back toward his duties without another word.
Curious, I peered through the open stable doors, and quickly realized this wasn't a place for horses.
Within the dim interior, strange eyes blinked in the shadows. The stalls housed an eclectic array of creatures: a feather-scaled beast that coiled lazily around a post, its breath fogging the air in rhythmic hisses; a squat, stone-colored thing with moss growing across its back, barely distinguishable from the trough it sat beside; and, in one corner, a fox-like creature with too many tails and eyes that shimmered like opals, watching us with quiet intensity from behind a curtain of hay.
The stable master didn't seem to notice our stares. Or maybe he was used to it. With a final wave, he disappeared into the maze of stalls.
Our third stop was the most intriguing. All we had to deliver was a small, sealed envelope that we were tasked to give to a guard stationed at one of the city's lower entrances. When we arrived, we found the post situated beside a massive, gaping tunnel that cut deep into the mountain. The opening was enormous, large enough for multiple carriages to pass side by side, and from within it came a constant, chilly wind that sent shivers down my spine. It was as if the mountain itself was breathing out an endless draft of cold, stale air.
A lone guard stood by, his posture steady, eyes fixed on the black maw of the tunnel as if in a trance. His cloak flapped in the gust, but he seemed unfazed, accustomed to the chill that surrounded him.
As we drew closer, Henry lifted the envelope, bracing it against the wind. "Excuse me," he called, raising his voice just enough to carry over the whistling gusts. "We've got a delivery for you, courtesy of the guild."
The guard startled at first, then relaxed as his eyes settled on the package Henry offered. He took it with a slow nod. "Much appreciated," he said in a low, even voice, casting a glance back toward the vast entrance behind him. "Not often we get deliveries down here."
A fresh gust rushed through the tunnel, tugging at my clothes and filling the air with a hollow, echoing hum. I couldn't help but look into the darkness beyond the guard. "So… what exactly is this place?"
The guard's expression softened a bit, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "This is an old trade route," he replied. "It used to connect Stormwatch to the towns beyond the mountains. Back in its prime, merchants, caravans, and travelers would use this path regularly."
Henry raised an eyebrow, glancing at the endless dark stretching ahead of us. "So it's abandoned now?"
The guard nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he looked down the tunnel. "Mostly. The route's fallen into disuse over the years. Too risky, with wild creatures nesting further down and structural weaknesses in places. Only the occasional adventurer or a handful of city scouts venture in these days."
"Well, thanks for the info," I said, nodding in respect. The guard returned the nod, his eyes fixed once again on the dark tunnel as he resumed his watch.
Leaving him behind, we headed toward our next stop, entering a lively café closer to the city center, Were a warm, fragrant scent of freshly baked bread and pastries greeted us.
"Guild delivery?" the baker asked, her face lighting up as we approached with the basket in hand.
"That's us," Henry replied with a grin, glancing at the crowded café. "Looks like business is good."
The baker laughed, already reaching for a couple of warm rolls. "Always busy here," he said as he pressed them into our hands. "On the house."
We thanked the baker and headed toward the final round of deliveries.
During the walk, Henry turned to me. "Wanna race to finish this last batch?" Henry asked, a challenging grin spreading across his face.
I chuckled, feeling a spark of excitement at the idea. "You're on. Just don't complain when you lose."
"Oh, yeah. Like that'll happen," he laughed, far too relaxed for someone about to lose.
I studied him, my grin fading as suspicion crept in. No one sounds that confident without a reason.
Splitting the remaining deliveries, I noticed him being careful to hand me the correct set of them before tucking away a couple of pre-set ones he had gathered beforehand, and to top it off, he had one fewer than I did. Oh, not fair, I thought, but then a smile crept across my face. If that's the case, then I'll play by his rules as well.
With the deliveries split, we agreed to meet back at the fountain once done. With the start of the challenge, I watched as he sprinted away, and once he was out of view I smirked and activated lightning enhancement.
Oh…Henry, poor poor henry… I hope he didn't think I was going easy on him.
Shooting forward, I quickly arrived at my first stop just around the corner. I hurried over, handing off a package to the shopkeeper, who blinked in surprise. "Thanks!" I called, already moving on to the next.
With each stop, I increased my speed, feeling the rush of adrenaline as I shot through the streets, weaving around pedestrians and darting through alleyways. It was far from instantaneous travel, but it kept me moving fast enough that I couldn't help but smirk, imagining Henry trying to catch up.
Finally, I reached the fountain not long after, leaning against its edge with a satisfied grin. I took a moment to catch my breath, letting the enhancement fade as I watched the street for any sign of Henry. After a few minutes, I spotted him in the distance, his pace slowing as he jogged toward me, visibly winded.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up," I called out, crossing my arms with a smug grin.
He shot me a glare, still panting. "Alright… you win," he admitted, plopping down onto the edge of the fountain. "You cheated, didn't you?"
I laughed, giving him a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Maybe you just need a bit of lightning in your step."
Henry rolled his eyes, catching his breath as he leaned back. After a moment, he glanced at the darkening sky. "Looks like it's getting late. Probably time to head back to the guild."
"Agreed," I said, standing up and stretching. "Let's go."
Inside the guild, it didn't take long before everyone else arrived as well. Gathered around the table, we pooled our earnings, totaling around four silver coins. It wasn't as much as the last job, but given we were just delivering packages, it was a nice amount.
Once we settled that, Henry brought up the last job of the day. "Alright, I think it's about time."
We nodded in unison, and after a quick rundown of the quest details, we made our way toward the city gate. This job was different; it didn't involve any fights or a lengthy journey, just a quiet trip to a spot eight miles outside the city to map out the stars. Apparently, an astronomer had requested a detailed illustration of the night sky from a specific vantage point, so the reward was contingent upon both accuracy and artistic quality.
Naturally, this was Benjamin's time to shine. With his steady hand and keen eye for detail, he was perfectly suited for the task.
As we passed through the gates, the buzz of city life gradually faded behind us, replaced by the soft rustle of grass and the occasional chirp of insects. The moon was beginning to rise, casting pale silver light across the open fields that stretched into the distance, where the path ahead of us wove around trees and farm land.
The night air grew cooler with each step, the breeze tousling hair and cloaks alike. Amelia and Henry were walking ahead, chatting quietly, while Benjamin occasionally stopped to note changes in the skyline. I walked a few paces behind them until I noticed we were one short.
I turned and spotted Ella lagging behind, head down, legs dragging with every step. Her bag looked heavier than usual, and even in the low light, I could see the slump in her shoulders.
"Ella," I called, slowing down until I fell in step beside her. "You good?"
She gave me a pitiful look. "I was good. Ten minutes ago. Now I'm just tired."
I stopped, crouched a little, and jerked my head back toward her. "C'mon. Hop on."
She blinked. "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
She grinned with exaggerated delight, then with a running start and absolutely zero hesitation, she leapt onto my back.
"Whoa!" I staggered forward, nearly losing my footing as she wrapped her arms and legs around me like a stubborn koala.
"Run, my noble steed!" she declared with a pointed finger toward the horizon. "Gallop like the wind!"
With a snort, I adjusted Ella's weight and launched into a sprint, the cold night air slapping against my face. Her laughter erupted behind me like a chime in the wind – bright, carefree, and contagious.
"Faster, steed! The wind itself cannot catch us!" she cried, pointing dramatically toward the horizon.
We tore past the others in a blur, the grass parting beneath our feet, moonlight streaking across the field in silver ribbons.
"Hey! No fair, you've got a mount!" Emily called out from behind us
"Don't let them show us up!" Amelia laughed, her voice rising with the wind.
Moments later, the sound of footfalls echoed behind us as the others broke into a run, chasing our trail through the open countryside.
It became less of a journey and more of a race, our footsteps drumming against the earth, carried forward by pure momentum and the thrill of the night.
After what felt like an exhilarating sprint through time itself, we crested a low ridge and saw it at last.
A wide, flat clearing stretched before us, gently sloping and free of trees. The stars above were unobstructed, the sky a perfect canvas of deep indigo and silver points of light.
"Hey!" Amelia called out between breaths, slowing to a jog. "This is the spot!"
I skidded to a stop, kicking up dust and loose grass as I carefully lowered Ella to the ground.
"Your carriage ride is complete, madam," I said, giving her a theatrical bow.
"Five stars," Ella said, grinning wide and breathless. "Would ride again."
The rest of the group arrived seconds later, panting and laughing.
With Benjamin stepping forward to observe the surroundings, he smiled and motioned to Amelia where he wanted to set up. "This'll do."
Working quickly, we set up a small camp… well, Amelia mostly did, as she used her earth manipulation to create seats for all of us, forming a comfortable circle around the campfire, which she also made.
As we settled in, Benjamin took charge, unpacking the supplies he'd carefully prepared for the quest. From his bag, he pulled out a stack of parchment, a charcoal pen, and a few other tools I didn't recognize.
"What are those?" I asked, watching as he arranged the items on a flat stone beside him.
"They're for tracing accurate star positions," Benjamin explained, holding up a small metal ruler and a protractor-like device. "Picked them up specifically for this, since they'll help with the angles and measurements."
And without another word, Benjamin adjusted his tools under the soft flicker of the campfire, angling himself for a clear view of the sky. The rest of us sank into the cold stone chairs around the fire, grateful for the heat.
Above us, the stars stretched endlessly, sharp and brilliant without city light to dull them.
And in the backdrop, Benjamin's soft scratch of chalk on paper provided a comfortable sound that mixed with the pop of the fire as we all rested, just enjoying the peacefulness of the moment.
Even I found myself staring upward, utterly transfixed by the sight before me, tracing shapes in the scatter of light, noting how each star formed different clusters, yet none I recognized. It took a second for that to dawn on me as I searched for the simpler ones like the Big Dipper or Orion, but nothing seemed familiar. Not even the faintest echo of what I remembered.
Henry must've noticed it too. He leaned back in his chair, frowning slightly. "You know… I don't recognize a single constellation up there." He tilted his head, as if squinting harder would make them fall into place. "Kinda makes you wonder, are we even in the same universe anymore?"
That got Ella's attention. She lowered the notebook she'd been scribbling in, following his gaze. "Maybe. Or we might be on a splanet, so far away from Earth that everything is realigned."
Her words settled over us, heavy. For a moment, no one spoke. Just the fire, the scrape of Benjamin's charcoal, and the silence of a sky that gave nothing back.
Henry broke the silence with a quiet sigh, his eyes fixed on the flames. "I just hope my family's alright… wherever they are." He rubbed the back of his neck, his jaw tightening. "This whole situation keeps reminding me of this simple hum my mom used to make when she was lost in thought. I still hear it sometimes, like it's stuck in my head."
Ella's expression softened. "My mom did the same thing," she said. "Hers was this silly cooking song, with nonsense lyrics, completely ridiculous. Drove me crazy as a kid." She let out a small laugh. "Now I'd give anything to hear it again."
Henry smiled faintly at that, the tension easing from his shoulders.
"What about your dad?" Emily asked gently.
Ella hesitated. "He wasn't around much." Her voice was quiet, unsure if there was more worth saying.
The fire popped, filling the silence that followed. I glanced at Henry. "Do you have any siblings?"
He nodded. "Yeah. An older sister and a younger brother." Then he paused, thinking about it, "They probably think I just… disappeared." His voice wavered but steadied as he looked back to the fire.
Ella turned to me then. "What about you, Atlas?"
I hesitated, words sticking in my throat. "Didn't know my family," I admitted finally. "Grew up in foster care, and bounced around a lot."
The silence returned, heavier this time.
Ella met my eyes, her voice steady. "I'm glad you're here now."
I gave her a small smile. "Thanks."
Benjamin kept sketching nearby, lost in his own little world. Ella returned to her notes, lifting a magnifying glass to one of the cores from Gusto's pile. The rest of us stayed close to the fire, listening to the night.
I tilted my head back, eyes drawn to the unfamiliar night sky. The stars here were scattered in strange constellations, their arrangements foreign, yet mesmerizing. But it was the moon that truly held me, a pale shape slowly slipping free from a veil of clouds I hadn't noticed before; now that it was visible, I couldn't look away.
It wasn't Earth's moon, that much I was sure of, as its surface held patterns I didn't recognize, with ridges that spiraled like carvings, and shadowed craters that seemed to pulse faintly in the silver light. Alien, yet beautiful. I found myself quietly marveling, caught in the wonder of a sky that didn't belong to me.
With a quiet sigh, I leaned back against the cool stone behind me and closed my eyes. The night air brushed across my face, crisp and clean, carrying with it the distant chirr of insects, the occasional rustle of leaves, and the steady, rhythmic scrape of Benjamin's charcoal on parchment.
The sounds blended together, soft and lulling. It seeped into my limbs, calming the tension I hadn't realized I was carrying. Time slowed, stretching into something weightless and quiet, until—
Ella's sudden squeal shattered the peace like a dropped glass.
I jolted upright, heart thudding. Beside me, Benjamin flinched, his hand jerking just shy of ruining the delicate star map.
"What's happening?" Emily gasped, half-asleep, her eyes wide with alarm.
Ella was glowing with excitement, practically vibrating as she pointed at something in her hands. "Look! The core—it's glowing!"
We all turned, squinting through the dim firelight.
There it was… one of the old, lifeless cores she'd scavenged earlier. But now, from its center, a faint blue light had begun to pulse. The dull, gray surface softened into translucence, revealing a delicate vision of the night sky, complete with constellations and a pale silver moon suspended at its center.
"Whoa…" I breathed, the awe in my voice mirrored by everyone around the fire.
The core's glow intensified, brightening with a steady rhythm that seemed to echo our rising heartbeats. It didn't melt or break down like other cores we'd seen. Instead, the moon within began to shift. Slowly, it floated forward, passing through the surface of the core like mist, and hovered toward Ella's chest.
None of us moved.
The moment stretched long and still, suspended in a surreal silence. Then, gently, the moonlight touched her, and the core in her hands cracked. Its surface splintered like fragile glass and fell in pieces to the ground, lifeless once more.
For a few heartbeats, no one said a word. We just stared.
"…Oh… my… god," Ella whispered, her voice barely more than breath. Her eyes were wide, locked somewhere beyond the clearing, as if trying to process something none of us could see.
Emily leaned forward urgently, voice hushed with anticipation. "Ella, what happened? Don't leave us hanging. What does your stat screen say?"
Ella blinked, snapping out of her trance. She gave a shaky nod, the moonlight's glow still faintly reflecting in her eyes.
"Okay," she murmured, steadying her breath. "Its a lot…"
Ella Adams
Race: Celestial
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 2Vitality: 3Agility: 5Endurance: 5Intelligence: 24 + 1Dexterity: 3
Skills:
Moon's Blessing: Rank 1
Moonshadow Camouflage: Rank 1
Moonlit Chains: Rank 1
Moonlight Blades: Rank 1
Unique Skills:
Moon's Prediction
Multilingual: Rank 1
Titles:
Celestial Awakening
Effects:
+3 stat points per level until level 25
+5% boost to all stats
+15 to intelligence
Becomes a Celestial
The moment Ella finished reading the new abilities on her stat screen, silence hit like a hammer.
Then—
"You've got to be kidding me," Henry groaned, throwing his hands up dramatically. "I mean, I'm happy for you, sure, but four skills? And a unique one on top of that? Meanwhile, all I've got is poison creation and poison resistance. Like I'm supposed to lick enemies to death?"
Amelia sat frozen for a moment, mouth slightly ajar. "Five skills in total?" she murmured, as if confirming it to herself. Then a grin slowly spread across her face as she glanced at the remains of the shattered core. "Gusto Would. Lose. His. Mind!" Amelia declared. "Probably cry himself to sleep clutching his refund policy."
The group laughed, and even I couldn't help but chuckle. But my thoughts quickly drifted elsewhere, specifically, to what those skills could actually do.
"How about we stop gawking and test them out?" I said, spinning to my feet and scanning the clearing. "What do you say?"
Ella gave an exaggerated sigh but stood as well, brushing herself off. Even though she seemed a bit exasperated at my impatience, I could tell she was excited. "Ok, where do we start?"
I pointed toward a patch of open ground a short distance away. "So… should you try them on me?" I teased with a playful grin.
"Absolutely not!" Amelia cut in, marching up beside us with a glare that could melt stone. "Even if she's only level one, her intelligence stat is higher than all of ours. She could kill you by accident."
I blinked. Right. Her Intelligence stat was what, twenty-five? Mine was seventeen, and I was 19 levels above her. It wasn't a comforting comparison.
"Okay, point taken," I muttered. "Let's play it safe. What do you say to setting up a target range, Amelia?"
She exhaled through her nose but relented. "Fine."
With a soft rumble, stone rose from the earth at her command – tall, blocky slabs forming a rudimentary firing line under the moonlight.
I stepped back and turned to Ella. "Alright, let's see what those so-called Moon Blades can do."
I was about to ask if we needed to set up something closer for melee testing, but my thought was cut short as something began to shimmer beside her. A silver glow flickered in the air, coalescing into the shape of a crescent moon, waning and razor-thin.
Without warning, it launched forward with a piercing hiss, so fast it vanished in a blink. The glowing blade tore through multiple stone targets like paper, cutting clean through the third before shooting off into the trees and disappearing in the dark.
For a moment, no one said a word.
Then one of the slabs groaned as the upper par slid across the perfectly cut stone and toppled to the side with a heavy thud.
"Holy sh—" I started.
"Damn!" Henry yelled. "That thing would've cut you in half, Atlas!"
I could only nod slowly, eyes fixed on the perfect, silent gash in the stone. As terrifying as it was… part of me still itched to know what it would be like to try dodging it.
I shook the thought away and turned to Ella, whose face was practically glowing with excitement.
"You ready for the next one?" I asked.
"Absolutely," Ella beamed, already turning to face the range. But after a few steps, she hesitated. "Actually… I'm not sure I can use the rest of them here."
She furrowed her brow in confusion, and then, almost as if responding to her uncertainty, a set of ethereal chains began to rise from the ground. They shimmered with a translucent, silvery hue, hovering in midair like ghostly serpents waiting for a command. They didn't move right away; they just hung there, swaying gently, as if unsure of their purpose.
I watched, mesmerized by their slow, unnatural movement. The sight gave me an idea. I turned to Ella with a grin forming across my face, and saw her smiling the same way, as if we'd thought the same thing.
"Can I test it on you?" she asked, half playful, half serious.
Without hesitation, I nodded. "Absolutely."
We took our positions, Ella standing down the range, focused and composed, while I stood at the far end, loosening my shoulders. I watched the chains rise again, this time with a clear purpose. They danced side to side like snakes tasting the air, waiting for her signal.
With a breath, I activated my buff. A sharp jolt of energy rushed through me like lightning snapping through my veins. Every sense sharpened, and I felt lighter, faster, more alive.
"Ready when you are!" I called out.
There was no warning. The chains launched toward me with blinding speed. I barely caught the flicker of movement before instinct kicked in– I dove to the side, adrenaline surging as the chains whipped past me, slamming harmlessly through a stone wall like phantoms.
"Whoa…" I muttered, spinning around. They hadn't broken it. They'd just… passed through.
Ella let out a frustrated huff. "Hey, hold still!"
I grinned and bolted, weaving between the stone pillars like a shadow. More chains erupted from the ground around me, some snapping wildly past my shoulders, others grazing just inches from my limbs. They swirled, twisted, and coiled like they had a mind of their own.
"This is awesome!" I shouted, heart pounding as I ducked under another strike.
Ella, panting now, fell back onto the grass with a groan. "Okay–time out. I'm exhausted."
I slowed, laughing as I walked back toward the camp, already reaching for my water bottle. "That's fair. You gave it a good–"
Something cold looped around my neck.
"What the–" I froze as more chains shot from the earth, coiling tightly around my wrists, ankles, and even my waist. In seconds, I was completely immobilized, suspended slightly above the ground like a tangled puppet.
"Yes!" Ella shouted, shooting to her feet and throwing her arms into the air in triumph, her exhaustion seemingly forgotten. "Finally!"
I wriggled against the restraints with a groan. "Hey! That's cheating!"
"Pfft. Life's Unfair," Ella replied smugly, hands on her hips. "Deal with it."
Still tangled in the glowing chains, I narrowed my eyes and decided it was time to return the favor.
With a deep breath, I activated Void Creation, causing spikes to erupt around me in sharp bursts of pure black, slicing through several of the Moon Chains with a satisfying snap. Their silver light flickered and dissipated into the air like shattered illusions. But even with the effort, most of the chains still clung to me.
"Stubborn things," I muttered.
I raised my free arm and summoned a Void Sword, the weapon forming in my hand like darkness made solid. With a few quick slashes, I cut through the rest of the restraints, the last chain falling away with a fading shimmer. I stood tall, breathing heavily but grinning, heart still thumping from the rush of it all.
As the last of the silver light vanished, I turned to where Ella had been standing, only to find empty space.
She was gone.
I scanned the area, blinking in confusion, when suddenly–
"Boo!"
I jumped slightly as Ella appeared out of thin air beside me, face just inches from mine, grinning like a gremlin.
I blinked at her, unamused but impressed, my brow raised in mock disapproval.
Ella deflated slightly, her excitement melting into a playful pout. "Wow. Really? You're no fun. I was hoping for at least a scream or a gasp. Something."
I laughed, lowering my sword. "Don't worry. You did surprise me. I just have excellent composure."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh wow, 'you surprised me.' That's it?" She sighed and gave a dramatic shrug. "Anyway, that was my Moonshadow Camouflage skill."
"Well," I said, nodding with an impressed smirk, "color me very slightly alarmed."
She beamed again, clearly pleased despite herself. "I'll take it."
Behind us, the others were still gathered near the fire, watching and chuckling as the tension melted into laughter and light conversation.
"Alright," I said, turning back to Ella. "Let's see if we can figure out this Moon's Prediction ability."
Ella nodded eagerly and focused, her brow furrowed in concentration. She stood still, eyes scanning the air around her, as if expecting something to manifest.
Nothing happened.
She tried again. And again. She even muttered under her breath a few times, as if that might help.
Still, nothing.
After several more attempts, she let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Ugh. It's like it's just… not there."
"Hey," I said gently, "some powers are a little more cryptic. We'll figure it out. Probably needs the right condition."
"Or an instruction manual," Henry added dryly, earning a deadpan look from Ella.
With a huff, she shook off the disappointment. "Fine. Let's try Moon's Blessing instead."
She took a deep breath and called on the skill. A soft shimmer wrapped around her, bathing her form in a faint celestial light. Her boots barely seemed to touch the ground, and her hair lifted ever so slightly in a breeze that wasn't there.
She took a few experimental steps, then a jog. "I feel… lighter," she said, a bit surprised. "Faster, maybe. My body feels more… fluid?"
"What about strength?" I asked as she slowed.
"Not really," she admitted, brushing loose strands of hair from her face. "It makes everything feel easier, sure, but not by much. Definitely not enough to sprint back to the city."
I nodded, watching the shimmer fully fade. "Still, looks like you've got some serious potential. But yeah… probably not a travel skill."
Before she could respond, Benjamin's voice rose from the campfire.
I'm done."
We made our way back to the fire, and the others joined in, gathering around Benjamin as he gently held out the parchment.
Under the flickering firelight, the artwork revealed itself: a flawless map of the night sky, each constellation perfectly traced, the subtle hues of moonlight delicately blended across the page, as if the stars themselves had been caught and pinned to paper.
"Benjamin…" Amelia breathed. "That's beautiful."
He gave a tired smile and shrugged. "Think it'll be good enough for payment?"
"Definitely," Emily said, her eyes shining. "They're going to frame this in a palace."
Satisfied, Benjamin carefully rolled the parchment and tucked it into his pack.
The fire had burned low, the night deepening around us, and the group began to stretch and gather their things. I gave Ella a glance, then crouched slightly with a grin.
"C'mon," I said. "Hop on."
Her face lit up again, that playful spark returning. "You sure you're not getting tired of this?"
"Not a chance."
With a laugh, she climbed onto my back, lighter than ever, like moonlight wrapped in laughter. I adjusted her weight as she struck her usual dramatic pose.
"Once more, noble steed!"
We took off into the quiet night, the stars above spinning slowly overhead, the tall grass whispering with each step. Behind us, the others followed at a relaxed pace, and the peaceful sounds of the evening returned.
And then came Ella's laughter – bright, unrestrained, and full of joy – echoing across the fields as I ran.