I was sprawled on the ground; I could not believe how badly Alistar had just beaten me.

I could understand that it was day, his time of choice, I had removed my broken clock-arm and had just barely unlocked the Form of the Vector, but damn, he had really thrashed me.

If he had given me a spanking as well, we might have looked like a child fighting an adult.

Alistar held out his hand to me, "Come on, you're getting way better at this."

"You've learned last fucking week…"

"The big guy is talented," remarked Faruq from the side.

And damn if he was right.

I dusted my ass off as I recalled how a few days before, the second day after we got back from our trip, I learned the Form of the Vector.

I simply took the stance momma Jane had drilled into me, rushed at the tree with my knife, and just like that, the Form of the Vector unlocked. The whispers communicated it to me.

It had been that easy.

You have learned the Form of the Vector.

Current Expertise: Novice Level 1. Expertise for the next Form of the Vector's level: 1/1000

It was sanctioned by the whisper, of course it showed.

And as it seemed, I had a lot of held-back expertise; maybe it was linked to combat experience; in fact, it took me the rest of the day of training to rise from Novice 1 to Novice 7.

Form of the Vector's current expertise: Novice Level 7. Expertise for the next Form of the Vector's level: 358/7000

According to momma Jane, there were ten ascending ranks in the Forms: Novice, Apprentice, Intermediate, Practitioner, Journeyman, Expert, Veteran, Master, Grandmaster, and lastly Pillar; it was unheard of for someone at the present day to have reached that rank.

Jane said that knowledge about its existence was related to books of a past era.

Each rank was then divided into ten levels, which, just like Classes, became increasingly hard to master; yet, the rate at which one gained the expertise highly depended on the person’s talent in it.

She had also explained that Bonuses did indeed work while using Forms, but only at higher levels of mastery did they show their true power; at our levels, it was barely noticeable.

"One more?" I asked Alistar as I stretched a little to soothe my tense shoulders.

"Yeah, let's do you and Roana at the same time."

Roana and I exchanged a look, a knowing look.

"As you want, tough guy," Roana said, rotating her pole in the sky and bringing it down on the ground in a display of ability.

"Mmh," Alistar said at that point, "can I take it back?"

"Not a chance!" She charged at him.

Fighting was a good way, the best way I had to free my mind of the thoughts that were pestering me ever since I had killed all those men that had done nothing wrong to me. I had done so just because I had to hunt down one target; it felt… wrong.

I knew it was necessary because doing otherwise would have resulted in the Commander stalling for time as he kept me at bay with his Flow-Submachine-gun.

I had to disrupt his judgment and his only stability, which was the ship.

I kept saying to myself that I had done it all to defend Nova, but… had I?

Even if the others –some more, some less– supported my decision, I couldn't say that it was one hundred percent the right thing anymore.

There was something I had to admit to myself, but I simply didn’t want to. For I had… enjoyed it, very much so.

I felt powerful, free, boundless. And humans, or sapients in general, gave much more Soul fractions than regular monsters, so there was that too.

I fought away a sigh as I evaded one of Alistar's swipes.

The weapons had all been adapted to us in wood by momma Jane. They were good and rarely broke.

Then my thoughts wandered away to the other night when I offered to the others to at least take a Dark Crystal.

Momma Jane took one of the two remaining Shiny Stones, but I could see how she eyed the other one; maybe she needed it.

And who was I to deny her something like that after all that she had given me- no, after all, that she had given to us?

She did not delve anymore; she would not have another chance to find it.

So I gave it to her.

I could find another; I would find many.

Of the five Dark Crystals remaining, one went to Alistar, who Promoted his Duress Skill, grunting a funny thank you.

Duress II gave him a skin that the Major Perk classified as Metal; his Minor Perk still Doubled his bonus Constitution but lost its need to work only in the presence of Flow. Finally, his Passive increased his Constitution Bonus to + 6 and gave him a better Health regeneration during the day or in the presence of Flow.

It was Alistar's signature Skill and had become even stronger.

He had shown us his Tracing as he fully Promoted the Skill.

Alistar Migs

Class

Soldier Lv. 21

Con + 2, Str + 1

Sub-Class

Fisher Lv. 28

Con + 1, Per + 1, Will +1

Attributes

Stats

Natural

Augments

Agility

8

Greaves (+2)

Constitution

30 + 30

Armor (+5), Shield (+ 15)

Strength

10 + 1

Shield (+ 5), Spear (+6)

Focus

6

Perception

14 + 1

Willpower

14 + 4

Fortune

☆ + ☆

Soldier Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

☆ ☆ Duress II - Constitution

(Max)

☆ Your scales take the hardness of metal

Your Bonus Constitution doubles

Constitution + 6

☆ Solar Regen

Brandish Spear - Strength

Double Strength while Piercing

Luck of the draw - Fortune

Fortune + ☆

Fisher Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

Fisher Fortitude - Constitution

☆ Your Bonus Constitution doubles

Constitution + 3

Follow the Flow - Perception

☆ Points out your target if it is moving

It’s easier to identify moving targets

A Waiting business - Willpower

★, ☆ While staying passive, your targets will be drawn to you

Willpower + 3

We discovered that Duress seemed to have reached its maximum Promotion.

Although Alistar and I already knew that, courtesy of Logan, the others did not know about it. Momma Jane answered it for us.

He had a total of two Flow Stars, which meant that he could not go beyond that amount of Skill Promotion. If he managed to get another Flow Star, he would be able to evolve his Skill with another Dark Crystal.

Fortune and maximum Skill Promotions were tied; remembering about it made me think about a lot of things, especially my Tamer Skills.

There was a lot to consider, especially since my plan of having my creatures fight for me during the day and unleash the Abyss on my enemies by myself during the night could not be such a viable plan.

Roana struck Alistar on his long muzzle, meeting steel.

"You are cheating," she said, but then her smile grew wider, "No cheating."

Alistar gasped at those words; the metal scales, tainted with the silver color of steel, receded to the natural red of his complexion.

"That's proper cheating, witch!" He shouted back, then his training spear shot toward her. But I intercepted it with my knife, getting pushed back even though I had more Strength.

Yes, fighting someone with a spear with nothing but a knife was the peak of stupidity, but we were training for real-life circumstances.

If I'd be without my main weapon of choice, I would be using my last chance weapon, my knife.

A dagger or a knife was ideal for an archer, and Spectre's Dignity was suitable both for stabbing and cutting. It occupied little space that between my bow and the quiver, the satchels at the side, I could say I did not have much space left for anything bigger.

Alistar's stance was one that did not let anything inside his range, while Roana had to compromise her own Form to attack.

The Form of the Lifeline she used was primarily meant for defense; yet if used to attack, it became a wild hurricane hitting its target blow after blow but widely exposing the user to counterattacks.

My Form, on the other hand, was always the same. Attacks straight as arrows, defense meant to intercept while giving a clean cut to any semblance of chain attacks.

It was meant for killing, or be killed, not the ideal Form for sparring or prolonged fights, that was also why it was subpar during our sparring sessions, and yet, M.J. kept saying that I was doing fine. It was meant to deliver at the right times, and the more my Attributes would increase, the more effective it would become in countering the other Forms.

I had to give it and myself time.

But, in the end, given my considerable disadvantage, I was thrown aside and ended up tumbling on the ground once more. I left the fight to the two long weapon fighters.

Roana and Alistar would end up tying again, although, given the difference in expertise, it would not be long until Alistar caught up to her and bested her; for now, she would win.

Roana's Command Skill had become much more powerful as she Promoted her Perks.

Command Major Perk could now effectively communicate negative orders, like the one she had used before because it could now be imbued in two words.

She still had to use Stones while she used it during the day, and each Command had a massive drain. It consumed one hundred grams of Stone for every use.

Her Minor Perk now said people were more likely to listen to her. She had other choices, but in the end, having people listen to her commands even while she was not using her Skill actively was the best option, she said.

Lastly, her Passive not only brought her Willpower Bonus to + 6, but it also gave her a Perk called Mental Fortitude; it likely protected her from certain mental abilities.

I did not know they existed and really never wished to have them tried on me.

Roana Dowson

Class

Medium Lv. 26

Foc + 1, Per + 1, Will + 1

Sub-Class

Soothsayer Lv. 24

Per + 2, Will + 1, For + ★

Attributes

Stats

Natural

Augments

Agility

10

Boots (+2)

Constitution

10

Clothes (+2)

Strength

10

Staff (+5)

Focus

14 + 4

Perception

26 + 3

Willpower

16 + 15

Fortune

☆ ★ + ★

Medium Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

Trance - Focus

☆ ★ Enter a state of Trance

Focus + 3

Divulge - Perception

☆ Send your thoughts to your target

★ ★ Commands - Willpower

(Max)

★ Utter a command that cannot be ignored composed of two words

People and creatures are likely to oblige your commands

Willpower + 6

Mental Fortitude

Soothsayer Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

True Sight - Perception

★ See what cannot be seen

☆ Communicate with what cannot be seen

Relentless - Willpower

☆ Your Bonus Willpower is doubled

Willpower + 3

Dowsing

- Fortune

Finding what you're looking for is easier

I sat on the ground, back to the Monolith, which had been left alone even though it had been checked by the Inquisition.

The weather was still rather hot, the cold season would come, but it was still too soon for that, and the hood of leather I had to wear now was much too hot for my likings. M.J. said that it was the lightest one she had, but I guessed that my closeness to Shade and the cold were acting against my tolerance for warmth.

She had also made a temporary eyepatch for my easily recognizable eye and left side. I knew I would have one made by Harlow, maybe even a proper sniping tool. Just as long as it covered my eye, it was enough. Meanwhile, Nova had supported me, choosing to wear an eyepatch herself.

Alistar had called us pirates, but neither he nor I really knew what it meant.

According to his father, they were bandits of the sea. He had described them to a little daydreaming Alistar, as men with big hats, eyepatches, and sabers; they dreamed of conquering riches, and females to love.

Scratching my brow, still not used to the eyepatch's leather, I was about to remove it when Nova and Faruq's fight got my attention.

I asked myself how Nova would fight if she had both working eyes?

Her blindside was nasty to deal with, but she had been growing really good with the sword-dagger technique, and Faruq was a really good teacher.

He had the patience to spare, a good spirit, but most importantly, a smile always at the ready.

I had convinced Nova to use a Dark Crystal, even though she had almost fixed herself on using what Mom and Dad left us first. I told her that this was the best period to Promote her Skill since we were training so intensely.

Breathing Pattern was a great support Skill for her fighting abilities, and when she Promoted it, she had us go through the choice with her.

We had her settle on an all-around approach that gave her a wide margin of Health and Stamina Regen.

The Major Perk now highly sped up her Health Regeneration while breathing Flow, while with her Minor Perk, her Stamina regeneration sped up even in the absence of Shade and Flow.

Other than doubling her Bonus Constitution, her Passive Perk gave her an ability that allowed her to remain in apnea for a long time. So, she would be okay in case of danger coming from being underwater.

Nova Nightfold

Class

Rogue Lv. 11

Agi + 2, Foc +1

Advanced Sub-Class

Healer Lv. 36

Con + 1, Foc +

4, Will + 4, For + ☆

Attributes

Stats

Natural

Augments

Agility

11 + 2

Boots (+2)

Constitution

16 + 7

Clothes (+2), Belt (+5)

Strength

9

Belt (+10)

Focus

16 + 5

Belt (+5)

Perception

7

Willpower

22 + 4

Fortune

☆ ☆ ☆ + ☆

Rogue Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

Escapist

- Agility

★,☆ It’s a bit easier to avoid attacks

Hidden Blade - Focus

★ Summon a weak Shade blade

Lucky Strike - Fortune

★,☆ It’s a bit easier to hit weak points

Healer Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

☆ ☆ Breathing Pattern - Constitution

(Eligible for Promotion)

☆ Breathing Flow highly speeds up your regeneration

Your stamina recovers faster in Shade and Flow

Constitution + 6

Enhanced Apnea

Share your Pain - Focus

★, ☆ Partially absorb target’s wounds

Heal from all types of shallows damage and ailments

Flow Shield - Willpower

☆ Summon a weak Shield of Flow

☆ Flow defends you from weak attacks

Healing Spring

- Fortune

☆ Heal shallow wounds and ailments

☆ Applies a weak overtime healing

Judging by how things were, Nova was the only one among us that could Promote her Skills all the way up to level four. Level four seemed to be a lot, really a lot.

And although Nova had given in to using the Dark Crystal, Faruq had instead been a tough one; he would not accept the gift.

He already knew what it was, just as he knew that by selling it, he would be buying himself or his dad's entrance to Sundoor.

Going against my principles, which pushed me to keep it for myself or for Nova's use, I told him to accept the gift without holding back especially because he had brought me back home.

He answered that without Roana calling for help, he wouldn't have had any way to know what happened and come to help me.

But in the end, after I threatened him to take the Dark Crystal or leave, he did something I would have never expected.

Faruq formally got on his knee and made me an oath of fidelity, swearing on the Sun.

That was something unheard of before.

A Flow-blessed swearing fidelity to a Shade-cursed, no one would believe it in the village even if they saw it happen in front of their eyes.

Quoting him, "He would become the shiny sword that revealed the path and protected me from the strain of life."

I shrugged, giving him a half tired, "Okay," before literally shoving the Dark Crystal in his hands.

Contrary to my expectations, Faruq did not upgrade his Metal Flow Body Skills.

He said that it consumed enough Stamina as it was. So he promoted True Grit instead.

A wise choice, nonetheless.

Practically, his True Grit Passive Perk now, of his choice, gave him a total of + 6 Focus and + 6 Willpower, while his Minor Perk made his True Grit State also double Perception while it was active.

Lastly, his Major Perk obtained the boost he was waiting for; it now consumed less Stamina to maintain True Grit State.

Faruq Jameel

Class

Soldier Lv. 25

Con + 2, Str + 1

Sub-Class

Runner Lv. 29

Agi + 1, Con + 1, Foc + 1

Attributes

Stats

Natural

Augments

Agility

15 + 1

Boots (+3)

Constitution

15 + 8

Armor (+ 5)

Strength

18 + 1

Saber (+ 10 x 2)

Focus

17 + 11

Perception

10

Willpower

10 + 6

Fortune

☆ ☆

Soldier Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

Metal Flow Body - Constitution

(Eligible for Promotion)

☆ Double your Constitution, Strength, and Focus for a short amount of time

Flow absorption doesn’t have drawbacks

Con + 2

Foc + 1

Slash - Strength

Double Strength while Slashing

Beautiful Star - Fortune

You are blessed with beauty

Fortune + ☆

Runner Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

Dash - Agility

☆ Dash toward your Target

Dash Stamina consumption is a little lower

True Stamina - Constitution

☆ Your Stamina recovers faster in Flow

☆ ☆ True Grit II - Focus

(Max)

☆ Enter the True Grit state, consumes less Stamina

True Grit also doubles Perception, and Willpower

Focus + 6

Willpower + 6

Like Alistar and Roana, he had reached his maximum potential; he would have to hope in unlocking a Class or Sub-Class that gave him a Flow Star to further increase his Skill.

And at this point, I was starting to seriously realize how lucky Nova and I had gotten.

However, I still could not understand what Faruq's deal was, but I hoped that we could speak about it more in detail when this training regiment was over.

If I was waiting for the training to be over, it was simply so that if I got any surprises I didn't like; I would have the chance to… get rid of him.

Yes, I realized as I looked at Nova training with a smile on her face, I was cold; I was growing increasingly cold ever since I had gone slave trader hunting.

That day something in me had radically changed, and yet, I could still feel the same level of love for my people, for Nova, for the villagers, for momma Jane, Roana, Logan, and of course Harlow.

I hoped this new side of me would not ruin everything I was trying to build; I needed to keep it in check.

Anyway, back to the training.

We did not just train in the morning; we took a break in the afternoon and trained during the night to bolster our Shade abilities, fully train Classes or Sub-Classes and hunt as a group to bolster our weak points and try new strategies.

I was not being overly active, but there wasn't a proper need for it.

Alistar was faring rather well with his arbalest, Nova and Faruq went in search of direct confrontation, where Nova's rogue Class finally shined, and Faruq's weakness in the fact that he had practically no useful Skill at night, were being leveled.

Roana and I were on the backline and defended the group from incoming threats that would attack them from the back.

When the situation got hard, we would switch places, Alistar would get back to Tank, Roana and I would join the frontline, and Nova and Faruq would go in the backline.

All in all, it was an effective style, and the guys were slowly leveling up.

It was full of the night, and I sat on top of the treehouse's roof as I loved to do. My Stamina replenishing by itself at night allowed me to go on even after an intense day of training.

I was cuddling my cub, which was growing day by day and would soon be able to start hunting. I had just finished finally upgrading my Trick Shot Skill Major and Minor Perks and was choosing their traits.

Trick Shot Major Perk will be promoted. Choose one of the following Perks to be added to it:

Double Trick:

Two Shade copies may follow in the wake of your shot instead of one.

Shadow Shot:

Produce a Shade object in your hand to use for Trick Shot (it must be an object of adequate mass to be thrown or shot).

Trick Boom:

Your Trick Shot explodes if impacting with an object of adequate mass (the explosion's power depends on the copied object).

Trick Shot Minor Perk will be promoted. Choose one of the following Perks to be added to it:

Nasty Trick:

Double your Strength for the next attack following a transfer.

Shadow's wake:

For one second after your transfer, you blend in the environment, invisible to every type of eye.

With a Boom:

Your transfer comes with an explosion of ice shards.

I sighed as I took them in; there wasn't one better than the other, because they were all situational, or at least so they seemed.

It would probably take me most of the night to choose. But for the moment, my gaze went to the starry sky above me.

I was eager for tomorrow. It would be the last day of the Shade Festival to salute the warm season and welcome the cold one, and we would not want to miss the celebrations.

Tomorrow we would split, heading back home, then, like every year, I would be bringing Nova to see the bright lights that would be exploding in the sky at night over Sundoor.

However, from what I could guess, from the other's conversations, this year, the broken clock tower would be packed. Likewise, I had all the intentions to bring Harlow with me.