“Next time I get my ass handed to me by a beast man, remind me to hang on to my staff.” Erin complained as they walked together down the village’s main road. The sky was showing its first hints of the approaching sunrise. Candlelight shone from within boxy wooden buildings, and Erin tried not to think about the people. It was peaceful in the predawn hour. It was like someone had cast a spell over the entire world, and she could almost believe that the attack wouldn't happen.

“It is usually a bad idea to lose your weapon, but I think you can do better than that piece of driftwood.”

“Don’t hate, I crushed a spider the size of your head with that staff.”

"Wouldn't a boot be more effective?"

“It had knife legs.”

“Ah.” The pair fell silent as someone coughed from a nearby hut, and Erin was pulled out of the meaningless conversation, back into the present.

“We should talk to the Mayor again.” Erin said softly, a hint of desperation in her voice.

“It won’t matter. These people-” A terrified scream wrenched them out of their conversation, chilling Erin to the core. She was moving before she knew what she planned to do, only dimly aware of Sigrid yelling her name. Erin rushed into the gap between two homes and down a smaller street, her feet pounding against the snow.

As she rounded the corner, a compact form crashed into her. The collision forced her back a step, and she looked down. The dark shape resolved into a child, his eyes wide with horror.

“Monsters,” he whispered up at her, and Erin’s eyes snapped to the other end of the alley. There, with glowing blue eyes and snow white fur shining in the darkness, stood a Pale Qek. Erin shifted the child behind her and lifted her hand, constructing a fireball and firing it in the same second. The monster had already begun its approach and was surprised by the magic. With nowhere to dodge between the buildings, it was struck full on in the chest, waves of fire rolling over its body. Erin fired a second, and a third in rapid succession as the creature screamed in pain. All around her, she could hear doors being thrown open as people rushed onto the street.

She looked on in horror as the qek was engulfed in flames. Its skin blistered and cracked, bubbling as it sloughed away in places, revealing bones charred black by the heat. It took a step forward, then another. Panic rising, Erin cast another fireball directly into its chest. The cumulative damage from her augment meant each additional fireball

[You have slain: Pale Qek. Would you like to loot it?]

The monster toppled forward as it died mid-step, falling into the snow with a hiss as the heat of its corpse turned the frozen water to steam. The villagers nearby had formed a semi-circle around the alleyway.

“Mom!” the kid cried out and dashed into the crowd, where he was swept up into a hug by a stout woman. She met Erin’s eye and nodded her thanks.

A man’s pained scream blasted over them from somewhere down the street, and Erin was running again. The crowd parted as she moved. Surrounded by tense expressions on faces pale with fear, a part of her was glad that she hadn’t had the chance to run away.

She arrived too late to save the man, horrified to find he had been reduced to a pile of limbs in the street. A half-dozen of the regular qek were scattered around, trying to force their way into homes. Erin began launching fireballs at them. She had never considered before now that having her soul (and therefore body) upgraded had improved her general dexterity, but it was obvious if she thought about it. She had never had the greatest aim, but now her shots landed more often than not.

Like the Pale Qek in the alley, they were taken by surprise, three of them covered in flames before the rest realized there was a threat. The last two rushed at her, blind in their rage. She gritted her teeth and tried something new. Translucent wings sprouted from her shoulders, shimmering with magic as she leveled another fireball at the lead monster. As it approached she could see the madness in its yellow eyes. As she launched her fireball at near point blank range, she lifted her feet off the ground and snapped her wings forward, propelling herself back down the street at speed.

[You have slain Qek Scavenger: Would you like to loot?]

[You have slain Qek Scavenger: Would you like to loot?]

[You have slain Qek Raider: Would you like to loot?]

[You have slain Qek Scavenger: Would you like to loot?]

Erin tried to plant her feet as she dipped back towards the ground at the end of her short flight. It felt as if someone had ripped the rug out from under her as she went tumbling backwards, end over end, on the snow-covered road. Once she'd slid to a stop she pushed herself up on one knee, bleeding from a dozen minor cuts and scrapes.

Good job genius, why wait for them to kick your ass when you can do it yourself.

Her breath came fast and shallow as her body ached with exertion. She’d never used so many spells so quickly, and it was taking its toll. The two remaining qek were loping toward her, down on all fours, and she gritted her teeth.

Come on, back on your feet.

She braced her leg and surged upward, stumbling before regaining her balance. Motion out of the corner of her vision drew her eye. A pale qek leapt from a nearby rooftop and landed next to her, a slashing strike aimed at her throat. She froze, eyes widening in horror as death came for her on a monster’s claws.

Then Sigrid was between them, and what happened next was too quick for Erin to follow. One moment, the qek was on the attack, and the next it was lying on its back with one arm bent at an unnatural angle, awful gurgling noises emanating from its crushed throat. Erin’s attention was drawn to the street as two more arrived, sliding to a stop just feet away. Their yellow eyes flicked between Sigrid and their pale leader.

Crunching footsteps came from every side as qek, large and small, stepped out of darkened alleyways and clambered over the rooftops to surround them. There were dozens upon dozens closing in on every side. It was impossible. There were too many. Sigrid’s head turned back and forth, as her gaze swept across the monsters forming a line. The choking gasps of the qek on the ground were punctuated by the screams of villagers in the distance, and Erin wondered if dying would hurt worse than the first time.

As if she had grown tired of the noise, Sigrid lifted her foot and stomped on the pale qek’s neck, which produced an audible crunch. The gurgling stopped, and it fell still. Her booted foot still planted on top of the monster, she glared defiantly at the encroaching horde and spoke.

“Yes.”

All at once, the qek’s corpse was consumed with white light, blinding in the predawn darkness. Erin felt a hand on her wrist and then suddenly they were running. Sigrid made a chopping motion with her free arm and a stream of water burst from her fingertips, slashing across a pair of the smaller qek that had attempted to bar their way. Sigrid bowled her way through with Erin in tow and then they were clear of the qek ambush.

She looted it.

Sigrid had turned the corpse into a weapon, but Erin had no time or emotional space to be impressed. They ran side by side at a dead sprint up the street. The screams and roars of the qek chased them as they made their escape, and Erin didn’t dare look over her shoulder. They passed some villagers engaged in small skirmishes. Pockets of resistance that would quickly be overwhelmed once the true force of monsters arrived. Erin tried to put blinders on. She did her best not to see how hard they fought, unaware they were doomed. All hopes of saving the village had left her. Her lips peeled back over her teeth in a snarl of frustration, but she ran on.

They arrived to find the gate already open, and human tracks leading off into the snow. Heading down the road.

“Oh, thank god.” Erin whispered, glad that at least some of them had the sense to save themselves. Her mind flashed back to the small child she had snatched from the claws of a monster. Hoping he and his mother were among the footprints.

“Come on.” Sigrid growled, still running, Erin hard on her heels. Once beyond its walls, they put the village to their back and ran. When the screaming stopped, Erin wondered if it was because they’d gone too far or if there was just no one left alive to cry for help.

* * *

It took most of two days to reach the next village. It was a larger settlement, with higher walls and buildings made of stone and wood. Over the journey, they had collected a small band of refugees. Those who had fled the village along the road, otherwise Erin and Sigrid likely would have arrived sooner. It seemed that after seizing the settlement; the monsters had been satisfied because there had been no signs of a pursuit. Sigrid was engaged in telling the Mayor as much and warning him of the dangers, while Erin stood by, staring around. The Tier 1s that had traveled with them had said little, and were whisked away as soon as they’d arrived.

Both of them were taller than the average, but Erin suspected there was more that set them apart than their height, because everyone they met had addressed them as Mages with certainty. A week ago she would’ve interrogated them for answers about all of it: Jetriser, Mages, Academy City, everything.

Now, as she looked around the settlement, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was standing amongst ghosts. Would this be the next village to fall? She was relieved to see there was at least some organized effort at defense. A dozen or more lightly armored men who carried spears and shields were currently clustered around the Mayor, listening to him speak with Sigrid. A balding man with a round belly and a pompous manner. He was insistent that the qek would find his town a tougher nut to crack.

“I appreciate your concern, but this is Dangole. We’re not some backwater.” Sigrid gave him a flat look, staring until he became visibly uneasy under her gaze.

“If it weren’t for stubbornness, there are a lot of dead people who’d be alive today.” He held his hands in a placating gesture.

“Rest easy, miss, rest easy. This is Dangole, and it’ll never be said we ignored a Mages warning. I’ll send a rider to the Outpost. The Wardens were here a week past, looking for you in any case.”

“For us?” Erin asked

“Yep yep,” the Mayor answered, tucking his thumbs under his armpits, his expression serious. “New Borns, they call you. I don’t know the details myself, but my understanding was you’re turning up where you shouldn’t and they been sent to find you.”

Erin and Sigrid exchanged a look, and for the first time since she’d arrived on Jetriser, Erin felt some hope of actually finding out what the hell she was doing here.

“Find us, and then what?” Sigrid asked.

“Take you back to Academy City, I expect. That’s where your kind live, mostly. Visited there once myself. It was a sight to see.”

Yes!

That’s what Erin wanted. What she needed. A place where she could learn about magic. People who could teach her how to actually be a Mage.

“We have another fellow who wandered in yesterday,” the Mayor continued. “lucky he found us when he did. Half starved he was.”

“There’s another Mage here?” Sigrid asked.

“Sure is. He was sleeping last I heard, but I’ll send someone to fetch you when he wakes up.”

“That’s not-” Sigrid said, but Erin jumped in.

“Please do, thank you.” Sigrid shot her a look and Erin just shrugged. It couldn't hurt to meet him, and if the qek came here. Another person with magic might be the difference. “Is there anywhere we could rest?”

“Of course, of course,” The Mayor turned and waved a hand. “Marriete, please show our guests every courtesy.” A young woman with auburn curls that bounced as she moved approached them, hands clasped in front of her.

“Nice to meet you.” She spoke softly, as she gave them an actual curtsy. Sigrid raised an eyebrow while Erin coughed, embarrassed.

They followed her down the main road, many of the townsfolk watching as they passed, whispering behind their hands. Many of them turned away, or looked down when Erin met their eye, and she frowned.

“They seem oddly… odd.” Erin whispered to Sigrid, and the dark-haired woman scoffed.

“You should write poetry.”

“I’m serious,” Erin hissed. “Why are they giving us curtsies and free rooms?” Sigrid shrugged, and before Erin had a chance to carry on, they arrived.

Mariette gestured them into a small building with a thick wooden door. Erin stepped in and her mouth fell open. There was a solid wooden floor, a basic table and chairs, a fireplace and doorways leading into semi-private rooms. It was a palace compared to Erin’s tent. It even put the luxury of their dirt floor one-room shack to shame.

“I live just across the way.” The young woman said, pointing to a building up the street on the far side. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to come ask.”

“Thank you. This will be fine.” Erin said, giving her a smile. Marriete nodded deeply, making it into something of a bow before turning and moving across the snow-covered street.

Door shut, Erin and Sigrid sat around the table and spoke quietly for a moment, but they were fatigued and soon they fell into silence, and Erin knew it was time for sleep. She made her way to one of the rooms and fell straight onto the straw-filled mattress, and within moments. She was asleep.

* * *

Name: Erin Young

Class: Unranked Mage

Tier 2 Soul: Normal

Mind: Bronze

Body: Bronze

Spells

Spell Slot (Soul):

Aug 1

Aug 2

Spell Slot (Mind:) Fireball (Bronze: 15%)

Aug 1: Bolstering

Aug 2:

Spell Slot (Body): Mirage Wyrm's Wings (Bronze: 3%)

Aug 1:

Aug 2:

Spell Slot (Special):

Aug 1:

Aug 2:

Boons:

Liaison

Mirage Mage (Bronze)

(Unknown)

(Unknown)

(Unknown)

Inventory:

Inventory Item: Bronze Medallion

Equipment:

Torches (2)

Mirage Wyrm Spell Rune

Crafting:

0.5lbs of Iron Chitin

Currency:

Gold Maefars: 5

Silver Maefars: 53

Copper Maefars: 485

Artifacts

Slot 1: All-Purpose Hat (Bronze)

Slot 2: Refilling Vial: Stamina Potion (Bronze)

Slot 3: Empty

Slot 4: Empty