Awarded 3 experience points for assisting in the defeat of a goblin. Experience threshold reached.

Level up!

+1 Statistics Point

+1 Stamina Point - Built for endurance

+1 Ability Point

New Abilities available.

Level five. Finally caught up.

Another goblin leaps at me.

“Ice Bolt.”

Dealt 20 Health Points: Magical Cold damage. Awarded 2 experience points for assisting in the defeat of a goblin.

Dead. A quick glance around confirms that was the last one.

“I levelled.”

Laela beams at me. “Well done rookie! Level five in three weeks.”

“Should you really still be calling me rookie now I’m the same level as you?” I joke back.

“Of course.” Laela smirks. “What you want to start reorganising the hierarchy?”

“I didn’t realise there was one.”

Laela shakes her head with disappointment. “And that’s why you are still the rookie.”

“Stop teasing him, sis.” Graem flicks his sister’s head before turning to me with a grin from ear to ear. Seriously, he looks happier than I am. “Level five. Fantastic. Let’s get these ears sorted, then head outside. You know the deal, we’ll talk over your options outside. We’ll head there after getting the loot sorted. Maybe that might convince you to help cut off the ears for once.” He snickers.

Funnily enough, it does. I bend down over the nearest goblin and start carving off its ear.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” Graem says, gobsmacked.

“Get back to cutting, Graem. I’m not helping speed this up so you can slack off!”

He bursts out laughing, and thankfully gets back to work.

Our group sits down in our usual picnic spot beside the dungeon under the warm midday sun. Laela casually fiddles with her bag and begins handing out bread rolls from her parents bakery. The rest of the group watch me eagerly. Finally, after the last piece of bread is given to Gorm, Laela speaks, “So, what are your ability choices?”

‘Ability Choices.’

Ability Choices:

Great Slash – Slash mightily at a foe. Deal an extra 100% damage on a single slashing damage attack. Cost 25 mana. 10 second cooldown.

Fire Bolt – Launch a projectile of fire mana at a target. Damage and set ablaze the area impacted. Base damage equals 130% of Charisma statistic. Cost 10 mana. 30 second cooldown.

Frost Spikes (NEW) – Create a row of frozen spikes in an area you can see. Spikes last for 20 seconds. Base damage equals 200% Charisma statistic. Cost 20 mana. 90 second cooldown.

Force Shield (NEW) – Create an invisible barrier which protects you against all damage for 2 seconds. Cost 25 mana. 10 second cooldown.

Cold Wave (NEW) – Send forth a wave of ice mana wave from the edge of a slash attack. Base damage equals 100% of Charisma statistic. Cost 30 mana. 30 second cooldown.

“Fire Bolt and Great Slash from last level. Frost Spikes, Force Shield and Cold Wave.” I reply after another cursory glance through the list.

“You should take Force Shield.” Graem states calmly, before returning to eating his bread roll.

“Slow down Graem.” Laela grins. “Let’s at least hear what they do first.”

Graem shrugs in reply before continuing munching on his bread.

“Okay. Fire Bolt like I said last time is like Ice Bolt, it looks useful but I’m not sure I need another bolt spell,” I say. “With Great Slash, I still think I won’t take it until I have a sword.”

Laela nods.

“And the new ones?” Jaed asks.

“Well. Frost Spikes creates an area of pointed frost spears.”

“That seems like it could be useful.” Laela says. “Perhaps it could be used to trap the monsters like Graem’s Grasping Vines, or as a make shift wall?”

Graem shakes his head. “Indeed it is useful, however Reed needs a defensive ability. Force Shield across all subclass abilities is one of the best. Certainly, the best for a Spellsword.”

“Why is that?” Laela asks Graem.

“Explain the ability Reed.” Graem waves at me.

“Well.” I reread the ability description. “It creates a magical barrier which protects me against all damage for two seconds.”

“All damage,” Graem repeats. “In other words, invincibility.”

Laela frowns. “But it’s only lasts two seconds.”

Graem turns to Laela. “At the first level. It improves with each ability level up. Especially useful for a Dungeoneer.”

“But why take it when he can take a different ability like Frost Spikes. Didn’t you say we needed more crowd control abilities?”

“Indeed.” Graem nods. “However, that was before I chose Grasping Vines. Now our biggest weakness is Reed’s inexperience. A defensive ability mitigates this issue.”

“Surely the best strategy is choosing an ability that lets us hunt goblins faster so we can all level faster?” Laela asks.

“The best long-term strategy is choosing Force Shield. So that Reed can activate it constantly outside the dungeon and level it.”

“Can’t he activate Berserk outside the dungeon. Isn’t it more useful?”

Graem rolls his eyes. “You know if Reed skips Force Shield now he’ll have to wait till level seven to take it.”

Laela furrows her eyebrows. “So? Shouldn’t that be even more reason to take an ability to level faster…”

“Laela, you’re the one who is always worrying about being careful. Taking Force Shield is the safest option.”

“What do we have to be worried about as a group of five level fives fighting goblins!? Laela shouts. “Aren’t we slowly making progress? Now is the best time for Reed to learn how to safely use a more complex ability like Frost Spikes so we don’t end up with another bad trip.”

Graem huffs.

Gorm looks between Laela and Graem blankly before quietly reaching into Laela’s bag and taking out another bread roll. As he begins to eat it the tension between Graem and Laela only grows more unbearable.

“Err. Should I explain Cold Wave?” I ask no longer able to cope.

They both term to me agitatedly. “Fine.”

“Right. Well, if I slash out it the ability launches a wave of cold air out of my weapon.”

Laela and Graem stare at me despondently.

“But that’s probably a better choice once I get a sword too, I guess.” I scratch the back of my neck.

Graem rolls his eyes. “Laela, Reed should take Force Shield. He needs to be as protected as possible.”

“From what?” Laela asks.

Graem stares at her blankly.

Her eyes widen slowly. “No. No. You can’t be serious.”

“We’re ready Laela.”

“For the second floor!?” Laela shouts tersely.

Graem sighs loudly. “Yes. I’ve done the maths. With the abilities we have we should be more than capable of handling anything on the second floor. The only real risk is that Reed’s inexperience causes another accident. Force Shield will prevent that.”

“Done the maths!?” Laela bursts out laughing. “You know what happened last time!”

Graem squints his eyes shut into a painfed grimace and his body tenses, “that was my mistake. I admit that Laela. I was overconfident. This time we are appropriately levelled. Waiting till we are level seven will only significantly slow us down. You know that.”

“So, what!? What’s the rush? Aren’t we doing fine as is? So, what if we have the appropriate levels and abilities? What about our combat ability? That’s clearly not appropriate for the second floor!”

“And whose fault is that!?” Graem growls back. “If you hadn’t demanded we go back to lassoing for safety we’d be a lot more experienced in actual combat.”

“That was for our safety!” Laela shouts.

“Safety!?” Graem throws his arms above his head. “We are adventurers Laela, not bakers! Your safety is making us weak.”

“My safety is keeping you alive!” Laela chokes out, as her eyes tear up.

“We’re ready Laela,” Graem says, his eyes watery, but his voice firm.

“We’re ready?” Laela laughs despondently.

“Yes. We are strong enough now.”

“You said that last time!” Laela stabs her index finger against Graem’s chest. “This is the exact same overconfidence!”

Graem sighs. “Last time I didn’t think things through. I thought we were special, and could handle anything. We paid for that mistake. But this time we are already above the recommended group level. This time I’m sure we can handle it. What else have we been training for?”

“Graem…” Laela is practically sobbing now. “You promised me we’d wait till level seven.”

“That was before Reed joined.” Graem’s voice softens. “With a fifth member we no longer need to wait. I know I promised, but the situation has changed. Trust me after what happened I-”

“What happened last time?” I cut Graem off. “What mistake? What the hell are you screaming about?

Laela and Graem go silent, they stare at me agitated. Finally, Graem responds with his tone curt. “I was a bit too overconfident. We had some trouble with the hobgoblins but it was nothing to worry about, Reed.”

“Nothing worth worrying about?” Laela snickers, her eyes red and teary. “A hobgoblin nearly sheared off Gorm’s arm.”

“Bah. Just a flesh wound.” Gorm rolls his eyes, then tears off a large chunk of the bread and stuffs his mouth with it.

“Gorm there were marks on your bone!” Laela replies despairingly.

“Proof of my will,” Gorm replies, with his mouth full. Then he raises his arm clearly unblemished by any scars. “Look, I am fine.”

“If Jaed wasn’t so quick you might not have been!” Laela shouts gesturing wildly at Jaed.

“Laela.” Graem sighs and she turns towards him. “You’re right. We should have been more careful.

“Which is why-” Laela starts.

Graem continues speaking forcefully cutting her off. “However, things are different now! We are being more careful and taking things step by step. But waiting till level seven is too careful. The experience gain from goblins is pitiful, our growth will slow to a crawl. And there is no need.”

“Are you done!?” Laela scowls. Graem rolls his eyes sourly. “Too careful! Bah! You can’t be too careful in the dungeon! Didn’t you learn anything from grandpa!?”

“Laela!” Graem shouts. “If you won’t listen to me then fine. Let’s put it to a vote. What do you think Jaed?”

“I. Umm…” She looks back and forth between Laela and Graem. “I think umm. Maybe we ask Gorm.”

Everyone turns to Gorm who has just finished eating his bread and is licking his fingers. Seeing our gazes, he grins and nods. “Second floor will give many good fights.”

“Jaed, please?” Laela’s tears are dripping down her face now.

Jaed avoids our gazes and twiddles her thumbs. “Maybe we can give it a go.” She whispers.

“And you Reed?” Graem asks contentedly.

“Reed, you agree it’s too risky right?” Laela pleads.

What do I think? My mind flickers back to rapid progress we’ve made recently. To the hours I’ve spent alone in the dungeon. And ultimately, to the fact I need to catch up with Fraeya.

“I think from everything I’ve learned about being an adventurer. It seems like the further we delve the riskier it will be. So if we are serious about being adventurers at some point we are going to need to take risks. That’s unavoidable. And this seems like a risk worth taking.”

Laela shudders while Graem nods.

“I guess, I agree with Jaed. I mean, Graem seems confident we can do it. But if you are right Laela. If it ends up being too dangerous. Well, there’s no harm in retreating after giving it a go.”

Laela turns away from me despairingly. Sorry.

“Then that settles it.” Graem nods. “We’ll head down to the second floor. If it’s too dangerous we can always retreat.” Then he starts making his way back towards the dungeon.

At the same time, Laela steps up to me, fury spilling out of her eyes. “Reed,” she hisses.

“Yes?”

“Choose Force Shield. I don’t want you dying on us.”