Chapter Thirty-one

 

Stern exhaled slowly as he lowered his crossbow. “I need to get another magazine or two.”

 

“It did take a lot of bolts,” Trish nodded as she salved Vulk’s arm.

 

“I’m glad Pawly can stun a mob now,” Cyra said.

 

“Me, too,” Cammie agreed. “I’ve also learned that a dedicated rush eats through my trap quicker than I would have wanted. I’m glad you didn’t get badly hurt, Brother.”

 

“It was unpleasant,” Vulk sighed in relief as his pain dimmed. “I shouldn’t have tried to angle in like I did, but they were able to get two at a time on Trish.”

 

“My shield can only account for one at a time,” Trish said. “You stopped them from getting around me and to the others, so it was still a good job. I could have traded spots to stop that attack from hurting you, but then you would have taken my position.”

 

“Which would have been worse,” Vulk said. “No, I’d rather have had the wound from one than wounds from two.”

 

“The orb is glowing, so that was it,” Stern said. “That was longer than our other dungeons and some offshoots, which means the next tier will show us even more variation.”

 

“And more intelligent monsters,” Cyra said. “These looked like they had just started working together. The next ones might be worse.”

 

“No ranged attacks yet,” Trish agreed. “The sixth dungeon for my original group had to deal with ranged attacks.”

 

“Which might be an issue,” Stern agreed, “but for now, we have perks to select and shards to collect.”

 

“And then, a bath,” Cyra said with a smile.

 

“Someone has dinner plans,” Cammie smirked at her brother. “We’ll be training tomorrow, so don’t stay out too late.”

 

Vulk looked away from his sister. “I’m not going to do more than have dinner with her.”

 

Stern shook his head as he finished collecting his expended ammunition and checked each bolt. “Hmm… I need to get some replacements. I’ll have to do that tomorrow after sparring.”

 

“Will you have to send to Winterspring for the magazines?” Trish asked.

 

“Possibly,” Stern said. “I’ll find out tomorrow.”

 

~*~*~

 

It took a few minutes until they were all ready for the store. Stern was the last one to approach the orb, looking over the room. Cammie had used her newest perk to find treasure, but nothing had shown up when she used it. Not like there will always be treasure to be had, he thought as he finally touched the orb.

 

“Welcome back, Walkers,” Ria greeted them with a broad smile. “I’m glad to see you all again.”

 

“Thank you, Ria,” Cyra smiled back at the shopkeeper. “Can I go first?” she asked the others, who agreed she could.

 

“Here are your choices, Cyra,” Ria said. Her hand passed over the counter and the perks appeared as she did.

 

Cyra looked over all three before she pushed one back to Ria. “Not that one.”

 

“What was it?” Vulk asked.

 

“Poison Resistance. I’m not as interested in it compared to the other two.”

 

“What are they?” Trish asked.

 

“Agile Friend. I could increase a person’s agility,” Cyra said as she touched the first page. “And this one,” she touched the second page, “is Improved Life Sense 2. It removes the energy pulse so it’s not felt by anyone else.”

 

“Which would help with us sneaking up on monsters,” Stern murmured.

 

“Exactly,” Cyra said, “and it’s an upgrade to an existing perk. We’ve seen that those are the only way to improve a perk again.”

 

“That’s true,” Ria nodded. “If there’s an Improved Life Sense 3, you’d never know without picking up the second.”

 

“Hmm... tough call,” Cammie said.

 

“The agility one would make me even more dangerous, and my sister would have an easier time with traps, with all that fiddly work,” Vulk opined. “The other would be nice, but without knowing if there even is a third rank, it’s a large gamble.”

 

“Maybe,” Trish said, playing devil’s advocate. “The third rank, if it exists,” she added to make sure it was prefaced, “would likely be a really good one.”

 

“Increased perks are almost always good,” Stern agreed. “Being able to stay stealthy a little longer is never a bad thing.”

 

“Ria, has the Walkers’ guild ever seen this perk and its improvements before?” Cammie asked.

 

“Perhaps,” Ria replied with a smile. “I couldn’t say.”

 

Stern paused, her question hitting a memory. “Wait…” He closed his eyes and tried to bring it up in his mind. “There’s a perk that lets you know the weaknesses and strengths of monsters.”

 

“There is,” Ria nodded.

 

“Evaluate,” Trish nodded. “Yeah.”

 

“What if her Life Sense gets something similar?” Stern suggested.

 

Trish blinked slowly. “That would be huge, especially if we knew before we saw them.”

 

“Exactly,” Stern said. “Or maybe her perk will expose weak points in a mob? We have no idea what it might become.”

 

“I can’t argue that, but the buff would be nice,” Vulk sighed.

 

“It lasts an hour and is usable once per day,” Cyra said.

 

“That makes it less ideal,” Vulk conceded.

 

“I’ll take this one,” Cyra said, touching the perk for improving her Life Sense.

 

The page broke into golden light and suffused her. Cammie helped steady her while she gasped through the transformation.

 

“It really doesn’t get any easier,” Cyra exhaled noisily.

 

“I’ll go,” Cammie said. “Ria, if you would, please?”

 

Ria nodded as she collected the perks Cyra didn’t want, then placed three more pages on the counter. Cammie looked them over, her lips pursing as she studied them.

 

“Well, this is… huh,” Cammie said.

 

“What do you have?” Vulk asked.

 

“This one will turn a small pouch into a trap container,” Cammie said, touching the first page. “I’d be able to store ready traps in it, making it easier for me to have the right answer on hand.”

 

“That’s impressive,” Stern said. “Spatial perks for those who need them are rare.”

 

“The second,” Cammie said, “would let me summon a common ingredient once a day. I’d have an hour to make a trap with it, but it would make the trap only usable by me and break it if I gave it to anyone else.”

 

“That with your perk for suboptimal equipment would make it possible for you to make some impressive traps,” Trish said. “And the way you said it makes me think it can be upgraded.”

 

“Yeah. That was my thought, too.”

 

“What’s the last one?” Cyra asked.

 

“Extra Treasure Finder,” Cammie said. “It gives three uses of the perk.”

 

The others looked between torn and impressed.

 

“That perk is impressive,” Stern said.

 

“Tough choices,” Trish nodded.

 

“I want to do what you bring me along for,” Cammie said. “I’m going to take the spatial perk.”

 

“Not a bad choice,” Cyra said.

 

“If I can get the range perk again, it’ll give me a lot of flexibility.”

 

“Agreed,” Stern nodded.

 

Cammie touched the perk she wanted, then took a deep breath and willed it to be hers. Vulk was beside her to help her through the moment.

 

Once Cammie was good, Vulk exhaled. “Ria, if you please?”

 

He bent over his options for a minute before pushing one back to Ria.

 

“What was it?” Cammie asked.

 

“Improved Poison Resistance,” Vulk said. “It’s already hard enough to enjoy a drink.”

 

“There is that,” Stern agreed. He knew Vulk wouldn’t take a perk like that, but he also kind of wished he had.

 

“Clotting Blood, which is a minor self-heal, usable once a day,” Vulk said, tapping one page. “Or,” he tapped the second one, “Stunning Shout. It’s a low chance stun, but it’s a cone effect. Because of the chance, it’s limited to once a minute.”

 

“Which can hit allies,” Stern said. “I’ve heard of it before.”

 

“Dammit. I liked the idea of it,” Vulk sighed.

 

“It’s a possibility,” Trish said. “You’d need to be completely aware of your positioning on the battlefield in regards to all of us. If you can do the shout, it might turn the tide against packs or swarms.”

 

“He gets hurt,” Cammie said. “Being able to heal could be vital for him.”

 

“And it would allow me to keep mine back for others, or him, if he gets hurt again,” Cyra added.

 

“Good points,” Stern nodded. “Well, Vulk, healing or low stun chance?”

 

Vulk hesitated for a long moment, then sighed. “I have a lot of offense already, and a little more defense is good, Clotting Blood it is.” He chose his perk and gritted his teeth as it bonded to him.

 

Stern wasn’t looking forward to his turn. He stepped up beside Vulk and patted his back. “Not making me think it’s going to be okay.”

 

Vulk panted as the moment passed. “It’s not. Goddess, how do the higher-tiered Walkers manage it?”

 

“Passing out,” Stern said.

 

“I believe it,” Vulk exhaled. “Good luck.”

 

Stern nodded, then gave Ria a smile. “Ria, I’m ready. Please show me my choices.”

 

Ria had collected Vulk’s untaken perks, so she now spread Stern’s before him. “Choose well, Stern.”

 

Stern looked at the first one and he blinked at it stupidly, but he managed to set it down and move on. Once he’d made it through all of them, he just stood there, blinking slowly.

 

“Well?” Vulk asked from beside him.

 

“Uh... well... I can gain a second summons,” Stern said, “but I can’t have two of them out at a time.”

 

The others fell silent, then looked at Pawly watching Stern.

 

“Some summoners have more than one out at a time, though,” Trish said.

 

“Yes,” Stern said. “I think this is needed for that.”

 

“What are the others?” Cammie asked.

 

“Marksman,” Stern replied. “It would make me better at shooting a crossbow or using a bow. The last one is Dark Beam again.”

 

“So it’s really a question of if you want a second summons,” Cyra said.

 

Pawly chuffed, then floated over to the counter and flopped on it, covering the entire counter space.

 

Stern began to pet her out of reflex. “Not sure I’d even use it until I got the next perk. If I get the next perk in its line.”

 

“But you could make it an earth element. You’d have your full power if we end up in the wrong dungeon,” Trish said softly.

 

“But…” Stern trailed off, looking down at his oldest friend.

 

“But it means she wouldn’t be with you in that dungeon,” Cammie said.

 

Pawly sneezed, then grabbed Stern’s arm with her paws gingerly and pressed it down past her fur.

 

Stern felt the paper underneath her, but didn’t know which one it was. “This one?” he asked.

 

Pawly chuffed.

 

“Okay,” Stern exhaled as he willed it to be his.

 

Stern rocked in place— his very body felt like it was being ripped apart. He felt twin ropes catch him and hold him upright. When he could see again, he saw Pawly’s tentacles holding him up.

 

“Thanks,” he wheezed.

 

Pawly chuffed, then waved a paw at him.

 

Stern blinked as his brain told him what perk he’d picked. “Oh… okay. Go home.”

 

Pawly vanished and, when she did, Ria collected the other perks.

 

“Was it—?” Cyra began, then cut off, unsure of if she wanted the answer.

 

“Yes,” Stern said. “She directed me to the summon perk.”

 

“Do you want to summon it now?” Trish asked softly.

 

“She wanted me to,” Stern said slowly. “A new friend, or a monster? At least my friends… most of them… are here with me.” He swallowed the lump in his throat, then exhaled slowly. “Ria, may I summon them here?”

 

Ria was silent for a long few seconds before she nodded. “Yes.”

 

Stern’s hands shook as he considered summoning someone other than Pawly. He wasn’t sure he really wanted to.

 

Cyra touched his shoulder. “We can wait.”

 

“No... she left so I could,” Stern replied gently. “Okay, let’s see what we have.”

 

He was aware that this summons used his opposite hand. Maybe that means I can summon both easily later? he thought as he went through the motions.

 

Everyone watched intently as he finished the spell. They blinked in confusion for a moment before Vulk started to laugh. That got the others to laugh, and even Stern smiled as he knelt down to greet his new friend.

 

The brown-furred beast looked at them all with curious eyes. It was as fluffy as Pawly was, and its tail was curled up and resting against its back. The only color it had besides brown were its eyes, which matched Stern’s light blue-gray eyes, just as Pawly’s did. With a woof, it trotted over to Stern, sitting down and raising a paw.

 

“Hello,” Stern said softly. “I’m Stern. You need a name, don’t you?”

 

Another woof, but this time, it was accompanied by a tail wag.

 

“Look at the size of those paws,” Trish said.

 

Stern looked down to see that the puppy’s paws were massive. “A big dog breed.”

 

“Yes, he is,” Ria said softly.

 

Stern stared into the dog’s eyes for a moment searching for a name. The dog stared back just as intently.

 

“Watcher seems appropriate,” Cammie whispered.

 

“Zasha,” Stern said after a moment.

 

The puppy barked happily, then started to prance in a circle.

 

“Almost as big as Pawly when she’s in her smaller size,” Cyra said.

 

“Yeah,” Stern said. “They can be friends, hopefully, in time.”

 

“Going to see what her improvements do to him?” Vulk asked.

 

Zasha stopped prancing, sitting down quickly.

 

“As intelligent as Pawly,” Trish said.

 

“Okay, this is the first one, which increases Pawly’s size,” Stern said. He worked his fingers through the pattern needed.

 

Everyone took a step back, as Zasha was now massive.

 

“Increases his size, too,” Vulk choked.

 

“Can I ride him?” Cammie whispered in awe.

 

Zasha now stood four feet at the shoulder and was thickly-muscled.

 

“You’d be bow-legged if you tried,” Trish said.

 

“Second perk,” Stern said. “Tentacles for Pawly.” Again, he wove the magic to upgrade his summons.

 

Everyone went silent as they stared at Zasha.

 

“Three heads?” Cyra whispered.

 

“That’ll make him able to deal with multiple foes,” Trish whispered.

 

“Wait,” Cammie said. “When you gave Pawly an element, it changed her perks. Maybe give him his element first?”

 

Stern blinked slowly, then nodded. “Yes. Zasha, would you be okay with being tied to the earth?”

 

Zasha chuffed.

 

“Okay,” Stern exhaled, then wove the magic to infuse Zasha with an element, choosing earth.

 

Zasha shuddered and the extra heads vanished. Instead, he now had armor. There were stone plates that shifted as he shook himself.

 

“He’s a bulwark,” Trish said.

 

“Looks like it,” Vulk nodded.

 

“Okay, third perk,” Stern said. “Pawly got electricity.”

 

A few moments later, Zasha woofed and the ground rippled.

 

“No!” Ria said sharply. “None of that in here.”

 

Zasha whined and cowered.

 

“Sorry,” Ria coughed when they all looked at her. “I’m not mad at you, Zasha. You just wanted to show them.”

 

Zasha looked up with puppy eyes.

 

“I’m really not, but no doing that in here.”

 

“What does it do?” Cammie asked.

 

“A localized earthquake,” Stern explained, suddenly understanding. “Enough to make it difficult for what he directs it toward to stay standing. It could cause a bit of a mess wherever it’s done.”

 

“Okay,” Vulk said. “Single target?”

 

“Localized to a three-foot circle,” Stern corrected him. “Not a person, but a spot.”

 

“That has potential,” Trish said.

 

“Last perk,” Stern said slowly. “Pawly got flying.”

 

When he finished casting it, the knowledge filled his brain.

 

“Well?” Cyra asked softly.

 

“Uh... he can spit out a spike of earth,” Stern said. “Thank you for not doing that, Zasha.”

 

Zasha looked at Ria, then back to Stern, chuffing.

 

“Well, he is impressive,” Vulk coughed. “We might want him for some dungeons just based on what his upgrades are.”

 

Stern felt a spike of pain at those words, feeling like he was betraying his oldest friend.

 

Zasha whined and rolled onto his side, looking at Stern.

 

He patted the stone hide Zasha had now. “We’ll use you when we can, okay?”

 

Zasha whined again and wiggled a little closer.

 

Stern blinked. “You feel guilty? Why?”

 

“Because he’s part of you, much as Pawly is,” Ria said softly. “Your empathy works for them, too.”

 

Stern jerked, twisting to look back at her.

 

Ria grimaced and touched her head. “I said more than I should have.”

 

“Are you okay?” Cyra asked.

 

Ria grimaced again. “I need to help you with your points. Please?”

 

“We need shards,” Stern said quickly as he got to his feet. He stopped and looked back at Zasha. “Go home, boy. We’ll figure it out, okay?”

 

Zasha chuffed lightly, then sank into the floor.

 

“Better than his eyes and teeth staying,” Vulk said.

 

“Okay, Ria, let’s do this quickly. I’m sorry,” Stern said. “You’re in pain because of me.”

 

Ria tried to smile, but failed. “No. I chose what I did, so I will take what is coming. Worry not for me. Now, first, the shards…”