Dungeon Walkers 3, page 30
Nicole kissed him, sniffling. “I know. Cyra is choosing, and then I go.”
“Improved Life Sense 3 again,” Stern murmured. “We keep getting that one.”
“It lets me pick the spot for my perk to work instead of it coming from me,” Cyra reminded them.
“And I think it’s another stepping stone,” Stern said gently. “Honestly, it sounds like the least of the three, but I keep thinking that it’ll unlock something better next.”
“I kind of want it, just to see.”
“Then take it. We’ll back your choice,” Stern told her.
“Agreed,” Jon added as Nicole helped him to his feet.
Cyra took the perk off the counter and went to lay with her two lovers. Cammie was still out, but Trish, seeing Cyra with paper in hand, opened her arms to the rabbit lykian.
“Come here. I got you.”
Stern knelt down beside Cyra as she lay down. “Go ahead. We’ll be here for you.”
Cyra’s body bucked, then went rigid as the perk flowed into her.
Nicole shivered when she approached Ria. “Ria, may I?”
“Of course, Nicole. May you find what you seek.”
Nicole swallowed as she picked up the first page. “Mostly Harmless, again.” She took a little longer with the second page. “Slow Fall. I would drift when falling for the first thirty feet. That makes sense, considering what just happened.”
“Yeah, it does,” Stern agreed.
Nicole picked up the third page. She read it, then read it again, and then a third time before she looked up at Jon. “It’s not what I truly wanted, but it’s still…” She showed him.
Jon read it over and whistled softly. “Goddess, that perk…”
“What is it?” Stern asked.
“I’d like to know, too,” Trish added.
“Me, too,” Cammie mumbled as she started waking up.
“Friendly Fire Doesn’t Exist. Any ally in her area of effect spells would take no damage from them,” Jon said.
“Holy fuck...” Stern whispered. “That perk is ultra-rare. Marysue barely picked it up two years ago. Dad and the others called it a game-changer. It made it so much easier to handle large groups.”
“This will make the monsters target me more often, won’t it?” Nicole asked.
“It will,” Stern admitted, “but we have Trish and Zasha to bulwark for you, along with the rest of us to help.”
Nicole took a calming breath before she took the page off the counter. “But it’s that big of a perk, isn’t it...? This would make crews clamor for me?”
“It would,” Stern said softly. “That perk, along with your ability to cast area spells for both ice and fire, would have crews up into the precious metal tiers asking you to join them.”
“I have my crew,” Nicole said softly. “My friends, who treasured me for myself, not my perks... But if it would mean that much to others, then it’s the best choice for us.”
“It’s a good choice,” Jon said softly, kissing her cheek.
Jon helped Nicole to the ground, holding her to his chest. He whispered softly to her as the light of the perk infused her, making her spasm in his arms.
Stern stood up, going to the counter. “Thank you, Ria. Once they’re all up, we’ll need to spend the rest of our points.”
“I understand. You all had some tough choices.”
“If Zasha or Pawly hadn’t agreed, I’d have chosen differently.”
“But they’re a part of you. They wouldn’t tell you not to have another friend. A friend for you is a friend for them.”
Pawly purred as she drifted down to rest on the counter, and Zasha shifted over to lick Stern’s hand. He gave them both smiles, making sure to pet them both while they waited.
Chapter Forty
“Okay, now that we’re all up again,” Stern smiled at Ria, “let’s talk about our remaining points.”
“Someone just failed to complete the dungeon and his crew couldn’t pull all the shards,” Ria said. “Would you like to pull the last shard?”
“Who?”
“Travis Baldree.”
“Yes,” Stern said without hesitation.
“Very well. How would you like your points broken down for you?”
“Add ours to his,” Jon said. “He’s done right for us.”
“Agreed,” Nicole nodded.
“And ours stay as they have been,” Trish added. “All to Stern.”
“With all points given to Stern, and adding the crew points you have a total— after the shards— of five thousand three hundred and seventeen,” Ria smiled.
“Goddess,” Jon exhaled.
“Your foes were numerous, crafty in their own ways, and the boss was… advanced.”
“Abnormal for what most would have at this point,” Stern said.
“Indeed,” Ria agreed, “but is that so… irregular?”
“Well played,” Cammie snorted. “We’ll have to keep it in mind.”
“Glad we didn’t rune Zasha’s collar, yet,” Stern chuckled. “Three rune collars are how much?”
“Oh, yes,” Nicole said, nodding emphatically.
“One thousand five hundred each,” Ria smiled broadly.
“Wait... you haven’t summoned the new one yet, have you?” Cyra asked.
“Not yet,” Stern said. “Let me have a blue collar with three slots, please.”
One appeared on the counter and Stern picked it up, then knelt. Zasha was beside him in an instant, sitting down, his tail wagging fast. Stern exchanged the single rune collar for the triple rune collar.
Stern smiled. “We’ll rune you later, buddy. Go home. I have to find out who my new friend is. I’ll bring you back for dinner, okay?”
Zasha licked his face, making Stern splutter as Zasha melted into the floor.
“Pawly’s teaching him,” Trish snickered.
Standing up, Stern rubbed his face dry. “Yeah, maybe...” Taking a deep breath, Stern glanced at Pawly, then focused on his new summons. Both of his hands were used to summon the new friend, his fingers flexing through a pattern together.
A hawk was suddenly on the counter. Tilting its head one way, then the other, it looked over the room before giving a soft, warbling cry. Without warning, its head jerked back and it stared up at Pawly. Pawly just stared down at it with curiosity.
“Easy, you two. We’re all friends,” Stern said softly.
“Remember to choose its element first,” Cyra said.
“Right... we have wind and earth right now...” Stern murmured. “Hmm... dark, fire, water, and light have not been used yet.”
“Light,” Nicole suggested.
“Why not?” Stern agreed. “Would you be good with being tied to the light element? I also need a name for you.”
“A light-infused hawk...” Cammie said slowly.
The hawk looked back at Stern, meeting his eyes before crying out gently.
“That sounded like a name,” Jon said.
“Calius,” Stern nodded. “You wish to be Calius?”
The hawk bobbed in place.
“Okay, Calius. Male?”
The hawk bobbed again.
“And you’re good with light?”
Calius gave a third bob of his head.
“Okay,” Stern said, his hands going through the motions to infuse Calius with light.
A moment later, Calius flashed brightly. When the light faded, Calius was still where he’d been, but his coloration was pure white, and his talons glowed gently. The hawk flapped his wings, showing an almost four-foot wingspan to go with his almost two-foot body.
“He’s beautiful...” Nicole whispered.
“Let’s see what perks you have,” Stern smiled fondly at the white hawk. His hands moved through the motions, giving Calius the first perk, which had been a size increase every other time.
Calius gave a soft cry and ruffled his wings again.
“Huh... not size?” Trish murmured.
“He can remove poisons on touch,” Stern said slowly. “The healing aspect of light.” His hands went through the next motion. “The second one removes diseases on touch.”
“Very healing-based,” Cyra murmured with a smile.
Stern finished with the third upgrade, then snorted. “And now, he can remove all abnormal statuses.”
“Lethargy, confusion, and the like?” Jon asked.
“Exactly like those,” Stern murmured, eager to find out what the hawk’s last perk would be. When the knowledge filled his brain, he started to laugh. “Last one lets him rake a target with his talons and deliver every effect he’s absorbed in the last hour.”
“That might be overpowered in later dungeons when monsters and bosses use different status effects,” Trish said with awe.
“You’re a healer who can give back what he cures,” Stern said, reaching out to gently stroke Calius’ head.
Calius trilled happily, rocking his body in place.
Pawly landed on the counter without warning and began grooming Calius’ tail. The hawk ignored it, enjoying the petting.
“At least they get along,” Cammie grinned. “I was a bit worried.”
“You weren’t alone there,” Jon admitted.
“Did you want to spend the rest of your points?” Ria smiled.
“Oh, right. I need collars for them both, please,” Stern said. “Is there a way to get a defensive collar for Calius? I want to mitigate his new weakness against dark. He won’t be offense, but defense.”
“Admirable,” Ria beamed, “and yes.”
Two items appeared on the counter. One was a collar for Pawly in pink, and the other was a small band that would fit around Calius’ ankle.
“It will take three runes, even though it looks tiny,” Ria reassured them.
“With that, we have enough for one lesser and two least runes,” Stern said. “Do you mind if I get runes to try filling out their collars?”
“Please do,” Nicole said.
“My sword is full already,” Jon said. “I’d say it’d be for the best.”
The others agreed, too, which let Stern feel better about spending all the points.
“A lesser dark, a least dark, and a least air,” Stern said. “With the runes we already have, that’ll leave us only one rune short of filling them all out.”
The runes appeared on the counter. “That leaves you with sixty-seven points,” Ria told him.
“Chocolate squares, please, which should give all of us one or more,” Stern said.
“Very well,” Ria smiled as eleven chocolates appeared. “These are slightly better chocolates than the ones you’ve purchased before. You have one point left.”
Stern picked up a chocolate and held it out to Ria. “Thank you.”
Ria blinked, then took it. “Of course. Did you wish to spend your last point?” She ate the chocolate as soon as she finished asking.
Stern didn’t answer first— he handed the rest of the chocolates out, giving each woman two while he and Jon got one. When he turned back to Ria, who’d finished eating hers, he shook his head. “That’s it. Thanks again, Ria.”
“I’m always glad to help you, Stern,” she replied with a bright smile before fading away.
“We have shards to turn in, and Travis’, as well,” Trish said. “Let’s go tell his crew they don’t have to fight to get the last one picked up.”
“Let’s,” Stern agreed. He looked back at Calius. “Want to come with us?”
Calius gave a trill, then turned his back on Stern.
“Ah, okay. Go home.”
Calius flashed into light, gone an instant later.
Stern summoned Zasha back, patting the hound when he appeared. Zasha grinned as he accepted the petting.
“You’ll meet Calius later, buddy. He wanted to let you come back out.”
Zasha barked.
“Yeah, we have things to do. Come on.”
As a crew, they left the dungeon, ready to turn in shards and help another crew breathe easier.
~*~*~
The captain greeted them when they came out of the dungeon. He thanked them for being understanding, and let them get on with what was left of their day. It was early evening by the time they made it to the Walkers’ hall.
The guildhall was full of people talking, but the conversations faded when Stern and his crew walked in. Stern looked around and found the five people standing at the Rescue Squad receptionist’s desk.
“Cryptid Legends?” Stern called out, since the room was quieter his voice carried. When they all turned to face him, Stern held up a shard. “We have him.”
One of the five sprinted across the room to Stern, her white wings rustling as she did. “Travis?!”
Stern handed over the shard. “Our helper in the shop said he’d just fractured. We had the points, and I liked him.”
“Thank you!” the angelic woman said, hugging Stern before she hurried back to her group, who were thanking the receptionist.
Soon, the five crew members were heading for the exit. As they passed Stern’s crew, they thanked them, hugging or shaking hands.
“Friends of yours?” someone asked.
“We met Travis and his crew today on the way to the dungeon,” Stern replied. “He was a nice guy. Besides, we pull shards. It’s what my crew does. Excuse me, I have a quest for the other two shards we pulled out.”
Bridget, the Rescue Squad receptionist, was smiling brightly when they reached her. “Three shards in total?”
“Yes. We have the two we agreed to,” Stern said. “Add the reward, plus the reward for turning them into the temple, onto our accounts please.”
“Gladly, Walker,” Bridget replied. “If only more crews would pull even a single shard each run.”
“That would be lovely,” Stern said softly. “Everyone in my crew will register for a dungeon run for Rescue Squad.”
The other five with him nodded their approval behind him.
“Excellent!” Bridget smiled. “I need to verify the shards, and then I can send you on your way.”
“Hey, Tom,” Peter, the Walkers’ hall receptionist, called out to the bartender, “a round for everyone on me. Actually, make it two, since two souls will be reborn.”
“Got it,” Tom nodded. “Single file, please,” he told the room.
“Show offs,” someone muttered, their voice carrying in the still silent room.
Stern handed the shards to Bridget before turning around to face the crowd. “Maybe we are, but that’s just because I truly believe in pulling people out. No one is saying you have to or need to, but if you pulled even a single shard out during one run, it would be so much better for all of us.”
“Verified, Stern,” Bridget said a moment later. “Deliver these to the temple.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“No, Walker Stern,” Bridget said, standing up to bow, “thank you.”
Stern took the shards and led his crew out of the guildhall. The moment they stepped outside, conversation sprang up behind them.
~*~*~
When they got to the temple, a golden body was already on the main temple altar. Travis’ crew was speaking softly to one of the acolytes near it.
The slabs were empty of everyone but two people being healed for minor injuries.
An acolyte who was not helping another hurried over to them. “How can I help you?”
“We have shards to turn in,” Stern said, holding them out. “Mary Lizwre is her name.”
“Oh, it’s been years... We’ll get her started once the current rebirth is done.”
“We’ll come back to see her when she’s reborn,” Stern said, feeling the quest finish as soon as he handed off the shards.
“They’re here,” the angelic woman from Travis’ crew said, hurrying over to them. She hugged each of them, thanking them again.
“We liked him. He’s a good leader,” Stern said.
“Will you come to see him tomorrow?”
Stern grimaced. “We have a family dinner for about this time.” He looked at the others, then back at the angelic. “I’ll come to see him briefly. The others can go to the dinner ahead of me.”
