Runeguard 024

The stairway proved to be a portal as much as the dungeon’s cave entrance. After placing my foot on the first step, I found myself standing outside the same entrance we had used to enter the dungeon—and to my surprise, I discovered another System message waiting for my attention. 

Congratulations, Paragons + 1, your party is the first to have cleared dungeon 1050-B! For your achievement, you have earned: 3 Essence Points and 1 rebirth token. 

“Woot!” Gavin exclaimed. “A rebirth token! Holy Mother, ain’t that great!”

“Quiet!” hissed Bayan, his gaze darting around the surroundings. “No need to reveal what we’ve got to the world at large.”

Gavin hung his head in contrition. “Sorry, Bayan,” he muttered.

I threw the youth a sympathetic look. I had nearly whooped in joy, too. A rebirth token was a game-changer. Death, which hovered so much closer in the Proving Grounds than it ever had on Earth, was now one step removed. 

It felt as if some unimaginable weight had been removed from my shoulders and I repressed a shudder of relief. As long as I had the token, I didn’t have to fear death. 

I cast my own eyes over the swamp. Bayan’s worry was unwarranted. We were alone. I glanced up at the sky. But he was right about the time: it was late in the day. We would have to hurry to reach the town before nightfall. 

 The Paragon guildmaster tracked my gaze upwards. “We’re wasting time. Let’s head back to town.”

Not waiting for Bayan’s say-so, I took the lead and set a hard pace. The others huddled together behind me. From the occasional raised whisper and blurted words I overheard, they were in the midst of an intense argument, muted only by my presence.

I didn’t bother trying to eavesdrop. After today, me and the Paragons were done. I didn’t doubt Bayan wanted to be rid of me, and given the Paragon leader’s recent animosity, I felt much the same way. It was only out of mutual courtesy that we made the trip back to town together.

We were still more than a mile from town, when night finally descended. The moment was heralded with another System message.

Creche Notice 1050-03

Attention all residents of Creche 1050. Night has fallen on day 4 in Creche 1050, initiating Creche evolution A: Lesser Dissolution. The protected zone around the cobble highway has been lifted.

I stopped dead in my tracks as I stared in befuddled horror at the message. Behind me, I heard the others’ exclamations of surprise, but I paid them scant attention as I turned my focus inwards. “Adi, what is the meaning of this?”

“The protections over the road leading to the exit portal have been removed.”

I knew that already. “But why, Adi?”

“The Creche has evolved. This is in keeping within its nature. It will continue to do so at random intervals.”

I blinked. “So, this will happen again?”

“Yes, Dace.”

“When?”

“There is no way to tell,” Adi replied. “The next evolution could be anywhere from a few hours to a few days.”

I rubbed at my chin. “What is the purpose of these evolutions?”

“To encourage the Creche residents to leave. Ultimately, the Creche will devolve entirely, and everything still inside will be destroyed.”

So. The Creche would not serve as a safe haven indefinitely. It was unexpected news and lent new urgency to my time within it. “Why didn’t you tell me, Adi?” I asked quietly.

She was silent for so long I thought she wouldn’t answer. Eventually, she said, “I am sorry, Dace. I am only permitted to answer direct questions. The Law prevents me from volunteering any information.”

The Law again, I thought bitterly. Adi, it seemed, was as much a slave to it, as Nightstalker and her hatchling had been. Not for the first time it occurred to me to wonder what—or who—Adi was. 

I had unconsciously fallen into the habit of thinking of her as a person. Was I wrong to do so? Was Adi no more than a construct, as she had tried to convince me what seemed so long ago? 

No, she is a person. She must be. 

How could I think of her as anything other, when during our short time together, she had demonstrated every sign of being one? She is a thinking, intelligent being, I concluded, but one who’s free will is so leashed as to be non-existent. 

“No, Adi,” I said. “It is I who am sorry. I’m not sure what the System is or what its Laws have done to you, but I promise you if I manage to survive long enough in this world, I will do my utmost to help you.”

I felt the startled quality of her silence in my mind. It was clear my words had shocked Adi, but before she could respond, our conversation was interrupted.

“Dace, did you hear what I said?” asked Beth.

My eyes refocused and I looked down at the shorter woman at my side. “Sorry, I was elsewhere,” I replied. “What did you say?”

Beth blew out an exasperated breath. “I asked if you understood the implications of the Creche’s evolutions.”

I grimaced. “Of course. We have to leave the Creche as soon as we can. Before it becomes impossible to leave.”

Beth nodded. “Correct.” She paused. “This changes matters somewhat.”

I looked at her curiously. “What do you mean?”

“We have to leave the Creche quickly, but we still want to complete the second dungeon before we do.” She shot me a glance. “I’ve convinced Bayan we stand a better chance of doing that with you in our party again.”

I pursed my lips. “I’m not sure that is what I want.”

Beth shrugged. “I understand why you have misgivings, Dace. And for what it’s worth, I didn’t agree with Bayan’s decision to freeze you out. But he is my guildmaster, and the Paragons are my world now.” She held my gaze. “And let’s be honest. Without us, you don’t have much chance of completing the next dungeon. This is an opportunity. For you. Don’t waste it.”

I gazed steadily back at Beth. She was right. I didn’t like it, but I had to admit, without the Paragons by my side, there was little chance I would survive a run through the Creche’s second dungeon.

So, did I leave the Creche immediately? Or did I delay my departure to attempt the dungeon? Even after installing the guardian Class stone, I would have many unconfigured Nodes. And there was also the possibility of finding more rebirth tokens…

“When do you leave for the dungeon?” I asked finally.

“Tomorrow, 8 AM. Are you in?”

“I am,” I replied.

Beth smiled. “Good choice. I always knew you were smarter than you looked.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “I have some errands to run in the morning, but I will meet you and the others at the tavern before then.”

“Just don’t be late,” Beth said. She turned back to rejoin the others, then paused mid-step. “Oh, do you know about the bank?”

“What bank?” I asked blankly.

Beth shook her head at my ignorance. “Near the townhall in the center of town, you will find the building housing the System bank. Open an account and make sure to store your rebirth token. Remember, it won’t work to revive you unless it is stored in a bank.”

“Thanks for the tip,” I said. “I’ll make sure to do that.”

✵ ✵ ✵

We reached the town without mishap. 

As we hurried through the camp, I noted in passing that it appeared to be in some turmoil. But I attributed the chaos to the latest Creche Notice and paid it little attention as I followed my companions to the town center.

The Paragons, it turned out, already had accounts at the bank, and they rushed out nearly as quickly as they went in. My own steps slowed as I entered the building.

I turned a slow circle and took in the small chamber. With the Paragons gone, I was alone in the bank. The walls to my left and right were lined with lockboxes, while directly in front of me was a counter protected behind vertical steel bars. I smiled to see them. They had to be purely decorative. 

Given the strange power of the System, there was no reason for the bars. The System, it seemed, had faithfully rendered humanity’s notions of a bank when creating this building. 

On the counter was another of the Creche’s ubiquitous vendors. I walked up to it and placed my hand on its bronzed surface. A Trade window opened.

Trade Window

Vendor 17-18 Available Stock

Money: 9,999,480 gold.

Small storage space: cost: 2 gold.

Medium storage space: cost: 4 gold.

Larger storage spaces are unavailable at this outlet.

Dace Tolman Available Trade Goods

Money: 4 gold, 8 silver, and 3 copper coins.

I considered my paltry funds in disgust. Considering the System’s exorbitant prices, I would soon be without money again.

“Adi,” I murmured, “how much can a small storage space hold?”

“One item, Dace.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Each small storage space can only hold a single small item or stack of small items,” Adi added helpfully.

I groaned, not liking where this was going. “And how many storage spaces can I buy?”

“As many as you wish, Dace.”

Well, at least there was that. Yet, buying bank storage space was going to be expensive, I realized. “Adi, please tell me a rebirth token will fit in a small storage space.”

“It will, Dace.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” I said and willed the transaction to complete.

You have bought 1 small System bank storage space for 2 gold. You have 2 gold, 8 silver, and 3 copper coins remaining.

You have stored a rebirth token in the System bank.

✵ ✵ ✵

I hurried quickly to the tavern after leaving the bank. There was other business in town that I had to attend to—meeting the Hammers and Weavers for one—but those matters could wait for morning. Right now, my most urgent need was activating my Class Stone.

The tavern’s common room was empty as I dashed through it on the way to my room. The Paragons must have retired for the night already, I thought. Entering my room, I dropped into a cross-legged stance on the floor and willed the Class Stone out of my inventory. 

This was the moment I had been eagerly anticipating. 

Guardian Class Stone activated. 

Do you wish to recycle this Stone back to the System or absorb the Class into your available Nodes?

Nodes required: 2. Class Nodes available: 4 / 17.

I willed my response and triggered a slew of System messages. 

Congratulations, Dace Tolman! You have obtained your first Class: guardian, a tier 2 Class.

Class Data

Description: The guardian Class is an armored tank, healer, and summoner all rolled up in one. The Class performs neither of these functions as well as a specialized Class, yet a guardian who employs all three disparate aspects of his nature together can achieve far more than any two specialists alone.

Pre-requisites: life, channeling, and strength Essences. Primary Essence: life. Rank 1 ability: spirit guard.

Skills Unlocked

Life: life resistance, spirit expertise. 

Strength: amour synergy. 

Channeling: spirit link. 

Congratulations, you have fulfilled secondary objective 3 of the task: exit the Creche. Complete the primary objective to claim your reward. 

Congratulations, you have fulfilled your task: become a guardian. As reward, you have gained +4 ranks in life. 

Congratulations, you have met all requirements of your task: heal Mooneyes. As reward, you have been granted the option of a unique spirit for your Class ability: spirit guard. 

You have learnt the guardian rank 1 ability: spirit guard.

Spell: Spirit Guard

Effect: This spell summons a spirit to serve as your companion. The guardian’s spirit guard is central to the Class and may enhance you in a variety of ways. 

Warning: the binding between player and spirit is permanent and may not be undone.

Parent Essence: none (Class ability). Parent skill: none. Requirements: none. Duration: permanent.

I gasped at the long lines of scrolling text. My vision was completely obscured, and I felt more than a little overwhelmed. I narrowed my eyes and studied each message in turn, all the while trying to curb my rising excitement as I began to get an inkling of what reward Nightstalker had in store for me.