Chapter 112 - Dreadborne Harbinger

Farmer Donovan came charging toward them from the farmhouse, pitchfork in hand, wide eyes darting between the two dead Blaze Lions. His mouth worked through a combination of shock and awe, muttering things under his breath as he ran over to them.

Klarion kept his expression neutral as the farmer rushed their way, but he still felt a little frustrated. It wasn’t that he resented the farmer. Donovan had every right to be concerned, to come running out after he heard the sounds of fighting. It was just that there had been things that he had wanted to say to Hatsune,  praise about how she had fought, and concern about her being ok. But with the farmer’s arrival, whatever he might have said would be awkward.

He looked back at Hatsune, watching her carefully slide back a half step. For the briefest moment, their eyes met, and Klarion thought he saw that she had wanted to say something too. But it passed, unspoken.

“Donovan,” Klarion greeted the man when the farmer arrived in front of them.

“By the Seven,” Donovan said, looking from Klarion and Hatsune to the dead Blaze Lions and back. “I knew it was a Blaze Lion that was attacking our livestock, but I had no idea there were two of them. Are you alright?”

“We will be,” Klarion said, already feeling how his regeneration trait was kicking in to speed the process. From how Hatsune had been more concerned with checking on him than herself, he could tell she would be fine, too. “Though it’s a good thing that Hatsune was prepared to take on the other when it appeared. Without her doing so, things might not have ended so well.”

Donovan looked over at the Blaze Lion that Hatsune had killed, taking time to note the number of cuts across its body that were still oozing blood. He whistled at the final wound the Leporine had delivered through the monster’s chest. “That girl of yours is something fierce. ”

Hatsune tilted her head slightly, her ears shifting at Donovan’s words. When she looked at Klarion, he nodded in agreement, bringing a small, almost shy smile to her lips. He liked the sense of pride she took in having defeated it.

“She is, and I’m lucky to have her with me.”

Donovan prodded the Blaze Lion with his pitchfork, then inspected the still-smoldering hide. There was a mournful look on his face when he looked in the direction of his still clearly agitated cattle, but when he turned his attention back to Klarion, he had covered it back up. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, Klarion, but I don’t suppose you might be willing to split this second one down the middle? The Expeditionary Mission I had listed said you could have to remains of the Blaze Lion — and I am not arguing there, no, I am not — but even part of this second one would go a long way towards repairing the damage done to our farm.”

Donovan’s voice had been steady, but Klarion was able to hear the stress hidden within it. Despite the words, he gave the impression of a man who now knew he came within inches of losing not just his livelihood but his family. His home. And had Klarion and Hatsune not shown up when they did… Klarion did not doubt that the farmer’s wife or son would have been a victim of the pair of Blaze Lions eventually.

“The second one’s yours,” Klarion said, making his mind up. While he knew he needed to bring back more wealth and resources, he had faith the next two Expeditionary Missions would be even more lucrative than the remains of a Blaze Lion. “Take the whole thing. Hide, claws, all of it.”

Donovan’s eyes widened, clearly not having expected who he still assumed to be the servant of a noble to grant him so much. “What—? Are you sure, lad?”

At Klarion’s nod, Donovan almost opened his mouth to protest, as he was a proud man, but paused when it was clear Klarion wasn’t going to budge.

“I appreciate that, I do, but I don’t feel right without giving you something in exchange,” he muttered, looking back at the corpse. “But one of those things is a lot to haul, even for a pair like you… Hold on, wait right there!”

The farmer turned on his heel and ran back toward the farmhouse, kicking up clumps of dirt as he went. Though Klarion wondered what he was doing, Donovan was quick in returning, a canvas satchel in hand. It was worn and old, but the farmer handled it carefully as he rushed back over to them. He handed it over to Klarion, a little sheepishly. “This here is my old one. Bought it years ago on a trip to Bastion, and I’ve saved it even after I was able to purchase a few newer, better ones. Reduces weight by seventy percent, give or take. Mouth of the bag is wide too. Should be able to fit the whole corpse in there if you work together.”

Klarion blinked as the farmer pressed the worn satchel into his hands. It was lighter than he expected, though that wouldn’t be the case for long. “I’ll take care of it,” Klarion said, reaching out a hand to shake. “And thank you.”

The farmer had a strong grip, and when the handshake ended, he lingered, looking at them both. “You two sure you don’t need anything else?After what you did... Even my old satchel doesn’t seem like enough.”

Klarion shook his head. “We’re fine. Get back to your family. They need to see you safe. We’ll straighten up out here, spend the night in the barn, then head out in the morning.”

Without another word, Donovan gave them a grateful nod and jogged back toward the house, calling softly for his wife and son as he disappeared into the farmhouse. The door creaked shut behind him, leaving Klarion and Hatsune, the scorched scent of burned grass and blood still thick in the air.

“Alright, I know you’re as tired as I am. Let’s get this done,” Klarion said, turning back toward the carcass of the Blaze Lion they’d claimed.

With Hatsune’s help, they set to work. Thankfully, with his stats, they didn’t have too difficult a time moving the corpse. In short order, they were able to slide the entire Blaze Lion inside the worn satchel, the opening having some effect that almost seemed to pull the corpse inside as they got it started. Thankfully, it had no effect on their hands as they did so. Klarion grunted as he picked it up from the ground.

Hatsune arched a brow, breath shallow but controlled. “Seventy percent lighter or not, that thing is still heavier than a horse.”

“It’s not too bad,” Klarion said, and it wasn’t. “I’ll get used to it on the walk tomorrow.”

The first one taken care of, they approached the second Blaze Lion — the one Hatsune had slain. Klarion said nothing as they moved it with effort to lie beside the barn, where Donovan could later see to preserving what he wanted. Hatsune didn’t speak either, but there was a quiet pride in her movements, a silent confidence that hadn’t been there before.

As soon as they were done, Klarion let out a long, tired breath. “Come on. We need rest.”

With no more threat of apex predators in the darkness, they stepped inside through the door of the barn. It still smelled of hay and animals, but now there was the faintest smell of ash as well. Probably some had blown in during the fight. Klarion gestured for Hatsune to climb the ladder first, only this time he made no teasing comments. He was too tired. Klarion followed behind her to the upper level, where they made quick work shifting things around for their sleeping area. For the first time since leaving Bastion, they wordlessly agreed to remove their armor—boots, mail, plate, gloves, all unbuckled and set aside. Klarion settled down with a tired sigh, his body finally able to breathe.

Beside him, Hatsune had stretched out, her silver hair spilling like moonlight across her shoulder as she removed the last of her own gear. The tension in the air had eased now, the fight behind them. But something else lingered—an almost contented stillness.

Klarion looked over at her, then let his eyes drift back toward the rafters above. “You leveled up, didn’t you?”

“I did,” she replied, her tone proud as she shifted to get more comfortable. “Three times, actually.”

He let out a low whistle, part impressed, part envious. He hadn’t looked yet, but he very much doubted he had leveled that many times. “Three?”

Hatsune nodded. “The Blaze Lion gave a lot more experience than I expected.”

Klarion focused on the notifications appeared back in his vision. He gave a short chuckle. “I only got one level from the other one.”

Hatsune snorted, flopping back onto the straw-covered floor with an exaggerated sigh of mock exasperation. “Oh no,” she said, voice dripping with playful sarcasm, “only one level, huh? Must be rough.”

Klarion glanced over at her, one brow raised.

She turned her head toward him, eyes gleaming in the dim light filtering through the barn slats. “Forgive me if I don’t weep for you. You get what—thirty free stats every level? And how high will that go once you unlock your class?” She gave a dismissive wave, ears twitching. “I have to claw and scrape for every point. You? You sneeze and gain handfuls.”

He laughed at that, then sat up a little straighter. His armor lay in a neat pile beside him, stripped down now to just the school uniform he had worn beneath it. He wondered again about how it had been made, as despite the travel and the battle, it did not smell or was damaged. A question for Alecto next time he visited the tailor.

“Well, guess we better take care of it now,” he muttered as he began reviewing each of the notifications demanding his attention. From how Hatsune shifted at his side, he knew she was doing the same.

Congratulations! You have unlocked the Essence of Fire!
A spark has ignited within you, a nascent ember of raw, untamed heat. The world feels subtly warmer, the sting of stray flames lessened, a whisper of defiance against the inferno. But to truly command the Essence of Fire, to weave its destructive dance and coax forth its creative forge, will require more than a flicker of will. It demands patient tending, a slow stoking of the inner flame, lest it consume or dwindle to ash. The potential is a raging inferno, locked within a fragile tinderbox, awaiting the careful hand of a master to unleash its true power.

Level: 1
Effects: +10% Fire Resistance; Unknown
Costs: Unknown

Klarion stared at the glowing notification, his breath catching slightly as he read over the formal acknowledgment. He’d done it. Even knowing that this had been one of his main goals, seeing the words now, they almost didn’t feel entirely real. Still, after a moment to enjoy his success, he reread the words. From what he could tell, it looked like the Essence didn’t come with a set path and was far more flexible than he had expected. Apparently, having an Essence wasn’t like having a list of set benefits or abilities. More, it seemed like it was potential. Raw, unshaped, adaptable. That idea stirred something in him. Klarion wasn’t sure if that was good or dangerous, but he knew he would have to make some time later to experiment with it later.

He closed the Essence notification and focused on the one about having gained a level. Time to distribute his points.

His build so far had been skewed toward Vitality and Strength. Necessary for staying alive, sure—but until he knew the way the Valiant Sunlord class worked, he wanted to spread his points out a bit. He dropped five points into Dexterity first. A little more speed and agility wouldn’t hurt, especially after the way the Blaze Lions had moved. Not all his fights would be brawls, and he certainly didn’t want to take more hits than he had to.

Next, he put ten into Intelligence. If Essence was like the magics he hoped to eventually unlock—or close to it—that stat might be important to how he used it. And with that thought, he put another ten into Wisdom. He hesitated only a moment before confirming that one. Instinct. Awareness. Perhaps even insight into how the Essence behaved or how enemies might strike. Wisdom felt less flashy than the others, but maybe more important. Especially given how he had spent the first few weeks at the Imperial Academy mostly reacting to his House’s enemies.

Finally, five points into Luck. He almost laughed at that. Luck was the vaguest of all the stats in his mind. But Klarion couldn’t help but feel like he needed something to tip the odds, given the number of enemies he faced and the potential threats that he still had to deal with to complete the other two Expeditionary Missions. Before accepting the placements, he looked over his character one more time.

Name: Klarion von Sturmwacht
Race: Human (Noresyn)
Class: TBD - Level 4 (Free Points = 30=>0)
Profession(s): TBD
Essence(s): Fire

Faction: Treverorum Empire - House Blacksword
Rank: Scion - Unlanded
Aura: -
Majesty: -
Eminence: -

Strength: 89
Dexterity: 64=>69
Vitality: 90
Endurance: 88
Intelligence: 57=>67
Wisdom: 47=>57
Charisma: 40
Luck: 16=>21

Traits: Regeneration (Minor) I; Greater Soul Oath (Unknown - Hidden)
Skills: Greatsword Mastery (Novice)
Abilities: N/A

Imperial Academy Currencies:
Seals of Valor (2); Seals of Cunning (0); Seals of Brutality (2); Seals of Discovery (0); Seals of Arcana (0); Coins of Knowledge (3); Coins of Service (0) Mark of Bonds (0)

Klarion stared at the character sheet for a few more seconds, scanning over his stat distribution one last time. Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Luck—he had tried to strike a balance, a careful spread meant to hedge his bets while leaving room for adaptability. Until he was able to unlock his class, it felt like the right move. Or at least, the least wrong one.

He accepted the changes.

The moment he did, the changes began. It started with a subtle shift, almost imperceptible. A tingling sensation crept through his limbs, weaving itself into his muscles, his bones. At first, it wasn’t painful—just strange. Like pressure building behind his joints. His knees, shoulders, and elbows all began to thrum with an odd discomfort, like he’d been sitting in the same position for too long and his body had only just remembered how to stretch.

He gritted his teeth and sat up straighter, resisting the urge to shake his arms out. The sensation grew warmer, and for a moment, it almost felt like someone was twisting the connective tissue behind his knees and wrists—but just as the discomfort swelled to something more intense, it began to fade. His joints loosened, the tightness slipping away like morning fog in the sun

He leaned back in relief. That hadn’t been too bad.

But then the pressure shifted—rising up into his head.

A sudden lance of pain shot through his skull, and Klarion’s hand flew to his temple. The dull, steady throb quickly bloomed into a full-on ache. Not just in his head—his eyes, too. Behind his eyeballs, sharp and white-hot, like someone had taken a chisel of fire and jabbed it into the sockets.

“Shit,” he hissed under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut. He heard Hatsune ask if he was ok before she realized he was simply allocating his stats.

He wasn’t used to this. Leveling up never felt good, exactly, but this was different. Not like a sore muscle or a mild fatigue—it was deeper. Like his mind and body were trying to synchronize with a new rhythm, and the transition wasn’t clean. If having more points in these other stats to balance him out wasn’t so important, he might have chosen to focus his points in Strength, Vitality, and Endurance over the others in the future.

Finally, slowly, the pain began to recede. The pressure in his skull dulled, then dissipated. The burning behind his eyes dimmed, leaving only a ghost of warmth in its wake. Klarion opened his eyes cautiously. The world didn’t blur or tilt. No vertigo. Just the normal dimness of the barn loft, the soft shifting of straw beneath him, and the quiet rustle of Hatsune nearby as she adjusted to her own allocation of stats.

With no other changes coming, he minimized his character sheet and looked at the final notifications.

Academy Assignment - Essences of Being (Complete)

Congratulations, Scion Klarion Blacksword. You have successfully unlocked: Essence of Fire. Feel the primal power of fire within you. Embrace the heat, the passion, and the destructive force of your new Essence. But remember, Scion Klarion Blacksword, with great power comes great responsibility. Use your Essence wisely and for the greater good of the Empire.

Expeditionary Mission - A Farmer’s Struggle (Complete)

Despite the surprise of finding a second Blaze Lion where only one had been expected, you and your bodyguard were successfully able to defeat them, sparing the remaining livestock of the Donovan Farm, as well as protecting the farmer and his family from the increasingly emboldened monsters. Thanks to your efforts, Donovan and his family can breathe easy once more.

Conditions for Success: Kill or drive off the Blaze Lion menacing Farmer Donovan’s herd (Complete) (Bonus Objective - Killed second Blaze Lion)

Rewards for Completion: Blaze Lion Heart; Blaze Lion Pelt (Bonus Reward - Old Spatial Satchel)

With all the pop-ups finally dismissed and his stats confirmed, Klarion rubbed at his eyes. Sleep momentarily kept at bay, he stood, joints clicking softly in the dim barn loft, and stepped over to where he’d neatly set aside his armor. Quietly, he dragged one of the heavier pieces—his chestplate—across the loft floor and positioned it just in front of the ladder. It wouldn’t stop anyone determined from climbing up, but it would at least make enough noise to wake him or Hatsune if someone tried. That was all he needed. He gave it one last nudge with his foot, satisfied it would do the job, then turned back and picked up his greatsword. The metal was cool in his hand, the blade’s weight a familiar comfort. He set it down beside where he would be sleeping, within easy reach. Just in case.

The barn creaked softly around him, wooden beams groaning under the weight of time and wind, but it was peaceful. He could still smell the faint scent of fire on the wind, but it was fading.

Klarion stretched out, glancing once toward Hatsune. She was already settled in, still awake, but quiet as she focused on notifications only she could see. He didn’t want to interrupt her, so he would wait until the morning.

With one final exhale, Klarion closed his eyes.

Sleep came quickly.