Chapter 62 (1/2)

In the predawn light, Randidly’s face cracked into a smile. He had just gained a level in Meditation, and with it…

He finally had enough to finish off the Frontrunner path. After putting the final PP into it, he received a notification.

Congratulations! You have completed the The Frontrunner Path! The odds were stacked against your race, but you rose above the trials and tribulations to give your people a safe place to stay. Being the first brings great power, but also places a great weight on your shoulders. Others are raised, but only because you drag them upwards. May this path give you the tools to share some of this weight. Because beyond this path, there is always another.

You have learned the skill Blessing of the North (U). You have learned the skill Blessing of the East (U). You have learned the skill Blessing of the South (U). You have learned the skill Blessing of the West (U). You have learned the skill Inspiration ®.

The explanations for the first 4 skills were useless, just text about blessing a worthy subordinate and granting them power, but Inspiration was a bit more interesting.

Inspiration ®: The next spell you cast will be inspired. You will be able to accomplish feats far beyond the limits of your normal mana pool. All mana will be consumed. You will not regenerate mana, for any reason, for 24 hours after completion of the spell. That spell cannot be used in conjunction with Inspiration for 30 days.

So, one big spell at the expense of the next day’s worth of spells…? The cost was extremely high, but…

Well, Randidly supposed it depended on the effectiveness of the spell. Making a mental checklist of the two things he still had to do before the caravan headed back South in an hour, he walked outside of his cabin and winced.

Make that three things.

“Jeez, don’t look so excited to see me,” Lyra said sarcastically, petting a trembling Thorn. She had eventually bullied the plant into letting her treat it like a pet, although Randidly had no idea how. Things had been… strange between them. In a rare moment of weakness, Randidly had asked Daniel who she was, or had been, before the system, and Daniel had gone on a rant about ‘cult classics’ and ‘horror legend’, and a bunch of other, pre-system, fanboying.

But Randidly did gather some relevant information from their talk; Lyra really was 17, no matter how mature she looked.

On the other hand, Randidly was 23. Or he was, if the time in the dungeon counted. Based on the calendar, it was still two more months until his birthday. But still. The difference in age made him uncomfortable, and so he was in a weird space where he wanted to see her, but dared not seek her out.

“No, it is good to see you,” Randidly said after a moment of hesitation, but Lyra just snorted.

“Well?”

“Well what?” Randidly asked, frowning.

Lyra gave him a withering glance. “Aren’t you going to ask me anything?”

“Uh-”

Her eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you leaving for for a while to go to the south?”

“Well yea-”

“Doesn’t it seem like I want you to ask me something about going to the south?” Her teeth made grinding noises.

Randidly winced. “Lyra, if you want to come, fine-”

“I don’t give a shit about coming or not. I want you to ask. So. Ask. Me. To. Come.” The air around her vibrated dangerously, strange mana reverberations spreading in all directions.

“If you want to come, just come!” Randidly shouted, raising his arms.

The air stilled. Lyra nodded curtly, her expression a pleasant smile. “Sure.”

Then she turned and walked passed him. Not knowing what else to do,  Randidly reached out and grasped her arm. She turned and gave him an evaluative look.

“Do you have some business with me, sir?” Her tone was low, and surprisingly devoid of sarcasm, even though the phrase itself seemed designed for it. Not knowing what else to do, Randidly just looked at her.

Then he had an idea, and used one of his new skills.