Chapter 99 (2/2)

The Ghosthound’s gaze moved to Nathan, his eyes currently a pale green. Nathan helplessly fell silent, feeling slightly awestruck. After several long seconds, the Ghosthound grunted, and rubbed both of their heads.

“Good job.”

Then he walked past them, to Arbor’s main trunk, slightly taller, but still covered in ash. Currently, only a single burning leaf remained on its branches, the rest used during the defense of Donnyton. With careful hands, The Ghousthound reached out and touched the ashy surface, rubbing across Arbor.

The tree shyly wiggled back and forth, seemingly unsure of how to behave next to its maker. But after a while, it timidly reached forward, brushing a twig across The Ghosthound’s face, leaving a long line of grey ash on his cheek.

The Ghosthound didn’t seem to mind. After a long moment, he opened his eyes with a side. “So we are connected still, by this Aether, huh…. Interesting. But good job for you too. Protecting this village is a good thing. But did you really need to give the little girl a Soul Skill…? Explaining this to her mother is a bit…”

Arbor twisted dismissively, expressing its feelings about Kiersty’s mother. Kiersty opened her mouth to explain, but The Ghosthound replied as if he had heard. “I suppose so, but it’s…. Ah, I’m not good at this stuff at all… you inherited some of my bad qualities, it seems. I can’t tell whether I should be happy or sad.”

Kiersty blushed. Of course he could hear Arbor’s voice too. He was the Ghosthound. Arbor swelled, pleased to have been compared to The Ghosthound.

The ground erupted, and dozens of huge vines, as thick as a man’s thigh, rushed forward to grip The Ghosthound. Nathan backpedaled wildly, and Kiersty frowned, but The Ghosthound just laughed.

“Ah, it’s good to see you too. You’ve grown quite a bit, haven’t you, Thorn?”

The vines vibrated, pleased, and began rubbing the Ghosthound, ripping through his clothes. Arbor wiggled back and forth, and the Ghosthound looked at the tree, then frowned down at the vines around him.

“...Thorn, have you been bullying Arbor to have its priestess bless you?”

The vines wiggled helplessly. The Ghosthound sighed. “Okay whatever. Just ask next time, okay? And try not to destroy any of the ground inside Donnyton. You are really, really big.”

*****

With a grunt, Dozer collapsed atop her, spent. Annie pushed him playfully, and then wiggled out from under him. Taking some water from the basin by the door, Annie began to clean herself as best she could.

A soft knocking came at the door, and Dozer just rolled over, already snoring. Frowning, Annie opened the door a crack only to find Randidly standing there.

Not bothering to dress herself, Annie stepped out into the cool night air, naked as the day she was born. “Your previous boo is dead or a pile of goop, and you so quickly make a move on me… not that that I didn’t expect it, but…”

Annie batted her eyelashes at Randidly. He simply snorted, and reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Accept the gift.” The statement was more command than anything else, and Annie considered refusing. But then she pictured Dozer’s disapproving gaze, if he heard she refused “the Ghosthound”, and accepted with a sigh. Then again, with a frown. Then again, gritting her teeth.

Why was this so difficult…?

Then the notification popped up.

Congratulations! You have received the Blessing of the North. Calculating Blessing…

From Randidly Ghosthound, you have received the Soul Skill “Blessing of the Frozen Expanse”. You have gained access to the class. “The White, Whistling Death”. As you do not possess a class, speak with a Town Spirit to obtain this class.

Your skill Hawkeye has changed to “Eyes of the Grey Eagle Lvl 1”. All benefits have been retained. Your skill Aiming has changed to “Still Air Aiming Lvl 1”. All benefits have been retained. You have gained the skill “White Haste Lvl 1”. You have gained the skill “Chilling Grace Lvl 1.”

Annie blinked very slowly. Then finally, she said. “Why?”

“Because you deserved it.” And then Randidly left, never even glancing at her naked body.

Which left Annie feeling slightly insulted, and also slightly disappointed, but most of all, relieved.

****

Daniel and Regina sat in silence, working out the schedule. They had considered the different skills they thought were necessary, and were now devising schedules and methods to cause those skills to be learned.

They were also now on the lookout for information when this “Aether Deprivation” might occur. Sam indicated that it had started around when he reached skill level 450, and grew increasingly more prevalent as he approached 500. But before they could ask him more, he refused to speak, and locked himself away, intent on testing the limits of his new skills. In addition, that was just a general guideline. From what Lyra was able to spit out before the rules of her new station bound her to silence, stats also were related. It was possible that some people who took more stats heavy paths would be affected more quickly.

So that project would have to wait, but it was something to monitor in the future. For now, they continued making schedules for, as The Ghosthound insisted the day after tomorrow.

Because, according to the Ghosthound, tomorrow would be dedicated to motivating the Classers of Donnyton, by reminding them an important truth.

That they were very weak.