Spell Weaver-Chapter 121. Childish Fantasies

Alex scanned the notification window again as his laughter tapered off.

Congratulations, Awakened! Ritualist (Novice) is ready for advancement!

You have reached the threshold of your primary class. Would you like to advance or evolve this class?

Advance: This class stays the same and advances to the next proficiency tier, improving the benefits from the class and granting a new skill in the same tree.

Class Preview: Ritualist (Journeyman) - Level 1

Evolve: This class changes based on the different ways you may have used it or pushed the bounds of its purpose.

Class Preview [Rare Rarity]:

Dual Mage (Novice) - Level 1

Advance / Evolve?

Dual Mage does sound really cool though…

Smoke curled from the valley floor. The remnants of the blast from Alex's ritual hung in the air, and all the hair on his arms still stood on end. Scattered groups of monsters fled in every direction; as the dust settled, they could only see the closest monster silhouettes and the sounds of fright.

"That was…" Mark lowered his shield and hammer. "Well, that was something else."

Olivia whistled. "What the actual hell was that?! Is it weird that I'm super attracted to you right now?" She twirled one of her daggers around her finger and caught the handle smoothly. "I notice you're only letting us get to clean up the stragglers."

Alex knew he needed to push away the thoughts of the Class Advancement. Regardless of the options, he wouldn’t want to change classes before heading into a fight anyway.

Ding! Leveled up.

Alex snorted with laughter as Valtherion communicated with him mind to mind and copied a phrase that Mark had used several times during the Teams Event. The little companion clearly had no idea where it came from, but just seemed to like saying ding.

"I guess someone's got to do the grunt work," Mark said, oblivious to Alex’s thoughts. As if he were getting ready to step out of the house for his nine-to-five, he hefted the shield and motioned with the hammer. "Well, come on then. I don't think any of us have a shot at taking first at this point, but I still want to see if I can beat Sam."

"Hey!" Sam said as he gripped his staff in both hands and pretended like he was going to whack Mark with it.

"Don't worry, Sam; I just focus on using my shield. She and I have been getting a lot closer lately. We've been through a lot together."

"Oh, is that what you call hiding behind it?" Olivia said, seeming more full of energy as she hopped lightly over a nearby tree, using her hand as a brace.

"It's called tactical positioning!" Mark protested, but his barely contained laughter gave him away.

Sam adjusted his hoodie, practically vibrating with excitement. "Seriously though, that was so freaking cool! Do I need to start learning rituals?" He gestured wildly with his hands and pretended like he was creating something in the air. "And then… Boom!"

Valtherion uncurled himself from around Alex's shoulder and flew over to do a small lap around Sam. "Big boom," Val corrected.

Ian also passed and gave Pete a pat on his shoulder; the pair set off after Mark, Olivia, and Sam. Rylan was the last one to get moving, and Alex could see his jaw working in frustration as he surveyed the field. His earlier smugness was completely gone and replaced by something harder to read. He muttered something to himself, and even though Alex couldn't hear it, he could see the white-knuckled grip on his greatsword.

Alex pushed aside his frustration at the offered Class Evolution and knew that he still had more work to do on his modified ritual circles, anyway. What he could do, before the fight, was accept his Rank Advancement. When he had watched Sam go through the process, it had taken only a few seconds and a bright light show before he was fully finished with his D Rank transformation. It wasn’t like Val’s several-day-long transformation.

Anyway, I know Epic Classes aren’t offered until D Rank. So maybe I’m still just seeing Rare because of that?

While he held onto a sliver of hope, some of him felt that the System wouldn’t make it that easy on him. He was close to finishing his goal of creating a working kind of magic, and if Epic classes were truly as rare as they thought, he would need a substantial achievement to warrant the System giving it to him.

He remembered reading an article that mentioned the offered Evolution could be changed as long as no options were selected from the window.

With a mental thought, he accepted the prompt for the Rank Advancement. Just before the process started, he heard the crashing and snapping of branches from the hill in the direction of the command tents.

“What the hell was that?!” Someone called.

Three people emerged from the trees, snapping branches and pushing past each other to figure out what was happening. “Oh… oh- holy shit.” The three of them stopped at the same time and looked at the huge line of earth and beasts that had been carved in a straight line out from their position.

Golden lights quickly began to coalesce around Alex, and he was lifted off his feet to float a foot off the ground. They started to swarm around him, gathering in numbers before pulling tight to his body. As a final spectacle, a beam of those golden lights shot up into the sky, creating something like a beacon. Alex knew that, unlike the blue motes of light, which were only visible to him, the golden ones in the Rank Advancement could be seen by others.

When he landed, he looked at his status window and the offered class advancement window. He puffed up his cheeks and blew them out in frustration when he saw that the offered class evolution was still the same.

Just be patient, man. You knew it wasn’t going to be that easy.

He looked over his shoulder at the trio, prompting them to talk.

“Uh- Elana wanted us to see what was going on,” the lead man said.

Alex didn’t know him personally, but recognized him from the command tent. “We’re all good here,” Alex said, just as Mark and Sam started yelling over at him and Rylan from where they were heading into the field. “Aw, heck yeah! That’s awesome, dude. Don't be jealous, Rylan! He did all that, and he wasn’t even D Rank!" Mark couldn't resist needling him further and called over his shoulder, now already a good 20 meters into the valley, walking along the scorched earth.

Pete raised his sword up high while staring at a nearby fleeing group of monsters. "Well, I'm not letting my count get away!" His voice carried an edge of excitement as he seemed to override his usual caution. "Those ones are mine," he said.

"Pete, wait—" Alex started, but the warrior was already moving.

Rylan stomped over with a deep scowl, the only two of the original party still at the wood line. “Pick.”

“Huh?”

“Pick your damn item. You and I both know I won’t be killing more than that before the other teams show up. Just pick.”

Alex thought quickly. He had the brief thought of being a total asshole and taking something crucial to the Tyrant’s build, like his greatsword or his breastplate. The idea was tempting, and Alex knew Rylan deserved it, but if he did it, then they likely wouldn’t get to use his skills in the immediate fight.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Plus, he could probably just buy some more.

Alex looked at the large amulet around Rylan’s neck, which he knew had previously blocked his scan, and thought it might be worth having. However, he quickly dismissed the idea as he realized that almost no one should be able to scan him anyway, especially as he continued to gain more Willpower.

“What do your rings do?” Alex asked.

Rylan raised his hand to show the two sun-embossed rings that Alex had seen on the warrior constantly since New Year’s Eve. “This one increases Willpower and blocks weak scanning attempts, and this one…” he hesitated. “This one is a spatial item.”

Alex’s eyebrows shot up involuntarily. “You were going to take my pouch when you have your own?” He gave a sly smile. “Well, I feel it’s only fair I take yours, then. Here.” Alex reached into the pouch at his waist and pulled out an empty sack he had folded in the pouch.

Rylan’s face scrunched up, and Alex guessed he was contemplating going back on the bet. But, to his surprise, he put his hand into the sack and items began to fall into it. There wasn’t much held in the ring, so Alex guessed it was smaller than his own pouch.

Twisting the top of the pouch several times, Rylan tucked it under his arm and took off the ring before slapping it into Alex’s open hand.

“No comments about my lack of effort or progress? About my plateau? Or about mages being weak? I just gained two levels in a single spell….”

Rylan almost looked like he’d throw a punch at Alex, but he turned and walked over to the trio, who were whispering excitedly to themselves.

“James, take this back to the camp and put it in my trunk.”

"Come on! They're scattered and weak. We can pick them off easily!" Pete called over his shoulder while passing Mark and Sam, breaking into a run with his sword raised.

Alex looked over his shoulder and felt his stomach twist. He reached out his free hand and called out to Pete. Something about the way the monsters were moving didn't sit quite right with him. It didn't seem like they were just fleeing randomly—more like they were regrouping.

"Pete!" Mark's voice carried more urgency as he called after the other man. "Come back. Get into the formation!"

But Pete either didn't hear them or chose to ignore the warning as he continued to pursue the retreating monsters.

Pete closed in on the rear of the monsters, and for a moment, it looked like he would catch them before they reached a small copse of trees. Just as he reached the back of the group, one of them lashed out with its rear hoof and caught Pete square in the chest. If it weren't for his armor and high Constitution, he likely would've died on the spot, as he was unprepared for the blow.

Pete staggered back, and in his peripheral vision, Alex saw Mark take two steps forward with his hand out and knew that he was about to rush to the other fighter's aid. However, in the span of a single breath, an enormous bear came barreling out of the far cluster of trees at a speed that suggested it had already built up its momentum. Pete didn't even see it coming as he bent over, clutching at his chest. The enormous bear crashed into him without slowing and bit down hard on his upper body and shoulder.

It continued through the charge for several meters before skidding to a stop and shaking its head back and forth violently. There was a scream that cut off all too quickly, and Alex felt like his heart skipped several beats.

"No." The word escaped Alex's lips as a whisper. To him, more shocking than the limp figure hanging from the beast's jaws was the way Pete's sword stuck up out of the ground and seemed to shine light as if pristine and clean.

"Pete!" Olivia's voice cracked, and she began sprinting forward with both daggers already in hand. "Nox!"

The shadow at her feet shifted and expanded. In the next moment, a leopard-like creature of pure darkness emerged with eyes of gleaming white. Alex took a half step back at the sight but realized that it was Olivia's shadow bond and that it was already bounding ahead of her toward Pete.

Rylan charged after the two of them, his greatsword leaving a furrow in the earth as he ran.

Mark stood frozen, with his shield arm half-raised, reaching his hand out toward Pete as if he could still stop him from taking off on his own. His face had gone slightly pale, and Alex saw his mouth half open.

The bear-like monster shook Pete's body and turned to face the approaching attackers with blood staining its light-colored fur and muzzle.

"Everyone, form up!" Ian's voice cut through Alex's shock. "Mark, we need to get moving. Alex, I need help with covering fire, now!"

Hearing Ian's calm and commanding voice snapped Alex back to reality. He raised his wand and fired off a few shots at a small group to their left. He realized now wasn't the time for him to lag behind, and he needed to get this half of their group to catch up with the others, especially as he saw the group that Pete had been chasing turn and assess the change in the tide of battle.

"Mark, let's get moving. You move at the front, Sam behind you. We need to get up to Rylan and Olivia," Alex called.

They began making their way toward where Pete lay, and he could see the scene as Nox was the first to reach the bear and struck in a blur of shadow. It seemed a total opposite of the large snowy bear, who was all muscle and weight. Nox, on the other hand, was fast and agile, made of complete darkness. The bear roared and spun, but before it could even lift its heavy paw to swat at the six-legged cat, Olivia was there, and both her daggers found deep purchase in its thick hide. The very next moment, Rylan's greatsword cleaved through the air where the monster had been a moment before.

Ian moved alongside Alex and sent several arrows in rapid succession into the beast's side. And as they reached the area where Rylan and Olivia were finishing off the closest bear, the once-retreating group had changed directions completely and was now beginning to advance on them.

"We hold this position," Alex said as they reformed their group. "Sam, check on Pete and see if there’s anything you can do for him. Mark, you’re without a healer for a few. The other teams should be done culling their rifts enough to get down here and help us clean up. Until then, stay in a tight formation."

Sam and Mark both responded, though it only took Sam a second to shake his head and report.

“He’s- he’s dead. I can’t heal him.”

Olivia let out a yell and slashed out with her dagger at a nearby beast. Her cry of anger was clearly filled with pain, and Nox matched it with a roar before launching forward to fight a different approaching elk.

Alex felt Valtherion land on his shoulder and felt reassured to have his companion so close. He wove a gust ritual in front of him in the air to empower his wand shots, but wasn't sure he had the mana reserves to activate more than that. So he allowed Valtherion to fire his own [Mana Dart] skill through the ritual from his shoulder.

The battle stretched on, and for every monster they cut down, two more seemed to emerge from the tree line nearby. Alex's mana was spent as fast as he could recover it, and he could tell that everyone was tiring, especially Mark, as his shield arm and shoulder took a particularly heavy beating. But they held their ground, centered around Pete's body as if they could somehow make up for the failure to protect his life the first time.

"Look!" Sam pointed to the ridge to their left, and they could see figures appearing along the sides of the valley. The first of the other two teams arrived, and Alex breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the other would likely not be far behind.

The group of adventurers charged down the hill and began fighting their own small groups of fleeing monsters. Within just a few minutes, the other group appeared on the opposite side of the valley and joined the fighting. With the monsters caught between three groups on different sides, they fell quickly. Some tried to flee deeper into the forest, but most continued to fight with a mindless sort of frenzy and died between both spell and blade. Soon, the valley fell silent except for the heavy breathing of his teammates.

He lowered his wand and felt like he'd run a marathon. Feeling both physically and magically exhausted, Alex just wanted to sit down where he was. Instead, he walked over to where Pete lay. Olivia was already kneeling over her fallen friend. The blood had begun to dry on Pete's armor, though the scene was still gruesome.

Alex stood just behind Olivia, unsure about how to process the loss or comfort his girlfriend. The memory of Pete correcting his stance during their first sparring sessions at Elena’s felt like so long ago by now.

Olivia rested her hand on Pete's chest plate. She closed her eyes and hung her head in a way that made Alex think she was saying a prayer for the man. Nox prowled nearby and as it moved past them, Alex felt Valtherion begin to vibrate on his shoulder. His head moved slowly to follow the shadowy six-legged cat, and Alex could swear that Val was growling.

Mark approached with his shield lowered. "We should... We need to take him back." He struggled with the words, and it felt so surreal to think that they were all laughing and joking after Alex's spell.

Ian stood a few paces back, not quite as familiar with the man, though he held his bow in his hand with a grim expression. "We'll carry him together."

As they prepared to transport Pete's body, Alex caught sight of his sword still standing upright in the dirt where it had fallen as the bear had barreled into him. He walked over and pulled it from the dirt.

"I knew… I just never thought…" Sam's voice cracked, but he cleared it and tried again. "I never really thought it would happen to one of us. Not with my healing…"

"It can happen to any of us." Ian's words came out quietly, though Alex could still hear them. Alex knew that Ian had lost two of his teammates on his original team with John Riley, also gaining himself a scar on his chin and cheek in a particularly hard fight.

We’re not invincible. No matter how strong we become.

Alex’s hand tightened around Pete’s sword, and he slid it into the spatial pouch at his waist.

They fashioned a stretcher from nearby branches and a tarp that Alex had in his spatial pouch. They carried Pete's body back, and Alex couldn't help but feel that his death was such a waste. They'd all grown careless in that moment, thinking that through Alex's display of power, the beasts were weakened and didn't deserve their full focus and attention. The dangers of the rifts and the monsters were still a serious threat, even if they had the advantage of levels and strategy.

The walk back felt longer than it should have. Alex watched Val circle overhead, the amphiptere's usual playful loops replaced by purposeful sweeps as he searched for threats. The sun began to set behind the valley's ridge and cast long shadows across their group.

The kill notifications had long since stopped appearing in Alex’s vision. Instead, he felt an ominous feeling like Pete was the start of a much more serious and dreadful tally. One that represented the childish desire to treat combat like a game. By assuming that their higher levels and better gear meant some sort of immunity to the dangers they’d seen before.

“Playing at heroes,” Alex muttered.

Mark walked beside him in silence. Even Sam’s energy was dimmed, and Alex knew he’d need to talk to the teenager later to make sure that he wasn’t attempting to carry the weight of not being able to save Pete with his healing.

“He should have stayed in formation,” Rylan said with his eyebrows drawn close together as he looked at the ground in front of him. There was anger in his voice, and Alex couldn’t tell if it was at Pete, himself, or the rest of the group.

Olivia walked ahead of them and called her shadow companion back to her own shadow. Alex wanted to comfort her, but knew that she likely just wanted some space to process her grief. She was much closer to Pete than he was, after all.

The valley disappeared behind them as they made their way into the camp of tents. Many people seemed to be in great spirits, laughing and recounting their own fights. They’d won the battle, but to Alex, the win felt hollow.