Astronomically Cold

Somehow, my new Gravity Filter triggered a new basic class. I was now a level 1 Astrologist. I used Identify to examine the class, and it gives five attributes, but all of them are assigned to the Spiritual attribute, with two to Strength and Agility, and one to Perception. It felt like this was a low, basic class like Field Medic and Scavenger, but instead of three points, it gave five, similar to a high-level class. If this were a low-level class, I had no idea what a higher-level one would be. I had never heard of classes giving more than five points per level.

The Class was based on the name of my Affinity. This was not unheard of, as some Water affinity users got specialist classes with water or Hydro in the name, similar to some fire affinity users. It was rare, but not unheard of. However, this is a basic class, not a specialist class. None of my readings in the lore society had that.

Did I get it because of my affinity? I examined the class requirements. It needed a Cosmic Aura and an Astral Map, so it was almost impossible to get it without the astral affinity. I felt it also needed a solar skill, a void skill, and a gravity skill.

So what did it do, along with boosting my Spiritual Attributes? Different classes boosted different skill sets; for example, my Guard class enhanced my perception skills, as well as my skills in weapons, shields, and unarmed combat. Goldie's Axeman specialisation gave a big boost to her axe skills.

Astrologist gives a boost to astral skills. They are easier to learn and stronger. What did this mean for my new Gravity Filter? It meant that I could use it without twisting my aura into different shapes. The boost in Spiritual Strength and agility also helped.

Gravity Filter filtered gravity through my aura. The skill specifically only worked with my aura. Other skills I could use outside my aura for greater cost, but not the Gravity Filter. I guess that was partly the way I developed the skill. I was happy enough. It reduced gravity based on both my Spiritual Strength and my Spiritual Agility. In the Novice levels, it was fairly straightforward and reduced the gravity. From apprentice up, I could vary the gravity from one part of my aura to another.

With my new mathematics, I calculated that from Master level 15, as long as I achieved a Spiritual Strength of over 45, I could negate gravity altogether. The skill could not create gravity; it could just filter it. I got the feeling this was also very much a beginner skill.

For now, the Level 1 Gravity Filter has only a minimal effect on gravity. I can jump marginally higher. The skill costs spiritual energy, so the longer I keep it going, the less energy I have for other skills. The cost drops as I level it, and my goal is to reach Apprentice level before our next pit fight. With my current level of Spirituality, I should be able to reduce gravity by about a third.

Leveing Grafity filter is straightforward. Now the question is, how do I level the Astrologist Class?

The week went pretty much the same as the last one, but this time I was practising moving and adjusting gravity.

Pit night came around again, and Kiri dyed her hair and painted her armour. For the Open Melee, she was going to wield dual swords. She also had a selection of knives on her person.

I had my armour vest improved and some greaves for my legs. I took my shield and axe, but I also grabbed my throwing knives.

I will be one of the weakest in the Melee. They will all be at Kiri and Ironfang's level, with more journeyman-level skills and more attributes. I restricted what I did in the medic centre before the melee, as I would need all my Spiritual Energy to cheat.

"Welcome to the Grand Melee!" announced the guy with the loud voice. "This is the final event tonight, and we are expecting at least one of the 22 contenders to die. The odds are good that there will be more than one death. Check with the bookmakers.

"The Claw is back tonight, our one and only wolf-kin. He has competition as The Beast is also here, armed with an axe and shield. You all saw the Beast's savagery, but the Claw is cunning. It appears that the Beast is teaming up with Jinx, who is sporting a striking orange look. Will this make her a target?

"The Gutter Saints have two contestants, The Weeping Angel and Smasher. They are eyeing the Beast for revenge. Did this cause the Beast to run into the arms of the Jinx?

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"The Gutter Saints are not the only ones out for revenge, as the Proud Rats have three contestants: Twisted Tail, Tomb Raider, and the Rodent."

I tuned the announcer out as he was just spouting obvious stuff. I am pretty sure he just liked the sound of his own voice. I could see Smasher's focus from the larger two-handed maul he carried. Weeping Angel was a woman with dual swords like Kiri, and the rats generally had knives. The rats were eyeing the saints like they were prey.

I ran my eye over the others. One young human had a short bow. He has a shield warrior with him, but I am pretty sure several were going to target him first. Nobody wanted random arrows flying across the field.

Just before the signal to start was given, a cold, light rain began to fall. I had a random thought that this would be ideal for Makara. I could probably freeze the pit. It wasn't common knowledge that I had a freeze skill, but it wasn't unknown either. I decided the humour of watching everybody sliding everywhere was not worth revealing the extent of the skill.

I stopped myself. What was I thinking about making jokes? I was the underpowered one here, and not all 22 of us were going to survive this. I need to get my head in the game. I am here to make sure Kiri survives this.

We were spread out around the pit. Some were in groups, and some were on their own. My Void Sensing reached halfway across the pit when it was centred on me, so I centred it to cover most of the pit.

Everybody was sizing up each other as the announcer rambled on about the obvious. I was not the only one getting sick of him.

"We go for the archer first. He is close. You lead," Kiri whispered, barely more than a breath. I gave a slight nod. Did she want to use the bow? I was not sure about her Jenna/Jinx persona. Did she know how to use a bow as Jenna? Maybe she just wanted the archer out of the fight like most others.

I didn't look at the archer. There was no need. My Void Sensing was one of my cheat skills, but there were other similar skills people may have. Most of those skills followed an affinity like Makara's Water Sensing and my Void Sensing, but not all of them. Miners can develop a rock sense, blacksmiths a heat sense, etc. I even read about a Battle Sense in the Lore Society records, but there was very little detail on it.

I doubted these fighters had these senses, but it would not pay to underestimate them. Just because they don't have fancy senses does not mean they will not have excellent perception skills.

The pit smelled of blood from previous fights, but the rain was helping with that. The lowest part of the pit is pooling with water and blood.

I need to focus on why I am here. I need to level my Guard Class and some skills. Kiri is here to hone her skills and prove herself in some sense. She is only proving it to herself, so I think that is something she needs to sort through.

I looked around the Pit. My Clearsight is helping in the light rain. The object is to be the last one standing. That didn't mean killing everyone. If you were injured and wanted out of the fight, you stayed on the ground and didn't touch your weapons. Played dead, in other words. Most fighters ensured you won't get up and stab them in the back. Several had bled out from wounds before the fight was over.

The Claw was looking at me closely. He was across the Pit on his own. He was wearing shorts and belts with knives. He was the average height of a wolfkin, which was shorter than a human. He was in his humanoid form with thick grey fur and long claws. He had kept his wolf head, whereas I had transformed mine to look human. He had a long muzzle with sharp teeth and long ears that twitched at various sounds. He also kept his tail, I am not sure why.

My assessment of him was that he was a vicious and dangerous fighter. He was fast, rather than strong, and had good hearing and a keen sense of smell. He definitely had a Tough Hide Skill, and I would put coin on him having the regeneration skill or similar.

I looked around the circle. I figure a lot will have some sort of self-healing. It is what will give them the confidence to fight here with a reasonable expectation of living.

I noted that five of the fighters were not really fighters. They had armour and weapons, but did not hold themselves like fighters. I indicated the nearest one with a raised eyebrow question to Jinx.

Jinx shrugged, "Maybe working off a debt or coerced in some way. Survive and the debt is settled, sort of thing. Probably from the Shadow Busters, who are running the show. Fodder."

That was something I was unhappy about. Risking your own life was OK. It is a free world. Forcing others into a life-or-death fight upset me. I would help them as I could, but my first priority was Kiri.

I thought about that. I was prioritising Kiri, a noble and a trained fighter, over a person who was down on their luck and forced here.

That was too simple. They could be here for any reason, including stealing from their crime lord or killing someone they were not supposed to. To get here, you had to anger somebody high up a lot.

Kiri was my priority.

Time was up. The announcer stopped rambling, and the fight started.