Icarus Awakens

Janice held her spear to the sky, watching the dawn light reflect off the bone that gleamed like metal. If you didn't know better you'd mistake it for polished steel, perhaps even silver. The spearhead was longer and flatter than she was used to, and if it weren't enchanted she'd worry about part of it snapping off in a monster. Magic could make for weapons that would otherwise be physically implausible.

She reverently lowered it back into a two-handed grip, eyes still fixed on the white and blue burned into the weapon. "Strange. I can feel it."

"Good?" Daniel asked. "If you need more time to get used to it I could grab some breakfast."

"Nah, I don't want that coming back up at me." Janice gave Daniel a cocky grin from across the courtyard and gestured at him with the spear. "You really want to fight like that?"

"I don't feel like making an emergency run to the Hand church this early."

"Then you shouldn't hold back." Janice closed her eyes, and when she moved again there was something different about her. Combat trance. She had effectively locked on to Daniel, heightening her awareness of his movements at the cost of overall perception. The way she described this wasn't like Longstalker's Stride, which made him nearly blind to what was behind him, so if this had been a real fight she could still react if ganged up on. "Starting with a Chain Strike."

Alright, now you're getting arrogant, Daniel thought as Janice charged him. She may have been taking it easier because he was in human form, though that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous in melee. In addition to the Bullet Math tax, his latest enchanting had involved making Janice's spear, as well as the set of bone claws he was wearing.

The new sharpened affix didn't give as much of a damage boost as the elemental affixes, in fact it was arguable that it gave none at all. Against something like the ooze from earlier it would be useless as the base enchantment was enough to overcome whatever defenses the monster had. What it did allow was for cutting weapons to better bypass harder targets. Both his and Janice's weapons had that affix on them, making hits capable of severely injuring each other through armor if either weren't careful. Daniel had Regeneration and Janice potions, and for all he was going to take this seriously he wasn't going to go for any maiming hits.

The spearwoman elected for a direct initial attack, her first burst of movement from Chain Strike driving toward his stomach. Once the attack commenced she was committed to it, though Janice was still able to dodge most of the sharp feathers he had grown and flung at her defensively. Those that struck her chain armor didn't penetrate, and the most he was able to do with the flurry was a cut along on of her arms. The low level attack power was beginning to fall off and had long-since been eclipsed by the blast bow, which Daniel was reserving for this fight.

He moved out of the way in time, though the spear scored a gash in his Focus Shield in the process. Echo durability and sharpened competed alongside his other features to a draw, yet the spear was still able to pierce the shield. So much for that paradox, Daniel thought bitterly as he prepared for what was coming next. Janice turned almost instantly after the first attack resolved, trance allowing her to reorient. One of their first spars after coming to Pinion's Point had ended with this trick, but Daniel had gotten better.

A second attack came at him a second after the first, intending to catch him mid-dodge. His shield came up again, catching the point on his indestructible Focus despite the Martialist's attempt to twirl it around his guard. Telekinetic Reach had fought her at the last moment. Daniel swiped at her as she passed, but the longer reach the spearwoman possessed reduced how long she was exposed. Janice furthered this by planting the spear tip in the stone and vaulting away.

Recognizing a movement ability that broke Chain Strike, Daniel rushed forward. He had to transition into a slide as Janice's spear passed over his head, which he responded to with a Cleave toward her legs. A Defensive Whirl blocked not only the claws but the follow-up spectral attack, the butt of the spear hitting him hard enough to knock him back at the end.

At least that hadn't been a pulled blow, Janice would have hit him with her speartip if she had been able to position appropriately. The wound still stung, if only because it proved she had far more technical experience than him despite their attribute gap. Daniel had every reason to improve how he fought, which was why he was up so early. That and only that, there was nothing else he was distracting himself from.

"Using the spear's special attack," Janice warned him. Unlike Chain Strike this was a pointless call out. The trapped image of the sky within the spearhead began to glow to the point that it emitted pale blue light. Skyfisher's spear, his second gain from the razor shank stomper, wasn't what he'd first thought it'd be. Now aware of what it truly did, Daniel immediately backed up further and focused on his defenses.

Janice began with a Returning Throw, which would have normally allowed her to boomerang her weapon back to her. An attack still came, but the weapon flying through the air looked as though it had been made entirely of the sky above. His Dodge Roll brought him out of harm's way at first, but another was already on the way. Janice was rapidly 'throwing' them at him by going through the motions but keeping her grip on her weapon. Each time a summoned spear was created the glow from the speartip lessened slightly, but not fast enough. It was made worse by the fact that each ephemeral weapon returned to her and restored a fraction of the weapon's charge.

He wasn't going to win at this range without using his blast bow. Instead of breaking that unspoken rule, Daniel decided to brave the spear rain. His mind and body were working to a higher degree than normal, as if he were benefiting from a pure form of Defiant Rage or entangled with Hunter. Neither were responsible, he was simply giving it his all. This was what he needed to do to break through to a higher threshold and unlock his attribute's full potential.

A kind of runner's high fell over him as the spears passed by from both directions, Daniel maneuvering to minimize the damage he took. Janice retreated as best she could while spamming her ranged attack, but she was eventually forced to return to melee attacks as he closed. It was like she was the last guard of a falling village, holding back a snarling beast from a gate. Every attack she made with intent created a spectral echo, further robbing her spear of charge.

His first real opportunity came when he jumped upward, straining his legs to give him as much height as he could get. Janice's sharp eyes narrowed, looking for the trick, but she made a mistake and underestimated how high he could go without using a power. Afraid he would come back down faster than she could react to and accept a hit in trade from dealing critical damage, Janice gripped her spear tightly and yelled, "Spear Dance!"

Gotcha. Below him, Janice began to move far more acrobatically, the active ability providing a major boost to dexterity. The vault she performed earlier was repeated, though instead of using it to gain distance she performed a full rotation around the planted spear in less than a second and used the momentum to launch herself and the spear toward him.

Daniel smiled as he began to grow more feathers along his arms, revealing to Janice that his mana wasn't as locked down as she thought. The spray that went out toward the Martialist disrupted her attempted attack just in time for him to slash toward her on the way dow-

A curtain shifted in his peripheral vision and he saw Alex staring at him. His attention recovered, but it had given Janice time to get a foot into his stomach as claws started to rip into her chest armor. In a real fight it wouldn't have mattered, but he'd pulled the blow slightly to stop from killing her. It netted a moderate injury, nothing that would have decided the duel. In fact, as she kicked him down, she was able to maneuver the spear and sink it into the ground next to his head. The placement had been very specific.

Daniel let his head hit the stone in defeat. "Got me."

"Dunno. That was a good move." She stood and left the spear in the ground, sipping part of a healing potion instead as her armor repaired itself. "Held back the finisher too much, though. It can be hard to judge in a duel with real weapons, not counting enchantments. You're getting better."

"I don't need to be better, I need to be good," Daniel grumbled. Janice yanked the spear out of the ground, leaving yet another scar in the stonework. "I'd like to be able to give Gadriel a run for his money if he's feeling up for it when we open the gate. Think you could take him with that spear?"

"Eh, maybe." She seemed serious and read Daniel's disbelief. "Don't discount yourself. This is impressive work." Her knuckles wrapped the shaft appreciatively and the still-glowing spearhead dimmed. "Only being able to charge it once a day's the only flaw."

"When you're not around me, that is." Daniel focused and activated Remote Recharge, giving up some of his mana to top up the effect on her skyfisher spear. The ability was mana efficient, as he had discovered by testing with the elemental throwers, using slightly less than the item would otherwise require. "The Encyclopedia wasn't clear on whether different skies give you different effects. You should charge it tomorrow night and see if there's a difference."

"Noted." She glanced at the direction he'd looked when he was distracted, and it seemed like she was stabbing herself as she began to ask, "Everything going alright with-"

"Passable." A voice boomed over her, and both jumped as a towering dusker was suddenly next to them.

"What the- Gtoll?" Daniel knew the effective leader of Aughal's forces was staying with them but hadn't noticed the giant's approach at all.

"Thought I could sneak up. Cleared my disparity in dexterity since we last met. Rematch?" Daniel sized up the Berserker and somehow ended up giving himself a better chance of beating Mavar in a fight than Gtoll. Old man energy only went so far in intimidation.

"Nope."

"Good, fall didn't give you a head injury," the dusker chuckled. "I'll watch if you want to go again. Offer advice. To both of you. Offer for a fight's good for you too." He inclined his head at Janice and she smiled up at him.

"Not today, but I'll take you up on that when I'm level 3," Janice answered seriously. "I won't win, but I'll learn something."

Gtoll nodded, pleased. "That's the spirit."

…

Alex turned away from the window with a bitter taste in her mouth. After something got her so upset that she raged she could still wake up the next morning and see the other side when her emotions calmed. Usually sooner. This was different.

She had been able to rationalize it before, despite the odd signs. A class no one had heard of, perfect for her. Magic that fit her desires and didn't conflict with her morals. Most wouldn't complain about this kind of attention, but she…

"Alex?" There was a subtle knock on the door and a voice calling through it. Not Lograve's. The Arcanist had left resigned last night after returning her bag of holding. She'd been able to control herself enough to keep from shouting at him, at least, but what this Daniel had done struck her in ways she found hard to put into words.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

It sounded like the person on the other side of the door was about to leave. "I'm here, you can come in," she said reluctantly. Alex was already dressed. Trouble sleeping, she'd actually missed getting more magic this morning because of how she'd been tossing and turning.

The door opened and Evalyn walked through. The Bard could cut an imposing figure in armor, though in Alex's opinion the guitar ruined the look she was going for. Right now she had neither, wearing a jacket and formal-looking sweatpants to protect against the cold. Evalyn struck her as someone who would dress as a pirate queen before putting on a dress.

"That spell is insidious." It didn't take much to guess why the person who could sense other people's emotions was here.

"It's not a spell. I can block it out but I still caught something from you when I woke up. You need to talk with someone." That wasn't a question. Evalyn wasn't posturing as if she'd tie herself to the bedpost until Alex relented, but at the same time the Bard was right.

She needed someone to talk to, other than Lograve. She was fond of the wizard, but he was too biased and kept trying to take a middle road stance. She didn't need to come to an understanding, not right now. She needed someone who would nod when she called Daniel a monster and say things like 'that's terrible' and 'do you want to split some strawberry ice cream while we roast him?'. She knew she was pretty unlikely to find someone who didn't at least respect her brother here, but Evalyn had slapped another version of him. She was her best bet.

With the background of the ongoing spar outside intruding through her window, Alex gave Evalyn a brief and totally fair summary of the facts. That the Bard just took Daniel convincing the god machine to do what he wanted in stride told her a lot more than she'd said.

For all she had hoped for unconditional sympathy, Evalyn still asked the same question Lograve had. "I'm sorry you're going through that Alex. I can tell it's upset you, but I have to ask, why? I'm sensing the same kind of devastation a loss in the family could bring."

"How did you feel when you got your class?" Alex asked in response. She'd tried giving her reasons directly to Lograve but he hadn't understood. In the near sleepless time since then she'd gone over that conversation and decided to try a different way.

It threw Evalyn for a moment, but she humored her. "It was one of the best days of my life. So many people don't get any class at all, Alex, and if you don't life can be rough. Just look at the people here. It meant I could help save the world and support my family. Granted they weren't thrilled about the specific class, but they were still happy."

"That. That right there is why." Evalyn clearly didn't get it, which was sort of the point. She tried a different angle, one the Bard may better understand. "We have this trope about people getting sucked into different worlds and being 'chosen' to fight the Demon King or whoever the closest evil bad guy is."

"Someone going to another world is common in your stories?"

"It's called… it's not important," Alex said, abandoning her attempts to translate what would otherwise be unintelligible to someone who hadn't really learned English, or Japanese for that matter. "The point is that all of them are about my brother. Maybe they resist fighting in the first place but get drawn to it anyway. Maybe the Demon King is actually the good guy and they join them, or they avoid the war altogether but still end up in constant conflict anyway because they're the chosen one. I mean, tell me Daniel isn't at least one of those things. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed a few of those stories, but I never wanted to live in them."

Evalyn nodded, one of her hands playing thoughtfully with the ends of her long hair. "No one is saying you have to fight anyone, Alex. I was even ready to stop you from helping on the Arcadian if you got overwhelmed. I know the world in general is in danger, but with the Spiritualists here gone you have the choice for what kind of life you want to live."

"Do I!?" Alex took a few deep breaths. She had her temper under control. Last night was justified, extremely justified, but Evalyn hadn't done anything wrong. "Do I? This system, the Octyrrum, it's your God, Evalyn. It makes the world. Think about it this way. What if I had seen your sister in Eido, prayed that our god would protect her, and then all of a sudden she's taking up a rifle and heading off on a crusade to the Middle East?"

The reference didn't completely cross over but the frown on Evalyn's face meant enough have gotten through. "It's not like that, Alex. The Octyrrum doesn't change people's minds, not with normal classes."

"Look outside and tell me that's the same Daniel as the one on Earth." Evalyn sighed, but Alex cut her off before she could say the obvious. "I know, I know, he's been through a lot. But he was also soulbound to Hunter, wasn't he? What did that? Your entire system has been set up to make people want to fight monsters. Daniel literally told me the people gods were programmers, tweaking things so that everyone could fight better. Do you think it's just a coincidence I had to gain a class to stop Willow from dying? Then the perfect spell to get me to ease into it with you lands in my lap. I mean, what's next? I get this really good defensive power, and gosh Alex, while it's nice you can support us from far away, it would be better if you're in person as long as you stand behind your force field. Then that breaks and the sword someone finally convinced me to carry comes out, and I stand there with blood on my hands wondering how I got there." Alex gestured furiously up at the ceiling. "It's that thing, Evalyn! Your God. I'm not mad that Daniel asked it to protect me. I'm furious that he singled me out, because that thing was built for one purpose. Make people who fight monsters. It's gotten into you so deep that one of the best moments of your life is the day you became a better murderer!"

That was probably going too far but Alex breezed past it and continued, her voice growing heavier. "Daniel's probably having the time of his life out there almost dying over and over again. The boy I grew up with would be running away screaming from the giant bug in the courtyard, but there he is treating someone who could throw buildings around like a mentor." The bag of holding on her desk itched in her perception again and she had to choke back a sob. "I was happy! Three months ago I had a good life. I helped kids find their passion, I saw my Mom at least every other week. I could walk around without having to worry about the sky literally falling apart!"

She wanted to tear apart everything magical in the room, try to deny she'd ever taken a class, but the Octyrrum had found the perfect hook to put in her. Alex stood, back turned to Evalyn, staring into the bag and the violin within. Her pride, which had become a parasite attached to her very soul. She leaned over the desk, one hand pressed to her forehead as she squeezed her teary eyes shut. "I thought I was taking charge, Evalyn. I thought I was becoming a better person, but that was the siren's lie. I'm not afraid of dying here. I'm afraid of living for so long as this thing's doll that I forget who I was. It's in me, Evalyn, and I can never get it out."

Alex stood there, letting her emotions out, and then felt Evalyn's hands rubbing her back. "Breathe, Alex. Just breathe." The sounds of fighting from outside died by the time Alex was sitting on the floor against her bed, holding her knees into herself. Evalyn had locked the door and then soundproofed the room, but had otherwise just been there as a comforting presence. When she saw that Alex was somewhat recovered, she spoke again. "Your soul is yours, Alex. Your life is yours. This world may seem more brutal, more merciless than yours, but there are paths that don't involve combat. Plenty of Bards give it up after their first level."

"They don't have this game trying to ruin their lives," she replied dully. "What am I supposed to do, Evalyn? I thought I was doing things on my terms, but looking back all I can see is me being led down a road I don't want to go."

"You still have a choice. Avoid any hunting. This is exactly what I was worried about when you helped in the Arcadian, and you can be sure I'll fight anyone who wants you to help like that again."

"But that's the trap." Alex raised her head to look at Evalyn. "If it was just me from Earth sitting here there wouldn't be a problem, but you told me how much of a difference Accompanist made earlier. Any of you dying would destroy me, and if I had any reason to think it was because I wasn't there…" She threw her arms wide. "You see the fucking problem? It will find a way to make me play along. It tried to kill Willow because I didn't want anything to do with it. If I shut myself in and avoid everything, it'll break down the door with a monster or a grave."

That left Evalyn silent for a long time, the Bard standing still with a hand over her chest. "I can't believe that. Alex, you're making a lot of assumptions, the first of which is that the Octyrrum would be that malicious. I told you how much awakening my class meant to me, but I don't think you fully understood me. The Octyrrum is all we have, Alex. Without it?" Evalyn shook her head. "It allows us to become better, on our terms. Otherwise it would give us whatever powers it wanted and send us marching, make everyone a Tyrant. When my family was taken away, it gave me the assurance they were still alive, even if it took me a while to figure that out. It doesn't control people. Willow almost died because she made a mistake, and Tlara was an idiot. That attack was coming whether you were here or not."

"But can you tell me if she would've had a hand around her throat if I wasn't the only one that could stop the sparrow?"

"No. All I can say is to live. If the Octyrrum really is trying to push you to fit its image and does something, then blame me. Until then?" Evalyn walked over and rubbed her shoulder. "We go get some breakfast. I'll take you out to that art gallery before it gets taken down, or the stylist Willow found, or anywhere other than here. Right now this room is only a pot of pain and fear you're stewing in. Me, and anyone else you want to come along, because you still have a life. You still have us."

Alex wiped at her eyes, but had to admit that Evalyn had started to make sense toward the end. She really needed to get out of the compound, at least for the day. A different pain flashed in her chest as she remembered Ami making a similar offer whenever life overwhelmed her. "What if it does happen again?" she whispered as Evalyn pulled her up.

"Then we deal with it together and find a way through it that doesn't involve you giving up yourself. We're setting out to change the world, Alex, and if Daniel put it in the Octyrrum's head to run your life, we'll change that too." It sounded so simple when she said it, no hint of uncertainty in the Bard's words. "One last piece of advice? Don't shut out family. Hate Daniel if you need to, but take it from someone who watched their loved ones disappear in a flash. You can't take them for granted."

…

Three hours later, Daniel was flat on his back in the courtyard, breathing deeply. The sparring had continued to noon, though the partners had changed. Janice had to go about her duties keeping order in town, and Gtoll had the remnants of Aughal's army to manage. Tak had ended up taking him on, which proved far more exhaustive as neither had to fear holding back. The Totem Warrior had Hunter as a cheat as well, allowing him to push far harder than he would have otherwise. Ultimately Daniel was fine with that. He wouldn't improve by taking easy battles, and it gave him a better idea of the new powers Tak had developed. He'd used them in the Arcadian but Daniel hadn't been able to appreciate them from his position in the formation.

That wasn't on his mind now, though. He'd seen Alex leave with Evalyn and Willow, overhearing something about meeting Thomas for lunch. She hadn't screamed at him, at least, but there was a distance in her eyes when she looked at him mid-spar. No hatred, better than he was expecting, though he was uneasily reminded of the times following his father's 'death' when she couldn't stop blaming him in part. He just wished he knew why Alex had taken this news as hard as she had that part of their history. At the very least, he could take comfort in the fact that he was a better person now. He wouldn't be passive like last time, not when he truly knew what losing family felt like.

Daniel was about to see if the boys wanted to get lunch together, Thomas an unfortunate casualty of the gender war by association, when someone dropped out of stealth above him. "Shuni?" She didn't look like she'd slept in a bed, which happened sometimes. Usually because of wanderlust. With her passive stealth features she could hide from most things her level even while asleep, which would have also caused him problems if not for Track Merchandise allowing him to pick up certain items he'd given her.

"That was a really stupid thing to say, you know that right?" she asked, apparently not caring that the rest of the compound could hear the emotion in her voice.

"I do. Shuni, I'm so sorry." He quickly got up to his feet but didn't approach. "Is everything-"

She teleported right into him, as close as the spell would allow, already wrapping her arms around him. Daniel weakly patted her back as she squeezed, head pressed into his chest. A few seconds later she backed up and sniffed. "You're lucky I'm such an amazing woman or I would've just knifed you."

"I tell myself that every day. Well, I usually don't include the last part." Shuni laughed despite herself and threw her head to the side. Daniel pressed his advantage, his awareness centered on the moment more keenly than when he'd been swimming through Janice's spears. "Can we agree my intelligence score is negative and go back to how we were yesterday? I miss seeing you smile, even if it's at my expense."

"Fine," Shuni shot back, acting tough. "But your body's the only thing bailing you out, dumbass."

"I can take being loved for my looks." The two looked in each other's eyes for long enough that anyone watching would have grown uncomfortable, and then there was peace. Still no bond, but there was something to Hunter's point about chasing them. "We should probably move before Spinner thinks we both had a stroke. Hungry?"

"Yeah." Both turned to the main house, only to nearly walk into Zolyra who had teleported into the interior courtyard so as to avoid interrupting any potential dance parties. The draconoid gave them both an odd look.

"Why do I feel like I just missed something for the second time in a row?"

"Commander, uh, any news?" Daniel asked, trying to hide that that was exactly what had happened.

"Yeah," she grunted, putting the matter aside. "Two teams just took down monsters trying to get into the Arcadian. We're not sure if any have slipped past us but it's proof some are trying. I wanted more time to let the evacuation of Aurus grow legs so it could run itself but time's out. Get your people ready, we're going in tomorrow."