Rising Kite - A story from the world of HWFWM

“Eat your fill, little one.” Walker smiled as he offered up a small pile of the shimmering scales to an ecstatic little carp.

“Most impressive, uncle.” Kite said, amazed. So far, he had never found anywhere near that number.

“Silver-rank is quite useful, little Kite. Learn from your uncle, and strive to achieve my lofty heights.” Walker said, puffing out his chest in pride. “My new senses and speed allow me to cover quite a lot of ground, as well as notice more of these little treasures than before”

“I will indeed ever strive to emulate my great uncle.” Kite said with mock severity, bowing deep to his mentor over the table.”

“You are wise for your years, as ever.” Walker said smiling, before continuing. “But tell me, how goes your training, young Kite? Any more breakthroughs?”

The pair were seated at a table in auntie Dove’s garden. It was a nice autumn day, still carrying some of the warmth from summer in the winds. Off to one side, Serene sat meditating while her song rang out over the lands below, the tones seeming to merge with the wind. As of late, her meditations had started drawing a crowd of small animals. One little blue sparrow had even taken a seat on her head, perching in her greenish jade locks while she was lost in her song.

Somewhere below, Will was practicing his spear katas under the oversight of Grim. His aunties were about their business, Braid still assisting auntie Crow while Dove was hard at work harvesting in her garden. But as she had the plant essence, the work was not as strenuous as one might think. Wander was probably off exploring as she usually took to if she became bored. Kite would be surprised if there were any nooks and crannies left unexplored within dozens of kilometers as the swarm of rats mapped out the land. Overall, the hodgepodge concentration of essence-users had fallen into a comfortable rhythm as they had all remained in Starberry peak for just over a month by now. Grim had even undertaken the journey back to Gilded to stock up on supplies, mostly to continue meeting the dietary needs of the silver-rankers who needed more concentrated magic for sustenance.

The last person to account for made her presence known just as Kite was about to answer uncle Walker’s question.

“Your other mentor is also curious about your progress.” mistress Dew said as she came over to join them. Kite had been most surprised at her adaptation to the slower and more leisurely pace of their current situation.

“Mistress.” Kite greeted as she sat down. “I have indeed been fortunate in that two more of my abilities have advanced to the next rank.”

WWJS:

Congratulations!

Your ability [Spiritual Futility] has reached Bronze 0.

[Spiritual Futility] has received additional effects.

Spiritual Futility

Special ability (Mana drain). Cost: None. Cooldown: None Current rank: Bronze 0

Effect - Iron: Opponents who makes a melee strike against or come into contact with your barriers have some of their mana drained. The drain is continual if the opponent remains in contact with the barrier.

Effect - bronze: Mana drain increases exponentially the longer the opponent stays in contact with the barrier. The rate of drain is gradually reduced back toward initial values during moments not in contact with a barrier.

Congratulations!

Your ability [Unyielding] has reached Bronze 0.

[Unyielding] has received additional effects.

Unyielding

Special ability. Cost: None/moderate mana Cooldown: None Current rank: Bronze 0

Effect - Iron: Become highly resistant to all hostile effects that would move or displace you, including physical momentum. Any additional damage that would be dealt to you by the canceled momentum will instead be transferred to the environment.

Additionally, this ability may be activated for a cost of moderate mana to give increased damage reduction from external sources of damage for a short duration.

Effect - Bronze: Some of the damage and movement negated will be stored in a separate reservoir of potential, which you may release to add additional momentum to a leap or stride. Any excess will still be transferred to the environment.

“Excellent, my boy. Then there should not be many left before you take the step, leaving the stumbling start of iron rank behind.” Walker nodded in satisfaction as Kite finished relaying his instinctual knowledge of the new, ascended effects.

“And I do believe it is something we can work with.” mistress Dew said, looking pleased. “It was high time you got something that at least could be considered adjacent to a movement ability, situational as it may be. But I do hope that you have still prepared properly with equipment to pick up the slack.”

In response, Kite produced a pair of boots from his dimensional bag.

WWJS:

[Item] Earthen Realm Pathstriders

Boots

Bronze rank - epic

[Effect] Increased movement speed on foot

[Effect] Greatly reduced stamina cost of long-distance walking

[Effect] Self-repairs at a moderate pace

[Effect] For a cost of moderate mana, significantly increase movement speed for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

The high boots were made of dark leather with subtle plates of an enchanted green-tinted steel. At a glance, they were nothing special, but those in the know would recognize the quality of the item. The pair had cost Kite quite a lot, after all.

“It is one of the items I commissioned from the trade hall for the credit I won through duels.” Kite said after explaining the simple and straightforward effects. “I went with simplicity for increased capabilities of the enchantments.”

“A good choice, student.” Dew said approvingly, Walker nodding along. “Even with Glint to ride on, you will find yourself walking quite a lot over the years to come.”

“Walking

Inferiority

Floating”

During their discussion, Sage had come floating over, delivering a statement through the usual reconfiguration of the symbols which made up the familiar’s form.

“Yes, Sage, floating would be more convenient. But that is not within the purview of my path, so I will have to use what the heavens saw fit to give me.” Kite said, trying to interpret the familiar's intended meaning.

“Disappointing”

After conveying the final concept, Sage once more floated off to observe the world, seeming fascinated by auntie Dove’s harvesting of herbs.

Walker looked after it, and spoke once Sage was a bit further away. “Is it just me, or has that creature turned out to be a bit sassy now that it can actually communicate?”

Conjured javelins streaked upward through the air as the rune heron made another pass, a rain of firebolts streaking downwards from glowing runes on the inside of its majestic wings. Gusts from Serene and barriers from Kite shielded the trio as it went past, banking around to fly back toward the trio of iron-ranked nuisances which had disturbed its territory.

“Be ready.” Serene called, the timbre of her voice already carrying the droning tone of a prepared spell.

“Be swept away by the hammer of the hurricane!”

Utilizing a similar tactic as the last time they had faced such a monster, Serene unleashed one of her hurricane torrents from above the swooping avian, forcefully pushing it toward the ground. While its altitude was forcefully lowered, the rune heron was not completely grounded as it had flown rather high, continuing its flight toward them albeit slightly more wobbly. But Serene had accounted for this, releasing the held tone in a surge of magic. The same hurricane spell, cast in advance and held at the ready, crashed into the monstrous bird yet again. And this time, it was thrown forcefully onto the ground, toppling a tree before finding its feet.

Both Kite and Will were ready, charging toward it as the monster righted itself. It was a bit dirtied and ruffled, but by no means out of the fight. To drive that point home, it extended its wings where it stood, and through his magical perception Kite could see three different sets of runes lighting up as it prepared to unleash an elemental torrent against the two charging warriors.

“As we planned!” Kite shouted, coming to a stop as Will did the same behind him. The elf crouched in a ready stance, Kite waiting until just the right moment when the heron unleashed the chaotic elemental torrent. Blades of wind, needles of wood and chaotic bolts of lightning came at them like the hammer of primordial vengeance. But the trio had indeed planned for this, even wished for it.

“Void!”

Kite’s response was to bring out his most potent defensive measure. The black gate appeared, devouring the myriad projectiles aimed at the pair. And as the duration was about to run out, Kite started supplying it with a new stream of mana, using his racial gift to extend its duration, even though the cost was very high to sustain this powerful spell [Gate of Nihility sustained by Channeler]

His mana was leaving him like a river toppling over the edge of a waterfall. For a while, Kite feared that he was not going to last the whole attack, but just as he felt the limit draw near, the stray projectiles which flew by the sides of the black disc petered out.

“Now, Will! Wall!” Kite shouted, releasing his black gate while instead conjuring more platforms through the air, like a stairway leading up. The panes of force had barely appeared before Will started striding upwards at a sprint before the heron had time to attack again or try to take off from the ground.

The elf scion leapt from the topmost step, beginning his plunge downward as wings of spears appeared to further launch him towards his foe. A quick burst of wind from Serene gave him even more momentum, launching him like a ballista bolt into their enemy while Kite was running towards the ensuing melee, also bolstered by Serene’s winds.

Will’s first strike had done its job, both injuring the foe and grounding it as a great part of its wing was torn apart by the plunging attack. Shrieking in agony, it unleashed more elemental projectiles as Kite finished his own rush into melee, further laying into the creature. As the wild fight ensued, the young men’s gazes met briefly, exchanging a fierce grin before going back to their task.

“I’d say we did great! We will prove ourselves worthy of the legends!” Will exclaimed in triumph, wrapping Kite in a fierce hug as he came down from the high of battle now that the rune heron was defeated and returned to rainbow smoke. Ever since his talk with Kite after the nightly raid, the young noble had become a lot more casual around them as he gradually adapted to a new reality in regards to basic physical affection.

Since Dragonfly had left, it seemed that Will unconsciously picked up some of the slack in regards to doling out hugs, although he had not yet reached the level of comfort to extend the same to Serene. Any kind of physical closeness with the opposite sex still seemed to be a more foreign concept to the young noble.

The celebratory hug was interrupted by Sage, who had emerged to inspect the embrace.

“Entangling

Touching

Mating?”

The familiar projected the meanings, Kite gaining the distinct impression that the last statement was a question.

“No, Sage. A hug does not necessarily mean that. Mostly it is just a simple thing. A hug.” Kite said while laughing, proceeding to try and explain much in the same way as he had done to Will many weeks ago.

The familiar seemed to be listening intently, and when Kite finished it took a few seconds before projecting;

“Disappointing.”

After that, Sage once more flew off.

Will looked a bit puzzled by the exchange. “What was that about?” he asked, not having gotten a good look at the initial statements.

“Nothing special. It just seems like Sage wants to understand the world, if only to find it lacking.” Kite said, deciding to spare the young noble from the exact nature of the inquiry as he was unsure if Will was ready. The noble had seemed skittish enough around the whole concept of sexuality, and Kite thought it best not to complicate it further with all the options that were available for those whose inclinations were a bit more open.

“Still, this hunt should have given your void gate a good working through.” Will continued, dropping the subject in favor of his favorite; battle.

While hunting the bronze-ranked monster was a necessity in and of itself, that particular one had been chosen to see if its tendency for magical ranged attacks would give an opportunity to really employ the gate. And it was a choice that should no doubt have paid off.

“I do believe so, but we should not let up. Walker will guide us to the next sighting. A forest hydra should give the both of you a good reason to bring out your best.” Kite said, Will and Serene nodding as they once more set off together.

“Isn’t it nice, dear?” Dove asked, looking out the window into their garden.

“If it is my view you are talking about, then yes. It is nice.” Crow said where she sat reading a book, although she was currently looking straight at her wife.

“Not that.” Dove said, blushing furiously as she always did. “Having guests. The house full of life. I do love our quiet little nook, but now that we have had this for a few weeks, I must say that it will be awfully silent once they depart,” she finished, the last statement said with a bit of a wistful sigh.

“It has indeed.” Crow said, nodding in assent. “It might be that the quiet life we came here looking for isn’t really what we need any more.”

She rose and went over to stand at Dove’s side, looking out over the garden where Kite and their guests each went about their business. The calm was even broken by light streaming out of Kite, now mostly colored bronze.

“Another breakthrough. Our little chick sure has come far.” Crow continued, also looking a bit wistful.

“He sure has. Even though the years raising him were rather intense at times, he was such a wonderful little one. Still is, I suppose.” Dove agreed.

“At this rate, he will pass us by before long. We did know we took the slow route by choosing this life, but part of me can’t help feeling that reaching silver rank feels a bit more important than it did before.” Crow mused. “There would be a lot more we could do after reaching silver too.”

“I suppose working with new ingredients might make for a nice challenge.” Dove said thoughtfully. “But it would be a bit of work, and not the calm kind. Our crafting-related abilities are already there, but it has been a while since we truly pushed ourselves in combat. The occasional bronze-ranked monster close to the village does not make for a quick pace.”

“Indeed.” Crow agreed. “A good thing that Walker is here. Without him, the young ones would have to travel further between each contract.

Shall I take it that you want to take up the adventuring life again, love?”

“Only if you want it, dear.”

“Then I have a proposal. We can see if we can stretch our wings a bit, and start picking up contracts in the area again. And then we take an even more active combat duty during the surge. That should take us far enough.”

“Oh, Crow, that is a great-”

“It is nice that you feel that way.” Crow smiled, interrupting her wife. “But I was not yet finished. You did say you wanted less of the silent life? While the life of a wandering adventurer does give excitement, neither of our crafts are best performed on the road.

Therefore I propose as such; should we manage to reach silver rank, we can once more return to a more sedentary life. And maybe have another child or two?”

Dove had been nodding along Crow’s statement so far, but as she comprehended her wife’s final question, it seemed as though her mind overheated slightly.

“We- you and me- child? Children?” she said only half coherent, as she was prone to become when overcome by more intense emotion.

“It is not an entirely new question, love.” Crow said, patting her hand. “We did talk about it more when we were younger; that we might start a family once we had established ourselves. While Kite’s arrival was a bit ahead of the schedule, it did prove to be rather enjoyable when all things were said and done.”

“Yes, but- but Crow, can we- are we good enough yet to-”

“Dear. Look at Kite. I do think that it is quite the testament to our abilities.”

Dove looked out the window, at their little boy who had grown up to the young man who was now excitedly explaining something to his companions. She took a scant second to center herself, before answering.

“We did, didn’t we?”

“Think about my proposal some more, dear. We will have plenty of time to discuss it. As for now, it looks like Kite is coming over. No doubt to share his latest progress with us.”

Wander stretched happily, the warmth of today’s dinner still spreading through her.

“Heavens, an herbalist sure knows where to find her spices.” she thought with contentment, barely even registering when her perspective fractured into that of many. Now as a swarm of rats, Wander flowed up a wall, a small army of noses and whiskers taking in the world around them before reforming on the roof of the guest cabin to bask in the setting sun which still cast some warmth.

As bronze-rankers had good hearing, and Wander better than most, she had just laid her head down against the roof tiles when she heard a conversation from within the cabin. It was muffled, but clear enough for those who knew how to listen.

“Kite, may I please hold it again. The feeling of it in my hands is just so addicting.”

“Will, you know I won’t deny you. Especially when you ask so nicely.” the other young man chuckled.

Wander heard someone rising from a chair and moving across the floor. A moment later, there was a sigh of contentment.

“As always Kite, it just.. Wonderful. Marvelous. The feeling of it in my hands, the length and thickness of the shaft…”

“Well I do know that you like it, but be careful. You can’t yet handle it. Not for long at least.”

“No? Then watch me impress! Your mind will be swept away by my skill!”

At this rate, Wander had gotten curious. Very curious. It was almost too good to be true. Shifting into a swarm of rats once more, one of them climbed down the facade to peek in through the window.

“Such a delightfully scandalous pairing it would be.” she thought, the images echoing through myriad minds. “The son of the city lord and the outcast adventurer. It would be too precious. It would need to be protected. It would-”

As she peeked in, her wandering mind soon experienced immeasurable disappointment as her day was ruined.

Inside, Will just managed to complete the final moves of a spear kata before hurriedly laying down the weapon at the table while shaking his hands as if he had just let go of something that was too hot.

“Well, you manage to impress once more, Will.” Kite said in an attempt to cheer up his friend. “But not even you have the tenacity to perform the whole series with an over-ranked weapon.”

Looking at the spear like a lover who had just slapped him, Will sighed. “But it is just so… perfect. The feel of the wood, the sound as it moves… What is it made of? Singerwood?”

“It is a bit unclear, but the woodcarver I consulted thought so. Even my rather odd looting ability does not give me more specifications. But the sonic enchantment does indicate it as well. I’ve even thought of using it from Glint’s back like the lances of cavaliers.”

“Ah, to have an arsenal of my own.” Will said, a bit jealous.

“Will, you can conjure pretty impressive spears already.” Kite said, a bit amused.

“Oh, I know. But it's.. It’s just not the same.”

“At least console yourself of all the money you will save.” Kite said while putting the spear back into his dimensional storage.

By then, Wander had lost interest in the conversation as the two young men left the guest cabin. She returned to the roof, muttering to the heavens that there apparently was not much beauty left in the world.

“Are you ready, adventurer Kite?” Grim asked, tone politely somber as usual.

“I am!” Kite called, standing around twenty meters away.

In response, Grim chanted a spell:

“Welcome, shimmering reaper!”

At his words, the largest swirling storm Grim could muster appeared in the space between them, drifting towards Kite at an uncomfortable speed. The younger man stood firm, responding with a spell of his own.

“Void!”

The black gate appeared, but it was larger than before as well as having gained another quality. It had always had a kind of silent presence, the mind unable to properly categorize if it was a wall or a portal. But now, the gate also had a gravity to it; a kind of physical and spiritual pull. It was not enough to drag a person towards it, but the effect was useful nonetheless.

Waiting behind the gate for a few seconds, Kite let the gate dissipate after its natural lifespan ended. The storm of glass shards was gone, and Kite looked at the elf in anticipation.

“It did indeed work as you hoped, adventurer Kite.” Grim said with a nod of confirmation.

Will had been watching from the sidelines with a recording crystal, and came over while bringing out a small projector he normally used to watch his own spear-katas and correct himself while away from his usual trainers. Inserting it into the projector, the small device created a flat hologram which depicted Kite and Grim standing opposite one another. The elf released his spell, and soon after Kite’s black gate appeared.

At once, it became obvious that the pull one felt from the gate was quite a lot more palpable against the spell. Immediately on appearing, the black disc started devouring the storm of winds and glass shards, actively sucking it in and leaving nothing by the time the gate vanished.

“From my observation, it did look as if it pulled in effects from quite a wide angle.” Grim noted. “This should be a boon in many situations, as you can imagine.”

Kite nodded in agreement, mind awash with ideas as Will replayed the recording. The gate had been one of his recent advancements, about a month and a half since arriving at his home village.

WWJS:

Congratulations!

Your ability [Gate of Nihility] has reached Bronze 0.

[Gate of Nihility] has received additional effects.

Gate of Nihility

Spell. Cost: High mana Cooldown: 1h Current rank: Bronze 0

Effect - Iron: Bring forth a short-lived wall of nothingness, up to five meters wide and three meters high. You have some control over the overall shape of the barrier. Any projectile or spell effect striking the wall is absorbed into the void and negated. Any being that comes into contact with the wall suffers a high amount of damage as they are forcibly ejected from the barrier.

Attacks of higher rank may not be entirely negated.

The barrier cannot move once created and cannot be summoned into the space of any creature.

Effect - bronze: Gate exerts a pull on projectiles and other conjured or created magical effects in a wide area in front of it.

After being painstakingly set up in more encounters than he would otherwise have taken the time to, it had paid dividends. His most potent barrier now joined the other two more recent evolutions, as Kite now could almost taste bronze rank with the remaining pair feeling so close.

WWJS:

Congratulations!

Your ability [Immortality] has reached Bronze 0.

[Immortality] has received additional effects.

Immortality

Special ability (healing, recovery). Cost: None Cooldown: 24 hours Current rank: Iron 8

Effect - Iron: Instantly restore a large portion of health, mana, and stamina. Amount restored is based on how depleted health, mana, and stamina are when the ability is activated.

Effect - bronze: Gain ongoing health, mana, and stamina recovery effects. The strength of these effects is based on how depleted health, mana, and stamina are when the ability is activated.

—---

Congratulations!

Your ability [Undeniable] has reached Bronze 0.

[Undeniable] has received additional effects.

Undeniable

Special ability. Cost: None Cooldown: None Current rank: Bronze 0

Effect - Iron: Each time your effects are resisted or do not take effect, deal a small amount of transcendent damage to the target.

Examples include an opponent being immune to one of your attacks or damage types, or one of your effects failing to dispel due to a lack of magical effects on the target.

Effect - Bronze: The damage is now also dealt when one of your attacks are blocked, such as by a shield, interposed weapon or magical barrier.

While he had seen it coming for quite some time, Kite’s powers were continuing to shape up as a somewhat defensive, endurance fighter with a few more potent aces in his arsenal to shift the tempo of a fight or deny an opponent a key advantage.

The two abilities remaining were awakened from his negation confluence, his dispelling wave and empowering boost. While both were useful, they had been some of the hardest to rank up. In the case of his dispelling wave, it had been rather hard to use properly when fighting alongside his allies and not risk affecting them as well and accidentally removing important boons from them. And in regards to his empowering ability, the answer was more straightforward; most battles did not last long enough for him to use it.

It had been now during his time near Starberry peak that the two had seen more consistent use, when Kite and his companions made sure to give him the opportunity to use them.

“Not long now.” he murmured to himself as Will and Grim were retrieving the projector. Glint flew up from her bottle while sending him an emotion of determination and excitement through their link.

“Yes, I can see that you are excited as well.” he smiled, throwing her a snack which she greedily devoured, mustaches wriggling happily. “It is not merely my advancement I am working on, after all. But be prepared; we will probably have a lot of work to do if we make it.”

From the way she made an attempt at wriggling ferociously, the little carp projected boundless confidence.

“I’m glad you think so.” he said, rising up to join the others as Glint floated along.

Just the final stretch remained now. Even if the path towards the heavens was a long one, the step still felt quite momentous.