Rising Kite - A story from the world of HWFWM

“Kite, don’t forget to take one of these before you go out!” auntie Dove called, coming over to the trio of iron-rankers and giving them each one pill. The small sphere emanated a pleasant warmth through its hard exterior, and Kite popped it into its mouth without hesitation. Soon, a pleasant heat began spreading from his stomach to permeate his whole body.

“Thank you, auntie.” he replied, giving her a quick hug. He knew from experience that the pills would provide comfort against the chill in the air which had begun to pick up as they neared the middle of autumn.

Two months had just about passed since they came to Starberry peak. Braid and Wander had left a few weeks ago, the former almost being dragged away by the latter while she had thanked Crow and Dove profusely for their hospitality. Other than that, the trio had progressed with their usual regime of training and hunting monsters, feeling quite spoiled by the trio of bronze-rankers and the duo of silver-rankers who were now dedicating time and support to their progress.

Uncle Walker and mistress Dew had spent many an hour out in the fields to support them in detecting suitable targets and finding notices from the villages of the area. Rarely, if ever, before had the northern parts of the Autumn lands been so clean of monsters. Mistress Dew had praised Sage’s ability to trigger manifestations more than once, as it had let them keep up a good pace. With the increase to bronze rank, the familiar could sense and trigger the concentrations of ambient magic from a greater distance, and the additional monsters had been a boon to the hard-working trio.

As a bonus, the familiar had also led them to four essences and over ten awakening stones over the two months spent actively canvassing the area. Most were some commonly found around these lands, such as the tree essence or awakening stone of the leaf. The one notable difference was a rarer awakening stone of the moon. Kite had happily stashed these treasures, building upon his collection for his vague plans.

“Your aura almost feels like a small bud about to burst into bloom, Kite. I’m sure that today will be the day.” Dove said, supportively.

“May Fortune show me kindness then.” Kite said, returning her smile before waving farewell as they left through one of Grim’s portals, the two silver-rankers having left earlier to meet them at their destination.

“Better start preparing tonight’s dinner. I am sure we will have a reason to celebrate.” Dove said cheerfully to no one in particular as she went back into the house, humming a tune she had picked up from Serene sometimes during the last couple of weeks.

“Dissolve the patterns of power!”

The dispelling ripple once more passed over the area, canceling even more of the wind blades fired from the galezard pack, the group of monsters even being led by a quite rare bronze-ranked alpha of their species. Even as the wave had burst out from him, Kite returned to what he had done before; running.

So far, he had been engaging the pack alone, running around the pack and using barriers, force walls and pure physical capabilities to block and dodge the salvoes of wind blades while waiting for his dispelling wave to become available again.

The presence of the alpha had further intensified things, as it could also produce a wider twister of cutting winds which could also hold those caught up in it in place for the rest of the pack to dispatch. Kite managed to narrowly dodge one such twister, but was clipped by another wind blade which drew a splash of blood.

As he dove down behind a rock, already nicked and scored by being used as cover in such a way, Serene’s voice reached him.

“Do you think it is enough, Kite? Should we intervene?”

“Please hold on just a little bit longer. Your movement boosts and healing is already doing plenty!” he answered, conjuring a set of force walls for cover while Sage channeled a charge of its gathered magic into him, using the potent short-lived regeneration effect which had become available at bronze-rank to replenish himself. From the number of wind blades negated and the constant mana drain of Kite’s vortices, the familiar had a good supply of magic remnants to gather. Sending out another dispelling wave in the gap between barriers, Kite pressed on. He would make the most out of this opportunity.

And when Kite was finally exhausted enough that he started making dangerous mistakes, he had still outpaced most of his opponents. During the minutes beneath the bronze-rank mana draining effects, the iron-ranked galezards had now become so destabilized by mana fatigue that they could barely function. Only the bronze-ranked alpha still stood strong, its greater reserves allowing it to outlast Kite when he did not employ his single-target version of the ability.

“I- I do believe that I am quite done now. If you would, please take over.” Kite said, the battle having strained even his now bronze-rank recovery attribute to the degree that he was breathing quite heavily between the words.

“With pleasure!” Will exclaimed, and Kite saw his friend emerge from further in between the trees, flying towards the monsters with a fierce gleam in his eyes, Serene trailing behind him as she readied her spells.

As his friends' battle cries and songs started echoing out over the clearing, Kite leaned his head back against the stone and smiled. This was hopefully the last of such encounters, where they had found monsters of these lower ranks who tended to utilize magic more actively. There had been a few slogs such as this of late, where galezards and some of the different kinds of elementals were the most promising targets.

“If I am fortunate, bringing this troublesome spell through bronze rank won’t be quite as challenging.

From where she sat atop the rock, Dragonfly enjoyed looking up at the stars gradually appearing on the sky, which was balancing on the verge between dusk and night. Even more, she enjoyed being out on the roads again along with master Force. While the mercantile city of Convergence had been awe-inspiring in its sights and the amount of people, she had quickly become quite fed up with the local adventurer culture. The three sects of the area were all holding application ceremonies at the upcoming midwinter, which even further pushed young adventurers to compete and clash in order to catch the eyes of the sect recruiters. If she met one more middling iron-ranker who acted like high and mighty young master or mistress by the simple virtue of being from the area while she came from the ‘backwaters’, Dragonfly had half a mind to start issuing clashes of paths left and right.

“It did seem to work out for Kite, at least being challenged all the time.” she mused, looking out over the roiling hills and wider plains between the small mountain ranges which dotted the area. “Still, there are so few trees. I almost feel naked out here.”

To focus on her growth, Force had guided her further out from the cities to snatch up suitable contracts before they made it to the local adventure society branches while she herself took on every silver contract she could find. Dragonfly was proud of her growth, her set of powers lending themselves well to fighting self-sufficiently.

But her thoughts often went back to her friends, both in and out of combat. Dragonfly always missed them, which she had known she would. “Hopefully, they will come south as well in time. Maybe even after the monster surge?” she muttered to herself before looking up at the stars again.

This night had her thoughts going to them a little bit more than usual, as it was almost like there was something momentous about to happen. She knew it was just idle imagination, but still liked imagining that there was a connection left between them which transcended the distance.

“Just you wait until we meet again.” she thought with a smile. “I’ll show you how far I can rise, so you better work hard too.”

The time was here. Kite could feel it. Which also made it a bit harder to actually sink into the meditative state that usually came so easily these days. There was a change brewing inside him, as if one last ingredient had been added to an alchemical concoction. And that concoction was about to transform; become something more than the sum of its parts.

He was sitting in the same spot uncle Walker had upon his ascension to silver rank. Clad in simple loose pants, his family and friends remaining at a respectful distance. The final two abilities had been stubborn, but through tenacity and support, he had pushed them across the final threshold.

WWJS

Congratulations!

Your ability [Ripple of Cancellation] has reached Bronze 0.

[Ripple of Cancellation] has received additional effects.

Ripple of Cancellation

Spell. Cost: High mana Cooldown: 30s Current rank: Bronze 0

Effect - Iron: Release an expanding wave of magic-canceling energy. Creatures or objects hit by the wave will have one random beneficial magical effect canceled. If that effect came from a magical ability, the ability will be unavailable to activate again for a short duration. If multiple targets have the same kind of magical effect active, there is a higher chance that it will be the one which is canceled.

Magical projectiles hit by the wave will be negated. Projectiles of a higher rank might not be entirely negated.

Effect - bronze: Attempt to dispel two additional beneficial magical effects.

—---

Congratulations!

Your ability [Potential of Stolen Power] has reached Bronze 0.

[Potential of Stolen Power] has received additional effects.

Potential of Stolen Power

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

Effect - Iron: Gather charges each time an effect is dispelled or mana is drained/destroyed. Use accumulated charges to give a potent boost to an ability, partially changing its scope and/or effect.

Effect - Bronze: Generate additional charges when dispelling more powerful effects or draining more mana in a single instance.

Finally, the path formed in front of his mind's eyes. Each part of the winding road was there, polished across iron rank, while his friends, familiars and companions had all left their marks. And it was all ready to transform.

With the path, came his usual mantra. The words had remained the same, but somehow grown more solid and real over the last months, as if each repetition was like the river slowly smoothing out a shining stone which rested at its bottom.

“My path will not be shifted by the world, but learn from it.

My path will not be cracked by the world, but be tempered by it.

My path will not be moved by the world, but use it to gain momentum.

The world will be moved by my path, made indestructible by the bonds I forge.”

As the path stretched into infinity, Kite’s mind traveling along it while spurred on by those words, it was as if the darkness around the path started to glow, just as Kite felt the last unseen piece fall into place inside him. For a shuddering moment, all was still and quiet within. Finally having reached equilibrium. And then, like a star being born, there was light. And there was power.

While unseen to his closed eyes, Kite knew that bronze light was streaming from his body, his aura projected. Not as far as uncle Walker’s had been, but still noticeable for all who possessed the means to notice. And the wonderful, powerful feeling which had lain forgotten since his first rank-up to iron was back in force. His breath was the storm, his heart the thunder. Lightning flowed through his veins, his muscles burgeoning with power like a geyser about to erupt. Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune was now more than he had ever been before, body and soul.

And while the sensation had him longing to leap off the mountain and run through the forests below, Kite remained seated. Because with each blessing, tribulation followed. Kite was very glad that he too had splurged a bit and ordered the crystal wash in advance.

“So, how do you feel?” auntie Dove asked, giving him an exuberant hug once he had cleaned himself up, the slag and impurities taken away for disposal. Now dressed in a comfortable new set of clothing; a dark blue silk shirt with two rows of buttons and loose, comfortable pants, Kite felt reborn on all levels.

“Like a new man, yet still the same. But more.” he answered, returning the embrace before catching auntie Crow in one as well. Then the rest were upon him as well, offering their congratulations and guiding him towards the prepared dinner. This gathering was more modest upon Kite’s request, only his friends and family present.

And it was not only Kite who had gone through a change. Glint wasted no moment to preen and float about the garden. While her smaller form was about the same size, there was an entirely new level to her shining luster as the pink and shimmering scales now seemed to be properly intermixed, gradients instead of each scale being colored one way or the other. Another notable change was the additional pair of veil-like pectoral fins she now sported just above the old pair as well as a new dorsal fin, the thin membranes constantly floating about her as if suspended in water. And finally, her eyes had changed as well, losing a bit of the blank fish-stare as they could now move about more like those of most other animals. Kite couldn’t wait to have her showcase what her ascension meant in terms of abilities, but that was a subject for tomorrow.

Tonight, the focus remained on the joy of celebration and a path that had become more than it was before. Kite let himself be swept up in it and thoroughly relax, especially as he knew that tomorrow would bring anything but rest.

“Very good, Kite.” auntie Crow praised where she sat opposite him in the communal area of the house. “You have been keeping up your practice in aura training. There wasn’t much we needed to do to adjust to your new aura strength. But remember to keep on doing the new exercises I taught you.”

“Thank you, auntie. But the credit isn’t only mine. You started teaching me way before I even knew that this life lay before me. And- Well, I didn’t only train on my own. Dragonfly helped a lot. And Serene too- but not in that way.” he hurriedly clarified.

“Well, you have chosen good companions, little Kite, even if there will probably be times that you are not by each other’s sides. You can still carry spiritual parts of each other in the strength you have tempered together.” Crow said, smiling at Kite’s slight embarrassment. “And in regards to the dyadic practice, I’ll make sure to bring you a copy of the second volume before you leave.”

“Thanks, auntie.” Kite said, still a bit embarrassed even though he knew he didn’t need to be. “But I do imagine that mistress Dew is waiting for me, so I best get going.”

“Indeed. It is good to work the body as well as the spirit. You have a lot to get used to, but I know that you will work hard.” she smiled, waving him off as he exited the front door to go down forest below.

As he was leaving, Kite marveled at how much easier it was now to make use of his full perception power, as he was now able to constantly keep the all-round vision active as long as he wasn’t actively recovering. His spirit attribute had been the last to reach bronze-rank, and its increase in cognitive processing speed meant that the amount of stimuli didn’t threaten to overload his mind as it had done during prolonged use back at the middle of iron rank.

And it was not just sight, as all was clearer to his senses. Kite even thought he saw nuances of color which he previously had not noticed, as well as a whole new palette of smells and textures. His improved senses also let him notice mistress Dew waiting for him just below where the cliffside road leading up to the village began.

His mentor was sitting in meditation, but Kite had no doubt that she had already noticed him long before he did her.

“Greetings, student.” she said as he approached.

“Greetings, esteemed mistress Dew.” he replied with a smile and a proper bow, cupped hands and all. “Your humble student is here before you, seeking guidance.

“I see ranking up has not gone completely to your head, as you still remember to show proper respect.” she said, a smile tugging at the corner of her blue lips. “Your aura feels adequately controlled. Good. That means that you are ready for the rest. Your improved recovery attribute will be worked properly today.” As her smile widened, Kite couldn’t help but feel a slight hint of trepidation.

“What is it with higher-rankers and their glee in tormenting us juniors?”

Leaping through the air, Kite just barely managed to not collide with a tree upon landing, especially as he did not want to accidentally shatter the living growth with his evolved ability without due cause. While he did manage a proper landing, he still marveled at his newfound strength. Throughout iron rank, it had gradually climbed upwards, but there had been a decided burst of progress when he passed into the realm of bronze.

“You managed to correct, which is good. But try again to get a proper feel for it.” Dew instructed from where she sat, reading a book while still keeping enough attention on him to give him pointers.

While Serene and Will had gone with Walker to continue pushing their training, it had been decided that Kite was in much more need of consolidating his ranking up. As such he had stayed behind, and would do so for a time as to allow his companions to pressure themselves more. With their proficiency and uncle Walker present, there was little risk for any serious mishaps.

After beginning with aura training under auntie Crow, mistress Dew had taken Kite under her wing to help him get acquainted with his new physical and mental capabilities. This had begun with simple obstacle courses, using the natural landscape as a practice yard as Kite bounded through with a speed, grace and power he was just getting used to. Moves which would earlier have been considered impractical were now within the scope of reason, and Kite knew that this was but one of many such sessions he would need to spend in intense physical training.

When he started to become more comfortable, still surprising himself by going at it for over two hours before succumbing to complete exhaustion, Dew stopped for a break. While they ate a light snack of spiced rice wrapped in flavorful leaves, his mentor spoke up.

“You have just about found your stride, student. Put on your armor when you have eaten. It is time to do it all again while wearing it.”

Munching down the last of his food, noting that bronze-ranked dishes tasted even better than those he had previously eaten at iron, Kite started bringing out pieces of armor he had been carrying in his storage for a while now.

The centerpiece of the armor was a hauberk made from myriad rings, the color of matted green jade. The chainmail part split beneath the belt to cover his thighs, and was complemented by shin guards, gauntlets and pauldrons, all of a rather unassuming design with a few lamellar ridges being the only adornment.

WWJS

[Item] Raiment of Covetous Jade

Armor

Bronze rank - epic

[Effect] Moderate self-repair and self-cleaning

[Effect] Mana draining abilities have an increased effect

[Effect] Whenever you drain mana from an opponent, gain a boost to your [Recovery] attribute for a short duration. The boost is in proportion to the amount of mana drained.

“Interesting.” mistress Dew mused as Kite informed her of its properties. “Was this one of the pieces that you commissioned from the trade pavilion?”

“No, it was brought to me through the providence of Fortune.” Kite smiled.

“So by your rather odd looting power? Are all of the results becoming more tailored like this piece? It does seem to merge with your path almost frighteningly well.”

She did have a point, as its enchantments were actively in line with a few of Kite’s abilities. While he would miss the increased strength of his stone armor, Kite hoped that the increase in recovery would more than make up for it.

“Heavens no.” Kite laughed. “While it does seem to have improved upon the ability’s ascension to bronze rank, I have still sold off most of the items it has produced over the last months. This one was a stroke of fortune, make no mistake. But I am ever thankful for it. The ability may not drown me in spirit coins, but if it will follow this trend I have hopes that it will create even more compatible options in the future.”

“Well said, student.” Dew answered with a nod. “Then you´d best don it and test your limits with it, as you will be wearing it quite a lot in the days to come.”

After another hour of adjusting to the increased load of the armor, they instead transitioned into combat training. As Dew had said before, she had eschewed more training during iron rank to instead focus more once he hit bronze rank. After spending the rest of the afternoon being thoroughly put through his paces, Kite could understand why.

As with the mobility training, bronze-rank had opened up a world of possibilities which would not have been feasible earlier. The whole of Kite’s being had started taking steps beyond what had earlier been possible, be it speed, balance, reactions or precision. And mistress Dew spent the hours painstakingly, and sometimes a bit painfully, breaking some of his habits where his old capabilities now limited his thinking.

When Kite finally sagged from exhaustion, she showed her infinite mercy in declaring the day’s sparring session over. He staggered over to a patch of soft moss and allowed himself to slump down into the green embrace.

“Mistress Dew?”

“Yes, student?”

“First of all, thank you for assisting me in this.”

“It is the duty of a mentor. What kind of teacher would I be if I let you run off before making sure that your foundations were solid?” she stated, words formal but a hint of playfulness in her voice.

“And a student should always be thankful to his master nonetheless.” Kite said, looking up from his prone position towards where she had once more sat down on a nearby rock. “But if you do not mind me asking, what will you do after our stay here?”

“Already eager to be rid of me?”

“Oh heavens no. This humble student is always thankful to be in the grace of your presence” he answered, even though he knew the joking sarcasm of her question for what it was.

“As it should be.” she said, before continuing. “I must say that this little… vacation… has been a lot more pleasurable than what I had imagined. It has been a very long time since I stayed at one place for so long. I had almost forgotten how it felt.

As for the future, I will eventually go back to the hunt. The path to gold rank is one of attrition and grit, Kite. The progression is glacial, which is unfulfilling even to my path of ice and snow. And after the surge, I will take my leave of this region and travel south for the final stretch as well as to sever some karma left unbalanced for too long.”

The final words had an edge to them obvious even to Kite, his exhaustion clearing quicker than he expected, and they also conveyed a clear message; Dew would not elaborate further on the matter at this moment.

“If that is the case, you will be missed, mistress Dew. Know that you need but to ask, and I will assist you in what ways a humble little bronze-ranker can.” Kite said, sitting up to look at his teacher.

She gave him a long look in turn before chuckling. “I do not know if I should further unbalance our karma, student. Even my time here does not properly compensate for what you did for me, and I am not one to leave such a karmic debt unresolved.” Holding up one finger to forestall the protest he was just about to voice, she continued. “But do not fret, student. From our sparring today, it is clear that we will still spend many hours together here. And before we turn in for the day, I would like to hear your reasoning for your choice of armaments.”

Swallowing his protest, Kite gave his mentor another meaningful look indicating that the subject of karmic debts was not settled before moving on to her question.

“Well, teacher, I have tried to take your teachings to heart when developing parts of my fighting style, but have felt that the evolutions my path has gone through has required me to further expand upon the scope of my ambitions.” he began, trying to summarize his thoughts.

“You speak of your racial gift evolution? It is wise to make it the fulcrum of your combat style, as its applications are many. And why did you choose these armaments as a foundation?”

“Well, part of it has been availability and what my power has brought me.” Kite began, bringing out the first weapon he intended to show her out of the more hectic sparring. It was a spear, although with a head long enough to blur the lines between it and a glaive.

It was a weapon which looked almost grown rather than forged, with a spearhead made from some kind of clear crystal which seemed to have just spontaneously grown into the almost sword-like edge with a wickedly sharp point. The haft was wood, and while the weapon as a whole was straight as an arrow, the pole did curve slightly here and there contributing to the organic look.

Both the head and haft were dotted with small holes, seemingly having little function until Kite started moving the weapon around, when it started giving off a whistling sound as the air started shimmering with the vibrations.

WWJS

[Item] Whistling Visitor

Spear

Bronze rank - epic

[Effect] Motion generates a sonic vibration which adds resonating force damage to any attack made with this weapon. Damage is increased in proportion to the speed of the motion.

[Effect] Each time you deal resonating force damage to an opponent, gain a stacking boon which increases the [Speed] attribute. The boon starts decaying if no resonating force damage is dealt in a moderate duration, but will persist even after you no longer wield this weapon.

“As I had the luck of receiving this one from my looting power, I sought to use it as I am already familiar with the use of the spear, and the enchantments should lend themselves well for when I need the resonating force damage. I would also hope to learn how to fight from Glint’s back in a pinch, and therefore a spear should be beneficial.”

“Especially since it will increase its potency via movement.” mistress Dew agreed. “And the sword?”

“That I did commission, as I had something more specific in mind.” Kite said, retrieving the blade in question.

It was a curved saber in a white sheath decorated with subtle magical runes emanating a solid, stable feeling. After it appeared in his hand, Kite let go of the weapon, the enchantment on the sheath leaving it hanging in place in the air. He drew it, leaving the sheath floating separately, revealing the blade to be a matted red color with its curved edge following a wave shape. The crossguard bent down to form a handguard on one side, made from metal as white as the sheath.

WWJS

[Item] Carmine Sunrise

Sword

Bronze rank - epic

[Effect] After being drawn from a sheath, the first attack deals additional damage and converts all physical damage to rending damage.

[Effect] After being drawn from a sheath, the first attack adds instances of the [Bleeding] affliction. Instances inflicted increases in proportion to damage dealt from the attack.

“And the sheath has only two enchantments; being able to become spatially locked and increased durability.” Kite finished.

“I can see that you asked them to concentrate the enchantments on this one as well, as well as having the crafter customize it in accordance with your path. But how did you access the level of craftsman needed for this? Your promotion to three stars is quite recent after all.”

“Well. let us just say that having the branch director grateful to you does help open some doors.” Kite said with feigned neutrality.

His mentor laughed. “You remain wise, student, but have started to nurture a cunning streak as well, I see.” she praised. “You should look at complementing your core arsenal with armaments bearing more potent usable enchantments as well, if only to bring out as opportunity arises even if your proficiency with the weapon itself is lacking.”

“I will keep my mistress' words close to my heart. But I must admit that I am a bit wounded that she did not compliment me on my last, beautiful implement.” he said, adding a bit of feigned hurt to his voice as he let his final prepared weapon drop down into his hand.

With a flick of his wrist, the war fan unfolded to hide his face, only leaving his eyes staring with theatrical accusation at mistress Dew. It was one of the weapons produced by his looting ability that he had almost discarded at first, but had decided to make it an addition after some counsel from Will and Serene.

The fan had a frame of golden metal, each part in the latticework ending in a short blade along its upper curve, while the leaf of the weapon portrayed an enchantingly beautiful landscape of autumn-colored forests and high cliff peaks, with a single lake as its centerpiece under painted swirls of wind. The lake depicted with such detail that it felt like you could see one’s reflection in it from the right angle.

WWJS

[Item] Mirror of Autumn

War fan

Bronze rank - Epic

[Effect] Activate for a cost of moderate mana to launch a gust of wind, attempting to knock back creatures and projectiles in the affected area. Cooldown: 3 minutes

[Effect] When you would dispel a projectile of bronze rank or below, you may instead pay a mana cost to reflect the projectile back towards its source. Cost varies with the mana cost of the projectile. Cooldown: 1 hour

[Effect] Activate for a cost of high mana to surround yourself with a swirling vortex of wind and leaves, granting greatly increased movement speed and the ability to glide through the air for one minute. Making attacks or similarly hostile actions will break the effect. Cooldown: 24 hours.

[Effect] For a very low mana cost, retract or extend the bladed portions of this weapon.

“I did notice it, albeit that you didn’t often bring it out during our sparring. The artwork feels very familiar, with the exception of the lake.” she noted, casting a meaningful gaze at the forests around them which closely matched the beautifully painted fan. “I must admit to being a bit skeptical to this inclusion, as a good dagger or hatchet might serve you better for fighting in close quarters. But the choice, for good or ill, is ultimately yours. And should you change your mind, it will at least be a pretty accessory.”

“I do hope it will help in unexpected ways more than a fashion statement.” Kite said, about to ask something else when mistress Dew interrupted him with a raised finger.

“From what I smell on the wind, it would seem that dinner is soon ready. We best get back, student. There will be many days such as this in your future while your companions catch up to you.”

Even though Kite’s senses had grown sharp with ranking up, he was still reminded that the heavens remained very far above as he had not felt any smells indicating the waiting food.

As he put the war fan away and gathered his other belongings, Kite felt both content and extremely fortunate to take the step into bronze rank like this. Not only had he mentors to guide him, but had also been blessed with the power which had provided him with these precious pieces of equipment. Even if most things that his power produced were unfit for him, it still eventually landed him pieces that actually resonated well with his path. He could barely imagine what would await him should he reach silver rank.

“That will be something to enjoy when reaching the next peak of my journey. There seem to be ever more to strive towards at the horizon.” he mused to himself as he followed his mentor back toward the village.