The Bloodforged Kin

"Are you kids comfortable?" Zavier looked at both of them. They were sitting around the table again, steeling themselves for facing The System and gaining their rewards. Tess and Zavier had gone over their experiences again, making sure to forewarn them about Tess's experience. They both looked at Cass with quiet concern. He'd made great strides lately and had gotten stronger in every way, and yet, although they were both incredibly proud of him, they'd had late-night conversations in whispered voices about how he might handle this.

Tess had always worried that she'd passed on some of her self-doubt to him. Not her depression - that was hers to carry - but that critical inner voice that whispered you weren't good enough, that everyone could see your failures even when you tried to hide them. She'd seen hints of it in Cass: the way he deflated when he made mistakes, how he searched their faces for disappointment even after victories. Her tendency to assume the worst about herself had somehow taken root in him, and it broke her heart. She'd worked so hard to build him up, but sometimes she caught him looking at himself the way she looked at herself in her darkest moments.

She pushed those thoughts away. He'd been doing so well lately - more confident in training, standing taller, smiling more. Whatever happened in there, they'd handle it together.

"Okay kids," she reached out and gripped their hands tightly, "it's time."

With that both of the kids closed their eyes.

There was a breathless moment where Zavier and Tess couldn't move, then breath exploded from them as they both opened their eyes.

Luna's face shone with unrestrained glee and words started pouring out of her in a rush.

Cass fell out of his chair and landed hard on the floor, curling up into a fetal position and shaking like a leaf in a thunderstorm.

They rushed to his side, Zavier sitting on the ground and pulling Cass's head into his lap, stroking his hair and making soothing sounds. "I've got you, buddy. You're safe. We're right here." Tess was on her knees, alternately trying to rub his back in comfort and finding a way to wrap her arms around him. Luna dove to the floor and laid behind him, putting her arms around him and hugging him to her chest. Tears streamed out of her closed eyes. Zavier and Tess could only stare at each other in worry, tears flooding from them as well.

Zavier was obsessively checking Cass's sheet every few seconds to see if his health dropped or a negative effect had appeared. He tried to push into Cass's statuses but a blinding pain in his head forced him to stop.

"Fuck!" he yelled then waved a hand when he saw Luna and Tess looking at him. "Headache. I tried to look too deep."

Tess spared him a worried glance but returned her attention to Cass.

Soft sounds of comfort filled the room, bringing Cass back to the present. Zavier and Tess helped him to his feet and sat him on the couch.

"What happened, Buddy?" Zavier pushed his concern down with effort, wanting to convey calm and understanding.

"I'm sorry guys, I screwed up," Cass kept repeating it until Zavier took Cass's hands in his, kneeling in front of him.

"You didn't screw up anything, son. We're just worried about you. Are you hurt? Are you okay?"

Cass nodded and Zavier enclosed him in a hug, quickly followed by Tess and Luna.

"I'm okay now guys, I promise," Cass said when they'd given him room. "They just did the fear thing on me that they did to you, mom. It was... it was really bad."

Tess ruffled his hair. "It was awful for me too, Honey. That's not your fault."

"But I think I messed everything up," Cass's voice carried frustration and shame. When no one responded he continued, "I know I was supposed to pick something to help protect the family. Some sort of class or skill or advantage that would make me useful. But when that fear hit me I just... I lost it. I couldn't think of anything except how scared I was. All I wanted was to get away from it." His jaw clenched. "When I woke up I had these," Cass sent them the descriptions of his new skill and enhancement.

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Name: Sanctuary Recall
Level: 1
Type: Escape Skill
Description: This skill acts as a magical panic button, teleporting you back to a predetermined safe point when the situation becomes dire. Designed to protect you in moments of extreme danger or fear, the activation of this skill ensures your immediate removal from harmful circumstances.

Abilities:

Health Threshold:

Automatically activates when your health drops below 5%.

Fear Trigger:

Activates if you experience extreme fear, providing an instant escape.

Environmental Hazard:

Activates when you are exposed to lethal environmental dangers (e.g., poison clouds, traps).

Limitations:

Preparation:

Requires 10 seconds of concentration to set a new safe point.

Interference:

Cannot activate if under certain magical suppressions or anti-teleportation effects.

Name: Quicksilver
Level: 1
Type: Speed Enhancement

Description: This skill was issued as a System reward for proving yourself a frontrunner. Quicksilver optimizes your body's natural movements, enhancing your ability to accelerate rapidly. Perfect for quick getaways or sudden advances, it allows for rapid bursts of motion. This skill is highly impacted by your Agility stat.

Abilities:

Burst Speed:

Grants a temporary 20% speed boost to all movements for 5 seconds.

Surefooted:

You are now able to navigate complex terrain at any speed.

Cooldown:

10 seconds (for Burst Speed activation)

They studied them a moment before Tess said, "Cass, these look really powerful."

"They're escape skills," Cass replied bitterly. "The System looked at me and decided the only thing I'm good for is running away. Sanctuary Recall pulls me right out of fights the second I get scared, leaving you guys to handle everything alone while I hide somewhere safe."

Zavier's expression was troubled with the deep concern of a father watching his son tear himself apart. Tess pulled Cass in for a hug.

"Honey, if you kids get into danger I WANT you to be able to escape. For me, knowing that if things get too dangerous you'll be safe... that's not a burden, that's a relief."

Cass wasn't convinced. "That's what you have to say because you're my mom. But look at what it really means - The System judged me based on how I fight, how I handle myself, and it decided I'm only good for running away. I already worry about freezing up in battle, and now I have to be scared of just teleporting out completely?" His voice cracked with frustration. "I fucking hate this System! It just told everyone exactly what I'm worth."

Tess held his clenched fists in each of her hands. "That's not what it told us at all. Look at your class, Honey."

Shieldbearer
Description: The Shieldbearer is a master of shield combat, utilizing shields for both defense and offense. This class enhances your proficiency with shields, allowing you to use them as both weapons and protective tools. Your class increases the effectiveness of all shields in your possession, improving block rates and reducing incoming damage. As a Shieldbearer, you become a formidable bulwark on the battlefield, seamlessly blending offense and defense to control the flow of combat.

"The System gave you a defender class," Tess continued. "It sees you as someone who protects people. That's not running away - that's standing between danger and the people you love."

Cass's eyes flicked toward Zavier, searching his father's face for some sign of what he really thought. Where others may have seen the worry and love, Cass's could only see disappointment in the weakness of son who could only run away. And why not? He's stuck with a son who can't pull his weight.

I'm such a fucking disappointment.

"I guess," Cass said. "I just wish that my most powerful skill so far wasn't something totally useless to everyone except me." Tess saw his eyes flick towards Zavier, trying to gauge his expression. When Zavier didn't respond his shoulders sagged and he leaned back into the couch. I'm such a fucking disappointment.