Chương 20: Spears

"So, I see you managed to work up the nerve, Dragonfly. Good for you." Serene greeted her two companions as they arrived at the teahouse they had chosen for the day's meeting. It was two days since Kite had returned to the city, and the trio had decided to meet up for the simple joy of companionship. Both Dragonfly and Kite froze, half seated.

"Please, you two. Fourfold aura, remember? The way Dragonfly's aura shuddered every time we spoke about you in your absence, it was not hard to deduce. And now you both seem rather serene, if you don't mind the wordplay." she finished with a chiming laugh.

"Serene!" Dragonfly hissed.

"How dare you break the sanctity of girl-talk?"

"I believe the results indicate that Kite seems to be quite aware of your… urges, dear. I'm more surprised that you didn't come in here brandishing him over your head as a trophy." Kite broke down in snorting laughter at Dragonfly's look of choked indignation, and took the opportunity to break into the conversation and forestall any more attempt at objections from his spluttering companion.

"I can, with a clear conscience and dignified respect for privacy, confirm that Dragonfly is an exemplary companion for aura training. The method is quite… enjoyable, so I can recommend that you give it some consideration if you ever find yourself a worthy person for such an endeavor, Serene." he said with mock formality.

"Yeah, I bet even you could benefit from some company, Serene. Is there maybe anyone special in your life which makes your song a bit unsteady?" Dragonfly chimed in, quick to jump on the opportunity to change the subject of said conversation. Serene smiled primly.

"I assure you that my standards are quite high in that regard. While I can respect a more… casual approach, I feel that it is quite important to be highly selective. Most importantly, if the person in question cannot sing to a decent standard, he or she would simply not be worth my time and attention." They continued that particular line of conversation for a while, Dragonfly bombarding Serene with different 'matches', each worse than the previous.

After one collective laugh at a particular outlandish suggestion where Serene should woo a priest of Purity with a song purer than even his god, Kite called them back to order.

"Before we go too far into the realms of heresy, I believe we have a bit of strategizing to do. I hope to have procured my final three awakening stones the day after tomorrow. Afterwards, I will need to spend some time familiarizing myself with the new pieces of my path. Both Uncle Walker and master Stone put great emphasis on that particular process. I thought the best way to do so would be to take some contracts. A lot of contracts. And I would ask if you both wanted to join me.

I think we would all benefit from more practice in fighting together, especially with the upcoming venture that our 'mysterious' benefactor has planned. Think of it as learning to merge our paths when the need arises. And besides, I'm always happier when I am with you." he added, the honest appreciation seeming to slip out of his subconscious yet again. His companions gave each other a knowing smile, Kite being Kite. Dragonfly spoke up first.

"I for one got another awakening stone from Master Force before she left, so I'm only missing one. If I can join you when you meet the scholars of the society, I can pick out the last one. As long as you help me with the ritual, I'm all yours afterwards. For contracts. Fighting monsters. Travel and violence." The last part she added quite insistently, retorting with a flat look as Serene's facade was slipping into a grin due to her particular choice of words.

"I would like to join you as well." Serene confirmed.

"My temple has given me leave, and my songs will reach the goddess from wherever I may find myself."

"Then it's settled. In just a few days, our journey towards the heavens truly begins." Kite said with an expectant smile, after which he rose from their table.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting which only said heavens knows what will come of it" During his time in Gilded after he joined the Adventure Society, Kite had regularly spotted a rather curious notice in the trade pavilion. It was a note announcing that the one who posted was looking for awakening stones of the spear, offering generous compensation. Over the coming months, he had seen it again several times.

Every time he saw it, there had been an increasing sense of urgency as its wording became even more insistent and the promised rewards even grander. Kite was not all that surprised that it had not been an easy search for whomever had made the listings. While the awakening stone of the spear was not a rare one, most people around the more provincial Autumn lands tended either to use any awakening stones themselves or kept them for future family members or children.

Only the richest or most influential had the amount of resources and contacts to find specific stones at their leisure, and Kite doubted that they would need to go through something so mundane as a notice board at the Adventure Society. That was why Kite's surprise went through the roof as he found himself seated opposite the very image of a young, influential scion. The young elf was a tall and handsome man, probably a year or two older than Kite.

His clothing was of impeccable make in silk the colors of a deep, rich red which nicely complemented his golden hair. He had an iron-rank aura, like Kite's own, but a confidence Kite had come to associate with the wealthy and the powerful in the admittedly small number of dealings with other adventurers of that background. Kite had contacted a functionary of the trade pavilion regarding the notice, as he had not one but two awakening stones of the spear on hand.

As the functionary had disappeared to deliver the message, he had expected to be provided a time and date for a meeting. Kite had been quite bewildered as a portal had sprung into existence a few meters away before the functionary even had the time to return. From the portal, the young elf now seated before Kite had emerged, accompanied by a bronze-rank escort who was clad in the crisp, black robes of a close family servant.

The older elf had black hair combed back to neatly cover his head, and stood impassive behind his younger charge as the very embodiment of his role. When they had emerged, it had looked like the younger man had been engaged in rather intense battle mere moments before stepping into the portal. This was quickly alleviated as the servant had tipped a bottle of crystal wash over his charge, leaving him in the pristine state Kite was currently looking at.

"Well then, outcast! I was overjoyed to finally have someone take me up on my most generous offer. I must admit I am surprised that a person of lower means would be willing to part with these treasures. As you are the first to respond to my offer, I must assume that it is not a common occurrence. I had to drop everything to see if my luck had finally turned." Despite his words, Kite only felt joy and excitement from the young man, as opposed to the thinly-veiled scorn he had expected.

"Maybe not every young master is the same." he mused silently to himself before speaking.

"I have indeed the requested stone you seek, young master." Kite said, choosing the way of cordiality to preserve the pleasant tone of the exchange. No point in needlessly aggravating the man, after all. He produced the aforementioned stone and put it down on the table, to the visible delight of the young man.

"See there, Grim!" the young master exclaimed to his servant.

"I knew that turning to the free agents of the lands might pay dividends. The look on father's face will be something to treasure, once he sees that I am one step closer to my goal!"

"Young master, I believe that your father only wishes what he thinks is best for you." the servant, Grim, answered in the tired voice of repetition.

"And I believe in my path, Grim. As should he. If he only knew that I am but one step away from-" He froze, mutely staring at the second stone Kite had just produced and put beside the first.

"Would the young master be on the lookout for more than one stone? Fortune favored me recently, as I found the pair in an old armory out in some ruins." Kite explained, trying to interpret the sudden silence. The silence in question was suddenly broken when the young master leapt from his chair. Kite almost thought himself under attack, but as he sensed no hostility from the other iron-ranker's aura, he managed to forestall activating his barrier.

He remained seated as the young elf threw himself on his knees in front of Kite, taking one of his hands in both of his.

"Outcast, what is your name?" He asked, gravity in his voice.

"Ehm. Kite. Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune. But just Kite is fine."

"A most auspicious name, since you have brought me true fortune indeed! If I may purchase these two stones for you, my path will be complete. After all this time, I can truly march toward the heavens! Ofcourse, you will be greatly rewarded, both in worldly treasures and in the undying gratitude of me, Triumph of Indomitable Will. Thanks to your help, the heavens will have no choice but to recognize me as the Saint of Spears! But please, call me Will! I can already ascertain that we were fated to meet!

""Indomitable…" Kite answered faintly.

"As in-""Yes, yes. My father is the city lord, Indomitable March of Glaciers." Will said with a dismissive gesture.

"Young master, I am sorry for any discou-""Nonsense dear- Kite, was it? As of this day, you are my friend! I will only be known as Will to your lips. But please Kite, will you sell these to me? Will you complete my path? Complete me?" the young elf asked.

"Is this how Dragonfly feels when she calls me all earnest?" Kite thought to himself, slightly flustered by both the directness and rather unfortunate phrasing of the man before him. He could see a growing, if tired, displeasure on the manservant as well, who took the silence to speak up.

"Young master, I must once again ask you to reconsider. Think of the stones your father procured for you at great cos-""Ah, Grim, you are brilliant as always!" Will exclaimed happily. Reaching into a pocket he withdrew a small, dark stone which he put on the table. Kite instantly recognized the kind of fathomless depth in that darkness. WWJS: [Item] Awakening stone of the Void Unranked - Legendary An awakening stone containing the power of nothingness.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Void…" he breathed.

"Ah, so you have heard of it. It is most rare, I assure you. Would that stone suffice as trade for the pair?" Will asked with a grin. Meanwhile, his manservant seemed to be having a fit which he barely managed to mask.

"Young master?! Surely you cannot? Do you know the worth of tha-""Oh I have a vague idea, Grim. And I know my father said that I wasn't allowed to sell it. That I 'had to realize this foolishness on my own, and that I would receive no help from him on the matter'. Now I have the chance to do just that. You cannot put a price on one's path. And besides, he did not forbid me to trade it, now did he?" The young elf finished with a grin of triumph.

"Is it acceptable, Kite?"

"Well, I…" Kite said, taking in both men waiting with baited breath. The younger barely contained his excitement while the older had an almost pleading look in his eyes.

"Sorry, Grim." Kite thought. Opportunity into fortune.

"I accept, young ma- Will." Kite said, changing from the title to the name at a glare from the young elf. He could see Grim draw a resigned breath before his professional facade returned. Will, on the other hand, joyously leapt from his chair while almost throwing the dark stone toward Kite as he reached for the pair Kite was offering him.

"Kite, I can feel it. The beginning of a most fortunate friendship. Knowing you will bring me many great things. I can indeed feel it. Praise be all gods and heavens!" Will continued, ecstatic.

"If you don't mind me asking, Will, why were these two stones important? And how come you couldn't get them by other means?" It took a little while for the overjoyed scion to calm down and actually answer his question.

"Ah, a most reasonable question, Kite. It all began when I was sixteen-" he began telling as if it was the beginning of an epic tale.

"I will go procure some refreshments." Grim announced, apparently expecting this tale to be rather lengthy. Over the next two hours, Kite was regaled with the story of how Will came to walk this particular path. As the fifth child of the city lord, he was given some leeway of freedom regarding his path as opposed to the often very strict cultivation of many young scions. He had apparently chosen a path, and a most singular one at that.

Will's favorite tales when growing up had been the ones telling of the Saint of Spears. Storied to have lived two thousand years ago, she had been a paragon of the art of spear fighting and led an exciting life of adventure. Her great deeds had earned her the moniker, and immortalized her name. Apparently, Will's fascination for the stories had him adamant about following in her footsteps and picking up her mantle. But not just in name.

No, the young elf decided to become one with the spear on a level unheard of in all the lands. That was why he had chosen the spear, adept and pure essences, resulting in the master confluence. But his envisioned path had not ended there, and it was here that his troubles also had begun. When Will had resolved to become the spear, he truly meant to take it all the way. As such, he vowed to only awaken powers using the awakening stones of the spear.

This was dismissed by his father and trainers as the foolishness of youth, but as the young man quickly began using his funds and influence to procure such stones, the city lord had decided to step in. He had cut Will off from using any of the family's considerable fortunes for such an endeavor, even forbidding him to sell his possessions. Thinking that the delay in completing his set of powers would make the boy see reason, he thought the matter settled.

What did it matter if Will took a year or so extra to finish his awakenings after all? He did, however, underestimate how much Triumph of Indomitable Will would live up to his name. Over four years, Will had used all of his personal resources he had saved up from before the restrictions to procure the stones. While it had taken time, he had not faltered, and eventually accumulated fourteen of the sixteen stones he would need. But the last year had seen a disturbing lack of progress.

Will even suspected that his father might have tried to procure every available stone in the region, a claim vehemently protested by Grim. But now, Kite had been his saving grace. With these last two stones, his path would finally be complete.

"... and besides, even the heavens themselves have blessed my path, as I was gifted a racial gift evolution to further enhance special attacks." Will stated proudly. Kite, who had just finished a rather savory meat bun provided by Grim, swallowed the last mouthful before asking:"So, what have your powers been like? I believe it safe to assume that a lot of spears are involved?" he asked, curious. Will paused before sizing up the young man in front of him.

"Would you like a demonstration?" Both young men were sitting on the floor of one of the practice yards outside on the Adventure Society campus, panting with exhaustion. Myriads of spears of all shapes and sizes still seemed to swim before Kite's vision. Will had truly not lied when boasting of his singular path. There had been spear strikes of every kind, thrown spears, floating spears appearing in the air to strike at Kite or be used at will by his opponent.

One of the more outlandish powers had been when Will was rapidly carried forward on a wave of spears emerging from the ground. He had even summoned wings. Of spears. While not providing true flight, they had allowed great leaps before launching spears in all directions when landing. While the power set might have sounded spectacularly single-minded, Kite had to give it to Will.

His elven affinity for spells and increased mana pool combined with the evolved affinity for special attacks resulted in a surprisingly varied set of powers, even if the fulcrum of said powers always were spears of some kind. Will became an aggressive, relentless attacker. He even had an ability which increased his speed depending on the number of spears summoned and present. On top of that, he was skilled. Very skilled.

While his father seemed to have wanted to curtail his son's single-minded focus, he had not begrudged him proper teachers. Kite was proud that he had held his own quite well, his abilities constantly breaking the young noble's flow and periodically removing the amount of spears which were accumulating on the battlefield.

In the end, Will's skill and aggressive style had prevailed before Kite could land any decisive attacks, albeit that he had held off on his two finishers, the power of his familiar and the one awakened from his gift from master Stone, in fear of actually hurting his new friend. While it had mostly been Will who had talked of friendship, Kite couldn't help but like the young scion. He was vain and privileged, but somehow remained likable as he truly never seemed to mean ill in words or actions.

And he had a drive which was rather infectious. Kite thought he wouldn't mind being Will's friend, resolved to keep it to himself and his closest friends. He did not want to risk getting mixed up in the politicking of the mighty. They were both utterly spent after their bout, which had been overseen by Grim in stoic silence.

"Well, Kite. You fight very well for an outcast. And I mean no disrespect when I say that your powers might make you the most aggravating foe I've ever sparred with." Will said with a wide smile.

"One of my aunties back home predicted that I might leave that impression." Kite answered, still winded.

"And I think that you may truly become what you aspire to be, Will. When I hear of your name in the future, I will announce to any who might listen that I've had the honor of crossing blades with you."

"If I may impose, young master, I believe it is time to return. And to call on the family ritualists…" Grim said, resignation once again rising to the surface during the last part.

"Ah, you are right Grim. You usually are." Will exclaimed, missing the incredulous look given him by both Kite and Grim. He turned to Kite and helped him to his feet.

"Farewell for now, Kite. May your winds of fortune bring us together again soon!" Kite gave him a tired wave as Grim opened a portal, looking like a round disc of glass inside a translucent arch. The pair left, and Kite sat contemplative in the silence that followed.

"That was definitely not what I expected from this meeting."

"Enter." a strong voice called. The lavishly decorated sliding doors opened as Grim entered, crossing the lacquered wooden floor to the source of the voice.

"My lord." Grim said with a deep bow.

"It is done." City lord Indomitable March of Glaciers was a regal elf with the almost unearthly look of most silver rankers. Like his son, he had blonde hair which he kept in a tight knot held in place with two long hairpins which gleamed like crystal. Only at touch would most realize that they were made of ice. He sighed in response to Grim's words.

"The boy truly lives up to his name. I should have foreseen this outcome, yet I still had hope. But the heavens grant us not the lessons we want but the lessons we need. I will ponder this in my meditations. As of now, you may lift all restrictions on Will's access to the family resources. If he insists on being the spear, we might as well make him the sharpest one."

"It shall be done, my lord." Grim answered, bowing again.

"Did he at least return the awakening stone? The price for it was steep, and I had hoped that its novelty would have been able to sway him in the end." Grim hesitated, and his lord could feel his trepidation in his aura. Lord Indomitable sighed even louder this time.

"Speak freely, Grim. What did he do?"

"He traded it, lord. There was an outcast adventurer who had procured two of the stones your son sought. Your son offered the stone of the void in trade for them. The outcast seemed to recognize it for what it was and might at least have had a hint of its rarity and value."

"Do you think he will sell it?"

"I do not, my lord. The meeting actually ended with the young ones sparring, which gave me a substantial glimpse of the outcasts powers. I think it safe to assume that one of his essences is the very same as the stone. And from what I read of his aura, I believe he was genuinely grateful for the stone itself for the value to his path, not its monetary value."

"This outcast. Tell me more about him." lord Indomitable requested. After listening to Grim's recollection and thoughts regarding Kite's actions and ability, the lord nodded.

"Interesting. See if you can find out more. Discreetly. He is of little relevance to us now, but he has a rather unique path. I have never heard of its likeness. It would not hurt to know of such an adventurer if he continues to distinguish himself. Our family might need his particular path one day."

"I take it you do not want to try and recover the stone before he uses it, my lord?"

"No. Will was given it, and he used a loophole, albeit of questionable quality, along with it to further his goals. I will trust that the heavens had a plan in this most fortuitous encounter for my son. You may leave, Grim. And tell Will that I request to dine with him this evening." Grim bowed low, before leaving the city lord in contemplative silence. Kite felt a twinge of excitement as he looked down at the two stones before him.

His and Dragonfly's scheduled meeting with Adelaide and the scholars of the Adventure Society had been fruitful, albeit slightly lengthy as the pair's abilities were always disseminated at length. In the end, Kite had received the awakening stones of wisp and balance which were two stones of the uncommon rarity.

The first had been chosen as it stemmed from wisp-type monsters famous for their mana-draining abilities, while the second had been chosen for its wide scope and tendency to balance out some deficiencies in a power set if used as one of the last. Dragonfly had gone with an awakening stone of the feast, in the hopes for more options of restoring her own resources as her path often took her to balancing on a knife's edge.

This meant that every trick that allowed her to nudge that balance in a desired direction was very precious. Kite took the chance to thank Adelaide as she accompanied them on their way out.

"Thank you again, Adelaide. And please give my thanks to the director again as well. I may only have an inkling of how precious all these stones are, but that inkling still leaves me awed by your generosity."

"The director wouldn't have chosen you, Kite, if he didn't have faith that you would be a worthwhile investment. Believe me, we are going to have plenty of work around here over the upcoming decade." she added with a wink. Kite smiled in response. Not joining a sect or other organization for the upcoming decade had been an easy promise to make. He didn't doubt that he would be paying with a lot of hard work in the future though.

"We all have to temper our paths somehow, so might as well be through contracts." he responded, remembering a question he hadn't yet put into words.

"But you probably won't be here to see most of it, if I'm not mistaken? How much longer is your contract keeping you here?"

"Just two more years." she said with a wistful smile.

"Don't get me wrong, I have at least enjoyed part of my service here. And it was probably the only way I could get the full set of awakening stones. The clan hierarchy back home is rather strict, so we'd have to lose a lot of young talent before I would have been next in turn."

"What will you do then? When you return, I mean?" Dragonfly asked, curious.

"Probably stay a while to catch up with my family. After that, I will probably leave looking for work. It is time for me to have some adventurers of my own." she answered with a wink. They went their separate ways, Kite and Dragonfly heading for the elevating platform.

"We are just some rituals away from having the complete set. It feels satisfyingly momentous." Kite stated as they were on the way down.

"Yeah." Dragonfly acquiesced.

"And after that comes the fun part."

"Practicing aura techniques?" She giggled.

"I was actually going to say contracts. Lots of contracts. But there will probably be plenty of time for practice as well. I'll make sure of that." she finished, bumping the side of her hip into his.