Chương 71: Chapter 72: Aftermath Part 2

The next morning I sought out Emily once I confirmed I was released from militia duty. Something I forgot to do the previous day. The bishop wanted me to head back to my homestead as soon as the wedding was done. Emily had been staying with the Collinses during the siege. I'd found out that Ben and Janice were both employed as intelligence agents for the bishop the previous night.

Their role as innkeepers helped provide cover for them to bring clandestine materials into Weston, as well as speak with agents that the bishop or mayor didn't want to be seen speaking with directly. They had probably known my suspected origins from the beginning, although I hadn't asked the bishop and I didn't plan to ask them either. It didn't change my opinion of them at all. As far as I could tell, they were good people and they'd been pleasant to me from the beginning.

Now that I was fully invested in this crazy clandestine conspiracy, or whatever it was, I hoped to mostly stay out of things as long as I could. But I was firmly on one side if it had to come down to something more serious on my part. It's also the one I probably would have chosen even if I had a choice. I hoped to live in this town for a very long time, so I wasn't looking to upset the people I would interact with for decades. When I got to the inn, it was around 8 a. m.

The kitchen was in full swing, providing breakfast to the militiamen on the walls. I asked if I could speak with Emily, but I ended up getting drafted to help haul water and keep the ovens stoked with coal for two solid hours. Once the morning breakfast rush was completed, I told the Collins's about the wedding the next day at noon, but they already knew about it and were preparing something special for the after-wedding lunch. Apparently, it was going to be a huge deal.

The mayor and bishop were using our wedding as a symbolic; hey we survived and life must go on kind of thing. It felt kind of scary, and most of the people in town had no idea I played a huge role in breaking the siege, but that didn't matter. Any couple getting married right now would have been used as an excuse to let off some steam. When we were finally done with the breakfast rush, we took a stroll through town.

I'd never seen anyone be particularly affectionate in public; this was a pretty reserved culture from what I could tell. But I offered Emily my arm, and she took it as we walked.

"So," I said.

"So indeed," Emily said, looking up at me with a smile. I smiled back at her and asked.

"You still want to get married? I must warn you I don't think we have much of a choice in the matter even if you don't." She snorted.

"That does seem to be the case. Well, fortunately I am still looking forward to it. How could I not now that you are also a war hero." I couldn't help myself. I burst out laughing, earning myself a few strange looks from people going about their daily activities. Very few people had left yet. The town wasn't packed, but most people were congregating around the center of town, so it didn't feel empty. I said, "Yeah, when we get home we can talk about all of that. Have you heard any of the details yet?"

She shook her head.

"No Janice just told me that Priest Lewys was insistent we are to be married tomorrow."

"Yeah," I said.

"But we will have significant company once we go home. And we will be going home in just a few days. Once the scouts declare it safe enough." She nodded but didn't say anything right away. We walked in companionable silence for a few more blocks before I finally said, "I truly do feel blessed that my life has taken this strange turn. I am looking forward to tomorrow, and the day after that, and that, and…" Emily laughed and swatted my shoulder as I kept going.

That was when I realized I hadn't seen a lot of pursed lips in a very long time. That was a good thing.

"Will we still do it the same way we would have on Samhain? We have our hands tied together then Priest Lewys does his thing then we drink from our wedding cup and we're married?" I asked.

"I believe so," said Emily. I do not see why it would be any different. Except after Janice said we will sit with the mayor, bishop, and Lewys at their table in the square."

"Fun times," I joked. We walked back towards the inn, and Emily gave me a peck on the cheek. After that, I went to town hall to get my new class. The military men all wanted me to speak with them first. Not that they could influence the class in any way. Once I was in my screen, no one could see what I'd done until after I was out of System Time. I made it to town hall at 10 a. m. sharp. Mayor Evans, the four Wall Captains, and Militia Captain Castell were all present.

My three accomplices in the battle were also present. Wizards Bruce, Rupert, and Neil. Bruce and Neil were immaculately dressed in red robes trimmed in gold. Their beards were neatly trimmed and their shoulder-length black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Wizard Rupert didn't bother to clean up even when he had the chance. He was shorter than the other two men by a wide margin. He was barely five foot-six while they stood over six feet tall. He looked more like an eclectic wizard from a fantasy book.

His beard reached halfway down his chest, and his long hair was loose and wild. He still wore the imperial wizard's robes, but they were wrinkled. They were clean, at least. He smiled and gave me a nod as he noticed me looking at him. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Once we got settled in, the mayor spoke in his own deep and aristocratic voice, "Mr Jacobson, we understand that you have gained a new military class.

Do you care to enlighten us as to what you believe the class will do?" I really need to see if that voice thing is a skill or perk. No way everyone is just walking around with a deep, pleasant to listen to voice!

"Yes," I said.

"Mayor, the description says it is called, Motorized Cavalry. Clearly it's intended to work with my tractor. Aside from that I won't know until I actually get into the class screen. Well, I guess maybe you guys know of a way to look at it without having to choose a class? If so, I don't know the way." Everyone in the room shook their heads. The mayor said, "I am afraid not. Once you click accept on a class, or an evolution, you are there until completion.

Since it is instantaneous to everyone around you, no one knows for sure exactly what happens while you're there. There have been many books written on the subject, but they're all rubbish as far as I'm concerned." He took a breath, then continued.

"Very well, if you would activate your class now, we want to know all of your available perks and skill options once you are done."

"Will do," I said, then I mentally clicked on my new class. Congratulations! You are the first person on Talamh to activate the new military class, Motorized Cavalry! As you most certainly already have inferred, this class is a special variation of the Cavalry class. It will provide buffs and skills to motorized vehicles you operate while in battle. Please note: This is a special class; it does not offer a subclass option. As such, each perk and skill is slightly more powerful than normal. This class requires mana!

Note: Most skills and some perks are only usable while you are considered to be in a battle situation. Thanks to your prior experience, you are now level 9. You have been given the following perks, and you may choose 1 more. Fuel Sipper - While in battle, you use 50% less fuel. Hardened Shell - While in battle, your external components become 20% more damage resistant. You may choose 1 more perk from among the following list, or you may choose to level up an existing perk.

Dread Aura - While in battle sight of your motorized vehicle inspires a fear effect that causes enemies to be 15% more likely to break and run. Inspiring Aura - While in battle the sight of your motorized vehicle gives your allies a 15% boost to their morale, causing them to be more likely to stay organized and continue fighting. Field Repairs - Repairs on mechanical and electrical components made during battle will last for the duration of a campaign (Note 1: These repairs are not retroactive. Note 2: A campaign is a sustained conflict against a specific entity, see almanac or quests for more detail,). Rapid Acceleration - While in battle you can reach your top speed 25% more quickly without causing extra stress on your machine. Traction - If you are using a vehicle that uses tracks for propulsion, you are 25% less likely to get stuck in muddy terrain. Well then. These all looked like perks I would like to have.

The two auras would be helpful, but I felt like if I was ever fighting out in the open with my tractor, people would be inspired by it, and enemies were already likely to be terrified. I wished I'd had the Field Repair skill already. I didn't know how long this campaign would go on, but it had to be for a while. Rapid Acceleration didn't really seem like a huge deal since my tractor could get to top speed pretty quickly already. The only perk might be less wear and tear.

The final perk, Traction, was the only one that didn't mention needing to be in battle. The class description said most perks and skills would only be available in battle, and the other four options all specifically mentioned it. This perk would be available all the time if I was reading it correctly. Field Repairs and Traction were the only two logical choices. In the end, I went with Traction because if I got stuck in the mud during the winter, my tractor would be stuck until it dried out.

It would take hundreds of horses to pull my massive tractor out of anything it got stuck in. After perks, I looked at my skill tree and saw my two options. Damage Shield - While in battle, you may use mana to create a magical shield that will protect your motorized vehicle from magical attacks. This shield will also negate magical attacks that affect terrain in a twenty-foot radius around your motorized vehicle as well. Note: The shield costs a minimum of 500 mana for 5 seconds of damage protection.

Each additional 100 mana provides 2 more seconds of damage protection. Please see the note in your almanac for the damage protection formula versus multiple mages. Magical Lance - While in battle, for 1, 000 mana, you can create a magical lance one foot in diameter that will project up to fifteen feet past the end of your motorized vehicle. This lance is extremely resistant to physical breakage, but it can be dispelled by an enemy magic user with the appropriate skill. By the System! Both skills were amazing!

I was one hundred percent certain that the group wanted me to choose both tier 1 skills so they could at least see what the second tier would be for both, but I hadn't outright told them I would, in case I didn't care for one. Since there were no subclasses, something I didn't even know was possible, it looked like one skill class went offensive and the other defensive. I chose both skills and saw the following Tier 2 options.

For tier 2 in the defensive category, I saw: Damage Reflect - While in battle up to 10% of all magical damage that your damage shield absorbs will be redirected at the caster. Magical Reinforcement - Any additional mana beyond the original 500 mana for a Mana Shield may be directed at specific areas of your vehicle to provide extra protection.

For this one, Damage Reflect seemed like the obvious choice, but I wondered if I could reinforce my treads and then have it do better, for longer against earth attacks or something. Since I wasn't choosing the skill right now, I could ask the Wizards about that. In the offensive skill tier 2, I saw: Ballista Bolt - During battle for 1, 000 mana, you can choose to shoot your magical lance in a straight line, up to one hundred yards. This is a magical attack that cannot be stopped by physical means.

Note 1: If fired at an unwarded city wall, it will continue through a city wall and any other physical, non-warded, object within a hundred yards. It will then dissipate once it has traveled one hundred yards. Note 2: If fired at a warded physical object, it will burn out any wards within a ten-foot radius of impact. Magic Slash - During battle, for 1, 000 mana, you may activate this skill, and a magical blade will slash out ten feet in a 180 degree arc from the front of your motorized vehicle.

This class was ridiculous. These two attacks felt as though they could be devastating. If they didn't cost a thousand mana, they would allow me to operate as a one-man wrecking ball. As it was, it could still be pretty devastating. I could put up a mana barrier, then still use a mana slash or lance. I would definitely look at going offensive for my next skill. Of course, I didn't really want to go to battle at any time, so I sincerely hoped I didn't get to level 10 anytime soon.

I finalized my perk and skill and then told the men in the room what my class entailed: Combat Class: Motorized Cavalry Level 9 Perks: Fuel Sipper - While in battle, you use 50% less fuel. Hardened Shell - While in battle, your external components become 20% more damage resistant. Traction - If you are using a vehicle that uses tracks for propulsion, you are 25% less likely to get stuck in muddy terrain.

Skills: Damage Shield - While in battle, you may use mana to create a magical shield that will protect your motorized vehicle from magical attacks. This shield will also negate magical attacks that affect terrain in a twenty-foot radius around your motorized vehicle as well. Note: The shield costs a minimum of 500 mana for 5 seconds of damage protection. Each additional 100 mana provides 2 more seconds of damage protection. Please see the note in your almanac for the damage protection formula versus multiple mages.

Magical Lance - While in battle, for 1, 000 mana, you can create a magical lance one foot in diameter that will project up to fifteen feet past the end of your motorized vehicle. This lance is extremely resistant to physical breakage, but it can be dispelled by an enemy magic user with the appropriate skill. You have 211/596 XP to reach level 10