An Assassin's Anthem

Riley stretched. Yawning, she sat up and looked around the stone room. Her outfit shifted to a yellow dress. “Yellow? They’ll see me.”

[You’ll be fine. ~Beauty]

Shaking her head, Riley looked through her notices.

[Assassin (C) has advanced: 190 → 192!]

[Bard (C) has advanced: 190 → 192!]

[Ranger (C) has advanced: 215 → 217!]

[Spell Thief (C) has advanced: 190 → 192!]

[Noble (D) has advanced: 252 → 253!]

[Infiltrator (E) has advanced: 42 → 61!]

[Alchemist (E) has advanced: 127 → 131!]

[Quest: Aid the sick or wounded. Progress: 0 → 129]

Riley cleared them away and looked across the room. Lucas was dozing at his desk, and Roger tied his boots.

“Good morning, Dad,” Riley said, standing up and yawning.

“Good morning.” Roger stood and stretched.

“Where’d you go?” Riley asked, tilting her head.

“Hunting. They overreached, and we managed to cut down a good number of their troops.”

“I need a crystal.” Riley held out her hand. “I’m merging some skills and may need it.”

Roger smiled and handed one to her.

Holding it close, Riley brought it into alignment and willed Healing Touch into Restoring Presence. The two surged and merged.

[Restoring Presence(D) + Healing Touch(D) → Restoring Presence (C). +1 to the assigned class. Subjects regain 1 stamina and 1 mana every 30 minutes; their healing is augmented by 25%. Allies within 50 meters count as subjects. You know of injuries and may use mana to heal allies within fifty meters. You may use inspiration to expand and increase the effect.]

Riley looked at it. That’s useful. She smiled and looked down at the crystal.

Roger held out his hand. She handed it to him.

“How’s the spirit?” Roger asked, raising a brow. “You’ve pushed fast.”

“Fine. Thanks for keeping those safe.” She stood and headed for the door. Walking into the hall, she looked out at the clean room. They’ve been busy.

Exiting the offices, she turned and walked toward the kitchens.

“Good morning,” Michael said, walking up with a smile. “Sleep well?”

“Well enough,” Riley replied, striding through the open door and into the bustling dining area. Soldiers sat and stood everywhere. The tables that had survived were packed.

Joining the line of people waiting to eat, she looked at the group. A positive energy filled the air. Soldiers ate gruel and chatted with grins even as they ate from plates still held in their hands.

Riley turned. “How far did you push last night?”

“We made it to their fort, smashed the gate in, and got some skills off.” Roger smiled crookedly.

“Did we take it?” Riley asked.

Roger shook his head. “No, no. We didn’t make it inside the gate. The knights didn’t want to risk it. Instead, we smashed it open and fired inside before retreating.” He smiled. “Did you get a new skill? That strange lightning?”

“It’s a new spell. I’m trying to figure out exactly which runes I can swap in and out.” Riley smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know if it’ll be good, but we’ll see.”

“It seemed to work well enough. It may not have killed anyone, but just getting them to run helped.” Roger patted her on the shoulder. “It’s good to have you back.”

Riley smiled and turned back to the line. A chill rippled through the air. The room went quiet, and she turned. “Dad,” she whispered.

Roger frowned and searched.

Riley grabbed for her spellbook and conjured a blade. Why does it feel like there’s a wraith around? She frowned. Did the gods know? Is that why I got this quest?

[There was a high probability. ~Nature]

“Lady Riley!” Michael shouted. “We need you.”

Riley spun and triggered Ambush, jumping outside. Jogging up to the steps, she followed the ranger up to the rampart.

Peeking her head up, she grimaced. Black and red clouds were rolling over the field. A chill clung to the air. They’re making a blood field? Her stomach churned as dread churned through her.

“Can you stop it?” Michael asked.

Riley reached for it and found nothing. Where’s the spell? Is it happening somewhere else? She frowned. “I don’t think so.”

“Condemn it.” Michael spun and whistled, letting the ringing noise carry into the courtyard. Soldiers looked up, and commanders started barking orders.

The clouds gathered above. Red lightning crackled, smashing into the ground and revealing a pool of blood. A smokey form began coalescing, and Riley paled.

“Do what you can to help with the wraiths,” Michael said. He turned and began barking orders.

How do you stop this? Flipping open her book, she looked at the notes she’d made for her spell. Disregarding the psychic, she focused on the other two, carefully working through the series of runes.

“Riley?” Michael asked. He pulled down an arrow. “Any ideas?”

“Busy,” Riley mumbled. She focused on the runes.

Michael nocked the arrow and looked at the smoke coalescing everywhere.

Riley looked up and ignited the runes in her mind. Time slowed. Everything stopped moving, and she felt the magic surge around her. Pouring her magic into it, she reached out to the swirling storm of magic above. Fire with fire. She willed her storm out.

Purple and black clouds began churning through the red. A blast of red lightning hit the ground and began coalescing, forming a being of shadow.

Riley watched her storm reply in kind. Purple lightning crackled and hit the wraith. It burst in an explosion of shadow. Why can’t I stop it? She flipped through her book. To steal a spell, one must reach out and connect with both spell and mind…

She jerked up and frowned. Where is the necromancer? Has the spell already happened? A sickening feeling flooded through her. How many did they kill?

Red lightning met purple, and a boom of thunder rippled through the area.

Riley turned. “We need to find the necromancer.”

“Yes. The knights are working on it,” the magus said, walking forward. “I’ll command the druids to begin cleansing if you can help keep the wraiths at bay.” She paused and raised a brow.

“Do it fast. I can’t keep the storm forever.”

The magus nodded and jogged to the tower.

Riley turned. “Why don’t I know anything about them?”

“Most don’t. They’re dark things that require sacrifice. I was hoping you knew a trick. The old way requires druids to cleanse the place. That kicks up wraiths.” Michael sighed.

Riley turned back to the storm. So, focus on the wraiths. She flipped the pages in her book.

A wraith billowed out of the storm, lightning cracked through it, and it wailed. The sound rippled through the fort, sending soldiers racing to position.

With his arrow glowing, Michael fired. Riley watched the glowing arrow slam into the wraith. It wailed and exploded into a burst of smoke. A breeze whipped by, and Riley looked out at her storm. I have half my mana. Do I use it on this?

Watching the snaking lightning, Riley dumped the rest of her mana into her storm. It surged. The wind picked up, gusting across the field, and purple lightning snaked through everything. It rippled through clouds, wraiths, and the ground.

The soldiers on the wall began firing glowing arrows into any wraiths that escaped the storm.

Riley conjured her blades and waited for anything to get close. A wraith flickered forward, and she threw. Her transparent blades ripped through it at the same moment as an arrow. It exploded.

Conjuring them again, she heard steps and looked over.

Roger handed her a small biscuit. Riley took it and started eating while watching the surrounding people.

Nocking an arrow, Roger pulled back the bow and waited.

A knight began barking orders, coordinating the nearby archers. He paced down the line and tapped. Each archer fired into the next wraith. If it survived, the line shot again.

Watching them, Riley ate. They’re more coordinated. She looked out at her storm. Wraiths continued to snake through the lightning and were shot down.

Finishing off her breakfast, Riley looked over. “Dad? How far can you throw?”

“Far enough,” Roger said, turning toward her with a quirked brow.

Riley conjured her blades and handed them to him. Roger took them and stared. “They feel strange.” He turned and flung them, sending them ripping through an escaping wraith.

Conjuring them again, Riley handed them to him. “They’re not quite real. They’ll go through stuff and do psychic damage. Though sometimes that seems enough to cause real wounds on people.”

“Likely because they believe it.” Roger turned. “How many can you summon?” he asked, sending them blurring out into the storm, where they sliced through a forming wraith.

“No cost,” Riley whispered. “They last six seconds after thrown.” She handed him another set of blades, and he launched the blades into a forming smoke cloud.

The army fell into a rhythm. Commanders rotated down their line of troops. Arrows flew, and Roger volleyed dagger after dagger. Riley contently took up her role, handing off daggers and watching the kill count slowly grow.

Her storm flickered out; the last of the mana burned away. Condemnation. Riley looked at it and swallowed. We’re in trouble now.

A roar filled the air, and a dozen balls of fire blasted out into the field.

“Thanks for buying us time, Lady Riley,” a knight said as he walked up with a grin.

Riley’s eyes remained locked on the spreading balls of fire that exploded and bathed the place in flame. Moments later, a half-dozen surging balls of green energy shot forward and slammed into the ground. The blood began vanishing, sinking back into the ground.

“I think we just made history,” the knight said, chuckling.

Riley looked at her quest.

[Quest: Kill any wraiths you encounter. Progress: 43 → 118.]

Riley spun and looked at him. “Pardon. What was your name, sir?”

“Knight Travis, at your service. I’m a paladin first and foremost.” He bowed and smiled. “Thanks for the cover. Wraiths are nasty business.”

“She knows,” Roger replied, turning and raising a brow. “The necromancer?”

“We’ll arrange a hunting party.” Travis turned. “Thank you, Lady Riley. How are you faring?”

Riley looked back across the field. The druids were destroying any trace of the magic. “I’m out of mana. Call me if needed, but I won’t be able to do much.” Turning, she headed down the steps and made her way toward the barracks.

Clouds gathered overhead, and Riley grimaced while jogging inside. Today is not going to be fun. She hurried to her room and heard the thunder boom outside. Taking a seat in her room, she pulled out her books.

Riley Milvsky

Level: 266

Bard (C)

Level: 192 + 1

Dominating Presence D Enemies within sixty meters of you lose 10 strength, 10 dexterity, and 10 speed. You may use inspiration to boost the range and the effect temporarily.

Spirit Blade C +1 level to assigned class. Manifest an ethereal blade of psychic energy that will vanish after thirty seconds or six seconds after being thrown. Costs one stamina or one mana to manifest a blade.

Restoring Presence C Subjects regain 1 stamina and 1 mana every half hour; their healing is augmented by 25%. Allies within 50 meters count as subjects. You may use mana to send out a burst of healing. You may use inspiration to expand and increase the effect.

Empowering Presence D Your subjects gain +10 strength, +10 dexterity, and +10 movement speed; allies within twenty meters count as subjects. You may use Bardic Inspiration to temporarily boost the range and the effect.

Assassin (C)

Level: 192 + 12

Assume Disguise S +30 charisma. Enhance your current disguise by altering your displayed information and taking on the disguised form. Grants +5 levels to the assigned class. Perception and Insight suffer -250 levels against your disguise and -50 levels against your deception or stealth. Penalty applied: Gods’ Oversight.

Momentous Tempo B +10 speed. This boost will increase to up to +100 for every ten seconds you are in motion. Slowing in any way will reduce the effect. +2 levels to assigned class. You may use a charge of inspiration to boost your movement speed by an additional 10 for a minute.

Death's Cloak A Slain enemies will grant experience to your base level and active classes. +3 levels to the assigned class. Perception and insight suffer -25 levels against you. Penalty applied: Covenant.

Ambush B +10 speed. +2 levels to the assigned class. Costs one stamina to use. On use, you teleport to a shadow within 20 meters. Penalty applied: Covenant.

Ranger (C)

Level: 217

Predatory Sight D Your perception and insight are boosted by 25. This boost is not reduced by low light or no light. You may use 1 stamina to double this effect for 10 seconds.

Control Water E Manipulate the water around you. Cost varies based on amount.

Pretty D Your appearance is nice, but it could be so grand. Use a mana to get Beauty’s help! She may provide it anyway. Oh, and you’ll stand out in a crowd! After all, everyone knows a Beauty.

Music's Lute - You may summon this lute from the heavens. It will return to the heavens when you will it away.

Spell Thief (C) Level: 192 Inactive.

Noble (D)

Level: 253 Inactive.

Enchanter (F)

Level: 53 Inactive.

Alchemist (D)

Level: 131 Inactive.

Infiltrator (E)

Level: 61 Inactive.

- -

Conjure Storm D Manipulate or conjure up a storm. Mana cost varies.

Conjure Potion D Create a potion. Cost varies based on the potion type and requirements.

Dexterity 1146

Strength 532

Speed 441

Intelligence 532

Charisma 755

Stamina 953

Mana 1135

Inspiration 459