Cass and company met at the city gates. That company had greatly increased while Cass hadn't been looking. Alyx, Kelstor, Telis, and Marco stood at the edge of a collection of wagons.

Telis spoke with a portly man in a leather vest and a tri-pointed and feathered hat, ironing out the last details for the trip.

Caravan Master

Lvl 31

[The owner and leader of a caravan company. This man has seen more of the world than most, from dusty roads between great cities to hidden pathways across the vast Continent.]

It had been five days since meeting the duchess. Six since her rescue from the cultists. Long enough for her injuries to heal but not for her Health to bounce back.

Given her low Health, they had decided that it made more sense to travel with a group from Velillia to Brighchess. They would be one of three groups protecting the dozen or so non-combatant groups braving the wilds between the cities.

The group would travel overland from Velillia to Belden, where they'd embark on an aethership to cross the Sea of Spires, resupplying in Myratos along the way.

Cass shifted back and forth impatiently. Would Robin or Kaye be in Myratos or at the end of this journey? Odds were good they'd be in one of them. Unless she was wrong about the motivations of the gods.

"This'll be easy," Alyx said, noticing Cass's fidgeting. "There aren't that many monsters this close to Velillia. You'll have plenty of time to finish recovering before we run into anything you need to worry about."

"Oh, no," Cass shook her head. Alyx had clearly misunderstood Cass's anxiety.

"Bandits should take one look at Kelstor and let us past. Only the truly foolish or powerful would bother challenging a caravan protected by a Dragon Knight," Alyx continued.

Oh. Right. Bandits.

"Once we're in the aether, we can expect leviathans. Maybe pirate fleets too."

And pirates. People. Cass suppressed a grimace. She'd killed already. What were a few more.

"But, you should focus on your recovery. You're listed as a guard, but I fully intend to shoulder that responsibility by myself for our group."

"Alyx." Cass sighed.

"What's that?" Marco asked, nudging Alyx's side. "You aren't thinkin' of making me hang back."

"I don't know why you're even coming," Alyx huffed.

He laughed loudly. "Where else would I go?"

Alyx looked away. "That's for you to decide, isn't it?" She coughed. She produced a bundle from Kelstor's saddlebags. "Anyway. I have stuff for Cass."

Alyx shoved the bundle into Cass's hands.

Cass unwrapped it, revealing a set of blue-tinted armor. A bird with a key clutched in its feet took flight across the breastplate, over her heart. A cat stretched along the back panel. Swirls reminiscent of gusting wind were etched over the arm and leg guards and were inset with dozens of purple dime-sized crystals.

Cass's Bluesteel Armor

Class: Light armor (Armor)

[Armor repaired and reforged for Cass Yuan, engraved with her loved ones so her goals may always be close at heart.

Crafted from bluesteel, inscribed with protective runes by an engraver approaching the Gate, and inset with mana crystals, this is a set of lightweight armor designed for a low Fortitude mage.

+ 2 Effective Fortitude to covered areas.

+ 3 additional Effective Fortitude to areas covered by both mail and plate.

+ 50 mana storage.]

Cass's breath caught in her throat. "They remembered what I asked for." Cass's hand traced the bird's neck. It wasn't quite a robin as she knew the bird. Earth robins didn't have quite that voluminous tail feathers or anything like talons like this bird did. Cass couldn't say if that was simply stylization or a difference in breed.

"The way we stormed out, I'm sure it was hard for Xri to forget." Alyx looked away, her face flushing.

You had them engrave me on your armor? Salos snorted from her shoulder.

You think it's stupid, Cass sighed.

Salos chuckled. I did not say that.

I can feel it, Cass muttered.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Well, Salos looked away. It's a very sentimental thing to have done.

A breath of satisfaction floated across their bond beneath heavy embarrassment.

"There is this too," Alyx said, holding out a long staff.

The wood was familiar: almost white, with a soft blue undertone, the smooth wood crisscrossed with engraved patterns first cut by an amateur. But it had been transformed. No longer was it in two pieces. The segments had been joined in the center with a large, fist-sized jewel—the Stormcaller Stone. It had been cut and polished until it shone. Its matte, dusk-colored finish had been replaced with the sparkling blue-purple of where the night sky met the fire of the setting sun.

Around it, the smiths had set a collection of swirling mana crystals, all of it held in place by silver metal, binding and reinforcing the break in the wood into a cohesive whole.

The runes Cass had carved into the wood had been further refined, her amateur carvings smoothed and expanded into a twisting design of reaching vines and gusting winds. Black and silver powder were painted into the etchings, making them sparkle against the light wood.

Stormtamer's Staff

Class: Staff

[Crafted from Zerden Madrone and Elysian crystal, this staff was made to tame the violent storms of the Fractured Skies. Wind and lightning powers course through this weapon.

+3 Effective Str when channeling forces of the Storm.

+9 Effective Wll when channeling forces of the Storm.

-20% Focus cost of all skills.

Additional -13% Focus cost for Storm-associated skills or spells.

+20 mana storage.]

"Thank you," Cass whispered as she took the staff from Alyx. It was comfortable in her hands. Like this was how it was always supposed to be. Staff Mastery flickered to life in the back of her mind, its relief at having a weapon again mixing with her own.

This version of her staff was a far cry from the stick she'd found in Uvana. It actually gave stats for one. Cass hadn't been sure weapons could even do that then.

She'd come a long way since then.

Name: Cass

[Race: Slyphid

Lvl: 27

Stamina: 153/153

Focus: 630/630 (+0/70 external Mana Reserves)

Health: 49/146

Str - 27 Dex - 70 End - 51

Wll - 100 Ala - 90 Res - 70

Frt - 28 Per - 41 Vit - 40

Free Points: 0

Concepts:

- Wind (Dex, Ala, Per) The Wind is Ephemeral. The Wind is Speed. The Wind is All.

- Hearth (End, Res, Vit) The Hearth burns. The Hearth provides. The Hearth protects.

- Liminal (Will, Ala, Res) The space between. The space overlapped. The space that is neither and both.]

Add her cloak:

Aura Cloak

Class: Accessory

[A broach that manifests the wearer's aura in a defensive cloak. This is an artifact from another age, knowledge of its construction has long been lost.

Increases Effective Frt by 20% in areas covered by the Aura.

Increases Effective Frt by 5% over rest of contiguous body.

Increases the effect of Aura, Movement, and Defensive skills.]

and she had a bonus of 6 Frt if she was struck on her cloak and another 5 Frt if that was also in a place both the plate and mail covered, like her back or chest. That was an effective increase of about 40% to her Frt, which was impressive.

Her Str and Wll buffs were effectively a bonus of 10% so long as she was using Tempest Blade, which wasn't bad at all for either.

Look at you, a proper martial now, Salos muttered. Hardly the scared child I met in the Deep now.

I'm not that different, Cass protested halfheartedly. In truth, she could see what he meant. She was a real combatant now, in every way that mattered.

Would the Cass that had been dropped in Uvana recognize her now?

Her hands clenched tighter around her staff. Did it matter?

Atmospheric Sense pulled her attention away from the thought, pointing out a familiar silhouette from the still-growing crowds.

"Pellen?" Cass called, turning to see the little mage approaching with a group of martials.

"Miss Cass?" Pellen squeaked. "What are you doing here?"

"Alyx and I are headed to Brighchess. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, um. I'm headed to Belden. I wasn't expecting our paths to converge again. I—How was talking to Lady Mage Daith?"

Cass raised an eyebrow at the sharp conversation turn, but let the conversation run that direction. "Informative. Pretty much confirmed everything I was afraid of, but hiding from truths don't make them less true. I've got my work cut out for me, but what's new?"

Pellen nodded.

"You joined as a caravan guard?" Alyx interrupted.

"Oh. Yes. I offered to act as a guard in exchange for passage," Pellen said. Her fingers thrummed over the cover of the magic book in her hands. She nodded. "It's a good deal. I get to go to Belden and, if I come back, I get track credits." Her nodding continued, almost as if she was still trying to convince herself this was a good idea.

'If she came back'? Pellen had said she was switching to a combat mage track, so why wouldn't she come back?

"You've got this, girl," Marco patted her shoulder before Cass could ask. "Between the catacombs and that temple business, no one would doubt your skills."

Pellen ducked her head. Her hands squeezed tighter around her tome. "Oh, yes. I suppose not."

We have more company, Salos growled in Cass's mind. On your right.

"I know, I know," a familiar, petulant voice carried over the crowds.

"But you packed your spare casting gloves?" Madam Litya Delim fussed as she and Kohen walked into view.

Cass suppressed a groan. This couldn't be happening. What were the chances he ended up in the same caravan as them? She was supposed to be getting away from him.

"Yes," Kohen said, the frustration in his voice loud and strained.

"And you have extra underwear?"

"Mother," Kohen snapped. "You oversaw the servants pack my bag. If you think they forgot something, fire them. What good is quizzing me on what you had them pack?"

She grabbed his hand, squeezing it between her own. "I can't help but worry."

He rolled his eyes. Cass did too.

"Then why send me on this pointless trip?" he asked.

"It will be good for you to visit the miracle clinic," she said. "We talked about this."

"Right. Sure." He looked away, his tone entirely unconvinced.

"By the time you get back, everything will be right again. Don't you worry." She squeezed his hand again.

"I'm not."

Tiador slipped in between mother and son. "My lady, he is in good hands."

"I know." The madam reluctantly released Kohen's hand. "Thank you for agreeing to travel with my boy."

"Mother," Kohen snapped.

She waved down the outburst, her attention still on Tiador.

"It was always the plan to stay. Though we had imagined our first journey after the Festival to have been a Dragon Knight tour, this isn't too bad a consolation." Tiador wore a soft smile, just the right mix of sincere and regretful.

"Thank you for understanding," Litya said.

"Anything for Ahryn," Tiador said.

Kohen's glower darkened.

"Ugh," Alyx muttered, finally noticing her half brother. "Of all the caravans out of the city, why this one? I would have thought he would want to spend the next couple of months skulking about to earn himself a better position in court. Why is he in such a hurry to leave Velillia?"

Cass didn't know, and she didn't really want to. It didn't matter. This didn't change anything. He was just another traveler, no more important to her than the dozens of others loitering around the wagons waiting to depart. She didn't need to pay any more attention to him than to anyone else. That she could Command him was unimportant.

Her focus was on Robin and Kaye. They were waiting for her out there. And she was finally coming for them.

Her hands clenched around her new staff. Just wait a little longer. She was coming.

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