Omen of a Bluebell

The moment I’m done peering through my Status, I glance over at Bella.

Human Mage

Level 78

Like me, she has gained eleven levels since arriving at the Academy. The amount of progress we’ve had overwhelms me with excitement, and I crash into her with a tight hug just as she manages to stand.

“Oh!” she blurts, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink.

“Eleven levels!” I squeal happily, sweeping her off her feet. “Eleven!”

She chuckles as I spin her around, her arms loosely hugging me back despite the awkward position. When I pull back enough to look her in the eyes, she’s wearing a warm smile.

I stiffen slightly at the sight, realizing what I’d just done, and pull away quickly.

Thankfully, geared up as she is, only her head is exposed, so I didn’t come into contact with her skin when I glomped her. Still, I should have known better. Especially with the risk of… overwhelming her.

She speaks before I can apologize.

“Indeed. Some impressive progress for a single delve, I’d say,” she says. “But I think you’re forgetting something.”

She tilts her head ever so slightly to the side, gesturing towards the strange throne.

At its base is a large wooden chest, seemingly made of entirely mundane wood and metal. That’s when I remember the other half of our quest rewards.

Quest Alert

You have discovered an ancient structure inhabited by intelligent undead.

Clear them out and see what you find.

Objectives:

Destroy at least 80% of the undead inhabiting this Dungeon.

(Optional) Discover what animates the undead.

(Optional) Discover the purpose of this ancient structure.

All objectives complete.

Item reward rarity increased for fully clearing the undead.

Rewards:

Level up x3

One enchanted item of epic rarity for each surviving party member.

Note: Rewards doubled if all optional objectives are completed.

I quickly pat myself down, checking for any additional items that simply appeared on my person while I wasn’t paying attention—like the Ring of Remembrance had—and find nothing out of place.

Which means…

Eight epic rarity items probably rest in that chest, and it beckons to me, begging me to loot it.

“Oooh,” I mumble.

She laughs at my reaction, apparently enjoying my sudden shift in fixation.

I’m pulled inexorably toward it, like a moth to the flame, and Bella follows hot on my heels.

Only three steps in, I find myself blocked by the head of a now familiar spear that’s suddenly interposed between me and the chest. I follow its haft, meeting Seraphine’s glare with a curious tilt of my head.

Flanking her, much like Bella flanks me, is Nyx.

Human Fighter

Level 89

Human Rogue

Level 88

I smile at the sight, happy for their progress as well.

Only seven levels each, but still amazing for a singular delve. Then it hits me how much slower leveling is going to become as I advance.

The thought only slightly stings. Even being the lowest leveled person in this group, I know that my stats alone could make up for any perceived discrepancies.

I have enough self awareness to realize that my Status is absurd.

And enough ego to enjoy thinking about it.

“…Yes?” I ask.

“You owe us answers,” Seraphine bites out, her tone hard.

The idea that I owe them anything snaps me out of my greed-addled fugue, and I respond before I can think better of it.

“No, I don’t.”

The moment my words are out, Seraphine’s lips turn into a thin line as her knuckles turn bone white from how tightly she grips her spear.

“You do,” Nyx responds.

His voice is level, but tight. I glance between them, then down at the spear still blocking my path.

Right. I almost forgot.

Never forget how quickly they change.

“…Are you planning to stab me, or is this your way of giving orders now?”

“Don’t twist this,” Seraphine snaps. “This isn’t about control. It’s about what just happened. We are not going to gloss over the fact that a being of myth just appeared in our dungeon. One that shouldn't even exist.”

I glance off to the side for a second, where Bluebell just vanished into the weave.

“I mean, she does exist. We just saw her.”

“That’s not an answer!”

“You didn’t ask a question,” I shoot back.

The air thickens with tension, and for a moment I wonder if they really intend to start a fight. Nyx shifts slightly, just enough to draw my attention. He doesn’t raise a weapon, doesn’t step forward… but the idea is there.

“You knew her,” he says. “You recognized her immediately.”

I hesitate for half a second too long.

Seraphine’s grip on her spear tightens again.

“You hugged her,” she presses. “Like she was family.”

“Yeah, I’ve been doing that a lot recently,” I mutter.

Bella snorts quietly behind me, and I resist the urge to glance back at her.

“This isn’t a joke,” Seraphine snaps.

“No, it’s not,” I agree, already tired of this. “But that doesn’t mean I owe you an explanation.”

“Yes, you do,” Nyx says again.

My tail lashes angrily behind me as something in my chest twists, and I realize almost too late what is happening.

Punish.

I stop myself from growling at them only barely, but my fangs are bared in a snarl. For a few seconds, I simply focus on willing myself to hold still, glaring at them the whole time as I try to understand what exactly is going on.

It doesn’t take long to figure out.

My instincts rail against the idea of owing them anything. Not because I don’t want to owe them—but because they haven’t done anything worthy of allowing myself to feel indebted.

Scruffy lost an arm to protect me, completely unaware that he likely didn’t need to protect me at all. He just did, because it was the right thing to do at the time in his eyes.

I owed him for that.

Bella helped me heal from a trauma I couldn’t see past by myself, and asked for nothing but a pittance of mana in return. Even after I saved her from the bandits that attacked the train, the scales have been heavily tipped in her favor ever since.

I owe her for that.

Seraphine and Nyx… have simply done what I’d expect of any Delver in my party. Granted I’m not used to being anything other than a Carrier, I still know exactly what each Delver’s job is.

They did their jobs. That is all.

But I’m only now figuring out that this isn’t just a character trait of mine—it’s a part of my instincts now.

The same annoying instincts that make me want to turn around and hug Bella again, even muted as they are by the medicine.

Working through it all, I manage to find a semblance of calm, even while Fae Ferocity roars in the back of my mind to punish them for their insistence that I owe them in any way at all.

So I let out a slow breath, then meet Seraphine’s gaze.

“No,” I say, more firmly this time.

For a moment, she just glares—then she breaks the silence.

“You brought an unknown Tier Four—hells, maybe higher—into proximity with a group of First Tiers,” she says, each word clipped and precise. “An entity that was capable of drawing the attention of Morena, the Goddess of Life and Death herself! And—”

“She didn’t hurt anyone,” I cut in.

“That is not the point!”

“It kind of is.”

“No, it isn't. We know nothing about her. What she is, where she came from, what she's capable of, how often you've been in contact with her—”

She stops.

Just for a moment.

But Bella shifts behind me.

“Or,” Seraphine continues, “why an entity like that would have any interest in you.”

Nyx exhales slowly through his nose, like he’s trying very hard to keep from exploding.

“You don’t get to hide that,” he adds. “Not from us.”

I raise a brow. “Pretty sure I can keep whatever secrets I damn well please.”

Seraphine takes a step back, the spear dipping just slightly into something more ready, but not quite a combat stance.

“You will explain what your connection to that being is. How you met her. What she is. What she wants from you, and how you contacted her.”

How I contacted her? What is she on about?

"Or I will take this to academy administration," she finishes.

I quirk a brow at her.

“…Okay?”

She falters for a fraction of a second, clearly not expecting flippancy after such a threat.

“You think I won’t?” she demands.

I shake my head.

“No, I just think you’re overestimating how much trouble that’ll cause me,” I reply honestly.

After all, the Headmaster himself is sponsoring me and knows exactly who and what I am. Probably better than I do, even.

While I asked for no special treatment simply because of my System Waker title, he’s already made it clear that doesn’t stop him from leaning on other things.

Like that I was once Faulted. Or that I’m fae.

So her threat falls about as flat as a sheet of parchment, in my eyes.

Still, my dismissal of it was probably not the best way to handle this situation.

“People have been expelled for endangering other students,” Seraphine says, fuming. “For consorting with unknown entities. For withholding critical information that could impact the Academy itself.”

Nyx’s eyes narrow. “And people have been expelled for much, much less.”

But… despite knowing dismissal isn’t the best way to handle this, my gut twists in rejection.

“Oh, sure,” I say, waving a hand lightly. “Let me just spill every secret I have to people I met, what, a few days ago? That sounds like a great idea.”

My tone turns a bit more flippant than I intend at the end—but it silences them.

For a moment.

“If you won’t explain,” Seraphine says, voice colder now, “then I’ll make sure someone forces you to.”

My ears flick back at the threat, the growl I’d been restraining finally slipping free, low and warning.

Silence follows, overwhelming the space, and for a split second I can practically feel the moment tipping into something worse.

“That will not be necessary.”

Bella’s voice cuts cleanly through the tension.

I glance her way as she steps forward, her posture straight and expression perfectly composed.

But there’s a firmness there that I hadn’t seen before.

Then she's suddenly standing beside me.

“Seraphine,” she continues calmly, “you are overstepping.”

Seraphine’s eyes snap to her. “Am I?”

“Yes,” Bella says flatly. “Because if your concern is our safety, then you've already received your answer. Bluebell harmed none of us. Emilia neither summoned her nor controlled her arrival, and you have already acknowledged that Emilia could not have prevented her from appearing.”

Seraphine's jaw tightens.

“That doesn't explain how they're connected. Or what she even is,” she says, gesturing to where Bluebell disappeared.

“No,” Bella agrees. “It doesn't. But that isn't related to our safety, now is it?”

Nyx’s gaze flicks between us. “You can’t seriously be defending her right now.”

“I am defending a fellow student,” she replies evenly. “One who has, I might add, contributed significantly to our survival in this delve.”

“That doesn’t give her the right to hide something like this.”

“No,” Bella agrees, and I bristle. “But neither does it give you the right to demand it.”

Seraphine’s spear twitches. “Were you asleep when the literal Goddess herself descended? Or did you somehow miss the royal classes explaining how significant something like that is?”

Bella’s expression doesn’t change.

“I understand perfectly what it implies,” she says.

“Then you should understand why I need to know what that thing was!” Seraphine snaps.

“You need to?”

Seraphine hesitates at the question, but Bella keeps going.

“Its capabilities. Its origins. Its relationship with Emilia. How frequently they communicate. Whether Emilia can contact her reliably.”

Bella counts each point off with maddening calm.

“Those are remarkably thorough concerns for someone interested only in the safety of her fellow students.”

Bella tilts her head.

“Though perhaps I shouldn't be surprised.”

Seraphine's eyes narrow.

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

Bella gives her a pleasant smile.

“Only that your questions are beginning to sound rather pointed.”

Seraphine goes very still.

Okay... I'm clearly missing something here.

Nyx tries again.

“We’re not trying to coerce her for some nefarious reason, Princess Arabella. We are trying to understand exactly who,” he says, glancing at me, “or what we’re dealing with.”

“And you believe threatening her will accomplish that?” Bella asks. “Do you even truly believe that Emilia has any power over Bluebell at all? That she could have prevented her from appearing whenever or wherever she pleases?”

“…No,” he admits after a breath.

Seraphine looks between us, frustration warring with something else.

Uncertainty, maybe?

“So, what, you think this is about my nation?” Seraphine asks tersely.

“I think you were frightened,” Bella says.

Seraphine's nostrils flare.

“And I think once the immediate danger passed, your training took over.”

“You know nothing about my training.”

Bella's smile becomes very slightly amused.

“I'm a Princess, Seraphine,” she says.

Then the smile disappears.

“I know exactly what you were trained to notice.”

“And if that creature appears in Bysmara tomorrow?” Seraphine demands. “Or my homeland? If Emilia knows how to contact her, what she wants, what agreements can be made with her—are you seriously saying none of that matters?”

Bella raises one imperious brow. “Agreements?”

Seraphine freezes.

“Don't twist my words.”

“I'm not,” Bella says. “I'm listening to them.”

“You are being naive,” she says to Bella.

“No,” Bella says quietly. “I'm being fair.”

Fae Ferocity putters out at her words, evaporating like so much smoke. Instead of anger, all I feel is gratitude. But not because she’s defending me.

Because she’s her.

“So call it naivety if you wish. Emilia's secrets will still remain hers until she chooses to share them.”

Bella's gaze hardens again.

“They do not become yours simply because your kingdom would find them valuable.”

Wait.

Have they been having an entirely different argument this whole time?

I glance between the two princesses.

Godsdammit. Nobles are weird.

My gaze lingers on Bella for a few seconds too long as she weathers the others’ glares in my stead.

I think I'm going to owe her a bit more after this...

Then… the tension finally lessens.

Slowly, Seraphine pulls back her spear. Not fully relaxed, but no longer blocking me.

Nyx follows suit, hands lowering to rest at his sides, though his eyes stay on me.

“This isn’t over,” Seraphine says to me.

I shrug. “If you say so.”

She gives me one last sharp look, then turns away. Nyx lingers a moment longer, then follows.

And just like that, the pressure breaks.

I exhale, only then realizing how tense I’d kept myself.

Gods… they mentioned classes that could help me control Fae Ferocity, didn’t they?

I suddenly find myself looking forward to them more than anything else. Especially now, as I’m still discovering bits and pieces of how my instincts have changed.

“Well,” I mumble, glancing back at the chest. “That was dramatic.”

Bella huffs out a quiet laugh beside me.

“You seem to have a talent for that,” she says.

I smirk. “So I’ve been told.”

I hesitate for a second, then glance at her.

“Thanks,” I say, before quickly refocusing on the chest.

“Of course.”

When I look at her again, her gaze is softer.

I clear my throat.

“Ahem, uh, right. So… the rewards. Then we need to get out of here,” I say.

Her eyes flick to the chest as well, a small smile tugging at her lips as she nods.

“Shall we?” she asks.

“Yeah. Sure,” I say, trying to reorganize my thoughts.

Once we’re close enough to the chest, I freeze.

…Right. Still a party.

When I’m alone, testing a chest for traps is easy. I learned a nifty little trick from the first time I had my lower body melted off.

Use a tool and stay the hell out of the way of any possible projectiles.

But right now I’m in a party, and we have a Rogue.

“Nyx!” I shout over my shoulder, locking eyes with my two irate party members who remain several paces away. “Could you check this chest for traps?”

Seraphine looks about to object, but he steps forward before she can.

Bella and I step away from the chest, giving him space to work as he pulls a few strange tools from a hidden pocket in his leathers.

Seconds later, he stands back up.

“It’s clear,” he says, then returns to Seraphine’s side.

Despite the tension in our group, I can’t hide my giddiness at the prospect of loot.

My tail swishes excitedly behind me as I quickly step forward and… pause.

I glance back at the other two, then decide to err on the side of caution.

Even if it only makes things worse.

I pull a crowbar from my storage and lay almost completely flat on the ground before the chest, waving Bella away as I do. She seems to understand what I’m doing, and quickly backs up.

“I said it’s clear,” Nyx says, his voice tight.

I spare him a glance, but don’t respond.

Using the crowbar, I finagle the lid open, giving the chest every opportunity to retaliate.

After nearly thirty seconds of nothing happening, I finally stand back up, storing my crowbar away once again.

Then I peer into the chest. Inside is eight small items, each neatly sorted into pairs.

The first two, on the left, is a dark red dagger and a pair of black leather boots.

Quiet Sticker

Epic, Blood Binding

Enchantments:

Self Repair

This item can repair itself from most damage, so long as the wielder has mana.

Resource Drain

Each strike with this weapon drains a portion of the target’s health and mana.

Resource Transfer

This item transfers gathered resources to its wielder.

Note: This enchantment is tied to the Drain enchantment.

Gravestrider Boots

Epic

Enchantments:

Reduce Sound

This item reduces noise produced by the wearer’s movement.

Perfect All Terrain

This item allows the wearer to traverse most terrain with little to no difficulty.

Blink Step

This item allows the wearer to perform a short, high-speed dash in a chosen direction when provided with mana.

Definitely Nyx’s rewards, then.

Next is a small silky scarf looking slip of fabric and a bracelet.

Pennant of the Living Weapon

Epic, Blood Binding

Enchantments:

Greater Self Repair

This item can repair itself even when totally destroyed, so long as the wielder has mana.

Perfect Animate Weapon

When this item is attached to a weapon, its wielder may animate and control it.

Mana Efficiency

This item’s enchantments require 30% less mana to operate.

Band of Burdens

Epic

Enchantments:

Self Clean

This item can clean itself of most substances, so long as the wielder has mana.

Greater Wakefulness

This item greatly reduces mental fatigue during extended periods without sleep.

Enhanced Rest

This item improves the quality of its wearer’s rest, accelerating physical and mental recovery during sleep.

Seraphine maybe? The pennant reminds me of that ribbon on her spear…

Next is a thin silver necklace and what I can only assume is a kind of wand, which I smirk at.

Silverweave Necklace

Epic, Blood Binding

Enchantments:

Self Repair

This item can repair itself from most damage, so long as the wielder has mana.

Perfect Mana Supplementation

This item pulls mana from the air around its wearer to reduce mana costs of Skills and spells by up to 15%.

Mana Transformation

This item transforms mana affinities into the appropriate affinity for its wearer.

Note: This enchantment is tied to—and will only apply to mana drawn from—the enchantment Mana Supplementation.

Blasting Wand

Epic

Enchantments:

Self Repair

This item can repair itself from most damage, so long as the wielder has mana.

Magic Amplification

This item increases Skill or spell potency when focused through the wand.

Greater Affinity Alignment

This item greatly improves the wielder’s ability to channel and shape mana in accordance with their natural affinities when focused through the wand.

Yup, that’s for Bella alright.

I’ve never seen her use a staff or wand of any kind, and I’d never thought to ask why. Granted, she never seemed to need one, but still…

The last two items, on the far right of the chest, is a set of bracers and a pale blue ribbon of silk.

I grin as Relic Whisperer flares to life one more time.

Bracers of the First Hunt

Epic, Blood Binding

Enchantments:

Greater Self Repair

This item can repair itself even when totally destroyed, so long as the wielder has mana.

Rending Strikes

Attacks made by this item’s wearer that would inflict bleeding are more difficult to recover from.

Predatory Strikes

This item increases unarmed damage by up to 10% based on the wearer’s current speed.

Manasilk Thread

Epic, Blood Binding

Enchantments:

Self Repair

This item can repair itself from most damage, so long as the wielder has mana.

Greater Motion Blur

This item causes the wearer’s rapid movement to create slight visual distortions, making the wearer more difficult to track.

Lesser Presence Dulling

This item slightly reduces the wearer’s visual presence while stationary, allowing them to blend more easily into their surroundings.

Oh, System, you absolute gem… you shouldn’t have.

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