Read Skill Stealer :: Chapter 3 Part 2

A Hero in the Making Part 2

I spend most of the night sitting by my study tapping my hands together looking at my Adventurer's Card.

Lucius Shahar; Son of the North Star:

Holy Knight; Rank S – Level 1

Base Power:

Attributes:

Magic Abilities:

Isuthi's Judgement (Tempest Rend) – Level 0

Echo's Blink (Phase Shift) – Level 0

Valymir's Toss (Return) – Level 0

Nomad's Wraiths (Mirage) – Level 0

Skills:

Single-Handed Swords – Level 0

Mumei's Counter (Counter) – Level 0

Hidden Abilities: Isuthi's Blade (Sword Summon) – Level 0

I thought I would try some of these magic abilities. The Adventurer Guild stated it's different for everyone. Maybe if I say it out loud it'll work?

I throw my hand forward, "Echo's Blink!" Nothing occurs. I try again but this time I thrust both hands, "Echo's Blink!" Once again, I am defeated. I rub my fingers on my lips and whisper, "Echo's Blink?" I was wrong. I tap my knuckles together which had given me an idea, I lob a punch midair, "Echo's Blink!" It comes up empty. Maybe this was the wrong ability to try? It seemed so, maybe I should try the Isuthi Blade...?

I cusp my hand, "Isuthi's Blade!" Failure. I bite my knuckle, "Why won't you work!" I hoist my chair and toss it across the room. I don't fail. Everything I do is supposed to work... Why does it keep failing? Maybe I was saying the wrong thing?

I center myself again, "Phase shift!" Zero results. I slap my cheeks and state in my head Phase Shift. Another dud. I gave up for now and strut toward my balcony and stare out at the night sky. I glance up to the ultimately stunning split moons. I hop onto the railing and sit there cross legged and meditate. I breathe deeply and fill my diaphragm with a great amount of oxygen.

What am I doing wrong?

I let the moonlight bask me in its presence, I recollect everything I can. A feeling of lightheartedness engulfs my body heating it up, a warm emotion boils inside me, and while gazing at those split crescents my mind slips away—

[Phase Shift]

One charge used, two charges left. Charge cooldown: 4 seconds

Suddenly a blink and I find myself three feet away from the balcony falling to the ground. My heart pounds as I descend. I twist my body toward the balcony and with the same feeling I felt earlier I hold onto that sense.

[Phase Shift]

Two charges used, one charge left. Charge cooldown: 8 seconds

I flash toward the balcony yet there was only an arm lengths of difference. I attempt another phase shift.

[Phase Shift]

All charges used, zero charges left. Charge cooldown: 12 seconds

I was over the balcony. I fall and crash onto the terrace. I howl into the night.

"Lucius, I know it's you being a goddamn hyena, stop that shit!" Indie shouts a distance away. I stare over and his room is only five balconies away. Maybe I was too loud. I cover my mouth and head into my room. The first thing I do is set the chair straight.

I'd figured out how to use magic and skip to my bed. I lie and look at a fly buzzing around the room paying no attention to anything else. I take out my card to see what effect it had on my mana.

MP: 377/512

Each 'Phase Shift' cost 45 mana. The advantages to this move were limitless if used properly.

Phase shift is now off cooldown.

What a strange voice I can hear inside my head... This is some bizarre magic. I wonder who came up with these spells... I still had my hidden ability called Isuthi's Blade. I thought it would be a good idea to test it out so I roll off the bed and recall my past feelings.

[Summon Sword]

A blade with the complexion of obsidian materializes in my hand. It is medium sized with a rhombi pattern on both sides of the blade while the hilt is composed of thirteen concentric circles. A stunning sword light like the wind with a flow like water that weightlessly glides through the air. Swift and precise like me.

I turn to a vase on my table and test another of my abilities.

[Tempest Rend]

An energy surges through my arms and down into my blade as it nimbly slices through the vase. No damage appears on the surface but it vibrates until it disjoints into two separate pieces.

Don don don

I let go of the sword and it dematerializes as it falls to the ground. That must be them so I open the door. Momo, Fayn, and Durian stand cautiously. I wave them in, "Come in, and have a seat on the bed," I point toward the bed.

I peer out into the hallway to affirm once more no one else is present. The door shuts behind me and I step to the bed, "Has everyone figured out how to use their abilities?" Everyone nods, "I only just figured it out after some—extreme trial and error but these abilities are amazing, aren't they?" Again, they nod.

"My kit so far is loaded with stealth and scouting abilities. I wish there was more to my kit though," Momo responds.

"Mine says I'm a Berserker but I'm not sure what that means exactly— I'm guessing I can take a hit."

"If only you could take a hint," Momo rolls her eyes.

"Man, forget you," he turns back to the group, "I think Berserkers are basically tanks, right? In DnD they are." Fayn speaks.

"Indeed, it would have to be since the three major classes are DPS, tanks, and supports. DPS would be a warrior, a swashbuckler, or a knight caricature; in this instance Momo's Scout class could be considered a DPS depending on her abilities. A Tank would be you, Fayn, seeing as Berserkers are typical tank classes. You aggro mobs and take the bulk of the damage for everyone else. Supports on the other hand are usually lined as enchanters, bards, or clerics what have you. And that's what my class is: Spirit Warden," Durian claims.

"Spirit Warden? Give me your card," Durian hands me his card.

Durian Durim; Warden of the Damned:

Spirit Warden; Rank A – Level 1

Base Power:

Attributes:

Magic Abilities:

Passive: Dommiel's Torment (Soul Reap) – Level 0

Wardens' Schlepp (Pull) – Level 0

Paracelsus' Pillar (Inferno) – Level 0

Imhotep's Ameliorate (Heal) – Level 0

Skills:

Chains – Level 0

Lanterns – Level 0

"Interesting kit, Durian. Want to show us your moves?" I ask.

"Yes," Durian shifts his gaze to Fayn, "you'll have to help me." Durian and Fayn got off the bed. Durian settles his hands by his sides, with a quick glance and a deep breath, a chained scythe materializes in his hands. One end of the chain has a lantern attached. There are several etchings similar to my obsidian blade with the rhombi patterns, "Now Fayn, take a few steps back so I can use some of my moves."

He does as Durian asks. Fayn stands at the other end of the room and opens his mouth, "Will it hurt?" he asks crossing his arms.

Durian twirls his chained scythe, "You're a tank—don't worry about it," he brushes off.

The first thing Durian does is launch his scythe at Fayn, "This is Warden's Schlepp!" The scythe flies at Fayn and wraps around him. He's covered in chains and dragged toward Durian without any volition of his own, "As you can see, I can pull him with ease when he's binded by my ability. He also can't move or do anything while the abilities active," Durian frees Fayn and wraps the weapon, "go back to where you were standing." Fayn, angered, returns to where he originally stands. The next thing Durian does is fling his lantern at Fayn's feet. A circle around Fayn's feet glows and a fire immolates him in red flames, "This is Paracelsus' Pillar—it's a AOE ability that creates a pillar of fire."

"Jesus Christ—it burns!" Fayn shouts as he stomps on the flames.

Durian laughs, "And this is Imhotep's Ameliorate," The mast of wildfire disperses to only be replaced by blue flame, "And this one heals people."

"Woah, I suddenly better," Fayn remarks aghast, "It's like the flames were never on me," He giggles.

"How much mana did that cost you," I inquire.

"200 for everything," He responds in an instant.

"You did that without looking at your card?" I ask.

Fayn and Durian return to the bed, "You don't need your Adventurer Card to tell how much HP and MP you have—Along with the cooldown of your other abilities."

I lean toward Durian, "Really now?"

Durian nods, "Indeed... All you need to do is channel the command for Display Always On like you would with any other ability and a screen will appear in the corners of your vision. It's like a layer over what you're seeing. You'll see an element in the upper left corner of your vision that displays your HP and MP. And just under that it'll show your abilities and their cooldowns timers."

We all do as Durian beckons. I could now see my HP and MP without the need of taking out my card. I could also see my abilities with small icons that were under the HP/MP bars. I stroke my chin, "This is amazing, how'd you figure it out?"

"Mikey taught me," He responds.

I raise a brow, "How'd Mikey know?"

"I don't know—you'd have to ask Mikey," Fair enough.

"Anyway, we can't just stay here all night showing off our abilities— you all know why we're here. Is everyone's on board?" I ask, "Like always, we can only go through with it if we all unanimously agree."

Fayn clenches his fist, "There's no contention between any of us," he speaks plainly, "I wanna be the one that does it. Just give me the sign and I'll burst in there and throw him off the balcony."

I brush it aside, "You'll make too much of a noise with your violence. We have to be silent about this. It'll have to look like an accident," I pause, "But foremost let's clear everything so we can dispel any dissent. He is a threat to our claim and power, and seeing as the rules of our old world don't apply here—We are smarter than all the other inhabitants of this world," I smile, "we can get away with anything and we'll have done nothing wrong. I will not let him be our 'leader'—you all agree, right?" I inquire. They were mostly silent so I take their silence for confirmation.

I clasp my hands together, "Good. From here on out we'll be playing a game of chess and just because he has a full board and we only mass 5 pieces it doesn't mean we still can't checkmate him. This will be difficult but we will do it and if we do this then there will be absolutely no room for half measures. Shall we discuss planning?" After finishing, a thought comes to mind, "As Fayn said, we will throw Fitzgerald off the balcony."

"What happened to it looking like an accident?" Durian responds.

"It would be less suspicious considering he was drunk. You all saw him carry that bottle to his room, it'll only look like an accident if he goes over," I declare.

Momo puts her hand on Fayn's leg, "Here's my plan—Wasn't Indie's room next to his? What if I sneak into Indie's room with my stealth ability and jump across the balcony. Assuming he's out cold, I take his pillow and wrap it over him..." We exchange glances of agreement among each other.

"That sounds tremendous, Mo!" Fayn returns, "But let me do it."

Durian raises a brow, "We'll have to wait. Maybe a few days at best. We can't jump the gun, we have to be patient," he counters, "it's haste that makes waste, and we do not want to waste this opportunity."

I ignore him and peer back at Momo, "Can you even carry the body over the railing?"

"Yeah, I'll drag him over—it shouldn't matter if he's dead," Momo retorts and stares blankly at Fayn, "I want to be the one that does it, so don't get in my way."

Fayn ticks his tongue and turns, "I'm worried, that's all. I don't know if you can overpower him."

"So, it's gonna be a suicide then?" Durian feeds back.

"What if we make it look like a struggle?" I counter, "We knock Indie out and since he still has bruises fresh from Fayn—the only way I see it and as everyone else will see it is that it looks like they got into a fight. Indie was being beat but he suddenly overtakes Fitzgerald and pushes him off the balcony. That's more believable than anything else."

Momo contempts, "If Indie is knocked out when this happens how would he report Fitzgerald going over? What reason would there be for him to return to his room and sleep? Won't people ask why Indie went—"

I halt Momo, "I'll report it after a few minutes it happens. I'll say I was out on the balcony with you guys. We were talking about our new lives when I saw Fitzgerald go over the railing," I return, "It's an open shut case. Besides, if Indie's out and we match up the times perfectly, Indie simply didn't have enough time to report it. There's his alibi right there. It was an accident." I take a quick pause to think, "Also, let's make sure Fitzgerald has a piece of clothing that belongs to Indie on him when he goes over. It'll add credibility to all our stories. They were fighting, and when Fitzgerald went over he tore a piece of Indie's clothing on the way down." It's a smart idea, "It was an 'accident,' after all, and if the cloth fits, you must acquit."

"Aren't we throwing Indie under though?" Durian reacts.

"No. We're not—and I'm disgusted you would even suggest that I would betray a friend," I reject, "But look, everything matches up perfectly fine, there's even evidence he was being beat—we have four eye witnesses that can confirm the story," I chuckle, "I'll be the leader this class needs."

Durian acknowledges my claim, "Indeed... but what if Indie says those bruises aren't from him but us?" he adds.

"No need to worry, if Indie wants to save himself, he'll say they're from Fitzgerald otherwise it looks like he just murdered someone. I don't think Indie is stupid, so why would he throw himself off a cliff?" I answer.

"Indie isn't stupid? Is that a joke? He's borderline retarded—and your plan hinges on Indie being highly reactionary," responds Durian.

I grasp Durian's forearm and squeeze, "Are you insulting my intelligence, Durian? He's smarter than he lets on—smarter than you probably. Don't you go on forgetting him like he was before," I let go and retract, "Besides, that's beside the point. If we get rid of Fitzgerald, we'll never have to deal with him again and I'll be the one rightful leader—that is, if you all still agree that I should be the leader," I look down on them.

Momo's glances at my pin, "We decided it unanimously and so it will continue to be done unanimously," She states elated while Fayn and Durian nod with Momo's statement.

I reach a hand out grasping everyone else's, "This is revenge... For her."

Just before Fayn offers his hand, he captures the fly that was buzzing around the room and crushes it, "Looks like I found Fitzgerald," he crackles.

A Hero in the Making Part 2

End of Chapter 3