Denizens of the Labyrinth

Jazmel woke from a deep sleep and stretched out beneath the sheets of his bed; he rolled his shoulders back and forth until they popped. His quarters were open planned, his bed sat in a lowered indent in his bedroom, and he had to step down two steps to get into bed, but he quite liked it and how deep it sat.

His covers were silk, a bit rich for his liking but Melle had bartered some from the dwarves and they had brought silks and satins, which she distributed around the living quarters of everyone. At first it was just the tower that had stood in the outpost but over the last couple of months, three other towers had been erected and bridged walkways had been connected between the three so you could cross over to the same level of another tower without descending a floor. the closest tower which was a bit closer in design and creation to the original, was living quarters for the first members of the faction. They were given their distinct own rooms, but then the third tower had been built like barracks and rows and rows of bunks and beds had been created.

Jazmel had been there, but he didn’t like how empty the tower felt so he avoided it. But Melle had made sure it was stocked and prepared for new arrivals, but nobody had received more than one or two members.

Melle had taken the reins of managing the outpost and in truth behind the shadows, she kept it running. She was in charge of the day to day and the duties. It was extremely comforting for Jazmel to know she had a handle of it, and she took to it brazenly. Everyone was well fed, and well cared for. She was able to keep track of the needs of everyone, she made sure food was always present or prepared and also a large store and stock of items and potions were always abundant.

She had become staunch friends with Colin, ensuring that they always spoke frequently and Colin being the major merchant link for the faction he sought all their needs continuously. With the continued labyrinth and gate diving, the different retainers were managing to keep the food source, items, and artefacts in continuous updates. Even Jazmel had given everything he had found in the clay emperor tomb to Melle, the coins had amassed to around three platinum coins and the jewels and gems were enough to make a few hundred white gold coins.

Jazmel looked at his stats for the first time in a while.

Name: Jazmel

Level: 54

Species: Human

Rank: Seeker tier III

Class: Sword Scion

Health: 1925/1925

Stamina: 1414/1414

Mana: 1435/1435

STR:80 PER:74

VIT:73 END:73

INT:89 WIL:72

AGL:70 DEX:70

Trait: HEART OF THE SWORD (BORN TRAIT)

Skills:

Cleave (tier I)

Flight of the Blue kite (tier I)

Whirlwind (tier II)

Blade Wrath (tier I)

Title(s):

FIEND BANE (ACTIVE)

GLARE OF THE DRAKE (ACTIVE)

SERPENT SLAYER

Unused Stat points: 0

4X PLATINUM COINS

647X WHITE GOLD COINS

127X GOLD COINS

Item(s):

TIER II 2X COLD IRON ORE

TIER I 1X GREATER GRAVE IRON ORE

2/3 PIECES OF THE PLAQUE

TIER II BRANCH OF A TREE

TIER II SEED OF MIRETE

DWARVEN COIN

9X TIER II HEALTH POTIONS

9X TIER II STAMINA POTIONS

10X TIER II MANA POTIONS

TIER II ARMOUR OF THE STEADFAST

TIER III SABRE OF THE DEADENING

TIER II SHORT SWORD

TIER II FROST SHARD x13

TIER II BRUXA CORE

EGG (hibernating)

PARTY:

5/5

BAEK LVL 113

Jazmel had been working slowly with the outpost, so he had not been outside of the faction as much as the others. He had also been considering what were the best things to do with the outpost and at the moment he needed to be around the faction too. Baek had been teaching him increasingly about the duties of a leader, especially as he was now one; the faction had the ability to grow and if he progressed the faction would continue to grow.

He was eager to hit ranker, it would only take six more levels; but in truth he still didn’t have any items for the tribulation either and that was something he was curious about too. He could ask Baek about it as soon as he saw him next. There was a knock at the door, looking at the Mana he could tell it was Sadé. “Come in he said, he rose from his bed; he was topless and wearing simple linen trousers. But even then, she looked away.

“Morning.” She was dressed and ready for the day and he was curious as to why she was dressed. “Mary and Tango are back, but also the forge master is looking for you.” She told him and he jumped up, ready for the day. “Can I shower first and then we go and see them?” she nodded and then sat on the edge of his bed, he climbed up out of indent and then moved to the water closet. When he was out of her sight, he kicked off his trousers and then with a palm; he pressed Mana into the nozzle and soon the water flowed down on him. He washed quickly, using the soap bar to wash away the sleep. The water was cool, and he preferred a cold shower in the morning rather than night.

He dressed quickly, he wore his long sleeve shirt; combats and usual coat. He carried his boots over and then sat on the edge of the bed beside her. Sadé was laying back across the bed and as he pulled his boots on, he laced them, and he smiled as he stood up. Palin; the forge master dwarf from Orevalor had sent word he had finished, and Jazmel was revelling in it.

Months back, Hajime had broken in battle, and he had lost the secondary skill slot that it allowed him. He had carried two swords since he first bought them in the third gate he had entered. Carrying only Nozarashi was strange and made him constantly remember that he was missing a sword.

When he had raised the point with Palin and the other dwarves they were apprehensive to work on the sword, they had asked him to study Hajime for a few days and when they did not return it; he offered them his cold iron ore and grave iron ore. They were extremely happy to work with such rare iron and jumped at the chance. Bidding him to stay away from forge until they had finished with the creation.

“Let’s go to the forge first please.” He said and she moved alongside him when he descended the tower. The stairs were cool to touch but once they hit the lowest floor the heat became unbearable. But quickly; Jazmel created a thin veil of Mana against his body that covered him from the worst of it and he suddenly only felt a little warm. It wasn’t as uncomfortable, but the shaping took some focus; Baek had told him that it was great training to learn what he could do and use his Mana for besides his skills. But for now, he was using it to keep the heat from the forge away. Sadé did not seem to even notice the change in heat, and he wondered just how great her affinity with fire actually was.

The shrill pang of the hammer atop the anvil could be heard and as they moved towards the centre of the room, a vacuum hole descended from the ceiling above the anvil and the heat was pulled up through the hole which turned out to be a tube, then it expunged down from the ceiling towards the ground which was edged and raised from the ground.

Jazmel was surprised at how well the Forgemaster and his black smiths were putting their intent and Mana into the creation of the item they were making. During this time, the hammer was being wielded expertly and each strike slammed Mana into the metal and forced it to bend to Palin’s will. They didn’t stop beating the metal until they were all happy with it and then they plunged it into a barrel filled with freezing water and big pieces of ice. The metal sizzled and steam erupted from the barrel, and they watched to make sure the metal wouldn’t absorb or bend in the barrel.

Palin turned and smiling he tore his thick leather gloves off his hand and shook hands with Jazmel. “Leader.” He greeted him and Jazmel shook his head, he hated the title, and the dwarves knew it, but they laughed about it; but made sure to call him by his title.

“We finished the sword, but it’s a bit complicated.” Palin explained and Jazmel looked at him curious and confused; a mix of both. “What do you mean?” “Let us just show you.” The black smiths moved off and came back with a long box that was wrapped in chains and locked with a large brass lock too. “step back.” Palin warned, Sadé did but Jazmel remained where he was.

Palin unlocked the lock and then tapped the chains letting them unravel on its own when the box opened. Frigid temperature poured from the sword and oddly it felt cold and almost ethereal at the same time. He peered into the blade and the blistering cold Mana of the cold iron wafted from it. but then the grave iron had mingled within, and it now created a numbing cold that his Mana veil could not numb or keep away.

“Surprisingly, the cold iron and the grave iron which had completely different attributes have mingled and merged. Creating something unheard of. The sword blade will freeze and numb, but it can blister with the Mana of the grave iron too. How you will wield it, we will not know.” Jazmel nodded and was looking at the Mana flowing beneath the metal of the blade.

“Why did you lock the box?” he asked, and Palin smiled a grim grin. “You will know when you pick it up.” He motioned Jazmel to step forward and he did, slowly but then he willed himself with his courage.

The sword was beautiful, that was the first thing he noticed. The metal of the blade was as white as snow and then in waves along the back of the blade; star grey ebbed along the length of the blade. He could see where the cold iron began and then merged with the grave iron ore. The hilt was black like Nozarashi but the leather that had bound the handle was grey to match the metal but darkened so it was almost like it was blackened too. He smiled a little at the tassel that hung from the hilt, which was black, an ode to Hajime as it once was.

He inhaled and then picked up the sword and held it up. Immediately the pressure of the two different Mana’s flowed his hand and into his arm; trying to invade his chest. He struggled against it and stumbled, Sadé almost rushed forward but he waved her back. “Let me do this.” He said through gritted teeth.

He pushed his Mana back up his arm and battled with the will of the sword. He realised he was battling the will of the sword and at first he was losing but the tyrant heart; his heart was fighting back valiantly.

Submit. He willed it and through gritted teeth he exerted all his focus on it. The cold began to freeze his hand and locked it in his grip, but he didn’t falter at all. The grave iron wrapped his hand in its Mana, and he felt the chill of death, but he fought it back and their wills clashed and lashed at one another; but in the end. The sword did bend to his will, and he soon felt the aggressive Mana calm down and submit before him. He exhaled and slowly pressed his Mana and intent into the sword again.

DING!

THE SWORD HAS SUBMIT BEFORE YOUR WILL

+3 WIL

…

UNNAMED SWORD HAS BEEN MADE FOR YOU AND WILL BELONG SOLELY TO YOU!

WILL YOU NAME IT?

Y/N

He thought about the name and smiled as something came to him.

Yoru no Tsubasa. The name

ARE YOU SURE?

Yes. He thought.

DING!

SWORD HAS BEEN NAMED

Jazmel nodded and when he turned to show the sword Palin and the black smiths brought him the metal they had left to cool in the barrel. It was a sheath of metal and lacquered leather too. “this is Atlantean, we believe this will keep the sword Mana trapped while sheathed.” He said and Jazmel sheathed the sword and immediately felt the Mana subdued while sheathed.

DING!

SWORD YORU NO TSUBASA HAS A SKILL SLOT!

Jazmel grinned at that; the soul of Hajime had remained in the sword, and he looked at his skills to see the slot. To his surprise the move had changed, but then he realised that he had a different sword too. That was probably the reason.

Skills:

Cleave (tier I)

Fall of the Black Raven (tier I)

Whirlwind (tier II)

Blade Wrath (tier I)

He sighed at that and sheathing the sword; his sword he felt comfortable and extremely happy with this new weapon and the job the Forgemaster had made for him. He thanked them religiously, but they would not expect any pay from him. “We are part of the faction, just use it well.” Palin bid him and then turning back, he and the others began to work on something else.