Mornings in the Awakened District began early.
When I opened my eyes, soft light was already streaming through the narrow window. Footsteps could be heard in the courtyard; someone was practicing with a weapon, and somewhere on the street, vendors were beginning to set up their morning stalls.
Scarlett was already sitting on the edge of the bed, fastening the straps on her light jacket.
"Good morning," she said.
I sat up and stretched.
"Good morning."
She looked at me.
"Are we going to test your ability today?"
I grunted.
"Yeah, we'll test it."
A few minutes later, we were already walking down the street.
"Okay," said Scarlett. "The plan."
"We'll meet Rilay at the training ground."
"But first we need to find Orpheus."
I nodded.
"The perfect moment for an experiment."
We stopped on a small, empty street between buildings.
I took a deep breath.
"All right."
"Let's try it."
I closed my eyes and summoned the Essence.
A warm wave of mana washed over my body.
Light, dark armor appeared on my shoulders.
And last of all, the mask of the Ashen Wanderer appeared.
I concentrated.
Orpheus.
I need to find Orpheus.
Nothing happened for a few seconds.
And then…
I felt mana slowly being drawn out of me.
Slowly, but persistently.
Scarlett said quietly:
"Oscar."
"What?"
"Your mask…"
I opened my eyes.
"What's wrong with it?"
She looked at me intently.
"It's become… strange."
"It looks like it's smoldering."
I touched the mask.
And indeed.
Its surface looked as if ashes were slowly burning inside. Fine cracks glowed with a faint gray light.
And at that moment, I saw it.
In front of me, in the air…
A thin, ashen thread appeared.
It stretched down the street.
Further.
Somewhere around the corner.
I exhaled.
"It seems…"
"It's working."
Scarlett looked at the thread.
"Can you see it?" I asked.
"No. Just a strange feeling."
I smiled.
"Then let's go."
We walked down the street, following the ash thread. It curved, passed through alleys, sometimes disappearing further between the houses.
And the whole time, I could feel my ability slowly draining my mana.
A few minutes later, the thread led us to a small square near a blacksmith's shop.
And there…
Orpheus was sitting on a stone barrel.
He was lazily twirling a knife in his hands and talking to some merchant.
I stopped.
"Found him."
Scarlett smiled.
"Impressive."
I let the essence fade away.
The mask dissolved into thin air.
And the ash-colored thread vanished too.
Orpheus had just spotted us.
"Oh."
He raised his hand.
"Good morning."
I stepped closer.
"We're looking for you."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Really?"
"And how did you find me?"
Scarlett nodded at me.
"His ability."
Orpheus shifted his gaze to me.
"Already testing it?"
"We had to-you didn't bother to tell us where to find you."
He smirked.
"Not bad, anyway."
I said,
"Let's go."
He just looked at us questioningly.
"Where?"
"Have you already found a candidate?"
"Rilay is waiting at the training ground," I said.
Orpheus stood up.
"Rilay?"
"The girl with purple hair and a gun."
He froze.
"Wait…"
He looked at each of us in turn.
"Don't tell me…"
"That you invited her."
I raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
" We Invited her? Is there a problem?"
Orpheus slowly ran his hand over his face.
"Seriously?"
"Of all people…"
"Her?"
Scarlett crossed her arms.
"What's wrong with her?"
Orpheus looked at her as if she'd asked something obvious.
"She's nuts."
"In a good way," I added.
"No."
"Just nuts."
He looked at us for a moment, then waved his hand.
"Damn it, let's go."
About ten minutes later, we were already approaching the training ground.
And there, at the entrance, stood Rilay.
She spotted us and waved.
"Oh!"
"You're here!"
Then her gaze fell on Orpheus.
And she narrowed her eyes.
"Oh no!"
Orpheus mimicked her.
"Oh no!"
I looked at Scarlett.
Rilay stepped closer.
"Well, hello, Orpheus."
"Hey, Rilay."
They stared at each other for a few seconds.
Then Orpheus turned to me.
"I'll repeat the question."
"Why the hell did you recruit this crazy bitch?
Rilay instantly poked him with her finger.
"Hey!
"I can hear everything!
"That's the problem," Orpheus said calmly. "You hear it and don't even deny it."
She snorted.
"Oscar."
"Scarlett."
"Are you seriously going to take him on?"
I sighed.
"Okay."
"Wait."
Scarlett chimed in too:
"What happened between you two?"
Orpheus shrugged.
"She just drives me crazy."
Rilay crossed her arms.
"He stole an artifact I wanted to buy once. And a couple of other times, he snatched my guild assignments."
"I didn't steal it-I bought it faster," Orpheus said.
"By two minutes!"
"Rules are rules."
She rolled her eyes.
"I hate you."
"The feeling's mutual."
I looked at Scarlett with a smile on my face. The whole situation amused me.
She chuckled softly.
I turned to Orpheus.
"So."
"You said you'd think about it."
He looked at us.
Then at Rilay.
She was looking at him, too.
A few seconds of silence.
Then he sighed.
"Fine."
"I'm in."
Rilay raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
He looked at me.
"Because if you're going to go into the Spire…"
"You're definitely going to need someone sane on the team."
"Do you mean yourself?" Rilay asked.
"Exactly."
She smirked.
"Then this is going to be fun."
I looked at both of them.
Then to Scarlett.
She nodded.
I took a deep breath.
"Well, then."
I held out my hand.
"It's official, then."
"We're a team now."
A second later, Scarlett joined my hand.
Then Orpheus.
And last-Rilay.
She smiled broadly.
"Great."
"Now all we have to do is not die."
We were still standing at the entrance to the training ground when Rilay suddenly clapped her hands.
"Right!"
We all looked at her.
"If we're a team now…" she pointed at us one by one. "We need a name."
Orpheus sighed immediately.
"Oh no."
"Oh yes," she replied.
"Without a name, a team is just a group of people."
Scarlett said calmly:
"We can do without a name."
Rilay looked at her as if she'd suggested living without air.
"No."
"That would be a critical mistake."
She started pacing in circles in front of us.
"The name should be…"
She raised a finger.
"Cool."
"A little pretentious."
"And make it sound like legends will one day be told about us."
Orpheus muttered:
"I already regret this."
She stopped abruptly.
"Got it!
"Ash Storm."
She pointed at me.
"Ash."
Then at Scarlett.
"Ice and gravity."
Then at herself.
"Lightning."
And finally at Orpheus.
"And a glowing tank."
She nodded contentedly.
"Perfect."
I shrugged.
"I don't care…?"
Scarlett nodded.
"Not bad…?"
Orpheus looked at the three of us.
"Are you serious? There's no logic to this."
Rilay smirked.
"It's too late."
She held out her hand.
"Team Ash Storm."
Orpheus stared at her for a few seconds.
Then he waved his hand.
"Fine."
"I give up."
We shook hands again.
The team was officially formed.
A few minutes later, we were already sitting at the edge of the training ground.
I said:
"Before we take on a mission…"
"We need to know each other's abilities."
Scarlett nodded.
"I agree."
Rilay raised her hand.
"Can I go last?"
"Sure."
I went first.
"My essence is the Ashen Wanderer."
I explained briefly:
"Passively, it enhances my control over fire and wind."
"And it gives a sense of… the direction of fate."
Orpheus raised an eyebrow.
"How so?"
"Intuition."
"Sometimes I feel where it's best to go. To get the most out of it."
I continued:
"The main ability is Thread of the Ashen Path."
"I set a target: a place, a person, or an object."
"And the mask shows me the way."
"But it slowly drains my mana in the process."
Rilay said quietly:
"That's a very useful ability."
"Thank you."
I continued:
"Combat technique-Ash Step."
"I can move through a cloud of ash."
"Now for the epithets."
I listed them:
"Fierce Defiance-I'm better at resisting attempts to suppress my will."
"Ashen Blood" - fire and heat affect me less.
"Favourite of Fortune" - sometimes I'm just plain lucky.
Orpheus smiled.
"A useful epithet."
"Very."
I paused briefly.
"And one… rather dangerous."
"The terror of kings."
I added:
"It increases my power against enemies stronger than me. But it also makes me more conspicuous."
Orpheus frowned.
"Sounds… powerful."
Then he narrowed his eyes.
"Wait."
"How did you get it?"
"I killed a newborn king while I was still unawakened."
Silence reigned for a few seconds.
Orpheus slowly turned his head toward me.
"What."
Rilay froze too.
"Wait…"
She leaned forward.
"Are you serious?"
I scratched the back of my head.
"It was… a long story…"
Orpheus was silent for a few seconds.
Then he let out a sigh.
"Remind me never to make you angry."
Rilay looked at me with obvious delight.
"That's…"
She smiled widely.
"That's the coolest backstory I've ever heard."
Scarlett chuckled quietly.
"When we were there, it was more terrible than cool."
I shrugged.
"But the description works."
"Absolutely," Orpheus agreed.
Scarlett was next.
She stood up calmly.
"My essence, the Icy Singularity, has a bond with gravity and ice."
"My essence is passive; it helps me keep a clear head, and I'm better protected from attacks by willpower, whatever that means."
She paused for a second.
My primary ability is passive.
"The Cold Queen."
She explained:
"When a battle drags on…"
"My concentration and control over mana increase."
"And my ice and gravity abilities are getting stronger."
"My combat ability simply gives me an increased spell pool for my elements."
Scarlett continued:
"Now for the epithets."
She spoke just as calmly, but there was a sense of confidence in her voice.
"The Leader's Crown."
She explained:
"Allies near me become more resolute."
"Their will is harder to break, and their fear weakens."
Rilay said quietly:
"So you're kind of like our leader?"
"Perhaps. If you don't mind," replied Scarlett.
Scarlett continued:
"Unbreakable Will."
"The more enemies around me, the stronger my body becomes."
Orpheus nodded approvingly.
"Impressive."
Scarlett smiled slightly.
"And the last one."
She paused for a moment.
"That's all."
I realized that Scarlett had decided not to mention the epithet of a difficult fate just yet. It wasn't fair to our new friends. But I think we'll tell them-just later.
Then it was Orpheus's turn.
He cleared his throat slightly.
"Okay."
"My essence is called the Golden Guardian of the Tide."
Rilay whistled softly.
"That sounds expensive."
Orpheus continued:
"It passively enhances my control over water and light."
He raised his hand.
A small drop of water appeared in the air and began to spin slowly.
"Plus…"
He tapped his chest lightly.
"Enhanced regeneration."
"Wounds heal faster. There's also some resistance to poisons."
I nodded.
"That's useful."
"Especially for a tank."
Orpheus continued:
"The main ability is Guardian's Radiance."
"When I activate it…"
He made a gesture as if putting on a helmet.
"My armor begins to radiate a golden light."
"And all hostile creatures around me start to see me as the main threat."
Scarlett understood immediately.
"You can make monsters attack only you."
"I can make anyone attack me if they're weaker or at my level."
Rilay smiled.
"Great."
"So I can shoot without worry."
Orpheus shrugged.
"Ideally."
I asked:
"Epithets?"
He thought for a moment.
"Tidal Endurance-I get tired more slowly."
"Warm Light-my light abilities slightly speed up the recovery of nearby allies."
"And one strange one."
"Last Shield."
"I haven't figured out exactly what it does yet. Even after calibration, there's no information."
Scarlett nodded.
"That already sounds useful."
Now it was Rilay's turn.
She smiled and stood up.
"My essence is called…"
She paused dramatically.
"Thunder Shooter.
Orpheus rolled his eyes.
"Sure."
She ignored him.
"Passive abilities."
She raised her hand.
A thin bolt of lightning ran between her fingers.
"I can manipulate lightning."
"I usually use it to speed myself up."
She tapped her temple.
"And also…"
She pointed at us.
"You've already noticed."
"It's hard to focus on me for long."
"My presence becomes less noticeable."
"People and creatures just… lose focus."
I nodded.
"We felt that."
She smiled contentedly.
"Useful for a marksman."
Then she raised her hand as if holding a weapon.
"Primary ability."
Her gun appeared in the air for a second.
"Shots of pure mana."
"I choose how much mana to put into it."
"You can shoot often…"
She made a small gesture.
"Or just once."
She smiled broadly.
"Very powerful."
She added:
"And one more ability."
"Analysis."
"If an opponent isn't significantly stronger than me…"
She tapped her glasses.
"I can see their weak points and vulnerabilities."
Scarlett said immediately:
"That's incredibly useful."
Rilay nodded proudly.
"I know."
We sat in silence for a few seconds.
Then Orpheus said:
"Alright."
"At least we have good synergy."
After that, we decided to take the first quest. Upon arriving at the guild, we accepted a simple reconnaissance mission: we needed to investigate a location where lone Awakened individuals had been disappearing frequently.
A few hours later
We were already far beyond the Citadel of Hope.
The green expanses of Eliar stretched all the way to the horizon. Tall grass, scattered rocky outcrops, and small patches of forest.
Rilay walked ahead, hopping over the rocks from time to time.
"A hundred kilometers…"
"It's not that far."
Orpheus walked just behind her.
"You're too happy."
"Why shouldn't I be happy?"
She turned around.
"We're together, and so far no one's trying to kill us!"
Scarlett said calmly:
"Don't jinx it."
I walked slightly to the side, occasionally stroking my mask.
The Ashen Wanderer's intuition whispered quietly.
Something here wasn't right.
After a while, the forest began to change.
First, we noticed a web.
Thin silver threads between the branches.
Then more.
And more.
Orpheus stopped.
"I don't like this."
Rilay bent down and gently touched one of the threads.
The next moment, she jerked her hand back.
"Damn!"
A thin scratch appeared on her glove.
"It's sharp."
Scarlett tensed immediately.
"Be careful."
I looked around.
The entire forest was gradually turning into a labyrinth of cobwebs.
Between the trees.
On the ground.
Even on the rocks.
And then I saw bones.
Human bones.
Orpheus said quietly:
"So there are the missing ones…"
The next moment, the forest stirred.
Spider-like creatures began to descend from the trees.
There were many of them.
Bodies the size of a dog.
Black chitinous legs.
And eyes.
Too many eyes.
"Form a battle line!" Scarlett shouted.
The spiders surged forward. But their movements slowed.
"Stay back!" said Scarlett.
Orpheus activated his Essence ability as well.
"Rilay!"
"Got it!"
Her goggles flashed.
"Analysis…"
She looked at the approaching creatures.
"The abdomen!"
"That's the weak spot!"
The first spider leaped.
Scarlett raised her hand.
Gravity suddenly intensified.
The monster literally slammed into the ground right in front of her.
She stepped forward.
Her rapier sliced through the air.
CRACK.
The spider was cut in half.
But three more were already rushing in from different directions.
"Orpheus!"
"I see them!"
He stepped forward.
"Guardian's Radiance!"
A golden light flared around him.
The spiders turned their heads simultaneously.
And lunged at him.
"Great…" he muttered.
The first blow from a claw landed squarely on his shield.
He staggered back.
"They're stronger than they look!"
I was already moving.
"Ash Step."
My foot touched the ground.
I released a little fire.
Ash rose around me.
The world turned gray for a second.
And I emerged right behind one of the spiders.
A swing.
Fire flared along the blade.
The spider was knocked back.
"Rilay!"
"Roger that!"
A bolt of lightning shot through her hands.
"Low-power blast!"
BOOM.
A cluster of mana struck the spider in the side.
It was thrown into a tree.
But even more creatures began to descend from the branches.
Scarlett spun around sharply.
"Too many!
She stomped her foot on the ground.
A gravitational wave swept across the clearing.
Several spiders were pinned to the ground.
Orpheus was already holding his ground.
He blocked the claws' strikes.
The light around him gradually grew brighter.
"I'd like some help!"
I raised my hand.
A gust of wind surged forward.
The blast knocked two spiders back.
Rilay leaped onto a rock.
Lightning flashed across her legs.
"Accelerate!"
She moved almost like a flash of lightning.
The cannon roared again.
"Medium charge!"
BOOM.
The monster was blown to pieces.
But just then, one spider broke through.
It leaped at her from above.
"Rilay!"
Scarlett spun around instantly.
An icy spike pierced the spider right in midair.
Its body fell next to the girl.
Rilay blinked.
"Okay."
"That was close…"
But then the ground shook.
All the spiders around them suddenly froze.
And then…
they began to part.
Something larger emerged from the depths of the web forest.
First, its legs appeared.
Long.
Thick.
Covered in spikes.
Then its body.
The size of a carriage.
And then its head.
With enormous mandibles dripping with venom.
Rilay slowly lowered her gun.
"Oh. . ."
"This is bad."
Scarlett gripped her rapier.
"Very bad."
Orpheus said quietly:
"This. . . isn't an ordinary spider."
The creature raised its front legs.
Its eyes glowed with a dim green light.
And Rilay whispered:
"Analysis. . ."
Her goggles flashed.
A second later, she turned pale.
"It's. . ."
She swallowed.
"The Lord of the Arachnids."
Silence.
I said slowly:
"This. . . isn't supposed to be in the beginner's assignments, is it?"
Orpheus replied:
"No."
The Lord of the Arachnids took a step.
The ground creaked.
And the web surrounding the forest began to move.
Scarlett raised her rapier.
She took a step forward.
"Get ready."
The Lord took another step.
The ground beneath his claws cracked softly.
A web stretched out around him, as if the entire forest were part of his lair. The small spiders began to move again-dozens of black bodies slowly encircling the team.
Scarlett quickly assessed the situation.
"Orpheus-hold the center."
"We'll move around him."
Orpheus was already standing with his shield raised.
"I was planning to anyway!"
Lord struck sharply with his paw.
BLOW.
Orpheus was knocked back several meters, but the golden light flared brighter.
"Guardian's Radiance!"
A golden aura exploded around him.
All the small spiders instantly turned their heads and lunged straight at him.
"Great…" he muttered, raising his shield.
The first paw strike.
The second.
The third.
He blocked them with his shield, but the pressure was immense.
"There are too many of them!"
"I'll help now!" I shouted.
I stomped my foot on the ground.
Fire flared up all around.
Ash rose in a cloud.
"Ash Step!"
The world dissolved into a gray haze for a second.
I emerged behind one of the spiders.
The blade flared with fire.
A slash.
The monster collapsed.
You have killed the newborn minion, the spider Eliar.
I immediately thrust my arm forward.
"Wind!"
A powerful gust of air knocked two more of Orpheus's minions back.
Scarlett was already moving by then.
Her silver rapier flashed through the air.
She burst into the swarm of spiders, but instead of rough blows, her movements were quick and precise.
"Gravity Press!"
The field around her suddenly grew heavy.
Several creatures were pinned to the ground.
Scarlett took a step forward.
The rapier's slender blade flashed almost imperceptibly.
A thrust.
The blade pierced the spider's eye.
She instantly twisted the weapon and pulled it out.
A second thrust.
The rapier entered the soft underbelly of another creature.
The monster twitched and collapsed.
But Lord was already moving.
He raised his front legs and slammed them hard against the ground.
The web around the trees shot upward.
Sharp threads flew toward the team.
"Get out of the way!" Scarlett shouted.
I dove into the ashes.
Rilay jumped up.
Lightning flashed along her legs.
"Accelerate!"
She literally darted between the flying threads.
One of them still grazed her cloak.
The fabric was instantly torn.
"Damn!" she gasped.
She landed on a large rock and raised her gun.
Her goggles flashed.
"Analysis…"
She looked at the enormous spider.
"Its eyes and the joints of its legs-those are its weak spots!"
"The armor on its body is too thick!"
I shouted:
"Then let's hit its legs!"
"Roger that!" she replied.
The cannon hummed.
"Medium charge!"
BOOM.
A burst of mana struck the joint of one of its legs.
The Lord let out a sharp, creaking sound.
Its leg buckled for a second.
"It worked!" Rilay shouted.
But at that moment, one of the smaller spiders leaped at her from a tree.
I spotted it first.
"Rilay!"
She turned around too late.
But Scarlett was already moving.
She practically glided across the ground.
Ice flared up around her hand.
A thin icy spike shot forward.
It pierced the spider right in midair.
His body fell next to the rock.
Rilay blinked.
"Remind me to put up a monument for you, sweetheart."
Meanwhile, Orpheus was already nearly drowning in the swarm of spiders.
He was breathing heavily.
"I could use… a little help!"
One of the monsters bit him on the shoulder.
The venom sizzled on his golden armor.
"Damn it!"
But the light around him grew brighter.
The wound began to slowly close.
I rushed toward him.
Fire flared around my blade.
I cut a path through two spiders.
"Hang in there!"
The wind burst from my hand again.
Several creatures were blown aside.
Orpheus seized the moment.
He struck the ground with his shield.
Water rose from the damp soil in a thin wave.
It lashed out at the nearest spiders.
"I didn't think that would work…" he muttered.
But at that moment, the Lord attacked.
A massive paw came crashing down on Scarlett.
She stepped sharply to the side.
Gravity flared around her, slowing the blow.
The paw passed by literally centimeters away.
Scarlett responded instantly.
Her rapier flashed with a silver gleam.
A precise shot into the joint of its paw.
The monster screeched and jerked.
But the force of the blow still sent her flying backward.
She slid several meters across the ground.
"Scarlett!" I shouted.
She got to her feet.
"I'm okay."
But her breathing had grown heavier.
Rilay was already loading the cannon.
Sparks danced along the barrel.
"Full charge!"
The cannon glowed brighter.
"Give me three seconds!"
Orpheus heard.
He stepped forward.
"Then I'll distract him!"
He activated the glow even more intensely.
Golden light flared up like a small sun.
The Lord turned his head straight toward it.
"Ouch…" Orpheus said quietly.
The spider lunged forward.
Scarlett instantly understood the plan.
She raised her hand, casting a gravity spell.
"Gravity anchor!"
The Lord's legs slowed for a second.
I was already moving.
Ash rose up around me.
Ash Step.
I appeared right beneath his body.
Fire flared along the blade.
I struck the monster's paw joint.
The monster screeched.
"Now!" I shouted.
Rilay smiled.
"Thank you."
The cannon flashed white.
"FULL CHARGE!"
BOOM.
The shot tore through the air.
A ball of pure mana struck the Lord right in the eye.
The explosion of light blinded everyone for a second.
The monster let out a terrifying screech.
Its body swayed.
Its paws began pounding the ground in rage.
But it was still standing.
And its eyes were now burning with fury.
Scarlett said quietly:
"Bad."
Orpheus raised his shield.
"Very bad."
I looked at Lord.
And then at the team.
And I realized one thing.
This was our first battle.
And if we don't start working like a real team right now…
We won't make it out of here alive.