Mantle of the Gods

I’d forgotten that her mother was a Reace.

I don’t know why it’d slipped my mind. I remembered Justia being teased about it back in Harror, but that felt like a lifetime ago.

He looked a bit younger than Dacine Mite and, to be honest, more like Oz than her mother. He had clear blue eyes and black hair, which was a stark contrast to Dacine’s green eyes and brown hair. But that smile was definitely the same, that confident presence that filled the room and put you at ease.

The older man wrapped his niece in a hug. "It’s been forever! What have you been up to?” He looked over at us. "Who are your friends? That’s right! Your mom said you got your Mantle! Congratulations!”

He was jumping from one topic to the next so fast that she couldn’t answer him.

“Thanks!” She smiled at him. "This is Atlas Ze… I mean Vowler.” Oz quickly tried to move on to Fray. "And this is Fray Harror.”

“It’s so good to meet you!” The excitable man shook our hands so fast that I didn’t have time to respond. I remembered that even though Oz’s primary stat was Power, that her Mother’s family was where her Speed came from.

I thought back to my days working in the dungeon as a Porter. The Speed people were always doing things so fast when they wanted to, it was amazing how quickly they could get things done once they started moving.

“Are you lot looking for some weapons?” He looked at each of us for a moment and shook his head. "Not a speedster in the group, a pity, but I see you put your extra points into Speed! Congrats on leveling up!” He looked at the weapon in my hand. "What are you even trying to do with your stats?” He pointed at the pistol focus. "You put points in Power, then Magic, but you want a Speed medium instead of a Power one?” He looked at Oz. "Isn’t he supposed to be Trent Vowler’s kid?”

“They have a plan." Oz reassured him. "But right now, we need some weapons.” The raven-haired woman put her arm around Fray. "My friend here is thinking about using a bow and was wondering if it’d be right for her.” She looked at the back door to the shop. "I don’t suppose you have a firing range in here that she could use?”

He smiled. "For my favorite niece? Sure!” He began looking over the bows that were hung on the wall, then took the bow out of Fray’s hand and put it back on the hangers. "I’ve got something better in the back.” He looked at Oz. "Longbow like Dace?”

“I was thinking something a little more complex…” She pointed at the compound bows. "Something like that, where I’d still be able to do damage, but have maneuverability too.”

Fine shook his head. "It’s a shame you’re not a sniper like your mother, but you’ve got too much of your father in you.” The older man motioned with his hand. "I’ve got something in the back that you’ll probably like.”

He started walking towards the back doors and took a white pistol off of the shelf and threw it at me. "Whitefang pistol, level two. Has Tracking to help line up your shots since your Speed isn’t that great.” The black haired man stopped at the magazines. "How many shot spells do you have?”

“Three. Electric, Fire, and Earth.” I looked at Oz. "But I’m hoping to eventually learn them all.” We hadn’t needed a different element for the dungeons here, but I’d told Ren to put down for the others to grab me either Ice or Acid shot. Considering we’d sent Gesai with them, I had a feeling she was going to bring back both.

Fine Reace shook his head and threw me a magazine. "Once we get out of the sealed zone, you can load that.” He took a second one off the shelf and slipped it into his pocket, then held open the door. "Welcome to my workshop!”