Rune Seeker

“How?” Romin started. “What? How?”

Hiral could only chuckle at the look of utter shock on the man’s face. Whether it was at the fact the party had met the Reinforced Runeoceros, killed it, or just happened to have the exact parts his companion needed to evolve, it was impossible to tell.

“Can I… purchase these, somehow?” Romin asked, disbelief and a hint of desperation clear in his voice. “Trade, perhaps?”

The party leader didn’t immediately respond, looking from Romin over to where Wallop stood with the mounts. Where he stood stone still, eyes locked on the two animal pieces sitting on the ground. If Romin was interested in the parts, Wallop was downright in love with them. His eyes looked as wide as they would go, and longing huffs escaped his mouth one after the other. Even one of his heavy feet pawed at the ground like he was considering charging over and scooping the pieces right up, though he got the better of himself every time.

Smiling at the companion, Seena turned her head back to Romin. “No, you can’t buy or trade for them.”

The Bonder tore his eyes from the pair of items and looked at Seena. A moment of disappointment flashed across his face before he took a deep breath and steeled himself. “Of course, that was improper of me to ask. These materials must be valuable to you as well, otherwise you wouldn’t have thought to harvest them. My apologies.”

“Nah, that was just Seeyela having sticky fingers,” Yanily said.

“You can’t buy or trade for them,” Seena started, though she gave Yanily a flat look at the same time, “because you can have them.”

“I understand, I…” Romin’s words cut off as what Seena had actually said seemed to sink in. “What? I can have them?”

“Yes,” Seena said, holding up a hand to forestall any other questions from the man. “Whether your join our party or not, these will obviously do you and Wallop far more good than they will us. Assuming you still want them?”

“We absolutely do!” Romin said without hesitation.

“They’re yours,” Seena said, and her sister stepped away from the two pieces. “Can Wallop get started on… doing whatever he needs to with them while we finish talking?”

“Yes,” Romin said. “It won’t take him long. I can feel the quality of the pieces from here. They will definitely give him an evolution option.”

“Evolution, eh?” Yanily asked. “Sounds like something we want to be nearby for.”

Hiral nodded. The way Evolutionary Inspiration was worded, there was a good chance they’d get a bonus from the Rune-o evolving nearby.

(Lost) Evolutionary Inspiration: When a nearby creature experiences an evolution, you gain a permanent bonus based on that evolution.

Note: Benefits are gained when allies or enemies evolve in your presence.

For having somebody get an advanced class, they got the option to upgrade an ability – to add a plus to the end of it. For a Rank evolution, it had resulted in a bonus to their attributes. Just what would it be for a companion evolving their actual species?

While Hiral had been lost in wondering thought at what they could get from the ability, Romin had directed Wallop over to the two pieces – after checking for a third time Seena was sure it was okay. Given that they were right where the group was talking, the companion gingerly picked each up – like they were the most precious yet fragile things in the world – then carried them back over to where he’d been getting to know the mounts. Then, with Thunderclaws, Bliss, Vili, and Drake gathered around him, he began eating the pieces.

“It will take him a few minutes to absorb the power from those,” Romin said, eyes practically glued to his companion. A huge smile split his face the entire time. From how rare he said the opportunities for Wallop to evolve were, this had to be a special moment for them.

“While he’s doing that,” Hiral spoke up, and waited for a nod from both Seena and Romin before he continued. “Can you tell us a bit more about where Growers come from?”

“Well,” it was Yanily who spoke up. “When a papa Grower and a mama Grower love each other…”

Hiral punched the man in the shoulder to stop him right there. “Not that. These people are what remain of the Bonder island. On which only Bonders should’ve been, if I understand correctly what they were doing when they originally launched the islands. So, why are Growers showing up here? Or, maybe there’s a line of Growers now that keep having children?”

Romin shook his head. “While we do have a growing population of Growers, they can also be born from Bonder parents, though it is very rare. I don’t know the exact numbers on it – I’m sorry – but I think it’s only one every few years. Most are encouraged to pursue combat roles, as we can’t enter dungeons without them. Luckily for us, enough of them get a class that lets them fight.”

“Have you heard of a glyph of fertility?” Hiral asked. “Or, maybe you don’t call it that. It’s a symbol people put on their stomachs.”

Seena turned to look at him at the question. She knew his mother had the glyph, but he hadn’t had a chance to explain Gauto’s theory to the others.

“That doesn’t sound familiar,” Romin said after a few seconds of thought. “You could try asking Burs, though. He knows more than I do.”

“You’ve had other priorities,” Hiral said. “And,” he turned to Seena, “Gauto has a theory I wasn’t the only one born a Builder, because of the glyph of fertility. I was thinking if the glyph can cause Makers to have Builders for children, maybe that’s also a case for Bonders and Growers. Though, from the sounds of things, even the glyph isn’t necessary. Maybe it just ups the chances.

“Romin,” Hiral went on, back to the Bonder as the others absorbed the information. “How do you know a Grower is a Grower, and not a Bonder?”

“The Den Mother knows,” Romin said immediately. “When we bring a child before her, and none of the companions react, we know a Grower has been born, and needs to meet with the Seedling to get their PIM.”

“What happens if the Den Mother tries to force a Bonder PIM on a Grower?”

“It’s never happened that I know of,” Romin said. “The Den Mother knows, and we trust her judgement.”

“What is the Den Mother?” Yanily asked. “Is she a person? A person with claws, I guess?”

“The Den Mother is a great, albino bear. The only one of her kind, though she rarely leaves the sanctity of her cave.”

“Explains the claws,” Yanily said sagely.

“Back on topic,” it was Nivian who spoke up, his voice stilling everybody else with its echoing, hollow quality. “There was the question of why Romin would be a good tank for your party, despite the… losses to his old one. He has not discussed the reason that came about, and it’s an important one.

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“When the Chimeras arrived at the tower, his party stood between the monsters and the nine other parties there. The E-, D-, and C-Rank parties that would have had no chance against the B-Rank beasts for the most part. Instead of choosing a safer position that would only allow them to defend themselves, we found them spread out in a way to prevent the Chimeras any opportunities from reaching the lower-Ranked Bonders.

“They didn’t suffer losses because of poor planning or performance on Romin’s – or the others – part. No, they knowingly put themselves in harm’s way to save their friends. It was costly, but brave, and it’s not like I would’ve been able to make a better choice. Seeing the battlefield they were forced into, it was the best of bad options.

“Romin would be a good addition to your party, just like Finotol will be a good addition to ours. She’s already joined, in fact, and other than Politet complaining about another Breather, I look forward to fighting alongside her.”

“And I alongside you,” Finotol spoke up for the first time, her voice deep and pure.

“Thank you for saying that, Nivian,” Seena said, though Romin didn’t look particularly excited about the praise. Then again, even with the kind words, it didn’t change the friends he’d lost. If anything, he was probably still trying to come to terms with what he could’ve done better. “Does anybody else have any questions for Romin before we decide if…”

“He can join,” Seeyela said before Seena could finish. “I mean, it’s still your choice, but it’s fine with me. If Nivian says he’s good, I don’t know anybody else whose opinion I’d trust more when it comes to tanking.”

“Fine by me too,” Yanily piped up. “Wallop is getting along with Thunderclaws, so Romin has to be a good guy, right?”

“You’re basing it on his companion?” Seena asked.

“You saw how much Wallop wanted those things Seeyela had, didn’t you? But he didn’t move. Means Romin raised him right.”

The party leader nodded after considering Yanily’s words. “Okay. Hiral, Gran? If you’d rather talk about it in private…”

“I have no objections to giving it a try,” Hiral said. “Run the dungeon together. If it works out, we stick together for at least the raid zone – we’re going to need full parties for that no matter what, I think. After that? Well, we can figure it out when we get there.”

“Gran?” Seena turned to the final member of the party.

“Bah, what does my vote count?” Gran asked. “You all decided already.”

“Of course it…” Seena started, only to be cut off by a cackle from the strange vampire.

“I’m just kidding with you girlie,” Gran said. “The kiddo can join. Appreciate you asking me.”

“I… you’re welcome,” Seena finally settled on. Then, turning back to Romin. “You’re in, if you want it.”

“I do,” Romin said, then looked over at where Wallop sat crunching on the Reinforced Runeoceros horn. “We do. We won’t let you down.”

“Good to hear,” Seena said. “And, since this is a big moment for Wallop, you want to go over and join him?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” the Bonder said immediately.

“Go, be with your friend,” Seena said. “Once he’s evolved though, we’re heading for the dungeon. We’ve got some experience to farm.”

“Understood,” Romin said with a bob of his head before jogging over to be with his companion.

“It’s oddly convenient there’s a tank available just when we need one,” Yanily said quietly to Hiral. “This the PIMP again, you think?”

“Could be,” Hiral said. “Or could just be coincidence. If it wasn’t Romin joining us, we probably would’ve found a sixth from one of the other Bonders here, even if they weren’t a tank.”

As he said that, Romin and Wallop appeared in his Party Interface, making the addition official.

“Isn’t he going to have the same problem Drahn did, though?” the spearman asked. “Can he keep up with us and our advanced classes?”

“He should have more dungeon gear than Drahn did,” Hiral said. “Since he’s probably run some of this Ascender’s Tower already. That’ll help. You’re right, though. Without an advanced class and being a few levels below us, I have to wonder how difficult being the tank will be. Can he keep the monsters’ attention while you’re Skyfalling something?”

“Not just that, anymore,” Yanily said with a wink. “That new ability I got from Shock and Awe – same name as the achievement, actually – gives me bonus damage on Dragon’s Breath if I use it right after Skyfall. Costs more solar energy though.”

“That’s a crazy one-two punch,” Hiral said. “They both already do absurd damage. How much more solar energy?”

“Twenty percent, but I get thirty percent more damage.”

“Not bad,” Hiral said, then chuckled. “Yan, I don’t think you have to worry about Romin keeping a monster’s attention after you do that combo – it’ll be dead. Or at least pretty damn close.”

“Too many Bosses have taken our biggest hits and kept coming,” Yanily reminded him. “Or were too fast to hit easily.”

“No, you have a point,” Hiral agreed. “I think I might be able to do something with my runes to help though. I found a trick that works a bit like Nivian’s Infuriate back in the Siege of the Hanging Garden. Maybe I can combine that with whatever Romin does. We’ll have to…”

“Test it,” Seena finished for him as she joined the pair. “Saw you two whispering like secret lovers over here and got a little jealous.”

“It’s no secret,” Yanily said smoothly.

Seena just rolled her eyes at him, then slid her arm around Hiral’s elbow. “Didn’t you also get a new buff for tanks with your advanced class?”

“Vanguard’s Shield,” Hiral said. “I just have to figure out if I need to use it on Romin or Wallop.”

“Hey Seena,” Yanily started, voice unusually serious. “How tough are these dungeons we’re going to run before the raid zone? We’ve got half of B-Rank left. I’m getting close to my advanced class, I think, and I wantit before we get to A-Rank. But, we also can’t delay Ranking up if we have to deal with Vorinal again in the raid zone.”

“From what Romin and Finotol said earlier, they’re all high-Rank,” Seena said. “So, High-E-Rank, High-D-Rank, and High-C-Rank, which is the highest anybody has cleared. There’s also the High-B-Rank – where I expect us to spend most of our time – but I’m not sure about challenging a High-A-Rank dungeon. And High-S-Rank…? No way.”

“Not yet,” Yanily said. “We will clear those.”

Hiral couldn’t help but smile at Yanily’s confidence in the party, and he gave the spearman a gentle punch to the arm. “Rah rah.”

“We will,” Seena agreed. “Though the High-B is our first priority. Then the raid zone.”

“How close do you think you are to your next advanced class?” Hiral asked her.

Seena looked down at the gauntleted hand that wasn’t twined through his arm before she answered. “Getting closer, I think. I’ll… be honest. Being connected to the Unnamed like I was made me realize I wasn’t using nearly all my abilities recently. I’ve been focusing a lot on the fire, and ignoring most of my plant and root abilities. Watching the Unnamed get its ass kicked – and feeling it all…”

“Sorry,” Hiral winced as he apologized, to which Seena squeezed his arm.

“… reminded me I’m getting unbalanced. The reason I got my first advanced class wasn’t just because of the fire, but something like the cycle of a forest’s life through fire. How a forest could burn down, but would use the ash from what was lost to be reborn.”

“That’s what got the Mother of Flame’s attention?” Hiral asked, though he felt a slight concept resonance from Seena as she spoke. Like Nivian and his ‘I protect’, Seena was getting closer to the idea that defined her.

Seena nodded to his question. “And I’ve been focusing too much on the burning down part recently.”

“You do seem to enjoy it,” Yanily said.

“I do,” Seena agreed. “But it’s not enough, and I think that’s why I haven’t gotten another advanced class option yet. I need to go back…”

“To your roots,” Yanily finished.

Seena just punched him.

“I was going to say basics,” she hissed. “But, yes. That interaction between the two aspects that make up my abilities is what’s missing. I’m hoping these dungeons will help me find it.”

“That’s a bit different than me,” Yanily said. “I can feel I need to push further down the path I’m already on. Heaven’s Punishment has a hand – er, a claw I guess – on my shoulder, urging me on. He’s offering a lot of power, and I’m not going to pass it up.

“I also really likeShock and Awe, so I won’t object if I keep getting abilities like that.”

“How about your sister?” Hiral asked, though he kept his senses on Yanily’s concept. Seena’s had sharply grown, but Yanily’s was still firm and strong as well.

“She thinks she’s close,” Seena said, looking over to where Seeyela chatted with Nivian, Wule, and their new damage dealer. “Like me, she needs a little more inspiration to trigger something. Or so she says. Dungeon.”

“Dungeon,” Hiral and Yanily agreed at the same time.

“Perfect,” Seena said. “Oh, looks like Wallop is almost done. Let’s get a closer look, shall we? After his evolution, we’ll review what we got from the Siege, then head straight away to the Ascender’s Tower. You both ready to go?”

“Absolutely,” Hiral said, and the three of them walked over to see if they’d get any bonuses from Evolutionary Inspiration.