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17. Basil - Hands-On Training
Chapter 17Hands-On Training“Well, what did you get?” Griff’s voice wasn’t quite as hoarse as last we spoke, but it still sounded like he was talking over sandpaper. His eyes though were bright and eager, like a giddy child ready to open his solstice sweets and presents. In fact, he was looking me up and down as if I had those things hidden on my person. “No weapons, no armor, nor any new rings to speak of… You get yourself a talisman, lad? Some underclothes of protection? It’s not ...
16. Hull - Heavy Hand
Chapter 16The Cost of a CardSeeing my father smiling down at us like the world’s smuggest asshole while my head was still full of finally meeting my mother made me feel like I had a headache inside my heart. I’d been ready to unleash demonic fury on Edaine – and I wasn’t going to miss the chance to attack first this time – but then Hestorus had to show up and steal the one clean, uncomplicated joy I had. It almost made me want to refuse his shitty little Artifact gift just on principle...
15. Basil - Second Tries Are Better Tries
Updated ability list! Part 1& part 2.Chapter 15Second Tries Are Better TriesThe air was crisp as we stood outside, Ediane and her seven summoned Spirits waiting for us. Yesterday, most everyone had quickly taken the general’s lesson about being the one to initiate combat to heart, each with varying degrees of success. Personally, I hadn’t been as successful as I had wished, and after a raw but heartwarming evening with Esmi, I had spent little of the night sleeping, my thoughts circling the ...
14. Hull - The Weak Fall
Chapter 14The Trouble With TrustI stared at the shadowed woman in a moment of total shock, and then the old familiar anger sparked inside me. “Bullshit,” I said. “I may not remember much from my kid years, but I’d recognize my own mother’s voice.”“Ah, you experienced memory loss?” The woman squatted beside me, coming close. “Tell me more. Are certain aspects of recall more affected, or was the loss total?” Her eyes glimmered in the sliver of moonlight that cut across her face...
13. Basil - Admission
Chapter 13Admission“It’s nice to finally spend some time together again.”“I couldn’t agree more,” I said, using the arm I had looped through Esmi’s to pull her closer as we walked. Dinner had turned into a stroll around the camp, and while the sun had set an hour or so back, neither of us had suggested retiring yet. For my part, I didn’t want to share the time with my bunkmate E’lal, who I assumed was caring for the small tree he had found somewhere and placed in the middle of ...
12. Hull - Striking First
Chapter 12In or Out“You’re missing an Order?” I asked. “People can’t take them, can they?”“For the duration of a duel, under certain circumstances, yes,” Basil said, looking a little panicked. “Not permanently, though. Not that I’ve ever heard of. If I’d never heard of your soul card predicament, I’d say never. But this isn’t that.”“What is it, then?” I said.“I haven’t maintained my Order as well as I should,” he said. He wrapped his arms across his belly as...
11. Basil - Chaotic Intentions
Author note: Thanks for waiting! It's a long one!Chapter 11Chaotic Intentions“Excuse me?” I said, thinking I had misheard yet again. “Did you say Chaos?” I glanced at the nearby guard, but they still made no move; I was nearly convinced they were a card, but if so, they’d have that too-real shimmer to them.“That’s right,” the wild man said with a smirk. “I’d show you, but…” His eyes slid the same direction mine had just traveled. “Stephi here doesn’t take kindly t...
10. Basil - Preparation
Chapter 10Preparation“Battle readiness,” Edaine said, eyeing us all. Her gaze lingered the longest on the empty seat that Hull should have occupied in the Lecture Hall, and even though I was not the one in trouble, I found myself sweating by association. Where was he? The feckless oaf had finally returned to my life, and I wasn’t ready to lose him again so soon. I wanted to ask him about my deck, for Twins sake! “Preparation is the core of warring with cards,” the High Paladin continue...
9. Hull - Walking the Walk
Chapter 9Walking the WalkI was sweaty, footsore, and cranky by the time I got to the Lows. It had to be near on to midnight. I didn’t know where I’d find Harker or what I needed to do; I just knew I had to show my face if I was going to have any chance of stepping up to be the Little Big Man in truth. As my body started to rebel against me pushing it hard and cry out for sleep, I found myself being more and more sure I was going to screw it all up. I was a street kid that had lucked into som...
8. Hull - Sneak
Chapter 8SneakI’d meant to go straight to my little metal hut, pretend to bunk down for the night, and then climb my way out as soon as possible, but I realized once I got there there was still far too much light for good sneaking. There was some soldiery-looking fellow up in the corner tower who could have spit on my head had he turned around and felt the urge; the slightest sound of me climbing would have him breathing down my neck before I ever got up to the walkway that overlooked the wall...
7. Basil - Life
Author note: The pages regarding Source archetypes will be updated to show Life as being part of the Enhancement group.Chapter 7LifeAfter the field demonstration we were marched around camp and shown the various facilities. They included a large open-air training area with a series of raised seats on two sides for viewing; the Lecture Hall where our sit-down classes would be held; a line of smiths in adjoining boxy buildings, each with the symbol for Soul, Spell, or Relic engraved above the entr...
6. Hull - Field Maneuvers
Chapter 6Field Maneuvers“Why aren’t we on top of the tower?” I asked, pointing to the flat expanse on top of the central tower rising behind us. “Seems like the better view.” All of us students were standing with High Paladin Edaine on the walkway that ringed the interior of the fort and overlooked the cleared grounds below. It was a great spot for throwing rocks or boiling oil on any attackers, but we didn’t have any of those, thankfully. Edaine had asked us to focus on the far side...
5. Basil - Coward
Chapter 5CowardI was only able to listen to the Grand Marshal’s speech with half an ear, standing as I was a few feet from Gale, our own conversation hardly begun. The Marshal was not a nuanced orator, but I appreciated his blunt honesty about what to expect from our time in War Camp, and if the type of hard work he was describing was necessary to reach another soul advancement, I’d gladly do as the man asked.Through it all, Gale had a distracted air about him, verging on traitorous boredom....
4. Hull - Conscription
Chapter 4ConscriptionThe chariot driver had refused to go any faster than a plodding clop through the streets of the city no matter how I pleaded – the little toad of a man had said it wouldn’t be “proper” for the low folk to see their heroes rushing about as if their hair were on fire. I certainly feltas if my hair were on fire. I could have sworn that the letter I’d been given said that the procession from the city started at the stroke of noon, but when I’d come puffing up to the ...
3. Basil - The Champion's Parade
Chapter 3The Champion’s Parade“You bought a new suit,” Esmi said, favoring me with a warm smile.I blushed as I looked up at her. She was standing in one of the five chariots lined up for today’s procession. The vehicle was richly inlaid in gold, large gems encrusting the carriage, axle cap, and even the yoke, which was hitched to two beautiful white stallions.“I did,” I admitted, pleased she had noticed so quickly. During the soiree at the Tournament I had worn a hand-me-down from my...
2. Hull - Control
Chapter 2Asking or TellingI tucked the top edge of the coarse cotton sheet up under my pillow, flipped the blanket into place, and stepped back to consider my handiwork. Make your bed, Basil had said, and you’ll cultivate a little Order in no time. Today was my third day of doing so, and I didn’t feel any more ordered than before, certainly not to the point where I’d start manifesting source over it. I had no doubt Basil would roll his eyes and sigh despairingly at my piss-poor attempts to...
1. Basil - Research
Chapter 1ResearchI sat in the Library of Istraago, the largest in Treledyne aside from the King’s own. The cooing and chirps of birds could be heard up and down the aisles due to the countless kestrel who called the building home; they lived here and worked here, serving as its caretakers. In fact, patrons could only reach the library by way of larger bird-folk, who, for a fee, carried people in great baskets from a second story platform below to where Istraago floated high above. Enormous cha...
0. Countess Felstrife - Prologue
Note: Okay, folks, we're diving in on Book 2. Let's go!PrologueCountess Felstrife walked through the remnants of what had once been a sizable human town. She had heard that the place was now called Burlon, but on her library’s most recent maps – faded, yellow things – Kitling was its name, and on anything older than that it was merely a smudge of rolling plains. When she had first made her pilgrimage, north and west, traveling to the far off desert in search of the secrets it conta...
63. Harker - Epilogue
Author note: I'll rarely be able to post this early, but I hope you enjoy having it now!EpilogueHarker glared at the others as they bickered. Merrun kept pounding the table and telling slender Kernona at the next seat over that Ticosi had been captured and was being interrogated by the King’s secret police and their shadowy leader Azure, who might or might not be the Marchioness deRouche, whose inbred idiocy was the perfect disguise. He was saying the entire Lows organization needed to get...
62. Hull - Tending to Unfinished Business
Chapter 62Tending to Unfinished BusinessPenkmun leaned back on his stool, his dumbfounded look magnified by the ocular Artifact he had strapped over one eye. “Twins take me and make me anew, you weren’t lying!”I sat up on the bench he’d had me lie back on while he looked into my eyes with his whatever-it-was. “If I was going to make up a lie, I’d pick one that had a chance of being believed.”“Yes, but…” the old Tender floundered. “You can’t remove a soul card from the liv...
61. Basil - Promises
Chapter 61PromisesI spent another moment in companionable silence with Hull. I hadn’t planned to forgive him so soon or so easily, but after watching Lustra try to murder the king… It was a stark reminder of who our true enemies were, and seeing Hull try to stop her, even though I knew how desperately he wanted his father punished, made it clear to me that he wasn’t among them.Despite these thoughts and my words of assurance to him, I did still feel an inkling of doubt about our relationsh...
60. Hull - What Is Deserved
Chapter 60What Is DeservedMy back itched with the Assassin walking behind me, but every time I glanced back he just pointed me forward. I couldn’t see his face, but I could tell the bastard was enjoying this. When I’d faced him in Basil’s room he’d waited until I had cards in hand and was ready to summon before saying, “You hit me yourself and my poison will do for you; you realize that? No Dueling Dome here. I’ll have no choice in the matter.” His voice was gravelly but amused. ...
59. Basil - Grand Finals
Chapter 59Grand FinalsEsmi played her first match beautifully, deftly countering the prince each time he tried an avenue of attack. First, she used her Rare kobold to steal a magnificent shield Relic the turn after it was summoned.Next, she managed to always leave one of Gerad’s Souls alive so his attempts at Equality kept her Giant Kobold on the board; and finally, she used her From the Ashes Spell to repopulate the field after he overextended to cast an Epic removal Spell, which I had read a...
58. Hull - The Wants of a Street Boy
Chapter 58The Wants of a Street BoyTicosi’s body was already stiffening. He looked sightlessly at the ceiling, his mouth gaping just a little, his throat gaping far wider. Crouching next to him got the bottoms of my shoes sticky with congealing blood, but there was enough water pooled all over that I’d be able to wash them clean after. How Basil expects me to make this room any less of a disaster I don’t know. The ceiling is buckling, for Twins’ sake. Well, I’d deal with that later –...
57. Basil - Decisions
Chapter 57DecisionsDespite Esmi’s potion having mended me, I felt lightheaded and awkward being upright, making use of my limbs. So, I walked at a slow, measured pace down the hallway, hand held protectively to my stomach as if it might start gushing blood again. Esmi was kind enough not to hurry me, keeping a dignified pace at my side. I didn’t have a particular destination in mind; I just knew I needed to be anywhere but that room. The way her warm hands rested in the crook of my other arm...
56. Hull - On the Brink
Chapter 56On the BrinkThe chuckling huffs of my Marauders flanked me as I walked slowly toward Ticosi and Basil. I absent-mindedly pulled and summoned my final source and a card from my Mind Home, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away long enough to see what it was. The Big Man had let the slender noble boy splay out on the ground and was going through his pockets. He fished out the Night Terror Basil had won from me, gave me a flat, ugly, loaded look as he waved it at me, and then tucked it back i...
55. Basil - Battleground
Chapter 55BattlegroundBefore this tournament began I would have hesitated, but not now. That single Chaos Source had been a declaration of war more serious to me than any threat that the slumlord might spout.I sent the Headsman swinging at the bald fellow, who by now had drawn a full hand of cards. I couldn’t imagine a thug, even a leader among them, would have many cards – Hull had only had two to start, after all. I needed to strip the man quickly of his illegal power and then restrain him...
54. Hull - Reckoning
Chapter 54ReckoningThis is where it turns around. The Vampiric Blade sang in my hand as I ran at Basil. No matter which of his bullshit Souls blocked, they’d feed me fresh cards from discard, and with my Mind Home empty that was exactly what I needed. I’d gotten absolute shit draws from the word go in this match, but I’d held out, and now it was going to pay off. I’d have my Sucking Void back in a few turns and then I’d be unstoppable. I just had to focus and keep pushing.Basil wasn’...
53. Basil - Rematch
Updated ability list! https://imgur.com/mi54ONzChapter 53RematchInstead of letting the Colosseum's runner take me directly to my match, the young girl followed after me as I stopped at a booth I knew specialized in Water cards. Against Hull, I would need some Relic removal, and the Water Spell Rust was the most affordable option I was aware of out of the three Source types available to me. For the first time in my life, money wasn’t a hindrance thanks to the Epic I had sold the previous da...
52. Hull - Bound
Chapter 52BoundI was halfway through my third bowl of stew in the Mess Hall when I looked up and saw Ticosi sitting directly across from me. His patchwork leather coat hung still behind the bench and he had a toothpick in his mouth; his shaven head gleamed in the elemental lamplight. The way he was lounging at his ease, he might as well have been there all day. I choked and coughed, spraying bits of meat and vegetable everywhere. I hadn’t seen or heard him approach; he was just there. We were ...
