Forged Legacy

“Ok, I think I’m ready,” Harvey said, standing up from the workbench when he saw Elena finally break her concentration after an intense crafting session.

“Really? Want to go over your plan with me?” She asked.

“No, I want it to be a surprise.”

They left the forge and set out to find Julian and Hannah. It was early afternoon, and Harvey was relieved to see his friends eating sandwiches outside the General Store. Most of Veils End was out hunting, and he would’ve hated to wait for them to get back if they’d gone out as well.

“Hold on, Harvey. I have to finish my sandwich.” Hannah began, chewing as slowly as possible. He waited patiently for her to finish the first bite, but snatched it out of her hand when he saw her doing her best sloth impression. “Hey!”

“Buttercup! Catch!” Harvey called, tossing it to the buck who snatched it out of the air.

“Ah! You already ate your lunch, that was mommy’s sandwich!”

Buttercup flinched back, hurrying to swallow before Hannah could wrench the food away. Harvey couldn’t speak to him like she could, but still tried his best to send a mental thumbs-up his way.

“Look at that! Your food's gone! Time to go!” Harvey cheered, grabbing her wrist and dragging her to the Loom.

“Could you two act like adults for once?” Julian complained, walking alongside Elena to the church.

I could, but you gotta find fun where you can. Rushing into the chapel, he found it was blissfully empty. He’d delayed his evolution long enough and wasn’t going to wait another second. The other three found a seat in a pew, Buttercup almost knocking one over as he tried to back his way into the narrow row. He’d grown a lot over the last week, at least 25% larger than when they’d found him cornered by the Moonshade Stalker. Harvey didn’t know much about white tailed deer to begin with, but it sure seemed like the Essence was helping it grow much faster than normal.

Placing his hands on the crystal ball, the rainbow haze surrounded him. He admired for a moment how the already quiet outpost was replaced with the absolute silence of the Loom. There were scant few moments in the trial where safety was guaranteed, so he needed to make the most of each and every one.

Taking deep breaths, he focused on every part of his body, doing his best to enter a meditative state. Plans, problems, hopes, and dreams were all set aside for the moment as he worked to relax every muscle. It was a fight, suppressing the buzz of the impending evolution, but he wasn’t going to do it without a clear head.

He could feel the unfathomable presence behind the Loom patiently waiting for him to begin. Hannah and Julian hadn’t said much about their actual experience evolving, only that the thread burrowing deep into their bodies was twice as painful and invigorating as it had been when they created their G Grade professions. If the barrier surrounding him was impenetrable during the evolution, was it possible to wait out the end of the trial in the Loom?

The thought tugged at the Stain on his chest, his will faltering for a moment until he eviscerated the thought. He would never do that. How could he become strong if he were sitting safe in a bubble? But maybe it would be good for Elena…

Finally settled, he set to creating his final class skill for the G Grade. It would be short-lived, seeing as it would immediately evolve to F Grade alongside him.

Why even have a skill slot at the same level as the evolution? It doesn’t make sense to wait to evolve… unless there’s more than just hitting the level cap for the higher grades. Harvey thought.

He took his time sifting through the ocean of memories surrounding him, searching for the five he’d planned to include in his skill. None of his fights had included any sort of essence constructs, so the first ingredient had to come from his profession. To anyone living in a civilized society, a skill like Inventor’s Toolbox would be supremely underwhelming. The ability to create molds, bits, and temporary tools out of pure essence was useless when you could just buy a better version for less merit than a few monster kills. Even if you couldn’t afford everything up front, you were better off using a skill slot for something better and saving up. Harvey had neither the time nor the merit to take that approach, so he’d been forced to make do with using a skill as a shortcut.

He’d gotten better at molding pure essence into shape after making countless molds and rounding tools, improving both their durability and the time it took them to break down. Technically, he could already use the Inventor’s Toolbox to mold a hammer or a shield, but not with the speed needed for combat use. With the Loom’s help, he hoped that would change.

From the sea of experiences, he plucked a vision where he hammered wrought iron over a mold in the shape of his own head. Being able to take his dimensions with Inventor’s Insight let him form a perfect replica, making it significantly easier to shape the metal to a perfect fit. It accounted for all the bumps and valleys of his skull, leaving the perfect amount of room for his brow and nose so the armor fit snugly and comfortably.

Hopefully that’s enough detail for you, System. He thought, moving to the next memory.

Having no other personal experience with the skill he was aiming for, he turned to all the times he wished he had one. Fighting the giant Kalthera Widow, unable to do enough damage with his fireballs while being held at bay by the flurry of kicks. Getting pummeled by the F Grade Iron Elemental after it disarmed him and destroyed his warhammer. Sitting helpless in a sea of blood mist while desperately protecting Elena on their Bloodrunn hunt, unable to take a swing without exposing his throat first.

The glow surrounding the bundle of visions started dim, but grew brighter as each piece was added. The washed-out colors began to look like he was seeing each experience through his own eyes instead of an old video camera. The Loom didn’t know what to do with a simple essence mold alone, but it seemed like it was beginning to understand his idea.

Beginning, but not quite there yet. What else could he include? He had plenty of fights where a skill like this would have been helpful, but none where it was absolutely necessary. He sat for a long time, watching the sea of visions with growing frustration. If he created the skill now, it would be serviceable, but nothing special. Perfection may be impossible. But exceptional? He wouldn’t settle for less.

Vision after vision passed by his eyes. Fight after fight. Nothing was good enough. An itch nagged at the back of his neck, but the Loom kept his hands glued to the crystal ball until the process was complete.

There has to be something.

The itch grew louder, begging for his attention as his shoulders began to twitch.

What the hell?

His concentration broken, he struggled to wiggle his head and shoulders to satisfy the sting, but its call only grew louder. Then it hit him.

The Mark. Thıs content belongs to novｅlfire.net

With a thought, the tattoo of his jerry-rigged grindstone floated off his body and joined the swirl before him, the glow turning from a star to a sun.

Of course. You’re pretty dense, Harvey.

The Mark joined his memories, and something deep within him knew the skill was complete. With a nod, pieces floated one by one into the Loom, the spools of thread almost humming as they whirled to life. Silver, Blue, and Black threads cascaded down, weaving into a stunning pattern of a spectral sword, spear, and hammer crossed behind a shield. It felt like ages before the spools finally severed their threads and the pattern lifted off the Loom.

His final G Grade skill was complete.

The sigil parted the inky strands of his weave stretching down his right bicep and branded itself into his skin, and a surge of essence roaring from within his body flooded the tattoo. He grit his teeth, feeling his jaw quiver as he waited out the pain. When it was finally over, the rainbow haze retreated, and he pulled up the screen for his new skill.