Book 2. Chapter 10: Alisara the Shadow Rogue

Book 2. Chapter 10: Alisara the Shadow Rogue

Of course, his familiar growling was not something just anyone could hear, and Jake did not even miss his step as they entered the room. He had decided on the name Ira, which meant watcher or protector and was otherwise gender neutral, which the young voidwyrm had accepted.

Ira took its job very seriously, and Jake had never seen this sort of reaction of Iras from anyone that they met. He immediately expanded his own senses to look at this party member with [Arcane Eye], and while he was impressed with the magical aura in her body, there was clearly something not quite right about this woman.

In the magical center near her heart, where the metaphysical doorway to the soul is, there was a sort of void, or just something missing. Someone like Antonius would have a small blur or haze of magical energy in this center despite his lack of magic ability, but someone with an impressive magical aura like this woman should have a much more solid core or otherwise distinct bubble of magical energy. The haze was sort of there, but it was like it was obscured even from Jakes [Arcane Eye].

Antonius reached the elven girl and spun around, then with a hand motioning to her said, This is Alisara. Shes a shadow rogue, a rare advanced class, and I think she will be an excellent addition to your party.

Alisaras smile became wider, and she said, Its so nice to meet you, Champion Jake and party. Ive heard so much about you already. I hope we can work well together.

Its a pleasure to meet you, Alisara, and likewise, I hope were a good fit. Antonius, has anything changed since we were last here?

Antonius face became serious. Things have gotten even worse, and we are losing nearly 1% per day in conquest progress, and even more than that on some days. This type of downturn is unprecedented, on this size of an established world. We have even lost some of the members that would ultimately have been a part of your battlegroup for this assault.

As you may or may not be aware, when someone dies in a Tier 1 contested world, their minimum resurrection timer is one week. There are other factors, including the conquest progress and where they died in relation to the conquest map that alters the timer, but you would likely need to wait a few days for [Sons of Rome] to provide the full forty members now.

We are hoping that defeating this fortress assault will bring things back to a more positive upturn like was seen before, but we have already begun seeking help from our parent organizations. I think its important that we move forward as soon as possible, filling the final members from other guilds, and working with them to close the rifts near the area for our assault.

This shocked Jake that things had become so dire, but he shared his thoughts with his party aside from Berri, as she could not receive his thoughts just yet. Jake thought they might have treachery of sorts in the works, and the primary culprit might be right in front of them. But is there more? What could they do about this threat? One thing Jake was sure of was this being in front of them was in fact a member of [The Framework].

They had met the uninitiated people on this and the other world they visited, and using his [Arcane Eye] he could discern with ease whether someone was a part of the Framework or not; the influence and latticework over their auras and body easy for Jake to discern. The Framework would protect any attack against this person. Just how was this possible? Jake felt the same mental compulsion that he had when trying to communicate with people of Earth. His own body refused any movement with the intentions to attack Alisara.

While Jake and his party could duel or spar, part of this capability was because they were in his [Refuge], where the rules were different. The other part was that the intent mattered, just like it had when he had been able to type on the computer or write something but unable to do so if he attempted to communicate with others, he was simply unable to do that if his intent was to attack or even capture her. In large fights, that same compulsion would guide area of effect attacks that might hit allies to somewhat avoid collateral damage.

They needed to learn more, Jake decided. He would send Ophelia to their shrine in the refuge to consult with Hestia about dealing with this type of threat, while they entertained or otherwise distracted Alisara and made their other preparations.

Jake said, Do you think we should use my [Call to Arms], Antonius? We may get a much better turn-out if we set things up that way.

IYou have a noble rank already? I guess I shouldnt be surprised. I think that would be effective, and that will even increase peoples contribution.

Jake triggered the option within his [Menu], to look over the options. He could schedule a sort of event, with a targeted area or zoning where he could direct other adventurers. The Framework itself would then give quests for clearing the Rifts.

It looks like I can schedule something, and I am of the same mindset that we need to do something sooner rather than later. I will send Ophelia to the local shrines to recruit some healers. Even if they might be too low level to take part in the overall assault or even not members of the [Framework], they should be of some use for such a massive undertaking. Would tomorrow at dawn be enough time for everyone to organize?

That was going to be the time I was going to recommend. That gives us only 18 hours, but that should be sufficient; thanks to the teleportation gates and guidance of the framework, it does not take too long to rally. You should take Alisara with you as you make your preparations, and see if you can find the time to get used to each others capabilities. I will get word out, but you can trigger your [Call to Arms].

Jake nodded and did so.

Call to Arms by: Hestias Champion Jake Hart, Knight

Rally Point: City of Roseburg

Levels: 13-25. See Sons of Rome Guild for direction.

Ophelia headed out where she would both accomplish her cover task and her task of meeting with Hestia. Meanwhile, Jake and the rest went to the [Sons of Rome] training grounds. Here, they had a place for Framework-sanctioned duels, as well as training golems that would allow them to simulate fights that were difficult for their level. Antonius went ahead to [Alliance HQ] to meet with other guild leaders.

Are you interested in dueling one of us, Alisara? We can also get a firm idea of your capabilities if we take on one of the training golems as a group as well, I suppose. The choice is yours.

Can I? I have wanted to have a bout with you, Jake, since I heard about you.

Thanks Champion Jake, but I really felt like I was a fly on your web the entire time. You didnt even fight at your best, did you?

Jake smiled and replied, Sure, but you werent able to bring out yours either, could you? Arenas are no place for a rogue, and fighting this way with the sun high in the sky leaves us both some room for doubt. If you brought your best and I brought mine, who would win? Isnt this where you talk shit and say something like You hide behind your lights, but the sun wont always be out, and you wont always know Im coming for you, summoner?

The elf smirked and was just about to reply, but they were interrupted by the sound of a large crash. Jake immediately looked towards Fhesiah, giving a look of blame, but she just arched her brow in reply. It appeared she wasnt to blame this time. Alisara stood, and the three of them went to see what was going on, and found Berri standing over a destroyed golem in a nearby training field. She was standing there nonchalantly inspecting her mace for damage, while a crowd had gathered in the wake of the commotion.

It was Alisara that spoke, Shereally destroyed the Tier 1 training golem by herself? Shes not even level fifteen yet. Most of those at the peak of their tier cannot even accomplish that.

Jake watched as the golem sort of reconstituted itself by its pieces merging together like some sort of metallic blob, perhaps a much more advanced training golem than what he had at his Refuge. Jake shrugged. He wasnt there to watch, but had gotten the feeling that she was practicing her new technique over the bond.

He had seen it during training previously, and if he had to describe it, it was a sort of cobra-like dance that led to viper-like fast and powerful sudden strikes, while also making her tough to hit despite her large body. There was a lot more to it, but Berri was not helpful at all in explaining the things that it could do, her having the information downloaded into her brain by the Framework. Luckily, it was Jake that purchased her Tier 1 spell-book and her Priestess spells had viable descriptions, so he at least knows and understands those spells.

Still, Jake knew that this skill would make it difficult for her attacks to be dodged with speed alone, and it also blended magical effects into the dance that matched her dark magic quite well. Combining the attack with [Mace of Hestia] made an absolutely deadly combination that left craters in the ground from the amount of force.

Jake had thought he could just buff Berri with [Einherjar] and it would simply be game over for any enemy they could potentially run into if they got hit with her mace, but it turned out that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Now that they were Tier 1, the spell had a much smaller effect than it had before. Jake had learned that rather than adding a certain amount of attributes, it was more like it added a set amount of power.

For example, someone that could lift 1000 lbs before the buff spell might be able to lift 2000 lbs. But someone that could lift 10,000 lbs would get the same benefit, being able to lift only 11,000 lbs rather than something percentage based or similar. It didnt precisely work like that, but it was easy to understand that the effect on them at Tier 0 was significant, but would be much less now that they had more attributes, and the effect on the snake woman with monstrous strength was much less. Jake would have to funnel even more mana into the spell, and implement additional runes, in order to have a serious increase in her strength.

Jake looked upon the dark lamia with worry. While she had an almost serene expression on her face, her emotions were all over the place. Jake felt a little bad, as she had not been privy to the mental conversations he and the other girls had been having because of her lower bond level. Perhapswas she jealous, or otherwise worried about this elf girl? Jake looked for the words to say to her, but with their present company, it was a real challenge to reassure her.

It was Alisara who ended up speaking first. Well, that fight definitely took a lot out of me. Whats the verdict? Will I be joining you in the [Fortress Assault]? I assure you that for this level range, you wont find better than me in the time frame that we have available. I need to rest as well as complete my own preparations before we head out. I can meet you a few hours before dawn at Roseburg?

Jake still had not received confirmation from Ophelia, and he didnt like the idea of giving this enemy room to act. At the same time, he also didnt want them in his remaining business, and certainly wouldnt allow them to join his party in his refuge, so things worked out that way. Fhesiah agreed mentally with his thoughts, so he decided to accept.

Welcome to the party for now, Alisara. Yes, we will meet in Roseburg early tomorrow at the branch HQ. Rest well.

She gave an almost flirty smile and a wave goodbye as she sauntered away in the other direction. Jake wished he could warn Antonius and others, but that could give away that they were on to her and cause her to flee. There could also be other enemy agents they were not aware of, and could make things worse rather than making them better.

That just left Jake and Fhesiah standing in front of a fully armored lamia, minus the mask, watching the elf walk away with rapt attention. Everything okay, Berri? You seem...worried.

Berris emotions became even more tumultuous, but were then cut off. Berri justdoesnt like the new girl. We still havent mated, and now another woman has joined our party. Do you really not want Berri?

Jake searched for the words to reassure her. He now felt really bad that they didnt have a way to keep her in the loop with their interloper up to now, and that she had been denied what she wanted for as long as she had been. In the end, she is at least partially a monster, and she got along well enough in their family. Wasnt it fine? Still, Jake was not ready to give up on her. Jake wanted her to be a complete person, one that can blend in with society and for her to be able to have a world beyond just their family and the dungeon.

Whether she did anything with that or not, Jake thought she would have a much more fulfilling life if she could truly experience all that life had to offer, for her heart to be able to encompass all things, and not just herself and her own species. Jake felt like she had already done quite some mental gymnastics whenever they would discuss empathy, to even include Jake at all in her circle of care.

After all, her species would be one that saw humans as nothing more than for breeding, and never an emotional connection. Jake being a Champion and Knight, are probably the only things keeping her from seeing Jake this way, and this didnt make him feel good about it.

Not only that, but she currently only valued two things in her life, when asked about it anyway. Power and motherhood. Even her children, she was only interested in them being powerful and strong, things that were synonymous in dark lamia society. Well, that had started to curve a little bit: she was interested in them playing baseball with her. Of course, Jake saw how happy she was to have fun with the things they did, but once again, she was only willing to do those things because she hoped she was going to get the two things she valued.

Jake did his best to send confidence and his feelings for her over the bond. You dont have to worry about her, Berri. I do want to mate with you when were both ready. I promise that you wont have to wait much longer, and you wont be replaced. A Goddess could show up wanting to join our family, and I would have her wait for you, if I have anything to say about it. Berri is next, I promise. Does that make you feel better?

Jake had done his best to convey his certainty and resolve over the bond, and he thought it had the desired effect. Berri looked like she was about to cry, but they were going to be happy tears. She nodded, and once again Jake knew he would be enveloped in breasts if not for her armor getting in the way at the moment.

It was at that moment that Ophelia contacted them over the bond.

[I have news, and almost none of it is good.]

Jake could feel her worry over the bond. Just what was it that the goddess had to say about Alisara?