There'd been something Daniel had been putting off. First it was because of his sister, and then the 24 hours from hell, after which her class had given him concerns that his Spoke had listened to him when he'd asked it to favor her. That wasn't a bad thing, but he hadn't said the nicest things to convince it. If his spoke was holding a grudge, then it could seriously screw him over by manipulating something it had been proven by Star to affect.

It was, of course, advancement time. The raid had given him another point, for what exactly he wasn't sure other than the alert had said he'd 'survived an ambush', putting him at five total. Daniel had made some progress with his attributes, still standing at 29 in intelligence while his strength was 23, charisma 21, and everything else a solid 24. Considering he wanted to keep one point in reserve for an emergency level up, the obvious move was to make everything else even on 24 and take whatever he got.

Of course, if his Spoke was mad at him, it might decide to give him a power from the new Cook class that'd be completely useless. Or worse, one from the monster domain. He'd almost given into the one infecting Beast Mode at the power core before his team had saved him, and he didn't want that temptation while in his real body. Unfortunately, there had been no sign that his Spoke could communicate with him outside of that weird gestalt space, so…

I'm sorry, he thought while alone in his room. I was angry, but I took it out on the wrong person. Thank you for helping Alex, and I meant what I said. I will help the other gods as soon as I can, but I think we can agree that Soraso is too much of a threat to provoke right now. So, maybe don't make things worse by giving me a completely random power? I like what I have right now so I don't need anything OP, just don't give me anything that will hurt. Please. Amen?

He waited, but there was no response, either from his phone or the world. The Incarnate would have reached out if it could, but only in the way of someone in a horror movie shakily putting a finger to their lips so that he'd stop making noise. Balance was watching. Balance was always watching.

I can't sit on these points, Daniel thought to himself after thinking on it. It might be good to try and sense how advancement potential feels for me, but I'm not leaving the team's survival up to the chance that one of these powers would have bailed us out if only I had advanced. Resolving himself to take whatever the Spoke would give him, Daniel assigned his points.

Your Strength is now 24! You have gained Ability: Invest Enhancement - Damage.

-

Your Charisma is now 24! You have gained Feature: Assess Customer.

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Invest Enhancement - Damage (Ability, Strength, Spell, Domain: Enchantment, Designation, Level: 2): You possess the Power to invest an Item you have Enchanted with Enhancement: Damage, improving the damage dealt by the item for a modest Mana cost. This Effect scales with your intelligence. Only one item may be designated by this ability at one time, and mana spent on the ability will be reserved until the effect is removed. This is a Magical Ability that does not function in an area of Magical Suppression.

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Assess Customer (Feature, Charisma, Domain: Knowledge, Level: 2): You possess the Power to improve your proficiency in assessing Creatures attempting to engage in economic transactions related to your primary profession. This effect scales with your charisma, and inversely scales with the target's charisma. This is a Magical Effect that does not function in an area of Magical Suppression.

This is… perfectly normal, thanks! Daniel thought toward the Spoke. Apparently other types of invest powers existed beyond Invest Affix, and it looked like they didn't conflict if you didn't count the fact that they both lowered his maximum mana until the effect was removed. Assess Customer was mostly useless because he was not in any place to open a store, but it beat having to resist going wolfman all the time.

Looks like we're all good. Daniel gathered his things and prepared to go down to the briefing, while in the background the Incarnate nodded with the largest fake smile it could manage without a face. Everything was good. Everything was Balanced.

…

"Wyverns." Zolyra's voice resounded across the small guild hall in Pinion's Point, and the way she said it suggested she should have been sharpening a talon with a file as she did. "Less dangerous than dragons, but one of the more annoying flying types I share kinship with. A few of my distant cousins were spotted by one of Aurus' Fates nearby and the Regent did use the 'courtesy' of cluing us in. Nothing above level 3, but they are level 3s. For now."

"And you want us to hunt these, why?" Evalyn asked skeptically. "Most of us are at the beginning of level 2, and have been… absent until recently."

"It was this or the level 5 tempestfowl elemental storming around five kilometers away," Zolyra said casually. "Raven's Call is handling that, but if I have to divert them to smash these wyverns I will. I don't want to, but I will, because the Fate reported they looked injured but in the midst of a feast. We need someone to take them out before they Grow and notice the town, and we're not exactly working with the full resources of Aurus here. With all your advantages, it's my opinion as Commander of Threst's hunters that you can handle this."

"We did this before," Khiat said encouragingly. "All we needed to do was get high above them and shoot them on their way up to us. I think with how good I've gotten, I can try for shots over a kilometer away."

"And we're getting paid for this still, right?" Evalyn asked with an eyebrow raised.

The Commander's smile grew pained. "Why not? I've just relocated to Pinion's Point to better manage hunts here. There's no reason that we can't reward hunters for their brave duty. It isn't as if there's practically no interchange between us or other regions that is threatening to collapse the economy."

"Sure." They both shared uneasy looks at that, Daniel echoing the sentiment internally. Things hadn't reached Thormundz-level rationing, thanks in part to all those bags of holding he'd enchanted a while back that could perfectly preserve food, but if there was central banking in Threst, there'd already have been a run on it. In a way, he was fortunate as the constant hunting kept supplies of monster parts renewed, and he'd ask after that elemental Raven's Call was hunting in case they brought back feathers. Still, there'd come a point where coin lost its value, and then people would begin to question why they were risking their lives if not for pure advancement.

Daniel tried not to let that color his mood as the team made the short flight back to their compound. A couple were still new to the flight suit setup, Hunter most of all, struggling to get used to it as it really only worked with him in hybrid form. He could have used some kind of bowl setup like Khare did, but as he mainly attacked with his natural weapons, that would get in the way. It wouldn't matter if flight was just a perk, but here it was mandatory to fight anything that could itself fly.

Don't like this, Hunter thought towards him, perhaps picking up on some of his internal thoughts. They were both still hesitant about using the Empathic Link at higher intensities, despite everything, but it wasn't that hard to have insights into each other. Feels like it isn't me, and I'm pretty sure my claws are weaker like this.

That's what the ones I enchanted for you are for. Don't worry, Zolyra knows to give us the ground threats too, one just hasn't shown up yet. It wasn't just idle assurance either. Pinion's Point was near the land bridge to Kallical, a region that sounded like it would suit Hunter much better if not for all the reasons to stay where they were. While packs of flying monsters were more universally threatening, it only took one ground pack to choke up a road given the fact that they didn't have anywhere to go other than in the way. I'll even keep Regeneration on you at the start. Not like I'm planning to get close.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Hmm, yes. Do not worry Hunter, it will be fun, Tak assured. I have been looking forward to this. Even if I cannot remember most of when I was gone, I can still feel how long it has been.

Yes. Hunter's refreshed good mood lasted for three seconds. But do we have to bring Tlara?

…

Spinner had recovered well from the attack, considering she'd been the most injured. The bastards had launched their entire initial volley at her, and one of the only reasons she was alive was that there hadn't been Rogues among the attackers. Strangely, she didn't seem that traumatized by the incident and was just glad Tlara and Willow had survived.

The Beastmaster's complicated relationship with the awakened drider continued to develop as the team caught the two talking on approach. "Don't worry Mistress, I'll keep everyone here safe. I won't fail like last time, I promise."

"Spinner," Tlara sighed tiredly. "It wasn't your fault. And don't let anyone tell you that either."

"But Mistress-"

"Don't but Mistress me. I don't want you calling me Mistress in the first place!" Tlara put her head in one hand. "Just, stay safe, alright? We're not going to be gone for more than a few hours."

"Amazing," Evalyn commented, gracefully backing up to get level with Daniel.

"Spinner?"

"No. Well, yes, but I don't think I heard Tlara curse once. Willow's a good influence on her."

Daniel shrugged. "She's the good influence, it's kind of her thing."

"It's like the gods decided to test what happens when exact opposites grow up together."

"Well, seeing as I've met them, I can tell you they weren't expecting Spinner."

Evalyn chuckled, but it broke off just prior to them landing as she saw someone coming out of the main house. She took the slower option of coming to the ground at a stand, while Daniel went with the full three point landing. While he could take a hand off his weapon, Evalyn had to keep two on her Focus unless she wanted to stop playing and was trying to build good habits. "You told her what we were doing today, right?"

"Yeah," Daniel replied, stretching out the word. "All I said was it'd be an easy hunt."

"I wouldn't call fighting wyverns easy," Evalyn replied skeptically. "Especially with Tlara and Willow acting more as reserves. Honestly, even if you ignore them we're more like two different teams fighting together at this point."

"Don't worry about it," Daniel replied easily as he tried to apply the same advice to himself as Alex drew closer. "Sigron and Shuni can take care of themselves."

"They shouldn't have to," Evalyn pointed out with the barest hint of aggravation. "This is a team, and I'm honestly worried about any bad habits you might have taught them, bond or not. I'd have liked something on our level to break us in, but you can't expect the apocalypse to be convenient."

"That's why you're the Captain, ma'am," Daniel replied with mock formality, only holding back the joking salute because Alex was there. "Everything alright?"

"Other than the fact that my brother's about to risk his life? Yeah." Alex was at least mostly mimicking Daniel's sarcasm when she said that. "But there's also…" Alex removed part of her instrument case from her bag of holding and tapped her fingers on it thoughtfully. That she still put it in the case despite being protected in the bag said a lot about how much she cared about it. "Can I play something? I don't want to hold you guys up, but I have the kind of hunch Quala told me to look out for. It's damn weird, like I'm in the middle of a test and come across a question I know I studied for, but it's not coming to me immediately, and there's the slightest bit of anxiety because it's an essay worth 10 points."

"What is an essay?" Tak asked, not at all following the metaphor. Most didn't because of how life was on the Octyrrum, but Willow picked up on it.

"It's a written discourse either explaining a topic or arguing a point of view on it. My father preserved the one Tlara wrote on our border regions because it made her first tutor quit. I think their exact words were, 'anyone who reads this will be worse for their time spent doing so. I myself find the need to revisit books on the subject owing to how perplexed I am after finishing it'." Willow was smiling sadly toward the end. "I didn't know your people had that kind of education system. Why don't we talk about it when we get back?"

"Sure!" The latches of Alex's case clicked as she brought her instrument into her arms, more focused on that but nodding to Willow at the same time. It encouraged Daniel to see her meshing with at least some of the people on his team, and if she was about to awaken her first power, all the better. "I've been messing with what to play with this. There are definitely things that feel like they fit better, but I haven't nailed it yet. Hoping that the pressure helps me out."

"Assuming your class is an evolved Bard, it would have to be thematically appropriate to whatever effect you're trying to manifest," Evalyn explained. "For most of my powers I also have to promote certain emotions in line with the effect. If it helps, it's usually tied to how the song makes you feel."

Alex frowned with that. "No, that doesn't sound right. I mean, what I'm putting in the music is important, but it's not emotion. It's…" She put her bow on the strings and played a few notes, breaking off before really getting started. "If this is limited, who should I give it to?"

"It's hard to say, not knowing what it does," Evalyn answered, despite Alex looking at Daniel first. She was becoming more confident in asserting herself as team leader as time went on, and his 'they can take care of themselves' comment probably helped with that. "Spinner isn't going and the plan isn't for Tlara or Willow to fight, if that helps. Sigron, Hunter, and Tak will be in the most danger. I'd do Shuni next, then me, then Khiat, then Daniel if there's more room."

"Hey."

"If it's a physical effect, you can swap with Hunter if you need it," Evalyn replied to Daniel with crushing logic. "I don't want to get your hopes down, Alex, but I should point out Bardic Music typically doesn't have long-term effects at your level. Whatever it is, though, we'll be grateful."

"Gotcha." Alex was more focused now as she began again, playing a few cautious slow notes in the moderate upper range of her instrument. "I can get the seven of you. If I try for more than that it's… it's like I know I'll be running farther than I have the energy for. Especially if I try to get Tlara in the group, I can only do her and two others. Let me just find it…"

The Virtuoso spent about half a minute starting and restarting her song, each time with the same slow notes. Daniel found something comforting about them but only in a nebulous way. He thought at first Alex was awakening some kind of healing song, but when she really started to play, it turned out to be something else entirely.

It was easygoing when Alex finally found what she was looking for, lax but with an anticipation for the work that was to come. At the same time, it was uplifting and paradoxically energizing despite the slow tempo, like the melody was a steady breeze that would carry them throughout the day. With it being early afternoon the song would have felt out of place, but it was like listening to it briefly transported them back to dawn for just a moment so they could enjoy the sense of waking up refreshed.

Despite three of those in the courtyard not being targets of whatever ability this was, they clearly enjoyed it. Alex was just too good. The sparrow even made a reappearance, though in a somewhat spooky way as he remained completely still, haunting Alex with his non-existent eyes as she performed. Something had changed after they'd talked him down from killing Willow, but the Spirit Master had reported that her attempts to bond with him had hit a rocky patch.

That one downer of a reminder aside, it was an enjoyable experience, and his phone vibrated with an alert one minute into the performance.

System Alert: You have been Designated by Ability: Glimpse of Dawn. You may trigger the granted Effect at any point prior to the next System Reset to gain its benefits. Source: Creature: Alex Brant.

"Figure it out?" Daniel asked knowingly after Alex stopped playing half a minute later.

"Yeah. This is so weird." She shook her head, though there was a wide smile on her face. "I can see it in my head, the name at least. Also, I'm pretty sure that just took all of my magic, so I hope you guys enjoy whatever that was."

"You don't know what it does?"

"Nah, not exactly."

Daniel frowned in thought. She's definitely awakened it now, so there shouldn't be any harm. "Mind sharing that power description with me? I can tell you."

"I guess it is the least you can do," Alex replied brightly, still basking in the epiphany that was power awakening.

Daniel's Encyclopedia received the full details of Glimpse of Dawn as Alex allowed him to siphon them from her. It took a couple seconds to navigate through to the page, telekinetically swiping through the accumulated power list being somewhat annoying, but he quickly landed on it. G wasn't too far down the alphabet. Somewhat bemused, Daniel began to read the description of his sister's first power, sure the Spoke couldn't have done anything too crazy. "Wait, what the fuck!?"

Glimpse of Dawn (Ability, Charisma, Spell, Bardic Music, Domain: Time, Designation, Level: 3): You possess the Power to instill a trapped fragment of dawn in designated allies for a moderate Mana cost per individual. Allies you designate may activate the Effect once before the next System Reset to partially restore their mana, additionally resetting any Heightened Features should they wish to. The effect scales with your charisma, and the mana cost exponentially scales with the level of your target. This is a Magical Ability that does not function in an area of Magical Suppression. This ability requires both a suitable performance and a receptive audience.

The Incarnate shivered in its slumber as Daniel called attention to the mistake it had made. Balance hadn't destroyed six regions because it had removed Alex's advancement penalty to endurance, or abused Luck. Well, those weren't the main reasons. The Incarnate had given her a class with a minimum level requirement, which it had ignored. That was fine, she was Special, but the issue arose when you considered she was now eligible for Virtuoso-specific powers. All of which were level 3 at minimum.

It wasn't as unBalanced as it could be. Alex was in her first level of Virtuoso, so she could only be assigned powers from the 'first' Virtuoso level, level 3. Any normal Bard powers she picked up would also be level 1 and completely fair, but this was a bigger problem than it first seemed. At level 2, Alex would start gaining level 4 powers. At level 3, she'd get level 5 powers, and so on. Considering she didn't have an advancement wall because she was Special, what would happen when she hit level 8?

The bottom line was this. Every time Alex leveled, Balance would get more upset as she attained a new tier of powers she shouldn't have access to. The Octyrrum could handle it if all that meant was another six regions lost. Hell, it could handle losing six more regions each time. Six times as much each time would begin to strain things, but if this was exponential? That would be a problem, and all signs were pointing to Balance not taking it easy on them. You see, the Incarnate might have accidentally created someone who would easily rival the power of the gods when they reached the height of mortal levels.

At least it would probably be the one that would get to write the first level 10 power.

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