Skills, Skills, Skills

placed the shard on the rim of the tub and turned on the water. Cold water spat out of the nozzle, and I step back out of the way of the arctic floes. I pick up the Shard.

"Open my skill page."

The Shard was now a bright white as it took in the light reflecting off the steam just now beginning to rise from the stream of water. Little by little I adjust the heat of the water down to a more comfortable level as the Shard's screen changes to list my skills.

SKILLS

MAGIC

LESSER HEAL 50/999

EMBER 12/999

ENSNARE 12/999

ROCK THROW 30/999

GUST 19/999

MEDITATION 6/999

SALAMANDER'S BREATH 1/999

FLAME BOLT 4/999

DJINN'S DANCE 20/999

EARTH SPIKE 25/999

DJINN'S ARROW 38/999

AETHERIC PUSH 6/999

BOLT 1/999

LIGHTNING STEP 2/999

QUICK CAST ???/???

CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT

JAB 13/999

STRAIGHT 12/999

HOOK 18/999

GRAPPLE 20/999

BITE 4/999

WEAPONS:

SPEAR 4/999

KNIFE 2/999

DAGGER 6/999

QUARTER STAFF 12/999

PASSIVE SKILLS:

MAGIC AFFINITY 87/999

DUELING 4/999

HEALING AFFINITY 46/999

MANA SENSITIVITY 80/999

FIRE AFFINITY 25/999

EARTH AFFINITY 25/999

WIND AFFINITY 30/999

LIGHTNING AFFINITY 5/999

GRIT 30/999

SHADOW RESISTANCE 3/999

LIGHTNING RESISTANCE 10/999

PAIN TOLERANCE 30/999

MANA MANIPULATION 104/999

FOX'S GUILE 1/999

CRIME SKILLS:

LOOTING 13/999

AMBUSH: 2/999

SUBTERFUGE 1/999

CONJURATION SKILLS

SOUL-BOUND CONTRACT 3/999

"Oh, that feels good," I mumble as I step into the warm water.

The inert cold that had tightened my shoulders and chest melted away like ice exposed to the summer air.

"Now let's see," I mutter after some length enjoying the embrace of the warm water washing over my body. Scanning the list of skills, I decided to check out Fox's Guile.

"You always seem to know how to mislead your foe."

What does that even mean? I'm better at running away? Hiding think back to Reynard's story; how he was able to escape the bear by trapping it in a log full of honey, and how he was able to lead the cat prince to a place where he could easily escape the distracted cat. And what was it he said, 'What man's guile can match a fox's.'

"Agincourt...is that what he said?"

It's something I was familiar with. I had a passion for history, at one point in high school — mostly derived from my obsession with strategy games at that point in my life. It was a battle in medieval France during the 100 Years' War. The retreating English employed a strategy that practically killed the cavalry charge as the premiere battle tactic. Was Reynard claiming responsibility for that? Perhaps Fox's Guile was a lot more useful than it seemed.

The next ability I was interested in was Quick Cast.

"Why doesn't this one have any levels with it, like all the others?"

A separate screen breaks off from the main one.

It's a special ability. Came the rather terse reply.

"What does it do?" I press it.

After you cast a spell 100 times, gain the ability to Quick Cast it; forgoing all incantations and runic formations necessary.

100 times? Have I even cast a single spell of mine that many times? Perhaps Lesser Heal, but now I'd have to do it all over again? Well, it'd be useful in the future.

While pondering this, the sound of someone entering the motel room came to me. It seems my hearing was indeed much sharper than before; I don't think I'd be able to pick that out over the loud flow of water. I better hurry things up.

I can guess what bolt and lightning step do, but there was no way I was going to try either out here, in the middle of a show, so I press on Subterfuge.

You blend into the crowd. Cast off wary eyes.

That was the description. Well, that's a useless skill, isn't it?

I sigh.

"Show me what skills I can get."

The Shard changes into the skill page. I was able to get three skills. Should I follow through with my elemental path, or diversify? The first skill I bought was the second skill available in the Aether school; Repel. It provided me with a means of defending myself. A shielding ability. That was something I definitely needed to avoid getting injured in the future. What else would be useful?

I scroll until I find something that catches my eye. On the second entry of Conjuration was the ability Form Take. I press it with my finger and a description pops up.

Using the bond between you and your familiar; take their form momentarily.

That could be useful, wouldn't it? I could scout in the doors a lot better as a cat than I could as a fat human, couldn't I? I drum my fingers against the surface. Ah, fuck it. Why not. I had enough damage-dealing abilities, and now a defensive, so I could do with a utilitarian spell like this. I take it. I could afford to get one more skill; though I don't know what to do with the last one, so I save it for later. Perhaps I could make a decision when I need it.

"Can you show me my Quick Cast progress from here out as well?" I ask the Shard.

Of course I can. Came the reply.

I finish up the shower, dry off and put on the clothes that I had worn into the restroom, and step into the motel room. Five people waited for me there; aside from William, I recognize two of them. I clench my fist and steady my breath.