Search for Wretches

I found Double asleep in his the old shamans quarters. The room was dark and double was fast asleep. I rapped my tail on the door gently, as gently as a giant snake could be. The door shuddered slightly as I heard Double start stumbling about. "Who is it?" he said in a loud and annoyed voice.

"Alex. I need your help with something. It's serious." I said in a grave voice. There was silence before the door was opened. Double stood there in sleep ware and a groggy look on his face. He looked at me for a few seconds before nodding and saying "What is it?" seriously.

I looked at him before saying "I should show you instead." He looked at me and quickly got dressed before riding on my back. I brought him to the large tree where the rift resides and gently let him off. "Here. Do you see anything?" I ask in a serious tone.

He looked at me and back at the tree before chuckling slightly but stopped after seeing my serious expression. "I see a tree Alex. That is it." he said simply, slightly worried.

I looked at him and then at the tree. How could I show him what it was? How could I show him whats going on? I said quietly "There is a rift on that tree. A spacial... whatever rift. And it's part of something the wretches are doing."

Double looked at me in a confused manner before saying "A.... rift? Did I hear you right? Like a spacial, dimensional rift?"

I look at him before nodding slightly and saying "I'm not for sure what it is. But behind the rift is another place. And from what I have learned about it so far is that Wretches are the soul reason it exists. Or at least a particular Wretch. A Wretch by the name of Zelus." Double looked at me for a few solid minutes before asking in a simple tone "And how did you find this out?"

I quickly told him about what had happened a few moments ago and he started to nod in an understanding. "The Order of Bargains.... They are dangerous Alex. Very powerful and very dangerous. If they are tangled up in this then it is best to leave it alone." he said in an almost frightened tone.

I shook my head slightly before saying "I'm afraid I can't Double. You know my Apprentice?" I ask. He nods slowly. "Well he is part of this bargain. He is being forced into something called 'Limbo'. And all because of this Wretch and the Order of Bargains. Though as I have told you the Order has offered me a way out."

Double looked down for awhile and saying "I suppose we will be dealing with some truly strong people this time around. I don't know if we will survive honestly. If these Wretches had something that the Order of Bargains wanted this badly.... then they must be very strong. The conditions in the contract are very strict. And the last person I had ever heard of that had the right to make a deal this strict with them was The Emperor of The Snow Fields. The only person that has been recorded to have mastered the Element of Ice."

"Snow Fields? I have never heard of them." I say to Double. He shook his heads and said "It is a good thing that you didn't know. It is a place very far north. Past all civilizations. It is the place that used to be known as the Exiled Land. All those who had committed crimes and has been exiled in Yrin were sent there. It's for the worst of criminals. A land of extreme cold. Not a prison, but a death sentence."

The look on Double's face was deadly. He almost looked like he was shivering thinking of the entire story. He told it like a traumatizing fairy tale. "But I'm with you. This is really important to you and I will help you no matter what." he said resolutely. I nod and give him a light tap "Thank you friend."

He nods slightly before saying "So we need to track down some wretches. A settlement perhaps? The more we search the better. We need to find one wretch out of many and that could take quite the time. So to find any traces we better ask around for names. I haven't had much time to look over all the information that I have now that I am the shaman here but I have been able to look over the maps of the surrounding areas."

"There seems to be three main cities far north with a large capital incredibly far east. The capital was named 'Bell's Stand'. It's the capital of the kingdom Bellbrooke which we are residing in. The cities up north are pretty simple but after awhile you will reach the ash lands. I think that about sums up our options. If we go west we will be directed to The Wasteland and that is not a place we want to go." He said in a thoughtful gaze. "I recommend we go north. From what I heard the Ash Lands have a large amount of beasts and Wretches living inside of it. And along the way we might be able to find a city or two were we can find information about this so called Zelus."

He pondered for a minute before gently rubbing his chin before saying "Now that I think about it Wretches with names are pretty rare. Titles are normal but names.... I haven't heard of a wretch with a name before for a matter of fact. Strange..."

I looked at him for a few seconds before my brain could comprehend the info dump I just got. So I guess we will be heading north... I wish I had some kind of hint to go towards. I thought back to all the visions and found not a single clue to moving forward. I suppose going with Doubles Idea would be the best so north.

"Alright Double. You are a true friend. When can we leave?" I ask quickly. Double ponders and then say's "One week should do. I need to prepare the Village with orders that will last them for a few months. Not only that but I also need to finish some studies up on the north lands and the ash lands. After a week I should be done, I should also have enough for the journey food wise and resource wise. "

After some more small talk Double heads back to sleep before I look at my status to see what I can do to improve before the Journey.

<Mind, Body, and Soul System>

Name: Alex Champion of the Forest(X4 mana regen while in the forest, all creatures trust you in the forest) One Title not in use. Only one title may be used at a time.

Level: 16 (0/1600)

Path : Practitioner of the Art of Practice.

HP 250/250

MP 390/390

SP 161/161

Bloodline:Name: Unknown/Rarity: Legendary/Species: Storm-dragon 50% Unknown 50% current percentage unlocked: 50%/100%

<Stats>

Strength: 52 ( + 20% Physical damage )

Agility: 22 ( + 10% physical speed)

Endurance: 23 ( + 21 SP )

Body: 107

Intelligence: 26 ( +10% casting speed)

Wisdom: 30 ( + 10% magic damage)

Willpower: 65 ( + 130 MP )

Mind: 121

Soul Strength:17

Soul Speed:17

Soul Integrity: 17

Soul: 51

AP: 8

MetaPhysical Stats:

Luck: 2

<Powers>

(Previous Evolutions)

ETC-

Body-

Mind-

Soul-

(Current Powers)(may only be improved upon training.)

Mental Unlock LV: 1

Physical Unlock LV: 1

Soul Unlock LV: 1

Blessings of the Forest LV: MAX

Telepathy LV: 1

Telekinesis LV: 1

Adrenaline Rush LV: 1

Soul Sense LV: 1

Soul Form LV: 1

Star Magic LV: 1

Storm Magic LV: 1

Eyes of the Veil LV: 2

Mirror Magic LV: 1

Power Points: 11

After looking at the list for awhile I start planning on what I am going to focus on next. With 8 Attribute points I should be able to bump my stat's up quite a bit. The Bonuses for the other milestones were pretty good but I want something more. So Why not focus willpower? After sending 8 points in that I look at my powers looking deciding how to strengthen myself quickly.

On closer inspection I became confused on how I hadn't leveled up telepathy yet. I had used it quite a bit. So why hadn't I leveled it up yet. In the middle of my thoughts shell interrupted me.

{Master some skills have some certain conditions to be able to unlock them. I don't know them but that might answer your question}

I look at the ground before slowly banging my head against it over and over again.

'REALLY?!!! IS THIS WHY I WAS STUCK IN A STUPID STALEMATE ON MOST OF MY SKILLS?'