Unwanted Company, Draft 1, CH 45 (Patreon)

Of course, even after my father left us, things didn’t just get better overnight, or even just better. Once you learn to live with fear, that sticks around. And with all the mind games my father played on us, it was easy for us to believe this was another one. That the instant we grew comfortable with his absence, he’d jump out from behind the couch and start terrifying us again.

And there were all the bad decisions I made, leading up to getting involved with—

Fuck. How is having every bad experience jumping out of my mind supposed to help me? All I want is for it to be quiet in here.

I run a hand over my face, take a few breaths to settle my racing heart, thinking about him always causes that, then feel the last breath leave my body, pause a second, feel the breath enter, pause, feel—

What’s that? My hand closes on the bar and I listen. The rustling happens again and I open my eyes in time to see white fur vanish into the underbrush.

Great, I can’t even get a moment’s peace. I watch for it to return, hands on the bar. If nothing else, I’ll get to test it in actual fighting.

The minutes pass with only the wind rustling the leaves.

You’re being paranoid, my father says. Probably just a dog.

Considering you’re the reason I’m paranoid, you don’t get to comment. And you saw what those dogs in Harrisonburg turned into outside the fully civilized zone. We’re in the wild, so if that was a dog, it’s a monster now.

But you’re the bigger monster, right? You’ve proven that over and over throughout your life. Since it’s not coming back, it’s clearly smarter than you, not a high bar.

I ignore the snide in the comment, but it seems he’s right. Whatever that was, has moved on to easier prey.

I close my eyes and breathe slowly to get my heartbeat down. Then I pay attention to—

It’s back. My eyes snap open and I look around. It must have just gone back into the underbrush.

Or, you know, you’re imagining things.

I glance in the upper right corner for the icon and my father laughs.

What have I taught you about depending on anything other than you and me? You know very well that this system’s going to trick you the instant you start depending on it.

No, it won’t. It’s a computer.

Oh sure, like computers can change the world.

They already have.

Not what I mean, and you know it. This system changed the literal word you live in.

It’s still a system and not a person. Terry says that in all games—

My father scoffs. You are listening to a kid?

I’m listening to someone who knows more about this than—

My head snaps to the side and I look among the trees. I saw movement, I’m sure of it. Just a hint of white, there and gone.

Definitely gone now.

It was never there.

I thought you wanted me to live, you know, with you being my subconscious and all. You should be telling me to be on my guard at all times.

You don’t need me to tell you that. Those are lessons you already learned. I also taught you better than to waste your time like this. There is nothing wrong with the way you are. That bear’s only trying to make you weaker.

I actually have to think about that one. I have no doubt Albert has ulterior motives. Everyone does, but do they have to be bad ones?

Of course, no one wants the best for others, just—

So I’m not training Deloy for his benefit?

The silence is surprising. I almost never catch my father’s voice in an argument mistake. He’s me, so he’s usually multiple steps ahead.

You’re different, he says reluctantly. Unlike them, you’re nice.

The disgust in that one word is almost funny.

I’m choosing to believe Albert over you this time.

Why do I even bother?

We’re free to stop bothering.

And leave you to die? No thanks.

I close my eyes, feel the warm metal under my hands. Take a slow breath and—

My eyes snap open. That was the monster, I know it. I look around and see nothing. I glance to the upper right. Still no debuff. Does that mean I’m not imagining it, or is there some rule to what qualifies as paranoia I’m not understanding?

It’s screwing with you.

I refuse to believe that. The Walmart was screwing with me and—

You think that because the system took your side there, it’s not screwing with you now? My father asks in disbelief.

You know, for being my subconscious, you really get me wrong sometimes.

You know how boring it is knowing everything about you?

You’re welcome to leave.

Ah, funny.

I start to close my eyes and slow my breathing.

It turned into a sigh. What’s the point? I’m just going to get distracted again.

I told you it’s—

I’m ignoring you. It would be easier to do with an actual mute button, but this is what I have to work with.

If I’m not going to meditate, I guess I should head back and see what I can do to help. I look in the direction of the others.

Yeah, really not interested in going back.

Sitting here not doing anything isn’t appealing either. I guess I can train; I have this new bar to get used to. Only it’s exactly like my previous one, down to the weight. What I really need is to test what it can do, and I probably need someone to hit to figure that part out.

Which means I have nothing to do.

I so don’t want to let my mind wander or go back to them and listen to them jabber about. Terry’s going to demand to know what I was up to and if I worked on my build, which I still haven’t, because there’s always someone distracting me from that when I even remember to do it.

Wait a minute.

There is no one bothering me now, so why did I almost dismiss it?

You need me to answer that?

No, it was rhetorical. I know very well it’s because I’m not looking forward to doing it. It’s not the first time I’ve distracted myself away from what needed to be done.

Needed is kind of a strong word, don’t you think?

Make up your mind. You want me to survive or not? Terry’s right that I can’t just wander through this blindly. I have to plan ahead.

Fumbling about blind has worked pretty well for all those years.

That was when the world wasn’t literally out to kill me.

Before my father can respond, I bring up my class information.

System Query: Guardian class, Aetheric

The Guardian is a protector. They can be protectors of a   population, or of an individual. They place themselves between those they are   sworn to protect and the dangers facing them.

They are most often found among city guards, surrounded by other   fighting classes, such as the fighter, the archer, the commander. As well as   in more solitary roles guarding people of importance. Guardians can also be   wanderers, settling for a time in smaller settlements and defending them   until they move on.

Guardians are known for their ability to take damage more than   inflicting it, although an experienced Guardian can be a force to reckon with   in a fight

Guardians gain 1 point of   strength, 2 of endurance, and 2 of health, as well as 1 point to assign   freely per Level

Addendum: Aetheric Guardians gain   1 point of Aether per level

Guardians gain 1 ability, 1   skill, and 1 spell point per level

Ability Branches

Guardians have access to three   ability branches: The Bodyguard Branch, the Bulwark Branch, and the Vanguard   Branch.

Current Branches active for Chuck   Dorval: Bodyguard

Level 1 Ability list: Bodyguard   Branch, Switch (active), Bulwark, Wall, Vanguard, Charge

Level 2 Ability List: Bodyguard   Branch, Switch Enhance, Ward Buff, Ward Link. Bulwark Branch: Wall Enhance,   Pass Key, Group Defense. Vanguard Branch: Advance, Group Offense, Pull   Attention

Level 3 Ability List: Please   activate a level 2 ability to open the list of abilities for branch

That’s convenient, my father scoffs. You have to pick without knowing what they do?

You’re not even trying, Dad, are you? I ask for a detailed list of the level one abilities.

System Query: Guardian level 1 abilities, detailed

Switch: as a bodyguard, the Guardian can switch location with a   target within their range and line of sight, taking the attack in their   place. On activation of the switch, the Guardian’s Strength,   Endurance, and Health are doubled. The target’s heals 1 point of health per   second, per ability level.

Range: 10 meters, plus 1 meters per ability level. Durations:   Boost, 10 seconds, plus 1 second per ability level. Healing 15 seconds, plus   1 second per ability level.

Level bonus: Boosts, the Guardian gains an extra 10 percent per   ability level to their Strength, Endurance and Health boosts.

Cooldown: 15 minutes

Ward: a target can be designated as the Guardian’s Ward. A Ward must   be within line of sight when selected, but limitation is removed for the use   of the Switch ability afterward and the range is doubled. Once a Ward has   been released, a new one cannot be selected until 12 hours has passed.

Addendum: Aetheric Guardian. The Aetheric Guardian can spend his   mana to alter the ability’s effects. The mana must be spent before the activation of the   ability.

Wall: As a Bulwark, the Guardian gains the ability to create a   wall of force that cannot be crossed by any physical object or type of   energy.

The wall is an area of twenty-five square meters, plus 10 square   meters per level. The dimensions can be altered by 1 meter, plus 0.5 meters   per ability level. The total area can not be reduced by more than 25%, plus   5% per level.

Addendum: Aetheric Guardian. The Aetheric Guardian can spend his   mana to alter the ability’s effects. The mana must be spent before the activation of the   ability.

Charge: As a Vanguard, the Guardian can double their strength   for an extended period of time, but at the cost of their endurance being   reduced by half for half that duration once they release their strength   boost, or its timer runs out.

Duration: boosts last for a maximum of 3 hours, plus 15 minutes   per ability level. Bonuses. Plus 10% to strength per ability level. Penalty   reduced by 5% per ability level.

Addendum: Aetheric Guardian

The Aetheric Guardian can spend his mana to alter the ability’s effects. The mana   must be spent before the activation of the ability. Cost of mana use is   reduced by 5% per ability level

See, if you hadn’t listened to her, you’d have gone with the Vanguard and you’d have beaten the crap out of anyone who got in your way.

And been that much more like you wanted me to be?

Like someone who’d make his mark on the word? Definitely.

Bullshit. You were making me your attack dog or something like that. If you hadn’t left, you’d have continued screwing with my head until you were the only one who made sense.

I ask for the level 2 Switch ability to not have to listen to more of his justifications.

System   Query: Switch ability Tier 2 abilities, detailed

Once   the Guardian reaches level 5 and Switch is level 5, Tier 2 abilities will become   accessible.

Enhancements:   Switch can be enhanced with one additional buff.

Vitalize   adds a healing over time buff to the target on activation of the Switch   ability. Health increased by 10% (rounded down) of the Guardian’s health per second, for 60   second. Each Level of Vitalize adds 5% to the increase and 15 seconds to the   duration.

Shockwave   Landing: The Guardian’s   arrival via switch can create a concussive force in all directions, able to   push away anyone or anything within 10 meters and massing less than the   guardian by 5 meters. Each level of Shockwave adds 10% to the mass and   distance affected, and 50% to the effect of the push.

Addendum:   Aetheric Guardian Enhancement

Spectral   Guardian: on activation of the Switch ability, a Spectral double of the   Guardian remains at the target’s arrival location and will protect the target. The   double has the same attributes as the Guardian, but its health is based on   the Guardian’s Mana. While the Spectral Guardian is active, the Mana pool   cannot be accessed. Each level of Spectral Guardian increases the   effectiveness of the Mana pool by 10%

Protection:   the target of the switch is granted a protective aura that reduces the   chances of any attack directed at them from succeeding by a percentage equal   to the Guardian’s   intelligence. Each level of the Protection ability adds 1% to the   intelligence.

Link:   a mental link is created between the guardian and the target, which allows   for mental auditory communication. This communication cannot be blocked by   conventional outside influence. The range is the Guardian’s intelligence in meters. Each   level in this ability increases the range by 10 percent.

Addendum:   Aetheric Guardian

The   Aetheric Guardian can spend his mana to alter the ability’s effects. The mana must be spent   before the activation of the ability. Cost of mana use is reduced by 5% per   ability level.

Oh, take that link thing.

And have you talk to whoever I’m trying to protect? No thanks. You’re enough of a bad influence on me. I’m not letting you foster yourself onto anyone else.

Don’t you want there to be at least one person giving them good advice?

I’d love that, but that’s not you by any stretch of the imagination.

Fine. Let me guess, you’re taking that protection ability, so whoever you care about will be nice and safe.

I ignore the derision in his tone as I reread the information. I’m surprised my mother’s voice doesn’t offer an opinion. I don’t hear her often, but this feels like the kind of situation where she’d try to steer me in a good direction. She is why I took the Guardian class, instead of assassin. Maybe she trusts me to make the right decision this time?

My father scoffs, of course.

He is right that I should keep whoever I’ve selected safe. I have made myself a bodyguard, after all. But doing that at the expense of keeping myself safe feels wrong. The best way I know of protecting anyone, beyond getting them out of dodge fast, is beating the crap out of whatever is after them.

That would make the Spectral Guardian perfect for the job. It’s not like I use my mana for anything.

So, it’s all about them, isn’t it?

That’s the problem with that enhancement. And if I’ve planned things correctly, he’s already out of danger, and everyone’s focussed on me. So it’s not like he’ll need the protection.

The expected comment about my planning capability doesn’t come.

The same thing applies to Vitalize. Yes, if he’s injured, that’s going to help, but I’ve already screwed up if it’s gotten to that point.

Another opportunity for my dad to comment he isn’t taking advantage of.

Dad?

Keep going, I want to see how much of what I taught you stuck.

You already know what I’m going to pick.

But I want to hear your thought process.

You already know that, too. You’re my subconscious.

Isn’t it amazing how often you say that, and yet, you still think of me as your father?

Whatever. The only one that makes sense for me to get is the shockwave enhancement.

Not the only one.

The only one, since I’m the one that’s making the decision. It takes who I’m protecting away and clears the area immediately around me so I can prepare for the upcoming fight.

Only if your opponent weighs less than you. This wouldn’t have helped against Bernard.

That goes up as I put points into it. And I mass more than most people.

But not most of the monsters you’ve encountered.

I don’t see anything else in there that’s going to help me against that.

That’s true.

I ask for the tier three abilities.

System   Query: Switch ability Tier 3 abilities, detailed

Once   the Guardian reaches level 10 and 1 Tier 2 ability is level 5, Tier 3   abilities become accessible.

Aura   Shield: Half of the damage targeting the Guardian’s target is taken by the Guardian   instead. Each level of Aura Shield reduced the effective damage taken by the   Guardian due to the transfer by 1%

Scry   Ward: prerequisite: target must be designated as Ward.

The   Guardian knows the exact location, in relation to the Guardian’s position, of the Ward within a   2 kilometer radius. Exception: spending 200 mana will allow the Guardian to   know the location of their designated target even if they are not designated   as Ward. The duration of the knowledge is 20 seconds, and does not increase   with levels of Scry Ward. Each level for Scry Ward increases the range by 10   percent.

Addendum:   Aetheric enhancement.

By   spending 200 mana, the Guardian can switch to the target’s location anywhere within the   Scry Ward’s range.

Reinforcement:   prerequisite: target must be designated as Ward.

The   guardian can teleport next to their Ward. The range is 50 meters per level of   Reinforcement. Knowledge of the Ward’s location is not required. Exception: spending 200 mana   will allow the Guardian to know the location of their designated target even   if they are not designated as Ward.

Shared   Burden: The Guardian can transfer their health to another with a touch. The   rate of exchange is 1 to 1. The recipient’s health cannot increase beyond their current maximum. If   the recipient is designated as a target, touch is no longer required. If the   recipient is designated as Ward, they gain an extra 10% to the health   transfer. Each level of Shared Burden reduced the cost in health to the   Guardian by 1%

Healing   Magic: You gain access to the healing branch of magic spells. Each level of   Healing Magic is added to the spell’s effective level. Exception: the bonus cannot apply to a   spell that has not been learned.

Addendum:   Aetheric enhancement

For   500 mana, the Guardian can cast any 1 spell from the branch of healing magic   that it has been learned or not. This casting does not count as practice   toward learning spells.

Any thoughts?

That he doesn’t immediately have a snarky or denigrating reply for me tells me this tier isn’t going to be great. Healing magic is about the best of the bunch, I add, when he still hadn’t commented.

I’m not going to contradict you. Everything else seems designed to get you into more trouble than you’ve already gotten yourself in. Knowing healing magic at least means you can stop depending on others for that.

And I can use it on others too.

You aren’t level ten, so it isn’t like it matters.

I ask a variety of questions to the system, trying to get how much experience I still need to reach the next level, and get nothing. If it can be done, it’s beyond me. I’ll have to ask Terry.

I ask for tier four—

What’s the point? It’s not like you’re going to reach it anytime soon.

I’m trying to plan ahead, so I’m not in this situation again. You know, having five ability points I didn’t use for four levels? Knowing what to expect means I can ask Terry for advice instead of depending on you.

I call up Tier four.

System   Query: Switch ability Tier 4 abilities, detailed

Once   the Guardian reaches level 15 and 1 Tier 3 ability is level 5, Tier 4   abilities become accessible.

Aura   Shield Enhancement: Prerequisite: Aura Shield.

Retaliation:   50% of the damage the target would suffer is reflected onto the attacker   while Aura Shield is active. Each level of Retaliation increases the   reflection by 5%

Resolve:   50% of the damage transferred to the Guardian is evenly distributed to refill   the mana, Willpower and stamina pools while Aura shield is active. If one   pool is filled, the points are distributed among the remaining pools.

Last   chance: if the target reaches 0 hit points while Aura Shield is active, a   shockwave a is triggered, pushing anyone and anything within 2 meters 25   meters away, as well as removing any physical debuff affecting the target.

Aether   Reserve: the Guardian gains a secondary reserve of mana. The reserve is half   the Guardian’s   main reserve, plus 10% per level of Aether Reserve. Mana regeneration going   to the lowest reserve first until they are even, then both go up at half the   normal regeneration. Each level of Aether Reserve increases the regeneration   by 1%

Exception:   If the target is designated as Ward, they can access the secondary reserve.   If the Guardian. As a Spectral Guardian ability, the secondary reserve   remains accessible while it is active.

Guardian’s Resolve: The Guardian gains a   defense against willpower attacks while a target is designated. Damage targeting   willpower is reduced by 10% plus 1% per level of Guardian’s Resolve.

Exception:   if the target is designated as the Ward, the defense if doubled.

Guardian’s Endurance: The Guardian loses   their stamina at a reduced rate and gains a protection against Stamina   attacks while a target is designated. Stamina drain and damage targeting   Stamina is reduced by 10% plus 1% per level of Guardian’s Resolve.

Exception:   if the target is designated as the Ward, the defense if doubled.

Eased   Burden: When the Guardian and designated target are within 5 meters of one   another, all pool regeneration is increased by 100% plus 10% per level of   Eased Burden.

Exception:   if the target is Designated as Ward, the bonuses are doubled.

Linked   Casting: Prerequisite Link and Scry Target Abilities.

The   Guardian and the designated target can use their spells or abilities through   the other person. All calculations for distance and range are made as if that   person was the one making use of them.

Exception:   if the target is Designated as the Ward, cost for Spells is reduced by 25%   and all effects of abilities increased by 25%

Well, that was a waste of time.

Not really. Now I know that if I wanted to get Linked Casting, I’d want to get the prerequisites.

And are you getting that ability?

No.

As I said, waste of time.

Guardian’s Resolve and Endurance look interesting, but otherwise nothing jumps out.

I call up the list for tier five

System   Query: Switch ability Tier 5 abilities, detailed

Please   Select a Tier 3 Switch ability to unlock access to Tier 5 Switch abilities.

I guess there are limits to what the system gives us access to. But at least I know what I want now.

I put my five points in the Shockwave enhancement. To see if I can, I call up the list of healing spells.

System   Query: List of Spell: Healing Branch

Please   learn one Healing Spell to unlock access to the Healing Branch

That can wait anyway.