Mantle of the Gods

We went to bed.

It had been a long few days and I’d been the only one of us who had gotten a full night's sleep. I felt guilty about that, but I was thankful that the women had done that for me.

A bed felt weird after sleeping on the ground. It also felt cold. For a little while anyway. After about twenty minutes, Ether crawled in bed and snuggled up next to me. She rested her head on my chest and looked up at me. "Is this okay?”

I rubbed her back. "We’re not doing anything we wouldn’t be doing with the lights on.”

She nodded and closed her eyes. It wasn’t long before she was asleep and it didn’t take long for me to fall asleep too.

I woke up first and looked over at Trent’s bed. The old man was sitting against the headboard and gestured at me.

“Is this going to be a thing?”

“Yes.” I didn’t have to think about the answer.

He looked up at the ceiling and started calculating something.

“What’s the plan?” I rolled out from under Ether, got up, and looked around. Justia and Aelin were still asleep and Rix was gone as expected.

“I want the five of you to do the First-floor boss together since Rix didn’t get to participate in the fight when she cleared it.” Trent looked over at Justia. “After that, we’re going to head to Harror for a few days.”

“Harror?” I was confused. "I thought I wasn’t going to be leaving the Cathedral any time soon.”

“Once Rix beats the floor boss, you all will be almost two weeks ahead of the other classes.” Trent sighed. "I need to go to the Publian Clinic to set up some things, so I’m going to bring all of you along instead of leaving you here to get in the other classes way.” He looked over at Justia. "Maybe even do some farming in the Temple Dungeon there.”

“That could be fun.” I looked under the bed. "Do you know where my sword is?”

Trent pulled it out of his crystal band and offered it to me.

“Are we going to have some time to get some gear and maybe some spells before we redo the floor boss?” I took the sword from him

“I’ve got a few things you can buy to help you.”

I rolled my eyes. "What happened to all our crystals?”

He pulled my sling bag out of his crystal band and tossed it on the foot of his bed.

I was about to pick it up when Ether stirred. She reached out with her right arm, then slowly pushed herself up as she wiped her eyes. "Is it time to get up?”

“Close.” I picked up the sling bag. It was heavier than the last time I’d picked it up.

“What’re we doing?” She sat up and looked around.

“We have to run Rix through the first-floor boss.” I looked at her. "Are you up for it?”

“Maybe if I get a shield and some armor.” Ether stretched and looked at Trent. "Do you have that?”

The ArchWizard pulled a round wooden shield that looked like it had been made out of materials from the Bramble Skeletons. He also laid out a leather jacket, and leather pants that looked like they had been made out of material from the Snakes we’d fought.

“How much?” Ether eyed our teacher.

“Ten All." He handed them to her.

“Why do you think I’ll buy them?” She sat on the side of my bed as she looked at her loot.

“The same reason I know that you’ll take this.” He pulled a piece of paper out of the crystal band and put it on the pile.

“A skill?” Ether looked at it. "Shield Attack? Do I need that?”

“You have the crystal.” He looked at the bag, then at her. "You can only learn a finite number of skills and spells.” He nodded at the piece of paper. "That’s one way we get these. That skill, for instance, won’t work with a shield made from materials found deeper than floor ten.”

“So when Adventurers outgrow their skills…”

“They sell them to help pay for new ones.” He nodded. "Nothing wrong with adding something when you’ve got the space and the All.”

“What about me?” I handed the sling bag back to him,

“I’ve got stuff for everyone.” Trent smiled at me.