Chapter Forty-Six

  For well-prepared teams, that damn bird was less of an issue. Most guides spent more time bemoaning how long it took to grind through a tree lord. Here, good stealth, top-level speed, and the ability to taunt, charm, and stu you could hold the guardian in pd defeat it before it decided to fly the coop. Alone, and with none of those key skills, it might as well have had a sign before approag that read -Beware of Chi-.

  So close. If only she had a little more speed. A little more oomph. Harmoally shoved away what she’d dubbed the chi problem as the pair navigated the stairs. Hyath was nimble enough despite his size to mahe trip, but still griped and groahrough [Familiar Bond] the whole trip down. It was time to focus on the more daunting challenges. Being in Tyler’s presence. Fag Rose after she attempted to keep Adric caged.

  Tess waited at the dungeo, not at attention, instead looking at the crowds passing by. The maid's meical spider, bow tie and all, tapped her on the shoulder to alert her that Harmony had arrived.

  “Oh, Lady White, I wasn't expeg you so soon.”

  It was hard not to wi that greeting. Tess's clumsiness was on the list to be improved, but it also seemed her etiquette skills also seemed to be g. With Ambrosia on other duties, sometimes you have to make do.

  “My climb ended soohan I would have preferred. It’s good you’re trying different roles as a staff member and assistioday as we visit the guild training grounds.”

  “I know! It’ll be exg to see what guild mistress Thorne is doing. I hear she be a real nutcracker if you know what I mean.”

  Etiquette! [Poise and Bearing] covered for Harmony. This girl was surely petent in other aspects, after all, she had been a top talent for the harvest event. One simply o find the right job for the right tool. “Yes, I’m ied in seeing what has Sir Maxwell so on edge.”

  Her four bodyguards took point as they traveled, Hyath hopped along too, rather than bail for his usual nap. He was curious as well and appreciated the potential food ugh, even willing to give up sleep to get it.

  A crowd surrouhe guild’s training grounds. Thorraining had attracted an audience. A makeshift tower stretched high past the crowd. While Harmony couldn’t see Len, Rose, or Tyler past the crowd, Max was very visible at the top of the tower. His tiny form was highlighted by his bright pink glowing beard, which seemed to be flickering in distress. “I don't want to do this!” he yelled.

  “All your team’s skills w in tandem should be able t you dowly. You merely have to trust them. And if you don’t trust them, I have the best healers on standby to make sure you won’t die. Didn’t you tell me risky acts help boost your chaos?” Thorne yelled babsp;

  That level of coordination would be a sight to see. While not on the same level as the selor or dungeon spirit, [Keen Iigative Awareness] might glean enough from Thorraining to help Harmony with her current problem. Just a touch of chill to let the crowd know someone is behind them. Eyes widened as they gnced back to see what caused the cold, and the crowd parted for her. If they were watg this training, they surely knew who she was.

  Stepping through, Len, Tyler, and Rose had positions around the tower. Rose furthest away, bow aimed towards the path of dest, nocked with some special arrow that had what looked like a ball at the end. Tyler stood under where Sir Maxwell was to nd. Len had his hands over two glowing spells stitched into his robe.

  “Harmony!” Rose eeped in shock at the same time Sir Maxwell jumped. The priried to stabilize after her yelp, firing a little lower, but te.

  The arrow hit him, yes, it slowed the fall some, but it hit his feet with enough force to spin max one hundred ay degrees midair, to go from a feet-first drop to a head-first diving position.

  Len’s spells popped into pce but looked malformed, glowis of magical energy one below and one off to the side in a miscast. Len’s face flushed in embarrassment. The ohat did catch Max, but more tangled with him rather than slowing the knight.

  Tyler simply moved out of pce by a few steps while squinting and looking toward the neancer’s entrance. From him, there was no skill activation.

  Max hit the ground with a hard, awkward, and twisted crash.

  “Ooooooch” the crowd watg groaned almost collectively. “Arms aren’t supposed to bend that way.” Someone else ented. “Ten silver, pay up.”

  Not dead. Harmony still strode forward with some worry. His ulna was stig out of one of his arms where it had shrough. There was also his loud distressed groaning.

  “Medic!” Thorne cried.

  The healer swept in, their skills pung hard. Setting the bones bato pd sealing up the wounds. Max screamed in pain as he ut bato acceptable shape. He rolled over and climbed to his hands and knees.

  “Stupid bleeding trust. Oh, my chaos, with that..” Max’s dirty, tangled, and blood-stained visage so attention. He’d poked his oath. That brought him half-stumbling up to a kneeling bow. “Lady White, a pleasure you could make it.”

  Guild mistress Thoromped out. “One slight distra and you three mess up a perfectly pnned exercise. If you think you won’t have to deal with surprises in the Asdant Games, you’ll be mistaken. Well, now that the five of you are here, I might as well reveal to you the bit of information Hemlock has chosen to grace us with. To quote, a spectacle that will take days, weeks, even months to plete."

  Harmo her disappointed groan join the ones her former teammate made. Revenge for the months he’d spent in Old Bones? What would a lorial entail with twenty-five petitors?

  Thor loose a snort of disgust. “With teamwork so slow to advance. Might as well focus on filling out your bonds for the games.” Shoving her fingers into her mouth she used them to help produce a high-pitched whistle.

  A guild worker walked out carrying a small chest. Thorioned everyoo e closer. The five made a semi-circle around the guild mistress and assistant carrying the chest. She lifted the lid. A rge bck four-faceted gem sat on a red velvet pillow. “I issiohis in the evolved kingdoms. Each facet will show if you’ve filled one of the bond spots, and it will let us know if you have an unapproved bond. Since skills have bonded aspects, the goal will be to get you to three bonds and then have you focus on evolution before you fill the st one. Max, you’ll o che if you modify any more skills. Who's first?”

  Tyler reached out and touched the gem. One face fshed a pale yellow, the others remained bbsp; “[Invulnerability] has an aspect of fate to it.”

  Len touched it, one color for him too, a sickly green. “Astral proje seemed useful at the time.” Farthington cawed in his ear. “Okay, is useful.” He hissed back at his familiar.

  Max and Rose touched it , the gem remained bbsp;

  With Night and Adric at least she’d start ahead of the others. Harmony pced her hand st on the gem. The facets all lit up, bright red, deep blue, purple, and a faint white that made one side gray.

  “Well, that’s ued,” Thorne murmured. “When did you get tied up with gods, Lady White?”