1
When the lights are down
"How the hells did this happen, half-Celt?" Rory said as he rushed into my apartment. "I thought we dealt with that fucker when we raided the warehouse dungeon a couple of months ago."
"Your guess is as good as mine," I replied. "I was minding my own business, streaming a game--"
"The hells are ye yapping about? Why are ye talking about games?"
"I meant..." I said, and considered the futility of explaining to him what streaming was right now. "They reached out to me via Cosmos means. Threatening me. And when I called Leo, they picked up the phone. They showed him to me. Tied and beaten."
"Ye called his clan?" the dwarf asked.
"The guy Alex talked to, Abrathion Halciu, said they'd hurt him if we did that," Louie replied before I could.
"Of course he did. The fucker," Rory said and slapped his hand on his knee. "What kind of crazy person kidnaps a DiFiore?"
"Someone who's even more powerful?" I said, not really knowing how to answer.
"Don't be daft, lad. A war with such an old Roman clan is never as simple as a fight for power."
"Then perhaps someone who's desperate to get the book?" Louie suggested.
"It doesn't matter." I cut the conversation short and retrieved the artifact from my inventory. "All they want is this book."
Item: Return to Oblivion
Type: ???
Durability : 0/0
Rarity: ???
Weight: 40st.
Description : ???
The tome looked as mundane as any thick, red, leather-bound book could look. Except, of course, that it just wouldn't open.
"So we just go there," Louie said, "knowing it's probably a trap, and make the trade?"
"Did ye finish yer immortality soul-binding quest with the half-Celt, boy?" Rory asked him.
"Not yet," Louie replied. "The quest item is going to be delivered tonight and we were supposed to do it tomorrow with Leo."
"Then ye be extra careful," he said. "Have ye looked at available buffers?"
"I haven't," I admitted, "but I don't know how good of a buffer we'll be able to find at such short notice. We need to leave soon if we're going to make it to my old apartment by midnight."
"Yer old place, eh?" Rory mused. "So they don't know where ye are now... That's why they got Leo."
"You mean it's my fault?"
"It's nobody's fault, lad. Snap out of it," he said and flicked his fingers against my shoulder. "We all broke into their warehouse and stole their artifact. We're all at fault."
"I just checked," Louie said. "No available buffers in our vicinity right now. Conspicuously so."
"I'd bet me beard the fucker made sure of it."
"We're going to have to rely on whatever Louie has," I said.
"Give me the book, lad," Rory offered. "I'll take it to them and bring back the Roman."
"They aren't expecting you, Rory," I said.
"Exactly," Louie agreed. "Plus, if it really was going to be a simple exchange, they could just ask us to send them the book. No need for such a shady meeting."
Rory took a second to examine Louie and then myself.
"At least ye've been leveling up," he noted. "Good, good. This'll come in handy. Show me what buffs ye've got."
Louie looked at both of us and then, without wasting any time, started casting. Immediately after, I received a notification.
Louie Thunder has invited you to a party.
Party Members: 2/9
Party Leader: Louie Thunder
Do you accept the invitation? Yes No
I mentally accepted and once Louie finished casting his spell, the familiar outline of a shield appeared in front of Rory, followed by that of a greatsword. Louie's buffs were of the lowest level possible, but that would have to do.
Name: Fortitude
Type: Buff
Level: 1
Effect: Boosts Physical Defense by 8%
Time Left: 19 minutes 57 seconds
Description : A layer of mana envelops the recipient's body, acting as a dampener for physical blows.
Name: Might
Type: Buff
Level: 1
Effect: Boosts Physical Attack by 8%
Time Left: 19 minutes 59 seconds
Description : The recipient's muscles are infused with mana, providing a significant strength boost.
"Eight percent, eh?" the dwarf noted. "Lot better than nothing, I'd say."
"Rory, do you have healing potions?" I asked as I browsed my inventory for vials filled with the thick red liquid. "I've got about a dozen or so."
"I've got another dozen," Louie said, "but I can also heal you now."
"I got me own pots, lad, don't you worry," Rory replied to me and then turned to look at Louie again. "What kind of heal do ye have?"
"The normal one, a quickened version, and a group one," Louie explained. "Here, let me show you."
Name: Heal
Level: 6
Type: Active
HP Consumed: 0
MP Consumed: 22
Power: 107
Range: 600 inches
Precondition: The caster needs to be able to voice the incantation.
Description : A basic form of healing. The warm light that manifests from the caster's mana travels to the target and restores skin tissue, muscles, and even bones.
Name: Instant Heal
Level: 3
Type: Active
HP Consumed: 0
MP Consumed: 32
Power: 107
Range: 600 inches
Precondition: The caster needs to be able to voice the incantation.
Description : A healing spell with very low casting time and cooldown. The high healing capacity per second of this spell makes it perfect for use during combat. The warm light that manifests from the caster's mana is transferred to the target immediately and restores skin tissue, muscles, and even bones.
Name: Party Heal
Level: 3
Type: Active
HP Consumed: 0
MP Consumed: 43
Power: 86
Range: 600 inches
Precondition: The caster needs to be able to voice the incantation.
Description : This spell is an evolved form of the "Heal" spell. The warm light that manifests from the caster's mana travels to all party members within range and restores skin tissue, muscles, and even bones.
"Those are some good spells ye got there, little one," Rory said, earning him
