As the party was walking with a light breeze behind their backs, Jericho thought about how his goodbye song with Lillith went. "That would potentially be another great song idea. A Wordless Farewell. I will have to practice it another time. I don't have two flutes and having a smaller one would be very helpful. Maybe later I will go back and see if the elves have one for sale."
Ken turned to Princess. (If you pull up your menu there should be a notification whether or not the patch has affected your character or items in any way.)
The dancer pulled up her menu and saw a few notifications.
[Yun's first staff has lost its level requirements and specified stat bonuses. Yun's first staff now has the following statistics: Tier 3 dancing item: (Classification Rare) The first staff used by a friend of the spirits, Yun. This well designed staff is lightweight and not designed as a weapon. She danced on the water with this staff to guide the souls of the fallen to a better place.
Dancing with this staff will ease the suffering of souls and direct them towards a better place. It is unknown how it works. Dancing must be at Tier 3 or higher to utilize the full effects. While this item is equipped instead of a weapon you will have a bonus to stats in relation to your level.]
[Clogging shoes has lost its level requirements. Clogging shoes now has the following statistics: Tier 1 dancing item: (Classification common) A pair of adequately made clogging shoes. Better versions exist. While this item is equipped instead of other footwear you will have a bonus to armor in relation to your level. This item's quality is low, the bonuses given will not be considered significant.]
[Wardrobe feature has been unlocked. All equipment appearances worn have been recorded. As long as you are wearing the same type of equipment (Swords for swords, leather armor for leather armor) you can switch the outward appearance.]
[Your skill lines now provide a small boost to your stats or provide a special ability based on their Tier. Tier 1 skill lines will not provide any bonuses to avoid spamming beginner skills for stat boosts. You must work to obtain these boosts. A Tier 2 skill line will provide a small boost to stats (A total of +5). A Tier 3 skill will provide a minor passive ability. You do not possess skills beyond rank 3, further information not unlocked.]
"Wow, brother check out how your items and skills have changed! It seems the patch was designed for us."
Jericho gave a nod and noticed that his instruments were also given tiers and qualities.
[It has come to our attention that you are one of the few players who has skill lines Tier 4 or higher. In addition to the general knowledge, you have earned the right to learn about the changes for skill lines ranked 4 and 5.]
[Rank 4 skill lines will increase more stats (+5 from rank 2 and +15 from rank 4 for a total of +20). Rank 5 skill lines will provide a stronger passive skill than rank 3. See specific skills for more details.]
[You possess monster and rare skill lines. The information regarding skill lines above will vary slightly.]
Jericho brought up his skill lines to look over the changes.
[Music Tier 5: You are a grandmaster in music. Your musical abilities have a outstanding influence on others around you. +20 Charisma. Tier 3+5 skill: Music related skills will grow 10% faster while at the Beginner and Adept ranks. Music related skills will grow 5% faster while at the Expert and Master ranks.]
[Healing Tier 2: You are adept at healing others. +5 Wisdom]
[Blacksmithing Tier 1: You are a beginner at blacksmithing. Work hard!]
[Water elemental (Monster) Tier 2 (Absorbed the former Water skill line): You are a small water elemental. +5 Intelligence +5 Monster Power.] [Monster Power: A new stat granted to players who have monstrous characters. Monster skills will become stronger the higher monster power is. You cannot assign points into Monster Power. Typically only skill line bonuses or very specific monster abilities grant this stat.]
[Death-Bringer (Rare) Tier 3: You are an expert at bringing others closer to death. Your skills go beyond the basic usage of the Powers of Death. +5 Luck +5 Will. Tier 3 skill: Death touch: Your offensive abilities will be 5% stronger against living and undead creatures. Non-living things are unaffected. Note that Undead are insulting to Death and do not get any benefit from the Power of Death. Rare skill bonus (Bringer's Bond): As a Bringer, you can recognize others of your kind.]
Jericho sighed as he felt his Death-Bringer skill line wasn't far from the truth. He was an Expert at leading others to their deaths.
Lux sniffed the air. (That little elf is following us from behind. I wouldn't have noticed it if the wind wasn't blowing.) He said quietly to the bigger lynx.
Ken turned around. He caught a slight glimpse of a dark green flash of movement with his stronger sight. (Let her follow for now.) The larger lynx spoke quietly back. Ken paid attention to the sounds of the little elf's movements as they approached Pren.
When the neared the town, she stopped following them.
Ken heard the sound of the young girl sitting down behind a tree and crying. He looked over to Jericho. {I'll be right back.}
Jericho nodded, assuming it was important. {I'll wait.}
Ken turned around and ran back towards the trees.
"Ken, what are you doing?" Princess inquired turning to follow.
"Let him be." Jericho replied. "He should be back momentarily."
The larger lynx sat next to Lillith and turned to face her.
"So you did notice me." The girl sighed. "I want to go with Purai. I want Jericho to help me play the flute better." She started petting Ken.
Ken waited calmly next to the young girl.
"I lack courage. I should just go back home." She said. "I came so close but I feel like giving up. I want to go with them but I am afraid I will upset them if I do. Everyone back home would try and tell me I am too young to be adventuring and that I should stay home. But home is boring without my friends." She sniffed.
Ken decided to do what he had seen other cats do to 'comfort' others and rubbed his head against her while purring.
"Thank you. You are a nice lynx." She sighed. "Will you stay with me?"
The lynx backed off a bit. He motioned with his head and lowered his body.
Lillith's eyes widened. "You want me to ride you? You will let me do that?"
Ken gave a light nod. (Hurry, this crouched position isn't all that comfortable.) He groaned slightly.
The elf child smiled and mounted the medium sized cat.
(What is in your bag? It is heavier then you are.) Ken growled slightly.
Lillith looked down. "Thank you." She gently scratched behind his fluffy ears.
The two returned to the party.
"Lilly?" Purai asked.
The young girl realized where Ken had taken her. She lowered her head. "I'm sorry. I wanted to make sure you made it to your destination safely."
Ken tilted his head to partially look at her and hissed. (Tell the truth.)
She jumped slightly. Her heavy bag slammed into the lynx's back.
Ken clenched his jaw as it hurt a bit. [You have taken 2 impact damage. You have bitten your tongue and have taken 2 damage.]
Princess sighed. "Lillith, Ken wants you to tell the truth."
Lillith looked back up resolutely. "I'm coming with you Purai."
Ken lowered his body once again, eager to get the girl off of him before she hurt him further.
The girl hopped off the cat. "Thank you for helping me to find my courage again, Ken."
Ken gave a nod and then hid out of sight. He reverted back to his human form.
Purai looked conflicted. "But Lilly, what about…"
"I left them a note. Technically I am older than you so why can't I travel too? Besides, the only one who might care is my grandpa." Lillith interrupted.
Ken returned.
Jericho shrugged. "There is no point in trying to dissuade her. She came here despite knowing the consequences. As long as you can accept the things that will come from your actions Lillith, I won't try to stop you. If you are coming then come."
They entered Pren.
Jericho led the group up to the familiar upper tree platform where they had performed once before.
Some of the former audience members saw them arrive and quickly messaged their friends.
Jericho split himself and pulled out both the wooden flute and guitar. He started to play a lightly rhythmic but relaxing song.
Princess danced as if she were telling a story.
Unable to suppress the urge to play, Lillith started playing her higher toned flute. The sounds started to clash at first but eventually smoothed out and synchronized.
They finished the piece and Jericho looked over to the young elf with a gentle smile. "Great work." He complimented.
The elf smiled.
He put the instruments away and pulled out the piano. He gave a slight smirk as he thought about Ken and Lux's earlier competition. "Everyone, I will be giving you a sneak peak at a new duet I recently wrote. When I release my next album a professional performance of this piece will be in it. Enjoy listening to it pre-maturely!"
Princess backed off to hear this new composition her brother made.
The audience was shocked as they heard Jericho shout "I challenge you! You're on!"
A playful yet competitive sounding duet echoed in the surroundings.
Ken froze as he realized the composition was about him and Lux competing playfully yet fiercely the last few days.
The duet came to an end and the audience clapped.
"Do you have a planned release date for your album?" An audience member shouted.
"Not yet, I still have at least ten more songs to write for it," Jericho replied.
Princess stepped forward and interrupted her brother. "When he is almost ready to release the album, we will make an announcement. Until then, thank you for your support so far."
Jericho nodded at his sister's words. "Shall we continue?" He shouted to the audience.
They cheered.
The bard's eyes regained the more of the light it had formerly lost. "This is one of my more well known pieces." He started to say. "It is known as The Serenade for the Soothing of the Soul."
© J Eranoth