Light clapping sounded on the roof, as Anvil neared the two fighters. Cute cooing noises spread. The spirits cheered, but it wasn't certain for whom.
"You did well. Learning how to use your spells most effectively takes time and experience. Don't be discouraged by this result. With Quill's strength it is pure shamelessness to ask you for a spar."
Quill rolled his eyes when he heard Anvil speak up. It's not as if he destroyed Line's confidence. The new recruit had already seen him fight before.
Line wouldn't be delusional enough to think he can touch me, right?
Naturally Tepo wasn't discouraged. He nodded at Anvil as he played the fight in his head again. But he was quickly interrupted by Quill's question:
"Are you prepared to leave now?"
Taking a deep breath, Line nodded with determination.
"Yes. I have a lot do to. I can't stay in my room all day."
First, I will visit my family and friends. Afterwards I need to gather everything I can get my hands on and submit it for contribution points. I need to rise within the Web, gain access to higher levels of the library, and search for signs of 'outsiders'!
Tepo had his plans sorted out, but Quill understood the young man's words a bit differently:
"Mhm. Travel the world, gather some fame, raise your core's quality, and dive into dungeons. This is the way of a warrior. And don't be afraid of fights. Only in fights can you improve the usage of your spells and grow quickly."
Tepo nodded in understanding. Quill's word were important advice as well.
Only now that I'm prepared to travel do I understand how much there is to do. My life surely won't be boring in the near future.
Anvil sighed with a bit of reluctance. It was hard to tell if it was playfully exaggerated or genuine:
"Haa. I'm not good with goodbyes. Without you the tower will be a lot more boring again. Maybe I will travel as well. I can't stand being alone in the tower with Quill again."
"I'm here as well.", boomed Wave's voice in everyone's ears.
Quill suppressed a smile as he looked at Anvil's awkward expression. That's what she deserved for taking a jab at him.
Coughing, Anvil hastily came up with an excuse:
"But, senior Wave. I know you like it peaceful and quiet. How would I dare to disturb you only because I'm bored."
Only a low hum left Wave's throat. It was hard to tell what the powerful beast was thinking.
A moment of silence fell on the tower's roof. Suddenly a light chuckle interrupted everyone's thoughts. It was Tepo, whose mood was lighthearted as he watched his new friends joking around.
Abruptly the heavy atmosphere dissolved. Quill and Anvil smiled faintly. The tall woman looked at Tepo as she spoke up:
"Before you go, we still have a few things prepared for you…"
Line smiled helplessly. Would he owe his friends even more now?
Without waiting for a response, Anvil waved her hand. A bundle appeared on the floor.
"These are some handy trinkets for your travels. Some healing pills, smoke bombs, detoxification pills, etc. You can sort through it later."
"Mhm.", chimed Quill in as a handful tokens appeared in his hand. "These are tokens of an organization called Forum of All Knowledge. Since you seem to like the library, you will also enjoy their environment.
They don't have a branch in the Carrying Winds World. But you can ask around about them when you reach a hub city."
Tepo's eyes lit up. Interested he took those tokens and studied them. Made form a smooth metallic material, an image of white books was painted on the black background.
From this token alone the young man couldn't gleam much so he soon put everything into his storage bag.
"Furthermore.", continued Quill as he handed out a small piece of recording metal. "This is a copy of the dungeon map around the tower. I hope you know what to do with it."
Chuckling, Line also put this map away. Was Quill giving him this as motivation to work hard?
Quill took a small step back, indicating that he was done. Anvil nodded. She smiled teasingly as she spoke with a theatric voice:
"Aaand last but not least!"
Line rose an eyebrow as Anvil went for a dramatic pause.
"We got you… your very ooown… ship! Tadaa!"
The female artificer waved her hand. Suddenly a flying ship appeared on the rooftop. If was smaller than Quill's, made from a blue metal. It had a pointy tip and was powered by two force engines on its rare.
Line gulped. He felt incredulous. In his perspective the gifts so far were only small, not too difficult for strong warriors to get their hands on. But this…
Anvil and Quill observed their friend's reaction, satisfied. The ship indeed cost them a few force crystals. Not as much as Line would've guessed, but it was still a significant gift.
Together, the two veterans had decided that this was worth it. Line was the first recruit the both of them had initiated. It felt somewhat special, and they got along well with the young man.
Line took a deep breath. He spoke in a solemn voice:
"Thanks guys. I won't forget this."
Anvil only waved her hand.
"Don't mind it. Why stand on ceremony with us?"
But the woman's voice betrayed her joyful feelings. Only Quill stayed nonchalant as ever:
"Yeah, don't mind it. Just come back in one piece."
Line smiled wryly. Weren't those words too ominous?
"I will keep it in mind. I don't plan on getting into any danger anyway. Maybe I'll already be back in a week or so."
"Mhm. Sure."
Quill spoke, chuckling inwardly. From his own experience he could bet that Line wouldn't return within a year at least.
Anvil thought similarly. She was certain it would be quite a while until she could meet Line again.
"One more advice.", reminded Anvil. "You should visit the Web's base in the Roaming Woods World sometimes. It's not that easy to get there from here, but it is a place for new recruits to meet. You can form teams there to explore harder dungeons."
"Ok. I will keep it in mind.", answered Line perfunctory. The young man wasn't too keen on forming a team. After loosing many of his comrades in the army he gradually got used to working solo. It was better to keep others out of danger.
Shrugging her shoulders, Anvil didn't mind. Line was old enough to make his own decisions.
Slowly the warriors ran out of topics to talk about. Line noticed that they, himself included, were only staling for time. He sighed heavily as he neared his new ship and jumped in.
Only now did Quill and Anvil realize how much they had been staling. They were surprised over their own behavior. When did they grow so reluctant? Or was it protective?
Just as Line was ready to say goodbye and close the hatch, Anvil interrupted him one last time:
"Wait! There is still one important thing we need to teach you!"
Tepo smiled wryly as he looked at the woman's face:
"What is it?"
"How to use your mask!"
"My mask?", asked Line bewildered. How difficult could it be to use a mask?
"Yes. Put it on!"
Shrugging his shoulders, the new recruit put on his mask. His face vanished behind the black material.
"What now?"
"Here, feel this point.", explained Anvil, pointing at a spot on the mask's neck. "Guide your force there!"
Tepo did as he was told. Carefully he led the Force of Time towards a minimal protrusion on his neck. Suddenly he felt a strange sensation wash over his face.
Something seemed to have changed, but he couldn't tell what exactly. The young man tilted his head upwards, looking at the glass hatch above him.
Blurry, an ordinary face looked back at him. It was young with black hair and no extraordinary features.
Line blinked. His thoughts ran quickly. Slowly he turned his head towards Quill and Anvil. The young warrior's brows twitched as he looked into tow brightly smiling, ordinary faces.
Without making any noise the faces suddenly changed. A green and a red mask hid the Web member's identities.
Line gritted his teeth. He threw out an annoyed "Bye!" as he closed the hatch. His ship rose slowly as the young man flew away carefully.
On the roof's tower, Anvil's laughter rang out and even Quill and Wave smiled behind their own masks. They followed the ship with their eyes, wishing the new recruit good luck.
Within the ship, Tepo smiled faintly, shaking his head. His eyes looked forward. Getting used to the controls he steadily approached the ocean.
Suddenly a faint light flashed on Tepo's neck. The Web's symbol lit up. The ocean prated before the ship. And Line sped up, vanishing from his friends' vision.