[Mixed Plumage x 1]
[Squid Guts x 1]
[Speed Essence x 1]
[Apply all to Tempest Mask (unfinished)?]
"Yes," I said, holding up the cloud-shaped mask. The items resting on the sand burst into mist, swirling around my creation. It lifted from my grasp, spinning as the ethereal vapors flowed into the marks etched along its back. The mask flashed brilliant violet-blue before descending gently back into my open palms, now gleaming as if painted with light blue lacquer. The front bore a cartoonish face with eyes squeezed shut and lips puckered in an eternal blow.
Tempest Mask [COMPLETE]
- Effect: Increases movement speed by 50%, grants immunity to slow effects, but drains stamina and MP continuously.
- Stamina Drain: -5 stamina every 2 seconds.
- MP Drain: -10 MP every 2 seconds.
- Durability: 60 / 60
The barely contained energy buzzed against my fingers, drawing a stupid grin across my face. Orange sunlight glinted off my masterpiece at an angle, reminding me that evening was mere hours away. I squeezed the mask, barely containing my excitement.
Tonight was the night—the festival, the competition, the triple solstice. When the sun and moons aligned at midnight, the shrine would open—the very gateway to my freedom…and the vengeance I so desperately craved.
I sat down on a rock, admiring my handiwork, deliberately positioned far from the crowds. Sure, I could see people in the distance, swimming or lounging on the beach, but here by the barnacle-crusted rocks I had relative privacy. A glance over my shoulder revealed only a few Tidewalkers about fifty paces away, fishing and paying me no mind.
I would have preferred complete solitude, but…
A shiver ran through me as I squeezed the mask even tighter, remembering that night by the cave. My stomach churned at the vivid memory of the councilman lying in his blood, mouth gaping in that silent scream, a sword jutting from his chest.
What disturbed me more than witnessing his death was the complete absence of any reaction. I'd checked the bulletin boards every day since the murder, finding nothing. Not a even a whisper. Wouldn't his peers notice his absence? Or was the government more corrupt than I'd imagined? That masked killer could have been another council member, eliminating political opposition.
I rubbed a smudge from the mask's surface, wondering if other news took precedence—even over an assassination. Every bulletin board on the island blazed with the same headline: "King Terran III murdered by the Desert Lord's retinue." The killing had apparently occurred early in the week, but news traveled slow.
While it dominated local gossip, I couldn't bring myself to care about some stranger's death. But, I mean, that council guy was a stranger… But, hell, witnessing a murder and hearing about one were two very different things.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
I huffed. Well, whatever. In six or seven hours, at midnight, I'd be leaving this messed-up place behind for my own familiar brand of chaos. America, at least, was far more civilzed then this hell hole…
I shivered, countless arguments rising in my mind. Not the least of which included a bullet ripping through my own chest.
Something scratched at my foot. Looking down, I found Gripjaw poking me with a leg, nodding toward the mask as if eager for a demonstration.
"Good idea," I said, rising and brushing sand from my pants, grateful for the distraction. "We should test it before tonight."
Placing the mask on my face plunged me into darkness—until the etched symbols flickered to life, blazing briefly before settling into a clear view tinged slightly violet.
[Mask Applied - Tempest Mask]
Energy buzzed against my skin, the wood's familiar scent mingling with sea air.
"Ready?" I asked Gripjaw, who leapt from the sand to latch onto my back, chittering excitedly.
[Activate Mask?]
With a thought, I triggered it. Power surged through my veins like liquid lightning, and I launched as if shot from a cannon, the ground blurring beneath me. In a heartbeat, I reached the water, skimming its surface. Heart jackhammering, I let out an exhilarated scream.
[-10 MP]
[-10 MP]
[-10 MP]
The notifications popped up every few seconds until, to my dismay, my MP hit zero. I stumbled, belly-flopping into the sea with an ungraceful splash.
"Oof!"
Floating there with bulging eyes, my throat stung—I'd been screaming the whole time. Now laughter bubbled up, my shoulders shaking. My soul throbbed, muscles ached, but I grinned like a madman as I stared at the sandy ocean floor through crystal-clear water.
Whoa! What a ride… How far had I gone? The ocean floor was only a dozen or so feet away, so not too far.
Still, though, that test revealed crucial flaws in my plan.
I couldn't risk diving into the shrine completely drained. What if I missed my chance at the relic, or whatever power the goddess had left in that massive conch? Worse, what if I lost MP just short of my goal? Best case, I'd end up helpless on the floor. Worst case: prison.
I sighed, and bubbles gurgled from my mouth. I needed insurance—something to keep me on my feet through the plaza and into the conch.
I smiled. And I knew exactly what to get: stamina potions. Magic ones, as well.
My interface showed my pitiful stamina at 1, though floating there and breathing deeply brought it up to 2. I checked my items tab, scanning through clothes, weapons, and crafting materials. I'd found plenty scouring the ocean floor this past week, but what I lacked were ingredients—specifically, for elixirs.
Eventually, I'd recover enough energy to swim back, but I when I did I wouldn't waste any of my money on store-bought potions. I’d spent a fortune on that violet pearl. Plus, I knew where to find ingredients…though, it was a place I wouldn't normally dare venture. But the solstice was tonight, and I needed to be prepared!
"Hey!" a gurgled voice called through the water. A Tidewalker glided past, webbed fingers spread wide as her tail swayed lazily. Others followed—young men in scale shirts and waterproof trousers, young women in flowy clothes. I kept my mask on, hiding my scaled cheeks, and shifted my arms to show only smooth skin. With luck, they'd assume I was human…er, Gaian, or whatever they were called here.
"You okay?" one asked, his green scales reflecting sunlight.
I groaned. “Kind of… Not really. Just exhausted. Mind bringing me back to shore?"
He grabbed my ankle, tugging me beachward. I let him, grateful for the kindness…something I wasn’t really used to.
Though, letting them pull me gave me time to think. As soon as my stamina bumped up, I'd need to move fast, and find a way to conceal my identity. Where I planned to go, Beachstriders weren't exactly welcome. But I'd go anyway, gathering whatever materials I could find.
Patting my chest, I realized my leather vest was gone—along with Gripjaw. He must have fallen off during my sprint. I winced, hoping he was okay. I then glanced at one of the Tidewalkers swimming after me, his sleeves long and covering his arms.
An idea cropped up. "Hey," I called to him, "you wouldn't happen to have an extra long-sleeve tunic?"
They exchanged glances before one shrugged. "Got a couple. You can borrow one if you return it."
"I will," I lied, nodding eagerly. No way he was getting that shirt back.
"Be right back." He shot through the water.
Perfect. That borrowed shirt and my mask would help conceal my scales while I gathered ingredients around that…unsightly, dangerous place. Tonight had to go flawlessly—I would not fail. And those elixers were the last things I needed.