Matthew lounged against the White temple's wall in an exceptionally good mood. He studied the ever burning brazier high above wondering how those kept burning.
Magic, but how exactly? Does it burn magic for fuel? or transports some matter to be burned. It could also be some mystical thing where they just burn forever.
These little thoughts kept him company as he waited for the wishing, he also observed the different groups relaxing after a long day hunting. There had been a dark depression over the temple for a long time as their autonomy was basically stripped away.
However, after a few weeks the simple life of the dungeon had cowled all their dissatisfaction. There was nothing as calming for humans as having a job, one that wasn't simple yet not overly complicated.
To know where your efforts are going, and to see the fruits of your work. Of course there was also the fact that they were all young people.
Romance was in the air, feuds were forming, and competition was strong with friends and enemies. For boys it would be almost freeing at some level, Matthew knew he wasn't the only one that hated his job.
For girls… well he didn't know or really care. He didn't really care how anyone felt.
Parker's group was easy to work with, they had a plethora of armaments for the hunters and some for even the fishers. They were disciplined and could take orders easily.
They were well put together, choosing stat cards to build balanced teams rather than doing what they wanted.
He could see some reluctance in their eyes, but who could they really blame?
When all profits are made in a group then how to use those profits must be decided by the group not the individual.
Unless you were a force to disagree with, like one of the group's leaders he was keeping an eye on.
He pushed the thought aside and played with the wish coin in his hand. It wasn't easy getting to keep it with all of Jamie's clauses. But, after finding three wish coins that day, he was allowed to keep it.
The rest of their hunts weren't as fruitful as the first, but they still allowed the group to grow greatly. When you were summoning armaments everyday and coming back with multiple dead monsters, you'd build some reputation.
They had already built three new teams of hunters, five people armed with weapons or charms with helpful abilities. They had begun calling them legions and for now there were four—three hunting legions and one fishing legion.
Matthew was technically in the first as a scout, Parker was in the third legion with Asha who handled navigation and mapmaking for the entire group. Jamie was in charge of the second.
Matthew and Jamie were in charge of slaying powerful monsters while Parker and Asha dealt with lesser creatures like the Hive and Carmia lizards, while also making maps and marking paths.
Their advances had stopped because of the growing intensity of the Hive and Parker's insistence on giving proper training to each member.
They all had fantastic weapons now, swords that could fire blasts of magic, armour that could take ruinous damage and charms could hide them from monsters.
But they were still just average people.
Their fighting skills were poor and their attacks lacked proper technique to be effective. Matthew had no such problems, he had a great amount of combat training both professionally with the army and leisurely with his mom.
If I could get a sword with this wish…
He spun the coin in his hand impatiently.
Wishes could only be made twice a day when the altar had water, he missed the first when he went out hunting this morning and now he had to wait for the second as the fountain had drained.
He wondered what visions he would see, what meaning they could have for his future and what armament he would get.
He desperately wanted a sword. Spears were relatively easier to use, but he had more experience with swords and honestly he just thought it would be cool.
His mana hadn't been growing much even after reaching level four and he wasn't too keen on the high costs of spells. Picking to become a magic type was rather dangerous too, you'd need to pick stat cards that would improve Mana and Potency.
Finally he heard a click as water began to flow.
Jumping to his feet, he walked over to the fountain.
Clear water stream from the six arms of the dark statue, the soft sound of water filled the temple and called everyone's attention.
It hadn't been easy waiting to make this wish, even though he had gotten the wish coin five days ago. He lied that he had a ritual, a little superstition, on how to make wishes.
However, he was just waiting and watching the processes others went through. There were negative side effects sometimes.
Sudden weakness, seeing some terrible visions or even just hearing the voice of something harrowing. He gathered these stories slowly, trying to build relationships with different groups.
In the meantime he had gained a reputation as someone who liked having spells shot at him. He had his reasons for his actions, of course, but he'd prefer the shield of people thinking he was crazy or eccentric.
It also helped him investigate what happened to people who had side effects from the wishing. He also found out he just liked making people uncomfortable.
Being annoying was refreshing.
People watched him flipping the coin in his hand, Parker's group gathered, whispering about the things they had heard of him.
People quickly got their water, making way for the wishing. Another reason he hadn't made the wish was he didn't want to go with Parker's group.
He wasn't one of them, he always needed to make that clear. He smirked, throwing the coin into the clear water.
As soon as they made contact, a brilliant light erupted from the fountain.
Colors rippled across the surface, shifting like liquid rainbows.
The air became warm and wonderful flowing over skin like silk.
Matthew was enamored by the orange light, swimming among the reds, blues and yellows. It was mesmerizing.
Then his vision darkened, the sound dull.
He could hear a strained voice full of despair and anger, he opened his eyes in a dark and loud car.
Speeding along a dark highway, he gripped his seatbelt a bit tighter as he realised what was happening.
The memory of that night.
Streetlight flashed over them as they sped by, his father's face illumination in sinister flashes of light.
He was screaming at someone over the phone, his normally calm blue eyes shone with a feral light.
He slammed his fist against the steering wheel as he screamed into the phone, his words were inaudible yet struck like knives into his heart.
He screamed for his dad to focus on the road, but nothing came from his mouth.
He struggled with the seatbelt to free himself, screaming as tears poured down his eyes.
Suddenly a blinding light covered them as they turned the corner.
His father's eyes widened as he tried to turn off the truck's path, he reached back to his son, to cover him.
Then the memory stopped, because he never remembered what happened after that.
He'd wake up as an orphan, living with his grandmother and little sister.
He woke up surrounded by a long darkness.
It flowed and twisted around him like solid matter. Brushing his skin like ice cold water, yet leaving no trail.
His status screen appeared:
——
Mongrel. Begone. I do not answer the prayers of sheep, nor rhino scared of their own shadows.
****** ******** *** ****, ***** **** *** **** **** ******
Tch, fine. Be warned, betrayer, I will seal your fate with this blade.
——
The altar combs through the World beyond what eyes may see and calls upon a weapon that suits your abominable existence.
A dark and envious sword answers the call.
——