Dear McCracken

“I’ve got those stickers you asked for,” Grace said, handing him a stack of the laser-aim stickers.

“Thanks! I don’t know how many enchantments my mask can absorb from your stickers, but this is a good start,” John replied, slipping the stickers into his inventory since the mask was currently on his belt buckle. “Anyone else coming with us?”

“I scheduled a visit to the family bestiary in half an hour, so I’ll have to pass,” Amy said, Vitaly flapping onto her shoulder. “I could bring David along again if you’d like. Vitaly certainly enjoyed his company.”

What do you say, David? We’re just going to be doing some simple training, you’re not missing out on much, John asked, holding out his arm. David manifested onto it, looking between John and his frosty phoenix friend. He hopped along John’s arm and nipped him affectionately before flying over to Amy’s other shoulder.

“You lot are monsters. I’d just slow you down,” Grace said, sitting back on the couch and picking her controller back up.

“That doesn’t mean you aren’t welcome,” John offered, but she simply threw her hat at him in response. “I mean it! Just a couple months ago, I was a weak, mundane nerd. Gaia gave me the magic that let me grow, but it doesn’t happen overnight.”

“I don’t want to take away energy from developing my stickers,” Grace admitted, looking up at him. “We don’t all have infinite room to grow. I feel like I’m close to a breakthrough…”

“Well, there are other ways to close the power gap. Why don’t you meet me at the shooting range tomorrow?” John asked, walking up and putting her hat back on, patting her head.

“Brilliant, same time?” Grace asked, to which he nodded. Amy sat back down with her, and they resumed their game, making a bot take Abigail’s place. John tipped his ten gallon to the duo, turning to leave with Abigail.

“You should text Mandruzzo! He’s pretty strong,” Abigail suggested as they walked out of the barrier. She grinned at him, and though he felt good about it, there was something distinctly shark-like about it.

“Sure. Can’t hurt to have another party member,” John replied, inviting her to his party. Pulling out his phone, he texted Elizabeth.

John: Meet in the lobby in five.

And then Mandruzzo.

John: I’m training with Abigail and a friend of ours. We’re leaving from the lobby in about five minutes. You’re welcome to join us.
Mandruzzo: Excellent! I just finished with a member of the Wands. I’ll be there.

Making their way to one of the elevators on their floor, the duo walked in just as it opened. A woman with golden hair and armor to match pushed past them, an exhausted expression on her face as she dragged an enormous silver axe behind her. It carved a deep groove in the floor as she walked. John watched as the floor melted into itself in her wake, silently fixing the scuffs she left.

After a short ride to the lobby, they sat in one of many couches surrounding a table, waiting for Elizabeth and Mandruzzo.

Mandruzzo came first, sliding down the banister of the staircase and transitioning smoothly to the floor, sliding along to the couch they sat. He tapped accept on the party invite John sent as he approached. “Signor, always a pleasure.” The bubble mage smiled broadly at him, taking a shallow bow. “A kind member of the wands department has made boots that greatly increase my mobility. I look forward to testing them out.”

Elizabeth followed close behind, zipping out of the elevator in a flash of lightning. She looked from them to Mandruzzo, turning her nose up at him briefly. Hardly sparing a glance at it, she too hit accept on her party invite. “Well? Are we ready?”

“Right, follow me,” John said, the four of them running out of the main base and its barrier.

On the way, John decided to spend the stat points and perk points he had gotten from levelling up twice from the Crow fight. The first ten boosted his Intellect over fifty, and he got an achievement.

Achievement Unlocked: Stroke of Genius
Skill Unlocked: Siphon
Your intellectual capabilities will not improve much from further mental stat improvements.
Intellect increases your mana reservoir slightly more per point, applies retroactively

Siphon, Active Skill, Level 1
By targeting one willing entity within (Skill Level) meters, you may drain or give the target mana at an efficiency rate of 50+(Skill Level x 10)%. If your mana pool is filled beyond capacity as a result of this effect, excess mana is lost at a rate of 10^(Seconds Passed/15) mana per second.

The next ten were spent boosting his Charisma, though it had not yet reached fifty. For the two perks, he took Intimidating Will and Assess Threat. The flat bonuses to his HP and MP from levelling had begun to add up as well, and he felt more powerful.

“I really, really just want to let loose on something. I’m going to make an elimination style barrier, which means we’ll have four enemies, about the same level as us,” John explained, activating Create Barrier.

Are you choosing to recreate a barrier you have previously made or overwritten?
[Y]/[N]
You have selected [N].
Population
Populated? [Y]/[N]
You have selected [Y].
Population Options
Populated by hostiles? [Y]/[N]
Population related to scenery? [Y]/[N]
You have selected [Y] to both.

Choose type of hostile barrier
Combat?
Trap?
Prison?
You have selected Combat.

Choose Barrier Mode
Search and Destroy?
Diplomacy?
Base Defense?
Escort?
Race?
War?
Elimination?
You have selected ‘Elimination’.

Scenery
Mirror type?
Random type?
Consume an item?
You have selected the ‘Random’ type.

Time dilation: (Min -44%) [-]/[+] (Max 44%)
Size dilation (inside)? (Min -33%) [-]/[+] (Max 33%)
Size dilation (outside): (Min -33%) [-]/[+] (Max 33%)
You have selected maximum positive time dilation. Time flows faster in the barrier. You have selected maximum negative size dilation (outside) and maximum positive size dilation (inside).

As he selected the options, he thought of Cinder. You’ve been awfully quiet today. Are you feeling alright? Is the curse affecting you at all?

I wanted to give you privacy during your medical examination, though I admit I do feel… frustrated. That curse is a direct result of your martyrdom. The way she spoke was as though each word was a nail being pulled out of a board.

But-

Again and again you try to subdue those who are clearly out of your league because you take the responsibility of their appearance onto yourself. I’ve only been with you for one instance of it, but from that news article something similar happened in Jarako. How do you live like that? Why do you do it? Cinder surprised him with her assertiveness, appearing in her incorporeal form beyond the translucent menu, her featureless face staring intently at him.

If I hadn’t made that sacrifice in Jarako, if I hadn’t drawn Crow away, Mandruzzo would be dead. Amy would be dead. Grace would be dead. Abigail would be dead. Each name sunk his heart deeper and deeper, remembering Crow’s awful illusions and imagining what he might have done to his friends given the chance.

But-

No. It’s my turn now. There’s no guarantee I would’ve lived either. Even if I had, I would have had to live the rest of my life knowing I could have stopped them from dying. Drawing Crow away was stupidly dangerous but… we ALL lived. And even if I didn’t think I could survive, I’d gladly die to keep four of my friends alive. The words came out of him in a torrential downpour; it felt good to get them off his chest, even if she had watched him experience the whole thing.

What about David and I? What about your parents? What about Jenny? Your love for her outshines that which you have for your friends. Dying for a good cause is a nice sentiment, but it leaves those who care about you to pick up the pieces. How do you think they would feel if you had died for them? There’s a reason **** is called the coward’s way out. She floated slowly back into him as she finished. He felt her regret and sadness through their connection, covering him like a wet blanket.

What exactly are you saying?

Please don’t misunderstand, John. I find your tenacity, kindness, and intellect admirable, but they’re of no use to you dead. I could have helped you during your fight with Crow, but you ordered me not to. The next time that happens… allow those around you to share your burdens. Play chess with more pieces than the king. She didn’t resurface, electing to stay inside of him for her last message. He suddenly felt incredibly guilty, not realizing that she was **** to follow the exact orders he gave.

I see your point. At the very least, I’ll ask for your help next time, John begrudgingly admitted, hitting the last plus sign and creating the barrier.