Curselock

Chapter 241: Legacy

Chapter 241: Legacy

“Are humans normally this... fearful?” Gelo asked as they walked through the streets of Frostford.

They had already finished shopping and were heading toward the gate to leave, but the walk was slow going. Not because there were hazards or many people stopping them to talk, but because Gelo gawked at most everything.

Buildings? The only buildings she had seen was the ice castle within the dungeon, so every change in architecture made her stare. A fountain playfully shooting water into the air? It was as if the cub was looking at a bar of gold. But what made Gelo freeze on the spot were the grilling stalls. Sizzling meat, charred vegetables, skewers of rich, fatty cuts... they caught her nose and pulled her to the front of the line.

The people in the line didn’t seem to mind for the simple fact that Gelo was a literal bear. A talking bear, at that.

“Civilians are always like that,” Jude said, waving a hand. “I remember one time I took out my axe to sharpen while waiting on a public bench, and the guard was there in minutes. Apparently I was ‘scaring the locals.’”

Glenny snorted a laugh. “Haha, loser.”

Ignoring the attempted banter, Jude spoke right over him. “Once you are around more people like us, people will respect you more.”

Leland added to that, “Though we are a bit of an oddity even when it comes to adventurers. You all saw how that one adventurer ran away from us at the gate, right? Not everyone is ‘like’ us.”

“That’s true enough, especially compared to you.”

“I’ll still die from an arrow between the eyes, trust me.”

“It’s not even just that, Gelo,” Glenny said. “People don’t know you. Once people get used to you, they’ll realize you’re cool as heck and try to pet you or something.”

“Most will try to give you treats,” Jude added to that. “Which might be a bit speciesist, but hey, free snacks. I’d say that’s worth the exchange.”

Sighing, Leland said, “And if they don’t, just tell Jude and he’ll play his flute as loudly as possible in their ear.”

Even with all of their hopeful words, Gelo still felt her feet grow heavy. She wished her mom was here.

From there, they quickly traveled out of the town . Gelo suddenly didn’t want to be a tourist and instead wished to get on the road. Camping was what she was looking forward to. A nice, easy trip through the wilderness with plenty of things to inspect and a chance to stare up at the starry sky.

But, unlike Jude, she didn’t say her wishes aloud. One jinx per group was enough, and the young man had that under lock and key.

That night, some distance away from Frostford, they rested. Rotational watch-cycles were set, dinner was munched on, and soon everyone fell asleep. Gelo offered to take the first watch, citing the stars and the fact that sleeping through the night rather than being woken up part-way through seemed the best option.

And when Glenny woke for his shift, Gelo finally fell asleep. If the worst day of her life was the day her father died, today had to have been the second worst, the day her mother left.

She was just glad it was finally over. Day two would be easier, hopefull—

“Gelo.”

She turned, finding the chilled forest gone. Instead of trees and shrubs, rock walls with water-leaking cracks were front and center. She didn’t think about that, however, instead her heart pounded. The sound consumed her hearing, everything turned narrow.

And despite this, the presence she was staring at thawed her growing anxiety.

“Mom! What—”

Gelo lurched forward, ready to pounce on her loved one, but she stopped, a flicker of hesitation. A flicker of forethought. Was... was this an illusion? Was this some sort of trick? How was she here? How was the Lord of Dungeons here?

How was her mom here?

Floe’s smile stopped the cub.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” the mother bear whispered. “I just didn’t realize how much I would miss you.”

“Oh... well... O-of course.” Gelo raised her head high. “Am I not so great as to be forgotten?”

Chuckling, Floe purred, “Of course, of course. You are the daughter of a Lord!” She stood up straighter herself. “Everyone will bow to you once you come into proper power. Ice and esoteric divine magic connected in some way to dungeons. You will be unstoppable.”

“Just wait, mother. I’ll acquire Iceheart soon enough and fight my way into the heavens.”

“Iceheart? That is bold of you.” Floe considered this. Maybe there was a way—

“What are you thinking about?”

“Hmm?” she asked, shaking her head to quell her thoughts.

Gelo rolled her eyes. “You trailed off then stared at the wall for a moment.”

“Oh. Sorry, lost in thought. I was just thinking of a way to help you conquer Iceheart using power from my Legacy.”

“Nope!”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t want your help. I’ll achieve Iceheart all on my own,” Gelo said with an over exaggerated head nod. “Then I’ll teach Jude, Leland, and Glenny.”

Floe couldn’t suppress the grin that appeared as her daughter spoke. The goal, while ridiculous, was only achievable with hard work, perseverance, and a bit of arrogance. Three things she knew Gelo had, three things that would propel her into a bright future.

“Fine, fine. But for now, if you are to become my Champion, you need the first spell, ability, or technique of my Legacy. What shall it be?”

Gelo thought for a moment. “I have no idea.”

“Perhaps an attack spell? Being the Lord of Dungeons, I now have ample direction over space and—”

“Not ice? You love ice!”

Floe raised her paw, summoning a miniature blizzard between her claws. “Ice and cold, yes. But now,” she raised the other paw, ushering in a slightly teal buzz. It wasn’t wind but rather flowing space rippling like a bed sheet held by two of its corners. The blizzard gently became one with the gust, moving throughout the cave. Soon a layer of snow covered all of the rock and Gelo for that matter.

“That was awesome!” the cub cried, shaking her head to rid herself of loose snow. “Who taught you that!?”

“That trick? The Lord of Space, Pathways, and Magic. They will be akin to tutors for the next few years, teaching me to properly wield elemental space. Among other things needed to properly oversee dungeons. I’ll have to even create a few every now and again.”

Gelo licked her lips, finally starting to see the beauty of what a Legacy could do. “I want that. That’s what I want my first spell to be.”

Looking from the magic pushing the blizzard around, Floe began to chuckle. “That may be doable.”