The bitterness of reliance burned within Connor as he lay still, his body too battered to move, his mind racing. At their mercy, the thought reverberated in his mind, a mix of anger and frustration twisting in his chest. They were at the mercy of these strangers, and it felt like a cruel joke. He couldn't move, couldn't fight—he was nothing but a burden to his brother.
Jacob, however, seemed entirely unaware of the weight of their situation. His eyes were wide with childlike wonder as he scrolled through the glowing interface in front of him, muttering to himself in awe. Connor wanted to snap at him, to shake some sense into his twin, but exhaustion weighed on him like a heavy stone, and all he could do was stare.
Damnation, Connor thought. I might as well try it. He glanced over at Jacob, who was blissfully absorbed in his own little world. Resisting the urge to snap, Connor summoned the menu with a thought: menu.
The interface popped up before him.
Connor Orwin
Race: Human (F)
Class: Mage (level 5)
Field of Discipline: Unassigned
Soul Ability: Soul Flame Eternal Link
Bloodline Ability: (locked)
[Skills]
Steel Bind (Common)
Identify (Common)
Metal Zip Tie (Common)
Metal Shield (Common)
Metal Spear (Common)
The rest of the stats mirrored Jacob's. Connor looked at them, growing irritated. The majority of his skills were ordinary and unimpressive. He had anticipated this new world to be greater. Then he saw that one talent was different from the others and wasn't scored similarly.
As though the Earth itself were responding to his thoughts, a voice echoed in his head.
Skill Description:
The Soul Flame: Eternal Link is a sacred ability that binds two souls or an object into a singular, unbreakable union. This connection transcends both the physical and mental realms, forged by paradoxical twins who turned to one another in times of peril. When activated, the flames of the soul ignite, creating a shared consciousness for seamless communication, mutual strength, and a shared will. The merging process is not without its challenges, as it requires immense trust and the willingness to surrender individuality for unity.
As he absorbed the description, the battle's events suddenly made sense. The way they'd been able to share mana—it was the Soul Flame: Eternal Link in action.
Connor's fingers twitched as he considered the options. He reviewed his other skills: Steel Bind, Identify, Metal Zip Tie, Metal Shield, Metal Spear. All basic. Predictable. Nothing extraordinary. But he couldn't afford to ignore them. Not now.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, the words barely audible. "Time to figure this out."
He selected Identify, focusing on a metal fragment nearby, likely from a broken sword. A soft hum vibrated through his mind as details appeared:
Item: Shattered Metal Fragment
Quality: Common
Durability: Low
Potential: Reinforcement possible through magic or forging.
"Potential..." Connor whispered, a spark of hope igniting within him. If he could manipulate these fragments, maybe he could forge something stronger, something to make up for his lack of advanced skills.
Next, he turned to Metal Spear. He focused, activating the skill. Mana flowed sluggishly within him, but it was enough. The air buzzed, and a jagged metal spear materialized in his hand. It wasn't refined, but it was functional. He grasped it tightly, considering the way he could use it.
Not bad.
Jacob, finally snapping out of his reverie, glanced up with a grin as wide as ever. "You're trying out your skills too, huh? What'd you get?"
Connor hesitated. His first instinct was to brush his brother off, but something about Jacob's enthusiasm made him pause. "Basic stuff," he muttered. "Metal manipulation. A spear, some bindings, shields. Nothing fancy."
Jacob's brow furrowed, his excitement not dampened in the slightest. "Nothing fancy? That's amazing! You can make weapons on the fly! Imagine what we could do together with that!"
Connor's frustration simmered, but he couldn't help the flicker of hope that sparked at Jacob's optimism. Maybe he's right, he thought. Maybe this isn't so bad.
"Fine," Connor said, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smile. "But don't think I'm doing all the work. If you've got any bright ideas, now's the time to share them."
Jacob's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, I've got plenty of ideas!" he said eagerly. "And I bet you haven't even tried the Soul Flame thing yet, have you?"
Connor blinked. The skill description lingered in his mind, both exhilarating and terrifying. "Not yet," he admitted. At least not consciously.
Jacob's grin widened. "Then let's find out what it can really do."
Connor looked at Jacob for a long moment, the weight of their shared predicament settling in his chest. Despite everything, despite the frustration and bitterness, he felt something else—a sense of resolve building within him. "Alright," he said, his voice steady. "Let's see where this takes us."
The bitterness still gnawed at him, but now it felt more manageable, more like something to overcome. With Jacob's infectious hope, Connor felt a flicker of determination. The world had given them little, but together—together—maybe they could carve out something more.
Looking at the adventurers around them, Connor silently vowed that they would get through this. No matter how grim things seemed.