Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

As Jett comforted Ella, his mind raced with a troubling thought: 'The fact that Ella would act this way means even Mystra could've been affected too.' He frowned, lost in his own thoughts, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

The visions, the fragments, they were all connected somehow, but how deep did it go? Did it affect more than just him?

"What is wrong with you?" Freya's sharp voice broke through his concentration.

Jett blinked, glancing at her. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"Fine? You've been acting weird ever since you woke up. You're hiding something," Freya pressed, her eyes narrowing as she searched his face for answers.

Jett sighed, running a hand down his face. "I told you, it's nothing."

"Liar." Freya's frustration was palpable. "You're always keeping things to yourself, and then stuff like *this* happens! You won't tell me what's going on, and it's driving me insane!"

"I'm handling it," Jett shot back, his tone sharper than intended.

"By handling it, you mean keeping it all bottled up until you collapse like you did just now? That's not 'handling' anything, Jett!" Freya crossed her arms, glaring at him. "You're not invincible."

Jett clenched his jaw, unwilling to let her in on what was going through his mind. The visions, the Throne of Destiny reacting: it wasn't something he could just casually explain. "It's... complicated," he muttered, not looking at her directly.

"Of course it is," Freya muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "It's always 'complicated' with you."

Jett ignored her, his focus shifting as he gently sent Ella back into her space, knowing she needed rest. He stood up and began to gather a few things, readying himself to leave. Freya, meanwhile, slumped on his bed, looking utterly defeated.

With a sigh, Jett turned toward her, softening just a little. "You coming or what?" he asked.

"Huh?" Freya looked up, clearly surprised.

Jett pointed toward the door. "Hurry up, or I'll leave you here," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Freya blinked in confusion before quickly getting up, still flustered by their argument. "Wait, where are we even going?"

"You'll see," Jett shrugged, already heading toward the door. "You wanted me to open up more right?."

Freya grabbed her things and hurried after him, not sure what to expect but unwilling to be left behind. Even though she was still frustrated with him, there was no way she was going to let Jett go off on his own again. Not this time.

*****

Jett led Freya through the winding halls of the academy, finally arriving at the far back of the library, a section that looked untouched and forgotten. Dust covered the shelves, and the air was heavy with the scent of old parchment and aged wood. Freya glanced around, a bit confused as to why they were here.

"So…" she started, her brow furrowing. "What are we doing here?"

"I need to retrieve something," Jett replied, scanning the rows of books as if searching for a specific one. His hand reached for a dusty tome, flipping it open, and revealing a hidden mechanism. A soft click echoed through the room, and the wall behind one of the bookshelves creaked open, revealing a concealed door.

"Woah…" Freya's eyes widened in awe as she stared at the hidden passage. "Alright, let's go," she said, stepping forward eagerly.

But before she could move any further, Jett raised his hand and blocked her path, a serious expression on his face. "Wait, hold your horses." he said, shaking his head as he blocked the way. "You stay here."

"What's the matter?" Freya asked, confused by his sudden change in tone.

Jett smiled, his usual confidence returning. "I just don't want you triggering any alarms. I'm not ditching you or anything like that so I just need you to wait here," he added, seeing the suspicious look in her eyes. "I'll be right back, promise."

With that, he stepped into the shadowy passage, his form blurring as he activated [Shadow Walk]. His body seamlessly merged with the surrounding darkness, and he moved through the shadows like water flowing through cracks. Silent, invisible, untouchable.

Freya crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, watching him disappear into the passage. "Show off," she muttered, though a small smirk played on her lips.

She couldn't help but be impressed by how effortlessly Jett navigated through places that would normally be off-limits, his unique abilities allowing him to blend into the shadows like a ghost. But as always, he had his own way of doing things alone.

Freya stood by the shelves, arms crossed, tapping her foot lightly with a subtle frown on her face. "Classic Jett," she muttered, shaking her head. "Just bring me along to leave me here. Even if you have a good reason this time." With a sigh, she turned to the books around her, hoping to distract herself.

Her fingers trailed across the spines of old tomes, trying to find solace in the familiar comfort of knowledge.

Meanwhile, deeper in the hidden chambers, Jett had made his way to the room that housed Mystra. He stepped inside, and immediately, the Dream Hound bounded towards him, her silver eyes gleaming with joy. Mystra's excitement was palpable as she jumped around, tail wagging like she had been waiting an eternity for him to return.

"Sorry I'm late, girl," Jett said with a soft chuckle, patting her head affectionately. "It's time to leave this place."

As if understanding his words, Mystra began to shrink, her large form compacting into a smaller size, just small enough to comfortably sit on Jett's shoulder. Her fur shimmered faintly, and with a light hop, she perched herself on his shoulder, curling her tail around his neck.

"They're going to be so pissed when they find out," Jett grinned, clearly amused by the thought. He turned and swiftly made his way back through the shadows, Mystra clinging to him quietly.

It didn't take long for Jett to return to where Freya waited, only to find her completely engrossed in a book. Her earlier annoyance seemed forgotten as she flipped through the pages, absorbed in whatever topic had caught her attention.

"Alright, Freya," Jett called out, grinning as he approached. "There's someone I'd like to introduce to you."

Freya turned almost immediately, snapping the book shut and looking at him with curiosity. Her gaze then shifted to the small figure resting on his shoulder.

*

*

*

Off to the next chapter