Bound by Flame, Forged by Hope

The bitterness of reliance burned within Connor as he lay still, his body too battered to move, his mind racing. "At their mercy." The words echoed like a mantra, a mix of fear and anger twisting in his chest. He was helpless, a burden to these strangers who had no obligation to keep them alive.

Jacob, however, seemed oblivious to the weight of their predicament. His wide eyes flickered with wonder as he scrolled through the glowing interface before him, muttering in awe. Connor wanted to snap at him again, to shake some sense into his brother, but exhaustion pulled at him like leaden chains.

Damnation, he thought. Well, I might as well try it. He looked at Jacob, who was looking at his skill gleefully. He tried holding himself back the most he could before giving in with just a thought of "menu."

The menu automatically appeared in front of him.

Connor Orwin

Race: Human(E)

Class: Mage (level 5)

Field of discipline: unassigned

Soul abilities: soul flame eternal link

Bloodline ability: (locked)

[Skill]

{Steel Bind (Common)} 

{Identify (common)}

{Metal Zip Tie (Common)}

{Metal Shield (Common)}

{Metal Spear (common)}

The rest of the stats matched Jacob's. As Connor scanned through them, he began considering how to utilize certain skills. Damn, he thought, most of my skills are only common grades. This left him feeling disappointed and more frustrated with his situation. Then, something caught his eye—a skill that wasn't rated like the others. A voice popped into his head as if the world was reacting to his thoughts. 

Skill Description: 

The Soul Flame: Eternal Link is a profound and sacred ability that binds two souls or an object into a singular, unbreakable union. This was created by paradoxical twins. When cornered, they turned to each other for help. When activated, the flames of the soul ignite, weaving together the essences of both individuals. This connection transcends the physical and mental realms, creating a shared consciousness for seamless communication, mutual strength, and shared will. The merging process is not without its challenges, as it demands immense trust and the willingness to surrender individuality for the sake of this said unity.

After reading the description, the events of the battle began to make sense. Their ability to share mana was likely due to that skill.

He reviewed his common skills again, forming ideas on how to navigate his predicament.

Connor's fingers twitched as he stared at the menu, his mind a whirl of conflicting thoughts. The bitterness of his situation mingled with the faint glimmer of hope sparked by the Soul Flame: Eternal Link. It wasn't just a connection—it was a lifeline, an anchor that tethered him and Jacob together.

He glanced at Jacob, who was still lost in his own giddy exploration of the interface. The sight annoyed him more than it should have, but beneath the irritation was something heavier: guilt. Jacob was embracing their new reality, while Connor could only dwell on the cracks in their situation. Maybe he needed to learn from Jacob, even if he didn't want to admit it.

The glowing menu lingered before him, a silent invitation. Connor's eyes flicked back to his skills. Steel Bind, Identify, Metal Zip Tie, Metal Shield, Metal Spear. Basic. Predictable. Not exactly inspiring. But he couldn't afford to dismiss them.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath, the words barely audible. "Time to figure this out."

He selected Identify, focusing on one of the metal fragments lying near him from the battle that likely came from a sword if he had to guess. A soft hum resonated in his mind as the fragment's details appeared:

Item: Shattered Metal Fragment

Quality: Common

Durability: Low

Potential: Reinforcement is possible via magic or forging.

"Potential..." Connor whispered. His mind churned with possibilities. If he could manipulate these fragments, perhaps he could create something stronger—something to make up for their lack of advanced skills.

Next, he turned to Metal Spear. With a tentative thought, he activated the skill. Mana surged within him, sluggish but present, and a crude, jagged spear of metal formed in his hand. It wasn't pretty, but it was functional. Connor gripped it tightly, feeling its weight, imagining the trajectory it would take if he hurled it.

Not bad.

Jacob finally glanced up, his grin as wide as ever. "You're trying out your skills too, huh? What did you get?"

Connor debated brushing him off but thought better of it. "Basic stuff," he said. "Metal manipulation. A spear, some bindings, shields. Nothing fancy."

Jacob's brow furrowed. "Nothing fancy? Are you kidding? That's amazing! You can make weapons on the fly. Imagine what we can do with that if we work together!"

Connor hesitated. His first instinct was to argue, to remind Jacob of their bleak reality. But Jacob's enthusiasm was infectious, and for the first time in hours, Connor felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this wasn't all bad. Maybe there was a way forward while looking at the group of adventurers in front of him.

"Fine," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "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. "Oh, I've got plenty of ideas," he said, leaning closer. "And I bet you haven't even tried the Soul Flame thing yet, have you?"

Connor blinked. The skill description lingered in his mind, its potential both terrifying and exhilarating.

"Not yet," he admitted, at least not consciously.

Jacob's grin widened. "Then let's find out what it can really do."

Connor stared at his brother for a long moment, his resolve hardening. "Alright," he said finally. "Let's see where this takes us."

The bitterness was still there, lurking in the back of his mind. But for the first time since the battle, it felt manageable, and he had an idea for now how he would resolve his issue of being a cripple. Putting the thought aside, right now his brother's more infectious, hopeful outlook on life began to infect him; the world hadn't given them much, but together, maybe they could carve out something more.

After these thoughts started rushing through his head, he looked at adventures.