Tristan

The second they were outside the shop, Sophie turned to him, indicated the new pants, and asked, "Do you have the oil on you? If so, do we attempt this thing right here and now, or should we take it back to the inn? What do you want to do?"

He had to admit that he hadn't really expected her questions, and definitely not so quickly, though perhaps he should have. It showed him that Sophie was as excited about this whole process as he was, that she was invested in more than just gold, and he appreciated that.

He tried to think through all her questions, as well as the whole situation, and answer her in some sort of logical order.

"For starters, of course I've got the [Protector's Boon]! It's been in my magical storage ever since I got it. I mean, where else would I leave it? As for applying it now..." A part of him desperately wanted to do exactly that, but it didn't feel like the best idea to him. "No, I definitely don't want to do it here. We should at least move away from Cam'ron's shop before I go mucking around with one of his greatest creations. But where?"

"Yeah, that makes sense," Sophie was saying, her reply as upbeat as ever. "There are lots of quiet spots in Perpetua that we could consider."

The look Poof gave her suggested she did not think so, though all she gave was one long, drawn out, "Meeeeeeeeeeep."

"This city isn't that bad," the astralist said to her little mage. "If nothing else, think of all the delicious sweets I've bought you since we've been here!"

"Me-meep? Meep MEE-EEP!" the astral responded, causing Sophie to roll her eyes. All Tristan was able to pick out was the word 'more'.

As they started walking, the pair kept up a constant conversation, though a lot of it ended up being little more than a string of Sophie's own thoughts flowing outward, uninterrupted. Tristan was too busy thinking about his own issues to really speak at all. For one, he was incredibly nervous. He couldn't stop himself from thinking back through all the steps they'd undertaken to get to this point--and what he wanted to do next. Now, with the pants and upgrading oil both in hand, all he had to do was apply it. It was almost done. Which of course sent his mind spinning through too many possibilities to count: other items he could use the oil on, for starters, or how even the seemingly simple process of application could still go wrong.

Or right, he reminded himself. It could also go exceptionally right. Keep a positive outlook for now. These are fantastic pants, and once they're Soulbound, they'll last me a good long time!

Sophie's constant talking became kind of a soothing background track, as Tristan recognized it was just one of the ways she dealt with her own nerves.

He thought back to the raid, to receiving the [Protector's Blessing] in the first place. Standing toe to toe with that demonic general, he'd definitely earned it. It was a mark of pride for him, and now it would be used to turn these pants into something even more exceptional, gear that would not only help him along his Path, but that he could maybe show off, if he chose to.

Somewhere along that train of thought, the perfect place to apply the oil came to him. "Let's go back to the Cinderbark memorial," he said, cutting off whatever Sophie had been saying. "And sorry I interrupted."

She chuckled. "Yeah, I was kind of just rambling, so don't worry about it. And honestly, that does feel like the most appropriate spot. I'm pretty sure I know the way back, too."

Poof gave a series of Meeps that sounded to Tristan like an accusation.

Sophie looked aghast. "I wouldn't just switch you out for Sneakers for this! I've missed you, you little fluffball!" She gave Poof a big squeeze. "Besides, I do know where we're going. You'll see."

Tristan followed her without question, and within only ten minutes, they were back at the entry arch to the Protector's Memorial. He had to admit, he was impressed at her sense of direction, but she'd also just been like that the whole time he'd known her.

Again he was faced with the towering gate, and just as before his eyes were drawn in, toward the perfectly-captured 'burning' of the sculpted branches that reached skyward. The strange sense of peace and purpose warmed him.

"Yeah, this feels right," he whispered, and whether she heard him or not, Sophie did not reply.

He walked straight through the arch, not being stopped or even approached by any of the robed, monk-like people nearby. One he thought he recognized, Matthias, from earlier in the week, only inclined his head as he caught Tristan's eyes. A slow, knowing smile spread across the monk's ageless-seeming face.

Tristan nodded back but did not slow, instead proceeding directly toward the memorial. He wanted to be as close to the stone trunk, beneath the canopy of unburning flames, as he could be. He wanted to commune with whatever remained of Cinderbark when he attempted this. It just felt right to him, since the oil had felt like her gift to him. She deserved to see what boon it gave.

Drawing close enough that he could reach out and rest a hand against the stone trunk, Tristan exhaled and sat down. He positioned both the [Emblazoned Shadowhide Leggings] and the [Protector's Boon] on the ground before him. Looking at Sophie and Poof, he tried to calm his nerves.

"Are we ready?" he asked.

"Are you ready?" the astralist responded. "I'm just excited to be able to help you out with this!"

Tristan looked up once again at the majestic, motionless tree. "I... Yeah, I think I am." He laid the pants carefully across his lap and raised the vial of oil. Please let this work, he thought, not entirely sure to whom he might be praying--maybe to whatever remained of Cinderbark herself--but it felt like the right thing to do in the moment.

He unstoppered the vial containing the [Protector's Boon].

"Here goes," he said, exhaling once again.

Then he poured the oil onto the supple leather pants and began spreading it around, attempting to get as even coverage as possible, but that proved a bit challenging as the leather seemed to drink up the oil almost instantly. Tristan made sure to get every single drop out of the vial, just as he took great care to rub it all in. It wasn't a physically-difficult process by any means, but it was taxing in a different way. He noticed an ever-so-slight pull from his center as he worked, like what happened when he used his internal magic as a Source during enchanting.

He hoped that was a good sign. The ideal outcome of this whole process would be the pants becoming Soulbound, after all, allowing him to use them. Pulling some of his personal magic seemed like something that should happen for that process to succeed.

He toiled carefully and without any hurry until, eventually, there was nothing left to do. The last drops of the oil were absorbed into the leather, even taking the residue from Tristan's fingers.

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And the pants began to glow. It started as a dim light, but it built up quickly, flaring bright red, which actually reminded Tristan of the color of Cinderbark's fires, though perhaps that was due to his current setting.

With one last, blinding burst, which forced Tristan's eyes closed, the process was complete. As Tristan reopened his eyes, he could see the upgrade immediately, because now the pants seemed to be burning. Rather, they had the appearance of being on fire, without any of the heat or smoke that should have accompanied such a change.

"Oh, that looks so cool!" Sophie said over his shoulder, but Tristan didn't care how they looked. Only one thing mattered now, and he was already using [Identify] to see if it had truly succeeded.

[Emblazoned Shadowhide Leggings (epic)]: [Catfall], [Protector's Flames], [Agility Boost II], [Intended]

His mouth fell open. The oil had done its work, and the pants were now epic rarity. They'd also gained the [Protector's Flames] property in the exchange. But that was all they'd gained.

A tingle, beginning in his chest, seemed to spill out of his thumping heart and flood his body. A pit opened up in his stomach as he felt the sudden loss of both Cinderbark's gift and the hope of mitigating the restriction of his Core. This experiment had only given a small hope--he'd known from the beginning it wasn't guaranteed to work--but the pain of it stung just as much as Gorrek destroying his sword's chance to win on the Ark. Maybe even more. He turned away. In that moment, he couldn't even look at the pants.

They didn't...

He had to acknowledge the truth of it. It would do him no favors to deny the reality. He took a deep breath, taking time to settle the storm inside before allowing his crafter's brain to consider the problem.

OK, they're not Soulbound. Why didn't they become Soulbound?

It was such a small, deceptively simple question, but it was also seemingly unanswerable. It was likely that no one else in the entire world could answer it any better than he could. It was all tied to his Core, after all. So he thought about how he might answer it better, and that included pulling up his Status to once again reexamine his Core, rationalizing that the answer had to be in there.

Core: [Soul-Forged] Items you craft replace a portion of the required materials with soul, are greatly enhanced, and become Soulbound. You may only use Soulbound items.

He read it carefully, then again and again, really considering each part. And he kept coming back to the first three words. 'Items you craft...' He looked back down at the currently useless, now-ever-burning pants that still rested on his lap. He found them even more beautiful now, as the new visual effect was simply stunning, but... He realized he still hadn't expanded the property. Just to fully understand what they could do, he did that.

[Protector's Flames] These pants are wreathed in smokeless flames that deal minor fire damage to any that deal you damage.

Suddenly he remembered that he'd seen that property before, on the pants that Drannis had looted after the Cinderbark event.

They got the same property as an item dropped by Cinderbark? He reached out and touched the tree. Maybe there really is some sort of connection going on here.

It was a cool property, without a doubt. It might have been pretty useful in any number of circumstances in the future, soloing, or tanking, or... He stopped himself from going too far down that road.

No use dreaming. Reality comes first. Acknowledge what is, and then move on from there.

Part of him wondered if the failure might have something to do with the [Intended] property, which he did notice was still there, but that just didn't feel right. He was pretty sure he understood now.

The pants didn't become Soulbound because someone else made them, and I didn't do enough to 'craft' them, to really make them my own. I just rubbed some oil on them.

All of the other possibilities for the [Protector's Boon] rushed through his mind, but he dismissed them. He'd made his choice, and he was going to stand behind it. It might not have had the biggest likelihood of success, but he still believed that it had offered the biggest possible reward. He'd taken a risk, and this time it hadn't paid off. At least not as he might have hoped. After all his successes and luck, it was bound to happen eventually. He did learn something about his Core, and that could prove to be quite valuable, too.

Besides, maybe in the future I could craft them more. If I find some way to really make them better, using my own skills, then maybe--!

He felt Sophie's hand gently fall upon his shoulder. "Tristan, I'm--I'm sorry. I--"

"You couldn't have known," he replied.

"But you could have used that oil on something else, and--"

"Sophie," he said, cutting her off, "it's fine. Truly. I agreed to try this out, remember? It's not your fault. There is no fault in something like this, only lessons to be learned."

"But that oil could have gone to one of your swords!"

He nodded. "It could have. But it didn't." He thought about what he'd learned of his Core, and how that would help him define his own Path. "I honestly think I'm fine with that, too. I'll just have to upgrade them with my own talent."

Sophie withdrew her hand, which immediately went to petting Poof. "Well, I still feel bad. No matter what, we're going to get you more loot to make up for this. We've seen that dungeons, and even raids, can drop Soulbound loot for you. I won't rest until we get you a whole new kit!"

Tristan laughed. "Now see, that's something I can gladly get on board with!"

"And if someday down the road you eventually make a permanent party, well, I'm just sure you'll get lots more Soulbound loot from that, too."

For some reason, the words clicked into Tristan's mind like a key in a lock: 'Permanent Party.'

He heard his mother's voice in his head. 'If some day you happen to find like-minded people worthy of forming a permanent party, then you should count yourself lucky--beyond lucky.'

Wasn't that what Sophie was? Hadn't she proven herself to be trustworthy, and to consider his quest just as valid as anything she wanted or needed? Hadn't she literally sacrificed one of her astrals, however temporarily, to save his life? And she saw them as her family.

Hadn't he already proven himself willing to help her even without personal gain? He knew he'd do it again, in a heartbeat.

He did feel lucky. Sophie was an amazing party member, and she was quickly becoming one of his best friends.

His next action wasn't an impulse. It was a decision. One that he'd been building toward for a while. It might have started in the Deepstone Mines, but it had been growing ever since the Shadow and Venom incidents, and it had only continued on the Arc and in the raid.

Her support was unwavering, and his would be, too.

You are about to invite Sophira Adrielle to a Permanent Party. Be advised: This agreement is binding and must be Willingly Accepted. While the benefits of this are great, the penalties incurred for breaking a Permanent Party once it is formed are severe and long-term. Are you sure you wish to proceed?

He read the notification, and because they didn't change his mind in the slightest, he only skimmed over the benefits and warnings. He knew this was what he wanted. With a simple Yes, he offered her the Permanent Party invitation.

Sophie immediately leaned back and brought one hand up to cover her mouth. "Tristan, a-are you sure? This is... This is a big deal. You don't just--"

"I just did."

Sophie just stared at him, still struck utterly speechless.

"Go on, accept it--if you want to, that is." Suddenly he worried that maybe he'd acted too impulsively again. Maybe she didn't view their friendship and teamwork as favorably as he did. Maybe she didn't want to get roped into a Permanent Party with someone like him. Someone who could make such an important decision at the drop of a hat. "I don't want you to feel pressured or any--"

Sophie cut him off by leaning forward straight into his chest and giving him an enormous hug.

"Of course. Of course I want to!" she finally replied.

It was so sweet and reassuring, he chose to totally overlook the tears streaming down her cheeks, since he knew they were definitely tears of joy.

Congratulations! You have formed a Permanent Party with Sophira Adrielle.

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