"What do you think? Should I try to raise my radiance? Or spend points on skills?" If Mudhead had an opinion on things, he was being stubborn and not telling anyone.

Ben had run over to the livery stables to try and catch Mattias before he left, but the old Courier and Beatrice had already headed out.

He'd left Ben a note, and a key.  'Ben - Sorry I missed you.

Beatrice and I are out patrolling the roads and helping some of the folks get their herds out of town before the fireworks start.

Bad business and I don't like it.

Keep low.

A Courier shouldn't take sides in things like this.

From talking to General Themise, it seems all the workers are sidelined anyway.

A good thing.

I'm taking some dispatches to the capital, not sure when I'll be back.

Mudhead's all yours, God help you.

Feel free to make use of the other room as it's more comfortable than your hidey-hole upstairs.

Back someday.

- Mattias.'Ben would miss him, as well as Beatrice.

For now, he'd have to figure things out on his own.

He dearly wished he knew more about what his new class would bring.

He wanted badly to pick up more crafting skills.

But he also wanted every advantage he could get, and if there were small bonuses to be gained for having stats raised to 10, that was the priority, along with raising his aspect.He put the 300 experience for skills into Flames of the Phoenix.

This brought the aspect to Rank 3 and gave him 300 towards CHA.

He received a message about new spells that immediately justified that decision.[Flames of the Phoenix has reached Rank 3.

You have been inspired with the knowledge of two new spells.Healing Fire: At a touch, pale flames spread from your hands and run over a person's body.

Bleeding is cauterized, small wounds are healed, and fractured bones are strengthened.

Up to 200 health is restored as well.

More grievous injuries are lessened but not totally healed.

Cost: 300 mana base cost.

Horrific injuries may increase the cost.Guiding Light: You create a glowing beacon of light in the air above you within 10 feet.

The light is as bright as daylight and has a radius equal to 20 feet per rank of the spell.

Within its light, undead and corrupted creatures have a penalty of -1% chance to hit and an additional -1% per rank.

Cost: 50 mana per rank.

Duration 1 minute.]A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.Better healing, and a combat bonus.

Very useful.

Next up was allocating the 1500 experience from the boss.He started by putting 100 in DEX and 200 in AGI to bring them both up to 1500 points and level 6.

That put both skills at 10.

Next up was RAD which got 950 experience and raised it to Level 5.

If it was true that he could use his points from his class, he could put two free points in RAD and be at ten in that stat as well as CHA, AGI, and DEX.

The last 250 he decided to also put into RAD, although he didn't have enough for another point.That left him with his enhancement points to spend.

There were a few skills he'd wanted forever, including Fast Talk and Jumping Jack.

The latter especially seemed useful now for leaping on and off a horse, which was painful if done wrong.

He still remembered that disastrous dismount that nearly got him killed by Harmony.

As always, one thought of the girl spun him off into memories of those few days.

When was he going to see her again? A trip to Franklin House was sounding better and better.

He turned his thoughts back to spending points.

Those skills would cost him 8 enhancement points.

He went ahead and bought the second level in Magic Sense as well.

With a few points left, he picked up blacksmithing and silversmithing as tertiary skills, and rune carving as primary.

He wished he had a month to just sit and tinker with things.He had just finished up when he heard someone knocking on Mattias's door.

He went down the ladder, shouting "Mattias is on the road."He was surprised at the sight of General Themis, resplendent in her helm and cape.

Behind her was a squire holding a large book under one arm and a set of scales in the other hand.

"Then I guess you'll have to do.

I didn't expect him to still be around, but I'd hoped.

Follow behind my squire.

I'll have messages going back and forth from here to Rowan, and you’ll be doing the riding until this little skirmish is officially over."Ben brushed loose hay off of himself and jumped down from the loft, following her out.

At least he'd have a good spot to watch the war from.