The first thing Kindle was set on doing was teaching their new companion to use simple arcana, so they can start learning the "Vocal Mimicry" spell and actually speak, as they don't feel particularly fond of the idea of playing charades each time they need to talk.
They study Chila and teach them in between fights with other Undead, getting used to the new partner faster than expected. The use of ///Heroic Potential (E)/// to boost Chila's XP gain as well ensures that they catch up quick level-wise, and even though Kindle remains a few levels ahead, Chila proves her worth quick. ///Physical Resistance (F)/// isn't a massive decrease in damage, but Chila's "Brawler Knight (D)" Job Class with it makes them an excellent vanguard, even though Kindle doesn't necessarily need one. Every swing of their gauntlets breaks bones, and bruises rotting flesh, though the Greater Spirits and other incorporeal Undead are completely unbothered.
Their best qualities actually arise when Kindle uses them as armor, having removed their own light armor to instead test out this new relationship, and finding it quite benficial. Chila's ///Physical Resistance (F)/// essentially acts as Kindle's own by proxy, and their far better physical Core Stats of Strength, Constitution, Agility, and Dexterity act as a decent buff to Kindle's physical power as well.
By Floor 40, plenty of progress has been made for both Kindle and Chila. Kindle has been exposing Chila to constant Fire Magic, Ice Magic, and more non-stop, and Chila has already acquired the Trained Traits of ///Fire Resistance (F)///, ///Ice Resistance (F)///, and ///Water Resistance (F)///, while Kindle has been training their magic-related Job Classes through doing so. And soon enough, after weeks of training and getting the "Simple Arcamist (F)" Job Class, Chila finally learns to use the "Vocal Mimicry" spell.
"T-test... test?" The voice echoes in the armor as Kindle wears it, the spell circle glowing dimly inside while Kindle keeps walking. The Living Armor shivers around them at the sound of the voice it designed for itself, soft and squeaky, like they're trying to seem less intimidating than the menacing armor they're made of. As if an immeasurable weight has been lifted from them now that they can speak, they relax around Kindle's own body.
And suddenly, as it struck with sudden mania, Chila begins to jitter rapidly. "I-I can speak! Speak! Me!" It didn't take long for the suit of menacing metal to become talkative, extremely so, as if they had a billion things to say and not enough time to say it. Kindle doesn't grow annoyed by the excessive talking that only slows when she's low on MP, in fact, they grow relaxed by it, by the lack of monotony and loneliness.
At some point, when Chila isn't acting as Kindle's armor, Kindle brings up a question they had been meaning to ask. "Why exactly did you want to follow me in the first place?"
Chila shivers a bit, them begins to fidget, as if embarrassed. "Y-you don't feel like the others, or the intruders either. You feel normal, but you also don't feel familiar." They begin to rock a bit, the creaking of the armor followed by clacks of their boot heels. "And when you were slaughtering the other Undead, I thought you looked... powerful. A-and I wanted to do that too."
Kindle finds the thought process odd. Sure, the Undead in the Serda Dungeon will obviously see fellow Undead as friendly at first, and anything else as intruders, it's how the Dungeon Core raised them to be, and od course they'd be able to tell Kindle isn't part of their connection to the Serda Dungeon. But the Living Armor being fascinated by strength enough to follow around the thing that'd been hunting other Undead is a peculiar situation.
Not finding much else to scrutinize despite that, Kindle just nods and accepts the answer. "... to each their own, then."
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
They continue traversing the Serda Dungeon, Kindle letting Chila ramble as much as they like, While they don't seem to actually have much to talk about, and aren't actually very good with small talk, Chila still talks just to enjoy talking, and Kindle lets them just to enjoy the companionship.
[NOTICE: UNDEAD (62) SLAIN]
[+1550 XP; 12250/12250 XP]
[NOTICE: LEVEL UP; VITAL STATS RESTORED; +6 AP]
[LV. 49 -> LV. 50; 50/12500 XP]
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION AVAILABLE]
It's on Floor 45 where Kindle reaches the next Evolution milestone, and Chila watches as they open their system window to view the options. Their current species as a Lesser Undead Paladin is great despite them never using any Necromancy yet, and Kindle is incredibly curious as to what would potentially be next.
[PLEASE SELECT AN EVOLUTION OPTION]
[UNDEAD PALADIN]
[UNDEAD VICAR]
[PSEUDOLICH]
[DEATH KNIGHT]
Kindle takes a moment to consider while Chila peaks over their shoulder. Becoming a Pseudolich, which focuses entirely on magic and requires that they absorb souls is not the best idea to them, even if Chila could take the role of a vanguard. Becoming an Undead Vicar or upgrading to Undead Paladin is appealing for the strength, but the focus would be on Necromancy, something Kindle doesn't actually have much interest in.
Becoming a Death Knight, while a bit of Necromancy is certainly expected, is an equal range of magic and martial force of their choosing, and so they choose it without hesitancy. As soon as Kindle does, they feel the mana cores filling their eye sockets condense at the same time as the one in their ribcage, but the mana core within their chest cavity is the only one that grows in size while maintaining relative density, the giant, deep blue sphere filling the place of their heart as the mana maintaining them coils tighter.
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION COMPLETE]
[LESSER UNDEAD PALADIN -> DEATH KNIGHT]
[+TRAIT ///MENTAL RESISTANCE (E)///]
[+TRAIT ///TERRIFYING AURA (E)///]
[+TRAIT ///NATURAL NECROMANCER (E)///]
[+TRAIT ///DANGER SENSE (E)///]
[MULTIPLE TRAITS UPGRADED]
[///UNIFIED FORM (E)/// -> ///UNIFIED FORM (C)///]
[///HEROIC POTENTIAL (E)/// -> ///HEROIC POTENTIAL (C)///]
[///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (E)/// -> ///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (C)///]
[///NECROTIC RESISTANCE (E)/// -> ///NECROTIC RESISTANCE (C)///]
The notifications are plentiful, more than Kindle can read before they get hit with the flood of knowledge from their upgrade Job Classes which they haven't gotten to read yet. Even Chila flinches back at the grand quantity of popups, holding Kindle's shoulders but not leaning over as much.
When the intensity dies down, they relax, then rest for a moment. Chila jitters a bit while Kindle leans back into them a bit dazed. "Wow, you got... a lot." Kindle simply nods, turning their head towards one of the halls of the dungeon's massive layout.
"We should move onto the next floor, you're close to LV. 50 too." Chila perks up at the idea of getting to evolve too, and helps Kindle stand before they both head off quick, not in a rush, but neither willing to slow down with a milestone so close.
On Floor 48, Chila reaches LV. 50 as well, and Kindle peeks over their shoulder as Chila had before as they look at their Evolution options.
[PLEASE SELECT AN EVOLUTION OPTION]
[GREATER LIVING ARMOR]
[SPIRIT ARMOR]
[INFERNAL ARMOR]
[ELEMENTAL ARMOR]
Chila doesn't seem to take time to consider, their helm facing Kindle as if expecting them to choose for them. Kindle shrugs, not having much information of Living Armor to know which is best. Chila hesitates, but picks Spirit Armor.
The change is quick, Chila's menacing armor melting away into ethereal goo that reforms into a lighter metal, the sharp black edges meant to add to the fear factor are replaced by elegant silver and gold designs more akin to something a knight would wear.
She studies her new form with glee as Kindle glances at her status popups.
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION COMPLETE]
[LIVING ARMOR -> SPIRIT ARMOR]
[+TRAIT ///SOUL ABSORPTION (E)///]
[+TRAIT ///SPIRIT COMMUNION (E)///]
[+TRAIT ///MAGICAL RESISTANCE (E)///]
[+TRAIT///NECROTIC RESISTANCE(E)///]
[TRAIT UPGRADED]
[///PHYSICAL RESISTANCE (F)/// -> ///PHYSICAL RESISTANCE (D)///]
[MULTIPLE JOB CLASSES UPGRADED]
[BRAWLER KNIGHT (D) -> BRAWLER KNIGHT (B)]
[SIMPLE ARCANIST (F) -> BASIC ARCANIST (D)]
Chila shutters as information floods her brain as well, staggering back a bit before Kindle holds them steady. When they recover fully, the bounce on their boots a bit before turning to Kindle. "S-so, we just... move onto the next floor?"
Kindle nods, and they walk down the halls looking for an entrance to Floor 49.
NAME: KINDLE
SPECIES: DEATH KNIGHT
SEX: N/A
XP: 8550/26500
AP: 0
HP: 5300/5300
MP: 5300/5300
SP: 5300/5300
CON: 53
AGI: 53
DEX: 53
PER: 53
INT: 53
UNDEAD PALADIN (D)
ADVANCED ARCANIST (B)
FUNDAMENTAL PYROMANCER (E)
FUNDAMENTAL CRYOMANCER (E)
FUNDAMENTAL AQUAMANCER (E)
FUNDAMENTAL AEROMANCER (E)
FUNDAMENTAL NECROMANCER (E)
ADVANCED SWORDSMAN (B)
ADVANCED SPELLSWORD (B)
///WORLD EYE///
///UNIFIED FORM (C)///
///HEROIC POTENTIAL (C)///
///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (C)///
///TERRIFYING AURA (E)///
///NATURAL ARCANIST (D)///
///NATURAL NECROMANCER (E)///
///NATURAL PALADIN (D)///
///DANGER SENSE (E)///
///MENTAL RESISTANCE (E)///
(+6 MORE)
