093 – Jane, 2/2

Oceanside had no Adventurer’s Guild branch. It wasn’t a big secret why, either. The Headmaster had total control of his island and he liked it that way, while the Adventurer’s Guild was a multinational organization that demanded certain things in order for a Guildhouse to open in an area. Oceanside met all the criteria except for allowing the Guild political power. The Headmaster did not like to share. He would never let someone else have any legal say in what went on in his domain.

So the Headmaster had opened up his own ‘Guildhouse’.

The world flashed dark blue, then resolved back into normal space, as Jane stepped down onto a solid ‘floor’ made of hexagonal stone. She was at the beginning of a cave entrance, in a cliff made of columnar rock. Salt spray scented the air, as waves crashed just outside the cave. She wasn’t too far from where she had just been. Maybe only a good two hundred meters?

Tinawa watched Jane from deeper in the cave. He turned and walked down. Jane followed, stepping down natural-ish hexagonal steps, into the dim, damp cave. It wasn’t long till lights appeared up ahead. They turned a corner in the cave system, and saw the ‘Guildhouse’. But there was no building. There was just a multitude of stone quest boards hanging on the walls, and two very odd receptionists, separated from each other by five meters of space and two separate podiums.

One was a shirtless, muscular man of dark skin and inner radiance, whose eyes glowed a pale gold. He had a masculine face and a kilt made of knives. He almost looked human, but if he were, he was putting on a show. A pale gold sword hovered behind his back, sized to his body. It was a completely impractical weapon, but Jane had seen more than her share of impractical weapons. Maybe he could actually use his well.

The other was an incani woman of red skin, wearing a slick black dress, with a different sort of inner radiance that was more like a dark gloom. Her eyes were dark rubies. A disk of dark red light hovered behind her head, almost like a halo—

Oh. It was an angel and a demon.

It had taken her a hot second to recognize what she was seeing, but yes, it was one angel and one demon. Working together, somehow?

The angel man frowned to see Jane, and asked, “Credentials.”

“She’s obviously with Ulogai,” said the devil woman, smiling. She leaned forward onto her podium to look at Jane. “I was wondering when you would show, Jane Flatt.”

The angel sighed off to the side, saying, “Betrayer.”

The devil stood up straight as she put on a frown. “How is she a betrayer!? She’s not even on your side! She’s not even from this world, you swording-jerk!” She turned to Jane, saying, “They’re always like that. Hardliners; the lot of them. Any deviant humans are cut off. It’s quite awful, really.”

“More lies from the demon.” The angel said, “How quaint.”

Jane asked, “How is this… How are you two not killing each other?”

“Contracted!” cheered the devil.

“Contracted,” sighed the angel.

“Why?” asked Jane. “How?”

The devil rapidly said, “So that we know Kirginatharp isn’t playing favorites.”

The angel frowned, then unhappily said, “So that we know Kirginatharp isn’t favoring the enemy.”

“Ah!” the devil said, “You changed it up there, Oteril. You are capable of change!”

“And you continue to abuse this space of enforced ceasefire in order to antagonize me, Aviza.” He looked away from Aviza, to face Jane. “Are you an Elite now, Jane Flatt? Are we adding you to the registry?”

“She is not.” Tinawa stepped into the conversation, saying, “We’re here for a 5 star melee quest.”

Oteril and Aviza lifted their hands at the same time. Gold and red glows appeared like small highlights across entries on each stone board, hanging around the room. Jane looked to Tinawa.

Tinawa said to Jane, “Take your pick.”

Oddness aside, Jane almost smiled. This might be some fun physical therapy. Jane turned to the boards, and began reading. Almost all of them were like quest boards she would have seen in any Adventuring Guildhouse, in any part of the world, with monster names and stars by the listing. There was one board that neither of them highlighted, but that was full of rewards, it seemed, with costs delineated in grand rads, and the rewards themselves written in code. She had no idea what anything was, but it cost between 10 and 1000 grand rads, which was interesting. But what was even more interesting, was that the angel and the devil highlighted different target monsters.

“Why the different targeting system?” Jane asked.

Tinawa said, “With their views from the moons, the Angels and the Demons are able to see almost every monster problem on the globe. They update these quests as the moons pass overhead, in the day. At night, Melemizargo is able to hide his actions from their eyes. We don’t get quests for Underworld targets, here. That’s a different location.” He said, “This is why the Headmaster has a contracted angel and demon working for him. They hate Melemizargo almost more than they hate each other.”

Aviza called out, “I do not hate the Angels! This war is their fault! His people’s fault!”

Oteril said, “And what of your Halls of the Dead and their Daydroppers? Was that not a call for war?”

“You asked for it.” As though speaking lines for a medical ad on the television, Aviza rapidly added, “Demon Lord Dinnamoth and the Nations of Hell are not responsible for the actions of people on Veird. To blame us for the actions of our descendants is folly, and incorrect.”

Tinawa said to Jane, “Pick something out on the boards.”

Jane almost asked about the ‘Converter Angel’ that appeared and disappeared from Candlepoint’s quest board a while ago. But she didn’t want to get into that. She walked to the nearest board, and read.

After reading for a minute, and being slightly concerned for another, she pointed to a red-highlight, and asked, “What’s this Lava Hydra doing here? That’s an 8, I know it is. These aren’t 5 star quests?”

Aviza spoke first, “We expect better from Elites than we do from adventurers. For almost everyone, a Lava Hydra is an 8, but if you can control fire then it’s only a 5.” She added, “A lot of the Elemental Body monsters are 5 star.”

“Okay… That’s… fair.” Jane said, “Let’s go with this Lava Hydra—”

Oteril interrupted, “That is out in the middle of nowhere. Pick something I highlighted, and help someone survive another day.”

“That’s a lie.” Aviza said, “Stick with the Lava Hydra. It’s good gold and resources, and you will make that bit of Nelboor safer by ending one of the larger threats in the area.”

“There is no benefit to eliminating a known apex predator, only to have an unknown take its place. And besides: the nearest settlement to that location is 129 kilometers away.” Oteril flicked his finger through the air, shifting the gold highlights around the room. “Any of these would satisfy a thirst for challenge and resources, and also help a community or group of people in the area.”

“Ugh! Fine.” Aviza dramatically collapsed across her podium, saying, “I’m changing mine, too.” She flicked a hand through the air. Red highlights shifted.

Jane scanned the board for a moment longer, but stopped when she saw a prize, where nothing was listed but monsters. “Primal frost owl. Yes! I pick this one.”

Tinawa nodded toward the demon and the angel.

Aviza stood straight at her podium. Oteril was already standing straight. As one, they lifted their hands toward each other. Jane felt a prickle of power rush across her skin, as threads of red and gold flowed from the demon and angel, to touch in front of a blank wall. A smile came unbidden to Jane; was this really happening? Were they doing what she thought they were doing?

Red and gold flickered in the air, as the dim light of the cave twisted into something deeper, brighter.

Yes! Jane almost hopped up and down. Oh my gods! The Headmaster had access to this sort of power? Jane rapidly corrected her thoughts, that of course he had this sort of power. But still! Amazing!

Red and gold pulled back the world, creating a [Gate], like a door opening to another part of Veird. A snowy mountain path opened up on the other side. Cold air and snow flurries rushed into the damp cave, freezing the ground on this side of the portal.

Jane’s smile turned into a laugh as goosebumps raced up her arms and frost stung her eyes. She couldn’t hold back her words any longer. “Oh my gods! A [Gate]?!”

Tinawa said, “I get [Gate]s. You would need to earn that right. But, yes. A [Gate].”

Jane asked, “You can really go anywhere?! And kill any monsters you want?”

“Once per day, yes; you and a small party can go anywhere you want.” Tinawa added, “You’re expected to get back on your own.” He gestured toward the [Gate]. “Let’s go.”

Jane gave one last look at the angel and the demon. Oteril gazed back, dispassionately. The massive sword at the angel’s back had never moved. Aviza smiled at her, waving with her fingers as Jane passed by. The red gemstone disk behind her head had never moved, either, even with Aviza’s exaggerated emotions. Jane smiled, mainly to herself, as she stepped through the [Gate], onto snow covered stone. Tinawa followed, close behind.

Blindingly white, snow covered mountains dominated the skyline. Cliffs and crevasses plunged down into frozen depths, while stony peaks scraped the sky. The red-gold [Gate] snapped shut behind Jane. The warm air of the tropical cave vanished in snow flurries and twisting gales. Everything was either white, or stone, and Jane had no idea where she was in the world.

And that was better than great. It was fantastic!

Tinawa conjured his yellow armor. Yellow fur poked out from the joints. Jane conjured her own reinforced gambeson, shifting the magic to fluffy furs and insulating gloves. A nice balaclava wrapped around her head, while polarized glasses appeared over her eyes.

Tinawa frowned a little at her.

“What?” she asked.

“No [Polymorph]?”

Jane smiled. “No. They’d all freeze up. But a primal frost owl wouldn’t!”

Almost all of Tinawa’s face was covered by thick, yellow plate armor, but his blue eyes were exposed, and they seemed to smile at Jane. “I expected you to ask for a break to reconjure your [Personal Ward], too.”

“Nope.” She said, “Wouldn’t help versus the cold, anyway. Primal frost owls are supposed to be able to freeze people solid, and—” Jane flickered with blue light, conjuring a [Personal Warmth Ward]. Instantly, the cold wind that poured into the tiny cracks in her armor, ceased. “— And you can’t have two [Personal Ward]s at once.”

Tinawa nodded slowly, as though locked in thought. After a moment, he said, “The Duo drops us in an area near where they last saw the target.” He pointed down the frozen path. “I’m guessing the bird is down there, but I’m just here to observe. This is your show.”

“What are you trying to observe, anyway?”

Tinawa stepped down the path, saying, “Walk and talk, and maybe the noise will attract our target.”

Jane followed.

Tinawa said, “And like I said: Physical Therapy. I need to see what the problems are, and a 5 star quest should be easy enough, while still accomplishing some good in the world.” He added, “I also wondered what monster you would pick, and if you would tell me why. You picked a flying frost monster in order to eat it, either because you lack that Familiar Form, or you’re looking for an upgrade. So you’re aware of your shortcomings, you’re improving yourself, you’re adjusting, and you’re rather practical. That all bodes well for your future. But you’ve been wounded something deep. Maybe it’s just lingering pain from having been locked asleep to a bed for a month and a half. Maybe it’s something more. That’s what I’m here to help you with.”

Tinawa’s voice rebounded off of mountains, but the wind carried most of it away. Jane kept her footing well enough, but whoever had made this path had not kept it up over the years. Or maybe it was winter, and people didn’t keep up mountain paths in the winter? Or maybe this was summer, and she was not where she thought she might be. So? Where was she? Whatever the case, rubble lay here and there; the results of rockfalls, no doubt.

Jane asked, “Where are we, anyway? I’m guessing northern Quintlan?”

Tinawa looked to the vague, white sky. “Somewhere around there, sure. Halfway around the world from Oceanside. Sun was setting back home, but it’s winter here… We might have an hour of sunlight, if that.” He gestured toward the empty air, away from the mountain, saying, “There’s probably a fishing village or town or something, down by the coast a few mountains over.”

“I thought Quintlan was too dangerous for most settlements?”

“That’s like saying Nelboor is an endless desert, or Nergal is a single jungle, or Glaquin is a warzone of the Quiet War.” Tinawa said, “But Quintlan is mostly abandoned. Doesn’t stop people from trying to settle—” Tinawa led the way past a bend in the mountain path. “Oh.” He stopped. “I know where we are, now. We’re not near the coast at all.”

Jane stepped to Tinawa’s side, and saw what he saw. The mountains ahead were not simple mountains at all. They were something more, and the sight of it all sent Jane’s heart fluttering. This was what she wanted. This sort of exploration. To see these sights, and know these places, and to know why the path under her feet was broken, as though from ages of neglect.

Amid the majestic snow peaks of an endless chain of mountains, stood one mountain above the rest. But it was not a mountain. It was a stronghold. Towers of crystalline latticework stretched up from a mass of fortresses and roads and walls and bridges. The city was abandoned. Jane could see that from here. But it still glimmered in the sunlight, like a frost covered jewel.

Jane asked, “Is it a crystal city? A wrought city, I mean?”

“No.” Tinawa said, “It’s just been preserved against all damage by Frost Oozes. I’m not even sure which city it is. There’s hundreds of them in this area. Could just be the former house of royalty.” He turned to Jane, adding, “Not sure why the Duo sent us here. Maybe there’s some settlement further in the mountains. Since you picked a highlighted monster, it means that they could set you down somewhere safe, near someone that might need help.” He turned back to the path, and kept walking. “But we don’t contract with people. We try to rescue people when we can, for sure, but we’re here for the monsters. Some Elites like to know where the people are and what help they need, but we don’t take anything for our services, and if you’re caught extorting the locals for monster kills, you’re fucked.” He added, “So don’t do that.”

Jane walked behind Tinawa, constantly scanning her surroundings with [Hunter’s Instincts]. She smelled no carrion. She heard nothing too alarming, beyond the wind. She saw no smoke trails lifting from the frozen city ahead, or from anywhere else nearby.

And now that her eyes adjusted to the light of the area, she reconjured her balaclava, without the goggles. It was getting too dim to see with her polarized variety. It had taken her but a moment to learn the polarization trick, once she picked up and studied one of the polarization lightwards her father had left for use in the light slime dungeon. But she didn’t need to use that trick right now.

With her eyes uncluttered, she looked again at the city. She saw something new. Birds hovered in the sky, high above the frozen buildings and towers. They didn’t look like primal frost owls; they were much too small for that. They were barely even visible from this distance. Maybe frost eagles? Or vultures? Jane knew that eagles and vultures circled. Owls were ambush, silent predators, that used their tremendous eyesight and wind control to sneak up on their prey. Or at least that’s what the book she read, had said. A frost bird of some sort had been on her short list of birds to look out for, while frost owls were higher on the list than most. Her current air slime form was not that great; she was already planning on ditching that for a razorwing, whenever she got the chance. Since she was here, now, would gladly give up her air slime for a frost owl, or, even better, a primal frost owl.

Jane smiled to herself. A question came to her. Why was she not happy with Polymage? She was happy with Polymage. Polymage was a great choice! She liked the entire idea of the Class. But… something kept her from taking that final step of accepting the Quest Completion.

She realized she had a question for Tinawa. She asked, “What’s the best Class?”

Tinawa laughed. “Any of them you can get.”

“… That cannot be true.”

He flashed her his Status, but it was smaller than most screens.

 

 

“That’s a bit light on the information. And displayed differently, too.”

Tinawa chuckled. “I’ve been a Soldier, a General, and even an Innkeeper, but I think I’ll take ‘Professor’ to the grave.” He added, “This shortened Status is all I need to stop the youngsters from complaining too loudly when they think I’ve got some special Build.”

“Nine of nine, though.”

“Aye. One of the better parts of the Class.” He asked, “You’re not going to test if it’s a fake display?”

“Nope.” Jane said, “Tried that already when no one was looking. Got an ‘Error’ and woke up ten minutes later with a blinding headache.”

“Smart girl.” Tinawa said, “You’d be surprised how many students come to my Arena and think my Status is fake. There’s always one or ten who fall down, twitching. Once had a Prince of Nelboor try to summon a lightward facsimile of my Status, claiming I was a fraud. That kid fell down and pissed himself.” He chuckled. “Ah. That was funny.”

“You’re kinda vicious, aren’t you?”

“I say the same to you.” He said, “Nice to meet you, by the way.”

Jane said, “Nice to meet you, too.” She added, “Bit backwards there with the greetings.”

“It all comes out in the end. No need to rush life, or do it ‘properly’. Whatever in the Abyss that means.” He asked, “So have you noticed, yet?”

“Of course.” Jane said, acting like nothing had changed. “But what are we going to do about it? That certainly isn’t an owl.”

“Not ‘We’. Just you. I’m an observer.”

“I don’t have to guard you, do I?”

Tinawa laughed. “Not this time.”

The mountain path continued forward, turning into the remains of a broken bridge. The other side of the bridge stuck out from an open gate that was part of the outer wall of the frosted city. Between the two sides, was nothing but air and depths. Howling breezes tore up from the canyon below, bringing with it snow, and the sounds of leathery wings, beating against the wind.

Jane said, “I usually try to sneak up on targets, but being loud gets the ball rolling rather quickly.”

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“I’m not surprised you never got [Erase Presence].” Tinawa said, “We can work on that today, if you want.”

Jane held out her right hand. Magic coalesced force into her hand, creating a three meter long, slightly curved blade. It was the perfect weapon for long, airborne slashing. Jane said, “I tried for [Erase Presence], but got nothing.”

“What method did you use?”

Jane walked forward, her heart hammering as she gripped her sword. The tip of her weapon held still, as air swirled around her body. One moment, she was there, the next, her legs turned to wind, then her torso flashed outward into the freezing gale coming from the canyon ahead. Her arms became the breeze.

She had become the air around her. Cold air. Very cold air. But that was okay. She was just air. [Air Body] was about the best insulation from bad weather one could have. Her sword still hung in her ‘hands’, but it was a soft sort of hold; she had to substitute her grip with [Telekinesis].

She spoke, and it was the sound of a twisting breeze, “I tried [Silent Movement] a hundred different ways. Nothing worked—”

The canyon air split apart with a horrible screech that sent snow covered mountainsides tumbling with tiny avalanches. Wings made of leather, stone, and frost, cracked like whips, as a monster wider than a building lifted from the darkness. Jane quickly glanced across the monster, making sure she knew what she was about to kill.

Two massive wings with grabbing claws at the carpal joint. Two back legs fitted with even more claws. One great maw. One long, long tail, tipped with a wicked barb. Wyvern. Frost wyvern, to be precise. They have a paralytic venom in the tail. Air control like all big flying monsters. Skin made of stone, though. Opportunistic far ranging hunters—

Jane’s thoughts continued to shift as she hovered into the air, controlling her body, and her sword.

Jane immediately twisted the wind to appear right inside the wyvern’s personal space. Swish-crack went her sword, the first hit deflecting off of the back of the wyvern’s head, Criticaling for more than enough damage to negate its Health, exposing the beast to real damage. The wyvern tried to get away, flickering its wings downward. It understood, instantly, that it had taken on something it was not prepared to face. Jane’s second [Strike] cleaved through the monster’s neck. The wyvern’s head tumbled away, onto the bridge, breaking stone before falling down into the canyon below. The body went straight down, crashing against the canyon walls, before disappearing from sight.

The monster was not high enough level to matter, but its venom might have been worth retrieving, if it had not fallen so far down. But Jane was already on a mission, and the wyvern wasn’t the target. Wyvern meat, once [Cleanse]d, was supposed to be really delicious, though. But! Eh! Jane dismissed her sword, then came back down to the mountain path. She reformed her human body, complete with all her conjured armor and everything else she had been carrying.

Tinawa said, “That was picture perfect.”

“Thank you.”