Chapter 28: Passive Enhancement

In my latest expedition to the Holy Land of Inderasel, I made my way to their libraries in further search of any mention of the fallen. There I came across a text by one of the first priests. A devout follower of Sehara, he referred to his chosen Angel as Lamana Sehara. At first I thought this to be an extension of her name, but upon further study of the language of the author, I discovered it to be a title.

Lam-, or god.

-ana, a suffix that translates to killer. There are further translations that define it as “bringer of death” in a ritualistic context.

I don’t wish to jump to conclusions, but I may have found a clue to the death of at least one god.

• “Where Are The Gods?” A Heretical Text found in the Archmage’s Sanctum

I sit by the fireplace and watch Keve as he carves away at a wooden block with his knife. He’s wearing a white fur cloak I’d found in the items Gerald had packed for us. Better for hiding in the snow-covered world. His skilled movements slowly turn the wood into a small bird, and I find myself captivated by the art. “What’s your profession, Keve?”

He pauses, and holds the carving away from his face to study it, he speaks something to Shar.

The cat places her head on her paws as she lounges on the bed. “Sculptor.”

Keve nods. “My father was a- sculptor.” He tries out the word, frowning ever so slightly before shaking his head. “Several of his creations were held high in our home.”

He pulls the wooden figurine back, and makes a slight movement with his knife, carving into it.

I watch for another minute before my mind moves to my own professions. I’d picked up runesmith early on when I thought I would join the reapers, and wanted to be selected by Kiri’s Order. It’s one of the reasons my mentor had asked me to join him on his delves. He’d needed someone who would understand a temple he’d found, and could decipher the runes on its doorways.

The older acolytes and monks had been distrustful ot the Dralk Delver, but I saw an opportunity to leave the city and maybe gain an Explorer class.

Then there’s my second profession, which I’d only used with the golem I’d gifted the Vishten.

Apprentice Golem Smith.

I look at the wooden figure that Keve sets to the side. A small bird, its wings extended in flight.

“Could I try something?” I ask.

Keve looks over to me, then nods, and hands the figurine over to me. “Keep it.”

I study the bird, then call upon the small portal of my Private Library, and pull out one of the books I suspect to be about Automatons, then I make my way to the bed. I might as well learn about my newest profession as well. Shar can translate, or I’ll use my class skill. We have time, and this is a safe place.

It’s about time I tell Keve that I can use magic.

***

The storm lasts for another five days, during which, the haven provides us food and shelter. Shar teaches me more about magic, I slowly translate the book on Automatons, and Keve practices his sword forms in the garden.

When the clouds pass, and the first spot of sun shines through the trees again, I leave another offering for Sehara, and we continue forward, making our way northwest.

The road becomes more dangerous as we approach the city of the dead; smaller ruins of ancient villages and towns pop up, and with them, the roads fill with undead, forever wandering aimlessly.

Again and again, we’re forced to change our path, avoiding the larger population centers and limiting our encounters. Still, every day is slowed by hiding in the Angel Statue from threats, and the occasional fight that catches us by surprise.

I step through the snow, Shar flying overhead. The sun shines down, but it just makes the cold worse. Icicles had frozen, hanging from tree branches like the spears I’d seen Eyla cast just two weeks ago. Jasper doesn’t like the cold much, but he’ll be alright.

We slow as I notice the stone foundation of an old house. Now, its completely covered in brown vines, a large tree growing from its center. Past it, is another long abandoned house.

This was once a village.

I step onto something soft, and look down, thinking it’s a small root. The color isn’t right, so I move some snow with the toe of my boot.

My Danger Sense goes off, and I jump away, stumbling through the snow.

Keve turns towards me as hands break out of the snow, their flesh long gone. His tattoos ignite with fire as he draws his swords.

I look around as more and more undead pull themselves from the ground, and immediately place my hand in the snow. “Guard me!”

Keve jumps in front of me, meeting the skeletal punch of a creature twice his size.

Summon Legend Spirit.

Mana flows from me, expanding into hundreds of symbols that glow hazel with my magic.

“Who do you seek?” The feminine voice asks, her words filling the world around us as Keve’s fire flashes through the air, cutting down the creatures as they get closer. Slowly they push him back, drawing blood.

I look over the undead that are still pulling themselves from a slumber in the snow, joining the fight against one Vishten. Baynor did well, but he’s a knight, not suited for combat against this many undead. My brain quickly goes through the legends I’ve learned of before settling on one of the reapers I’d recently read of. “I seek the Legend, follower of the Angel Of Annihilation, Arch-reaper Mei.”

Silence answered me, filling the space for a long moment and for a moment I fear that the spell has failed somehow.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“She chooses to answer your call.”

All of my mana leaves me in a flash, brightening the runes as dark mist forms above them, coalescing into a young woman, a cloak flared out behind her, and a sword of darkness in her hands. Black hair cascades down her back, and as she moves to look at me, I see stitches under her eyes, moving down her cheeks. Her eyes catch mine for a brief moment, so dark that they almost appear black. She gives me a small smile before turning back to the small horde, the noise drawing even more of them towards us.

She holds up her hand, and circles of magic form too fast for me to follow as she casts magic. Needles of darkness spread around her in a spell that makes my eyes widen. They fly forward, passing past Keve without touching him and hitting every single undead in the area.

The monsters pause, then collapse as one, leaving Keve standing there with heavy breath. Blood drips from several wounds on his body, but he keeps both swords up for a second, waiting for something else to happen.

Arch-reaper Mei lowers her hand, and looks back at me, weighing me in her gaze. She says something in a language I don’t understand, bows her head, then disappears.

I force myself to stay awake as a message appears, making me smile. My mana is depleted and all my eyes want to do is close.

Immediately, I become more aware of my surroundings, every detail popping to me as I see, hear and even smell with more clarity. I pull up my status, already suspecting what I’m going to see.

Name: Leo Grayson Race: Human 1st Class: Delver (explorer) 1st Profession: Apprentice Runesmith Lvl: 30 2nd Class: Lore-Mage (mage) Continue Reading You are reading a free preview (50%). Log in to unlock the full chapter and join comments. Log In to UnlockCreate Account Related chapter tags #delver[dungeondivingandmagiclitrpg]chapter28#delver[dungeondivingandmagiclitrpg]chapter29#delver[dungeondivingandmagiclitrpg]chapter30#delver[dungeondivingandmagiclitrpg]latestchapter#delver[dungeondivingandmagiclitrpg]readonline 0 chapter views Related Novels Arcane Chef [Book 1 Stubbing in 2 days] The Gift of Loot Maxed-Out Archmage Second Coming [OP - LitRpg - Progression - Cultivation] Vows Written in Ash 0 Comments You must be logged in to comment. Bookmark Quote TTS Link Play Pause Stop Skip Scroll Settings Note DMCATermsPrivacyContact 1 online