Is he going to make it? Trian asked Ilea who was still healing the demon, the pronoun used giving her more relief than she expected.
Maybe Im more stuck up than I thought dudes should be able to fuck demons, none of my business but if I have to travel with that aw man. Ilea thought Trian am I racist? she asked in a sowhat worried tone.
What? Why would you ask that now? I an youre healing a demon so I doubt it. he said when the demon started moving again. A pulse of mind magic flashed through them, images of blood, violence and pain quite prevalent.
I think hes fine now. Hey weavy, wake up. Ilea said and lightly slapped the mind mage, considerate of her higher Strength.
Have we made it? Made it beyond? the demon asked, an elation in his voice quite unlike anything they had heard of him before.
Dunno, were definitely in a different place but the tal looks quite similar... Ilea said, looking to the opening in the room. Her sphere only told her that this structure was bigger than the rhombus they were in before.
The runes in this room are similar as well...so whatever this is its for spacial travel? he asked, carefully touching so of the runes. If we could recreate this...
Well I hope you sketched down all the runes in the other place... Ilea said and started walking towards the exit. Stopping, she sighed. Dont tell you want all of these as well... but of course the man would. If this could be recreated it would an an advancent in magical travel unprecedented to human kind, at least not the general population. Ilea definitely suspected there to be organizations and countries in Elos hoarding their knowledge. The Taleen alone had sothing similar to this if her suspicions to what happened to Edwin were true.
Youd always have to travel with a tank and a healer... she thought. Another sowhat easy job she could make money in should she ever use up her reserves. Ill go check it out while you finish the drawing. she said. The mages didnt respond to her, completely taken up by the runes in the room, now even more obsessed as they knew what the magic could do. What if it just moves you fifty ters away... Ilea thought but quickly dismissed the idea as she ca out of the room and into a massive open space, clad in dark gray tal.
The tapping of her steps was the only noise in the complex, the woman looking up and around, lost in an alien facility. Who the hell built this? she thought, admiring the architecture and beauty of the whole thing, quite similar to sothing a modern human from earth would build if all they had was tal. The angles were different as well, this builder preferring diamond and triangle shapes compared to the square ones humans usually built with for efficiency.
Ilea checked out different rooms and halls, finding all sorts of weird machinery and items she didnt know what to do with. Her identify skill only spat out weird nas that helped her just as much as simply looking at the items. She refrained from pushing mana into any of them before Trian and the demon had a look. If anything her expertise with the practice was destructive at best. Perhaps the structure that brought them here wouldve simply exploded if it were her to push in her mana.
Maybe healing mana... she thought but still didnt do anything. It wouldve been different had the items looked interesting in the least but they were just more weird forms of tal covered in runes, surely to fulfill so great purpose like making the best smoothies in the galaxy. Maybe... she thought and just put everything movable into her necklace, planning to give it to the others as soon as she would go back. Less walking for everyone... she murmured to herself while sketching down the layout of her path.
This place is impressive. Aki said, Ileas buffs coming to life as soon as the voice reached her ears.
Dont fucking do that you edgy shit. she said, releasing the auras again.
Youre jumpy today, everything alright?
Yea, stranded in yet another place I dont know shit about and this ti its demons and a weird tal obsessed civilization. I bet were underground as well why wouldnt we be? she said, walking to the next room and continuing her pillaging.
Another place. So its true then? Youre not from Elos. I had suspected it. How did you get there then? Are you a secret space mage? Aki said, making Ilea freeze up.
Aw I blurted it out. Oh well, I dont think it matters much at this point. Yea Im not from Elos. she said as she spun around a rod of tal marked with runes. Sadly Im not so powerful traveler of the realms, just an unlucky student. Or perhaps this all isnt real and youre a simulation. Or maybe Im dreaming, just really really deep. Ilea comnted.
Or maybe you were supposed to be summoned sowhere else? Or perhaps a demon traded places with you, who knows. the dagger said. Do you want to go back? he asked a while later, two rooms of searching later. They all looked similar, the orange red light coming from the magical lamps covering everything in its hue.
I dont know. Maybe? If I can keep my abilities there but I sohow doubt it. she said.
Why would you not keep them?
I dont think magic is a thing where Im from. I didnt get a class until coming to Elos at least.
How does everything work then? Without magic I cant imagine a functioning world...
Ill tell you all about it soday lets go back, I hope theyre done by now. Ilea said, checking her surroundings and finding nothing but old tal and herself. No traps, no enemies what is this place? she thought and returned the way she had co from.
The mages took another twenty minutes after her return to finish docunting all the runes. Ilea convinced them to inspect the items she had found while actually exploring the place they had found themselves in, instead of the suggested study session in the sa room the demon had suggested. She did hold the items in her necklace so there was a certain leverage she had over the others.
Co on just activate it. Ilea said after the two mages had looked over a runed rod she had handed them. Trian seed to be losing his patience as well, not as interested in studying the runes of a likely more mundane tool compared to the teleportation device. He grabbed the rod from the demon who was floating next to them and pushed his mana into the item. The top started glowing imdiately and produced heat.
What the hell is that? he asked and handed it to the demon.
Smithing tool maybe? Aki suggested as the demon put the glowing end on his arm.
AAAAaahH the obvious result didnt surprise Ilea as she just walked over, took the rod from the demon and made it vanish before she healed his wound without any words. The thing at least didnt look embarrassed but she certainly hoped it felt that way.
The exploration continued as the mages tried out different items left behind by whover had built or used the place. Most of it looked similar and without Ileas sketches she doubted finding the teleportation room again would be a simple task. So of the halls were massive, the detail in the talwork very impressive. All of it had the sa flair and was built with the sa kind of tal, no other materials could be find anywhere, except for the lamps brimming with a dark orange.
Ilea could see into the walls but found nothing but tal. There were small chanical details inside the lamps but dismantling one revealed a mana crystal and apparently nothing substantial otherwise according to Trian. It was a lamp after all. There hadnt been a notice regarding a dungeon when they had co here, scratching that possibility.
Are you sure? Trian asked and the demon affird via his mind magic They were standing in front of a round form, comparable to a big table. Runes were carved into it and the demon had apparently found the control panel for whatever it may be.
Well activate it, weve been walking around for hours, I want sothing to happen. Even if its a trap. Ilea said. The others had tried all the things they had found so far. While the items were impressive and possibly ground breaking for the respective branches of society theyd be used in, nothing helped them find out more about the place or how to get out. Ilea hoped they werent trapped in the facility forever.
Trian just walked next to the mind weaver and used his magic to activate the runes. He winced and Ilea blinked next to him and healed while he continued to push electric mana inside. The runes on the table lit up with the sa orange red Ilea already hated before a holographic map ford over the table.
Oh wow thats cool, a hologram. Hold it Trian, lets draw that down. Ilea said, summoning her notebook and moving her leg closer to his to keep the connection for her healing spell.
It hurts... the man said through grinding teeth.
Perfect, you can level your Pain Tolerance. Now Im jealous, this is actually useful to you. Ilea said in a dry tone. Trust the second stage is worth it. she finished and started drawing.
You h have the second s stage? Trian made big eyes, partially because of the pain flowing through him. Ilea didnt respond and just kept rrily sketching, glad the man didnt stop until she was done.
Alright, I tried to make it as 2D as possible. Heres the first floor, heres the second and heres the third. Ilea said as Trian released his connection to the table. I think were supposed to be here... she pointed to a dot she had painted that had been blinking when the map was still holographic.
2D? Holographic? Are you secretly interested in rune magic? Trian asked, wringing his hands where the runes had injured him.
Its more light magic I think. I learned about so things from this crazy old teacher in our village. she answered. Its nice that these guys werent that keen on security seeing how so dumb fuck noble can just access the maps. Might be a fake map or lacking secrets but still she thought. Seeing how the mind weaver couldnt activate the map then perhaps the ones who built this didnt see a threat of anybody ever seeing it. The demon could use the smaller tools as they just ran on mana and not elental energy like Trian had used.
Light magic well that seems pretty advanced, never ca across anything like it. Then again your own class isnt standard either where should we go then? Theres several bigger rooms but its hard to say how big the whole facility is. the man finished.
Well we havent co across anything so far so I doubt there are traps or enemies. Of course there could be so waiting but if Im at the front Ill be find from nearly all surprise attacks that would take out imdiately. Ilea said. Trian understood and nodded, looking to the demon and then to Ilea.
He can climb your back? she asked, laughing as his expression turned sour.
Its safer, hed die if I get engulfed in fla or sothing. she argued and watched Trian nod in resignation.
Hey demon, how fast can you run or float? Trian asked. The speed they had traveled together before was less than thrilling, at least to the two rcenaries.
Im fast humans. he said.
Show black eyes... Ilea said, gesturing for the demon to start. The mind weaver turned around and sped through the corridor they had co from, Ilea looking to Trian a couple seconds later.
The man avoided her gaze and just gulped. Alright alright Ill hold him. Do you have so clothes at least, hes covered in blood Ilea smiled at his answer and sumd so dwarven clothes she still had left.
Youre wearing armor, its not like he touches you. Not that even that should bother you. Ilea said, basking in his discomfort.
Well it does. Trian said as he walked to the returning demon, throwing the clothes at him. Get those on, ask her if you need help. Ill carry you. he finished and walked into the corridor, waiting for the two to finish. The demon looked to the man and then at the bundle of clothes in his clawed hands. Finally he looked up to Ilea.
How can you look like a puppy with those terrifying features? she said and smirked, walking towards the demon and taking the clothes, explaining the concept to him. It took a while to get them on without damaging them badly, too many claws and bones.
There you go. You look much more sophisticated now but I think a cloak or sothing would be better. Maybe a big coat. looking up at the demons face she furrowed her brow. Maybe a full plate helt as well. she smiled brightly at the man and summoned her helt again. She had so dwarven helts left but didnt want to give him anything yet, not like anybody here cared about the demon. She thought about the existence of racism in Elos and decided that should the demon get out with them, he would get a helt from her. Otherwise it would be killed in re days. If it decided to not attack them after they get out. In that case she would destroy the guys face.
Trian grudgingly got the demon on his back, both of them visibly uncomfortable. Proud powerful n. Ilea thought and smiled brightly under her helt. Lets go then. she said and started running.
The first big hall was empty as the hallways and rooms had been before, the sheer scale of it an indicator of how big this whole facility truly was. Ilea slowed down as she looked up, feeling small in the presence of this old and truly aweso architecture, their steps the only sound in the vicinity. Ilea wasnt sure anymore if she was prepared to et whoever built this place, especially not if they were hostile.
What the hell have we found here demon, do you think were still in the sa realm? Trian asked his backpack, ti having resolved the discomfort of their arrangent.
I do not know human the Lost they surprise again. In my years I havent seen sothing like this the demon comnted, still sitting on Trians back. The clothes made the humanoid look less like the monster theyd found him as. The constant mind magic coming from him just for the sake of communication was getting more and more normal as well, just a buzz in the back of their minds by that point. Ilea glanced over to the demon, quite glad they had a mind mage with them in this unexplored place, an asset that could save their lives, or kill them in an opportune mont.
The Lost do you know anything about them? Why arent they here? Trian asked as they continued to walk through the hall. The demon looked over and then back to the front.
They were before we have found artifacts of them all over the great emptiness but none could activate anything until now until you. the demon explained in an elated tone.
Im sure were not the only ones have you never t one of them? Are they even sothing you could et? Ilea asked, thinking of perhaps sothing otherworldly that couldnt be perceived with the human senses.
It is told there were etings, sightings. Not for many hundreds of years but we are certain they are a people of so kind. You are the first ones to activate sothing that I know of. The chance of course exists that there were others that there are others. You spoke of sothing that ca here, perhaps that sothing can manipulate the artifacts as well. the demon answered.
Speaking of... Trian said and pointed to one of the faraway walls where a massive alignnt of tal shapes had started moving at a more and more rapid pace until finally a pulse of orange red energy ford from the wall behind them, shooting into the alignnt and away into the dark void that opened up behind it. Ilea couldnt imagine the energy required for a beam that big, she was pretty sure it wasnt just light.
Well either that is sothing that happens periodically or sohow in reaction to our intrusion or soone else is fucking with things... Ilea comnted.
Lets find out, can you tell where that beam went? Trian asked and motioned for the demon to get on his back again. Ilea opened her notebook and looked through the sketches, finding the place that was most likely the destination of the light beam should it simply have continued onwards in a straight line.
Yea, another big hall. Seems like its the middle of the middle floor. At least of what we saw in that map, might not have been a complete one. she said and activated her buffs, her wings spreading.
We have a goal then. Hold on demon and I swear if you try anything stupid youre fried at. Ilea said and could see the demon gulp with her Sphere. At least he knew he was outclassed. Perhaps he had found so respect for them with the successful activation of the artifacts, or fear.
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