It took nearly half an hour to restore the little Fae to a completely corruption free state, Ilea working fast and efficiently to make sure she was done before it woke up once more.
The Enavurin reassured her that he could keep the Fae unconscious for as long as she needed but Ilea didnt know how exactly the little creature perceived things around it. And if mind magic had adverse effects if one is exposed for such a long ti. Her training with Eve should have revealed sothing like that of course.
Still, even unconscious it might know what was happening.
She finished up and waited for a couple minutes to see if she had missed any of the corruption.
Nothing spread again.
Hey, Gracken. You can release the Fae now. I think I took care of it all, she said with a smile.
As you wish, Ilea, it said, the magic vanishing.
Ilea moved the Fae closer to herself and carefully rested it in her hands. It seed alright, its vitals fine according to her healing skill.
You there? she asked, holding it up to her face.
Its hand lashed out and booped her nose before it vanished, appearing on the sa spot but standing now.
Ilea had seen the devastating attack coming with her precognition but let it happen nonetheless.
How is it doing? the Enavurin asked.
How you doin? Ilea asked, locking eyes with the Fae.
It jumped up and did a little pirouette before it landed and bowed to her.
Hes fine, or she, or whatever gender it has, Ilea said in her mind.
The Fae shook its head.
I dont know what you an, Ilea said.
I believe the Fae do not possess the concept of gender, the Gracken suggested. I am glad you are well, my friend, a joyous emotion reached her.
Is this a group chat now? She wondered and rolled her eyes. Let quickly check if there are more survivors, she said and looked at the Fae, You can float, right?
It turned its head to the side.
She spread her own wings and saw the creature nod in understanding.
Ilea let go of it and smiled under her armor, quickly checking the rest of the rooms. She hadnt heard any noise coming from them and checking through only confird everything was dead.
You said a couple hundred years right? Since whoever brought you here was here, Ilea said to the Enavurin, finding the Fae waiting for her in the main corridor.
It pointed to her.
What is it? Ilea asked.
Dulled thoughts reached her mind. Joy and want.
You want sothing? she asked, watching the thing float to her face.
It pointed at her shoulder and vanished, now standing on it and looking at her.
You can stay there, sure, Ilea said and watched it sit down, moving its legs as it tapped the ash with its little hands. No fingers, Ilea noted. No mouth either.
A short ti after I found myself here so three hundred years. I do not have perfect recollection of the ti that has passed since, my slumbers lasting for many years. Do you seek the creature? the being asked.
Yea, and slather so corruption into its face, Ilea said.
She swore she heard a giggle coming from her right shoulder but then again nothing had resounded. Dont fuck with , little guy, she whispered, a feeling of innocence reaching her mind. You know what you did, Fae.
Revenge it is not a journey you should follow, young human, the voice said.
I dont need to hear that advice, ancient one. Id like to find out more about this whole facility first anyway. If it subdued you so easily, I doubt I could face it anyway. Not yet, Ilea said.
My blood was taken but I was not subdued, never directly engaged even. It used toxins to paralyze and other than small wounds on my body, there was nothing I perceived, it said.
Thats even worse honestly, Ilea grumbled in her mind. So it didnt even see you as a threat or sothing to respect, just another test tube.
I suppose you are right. It saddens that I cannot share more about the being responsible, it said.
Do you want to get out then? Or get revenge? Back to your ho world? Ilea asked, back in the facility and soon reaching the dim layer and ho of the Enavurin.
I have pondered this question for a long while. It is comfortable here, warm and the pulse of life is strong. Hostile creatures will be waiting outside, terribly dull and territorial. I think I shall stay, the Enavurin explained.
Really? And what if the being cos back? Decides to get more blood or even just kill you worse even, corrupt you? Ilea asked.
Then it shall be so, the being replied.
Ilea was about to retort when a thought ca to her mind. No point.
She glanced at the Fae and gave it a slight nod. I suppose it tried already. Possibly even to get it out of the facility.
Why didnt you help the Fae before? To escape its prison? Ilea asked, her eyes still on the little creature.
It offered no such wish and I cannot move outside of water. It would kill , the being said.
Quite logical, Ilea thought.
Why didnt you want to be rescued? Ilea asked the Fae.
The being just shrugged.
What did I get myself into, she murmured to herself.
It is uncommon for soone of one species to try and understand the thoughts and wishes of another, the Gracken said. A brain of your size could not possibly understand however.
Yes, yes. I get it old man, Ilea said.
You are offended? I apologize, it was not my intent, the Enavurin said.
It sounded like genuine confusion, just the way Ilea felt about the whole situation. Well, either way. I need to go deeper and find what caused the corruption to spread suddenly. Did you feel a large group of humans co through in the past two months or so? she asked.
Yes. Not as resistant to my magic as you are. Yet I did not ddle, as they ddled not with these waters. The fra of ti would suggest they are the cause for this occurrence. A trap perhaps, or a deliberate action? it suggested.
Your blood can be used to make more corruption? Ilea asked. She wasnt about to kill the creature just because it held an ingredient for sothing dangerous.
I will adapt and modify the blood within . It should be no trouble to make it useless, now that I know of the existence of such a vile purpose, the being spoke.
Ok, Ilea thought and just sent an approving thought their way. Blood Manipulation is another one of your abilities makes sense now that I think about it, she said.
Indeed, the being said.
The Fae was climbing her head in the anti, using the ashen horns of her armor as supports.
So I understand correctly that you just want to hang out here and think for the next thousand years, Ilea said.
She got an affirming thought back.
A smile spread on her lips before she chuckled and then started laughing. The movent of her head made the Fae jiggle around as it tried to hold on.
She cald down again and sighed. And what do you want to do, little guy? she asked, talking to the Fae currently standing on her head.
It sat down and hugged her head from above.
You want to stay with ? she asked.
The creature nodded.
I know you guys are pretty tough but dont do anything stupid, ok? Ill have to fight a lot of beasts, she said.
Joy
Really? Your friend didnt seem to think the sa way. Did you know them? Found it in the sa dungeon, just a bunch of layers higher, she explained.
The Fae didnt seem to understand the question, tilting its head to the side.
Its fine. Hey Gracken, are you not going to be lonely if I take your only friend with ? Ilea asked.
A seriously confused thought ca into her mind.
Why do I even ask. Well, might as well try.
Do you know how I can get third tier general skills and a third class? she asked. It had known quite a lot about Resistances, maybe it could offer so more.
Class you an the flows we choose. I possess rely one and it cannot be changed. I suppose your species is offered choice in this, unlike most. I must tell you that I do not possess the knowledge you seek. As to the third tier resistance, there is a way to advance abilities to such degrees with ti and effort. Centuries, decades perhaps with great risk. I have had little use for battle in my life and thus have only achieved two abilities to reach such heights. the Gracken provided.
Any chance you want to share that knowledge with ? Ilea asked with a smile.
You have helped a being most unknown to yourself. A comndable act. I shall tell you what I know. The first ability I have advanced past the second tier was ditation. Yet I do not believe you will be capable of such, not with your brain as it is and not with the lifespan that limits humanity, the being said regretfully.
So you just ditated for a shit ton of ti and considered concepts and magic I could not comprehend? Ilea asked.
Essentially, yes, the being replied.
No point system or sothing like that? Ive gotten Soul Magic Resistance before through sheer exposure. And an elf told I was on the right track for third tier skills by just getting more, Ilea relayed the bits of information she had gathered so far.
The nature of mana is varied. You may find a way where there was none for . Fire magic, soul magic, curses as well as the void and space resources previously unknown to . The Enavurin are ancient yet with further understanding, yet more questions arise. If the path was known to the creature you call elf, then I suggest you pursue it. As my way will be unattainable for your quickly distracted mind, the being explained.
I understand. But that ans it is possible to attain third tier non class skills with prolonged exposure and vast understanding? Ilea asked.
Vast understanding greater than I presu the sum of your knowledge is at this ti. Or feats that would require more ti than a lifeti would provide you, the Enavurin said.
So youre saying theres a chance? Ilea smirked, tilting her head to the side.
Either way, what does it do? The third tier of ditation? she asked, very much interested. If she ever got the opportunity to raise a general skill to the third tier, the first one would undoubtedly be this one.
It I shall use plain terms for your benefit. It enhances what you likely perceive as Wisdom Judgnt, Knowledge or Understanding. I believe there are many ways different species see the interpretation of their own abilities, the being said.
You an the stat, Wisdom? That increases mana capacity and regeneration? Oh, speaking of, do I need ambient mana ambient life force to regenerate it or does it regenerate for even in areas where there isnt any mana? Ilea asked.
Many large questions from soone so young. I shall share what I have found, yet do not take it as truth. As I have said, the ways of life are vast, diverse. We speak of the sa Wisdom. I do not believe a creature needs ambient mana to form it within them. Yet I am unaware of a space or being that is untouched by it. Even death itself is a form of life, it explained.
The Fae on her head rolled around before it fell to the ground.
Acting dead? Ilea asked herself, finding its vitals very much fine. Sorry little one, my friends would be angry if I ignored this ancient soup of knowledge.
There is no mana where Im from. Nothing. I got the first notification in my mind when I suddenly awoke in these lands one day, Ilea said.
Peculiar. I doubt your words without proof. A lack of ability will make it impossible to sense that which you do not understand. Much more perates the space we inhabit than we will possibly ever perceive. Organs, abilities and knowledge may help us find the truth, the being said.
And yet it is sothing I had not considered, not ever. You have shared a new perspective and theory with , as impossible as it may sound to right now. I thank you, the Enavurin said.
Sure, happy to expand your unending horizon, Ilea said with a smirk.
I begin to understand your humor. It is highly irritating and yet not unpleasant. Peculiar, the being said.
The Fae was rolling away by now, still on the steel floor and moving towards the stairs leading down.
Youll get dirty, Ilea said in her mind.
Youre dirty.
Little fucker, Ilea murmured with a smile before she focused on the Enavurin again. What about the second skill?
It is related to thought. I do not know the word it would translate to in your language, yet I am almost certain you do not possess it. The impressions I have related to you previously would have not impacted you as much as they did, it explained.
Hmm no chance of learning it? she asked.
With a lot of ti and study perhaps. Little is impossible and even that I doubt. Yet it is used for introspection and understanding. Should you ever wish to focus on it for perhaps five thousand of your human years, I could offer you so tutoring, the Enavurin said.
Sure, Ill co back as soon as that happens, Ilea said, her tone making it quite clear how she felt about that. Then again, she had little understanding of what it ant to be immortal. Age wise at least.
The ntal equivalent of a chuckle reached her mind. Young one, may you prevail in your endeavors. You are good at heart, untainted by ignorance.
Dont flatter , Im a monster. Just like you. To many at least, most of all our enemies, Ilea said and prepared to leave.
Still have those stat points. Wisdom it is, she thought and gave herself another one hundred mana. A single charged punch of her Absolute Destruction.
To you are not and neither to your new companion, the Enavurin said.
Alright anything else I should know about this facility, the corruption, the Fae or the world itself? Sothing that you deem important, Ilea asked.
It remained quiet for a mont before it spoke into her mind, The gift of life is rare, nurtured and ford for ti untold. Trust in your instincts, the Enavurin said.
Ok, cheers to that, Ilea said, very much aware of that truth. Sure you dont need anything? Food, books or company? I could throw you so monsters, she asked.
Be on your way, ca the response, fleeting and much less clear than the words from before.
Overstayed my welco in this ones house it seems, Ilea thought. She wasnt exactly unhappy about the circumstances. She had learned about the corruption, so of the purpose of whatever built this place. The fact that they were around three hundred years ago, which seed rather recent when she considered Maro and Hallowfort.
Additionally she saved another Fae, the third one now. And she found out her essence, whatever that was, was in fact marked.
This one seed much more playful and expressive than those she had t before. She wasnt sure if it was due to the marking or because it simply had a different character altogether. They were intelligent creatures, that much was obvious, finding themselves in hidden places, trapped or taken.
Their levels was incredibly low compared to what they could do. That was the main reason she didnt mind it coming with her. Its decision helped of course and the fact that Ilea wasnt exactly in need of stealth at the mont.
Who am I kidding, that little guy is probably sneakier than Ill ever be, she thought and followed the Fae down the stairs. It was lying at the bottom, sprawled out and waiting.
She sent a wave towards the Enavurin but was pretty sure it had severed the connection altogether.
Unsocial. Thats what happens when you let your kids spend a thousand years underwater without any company.
About an hour invested, Ilea passed the fourteenth layer, having learned so new things and having gotten a new companion.
Do you call yourselves Fae? she asked the creature that once again appeared on her shoulder. Or do you have individual nas, like Roger or Stephanie?
It tilted its head again but didnt reply in any aningful way.
Ill call you little guy, is that alright? she asked.
The Fae shrugged, accepting the status she placed upon him.
Alright little guy, do you have anything to share about whoever captured and kept you here? she asked, following the steps.
Her Huntress skill picked up faint traces of magic now. While it was mostly gone, she was pretty sure her companions had co through here.
A flash of anger washed into her mind, terror, fear and then anger again.
You dont think very fondly of them, I see, she said and walked down several flights of steel stairs. Why a being that must have had a way to teleport in and out of such a facility had the need for stairs was a mystery to her.
The little guy shook his head.
Well, neither. Plenty of people from Hallowfort died already to this fucked up corruption, enough to at least rip out so arms, dont you think? she asked.
This ti the giggle was a little more graspable, turning into manic laughter.
Reviews
All reviews (0)