Azarinth Healer Chapter 731: Exchange

Evan looked at her for a while. Im certainly interested in your source. What makes you think the Ascended were not defeated?

Because I t one, she said.

He leaned forward a little. You did?

Yes, Ilea said. As to the reason why Im here. Your Foundation is in the possession of a Taleen artifact. It should identify as a key of sorts. I would like to have it.

The Bronze Key. Indeed. One part of a set. Many have speculated on what exactly the keys open. I suppose you would know? Evan asked.

That is not information Im willing to share, Ilea said.

He considered. And youre willing to take this artifact by force, should I refuse?

I dont need force. I assu youre aware of my third Class, she said.

Space magic, it is said. Though youre giving us too much credit. The reports on this are unclear. You just confird them, he said. Your Taleen treasure where did you et the Ascended?

In a dungeon called the Descent. You might be familiar with the facility. It existed when Rhyvor was still around, she said. It appeared at the very bottom of the dungeon, spoke of an intruder and attacked . It didnt take seriously and I managed to escape, just barely.

It didnt reveal anything about its presence in Elos? he asked.

Not exactly. And the facility was destroyed afterwards. He was a tal creator and he did ntion the Azarinth order, she said.

Which ans he was around during the war. This is concerning news. I had hoped they had given up on this realm but it seems so of them remain. As to my theory, I think its possible the Ascended have removed the knowledge of the event we have discussed before, he said.

For us to forget the threat? Ilea asked. Nes said she didnt think anybody still cared about Elos. What are the chances that she was wrong? The one in the Descent seed mostly there to catch an invader into one of his testing labs.

Potentially, though other possibilities exist. And even my Seekers cannot find or enter their facilities. It would require soone of your power to even just survive. Though finding them remains the main problem, and the Taleen are gone, their knowledge lost. Hundreds of years of searching, he said.

Ilea wasnt quite as convinced about an Ascended threat. Evan didnt seem to have a direct Ascended source, nor did he even ntion Khor or the Navuun. He assud they didnt exactly lose but he didnt know about the internal conflicts. The main reason the forces of Elos werent entirely destroyed upon their invasion.

You seem quite interested for soone that stays so far removed from the Plains, Ilea said.

He sighed. I am tired, of conflict. I have always been tired of it. I grew up trying to survive, trying to find a ho, stability. I thought that once we could achieve such, that harmony would prevail. My arrival here proved such idealistic notions wrong. Imdiately. I have no interest in the struggles for power, not beyond the docuntation of history itself. So that future generations may learn, so that we may stay on the path. We have watched the balance of the world, have seen nations rise and fall, have seen monsters spill out of dungeons, laying waste to entire cities. I have seen dragons, Ilea. Never will I forget their roars, the very ground shattering as they clashed in fury. And yet nothing has co close to that day, when the sky darkened and the very fabric of magic itself felt as if ripped apart. It affected all. Life itself in this very realm. An intrusion into the natural order so unholy, even the Elven domains moved, working with humans and dwarfs to fight this threat. And everyone agreed. For a ti,

Yes, I am interested. To know if this ancient threat remains, and to know if there is sothing we can do to prevent another event such as it was, he finished.

Ill keep an eye out, Ilea said. But as you said, its not exactly easy to find these underground facilities. Even just Taleen dungeons are more sothing randomly stumbled upon than searched for, she said.

Indeed, Evan said. Though we have records of many of their facilities, should you be interested in that. Perhaps you could find further knowledge on the Ascended.

Are you hiring as one of your Seekers? she asked with a smile.

I wish I could, though I believe you understand the potential threat. Your dic Sentinels are proof that you are not entirely absorbed by power, he said.

Thanks. Ill have a look at the locations you have, she said. Maybe so are no longer part of their network or not accessible through it.

Evan motioned with his hand and one of the doors opened.

A man clad in the sa sand colored robes entered, holding a chest with both hands. He set it down on the table and bowed before he left.

Evan opened it to reveal one of the Taleen keys. I assu this is what you were looking for?

[The Bronze Key Ancient Quality]

Yes, thats one of them, Ilea said.

You offered so things to consider. I believe we have nothing to gain from withholding this artifact, though if you will, I have so questions, Evan said.

Go for it, Ill let you know if I know sothing or if I cant answer, she said.

The tals Ravenhall has been buying in all of the Plains. The expansion of Morhill can you tell anything about that? he asked.

Dont see why not. We figured out long range teleportation gates. Morhill is to beco a hub of sorts, she said. Good way to find out if his faction will get involved as well. Im sure your Foundation could be included as well.

The man looked at her for a mont before he started laughing. Oh this is even bigger than we expected. Secrets uncovered in the north?

Not really. I t a very powerful space magic creature on my travels. It helped us quite a bit in understanding the technology, she said.

The realm you entered from Baralia? he asked.

You know of it? Ilea said.

Rumors only. Lys is not easy to gain information from. And everything on this was top secret. Though I understand the gate was closed yet again, which makes think a space mage was involved, he said. Or soone very versed in blood rituals. Michael Elyse was said to be, and I quote furious, at the closure of the gate. I doubt it was him.

Well, it should be more or less public knowledge soon enough but yes. I brought back a powerful being from Erendar, she said.

That is quite a risk to take. And why we most certainly wont be agreeing to a teleportation gate in or close to the Foundation, Evan said.

Understandable, she answered. Im sure your Seekers have trained a long ti to be able to navigate and survive the desert.

Indeed. Our location is one of our greatest assets, and the main reason were still around after all this ti, he said. However, teleportation gates are certainly going to change things in the Plains. I assu other species will beco interested too. As to my next question. What do you know of Elven kind?

I know they remain within their Domains most of the ti. I know they have sothing called Oracles, which seem to be the highest ranked in their societies. I know the Elves that attacked and destroyed many of the independent cities in the west were young inexperienced idiots who dont exactly consider human life worthwhile, she explained.

And how exactly have you co to this information? Evan asked.

I t an elf in the north. One that did attack but was open for discussion once he failed to kill . He struggled, with his place in their society and the world, she said.

Does this artifact have anything to do with that? Evan asked.

You already know the answer to that, she thought. Im not going to answer that question.

He grinned and shoved the chest over. If you are helping the Cerithil Hunters I hope you understand the potential ramifications among your human allies. Wars have been started over less.

He might not know of Syrithis then.

Ilea didnt comnt on his potential speculation, storing the key within her domain.

Who is the Azarinth Healer that you ntioned? she asked instead. He had deed her information enough to hand over the artifact. They were even once more.

He split off from their Order. I know they tried and failed to apprehend him, even their most experienced hunters unable to even locate the man. Not until he started taunting them. We received a letter a long ti ago, mind you. A letter stating that the Azarinth Order was no more, the last First Hunter putting down his title and declaring the end of their existence. He had won, it seed, and he wanted it docunted by the oldest library in existence, Evan explained. Where he remains or if he truly is still alive, I dont know, though Im rather sure the latter is a given. They were notoriously hard to kill.

I get that often, Ilea mused.

I was wondering if you ever found Scipio, Evan said.

I did, but if you know him, you know that he travels around a lot. I t a girl, from the sa realm as the one Im from. He had protected her, always interested in realm travelers, she said. I believe he was around back before the war as well.

And he was involved in it, as far as I rember, Evan said. More than I. If you ever et him again, let him know Id be interested in talking.

I will, Ilea said. Though she didnt think the man was particularly keen on eting Evan. Have you heard of Audur?

The na is not familiar, Evan said.

Self proclaid Guardian of the West. A dragon. I had hoped you could offer so insight, she said.

Those who et dragons rarely survive, let alone learn of their nas, the man said. I appreciate your addition. Did you fight it?

Her, I believe. And I cant exactly call it a fight. She was playing with her food. Wood and life magic were her preferred magics, Ilea explained.

Peculiar, though what we know of dragons is that theyre more individual than most other species. Their overwhelming power is docunted sowhat well however. Even among four marks they hold a high rank, perhaps the highest, he said.

Yeah. I havent exactly seen sothing stronger, Ilea said. She genuinely didnt know if the Fae was as powerful as Audur. Neither had shown her much of what they could really do and both their levels were pretty much off the charts. What about you?

I would love to say I have, but at that stage its difficult to discern or compare. Even with four marks of a similar level, the differences can be staggering, he said.

True. Evan, youre the first three mark human I et. I know you said you disliked conflict, but are you interested in a fight? Ilea asked.

He smiled. I had expected the question earlier, with your reputation. And I dont consider training ones magical ability to be conflict. Its beco more of a lets say pasti. And I certainly understand your frustration. Its difficult to find soone worthy at this stage, and teaching students is not quite the sa.

So youre the one training the sand and bone mages? Ilea asked.

Well, I started. At this point my responsibilities are not quite as extensive as they once were, he said and stood up. Let us move to the desert. I doubt we can truly test ourselves in any of our facilities. Azarinth magic has a way with enchantnts after all.

You seem to know it well, Ilea said.

Well, I studied it for a few centuries. I even possess a few skills that were inspired, he added with a smile.

Ilea raised a brow. You do?

Their power was once notorious. I had sources that claid the Elders of the order had access to Bluemoon Grass without the sa potential consequences but chose not to use it on their students. A way to ensure that commitnt t expectations. I believe exactly that fear led to their near cult like fanaticism. Its surprising still that battle healers remain rare. Near unheard of in this age, up until your rise to bardic fa. Ancient healing orders that disdain the idea for reasons they themselves have forgotten or eradicated on purpose, only to spite the legacy of the Azarinth Order, he spoke and opened the door.

Ilea followed him back up again, soon reaching the sa terrace they had talked on before.

If what he says is true, the Azarinth couldve pushed humanity way past what they were before but instead they caused their own Orders collapse and a subsequent removal of battle healers. Bunch of idiots.

The Sentinels are going to change that notion, Ilea said.

Yes. I heard of your communication with the various healing orders. So more subtle than others, Evan said and walked to the side of the terrace where his form dissolved into sand.

Ilea blinked before she spread her wings and followed the thin mist that floated as if carried by wind. She descended down from the mountain and landed on the sand, Evan sitting a few ters away. Is that your preferred thod of flying? she asked him.

I do find wings a little mundane. But then Im quite old, I do not an to offend, he spoke.

Well I am offended. Wings might be the best thing I got in this realm, Ilea said.

Then perhaps we shall revisit the topic of flight in another few centuries, he said and stood up.

Are you calling immature? Ilea asked.

The man smiled. I am calling you young, Lilith, which is what you are. He pointed southwards. That way, he said and dissolved again. This ti the sand simply landed on the ground, his presence gone entirely.

Now thats more like it, she thought, trying to find out what just happened. No trace of teleportation, just a bit of sand magic when he dissolved but thats obvious. None of her skills showed anything else. She had to trust the direction he had pointed to. Exciting. Finally soone that doesnt rely on conventional teleportation. Maybe his opinion on wings is sowhat forgivable.

She flew off, soon seeing a dot in the distance. He vanished again when she got closer. A few minutes of flight later, the dot didnt move anymore.

I believe this is far enough, he said when she landed.

Ilea looked back. The mountains were a tiny speck to her enhanced vision. Probably. Yeah.

Normally I would offer a wager of sorts, to entice my opponent. Youre not quite like my usual challengers, he spoke.

Ilea cracked her neck and ford her full mantle. Lets just start slow, get a feel for each other. She ford fists and walked towards him. Two humans who have killed four marks with their own power. Lets see if you hold up to my expectations.

And you to your reputation, Evan spoke. Bone started growing on his limbs and chest, his entire body quickly covered by the dense material. Three horns grew from each side of his helt, runes etched into the bone mask that covered his face. He didnt look much different to the guards she had seen before. The man raised his hand where a rapier of bone grew from his palm. He gripped it and changed into a fighting stance.

A test of skill then, she thought and advanced. Ilea didnt try to run and maneuver on the sand, instead using her wings to close the distance at a very low flight. Her opponent remained on the ground. She first tried with speed along, adding feints here and there to get past his thin blade, his other hand to his back.

He kept up with her, sliding on the sand as if on invisible skates. The man didnt just keep up, he soon pushed back, striking at her armor as he used the superior reach of his chosen weapon.

The exchange continued for near thirty seconds until Evan made so distance. They were close when it ca to speed alone but Ilea had to admit his technique was flawless.

You have precognition, he said. Or is it ti magic?

Why do you think I use either? Ilea asked, flying with a grin on her ash covered face.

Youre not fast or good enough to avoid my blade. Your movents are skill driven. Youre using force and crutches where your experience fails you, he spoke.

You did say I was young, Ilea answered. And I wouldnt call myself inexperienced when it cos to fighting.

You obviously are not. But I assu you have fought monsters more than sapient beings. Nor would you have had much need to adjust or improvise. Your sheer power is enough to overwhelm most. With your surely superior healing, youd be difficult to slow down, he said.

I cant say that youre wrong. But I suppose its a little unfair if we both fight so restricted. And youve had a few more years to hone your skill with the blade, she said, ashen limbs forming on her back.

I did not an to offend. I hope that is clear. Indeed, with our age if anything, my own power is an embarrassnt. Though I ca to enjoy calm ditation and tea more so than seeking another challenge in the frontiers of this world. Let us move on then, Evan said as the sands shifted, his form firmly planted on a growing wave.

Ilea grinned as she advanced, either of them yet to land a hit or use teleportation.