Seeing much of anything but the sun was rather difficult, but Anton remained in the sa relative position with what was likely the only other thing to get vaguely close to it. At the mont the tal ship was sensing Anton, much like it had been doing for the sun itself. He let it happen, since the people on board would likely be more willing to communicate if he did so. Specifically, once it was clear that he was peaceful. His actions should have made that quite obvious.
As it studied him, he continued to study the strange contraption. It was surprising that it was not incinerated, as most materials would be. The amount of energy it was using should not have been sufficient to protect it, but it seed to be rather efficient in its functions. Perhaps there were deeper levels to it he could not sense, as the flow of energy through it was quite complex and only partially matched what he knew of formations.
He hoped sothing productive would co of this new contact- and that it would not turn into a battle. Yet he was prepared for that eventuality. He doubted that these new people would care that this was his native system if they felt threatened. Actually, he couldnt be completely sure they werent from a planet around the sa sun. It was predicted that other planets werent habitable by humans, but if settled by cultivators with their oddities it might be possible. He should visit the other planets. And perhaps the moon, just to see what was left of Everhearts work.
The ship completed its scanning, and then began to move. Technically it was moving the whole ti, but it broke away from its orbit around the sun, moving towards Anton- or rather slightly past him. He changed his own montum to follow along behind it. He didnt feel that it was trying to run away.
It continued to accelerate, but at a steady pace. It didnt make any adjustnts to its course. As they left the range of the sun where its energy signature overwheld almost everything else, Anton felt the ships senses upon him again. He was also able to get a clearer picture of the ship in return, a relatively small vessel with only a handful of inhabitants. He still didnt understand how it functioned, though.
Eventually the rear porthole was unsealed- it had been kept closed to block out the suns intense light and heat, but now he could see through. The person inside pointed down. Anton slightly lowered himself relative to the ship, and he could sense part of it opening. A small room that led to another. Hed sensed a change in it before it opened- the air removed. Yes, sothing like that would be necessary. Anton could replenish his own breath, and the ship likely did sothing the sa for those living on it. But if they lost so, it would be gone until they entered an atmosphere.
He didnt sense any sort of trick in the small room- it seed to simply be for entering and exiting the ship. If it ca down to it, he could tear open the doors or walls unless there was sothing very significant he didnt sense. If communication was going to happen, soone was going to have to take the first step of trust- and honestly, allowing him into their vessel was riskier than the other way around.
After he entered, the doors closed behind him and the room once more filled up with air. Anton took a breath. It was basically what he expected, and didnt have any poisons that he could sense. Actually breathing was nice as well. Relaxing.
Several people crowded around the internal door before it opened. Not necessarily in an intimidating manner, but rather because space was limited. As the door opened, Anton held up a hand and waved. Hello. Good to see you.
They responded verbally, but not in a language Anton recognized. That was quite sensible- though Ceretos had one primary language that seed to have mixed with what they knew of the upper realms through cultivators mingling, language wouldnt be exactly the sa everywhere.
After the initial back and forth Anton was unsure if he should continue talking, but a woman in the lead gestured towards him as she spoke. Gestures could be different as well, but his training in Insight likely wouldnt lead him far astray. You want to speak more? Im not really sure what to say. My na is Anton, he gestured to himself. And I live in this system. It seems you are from the outside?
One of them was looking at sothing in their hands and nodding. The woman in the lead stretched her hand out towards him. Anton. He nodded. She pointed to herself, Matija.
Anton bowed slightly, Good to et you, Matija, he focused on the last word. If they would speak more, he might be able to pick up their language. Actually, he could hear a couple that werent in the sa hallway speaking. They probably didnt think he could hear them, but he really didnt know what they were saying yet. Anton wondered how long this would take.
The woman turned, gesturing for him to co along with her as she spoke. Anton followed. The hallways werent very wide and he practically brushed up against the other two even as they turned to the side to let him through.
The woman grabbed a rail and pulled herself along slowly, one tug to accelerate. There was no gravity to speak of, after all. Anton wasnt sure if walking would be rude, but it felt more appropriate. He held himself to the floor as he went. These people around him should have enough energy to do that but perhaps they thought it wasteful. Then again, they might have little way to replenish their energy in the void of space.
They ca to a small room with storage devices- though all the rooms were small. The storage devices were more like cupboards instead of typical storage bags, but they felt the sa functionally. Without even needing to pry to learn what was inside them, the woman pulled out two small bags with liquid inside. Drink. That was just a guess at what she said, but Anton was fairly confident in his interpretation. Especially when she twisted sothing at the corner and then put it between her lips.
Anton twisted the sa thing, finding that the bag was slightly squeezed as well. Water sprayed everywhere, but he captured it with a net of energy. Embarrassing, but also sowhat entertaining. He gave a slight laugh. The way the water ford into little wobbly spheres was fascinating. A lack of gravity made interesting things happen. He sowhat reluctantly put the water back into the little waterskin and then drank a small bit the sa way as the woman. He didnt necessarily need water, but an exchange of food was a good bonding thod.
He wondered if he should offer anything of his own. These people still seed human, so they should be able to eat the sa things. What did he have on him? There were certain cuts of raw at he hadnt dealt with yet from a hunting excursion- more of an extermination of beasts, but leaving their at would have been a waste. Raw was no good. There were boring nuts, and so rations that might not be from this decade. Technically they were still just as good- practically, they were never good.
Ah, there was sothing. Anton pulled out a couple handfuls of berries, offering one palm to the woman. He knew others were watching, peeking around the corner. Did they not know he could sense them? Perhaps they simply didnt think about it and couldnt stifle their curiosity.
The woman, Matija, took the berries Anton offered and they promptly began floating in all directions as he released his energy holding them in place. Matija made a panicked grab for them as they slipped out of her hand, but she ended up losing more than she held on to, and squashing half of that. She looked panicked, but Anton couldnt help but giggle at the amusing sight. He wasnt sure why she wouldnt catch them or just hold them in place with her energy, but he gathered them for her, keeping them together with just the lightest touch.
Eat, Anton said. Theyre tasty. He started munching on them as he made the suggestion.
The woman was slightly hesitant for so reason. Perhaps there was so issue he did not know about? She carefully studied one of the segnted berries, then slowly put it in her mouth. Her expression indicated it tasted good, as it should. When it reached her stomach, she suddenly seed surprised. Anton was unsure why that was or why she wasnt circulating the energy it was releasing. There wasnt much from Ceretos these days that wasnt imbued with natural energy on so level- and that included these berries. It wouldnt hurt her to just let it digest, but it was less efficient than actively absorbing it.
Anton frowned internally. The situation was so awkward, and formal. He didnt want to overstep his bounds, but hed really rather invite the others if they were going to eat. He said as much, though he doubted they understood yet. Even with whatever thods they had, it wasnt like they could easily predict new words yet.
Matija continued to slowly munch on the berries, but seed hesitant about what to do with the juices of the crushed ones vaguely clinging to her hand. Anton hoped he wouldnt cause any problems, but to make her more comfortable he intentionally squashed one, staining his fingers, then licked it off.
Attempts at conversation continued, but there was little actual communication they could do yet. Anton was clinging onto their words, using his tempered mind to attempt to comprehend sothing while they used their own thods. Hopefully this wouldnt take too long. He could mimic their words now but he wouldnt know what they ant well enough to be sure he wanted to say them.
-----
Only after talking with the others did Vari realized what she had done. It wasnt wrong to train with others- and the Library was perhaps one of the only places in Everhearts Tomb where it was properly safe- but the identity of who she trained with was important.
I dont like it at all, Catarina said.
Is there sothing wrong with the Hardened Crown Sect? Vari asked.
Only that theyre here, Catarina admitted. That ans there are both sects from the Trigold Cluster and the Exalted Quadrant here. Our history with both is not entirely positive.
... youve fought against them before? Already? Theyre significant powers. Vari shook her head, I can avoid working with Kiran again, if you wish.
That shouldnt be necessary, Catarina said. Unlike so of the sects in the Exalted Quadrant, we have not had conflict with the Hardened Crown Sect. The issue is that both groups are here at once. Theyre not exactly friendly.
... that would be an understatent, Vari said. If I understand correctly, theyre responsible for much of the Bloodsoaked Nebula being as it is. Now that I think about it, they have agreed to keep their business out of the Scarlet Midfields after a past conflict.
Hoyt had sothing to say there, Maybe Everhearts Tomb doesnt count. Or the rewards are worth it sohow.
The problem that I see is that we didnt see any of either last ti, Timothy said. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but I have the feeling weve been spotting more and more of them each day were here. When it was just the Trigold Cluster it seed to be bad luck.
Enough of the Exalted Quadrant likely would be against us as well, Alva shook her head. And our backing here is minimal.
At least most people wont be able to directly recognize our cultivation techniques, Catarina said. Thats one good thing about organizations of this scale.
Vari was still just thinking. ... I cant believe your world produced Everheart and got into conflict with the two Great Powers.
Thats just how it is, Hoyt shrugged. Also, there are only two Great Powers?
The Trigold Cluster and Exalted Quadrant flank the Scarlet Midfields, so we dont really run into anything else. Vari shook her head, The upper realms are vast, but little information exists from beyond either region. And perhaps my knowledge was intentionally limited by the Harmonious Citadel. They liked to imply they were as strong as the Great Powers, but Im rather uncertain about that now.
For the mont, there was nothing that could or should be done about cultivators gathering. People had gotten most of what they could be expected to learn at the mont- and for their other purposes, they needed to reach deeper. That ant earning points sohow throughout the Tomb. It would be good to get so practical experience to see if their learning actually helped, as well.
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