It took several monts for Dallion to get adjusted to the reality around him. The shift from a sea to a forest was greater than usual, not to ntion that he needed to get re-used to gravity.
The clerics were in the process of separating the bodies of the dead in two piles: one for the mbers of the Order and the other for the cultists. When Dallion attempted to go question so more of the items of the cultists pile, though he was stopped.
Im sorry, initiate, a war cleric said, with an expression revealing he was anything but sorry. The archbishop has ordered that you dont approach the bodies.
in particular? Dallion tried not to sound amused.
Yes, initiate. He referred to you by na.
That made little sense, since the level of Dallions empathy trait allowed him to talk to item guardians miles away. Still, there was no point in antagonizing the Order, so he just nodded and turned around.
Will you do anything if I start asking questions? Dallion asked.
Depends on the questions, dear boy, Nil replied. Now that I know what you think of , I know that you suspect I could do sothing to stop it. Just keep in mind that Im doing this for your own good.
You tend to say that a lot lately.
The echo had behaved in similar fashion back when Dallion had entered the fallen south. Although, back then, he hadnt done anything violent. To use magic in a fashion to destroy a guardian was untypical. There was definitely sothing Nil was hiding, but maybe there was a reason to do so.
You win this one, Nil, but there will co a ti when I reach level eighty, and when I do you wont be able to hide things from .
Dear boy, if you reach level eighty, therell be no reason for to hide anything.
Before leaving the settlents remains, Dallion offered to help the surviving clerics. The offer was swiftly rejected, although Dallion could feel it being appreciated by so.
An unnerving quiet surrounded Dallion as he walked through the forest. The fight had scared off everything from insects to top predators. Even the trees were shaken up, not saying a whisper. For a brief mont, it almost felt as if he was a non-awakened again. The mont quickly passed, as the insatiable post-trial hunger hit him like a ton of bricks. While the previous trial had been a ntal one, the one he had completed just now had exhausted him to the extre. Hunter training and experience allowed him to endure, but it wasnt a pleasant feeling.
From what Dallion rembered, it was roughly a day from his current position to the Academys village. If he sprinted, he could get there faster, but that was only going to exhaust him more. The best thing he could do was to go further in and catch sothing to eat. Unfortunately, as it soon turned out, the lack of animals wasnt rely caused by the battle. Predators that had tried to attack Dallion so eagerly the last ti he was in the area were nowhere to be found. Only small creatures were presentfar too small to satiate his hunger unless he caught hundreds of them. In the end, he decided that a dozen were better than nothing.
The birds Dallion caught were green-feathered, roughly the size of pigeons, with more bones than bone. As far as his senses were concerned, that was a blessing, for the taste was vilely bitter. Even cooking them did little to help that. Still, they were food and as any hunter knew, food wasnt sothing that one had to like.
Night in the forest wasnt all that different. A few minor predators had made an appearance, none of them particularly large or tasty. More interestingly, though, it was at this ti that the frees started talking again, letting Dallion know that the sudden change had suddenly happened months ago. One day, the majority of the animals just vanished. Dallion was aware that the poison plague had disrupted migration patterns, but this didnt seem to be the case. The plague plants had never gained a foothold in the west, not to ntion that the shift had been too sudden. More and more, it was starting to look like the Academy was involved. Officially, the village that they had taken over was ant to help apprentice mages train. The truth was that they were involved in creature research. What kind, Dallion could only guess, although he speculated that they were more focused on magic creatures. However, as Dallion had seen in the mories of a rogue mage, accidents werent uncommon when it ca to the Academy and always it was others that paid the price.
Nil, what are the chances that they had been seeking the phoenix?
Minimal, the echo didnt mince words. High-level mages are just as greedy as nobles. No one would risk having their subordinates find sothing they want. Not only would it be politically strenuous, but also highly inefficient. Countess Priscord sent you, not her army, to find it. Why would others be different?
Mages are a bit stronger than common soldiers, Nil.
Youd be surprised.
The closer Dallion got to the village, the more things seed to return to normal. Animal sounds returned, then the animals themselves, all keeping at a respectable distance from him, of course. At one point, a slothbear even had a go at him before rushing off into the forest. The only issue was that none of the creatures were real. Gleam had been quick to point that out, but even if she hadnt, the trees said the sa thing: all the creatures in the area werent acting naturally, but only mimicking the behavior of others. One particularly weird thing was that none of them seed to be aware of a settlent in the area. As far as they were concerned, the forest had always been unbreached, and people were scarce. That was clearly false since the path Dallion was following had clearly been made by human hand.
I know youre watching, Dallion said, suddenly stopping. I just want to go to Canopa.
The leaves rustled. In a single mont, all the animal sounds vanished, along with any animals and insects. In their place, a new chorus of voices erged, voices that only Dallion could hear, coming from miles away.
Hey, its you! a bow item guardian said. Didnt think youll be back. How are you? Did you bring the rest of your guardians with you?
Wow, you really must have spooked the mages, another guardian laughed. They dont break the spell for just anyone.
Of course theyll let him in. The old hag likes him.
You think? I didnt know she liked anyone.
Well, she hates him less than the rest. Besides, hes a full hunter now.
A full hunter? Havent seen one of those in ages. Are you here on a job?
What are you hunting this ti?
The voices grew louder and louder, forcing Dallion to close his eyes for a mont. Usually, he could handle a chorus of guardians. These were more overwhelming than the standard variety. Being dryads, all of them had empathy, allowing them to talk to one another without being addressed. Not only that, they were the only instance Dallion knew of in which items of the sa guardian type had actively accumulated in one spot.
Give so space, guys, Dallion managed to say. Youve grown a lot more since last ti.
Yeah. A lot more people are coming and going, so we got a few new mbers. Is the shield guardian with you?
Yes, hes here
Dallion wasnt sure what was worse, knowing that his companion guardian was probably going to flirt with so of the local items, or the fact that he probably had been responsible for banishing so of them ages ago. He would have asked, if the armadil shield hadnt beco progressively silent. There was a ti when an hour wouldnt pass without the companion guardian chatting about one thing or another. Now, hed remain silent for weeks unless addressed.
As Dallion was standing on the forest path, a blur appeared in the distance ahead. With one swift action, Dallion drew his harpsisword. The mont he did, the blur stopped, then transford into a young woman in a simple cyan and brown outfit.
Lelandra? Dallion asked. Last ti he was here, the young woman had the role of village scribe, which in practical terms ant a combination of guide, spy, and secretary.
Welco again, envoy, the woman said. Anxiety emanated from her so loud that Dallion almost felt pity for her. We were not aware of your visit.
You werent aware last ti, either, Dallion thought.
Im no longer an envoy, he said. Just a hunter with so questions. Any chance I can get so food and rest at the village?
Canopa isnt open to visitors at this ti. Ill be more than glad to provide you with enough supplies, of course.
So, thats how it was. Dallion knew that his ddling with the Academy would have consequences. Although it was virtually on Archdukes Linatol that he had killed a rogue mage, the Academy tended to be very protective of their own. From what Nil had shared, only mages were supposed to punish mages. Outside actions were tolerated when necessary, but never liked.
I also want to have a word with Eleria, he said in a firm tone. Shes still in charge here, right?
The scribes silence suggested that to be the case. From this point on, the decision was out of her hands. After dealing with nobles and their servants, Dallion had gotten to know a few things regarding how things worked. It was common for subordinates to use their power to keep random people from seeing their superiors, but when the person was noticed, everything was up to the person in charge.
How long will your visit be? Lelandra asked.
Half a day at most, unless Im given a job.
The ti was long enough to seem intriguing and short enough not to be botherso.
The woman remained silent for a few more seconds. The levels of anxiety coming from her grew.
You are most welco to our village, the woman said reluctantly. Please, follow .
Thank you.
After less than fifty steps on the path, the front gate of the village was suddenly in front of them. The experience was similar to switching between realms. Instinctively, Dallion split into instances, several of which took a few steps back. As expected, they found on the sa path only to see the village gone.
Portal magic? Dallion asked as he made his way forward.
The scribe didnt answer.
Still intent on making a fool of yourself? Nil sighed. It only works the first ti, you know.
Whos pretending? Dallion asked.
The settlent had changed considerably since the last ti Dallion was here. Rather, it seed like an entirely new outpost had been built in its place. The walls were far larger, made of stone, the individual houses were gone, replaced by larger structures that held space for more people, and libraries had grown to the size of small forts. The only thing that remained the sa was the rural section, although it was no longer simple villagers tending to the fields and animals.
talins, Dallion whispered, looking at the tal constructs that moved about autonomously, like rogue suits of armor. I thought that they were only used within the realms.
They increase productivity, the scribe explained, although she too was uncomfortable with their presence. It only takes a few apprentices to control them.
That doesnt sound too reassuring. Dallion ant it as a joke, but his comnt drained the blood from Lelandras face.
Careful, dear boy. Dont make new enemies until after getting the information.
Didnt you tell that those were the Academys crown achievent? Dallion asked.
And they were, but theres also the minor issue that they were based on the Crippleds skills.
talins are Star tech?
Why do you think the Academy sent expeditions to the South? Many of the Academys recent discoveries are linked to Star technology. As I said, magic is nothing but the art of finding loopholes. And if one can find loopholes in the laws of nature and the Moons, imagine how easy it would be to find such in the laws of the empire.
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