Leaning casually against the trunk of Log-a-rhythm, Priam and Alain gazed at the stars. In their hands, two wooden mugs held a golden liquid. Sap.
"A grand vintage," Priam joked, licking his lips. "I would give a lot for so good cheese and a baguette..."
Even in another world, the French remained steadfast in their traditions.
Alain took a sip and sighed in contentnt. "For a fisherman like , it lacks fish."
"I brought silk. We could stretch a net across the river and see if we catch sothing," Priam suggested.
Alain turned to his son with a smile. "You're clever, you know that?"
"It runs in the family."
They both burst into laughter.
Sipping his sap, Priam looked at the forest. Despite the starry night, the warm wind on his chest, and his father's company, he still had a knot in his stomach. In the firmant, the presence of a crimson moon reminded him of his situation. In six days, a deadly event would unfold. He had to be prepared.
The howl of a predator echoed in the distance, and his father flinched. Priam's mood sank at the sight. Did I make the right choice bringing him? Unlike Priam, Alain didn't have a second life.
"Hey, son?" Alain said without looking at his son.
"Hmm?"
"Are you happy right now?" His father's voice was gentle.
Priam opened his mouth but closed it again. He was usually quite secretive, but his father deserved an honest answer. Priam pondered the question.
Was he happy? Constantly forced to flee, train, and fight for survival, he hadn't even asked himself the question. Yet the answer seed obvious.
"I think so..." Priam corrected himself. "I'm sure I am. For the first ti in my life, I feel... free."
Alain remained silent, and Priam continued. "I think society was imprisoning . The judgnt of others, conventions, traditions. It was subtle, but I was guided toward certain paths. I always loved reading, writing, and building, but school never taught how to develop those talents. When I think of my younger self... Rember when I helped you plant radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, or potatoes?"
"I rember," his father smiled.
"I loved it. Yet, I knew from a young age that I would never beco rich as a farr."
"It's a beautiful profession, as vital as it is hard," comnted Alain.
"Of course, but I was always pragmatic. I had little chance of becoming a famous author or a wealthy farr, yet I wanted enough money to live comfortably with my future family. I wasn't unhappy, but by following the path laid out for , I was missing out on my life. Studying science interested sowhat, but it wasn't a calling."
"Piercing wyverns, is that your calling?" Alain joked.
Priam shook his head. "Killing wyverns, transcending my limits, seeking treasures, and eting aliens... It's not a calling. It's a life. A life I enjoy."
Alain looked at him for a mont before smiling. "That's all that matters. To your happiness, my son."
Clashing their mugs, they toasted.
Priam emptied his glass in one go. "And you, Dad?"
"Are you worried about your old man?" Alain said in a teasing tone.
Priam just looked at him, smiling.
Alain rolled his eyes. "You worry about nothing. For the first ti in twenty years, I feel fit. I sleep well at night, I'm with my son, and most importantly, I don't have to fill out taxes anymore," the old man chuckled. "I love this life, but... I worry about your sister."
Priam was worried too, but preferred not to dwell on it.
"We can't do anything for now."
"That's never stopped a parent from worrying."
Alain stood up and changed the subject. "There are six days left to prepare for the Necromoon. Can I help with sothing?"
Priam stood up as well and pressed his mug against Log-a-rhythm, which absorbed it. It was ti to get to work.
"As soon as Kazuki is on his feet, we'll go gather resources. Our rivals aren't fools; as soon as we start, they'll want to imitate us or strip us bare."
In Elysium, the law of the jungle prevailed.
"Do you really need those resources?" Alain asked.
"I don't need the attributes, but I need the qualitative benefits of so - to increase my compatibility with my second heart, for example. Moreover, every stolen resource is one less for our enemies. And you and the others will need them. I know your tribulation is near."
"It'll be alright, Priam, I"
"Dad," Priam interrupted. "I'm not going to let you die because you're too proud to accept my help. I will give you magical fruit juice transfusions if I have to."
Alain held his gaze for a mont before sighing. "Bah. Do you need my help?"
"I've thought about it, and I completely underestimated my internal world. I have plenty of ideas to use it in combat - infinite kinetic energy, a free mist reserve, a prison, etc. However, right now, it would be useful to quickly gather resources and keep them secure."
"You really plan to steal all the resources from this forest," Alain understood.
"Of course. But currently, my world is unusable." A tiny floating island in a thirty-ter radius sphere was not very useful. "I'll fill it to make a real world, but I need you to saturate it with aether. You have an idea, right?"
If Priam wanted to increase the density of aether in his world, it was for several reasons. Elysium proved that a high concentration of aether facilitated level-ups, reduced Potential costs, improved plant growth, and so on.
Last but not least, [Concept Archipelago] used so of the ambient aether to increase its volu. Therefore, it was crucial to increase the aether density.
"I have a good idea, confird Alain. I should be able to enchant a wooden sphere that will siphon aether from a portal placed at its center."
"Why wood? asked Priam. Aren't you afraid the material will warp? It would be better with stone."
"You can carve stone?"
"No."
" neither. But I know how to work with wood. The hardest part is finding a perfect sphere, but that will be Log-a-rhythm's job."
ntally, the tree conveyed its eagerness to help.
"I trust you," Priam said. His father enjoyed working with his hands and had already made so wooden sculptures. "You should also build a strong room."
"For your treasures?"
"For you. I don't think triggering a Tribulation in Elysium will be wise soon..."
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