As the warm breeze carried away Eiji's last ashes, everyone resud their tasks. It was ti for the living to fight the dead.
Under Hyshana's orders, the eight surviving hoplites went their separate ways. Three headed towards Log-a-rhythm to rest. Kazuki had sought permission to let his soldiers sleep safely. The hoplites fought to defend the base and deserved to rest in a protected place.
Moreover, if one of them were to pass away in their sleep, they wouldn't succumb to corruption.
Two other soldiers were assigned to military engineering. Their initial task involved deconstructing their old barracks, with Hyshana deciding to recycle the wood to reinforce the rampart surrounding the clearing.
The last group had the most critical mission. Ard and vigilant, they patrolled the domain's border, opening the barrier and guiding the corrupted into bio-traps. The base needed Sun points more than ever.
A few minutes before the rchant's arrival, Priam followed Alain and Rose. The two artisans were working on a defensive turret project. Priced at five thousand points in the Sun Shop, its blueprint was available at half price. In addition to the discount, building the machine allowed the two humans to enhance their skills.
As Alain refined his wood control, Rose traced runes that would enable the turret to condense ambient aether into projectiles, rotate, aim, and fire.
"How does the turret identify the corrupted?" asked Priam.
"I bought a rune that establishes a connection between an object and Log-a-rhythm," explained Rose. "The original turret targeted Necro Concept carriers, but Log-a-rhythm isn't as limited. Moreover, its knowledge of everyone's position enables it to prevent friendly fire"
"The connection is made through ambient aether?"
"It requires direct contact, but the roots make that easy."
"That's clever!" exclaid Priam.
Rose smiled before showing him the rest of the circuit. Dozens of sigils intersected like components in an electrical network. That Rose could create such combinations with ntal attributes below a hundred proved her extraordinary talent.
"You can be proud of yourself," smiled Priam. The teenager blushed. She was at a stage in her life where she needed recognition to thrive, and Priam was happy to offer sincere complints.
[Two minutes before the rchant's arrival.]
"I have to go; the rchant is coming," said Priam.
"I hope he sells spices! By the way, when do we beco Homo Elysian?" asked Rose. "I'm interested in the attribute boost."
"I'm waiting for Jasmine to finish her Tribulations. If the System doesn't take this boost into account, then it's better to wait for your first Tribulation," explained Priam. If that were the case, the racial upgrade would increase their chances of survival.
At the ntion of Tribulations, Rose and Alain cast a fearful glance towards the pyre. Mirscella's death was a warning that everyone took seriously.
"We'll wait..." replied Rose.
Priam nodded before heading to the forum. Kazuki and Hyshana were already there. The two hoplites weren't wearing their armor, but each had a hand close to a weapon. In front of them, the summoning sigil finished charging with aether in a bright flash. Priam expected a portal to open and was disappointed.
A transparent bubble expelled all matter, then burst, revealing a massive white bison with intelligent eyes.
"... Doesn't look like an elf," comnted Priam as he approached to caress the creature's immaculate fur. Standing close to two ters, Priam wasn't small, but his hand barely reached the bison's shoulder. "Where is your master?"
The bison blinked before opening its mouth. Reality warped to the right of the nhir of Secrets. Thunder accompanied the appearance of a red and white pavilion. Lavishly decorated, the tent would fit in a desert oasis. Two flaps covering the entrance opened to let an individual out.
Priam hadnt expected Ymir to be so majestic. His wise eyes calmly surveyed the world. The elf was tall, slim, and had white eyebrows that surprised Priam. Snowy hair was gathered in a chignon held by a handle-less blade. His albino skin was partially concealed by a dawn-colored mage robe. He looked more like a scholar than a rchant.
The elf stepped forward, crossing his fingers in front of him. The impractical gesture made it challenging to strike easily and must be a form of greeting.
"Lord Azura, Ymir Saharn offers his respects," he said in an unknown language that Priam had no trouble understanding. A Talent necessary to communicate with his clients.
"rchant Ymir, it's a pleasure to have you among us," replied Priam, gesturing to Kazuki and Hyshana. "Here are Kazuki and Hyshana, Champions of the Hoplites and defenders of our base."
Ymir mimicked Priam's gesture to greet the two hoplites. "I entrust my safety to your expert hands." He turned to Priam, who was still caressing the bison. "I see you've t Ka'shak. He's a bison with a taotie bloodline. The ideal companion for any wandering rchant."
"A life that must be as exciting as it is dangerous. I presu the current event convinced you to abandon the wandering aspect of your profession."
Ymir smiled, revealing blood-red teeth. "Elysium is dangerous in normal tis, and the necro event only worsens things. I needed a base, and you needed a rchant... Here we are, brought together by the System," the elf smiled, placing his palm on his forehead. It must be a religious or superstitious gesture.
"The System rewards those who help themselves." Priam appreciated the neutrality of the System. "Do you need ti to prepare your goods?"
"Not at all. I'd be happy to show you my humble shop."
The rchant invited them into his pavilion. Upon entering, Priam whistled in astonishnt. The tent was spatially enhanced, and the interior was the size of two tennis courts. Rows of shelves and stalls were arranged to allow visitors to admire the displayed items.
"As a wandering rchant, I sell everything," explained Ymir. "In my bazaar, you'll find weapons, dicines, elixirs, pets, food, clothes..."
"Egg-laying birds?" asked Hyshana. The hoplites were more carnivorous than omnivorous, and the diet of fish and berries was starting to tire them.
"Let prepare an olette to convince you to buy so auhracks," smiled Ymir.
The elf didn't look like a rchant, but he had a business sense.
"Living as a wandering rchant in such a dangerous world must not be easy with creatures lurking around," remarked Kazuki, running his finger along the tip of a bone lance.
Ymir shook his head. "My skills allow to avoid the most perilous places. It's the thieves that are the most challenging to deal with. Tradition obliges to bury them myself."
The implication was clear; Ymir wasn't defenseless.
"What kind of currency do you accept?" asked Hyshana.
"Normally, I engage in bartering with local tribescores, rare plants, leathers... However, I can now accept Sun points."
The information was interesting. The use of bartering ant that no power had succeeded in imposing its currency. Their region was a sort of Wild West: opportunities were plentiful, but no higher authority would protect the rights of the inhabitants.
"Are there many local tribes?" asked Kazuki.
Ymir shrugged. "The Wandering Islands are imnse. I've spent the last century exploring them and have only seen a small part. What interests both of us are the nearest tribes. One of my Talents indicates three tribes approaching and likely to settle here."
Priam grimaced. According to Seth, the tribes had Tier 3 fighters. At least.
"Why would three different tribes decide to co at the sa ti?" Hyshana's question interested Priam, who listened closely.
"The Seven push away the most dangerous creatures when new Champions arrive. This predator vacuum is a boon for locals living in fear of a cataclysm triggered by a bored high Tier."
"Do you think these tribes will be hostile?"
Ymir placed his palm on his forehead again. "Only the Seven know. Nevertheless, for reasons that border on superstition, tribes refuse to establish territories. Your camp, though primitive, is their only way to access the Sun Shop Auctions. If you play your cards right, their presence will be a boon rather than a bane."
Priam's face remained impassive as he insulted Seth inwardly. Lets hope leaving one of theirs for dead isn't reason enough for them to attack us...
While Kazuki asked for details about the nomadic lifestyle favored by the Wandering Islands inhabitants, Priam pondered the opportunity offered by these tribes. Perhaps I could direct them against Sumstreh...
A few minutes later, seeing Priam gazing distractedly at his rchandise, Ymir approached.
"My instinct tells I will have a better chance of selling you plant samples than these crockery."
Priam looked up in surprise at Ymir. Log-a-rhythm had already accumulated over eight hundred Potential points, and he was already considering which upgrades to purchase. I could sacrifice so plants to it.
Ymir led him to the end of the pavilion. Kazuki and Hyshana had disappeared behind shelves, but the elf didn't seem concerned. It was safe to assu that he knew everything happening in his shop.
"This is my garden," he said, opening a sliding door. "I use so of these plants in my diet, but everything is for sale."
The characteristic sll of earth assaulted Priam's nostrils upon entering the greenhouse. Heated and artificially lit, it probably didn't exceed thirty square ters but displayed an impressive variety of vegetables, flowers, and tubers of all kinds.
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Establishing a ntal connection with Log-a-rhythm, Priam smiled as an alien curiosity invaded him. If he could sacrifice this garden, Log-a-rhythm would gain thousands of potential points.
"How much would one of each plant cost?" asked Priam as his hearts accelerated.
"For such a massive purchase, I can give you a wholesale price: three million Sun points."
Priam opened his mouth, stunned by the rchant's audacity. "Three million?!"
"Half of these plants have little value, about a hundred thousand points," explained Ymir. "The other half is rarer. So plants co from other sectors of Elysium, even from other worlds or universes, brought back by travelers, descendants of Champions, and rchants. The only reason I have such a wide variety of plants is my vegetarian diet."
Priam looked at the plants resignedly. As a rchant, it was expected that Ymir would boast about his goods, but he had little to gain by cheating the lord who hosted him. If Priam felt wronged, nothing prevented him from demanding reparation...
A small voice in his head whispered to steal what he coveted, but Priam silenced it. Stealing from strangers to survive was acceptable, and he had done it during the Reunion. However, his honor forbade him from stealing from soone who depended on him. A lord who pillages his territory sacrifices the future.
"We'll go gradually then," replied Priam. "Do you have plants with anticoagulant properties?"
[Hemorrhage Resistance] was currently stuck at the common rank because Priam refused to choose a diocre upgrade. His System had given him an idea to unlock a high upgrade: dying from bleeding. For that, using a plant capable of thinning the blood was necessary.
Ymir showed him twelve different plants, and Priam bought them all for fifteen thousand Sun points. Being stingy about his own progress was foolish.
"Do you need anything else?" asked the rchant.
"The main reason for your summoning was to unlock the Auctions. Is it possible now?"
"I will go establish the contract with the Guardian of Secrets today. My commission is fifteen percent. Is that acceptable?"
"That suits . How do we proceed?"
"Follow ," smiled Ymir. The rchant led him to the center of the pavilion, where an altar-like structure stood. Kazuki and Hyshana approached as Ymir conjured a holographic screen.
"Opening a new channel only requires your spiritual signature and the na of your territory."
As the altar scanned him, Priam thought of a na. He had never really had a reason to na his base, but they needed one to open up to the world.
"Any ideas?" asked Priam.
"You're the Lord," replied Kazuki before looking at his wife. "Hyshana says I have no talent for finding nas."
"He wanted to na our daughter Dorii. In English, that would be Speary," sighed Hyshana.
"A powerful na," defended Kazuki. "Right?"
The na was ridiculous, but Priam didn't want to betray his rival. He just had to dodge the question.
"... I'm not familiar enough with hoplite customs to have an inford opinion."
"In any case, it's your responsibility as Lord to na your territory," insisted Hyshana.
Priam thought about his territory, Elysium, his new life, and his loved ones. What did he want to create as a base? A haven of peace, abundance, and exchanges for its residents. A sanctuary in the heart of a ruthless world. Naturally, a word appeared.
"Oasis."
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 495 ( 4)
Constitution 856
Agility 495 ( 22)
Vitality 765
Perception 685
NTAL:
Vivacity 421
Dexterity 547 ( 9)
mory 318
Willpower 925
Charisma 585
TA:
ta-affinity 418
ta-focus 350
ta-endurance 296
ta-perception 204
ta-chance 230
ta-authority 30
Potential: 1962 ( 21)
Tier 0
Sun points: 34 853 (-1 731)
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 4 hours 43 minutes 22 seconds.
[Tribulation]: Three Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Ti: 166 days 5 hours 16 minutes 15 seconds.
Next thresholds: 6 attributes > 600 / 3 attributes > 900/ 1 attribute > 1 200
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