Chapter 89: An Encounter Outside of Tall Grass
Green first investigated the remaining areas of the temple grounds. The hedges obfuscated most of it but a little levitation magic solved that problem. What Green saw though was disappointing. The 'garden' beyond the hedges wasn't much of a garden at all. There was simply a scattering of bushes in rows to give the illusion of additional pathing with so colourful leaves thrown in for good asure. *I guess this is just to help build up the illusion of the temple. Clearly that guy was reading from a script and Thy is controlling everything.*
*That first puzzle was well designed, and the atmosphere makes it easy to forget ti made all this in just a few monts. Then again, I suppose it's far more likely that he planned it out before hand and summoned it from a blueprint or sothing. Guess it's back to grey walls.*
*Now that I think about it though, what's the point of making this look like stone?* Green rounded the corner and continued away from the direction she had originally co from. *Sure I understand the idea of making the walls simple to save of energy but Thy didn't do that, he made it into stone, and converting mana away from your elent is very expensive…*
*Though, could he have just made plants that look like stone? I feel like that would still be expensive though. It's like if I tried to create enough friction with my wind magic to set sothing on fire. I could, and maybe if I got good enough it'd even be more efficient then using fire magic but it's still a waste.*
Green found an intersection and instantly took a right moving further away from the temple. *And why plain stone anyway? Now that I really think about this it doesn't make any sense. He could have any number of exotic and beautiful trees from my holand. Even just so relatively exotic things like the hundred-year pines or the roughhune elderwood would be more enjoyable to look at.*
Green let out a long breath. *Ok calm down, clearly you are getting tired, mother is starting to leak out a little.* Green stifled a soft laugh. It had never ceased to amuse her parents that as Green got increasingly tired, she acted almost exactly like her mother did normally. *Dad always liked to tease when I get like this… At least I'll visit them soon for one of the tournant legs… I hope.*
Green wandered the maze sowhat randomly for a while, thinking of her parents and trying not to give in to the urge to rest in the shade sowhere. Just as Green started to round the next corner she heard sothing. Pausing in place and putting her ear against the wall she tried to hear the sound again. Tap, tap, tap. It was light, but she could hear it, though the wall had hardly helped. Switching instead to the ground Green leaned in and strained her mana and her hearing to properly make out what it was.
As soon as she put her head to the ground, she recognised the sound. It wasn't typical footsteps; it was a scout's steps. *Oh no, I've actually run into soone else.* Green glanced around and saw that the nearest corner to try and hide around was too far away to risk running. Instead she poured mana into her boots and chest piece activating her levitation and her ability that made people ignore her.
Green leapt up towards the top of the wall. She had intended to jump up to the top and cling to it but she could feel the barrier Thy had ntioned and couldn't actually grasp the wall. *Thyee why would you make it so we can't hold onto the wall for stabilisation. I'm a scout, I don't want to fight anyone really…*
Green instead opted for the less ideal position of laying flat against the wall and combiner her lacking levitation with a hint of friction from the wall to allow her to remain motionless and above the average person's sightline. Green gripped the wall and faced the direction of the sound. Her spells would hopefully an she avoided detection, but she needed to be ready for the worst.
As the seconds past the sound of footfalls beca clearer. *Soft but rapid footsteps. Heading with so purpose… I bet it's Clive. He's running around. I doubt the others would run like that. John doesn't have the practice and Grace… well actually I guess it could be Grace but I think she'd be lighter. These footfalls have been approaching for a bit now.*
Just as Green finished that thought Clive sprinted around the corner. Green was shocked at just how quickly the man approached mana whirling behind him as he sped past. This further reinforced Green's idea that the man was well practiced. It was a great surprise that he was as moving as quickly as it appeared with such little noise. While Green could likely do the sa perhaps with even less noise she knew she couldn't keep it up for long. It would burn mana much too quickly.
Just as Clive passed the spot Green was hiding, he stopped in place. Crouched down and put his back against the wall. Clive through his cloak over his bag with Skye on it that contained his orbs and looked around scanning the environnt for any disturbances. Clive reached into his cloak and pulled out a dagger holding it in his right hand in a guarding stance as he breathed steadily and watched the hallway.
Green just clung to the wall, unable to properly see Clive because he was about in line with her body, right on the edge of her peripheral vision. The two remained tense. Green waiting for an indication that she had been spotted while Clive was searching for that faint presence he could feel watching him
A full five minutes passed before Clive was the first to make a move. He stood up exposing his back to Green as he prepped his movent abilities again. Green didn't move a muscle. Just as Clive was taking his first step forward his head whipped around scanning the area behind him for the slightest movent. Sweat pooled on Green's brow as she gripped the notstone walls. Ensuring that even the slightest movent was suppressed.
When he found none Clive's armour lit up slightly and he shot off in the direction Green had co from. Green kept in the breath she wanted to release. *I'm glad he ran off. I really didn't want to fight anyone.* Green waited for another minute just in case Clive wanted to turn around to try and catch her when she moved.
In the end though she could only hear his footsteps continuing into the distance. Whether he truly turned back or not Green wouldn't know as she was stuck facing the direction he ca in and couldn't risk the slightest movent just yet.
Releasing her breath and her magic Green floated softly down to the ground again. *Now the question is where do I go. Clive has been down this path already and I'm not certain that there are still any orbs left this way. On the other hand I know there are a bunch of pathways I didn't take at all so I'm sure Clive is the sa… unless he sprinted down them all… but he shouldn't have the mana for that… But then again, how large is the maze? Thy never told us… perhaps he was actually really close and the fact it took so long to et up was because he checked everything.*
*Ultimately I have no way of knowing. Instead I should look at this as a question of if I should try and remain sneaking behind him or go in the direction I know Clive isn't. I guess that makes it a rather easy question then doesn't it. *
*First things first though, a short break.* Green moved up to sit in the corner and wrapped herself in her cloak. Green breathed deeply and entered into a ditative state to try and recover her mana. To Green's surprise the air was actually packed with it. *Is this intentional? Did Thy design this maze to provide extra mana to the contestants? Or is it residual from such a large spellcasting.*
*Wait, that must be why Clive was running full sprint, he has extra mana recovery from whatever this effect is. That ans I can likely do the sa… but perhaps not quite as fast. I could hear Clive coming, and if I'm too loud the others will hear and maybe they'd rather attack.*
Green was perfectly happy to avoid fighting Clive, sure there wasn't enough orbs for her to find if she wanted to win, but that was only if everyone had picked up all the orbs closest to them. Green was sure that she could find a few more just from exploring… with a bit of luck.
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