Regrettably, Paeris ca back with unfortunate news. Due to the sensitivity of the entire situation, he couldn't arrange for to leave for a hunt without proper security, which caused a big fuss.
I contemplated teleporting myself out and then back, but then I rembered the anti-teleportation asures blocking teleportation directly into Caelthal. I could leave, but I wouldn't be able to easily co back in.
"Well, we are going to a dungeon tomorrow, and they said you could join on the first floor, so maybe you can get your last few kills that way?" Vee suggested.
I moaned and groaned a bunch before finally calming down and accepting it. I was just so close that it was making it so impossibly hard to sit still. Vee even further pointed out that it'd be better this way, as there was no way I'd be able to sleep with my evolution ready and waiting.
In theory, the best ti for to evolve is after I've given the antidote to Paeris so he can proceed with the interrogation and when Vee is talking with the [Dungeon Master].
It was super frustrating, though, and I tried various things to keep myself busy and occupied so that ti would pass more quickly. Eventually, the vials ca, and I started filling them with the [Basilisk Venom] from my storage.
My boredom, however, was eventually alleviated when Llewel ca back and handed a small box. I curiously opened it, and inside was an olive-green colored sphere—my brown sli core had arrived!
"Hopefully that will keep you settled for a bit," Vee comnted, watching caress the core between my hands.
"Maybe? I suppose it depends on what abilities it unlocks for . I can assu Nature affinity would be a given."
"Did you literally just purchase that?" Vee asked. "Seems like a waste in hindsight."
"It ntioned a refund if I get it naturally," I pointed out.
"Do you mind if I watch? I can't say I've ever experienced sothing like this before," Llewel requested.
"Sure, not that it's much to see. I sort of pop it into my sli and dissolve it or crush it, then the system asks if I want to integrate it."
"I see… then the reason normal slis can't do this is because they aren't sapient enough to accept the system prompt?" Llewel suggested.
"Yeah, they are too dumb to say yes," Vee chid in.
"Probably sothing like that…" I reluctantly admitted.
I grabbed the core and popped it into my mouth to avoid
Naturally!
[Mulch Sli]? Not exactly an inspiring na.
But before I could look into it, I received two more notifications.
Well, at least I got my full-blown Nature affinity out of it, not to ntion a trait refund. Now, let's examine the new sli trait before reviewing the profile.
Oh… Uh… Nice, I guess?
I couldn't really see much point in this trait, as the only tangible benefit for myself was that I'd get more sli mass from eating plants now. Arguably, it just made my sli mass even more valuable, which was not exactly sothing I was trying to do.
Well, it's one more for the collection at least. I should be getting my pink sli core soon, and then I'll have exhausted the usefulness of my ti here.
The brown sli profile was laughable. Just like the violet sli, it seed to be an entirely passive sli, and so there were no new traits to look at. I could probably predict that the pink sli profile wouldn't have much either, as if it were a healing sli, then even [Sli Shot] would only help its foes.
"So? Get anything good?" Vee asked.
"I must admit I'm also curious to hear what you gained from devouring that sli core," Llewel said.
"Well, I got my refund on my derived nature affinity, and now I can eat plants, but otherwise… not really?" I admitted and even showed the description of [Mulch Sli].
"So you've gained the power of fertilizer," Vee snickered.
This text was taken from . Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Pretty much. Not exactly exciting, but at least it's one for the collection. If I weren't an Elentalist, then the access to [Nature Magic] would have been the true prize."
"I'm sorry it wasn't more beneficial," Llewel said.
"It's fine. Plus, gaining so sli mass from veggies could potentially be a lifesaver if I'm ever in so dire need of regenerating my sli."
"If you got it before the dungeon with all those plantoids…" Vee mumbled.
"Ugh, don't remind . I wish I had asked beforehand."
Before Llewel left, I offered him a vial of [Basilisk Venom], and while he was initially a bit reluctant to take it, he eventually did. I knew he wasn't the biggest fan of poisons and such, but I figured it might be helpful for his alchemical research.
With little else to do, I decided to help Vee with so of her magic until it was ti for dinner, and then eventually, bed. I was still bouncing with suspense on what tomorrow would bring.
***
The next day had finally arrived, and I felt giddy like a child. I even earned a scolding from Paeris, who wanted to behave respectfully when we went to the Carren abode for our etup. Thankfully, I had [Roleplay] to lean back on, and I wouldn't let his sourness ruin my glee.
"Just to confirm, we will be making the trade for the antidote here, and then you and Vee will be leaving with Sir Aimon to visit the Carren Grove and the dungeon?" Paeris asked.
"That's the plan. I trust once you have the captive awake, you won't need my help to interrogate him?"
Paeris nodded. "Just please rember to be respectful in their grove… You've done marvelously so far with the bare minimum in tutoring, and you are representing the Feirelle to a much greater extent now."
"I'll be on my best behavior. You focus on extracting all the information you can from the necromancer elf."
"That will not be an issue, especially with a Chronomancer on standby," Paeris replied, a dark glint in his eye.
When we were ready and the ti of our arrival was near, we finally left. It was just Paeris, Vee, and as Llewel was staying behind to guard the captive. We were reasonably sure nobody knew we had him, but nobody wanted to take any chances.
The Carren abode was about three-quarters the size of the Feirelle one, likely an indicator that they weren't as prominent in the elven hierarchy and not as close to the trunk. When we reached the door, Aimon opened it almost imdiately and greeted us with an energetic wave.
"Lady Sylthaeryn, Vee, good to see you again."
"It's always a pleasure, Sir Aimon."
"Just Aimon is fine, but thank you."
"I have to admit, Vee and I are quite curious about the arrangent."
"We'll depart as soon as our first trade is complete," he replied. "I have secured our part of the deal."
I pulled out five vials full of [Basilisk Venom], and the look of shock and surprise on Aimon's face was certainly revealing.
"You weren't kidding when you said you were skilled in [Dissection]."
"There's more where that ca from," I answered. "But we can speak of that after everything is resolved."
"Ah! Of course, of course," he said, bobbing his head frantically in agreent. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny crystalline vial, ornately decorated with a rather elegant stopper. "Here's the antidote."
"Paeris," I said, and gestured for him to take it.
At the sa ti, I handed over the five vials of venom to him, and he took care of the exchange. Aimon pocketed four of the vials and then began eagerly holding up the one vial to the sun, examining it closely.
"I shall be off then, Lady Sylthaeryn," Paeris said with a deep bow.
"Thank you for your services, Paeris. I'll see you after Vee has finished her goal."
"Of course," he said and then turned to Aimon, his face dead serious. "I trust you to keep the heir to our branch safe and secure, with not even a hair missing."
Aimon nearly tripped over himself at the sudden demand. He recovered relatively quickly and then even saluted, an odd display because everything I knew about elven hierarchy put him above Paeris.
"Yes, sir, I swear on my honor!"
Paeris nodded and, after giving one last deep bow, departed. Aimon let out a sigh of relief almost imdiately before turning to with a nervous chuckle.
"R-right. Are you ready to go?"
"Absolutely. Vee and I can't wait to see what awaits us."
"Yeah! Let's see what this [Dungeon Master] has to offer !" Vee agreed excitedly and waved her legs.
Aimon seed delighted and then began leading us away from the ho and towards the area where I had first arrived. At first, I thought we were heading to the exact sa place, but we diverted a little and went to an offshoot with various other wooden structures.
He touched it, and the wood warped, revealing an inactive gateway with a whole variety of dark purple and black flowers decorating it.
Now that I know more about the elves, I can recognize that the dark purples and blacks are supposed to represent the Carren elves. I guess each portal will have flowers colored to match their Branch.
Aimon touched the gateway, and it blood to life, although at the sa ti, he let out a reluctant sigh and whispered to himself. "Two teleports so soon, my poor stomach…"
"Does he have teleportation sickness? That's pretty funny," Vee giggled.
"My own first long-distance teleportation experience wasn't exactly ideal, and my second one was a disaster…" I replied telepathically.
"True! I guess a little bit of stomach sickness is nothing compared to exploding."
We entered the gateway and once again experienced the familiar feeling of teleportation. At this point, I felt like Vee and I were veterans as we barely reacted at all, while poor Aimon was paler than the zombies and looked like he was about to lose his breakfast.
I had tried repeating my experience last ti by gazing between the rift while teleporting with [Spatial Sense], especially now that I had [Triangulate], but unfortunately, I wasn't offered any new insights.
"Well… ho sweet ho," Aimon said, after taking a mont to recover his stamina.
What was imdiately noticeable about the Carren tree was that it didn't have any elven guards; the role was fulfilled entirely by woodsprites, although they varied in appearance and all had so variety of creepy crawly living among their head branches—centipedes, wasps, beetles, but mostly spiders.
That last part was quite significant, as almost every corner of the tree ho was covered in webbing. It was quite a sight to behold, and I wondered if Vee felt at ho seeing so many spiders.
"Would you like to have a tour, or perhaps et my parents, or go straight to the dungeon?" Aimon asked.
"Oh, please, it's gotta be the dungeon. You might explode if we have to wait any longer," Vee chuckled.
"The dungeon first, if that's alright. I'd be happy to take a tour afterwards. It's just… Vee has been so excited that she could barely sleep," I explained.
"Hey! Don't throw under the bus," she whined and shook her legs at . Unfortunately for her, it seed Aimon mistook her leg flailing for excitent, and he instantly agreed.
"Right. No problem at all. I suppose it would make sense to drop Vee off first to avoid wasting any ti. You can always walk around while she's occupied."
Sorry, Aimon, I'm planning on staying in there until I'm done. If things go as planned, then technically, Vee should be finishing before .
Aimon interacted with the tree spirit and took us to the ground floor, then began leading us towards the dungeon. The outside was a startling surprise, as the forest was dark, the trees spindly, and a blanket of webbing seed to be draped over it all.
"Wow, this is almost like a haunted forest," Vee comnted.
Aimon pointed directly at the haunted forest. "The dungeon is right at the center of this forest. It's a good thing you aren't arachnophobic."
Ha! If anything, spiders fear . I had to suppress a chuckle as I reminisced about how much screaming and crying Vee had done during our encounter.
User Comments
0 comments from readers