Chapter 317: The End of Patience (1/2)

Ilea was still playing with the idea of trying the Penumra dungeon as they made their way back to Tremor. The suns were shining in the sky, black clouds visible as they moved over the landscape, purple lightning flashing from time to time. “Don’t do it Ilea. As tough as you are, it can’t be healthy.”

Terok had been the one to speak, Ilea following his gaze to a nearby cloud. She smiled, “Don’t worry. I’ll try that when I’m not with you two. Hey Maro, doesn’t that look like your death magic?”

“Not exactly.” He replied, “I can see why you didn’t become a mage, differentiating between intricate and ageless schools of spells by color.”

“Fist go smash, yes?” She asked in a mocking tone, both of them laughing.

“Seriously though, your what was it, Azarinth magic? It’s quite unique. How do you get a class associated with it? Can’t see how something like that can be forgotten.” He added. “Incoming.” He said suddenly, the three of them moving towards the wall, hiding in small crevices as the body of a massive snake like creature moved past them in a high speed.

[Earth Serpent – lvl ????]

“Don’t try it.” Terok said from behind her, Ilea just rolling her eyes.

“Hey I’m not as irresponsible as I was.”

“Four question marks.” Maro commented as they exited from their hideouts. “It definitely noticed us but I suppose we’re not worth the trouble.” The snake had nearly filled out the whole crevice, hundreds of meters long and at least fifteen wide. A near golden sheen on its scales.

“To answer your earlier question, you eat a moss. Elixir I suppose. Kills you if you’re unlucky. Then you get the class.”

“Healing orders…,” Terok commented, shaking his head. “Not worth the trouble.”

“Why do I feel like I could take it?” Ilea asked suddenly, looking at the snake that vanished around a corner nearly a kilometer away.

“It’s mostly the size that constitutes its power, not its magical expertise.” Maro commented.

Ilea scratched her head, “I fought a Basilisk back when I was below a hundred… the thing took damage I think. Now… with all my upgrades.”

Terok chuckled, “I’d love to see that.”

“Basilisks are rather peaceful creatures, mostly ignoring small creatures like us. I’m not sure how you even managed to get one to fight.” Maro said.

“It attacked us out of nowhere, dozens died to that peaceful creature. When we left it didn’t pursue.” She explained.

“I suppose it had its reasons. Young maybe or you simply walked into its territory.” Terok said.

“Everybody an expert on Basilisks now? Try to tank its wind magic.” She said and shook her head.

Maro held up a hand, the three of them flying into another crack after surfacing for a couple hundred meters. “They don’t use wind magic as far as I recall. Wasn’t it lightning?”

Terok nodded, “Aye… yellow lightning. Never seen it but my father talked about it once. The ground shook when it hit, the creature hundreds of meters up in the air. I imagine it close to what those storms do.”

“What the hell did it do then?”

“Ever had ants in your home?” Terok asked, “I doubt you’d burn them up with your most powerful spells.” He said and laughed.

Ilea didn’t, she was glad the thing had acted as it did. Otherwise she might have been toast back then. I’m sure it didn’t act. Now I’m interested. “It seemed weak.”

“Well I’d like to see you fight after pushing out a baby.” Maro said, Ilea rolling her eyes at the comment.

“I’d be fucking angry probably.” And exhausted, in pain, wanting to see my kid instead of some idiots camping in the hospital room. It was a possible explanation but she wasn’t completely content with it. I planned to face it anyway.

“Don’t go and fight it.” Terok said, “Worrying as a friend.”

“I do what I want.” Ilea replied.

“Yea I know, that’s why I warn you. No sane person would seek out a Basilisk.” He said, “I’ll take whatever you don’t need of its body. The scales are supposedly incredibly versatile.”

Not good at defending against ice magic. She thought.

They shared some more thoughts on the Basilisk as well as the healing order’s elixirs. The Azarinth order was apparently not the only one with painful or dangerous initiations. Neither knew why that was the case when she asked.

“There are healing classes you can get without eating the world’s hottest chili though?” Ilea asked when they entered the mountain below which Tremor lay.

“Yes but healing orders have always discouraged non members practicing the magic. Not uncommon. Lightning magic was nearly unanimously reserved for nobles, as was anything related to blood or the void. I would assume those still hold true.” Maro surmised.

“Probably.” Ilea said, only remembering that one healer back in the Taleen dungeon expedition. Didn’t they try to poison me? Or was that Alice’s family? Well I remember that healer to be an ass either way. Trian was a noble, as was Edwin and Maria, the three examples of lightning, blood and void magic she thought of. Another way humans are jeopardizing themselves. The adventurers in the guild looked at me like a fresh baked muffin when they saw my healer tag.

“Any idea why it is like that? Couldn’t any random person learn lightning or blood magic?” Terok asked.

Maro waved his hand, “Well yes and no. Without knowledge it’s definitely harder. Elixirs help too, especially to get a class initially. Most influential people wouldn’t want commoners practicing their choice of magic. I doubt any of those schools are any better or worse than anything else. Otherwise all the most powerful adventurers would be nobles.”

When they landed in the cathedral, Ilea immediately noticed the piece of paper stuck to the double doors with an expensive looking dagger. She walked over and read it quickly.