Chapter 424: Regen powers (1/2)

The two of them joined up with the others a couple minutes later, finding them within the stairwell that led up towards the eighteenth layer where the Elder Sun Sprites were surely already waiting for Ilea’s return.

Most of the survivors were already asleep, completely exhausted from the high stress and near death experience they had to endure for over a month. They had known what they were getting themselves into but certainly underestimated the ridiculous endeavor.

Then again, without the corruption they might have actually succeeded. Weren’t as lucky as me to find treasuries left and right and instead finding a deadly blood manipulation agent.

“You made it,” Catelyn said, still awake.

“It was very close. Nearly died,” Ilea said in a dry tone.

“I can imagine,” Catelyn said in the same voice.

Elfie hissed and turned away in his terribly overdressed bedroll.

“Didn’t tell me you were royalty,” Ilea whispered his way.

“I simply have a sense for dignity,” the elf whispered back.

“He hates sarcasm,” she said to the fox. “You should get some sleep, you look rather spent.”

“You first. I don’t need much and while I’ve been awake as long as you have, I didn’t exactly fight as much.”

Ilea smiled. “True. You could join, cuddling is nice,” she said and summoned her bed into the corner of a flat area in the stairwell.

“Enough rumors will spread as it is, no reason to add more. I am a council member of Hallowfort,” Catelyn replied.

Ilea stored her bone armor and added an ashen blanked to her armor, enjoying the soft mattress and pillow below. “Your loss,” she said and closed her eyes, out in a moment.

She woke to a tapping of her nose, the Fae standing on the bed and in front of her face.

Sleepyhead

Ah, a victim presents itself, Ilea thought and slowly reached out with her ash, wrapping the creature up in a small blanket before she dragged it closer. It wasn’t exactly big enough to cuddle but she still held it in her arms and relaxed.

Confusion, the thought wasn’t exactly sent to her, more a general statement the creature sent out.

“Sssh, it’s warm and you feel like a Galaxy,” Ilea said, not finding a better word at the moment. She saw the rest of the camp packing up, someone waking up a grumpy fox sleeping on a comfortable looking little bed.

“Four hours have passed, human,” Niivalyr said as he stepped up to her bed.

“Go ahead, we need to wait anyway. Tell Ilas to get me here once you’re through,” Ilea whispered.

“And here I thought you powerful. To lose to the lull of sleep, of all thi-” a hiss interrupted him.

“Leave, elf. I will find you when the time has come,” Ilea whispered, seeing many of the Dark Ones frozen by her enhanced voice but she didn’t care.

“Very well,” he said and bowed. “Apologies.”

She waved him off with an ashen arm that grew outwards from her blanket. A giggle resounded in her mind.

The survivors didn’t make a single noise as they passed, various clues for a wide range of emotions graspable within her sphere before she was about to doze off again.

“I’ll probably be near Riverwatch if that’s alright with you,” Maro spoke, only him and Catelyn remaining.

Ilea nodded.

“Come visit some time and don’t get yourself killed. Not for a long while at least,” he added and bowed. “Knight of Rhyvor.” He vanished when the last word left his mouth.

Ilea just smiled and cuddled the Fae closer.

“Visit us whenever you are around and have time,” Catelyn said, floating next to the bed as she eyed the two.

Ilea nodded again.

The fox left, looking back once more before she vanished.

Envy, the Fae giggled.

I know. My bed is awesome, she thought and fell asleep.

Ilea woke up the instant Ilas appeared within her sphere. She had slept much longer than necessary but after all the fighting and healing, she really enjoyed the nap. Several hours didn’t really constitute as a nap but Ilea didn’t support such restrictions.

Everything beyond an hour was a nap because her body simply didn’t need more, even after days and weeks. She hadn’t tested it in a while.

I hope I never get a sleep resistance, she thought and sat up, tapping the Fae that she was pretty sure just acted asleep.

Ilas bowed and waited.

She put on her bone armor and extended her ashen one above before she got up and stored her bed again. Her necklace had the benefit of storing the warmth of the bed as well. Still, she would have to let it air out soon. Not using it nearly enough anyway.

“So. Ready for your little adventure?” she asked the ancient guardian of the first layer.

He nodded. “It is the only purpose left to me,” he said with conviction.

Ilea rolled her eyes. “Come on, you’re nearly at level three hundred. You will live a long time as it is, don’t get overly dramatic on me now. Even if we succeed, there’s plenty of purpose you can find.”

“I… I will think about that once it is done. Come then, let me shroud you against the creatures awaiting above,” Ilas said and activated his spell.

The Fae returned to her shoulder.

Violence!, it conveyed with a hand thrust forward.

“Sure. Oh, before I forget. Don’t intervene in the fight if I don’t ask you to,” Ilea said to the Dark One.

“Of course. I have no interest in the resulting experience, only in the creature’s demise,” he replied.

“I thought you wanted to get the remains out?” Ilea said.

“That as well. And yet I cannot deny a wish to see it destroyed,” he said.

Ilea just nodded, the group coming up on the eighteenth layer.

The shroud remained over them as they floated down to the surface, keeping around half a meter above ground.

Ilea kept her eyes on the floating Sun Sprites, their forms barely distinguishable in the distance.

Fifteen tense minutes later, they entered the stairwell leading up to the seventeenth layer, undiscovered and unbothered. Ilea was almost a little disappointed.

“No violence,” she murmured.

The Fae nodded but gently caressed her armored cheek.

Ilas just glanced at them briefly before he continued, his spell still active. “The Spirits that roam this layer are hostile to those moving closer to the facility. My shroud will keep them unaware. We found that they do not enter the facility itself.”

“Good to know. Anything practical you can tell me about the vampire?” Ilea asked.

“It was brutal, fast and strong but none of that is surprising with a level above five hundred. I am somewhat sure mind magic was involved as well. We could not injure it back then, one of my companion’s summons dragging me out as the rest stalled the creature. It… is rather tall as well. If you can beat it…,” Ilas said.

“I’ll try. You search through as much as you can. Also, remember… tell me all you know right now, as well as any hidden intentions. If they’re there. I will come for you if you are deceiving me,” she said.

“I would not dare lie to the one offering to free me of this burden. I swear it, on all that I am,” Ilas said and bowed deeply.

Trust, the Fae said.

“Let’s see what that thing is about then,” Ilea said, motioning for him to lead the way, shrouded and hidden.

The Spirits didn’t see them, dozens of them floating close to the facility that came into view ten minutes later.

Ilas’ hiding spell really highlighted how the expedition managed to get through all these dangerous creatures.

Ilea wasn’t sure about the utility though. If a huge treasure waited behind the monster, then maybe but at this point fighting the creatures was the main thing she was looking for.

She looked at her hands, blinking a couple times as she watched the minuscule changes and movements in her own ash. She felt it too, had felt it long before but now she saw it as well. It was a little weird but Ilea slowly got used to her eyes.