Chapter 438: Basically just exposition, isn’t it? (1/2)
“What’s the most powerful creature you have ever met?” Ilea asked. They were soon reaching the three hour mark when her little friend could leave its collective once more.
“We are the most powerful.” the Fae replied.
“You’re pretty fucking full of yourself.”
“We are very dense, yes.”
“In a more conventional way… pure force of nature… who can level the biggest mountains with their spells, who can survive the most insane natural conditions, who has the densest mana?”
“We have decided not to tell you.”
“You’re pretty insecure for a being as old as you are.”
“A collection of insecurities. You are pretty mean for someone so weak,” it said.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. You are the most powerful being I’ve met.” their conversation had devolved into quips and banter but it seemed both enjoyed it.
The Fae giggled. “That is how it should be. We have collective knowledge, span through realms and are the most beautiful, violent, prosperous, good and smartest being. Amongst many many other qualities, all of which of positive nature, we assure you.”
“Collection of high opinions as well, hmm?” Ilea teased.
“Of course. We do enjoy discussing our greatness.”
Ilea nodded. “You could probably form a cult or religion among humans or other sapient creatures. With that power and sheer density, I’m sure a lot of people will follow,” Ilea suggested.
“No… there is already an annoying level of reverence for our parts among those you call Dark Ones. It is why many of us choose not to travel among their lands,” it explained.
“Just an immortal god looking for some real friends and stories,” she said and smiled. “Sucks that you can’t shape shift or hide your description from identify. Are there no skills for that?”
“Potentially. Yet we only have theories. If anything the ability is locked to us. There are ways to appear weaker to skills such as identify so be aware of that. At this point you should know anyway to trust more than just a skill like that.”
“I know, I know. I generally don’t care much about levels anyway. Except for the fact that higher leveled monsters provide some good experience.”
“Always focused on killing. Short lived races…,” it faked a huff.
Ilea had certainly become more comfortable with the being in the last hours. By now she felt like she was taking part in an after work gossip session. The creature wasn’t lonely, with its hundreds or even thousands of occupants but many seemed interested in talking to the lowly human.
‘ding’ ‘You have learned the General Skill: Oxygen Repository
Oxygen Repository – lvl 1
Due to unfortunate and/or sexual circumstances, you have been deprived of air for extended periods of time. Somehow you have pushed through to survive. Your body has learned that it may not always be supplied with what it needs. You may survive much longer without oxygen and may store what little you can get for extended periods of time. Apologies for ruining your sex life.
Nice.
“You suggest we just train our skills until we reach suitable levels? Most would die of old age. Especially those not healers.”
“Excuses.”
“You even need class levels to get higher tiers. It’s not like skill levels can be leveled indefinitely, you know? What’s the cap on third tier skills anyway?”
“Thirty. Usually.”
“Great… and when should my next evolution happen? Four hundred?”
“Evolutions depend on classes and achievements. Yours being so insanely powerful, we do not expect another one until you reach level five hundred. Someone with vastly weaker ones might achieve one at three fifty or four hundred.”
“I’ll probably cap my skills then… ah well. Plenty to do and learn anyway, even if they’re at the highest level.”
“Finally, something wise out of your mouth.”
“Did everyone with decent manners and some bloody fucking respect tune out of the conversation by now?”
“Pretty much. Not like you have groundbreaking knowledge to share at this point. Stories would be interesting but you lack the skill to tell them. Maybe a bard of some kind shall learn of your adventures.”
“You’d rather listen to a bard sing about me than hear the stories directly?”
“Some of us, yes. Others prefer an accurate historical retell. This has been a debate for many millennia. Art or history.”
“Subjective,” Ilea said and shrugged.
“As are many things. It does not however mean that no debate should be held. It saddens some of us that true poets and visionary minds rarely reach your level of power. Too conflicted.”
“They read and write instead of going out there to fight. It’s the world itself that causes that problem. Not like you can’t visit them in your weaker and more individual forms,” Ilea said.
“True, though we are limited in our conversation skills outside of this form.”
“Am I technically immortal by now? I mean purely age wise. I know people kind of stop aging after level two hundred.”
“A certain level of Vitality is necessary to stop aging in humans. Two hundred is usually around the point where it slows down so much that your perception coupled with the way you experience the flow of time leads to the illusion that people do not age. Healing skills like your own help as well and with your level it is doubtful that age would be the end of you. Even if you decided to stop adventuring at this very moment.”
“You do know a lot. When is my birthday? I lost track when I came to Elos.”
“Your body has reformed hundreds of times since we have met you and you believe we are capable of determining the date of your creation?”
Ilea nodded. “You do seem so terribly wise. Maybe I was wrong.”
“You lack both vocabulary and wit to taunt us. It is impossible with the data we have.”
“When’s your birthday then?”
“It was two months ago, on the fourth day. The year however is sadly lost, even to us. Our first millennia were shaped by strife and survival.”
“Oh? Interesting. Do tell. Were you born weaker than you are now?”
“Not in the sense you suggest. Our strength has increased since then but not to an exponential degree like your own. Humans have incredible potential, capable to be formed and shaped into what they deem useful and desirable. We did not have that luxury. Many may argue that the strength and ability we were born with is preferable to the potential your species possesses, coupled with your incredibly weak bodies and minds.”
“We have fought and battled, creatures long forgotten by the worlds and its inhabitants. Some laying dormant since time immemorial, others ripped to pieces as small as atoms, returned to the flow of mana itself. We have traveled the realms, many yet to become stable, elemental forces powerful enough to strain even our existence. We have witnessed yet have not yet understood. An infant, steered by instinct.”
“You saw the creation of the universe then? Was there a mother or father that formed you? A being maybe, like an architect or smith that formed the realms?”
“We witnessed creation, the forming of whole worlds and yet there was time before we were, there were worlds and realms even before we came to be. These are questions we have pondered on for many centuries and yet we lack the answers you seek. They are ever fleeting, folding and changing with each new piece we find to set into the puzzle that is space and time itself.”
“There was no mother or father. We are born of the arcane itself, formed by will and magic, the want to live, to observe, to experience. Many a creature has thought themselves the architect of life, some human like yourself. Yet their creations are incomparable to the vastness of space itself. They could not comprehend the terrifying depth of the universe and all its realms.”
“Are realms like dimensions? Or just planets within the universe? Maybe far away from each other.”
“Your realm has pondered questions that few humans here dare ask. It must have been a peaceful place. To allow for such luxury. The universe holds both physical planets and realms. They are all part of the same space and yet for you it would perhaps not seem so. You may find yourself able to travel to the moons and yet find yourself unable to ever reach another realm, no matter how many planets you visit. Only those touched by mana can thrive with life and only those are connected within the net of the arcane. It is why you have not appeared on a planet devoid of air or one made up entirely of gas.”
“I’m not sure I understand. So there are different dimensions? But there are also planets.”
“Realms are not dimensions, they are merely fissures in space itself. Another view perhaps… yet we find it impossible to explain such matters to one unknowing of space and its secrets.”
“True understanding of a topic shows when you can explain it to a novice,” Ilea said with a smile.