Chapter 444: Busy Schedule (1/2)

Ilea said her goodbyes for now, no further requests coming from the group of teachers. She thought about visiting Iana but decided to wait another day with that.

There had been a lot of talking, a lot of new people. The way they looked at her freaked her out a little. Near reverence. Lilith had a name, apparently not just here in Ravenhall but farther out as well.

She tried to come off as casual as she could but the demonstrations were a little too effective. At least they all want to stay and most might actually continue with the resistance training.

Back in some casual clothes and leather armor, Ilea went back into the city. She was looking forward to the wilderness but a couple short stops were still necessary.

People don’t know my face, she thought, walking towards the second circle. Ravenhall had the benefit of the Shadow’s Hand, making high level adventurers something most people barely looked at twice.

The Shadowguards assumed it was her, black hair and a high level healer tag probably rare enough in these parts. That however was a good thing too, meaning the controls were quick and simple. She just hoped the guards were as respectful to everyone else as well. So far there was no reason to believe otherwise.

No beggars in the streets, she noted. Neither in the first ring nor the others.

She quickly made her way to Claire’s office, blinking into the building after signaling to the guard.

“Come in,” the woman said. She was sitting on her desk, as she generally did. Working on the unending administrative workload from the city and the Hand.

“Do you ever tire?” Ilea asked as she stepped into the room.

Cless wasn’t there today but her little art station remained, taking over a third of the room.

“I doubt you sleep much either, with your progress,” Claire said and summoned a piece of paper. “Here is the list of general skills you could learn. I added small notes with my opinions.”

Ilea nodded. “Thanks Claire. I appreciate the work.”

“Of course you do. Here’s a map with known dungeons in the surrounding regions. Many are controlled by governments, the regional adventurer guild or other groups. Our info there isn’t up to date but I’m sure you’ll figure something out once you’re there. Be it sneaking past or paying a small tribute,” she explained and summoned another sheet onto the table.

A hand drawn map with various marked locations.

“That will be useful,” Ilea said. “I don’t think going back into the Descent already would be the best idea.”

“I agree. Hence the map. I’m sure even you will find something suitable to train against. The ones marked with a skull, artist’s choice, are the ones generally avoided even by higher level teams,” Claire said.

Ilea nodded and looked through the list of general skills.

Alchemy (If you are interested. Mostly expensive to learn)

Astronomy (Requires quite extensive knowledge)

Baking (I’d go for it)

Brewing (If you’re interested)

Calligraphy (Should be possible to pick up fairly quickly with your Dexterity)

Carpentry (Might be good)

Cartography (There are shops owned by you that could offer training in this – might take a month)

Cooking (ask Keyla – good idea, might take a week or two to learn)

Dancing (I could teach you)

Enchanting (Iana is busy and it’s not your forte. I’d leave this one)

Engineering (Complex topics, if you’re interested)

Farming (Not so much, would take months to learn)

Fishing (If you enjoy it – others probably more efficient)

Herbalism (Extensive knowledge necessary – don’t if you have any related skills in your Class)

Instruments (Take long to learn)

Jewelry Making (Has potential)

Languages (Too much effort)

Leatherworking/Tailoring (Plenty of shops. You’re probably too strong, not recommended)

Mining (Definitely, should be simple enough for you. Grab a pickaxe and go to town)

Painting (Cless would surely offer – might take longer)

Pottery (An option but difficult)

Resistances (Explore the dungeons, some new things might pop up – I will keep looking)

Singing (Not sure)

Smithing (Good idea, would take a while but you might be able to do small repairs)

Survival (Probably impossible for you with your regeneration, I’d let it be)

Tracking (With your perception, might be worth the trouble. Not if you have a skill like that already)

Trapping (Would need to travel with someone)

Weapon skills (You learned about archery. Keep on that. Anything else you need, let me know)

“That’s a lot of stuff,” she said.

“I just listed some common ones. You can get a general skill for many things if you just dedicate enough time and effort towards learning it. Some on the list should be rather easy for you to get, others only make sense if you’re interested,” Claire said.

“I’d like to learn how to use a war hammer. If you could find me a teacher. During my mornings sometime in between or just in the arena as well. I’ll take you up on the dancing offer. Any of the dungeons on the map a former mine?” Ilea said.

“Mines often turn into dungeons. I’m sure you’ll find some of them on there,” Claire replied.

“That’s good to know. The main thing I get from this skill list is that most everything can be a skill,” Ilea said.

“That was part of the intention. Also to give some helpful starters. Any random skills you would have picked up by fighting monsters, you would have already picked up by now,” Claire said.

“Weird that I don’t have Cartography. I did map out some dungeons,” she said.

“Takes more than some. Especially as a general skill. If you have it as a class, it would be easier to level,” Claire explained. “Same reason why you shouldn’t try to get anything you have already covered by any of your class skills. Any experience will just flow into them instead.”

“Class skills are the priority. Anything else I can pick up or level is just the cherry on top,” Ilea said. “So, when are we having those dancing lessons?” she asked with a smile, pocketing the two pieces of paper.

“I have plenty left to do. Maybe tomorrow?” Claire suggested.

“Sure. I’ll visit after I’m done with the Sentinels,” she said.

“How did it go, by the way?” Claire asked.

Ilea talked about the experience but kept it short, both of them eager to get on with their tasks.

Task of getting the hell out of this city, she thought and made her way over to the Golden Drake. At the very least saying hello after arriving back in Ravenhall was mandatory. And checking in on her supplier. To make sure that she was safe.

Ilea left the city half an hour later, checking her map as she exited through the northern gate.

“Ma’am, are you sure you want to leave alone at night?” a guard asked, clutching his spear tightly.

[Warrior – lvl 84]

Ilea smiled. “I think I’ll be fine.”

There were a couple dungeons nearby but Claire had scratched them through. Either because the magic types used by the creatures within were common amongst humans or because the level was too low to even consider.

The latter wasn’t necessarily a valid concern with Avatar of Ash. Ilea still decided to go a little farther north, spreading her wings before she ascended.

One of the dungeons close to the imperial plains was specifically marked. It also had the little skull indicating that there were unknowns present or the nearby population and adventurers actively avoided the place.

Ilea charged her wings and sped up and over the mountains, realizing quickly that the landscape here wasn’t as vast and expansive as that in the north. She slowed down again and descended, already past the mountain chain within which Ravenhall and Morhill lay.

The sky was rather clear, only a few clouds visible. Ilea took a deep breath as she looked at the mountains. The terrain changed rather quickly, from the plains showing low hills to the steep mountainous incline that soon reached dangerous heights and cliffs.