Chapter 531: The days ahead (1/2)

Chapter 531 The days ahead

‘ding’ ‘You hugged an ancient and powerful creature to show emotional support – One Core skill point awarded’

Maybe I should try to flirt with it to get more points!

The meadow rustled as a breeze flowed through.

“You said that our time was limited before. How long exactly are we talking? If the survivors eat meat, I can supply them with cut off limbs from my own body if need be,” Ilea said.

“When the eclipse reaches its most central point, the Daughters of Sephilon may descend. They perceive even through the shroud of my magic and they will come,” the Meadow said.

“And when exactly is that?” Ilea asked.

“One day from now,” the Meadow said.

“Fuck… I don’t know if I can reach meaningful progress in that time. I better get back to fighting instead of wasting time with talks,” she said.

“I was merely joking,” Endless Meadow said.

Ilea blinked her eyes a few times. “What?”she said out loud.

Another rustling went through the area.

“Michael has supplied me with books. Amusing stories of yours but often built with unlikely scenarios. Do you not think it would be an extraordinary coincidence that the eclipse should reach its central position one day after your arrival?” it said.

“Well maybe the portal itself was only possible when that central position was reached,” Ilea suggested with a shrug.

“Space Magic doesn’t work that way, young Lilith. And I shall teach you. No. We have three hundred of your days until the Daughters may descend. Though should I show myself, they may appear already,” it said.

“So they can come anyway?” Ilea asked.

“Should they find suitable magic for their unlimited need. I don’t think too highly of myself but there is a lot of power here. Enough that even the strains of lower mana might be born to feast, if only for a little while,” the meadow explained.

“So it’s exactly like one of those stories!” Ilea said.

“Only if I show myself!” the Meadow replied.

Ilea squinted. Who’s more annoying. This guy, my system voice, or the Fae? I think I preferred that incomprehensible glob of a thousand consciousnesses.

At least Meadow is sharing information.

“Why is it an issue anyway? Can you not fight them off?” she asked.

“I have survived the last time but few Awakened would be able to survive the wake of such a battle,” it said.

I would. Probably. Now I kinda want to see it.

“I have another question… my third Class. How likely is it to evolve at level two or three hundred?” she asked.

“It should not evolve until you pass the levels you were at upon its acquisition,” Meadow said.

So past three fifty?

“What about core points? Do I get them after three fifty? For the third Class I mean,” she said.

“I believe once they are unlocked, you will receive them in the stead of Class specific third tier points, wherever that may be for your species,” Meadow said.

First one at two hundred then? Ilea wondered. This creature really was a well of information. At this point she didn’t see a reason to distrust its claims, mostly because it didn’t pretend to know all the answers, simply providing assumptions.

It would take time to prove if its assumptions would be worth anything.

“Is there a Fae in this realm?” she asked, having thought of the creatures.

“What’s a Fae?” the Meadow replied as a ripple went through the space around her.

“Was that you?” she asked.

Another rustle went through the grass. This time is sounded deceptively like a sigh.

“You cannot even detect the source of that fracture? And you call yourself a space mage? Perhaps I should have a look at your healing too,” it said.

“Why? Are you a healer too?” she asked.

“Of course I have a healing Class. How do you think I survived this long? Even true Elementals fall to time and wear,” it said.

Ilea doubted that. “Really? Have you seen one die?”

“Have you?” the being asked.

“I did in fact. Yes,” she said. Though I don’t know if that was a true Elemental. Maybe there’s a difference.

“Then that proves my point. You too have surely survived thanks to your healing. Though I hardly feel any life attuned mana from you,” it said.

Shithead.

“That’s because I don’t have life based healing,” Ilea said.

“You don’t? But how would you heal then?” it asked.

She used her ash to cut into her arm before she healed the wound with Sentinel Reconstruction.

“Purely arcane… that’s. A first,” Meadow said.

“Haha… Lilith does it again. Surprising a four mark with my incredible powers,” she said.

Stolen form an ancient healing order without any knowledge as to the Class’ creation.

“Hey how did you not see that before anyway? I was constantly using it,” Ilea said.

“I’m not all seeing, Lilith. Nor omnipresent. I do want to see that again… if you’re willing,” it said.

Ilea shrugged. “Sure, start with your space magic lessons though. We only have three hundred days after all. Let’s put my ten thousand Intelligence to work.”

“That’s not how Intelligence works at all. It simply increases your magic skill damage and some other attributes connected to your skills,” it said. “I see… you were joking? I am learning.”

“Yeah, I’m not, so get on with with,” Ilea said.

“Do you still have them?” Felicia asked. Her smile was gone now, replaced by an air of tension and exhaustion.

It had been about ten to twelve hours since Ilea had last seen her. The woman hadn’t used her mark to call for aid which made her focus on her training for most of the day.

Powerful enchantments and physical barriers had been placed within the ritual hall used by the Order. Anything that came out of the gate would face several dozen guards in the level one fifty range.

Ilea just hoped Meadow’s concealment would really keep the spirits away, otherwise a single one would cause a bloodbath here. So far it had worked.

Most of the guards near the actual gate hadn’t minded her, the story of her healing the injured must have spread in the meantime. One of them informed her about Felicia’s whereabouts but her mark let her find the woman faster than any directions would have allowed.

The officers and nobles in the large and luxurious assembly hall looked at her with the usual mix of skepticism, fear, and arrogance.

While Ilea had trained, Felicia had dealt with the nobles and officials of Gyffold. And the local representatives of the Order of Truth.

It seemed Felicia’s assumption had been true and they didn’t dare strike directly at a Major of Lys. Not once the evidence had been considered.

Ilea saw a letter with familiar handwriting too. Some of Yinnahall’s couriers must have arrived.

She remained covered in ash, stepping a few meters away from the group. “I do,” Ilea said before the three corpses appeared on a bed of ash that vanished again as the bodies were slowly lowered to the ground.

A few gasps resounded, mostly from those present wearing the traditional Order robes.

Their whispers had never ceased but neither Felicia nor Ilea spoke the native tongue.

A few people looking like adventurers talked to Felicia, translating what they heard.

Probably filtering out anything that might suggest betrayal, Ilea though.

Only two of the twenty three people present had a level above Felicia’s, one being Ilea. And knowing her abilities, Ilea doubted the woman had any difficulties getting away.

Or calling for me in the absolute worst case.

She turned to look at the people, her appearance likely crushing any hope for retaliation they might have harbored.

They knew I was here from the reports, surely. But seeing something in person is always a little different.

Ilea smiled wickedly under her armor, purposefully swaying her ash a little more than usual. Benedict surely didn’t leave out her involvement dealing with a few problematic elements.