Chapter 593: Deus Ex Meadow (1/2)

Chapter 593 Deus Ex Meadow

“Your body will crumble under the mana pressure. Which is why I’m moving you back,” Meadow explained.

“I can take it, creature,” Feyrair roared, the sound not quite as impressive with his battered dragon body, held back by thick roots and surrounded by barriers.

“Mate, even I can’t escape from that one,” Ilea said.

“A worthy opponent then,” Feyrair roared, his flames impacting the barrier in front of him without discernible results.

Neiphato glanced over. “A wood mage too. A true master at that.”

“I’m sure it’ll teach you some secrets if you ask nicely,” Ilea said.

The elf looked at her with an uncertain expression. “Should I kneel? Pray to it? Or offer something?”

“Yes, yes, and yes, your blood will suffice for now,” Meadow spoke.

“No, no, and no,” Ilea rebuked. “Hey I thought you disliked the divine treatment.”

A rumble went through the creature’s domain. “Ah, well. Occasionally it’s nice to be acknowledged, Ilea. It’s only when hundreds kneel before you where it becomes tiresome.”

“I see. So just a little cult then,” she said.

“Exactly. Already have you five,” Meadow said.

“Sure, whatever you say, tree,” Ilea said. “I need your help with a few things. How is the gate technology coming along?”

“We’re getting close. Well more than close,” Iana said. “The gate itself is operational. But it’s… rudimentary at best.”

“It’s downright embarrassing,” Meadow corrected.

“Rudimentary for humans,” Iana said, one of her eyelids twitching. “However… well if we wanted to have a working network, that’d be it. But security is an important factor. Who gets to use the gates, which destinations can be chosen, how often can one use it, how much mana is used with each activation, how many times can the gate be used before maintenance is required. Well… those are the things we’re working on. And I doubt it’ll be done anytime soon.”

“It shouldn’t take too long. I will guide them through,” Meadow said.

Iana sighed. “It would be easier if you just told us. I do understand the benefits of learning something and want to achieve this myself but the benefits could help hundreds of thousands.”

“I’ve been guiding creatures to their Awakening for thousands of years, young child. Your species has survived thus far without these gates, they shall do so for another few months or years. And you will be grateful for this in the end,” Meadow spoke.

“Like a dad,” Ilea commented with a snicker.

“Well I do lack the capability to birth offspring on my own,” Meadow mused. “But you did not speak of the gates when you came to ask for assistance.”

“Well no, but also, yes,” Ilea said and summoned the Tungsten Key. “There are twelve of these in total, and I need to find them. Iana and Chris, you two already know about it but I thought Meadow might be able to assist with a tracking device.”

“An inspiring creation. Too many layers if you ask me. What would be the purpose of so many redundancies?” Meadow commented.

“It’s not made for practicality,” Iana said. “It’s a key, made to lock something up. Twelve parts that make one, and I doubt even you could copy this or make the rest of its parts.”

“True. Only a madman would try himself at such a task. However… with enough time,” Meadow said.

Ilea quirked up an eyebrow, smiling at the still struggling Feyrair. “How long? Few months or centuries?”

“More the latter unfortunately for you short lived creatures,” Meadow said. “Though to find the other parts, that can be done quickly.”

“There are restrictions too,” Iana said. “Anything that uses this key as guidance would only lead one to the closest nearby part of its whole.”

“Which is enough. With someone like her looking for them,” Meadow said, a chuckle flowing through the area, intertwining with the whines of a cut apart dragonling whose form returned to an Elven one.

“Then I’d like you guys to craft something like that for me. Higher priority than your gate work even. Meadow is right, we’ve been fine without them. I want to find these keys,” Ilea said.

“Why are they so important?” Iana asked, receiving the Tungsten Key.

“We’ll get more information on the Taleen. But more importantly, I’ll get to explore the places where they are at the moment. Which should prove interesting,” Ilea said with a smile.

“But the gates…,” Christopher commented.

“The gates. Yes. Well, I want them to be perfectly secure before anybody else even knows about them, let alone before we build them throughout the plains. They’re a tool that may bring a lot of prosperity, but could also provide the opposite. Let’s not rush it. I understand that a tool to track these keys could be made somewhat soon?” Ilea said.

“Yes. It’s not a particularly difficult task. It seems the makers of this thing even intended for such to be possible,” Iana said.

“I see. I’ll be looking forward to it then. Also, there’s something else,” Ilea said.

“Of course there is,” Iana said and smiled. “Something interesting I assume.”

“Well, yes. I would imagine it is. I need to be able to use the existing Taleen gate network,” she said.

Christopher smirked. “Now that’s something.” He laughed and shook his head. “Arthur tried for decades. Others have too. All have failed.”

“The same is true for our kind. The enemy has control over their network still,” Neiphato said.

“Yeah, that’s why I’m asking Meadow too,” Ilea said. “What do you think? Does that sound like something you’d have an interest in?”

Feyrair was pierced by a dozen roots, his body slammed into the ground a few times before he was flung towards the group, hitting the ground with a wet sound and a groan.

“Hmm. A contest of skill against the species whose secrets have eluded the locals for centuries or more. Yes, that does indeed sound like a worthwhile time investment. If only to show my apprentices how something like that is done,” Meadow said. “Ah, and for you, Ilea. It may prove beneficial to your space magic.”

“I won’t complain if I gain a few levels out of it. Question is, how do we go about it? I don’t think it’s a good idea to take you out of here and into a nearby Taleen dungeon,” she said.

“Indeed, I shall remain here. Iana, why don’t you explain to our friend here why a relocation won’t be necessary,” Meadow said.

“She can understand you now?” Ilea asked.

“Well of course. Contrary to your self centered beliefs, you’re not the only creature capable of resistance training. And neither are you the only one capable of healing,” Meadow spoke.

“I can’t yet,” Christopher admitted. “Though it’s easy to read the signs.”

What signs? Ilea thought and glanced towards the Meadow. She looked at the regenerating form of Feyrair, the elf still coughing up blood as his fires flared up from time to time.

“You… trained… with this… one?” Fey asked in between coughs.

“Oh yes. I know your pain,” Ilea said.

Iana cleared her throat. “I’d imagine a relocation isn’t necessary because the Taleen gates are simply run on enchantments. But Meadow… with all due respect, I don’t think we can simply create a copy here.”

“A copy is not the problem. The problem is linking said copy into the network already established. But what a copy, or more precisely, two copies will allow us, is something else entirely,” it said.

“You want to replicate their network to learn how to bypass their defensive enchantments? That could actually work,” Iana mused, looking to their own gate with a thoughtful expression. “And we could learn how to avoid their mistakes.”

“They didn’t make any mistakes. We tried for years and years. Whole groups of enchanters,” Christopher said.

“I’ve studied the layouts. You failed because the gates were powered off after too much tampering. If Meadow can replicate the gates, that won’t be a problem,” Iana said. “I’d also just like to mention that it could just give us the working Taleen gate technology if it wanted to. All our goals solved instantly,” she added with a sigh.