Chapter 658: Search (1/2)

Chapter 658 Search

“You’re really focused on that dragon,” Ilea said. “And here I thought people didn’t even want to say the name.”

Pierce waved her away, crossing her legs as she sat on the chest. “Superstitious folk. We both know every creature out there has its limits. I’m still young and I’ll get me a dragon skull before I retire.”

Ilea smiled. And I’ll get me one to ride. Probably have enough gold to bribe one already. If they’re anywhere near what the fairy tales make them out to be.

She rather assumed the local ideas would turn out true, meaning dragons were creatures so destructive and mighty, people would rather avoid even mentioning them. In fear of summoning one.

“Any clue as to their level?” she asked.

“I’ve only seen three of them. Only one in battle… far north. The ground shook with each of its spells, fire so hot I could feel it from kilometers away. As if the very fabric of our realm was burning,” she mused, a broad grin on her face.

Ilea chuckled. “Doesn’t sound like you want to kill them.”

“Ah, you would understand if you had seen it,” Pierce retorted.

I’ve seen fire.

“What did it fight?” Ilea asked.

The woman shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably something that isn’t alive anymore.”

“You mentioned our realm. Have you been to others?” Ilea asked.

“No, but she has,” Pierce said and pointed to Verena.

The woman didn’t seem inclined to talk about it.

Ilea didn’t push. She had been to several herself after all.

“So what exactly do we do to help the Elves?” Pierce asked.

“I’m collecting these artifacts. There are more like it. And it’ll take a while,” Ilea said.

“I’m happy to join you for a few years, if I get to meet actual real Elves,” Pierce said.

Verena crossed her arms. “I want to know more about the Domains, and the relationship between them and the Hunters.”

Ilea elaborated for a few minutes, explaining what she knew of the societal structures of the Domains and its people.

The women listened intently, asking the occasional question. Both remained silent for a good two minutes after Ilea was done.

“Now I’m even more excited to meet these Hunters,” Pierce murmured. “Hmm, yes, yes, yes.”

“Don’t start with politics again,” Verena said.

“I won’t. I promised, didn’t I?” Pierce answered. “But these Domains… are so much more diverse than I thought. And with their Oracles… ah I want to meet one of those… women being in power. As it should be. Did you meet one, Ilea? Are you one??”

“No, and no,” Ilea answered, summoning a meal, already sitting in her ashen armchair. “What did you mean with the politics comment?”

Verena shook her head.

“I ended two wars, just wasn’t pretty,” Pierce said. “Involved parties blamed some things on me, which made everyone happy.”

“You murdered a lot of people,” Verena said.

Pierce sighed. “Are you arguing they didn’t deserve it? Or that you would’ve done anything different?”

Verena remained silent.

“Getting involved at all was the issue,” Pierce said. “With the stories I heard, you made the same mistake a few times already,” she added, looking at Ilea.

“It’s messy,” Ilea said.

The woman grunted. “Lys is doing better now, same with Asila. But no intervention can change the core root of the issue,” Pierce said.

“Do you know the Destroyer?” Ilea asked, reminded of the man. Their names were suspiciously similar too.

“The pirate? Yes. We were… involved, a few decades back. A little dull though, sailing so much. I needed more space,” Pierce said. “He didn’t take it well. Maybe that’s why the name finally stuck.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Ilea said, looking at Verena.

The woman just shrugged.

“You met him then. So you know of the Lily too… well it makes sense with your power and wealth,” Pierce said. “Helena is the only one keeping all these idiots from slaughtering each other. More than they already are.”

Verena huffed.

“Ironic, yes. With her business,” Pierce said. “But sometimes a good killing is the only thing preventing more killing. Why I enjoy the wilds so much more, don’t you agree, Ilea?”

Ilea smiled. “I suppose that’s one thing we have in common.”

Pierce stood up, clapping her hands together. “What are we waiting for then, we have more strange artifacts to collect! Can you teleport us out of this place? You brought the man to your house with you, didn’t you?”

“Hmm, might be able to use something a little better. My long range ability is limited too,” Ilea said.

“The Taleen gates,” Verena said in a thoughtful manner.

“Of course,” Pierce said. “Ilea, do you actually plan for people to be able to use these gates?”

“You don’t sound like you approve,” she answered.

“No, I’d welcome it. Me personally. I’m just curious,” Pierce answered.

Ilea looked at her for a moment. “It’s not my decision alone to make. We’re working on adapting the technology, instead of using the existing gates. The locations I teleported to so far were far too dangerous for most people, even adventurers. And we can’t control them freely.”

“Connecting cities and countries will already have an unprecedented impact,” Pierce said. “On everything,” she added, whistling a joyous tune. “Any idea when they’re ready?”

“No,” Ilea answered. She assumed it wouldn’t take that long but Pierce didn’t have to know that. She stood up from her chair and spread out her mantle. “So, let’s find out if they have a working gate here.”

The trio continued the exploration of the small Taleen dungeon, its design rather vertical, similar to the Centurion facility, though admittedly far less extensive. There was no throne room, nor any production lines. No Praetorians showed up either, only a few more Centurions providing little resistance against her magic. Should I take a few spares for Aki? she wondered, deciding to put a few into her necklace. Just in case.

Luckily the machines only took up a single unit per piece, Ilea taking three.

“These normally explode, don’t they?” Verena asked, looking at the unmoving machine resting in front of a closed entrance.

Ilea activated a rune near the stone door, having recognized the writing above. “Not if you disable them fast enough,” she said, the entrance sliding open.

“They’re not exactly the pinnacle of the Taleen, but defeating one is no small feat either,” Pierce said.

Ilea didn’t comment on it. She would’ve agreed a few years back but Centurions weren’t worth a mention to her. She wondered how she would fare against an Executioner at this point, with her main Classes evolved. They were dangerous foes but her advancements were substantial. I don’t have to worry. But the army that came for us back in Iz…

She dismissed the thought, walking into the large hall as she inspected the Taleen gate. Ilea checked the control panel and inserted the second modified key, selecting the destination map right after.

“We can theoretically go to any of those places?” Pierce asked. “Where are we now?”

Ilea pointed to a vague area in the floating map. “Somewhere here. This should be close to Dawntree,” she added, pointing at another section.

Pierce whistled, Verena remaining quiet.

“Maybe I underestimated their importance,” Pierce said. “That’s more than twenty times the area humanity claims as its territory,” she added and laughed.

“Doesn’t mean they controlled it all,” Verena said.

“Bold of you to assume humanity controls the plains,” Ilea said in a dry tone.

“Fair enough,” the woman answered.