Chapter 664: Upgrades (1/2)

Chapter 664 Upgrades

The two flew southwards, Verena easily resisting the high velocity.

Now that I think about it, I still didn’t see her take an actual hit. How tough is she? Pierce seems mostly focused on speed and teleportation, coupled with her thick armor. Verena even shows skin, and her magical armor is just a bunch of fire.

“You’re a berserker, right?” Ilea said, slowing down as they reached the southern mountains, her charged wings not exactly providing an environment for a leisurely chat.

The woman just looked at her.

“I just… haven’t seen you fight at all, and you’re not wearing any fancy armor. Despite your level and access to smiths,” she said.

“I’m not as impressive as you,” Verena said. “Getting injured. Helps,” she added as a form of explanation.

Ilea smirked, wondering if the woman had the third tier of Pain Tolerance already unlocked. Considering the age difference and varied creatures she had surely fought, there was a high chance. But she assumed there were other skills as well, skills within her Classes. “To be honest, you just don’t strike me as the berserker type.”

“Hmm,” the Elder mused, a light smile on her face as they flew past a distant Morhill, the city once more bustling with life.

Haven’t visited Balduur in a while, Ilea thought. But I suppose Iana can come here through the gate whenever.

She wondered if the enchantress ever did as much, with how focused she was on her work.

They reached Ravenhall a few minutes later, merchants and travelers glancing up at the two flying adventurers with interest.

The two landed in the snow a few hundred meters away from the city, a general courtesy towards the guards and their high level teams who would have to intercept flying arrivals. And whatever alarms Claire would receive if they rushed past magical sensors likely put in place even far above the walls.

“You think it’s enough?” Verena asked as they tread through the snow, quickly reaching the well traveled road, the ground here merely mud and ice.

“The walls you mean?” Ilea asked. “Not against that dragon,” she mused.

“Another Meadow would be helpful,” Verena said. “But they would not accept it, even if we were that lucky.”

“Probably not, I agree. Let’s hope the low mana density keeps monsters away, as it apparently has for a long time. Otherwise all human cities would just be rubble at this point,” Ilea said.

The Elder laughed. “Probably.”

“Lilith,” the guard at the gate greeted. “Elder Quil,” he added, a smile on his face as he gestured them into the city. “Welcome back.”

A few people around them started murmuring, looking at the two nondescript adventurers as they joined the flow of people in the outermost wall.

Ilea transferred into the headquarters, the door itself locked.

Two Sentinels appeared a moment later, clad in stonehammer steel and bone armor, looking at her when Verena appeared next to her.

One of them removed their helmet and smiled. “Lady Lilith. Welcome back,” the young man said and bowed lightly, his colleague mimicking the gesture.

[Battle Healer – lvl 152]

[Battle Healer – lvl 143]

“Nathan, Ford. Good to see you. Impressive progress too,” Ilea said and smiled.

“Formidable,” Verena said. “When I saw the first of them, I knew the Shadows wouldn’t remain the most respected name from Ravenhall.”

“Thank you. Not quite as impressive as yours, I’m sure. We’re supposed to register any guests that come,” Nathan said.

“Elder Quil, of the Shadow’s Hand,” Ilea informed them as she walked past. “Is Trian around?”

“He should be in his office, Founder,” Ford informed her.

She saw them through her dominion as they walked down the stairs, watching them grin at each other while putting on their helmets once more. They slammed them against each other like some kind of horned animals, resuming their posts in a guard room covered with enchantments and devices, and a game of cards on a small table.

Fucking idiots. I love them.

The few Sentinels they saw greeted Ilea and her guest. She felt pride well up as she watched the high level healers go about their daily business, training and eating together.

Verena smiled lightly when they reached Trian’s office door.

“Have you met him already?” Ilea asked, knocking.

An enchantment lit up within her perception, opening the door through a magical charge.

Verena looked into the room, the two seeing Trian sit behind his desk, a few documents vanishing as he smiled and glanced at the guests. “Trian Alymie. I had my suspicions. After what happened in Virilya. And knowing he was part of your team.”

Kyrian walked in from a side room, a cup of tea in hand. “Is Pierce here too?”

“She’s found someone else to annoy,” Ilea answered.

Verena sighed. “Ah, now it makes sense. Team thirty four.” she mused, looking at their shifting expressions. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Ilea said and sat down opposite the Headmaster. “Some new findings, some new potential issues, good that you’re here too Kyrian.”

“You were only gone for a day. What did you do this time?” he asked, a slight grin on his face as he summoned himself a chair.

The two took the new information in stride, Verena being the most surprised at their lacking reactions, if anything.

“I saw you posted guards,” Ilea said, pointing upwards.

“Yes. The interest for our organization is mounting, not just potential new students, but opportunistic adventurers, thieves, and spies. Two mid level Sentinels are enough to handle them usually. Not everyone has to know we have a working… Aki, on our side,” he said.

“You can trust her,” Ilea said.

“You trust too quickly,” Kyrian said. “No offense meant,” he added, looking at the Elder.

She just shrugged.

“I’m actually here because of him. He’s still around I hope? Or did he want to go on missions?” she asked.

Trian sighed. “He’s taking out his frustration on the students. Aki did enjoy stalking and intimidating intruders, maybe the machine itself is influencing him.”

“No, that seems like something he’d enjoy,” Ilea said.

“You knew him before… the Sentinels enjoy the rougher treatment anyway. Which means I’m the only one left to make sure this doesn’t turn into a cult,” he sighed.

“More than it already is,” Kyrian said. “It’s good that you showed your face, and that you’re human.”

“You took the job?” Ilea asked.

The man looked down. “A bit of combat training and curse resistance. Not much yet. I do want to relax while I’m here, before it’s back to the Isles,” he said and rolled his shoulders.

“Yeah, about that,” Ilea said and scratched the back of her head. “It might not be safe anymore to go there.”

“The dragon… you think she could follow your teleportation?” he asked before he nodded slowly. “Better be safe, you’re right. It doesn’t matter if she can or cannot follow.”

“Exactly. I’ll go see Aki then,” Ilea said and stood up. “I assume it’s fine if he’s gone for a while?”

Trian waved her off. “I’m here too. And your monster healers are already more of a threat than that single machine.”

Ilea grinned. “A good time for an upgrade then,” she mused.

“I’ll join up in a few days,” Kyrian said.

“Sure, just send me a message,” Ilea said, leaving with Verena in tow, the woman giving the two men a nod. “Speaking of message, I can remove the mark if you like. I’m pretty sure you can too.”

The Elder looked at the rune on the back of her right hand. “It’s useful. While we work together. Aki, he’s a Taleen machine?”

“Not really?” Ilea said. “Kind of? You’ll see,” she added, checking through the training halls with dominion until she heard the familiar steel impacts, seeing the fast moving spear wielder run after a few teleporting Sentinels, their missing limbs regenerating.

“No wonder they’re already so strong,” Verena said. “This would be incredibly risky, even with healers nearby.”

“Being one yourself is the best way to know what to fix, and how to do so,” Ilea said. “He’s not going for lethal blows.”

“The device in its neck, I assume that’s what you meant,” Verena said.

“Perceptive,” Ilea answered.

“The core… I see. Not quite another Meadow, but your working hard to add terrifying beings to your allies. What’s your end goal?” she asked.

“World domination, of course,” Ilea said in a dry tone.

“Hmm,” the woman mused, mostly ignoring the comment.

“Fresh meat, I see,” Aki said with glowing green eyes, twirling his spear as he looked at the two newcomers.

The sentinel squad paused, using the time to heal up and spread out in a tactical manner.