Chapter 667: Gods (1/2)

Chapter 667 Gods

Ilea knew her time would soon be up, pushing farther into the expansive complex as she looked through the confusing mesh of interior design choices. She was about to send a message to Verena when she appeared inside a large study. Like many of the other rooms, it was well furnished, carpets covering the steel floor and a hearth crackling away behind a huge wooden desk.

Behind the table floated a large humanoid currently hunched over a set of books and papers. The fiery light of flames danced over its steel surface, an intricately designed and decorated white robe covering most of its torso and legs, two eyes shining with dim white light. An Ascended.

The being didn’t react at first, murmuring something to itself as it turned a few pages, taking a note inside of a massive tome.

[Nature Mage – lvl ???]

Ilea could tell it wasn’t the same creature she had met before, not only because of the identification. The interlinking metal plates looked similar but not exactly the same, the design flowing in a different way as if a separate armor model made by the same smith. Its head lacked the same adornment the other Ascended had, instead wearing some sort of half ring set atop its steel scalp. It seemed a little more slender, but Ilea wasn’t sure if she remembered the other one well enough to be sure.

“And who might you be, curious human?” it spoke, producing sound instead of using telepathy, the steel in its face moving slightly to suggest cheekbones and jaws. Its voice sounded distinctly female, the being yet to use a spell.

Ilea watched it, making sure to keep an eye on the mesh of enchantments around them. She was still thinking of a reply when the Ascended spoke again.

“I would prefer, if there were no battle. There is research here dating back millennia, its destruction a loss to all beings alive,” the Ascended spoke. “I am sure, we can find some sort of agreement.”

“That sounds acceptable,” Ilea answered after a moment. It was not the same Ascended after all, or so she assumed at least. If a fight could be avoided, she would certainly accept. And if it turned out to be inevitable, she would only benefit from more information. “I didn’t expect an Ascended here in the north,” she said, her wings moving lazily, her body tense to allow for a quick departure.

The creature looked at her for a moment. “Does that mean you did not come for me?”

“I didn’t. But now that I found you, I’m certainly curious. I don’t plan to destroy your research, but if you attack me, I’ll make sure to leave nothing but ashes behind,” Ilea said.

“I am well aware of your capabilities, human. There is no need for childish threats. We have established our position,” it said and paused. “I must warn you, there is one more within this facility, a human much like you.” Its eyes glowed a little brighter before it spoke. “Have you killed them?”

“You’re the first living creature I have found,” Ilea said honestly. She decided to risk it and sent a message to Verena. “Stand down for now. Do not attack until I call.”

The Ascended made a whistling sound. “Amusing. One able to traverse the mesh, without notice. You are a space mage then, a capable one at that.”

Another person materialized next to the Ascended in the same instant, the mesh around them vibrating with power.

Ilea didn’t move, seeing the person and smiling slightly as she charged her heat and Archon Strike, just in case.

He was human, just like the Ascended had informed, wearing a long sleeved buttoned black shirt and pants, his black hair rather long and open, with gray streaks visible. His near golden eyes looked almost reptilian, glaring at Ilea with power vibrating around him. Several spells seemed just about to be cast but he held them, for now.

[Barrier Mage – lvl 442]

“Long time no see,” Ilea said with a grin. She ignored the slightly confused expression in his eyes and addressed the Ascended instead. “I didn’t come for him either.”

“Who are you? How did you get in here?” the man asked.

Ilea sighed. “I left that little of an impression. Albert, was it?” she said, remembering her talk with Elana and Maro. She decided not to mention any of that quite yet. The present tension was quite obvious.

Recognition seemed to spark in his eyes. “The ash mage, with the Shadows. You made me relocate,” he mused, with a slightly annoyed tone.

“Those traps killed plenty of people,” Ilea retorted.

He touched his chin lightly, clean shaven now. “I faintly recall telling you that it wasn’t me who built that place,” he informed. “How is the girl? Cless.”

Ilea smiled. “She’s doing well. Busy with lessons and painting. Who knows, she might just be sketching the both of us right now.”

He breathed in deeply, most of the tension in his body leaving as his eyes softened a little. “Even if she advanced at a pace as ludicrous as yourself, her divination would not be able to penetrate the barriers in place. You on the other hand, slipped through. Which means you did more than advance your ash and healing.”

“A little,” Ilea said. “I expected another tomb or dungeon here…,” she mused. “There are so many things I wanted to ask you, and you for that matter,” she said, glancing to the Ascended. “Remember when you cut off my limbs in an attempt to stop me?”

“I did what had to be done,” he said.

“I fought better barrier mages than you and no, you could’ve easily done something else. I was at level two hundred,” she said.

The Ascended sighed. “You really are a Shadow. Come, let us move into the lounge, we hardly ever use it these days. I’m sure your tensions will be settled with some tea and baked goods.”

“No need to patronize the flesh beings,” Albert said.

“Shush, go on, and disable the barriers while you’re at it,” the Ascended said.

Are they? Ilea thought, glancing between the two as Albert gestured for her to go through the door. She did offer baked goods.

Both of them followed her to the sitting area she had seen upon entry, Ilea not concerned by her walking ahead due to her dominion. If anything it would be a good test, to see if they would use a perceived advantage to attack. What the hell is this guy doing up here with an Ascended?

She really hoped they wouldn’t just teleport away or try to fight her.

“Here we are,” the Ascended said and summoned a few plates holding various cookies, the dough still warm. A chocolaty smell spread through the vicinity, Albert’s stomach growled. “When have you eaten last?”

He sat down in one of the armchairs, displacing one of the cookies into his hand.

Ilea blinked her eyes at the spell. “Why not just do that instead of cutting me apart?” she asked, sitting down opposite the man and moving a cookie too.

“What do you mean? I can’t move living creatures. Which means you can… what kind of Class did you get? You don’t strike me as a studious type. In so little time… who are you?” he asked.

The Ascended sat down too, her arms and legs crossed as she did not summon a cookie.

“Ah to be trapped in a steel shell, unable to appreciate their own culinary wonders,” Ilea mused, biting into the doughy chocolate chip cookie as she made eye contact with the Ascended, ignoring the enjoyable confusion coming from the old mage. The very old mage, she mused. What did you do for so many thousands of years, not even a three mark? Or is there some kind of spell preventing me from seeing?

None of her skills suggested such.

“What’s that look for?” he asked.

“Please, why don’t you tell us who you are, and why you are here,” the Ascended said.

Ilea ate another cookie and smiled. “I’m Lilith, associating with Ravenhall, the independent one, and Hallowfort in the north. There is something here that I need, but I’m not quite willing to tell you what it is.”

“The only thing intricate enough to be tracked through the barriers is that damned key,” Albert said. “I told you we should’ve just left it somewhere in the ice. We’re lucky a human of all things came to look for it.”

The Ascended ignored his complaints. “Why do you seek the Copper Key?” she asked.

“I thought we were sharing,” Ilea said.

The being paused. “I am Nes Mor Atul, Navuun of Kohr and a former member of the great Unity, Olym Arcena. You may know the Navuun as Ascended, though I do not abide by that name,” she explained and gestured to Albert.

“Albert. We’ve met before. I don’t feel the need to explain myself to an intruder on a treasure hunt,” he said.

“It’s good to meet an Ascended, or Navuun, that doesn’t attack me instantly,” Ilea said. “I’m interested to learn about your kind.”