Chapter 759: Keys (1/2)

“I do apologize for the state of our affairs,” Ben said, now sitting in a white garden chair. “Neither sanitary nor welcoming.” He poured some steaming tea into a cup, porcelain all, a matching table summoned too.

“I’m just fucking with you, Ben. I don’t really care how you live down here,” Ilea mused. “But I do appreciate the tea.”

“She burnt our dinner,” Farthorn murmured.

“That she did,” Elfie confirmed.

They stared at her, barring their sharp teeth.

Ilea summoned a few plates of food. It really was unlike her to destroy someone’s food, but the definition here blurred just a little bit. “Here is something better than questionably fresh meat.”

“Humans and their need to tamper,” Elfie said and grabbed a plate nonetheless. “I suppose some change is fine, from time to time.”

The others did the same, elfing down the food with varied success at masking their enthusiasm.

“Any word from the others?” Ilea asked, sipping from her tea as she leaned back in the creaking garden chair. Very well made indeed.

The elf shook his head. “Nothing yet. Isalthar is preparing for an assault on Iz. Young Hunters won’t do and those who could help are neither easy to contact nor to convince. However the location should help with the latter.”

“I thought he was kind of important in your community, can’t he just call for the others?” Ilea asked.

Ben shook his head and hissed. “It’s not that simple. There are Hunters who would see him dead, for what he has done. Others begrudgingly accept his existence, and yet others see him as competition.”

“How many of you are out there anyway?” Ilea asked.

“It’s impossible to know. Surviving in the Taleen network isn’t something done easily,” he said. “And we’re not the only ones informing young Elves. There are those who choose this way on their own.”

I would’ve hoped for them to organize themselves a little more, with a base of operations, shared knowledge, training and all that. He could just not be telling me everything but maybe they really just do things differently. More instinctual?

“I found the location of one more key,” Ilea said, looking at Ben. “I do recall you said you were born in the Still Valley?”

He sipped on his tea with his eyes focused entirely on her. “That I was.”

She nodded slowly. “It’s there. Somewhere in the middle of the territory.”

Ben set down his cup and crossed his arms. “Are you sure?”

“Largest valley I’ve ever seen, covered in a white mist as far as the eye can see. What looks like roots of ice growing up to the surrounding mountain ranges. Arcane storms to the north,” she said.

“That does sound like my birthplace,” the elf said in a whisper, hissing strangely.

“You want to go into the Still Valley to retrieve one of those keys?” Elfie asked, leaning back now that he was done with his food. Farthorn hissed.

“How important are those keys anyway?” Asay asked. “The risk is… considerable.”

“That is a grand understatement. No invader has ever left the Still Valley,” Ben said.

Ilea rolled her eyes. “Sure. None you know of. None they would’ve told you about. I’ve escaped from the domain of a dragon.”

“Space magic might change things,” Asay admitted with a thoughtful hiss.

“Space magic remains to be just that. Magic. The guardians of the Still Valley do not tolerate those who would invade their realm. The mists are one thing… the forests another, but if their attention falls on you, the very mana flowing in your veins will be frozen,” Ben said. “I perhaps could find a way to resist but the mists will not let me go, nor could I hide from the Elves inhabiting the frozen forest.”

“I can get a third tier Ice Resistance,” Ilea suggested.

“An absolute requirement. If you wish to go in there,” Ben said. “I would dissuade you but you have eclipsed my power and that of many Elves. I believe it is impossible now, to determine the true extent of your abilities, human that you are.”

Ilea selected the resistance, still a few points left.

‘ding’ ‘Ice Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 1’

Ice Resistance – 3rd lvl 1

“Should probably train it up a bit before I make an attempt though,” Ilea mused. “I can now move through ice… and apparently bypass certain… limiting laws?”

“It is why no predator has managed to invade the Still Valley, not even Elves at the height of Monarchs. The Elves of the domain of Ice may not match the sheer brutality of those in the Fire Wastes, or the magical prowess of the Sky domain, but within our lands, none shall live,” Ben explained. “How is your Soul Magic Resistance?”

“Soul mages around too?” Ilea asked.

“No, but the Essence of living creatures acts strangely when ice magic of such authority is being cast. It would do you well to be resilient in all aspects of yourself,” he explained.

“Third tier. I don’t think my soul can be destroyed,” Ilea said.

“Good. You truly are quite… tough,” Ben said as he leaned slightly forward. “If you wish, I can try to help with your ice resistance. And I will tell you of my birthplace. A treacherous land, barren, and cold.” His voice had a tinge of nostalgia as he spoke, a thin smile on his lips.

“I’d appreciate it. A map of the place would help too, even though I have the locator,” Ilea said.

Ben looked at her for a few seconds before he spoke. “You will need more than a map. And I would not trust any magical locator within the Still Valley. Others have tried. It may be beneficial even for you to familiarize yourself with ice magic itself.”