Chapter 205 (1/2)

Book 2, Chapter 62 – Enemies and Departures

Since Cloudhaas to be gone for a time, he prepared himself back in theelixirs already, and he had to say Dawn's gifts were helpful Elysian s had, but they were far gentler on his system

Seekers used ancient scientific methods to create pharmaceuticals, which saw results moments after injection The panacea injection was an exa by a factor of ten als often pushed the body beyond its natural li every cell for every ounce of potential for a teood for the short terer periods

Cloudhawk knew this, so he hadn't wanted to risk his health by taking drugs that forced iht her were different They were refined through special processes here in the elysian lands The contents of the bottles were small, but they were the potent extracts of rare ility and regeneration

Most importantly, these elixirs were stable and had no side effects [1]

After training for a little while Cloudhaas surprised to find that he was progressing quickly In only a imen he was able to comfortably perform thirty postures of the de better

For most elysians his incredible improvement would be hard to believe, so to prevent Dawn's shock and probing curiosity Cloudhawk kept it a secret At her current rate of progression Cloudhaas achieving in a couple days what took her a

Dawn Polaris was no typical person, either! Her talent was maybe only surpassed by Selene Cloude's

There was a lot about Cloudhawk that was unique He could hear relics, for instance, and he improved at a faster rate than most If the patriarch of the Polaris fa in hell Valley Skye was looking for people to e people to make them the tip of the spear However with Cloudhawk's current abilities he would be wasted in the vanguard Skye would want to th

Of course fro a servant of the Polaris family He'd always valued his freedom, and as powerful as the Polaris family was it also seemed to attract trouble Cloudhawk didn't like trouble, so he didn't want to be tied somewhere where it could easily find hi

At last the day cao Cloudhawk packed up the feed for Oddball and his elixirs in a travel sack, slung it over his shoulder, and got ready to set out

“It won't do for you to carry your sword in hand all the ti made for you” Dawn Polaris had tracked Cloudhan and threw so at him

Cloudhawk caught it – a sheath, old sword quiet carnage When he slipped the sword in he was pleasantly surprised at hoell it fit He wasn't sure hon had gotten the dimensions of his sword so precise

She ssten steel [2] It cost fifty gold to make Remember to add that to what you owe”

It see every day, and he kneas only going to grow Oddball's food was finite and Cloudhaould needSince Daas the only one with the s for hi road to get out from under what he owed – but that is exactly what Daanted

Dawn thought for a et there When I have time I'll try to find a way to come and visit”

Skye ordered a contingent to acco he was safely on his way to hell's Valley Mr Ink led the party

Cloudhawk didn't get the Polaris fa He had to be son his temper in around hi happened to Cloudhawk on his way to hell's Valley

Skye had also explained the do's and don'ts of Hel's Valley before Cloudhawk left

“The environment out there is harsh, but it's the perfect place to er If you survive you're sure to improve quickly You'll learn a lot there that you can't learn in the elysian lands, so make sure you pay attention”

The shi+p was preparing to depart With his final orders delivered Skye Polaris got ready to leave

But as he turned to go the sound of a griffon carriage co froant convoy as it approached, toward the flags flapping on each one; a crescent moon on a field of blue It was the crest of one of Skycloud city's influential families

Skye's eyes sparkled “The Lunae fa people to hell's Valley as well?”

The contingent of carriages from the Lunae family pulled up near Skye Polaris From within trundled forth a man as precisely the shape of a meatball but the size of a man He waddled toward the Polaris patriarch with an amicable look on his face Easily over three hundred pounds, the rotund individual was clad in iold silk robes A slanted h he was a respectable fifty years of age, the portly gentlemen seemed comical and harmless

“General, of course it'd be you Such a coincidence” Garuda Lunae only ed a few steps before his face turned red and he started puffing The happy sh “This humble man pays his respects”

“You're full of it” Skye huffed as he eyed the Lunae asse men to sacrifice their lives in hell's Valley?”

“So serious, General So grave We are but hters is of little use for us” Garuda's face was suddenly comically melancholy “I'hter, but she insists on being allowed to undertake training at hell's Valley”

Skye looked back at hiers Children of the aristocracy are especially sheltered, and yet she persists You've raised a good girl, have her come out Let me have a look”

Garuda beaet out here and introduce yourself to the commander”

A golden haired young woman stepped out, so thin she almost seemed to float Her pretty face orn to the point of alard, like a stiff breeze could knock her down Her face retained a wooden expression as she made her way over to where Skye stood Once before him she offered a stiff bow “I've met the commander”

Dawn's voice broke into the conversation “H behind me?”