244 The Triforge (2/2)

”Come on, you two,” said Li to the two brothers as the rest of the party were carried atop the pumpkin through the roots. ”Come up here. Unless you want to cross through the West on your own.”

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The Vukanovi made its way through the Midpath without much issue. There were knight patrols around the strategically crucial road that linked the Triforge to Riviera that immediately saw the massive, shambling horror of a pumpkin and raised their weapons, but from within the pumpkin, Li could project his voice to calm them down, affirm his identity and purpose.

The Vukanovi also was essentially an automaton following Li's every single whim and will, so it did not have the unpredictability of a living creature that might have lashed out at creatures that showed it sudden hostile intent.

The duchess had done a rather good job of informing everyone in the chain of military command that Li was approaching and to be aware of it, and so there was not much issue traversing the Midpath. Just the scared looks of knights shaking in their armor at the presence of the plant creature, though in a way, Li did find it amusing that they were so terrified of what was basically a big pumpkin.

Inside the familiar, Li could indeed confirm the space was cozy. It was almost like a different dimension within. It was a surprisingly spacious single room lit up with a warm, orange light that mimicked the comforting luster of a home fireplace, and the light could be adjusted for easier sleeping.

There was enough space for everyone to make their own beds and spread out their supplies, and it was possible to look out of the pumpkin through its own sight, though it was impossible for others outside to look into the pumpkin's light covered eyes and see what was within it.

”We'll travel in the Vukanovi for now,” said Li. He had a map sprawled out at the center of the room, and everyone else was huddled around it. He pointed a finger to a depiction of three spires linked together by chains. ”Until we get through the Triforge mountain pass.”

”The Triforge…,” said Mason reverently.

”What of it?” said Li, and the beastwomen leaned in as well, for they were not native to this land and knew nothing of what was beyond Riviera.

”Legends say it is a cursed spire,” said Mason. ”Once a mighty fortress for dwarves.”

”Now a ruin,” continued Mercer. ”Three tribes of dwarves there were, and three forges they held in each spire. In one of the earliest demonic invasions, the forges were swallowed in darkness, and then, the dwarves were no more, and the spires ever forbidding to mortal travel.”

”Seems to me some adventurers still pass through it,” said Li. ”Like Triple Threat, for example.”

”Of course Triple Threat can do that,” said Mason with a reverent nod. ”They are the finest heroes of Riviera, after all.”

”Ah, I see,” said Li. ”Then the Triforge will have no problems that should concern us. Then let us plan for after we pass through it.”

”Good seer,” said Mercer, evidently worried. ”I hear tales of an ominous presence in the Triforge. A sleeping evil spirit, some say, one that the dwarves attempted to summon to fend against the demons, only to find that it turned its horrible wrath against them. Even adventurers choose to sneak their way past the Triforge for such reason. Should we truly, well, travel like this? With such noise and presence?”

”Come to think of it, I have yet to see a Primal Spirit face to face,” said Li.

He knew that Primal Spirits were basically the highest tier of spirits in Elden World ranging from level 60-90, many of them representing primordial elemental or conceptual forces. They were masters of wind, fire, ice, water, rage, love, hate – whatever it was that they embodied.

His close friend from the past world, Oceanmaster, was also a Primal Spirit in broad classification, though at level 100+ he ascended even past that into becoming an Ocean Vein that was basically more god than any spirit.

”I would like to see one, if only for curiosity's sake, and I know it will do Tia very well to see all manner of new people and beings,” said Li, completely unworrried. ”So onward we go.”