The city of Luva was very different from Zuva. For one, there was a huge black stone wall visible surrounding the city. From the view from above and the maps we had read the wall surrounded the entire Pillar, and was split in several sections so that even if a horde of Nightmares did break through in one place, the rest of the city could still be protected. Several Sun Stone spotlight were pointing out of the city during the night time, and mirrors from above would funnel light during the day to the entire city.
The buildings themselves were more compact and sturdy than those from above, with narrow windows whose only purpse was to bring light into buildings isntead of having a nice view, to metal reinforced doors.
The last time the city had been overrun by Nightmares was six years ago. The Locust Swarm had come through, and the entire Pillar had been locked down. Citizens hiding indoors for weeks using a tunnel system developed early in the citys history to bring food across the neighborhoods. The Cheshire family had single handedly stopped the city from losing most of their citizens to starvation.
Its said that even to this day people would find corpses of the dog sized locust in the area.
After exiting the lift Mr. Rider stayed behind to give instructions to the others that would be coming down. Meanwhile we were told that we could go and explore the city for a little and grab some food, and were expected to meet at the city gates in three hours.
As the sergeants of the Forged Order had been here before they recommended some restaurants.
Citizens moved out of the way for the huge Champions and their counterparts, but I noticed that they didn’t have the same gawking reverence as they would on the surface. They must’ve been a much more common sight here than up above.
After a very awkward meal of burgers, where I learned that the Champions’ armor could even peel back the gauntlets to let them use their fingers, we headed to the citys edge.
I watched Melanie joke with the Forged Order members, and wondered how it had taken her less
Exiting the city through the imposing wall I saw that all the professors and Sergeant Brightstrike were already there. The only other team was Cystella, who despite being able to get out of having other Rising Dreamer Academy students as teammates still had the twenty Forged Order members. So it looked very odd to see the very short girl with Stygoscript and scars all cross her exposed skin surrounded by armored and armed figures.
While we waited for the other teams to arrive, Vit, the sergeants and I all started to compile our information. Squad Sergeant Denev and Knight Sergeant Coles stayed out of it, stating that they were there to help train the others, and having them take point on something like this was good for them.
Based on where we were at the moment we could eliminate seventy percent of the possible destinations. There was a chance that we would circle around the city and head in another direction, but it was unlikely.
Sergeant Brightstrike took a step forward.
“Now that all of you are here I will tell you the first task you must complete, and just so you know, your Squad Sergeants and Knight Sergeants will not aid you unless you are in real danger. Do you all see the hill with the beam of sunlight shining on it behind me?”
The city’s edge was first a ring of barren burned land, then shifted to cropland a few hundred meters out. The forest that had once been there was cut down so Nightmares could not sneak up to the city wall. Behind the rolling hills of crops was a lake, and behind that lake were more rocky hills. A single, larger hill stood out, shaped like a rolling wave with a column of light shining down on the tip.
“That is your goal. I want you all to get there two hours before sundown. One of the key things you must know while traveling the Layers is resource management. Food, shelter, water, clothing, and of course, Sun Stones. Sun Stones need time to recharge, but mirrored charging stations decrease the time necessary. If you reach the hill with at least two hours to spare then you can use your mobile charging stations. If you don’t then you will have to start eating into your reserve Sun Stones. Dreamers, an additional task just for you is to hunt and kill a single Nightmare. You are not allowed help from the Forged Order at all, but you still need to arrive with them at the same time.”
Based on what Vit and myself had gone over, we should have plenty of time to travel to the hill if we were just walking. However the real challenge was the Nightmare hunting. The area around the city had been mostly cleared of the dangerous Nightmares, however in turn that had created a boost of prey-type Nightmares.
A lot of so-called prey-type Nightmares could still kill your average man.
Sergeant Brightstrike stepped back to the teachers and started talking to them again. All of the students just stood there for a few moments, but the Forged Order started talking amongst themselves.
I guess there was no start signal.
“Champion Armor Manual states that the best speed for fuel efficiency is a brisk walk,” the Champion I recognized as the black Glassian man said.
What was his name again? It started with a Q. Quill? Quinn?
“A brisk walk for a Champion is very different than for one of us. Not to mention the kids,” a backpacked female soldier said. “What we should do is go for rucking speed. The terrain is pretty mild until we get to those rocky hills. We will have to slow down there so as not to roll ankles or fall.”
Not only were the two lead sergeants not conversing with the group, but the six other sergeants were not either. They were leaving it to the twelve lower enlisted to make a plan.
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“While they do that we need to decide which Nightmare to hunt. Monty, what is the least dangerous Nightmare we have a decent chance of encountering on our way there?” Vit said.
I pulled out my notes, quickly skimming through them, then double checking within my Dreamscapes library.
“Triperitous Bunny. It is completely non-hostile, however it is very difficult to catch. When spooked the rabbit will conjure dozens of life-like copies that will all scatter. For young Triperitous Bunnies it is easy to see the fakes as their clones do not move grass or have shadows. Older ones do have a corporeal form, and there are even those that when destroyed will make the one who attacked hallucinate for a short while.”
“Do you think we can get one?” Elina asked.
Vit, despite being the newest to the group, often led planning discussions. To me it made sense, as he was methodical and was good at making plans. However when it came to Nightmares I was the one they would turn to.
“The issue I see is that we could waste a lot of time trying to chase one down. If possible we can go after a slightly more dangerous Nightmare, but I believe it will be rather simple to kill. Melanie alone could do it.”
“I don’t know what you mean by that,” Melanie said, squinting at me. “Why didn’t you just say that option to begin with then.”
“I was asked what is the least dangerous Nightmare we have a chance of seeing.”
Melanie rolled her eyes.
“Take some initiative then.”
Elina took a step forward, placing a hand on Melanies shoulder.
“Hey it's fine, we got a better alternative before we spent hours chasing rabbits. What's the Nightmare you have in mind Monty?”
“It's an invasive plant type called Carvini Cabbage, as its name suggests it is shaped like a cabbage and eats meat. It uses its root system as feelers, and when it feels small prey walking over its roots the roots will cinch around it, suffocate the rodents, and bring it to the mouth to feed.”
“We are not rodents, will it feel the difference?” Elina asked.
“Yes, but we have a few options to go around that. Some people will roll rocks in front of them on the ground. However, I think-”
“Ooh, let me guess, we can sense it because we are Dreamers?” Melanie exclaimed.
“Not with our current level, unless one of us has a Wit that does so. At least that is what the library books told me. There is a simpler solution. We ask the farmers. If any of those nearby have a Carvini Cabbage then its an easy fix. As for fighting the Nightmare. The Nightmare uses a glob of acidic fluids to attack along with its roots when in danger. If we kill it quick enough though neither of those should come into play.”
I had gotten the idea to ask the farmers from Vit. Back when we first met he had told me a lot of deficiencies with my binder, and I had taken that lesson to heart. There was more than one solution to a problem. Instead of going for the difficult rabbit Nightmare, we would go for the one that couldn’t run and someone might already know the location of.
The sound of clinking armor altered us to the Forged Order coming toward us.
“Do you have any plans for hunting the Nightmare? We are not supposed to help you, but that doesn’t include planning,” the Champions name who started with Q asked.
“We do actually. There is a weaker Nightmare known as a Carvini Cabbage that is often seen in these fields. We were going to ask the nearby farmers if there were any suspected locations of some,” Vit replied. “I think you all should follow a safe distance away. We don’t want your armor to scare off any potiential prey.”
“We’re fighting a plant,” Elina said.
“Unless we run into a different Nightmare like the Treperitous Bunny.”
The Champion looked to where the sergeants were, but they said nothing and just watched.
“Thats fine. Can I get a signal beacon?”
One of the backpakced soldier took out a device that looked like a spyglass. The Champion took it and handed it to Vit.
“Aim it up and twist the handle to let out a flare. Its one time use only. If we see it we will hurry to you.”
Vit nodded, took the flare and promptly turned around walking down a footpath that led to a small farm. A lot of the other teams had started to move out as well, as well as Professor Pure and Mr. Rider, leaving only Sergeant Brightstrike and Professor Liraca behind.
Our Forged Order teammates followed, but from a distance.
The farm was a large one story building made completley of stone. A wheel barrow was full of dirt and rocks, and there were chickens running around an opened pen.
A man was on his knees near the farms well, a tin tub in front of him. For a moment I thought he was washing the dirt out of his clothing, but I saw the reddish tint and realized it was blood.
“‘Ello there,” the man said looking up at us.
He didn’t look at all surprised to see us, nor the Forged Order just in view down the road.
Vit looked over the man and gave an inclination of his head.
“Hello sir. I am sorry to bother you while you are cleaning, but we are here to ask if you have any knowledge on nearby Carvini Cabbage?”
“Carvini Cabbage? Yeah, I guess, give me a moment though. Gotta wash the chicken blood outta these clothes. I was teachin my boy how to gut ‘em,” said the man.
He was chewing on something, probably tobacco, so it took me a moment to understand what he was saying.
“Where is your son? We wouldn’t want to put him in any danger.”
“Out in the city with his mum. The names Colem Writs by the way,” Colem said.
“Vit Liu, a pleasure to meet you.”
We waited a few minutes as Colem finished washing the clothes and putting them up to dry. It seemed his wife ususally did laundry as he struggled with the pins.
He took us around the house and through a different footpath.
“So, who are you guys? And why do you need a Carvini Cabbage?” the man asked.
It was a bit odd that he was taking us to the Nightmare before asking that question, but maybe to him a Carvini Cabbage wasn’t a big deal.
“We are from the Rising Dreamer Academy,” Melanie said flicking the bronze pin on her coat.
The man frowned.
“Dreamer? You all are Dreamers?” he gave us an odd appraising look.
“Yes, but still pretty new to it. We’re hunting the cabbage for experience.”
“What about those metal people that were following behind you guys?”
“Them? They’re from the Forged Order.” Elina said, as though it was obvious.
Confusion flashed across the mans face. There was no way this man hadn’t heard of the Forged Order right?
“It’s just ahead. The bugger nearly got my boy, until it realized he was too big for it.”
“Thank you sir. It would be better if you stayed behind just in case.”
“Uh, sure.”