The journey back to the city was largely uneventful, at least physically. The harrowing events the pair had witnessed in the ransacked village still hung over their heads, impossible to forget.
As they walked the forest roads, day after day, Aric continued practicing his control of magic. The sounds of forest activity and the strain of such a long journey provided an excellent backdrop for training his concentration. His ability to sustain the more aether-intensive forms involved in his impromptu bomb crafting made the most strides. Although that may have been because it was a lot of fun to cause a series of mini-explosions around Elara when she wasn't expecting it.
Each night that the pair stopped, Aric put significant effort into meditation, trying to control the artificial vortex of aether to regulate the drain on the environment. Interestingly enough, as his proficiency rose here, results even began coming through in his regular casting practice. The effort involved in each piece of the elaborate puzzle decreased with every minor epiphany he had. But it wasn't just that; in a way, it felt like his core was strengthening over time, like the repeated use was a muscle being slowly worked into shape after lying dormant for so long.
By the time the pair had finally glimpsed the towering walls of the city peeking over the horizon, Aric had gained enough proficiency with his raw aether manipulations to be fairly confident he wouldn't blow his hand off if he tried to implement any of Amy's ever-so helpful suggestions. Aric would have to admit, however, he was disappointed that the enchanting demoness hadn't granted him the visit he had been expecting following his vast improvements in his drawing abilities.
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After stopping briefly at Elara's home to clean up and drop off all of their traveling gear, the pair once more made their way into the city.
Despite Aric's reluctance to facedown the guild's elders again so soon, their priority was clear: the guild headquarters. Still, news of the abyssal caster controlling the shadowbeasts was not something that could be allowed to go unknown for any longer. Word must be spread.
Entering the guild hall, Aric was relieved to see it much the same as on his last visit. Or at least there wasn't throngs of panicking people demanding aid, which was a good enough sign. Elara led the way to the reception counter, determination apparent in her every step.
Before the receptionist could even ask for Elara's information, she was speaking "Elara Qinnan, reporting in. We have succeeded in our quest to clear the shadowbeast attack on the village, but we bring dire information that the council must hear of now."
The receptionist, a pretty elven woman, with what Aric was beginning to consider their normal, if striking, white hair, seemed lost in shock. Aric coughed lightly, trying to recapture the receptionist's attention. "O-oh, yes. Right away Ms. Qinnan, I will check if they can receive you," the poor woman stammered as she got up and practically ran toward the council chambers.
Aric glanced questioningly at Elara, having never seen quite that response to her presence, but a small shake of her head was enough to ensure he would save the question for another time.
Damn, she can be pretty intimidating sometimes Aric thought to himself, curiosity about what could have prompted such a strong response fading away as he watched the same receptionist hurry back, at a pace more becoming of a woman in her position.
The receptionist soon led the pair into the chamber, and once more Aric found himself feeling a growing anxiety as he waited for someone to break the silence.
"Elara, you should have brought young Aric here immediately following his testing. It is not every day that we bear witness to the magical awakening of such a promising young mage." Master Caelum broke the silence with a chiding tone.
"I apologize Master Caelum, Aric underwent a fairly severe change in his first few days here, and I felt it more beneficial to try and teach him more of the realm he is now stranded in." Elara responded, not rising to the provocation in his tone. "That's not why we've come before you today either, we've discovered alarming information while we were on our mission."
After staring hard at Elara and Aric for a long moment, Caelum seemed to acquiesce, nodding for Elara to speak.
The leaders listened intently as Elara recounted all they had witnessed - the isolation magic, the village being methodically ransacked, but focusing most intensely on the abyssal caster and the rift it tore into the world to escape. As one, the council's faces slid from incredulity to horror, as the words settled over them.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"How can this be?" Master Caelum murmured. "We've never witnessed those abominations outside of the afflicted rifts, nor have we heard of shadowbeasts cooperating with anyone, much less to that extent..." He glanced around the chamber, meeting each of the other elders' eyes.
Elara nodded grimly. "I believe there's more at play than even we suspected. It would seem that there are truly dark forces at work here."
Master Caelum let out an exhausted sigh, "Once again, you have given us much to discuss. You have done well in bringing this to us promptly, word will be spread among all of the other guild branches. We shall send word if we discover anything that we require your assistance on, and... please keep us informed of any new developments." His eyes lingered on Aric for a moment.
Taking that as a dismissal, Aric and Elara said their thanks, and once more left the guildhall. Though Elara did stop to retrieve their mission reward on the way out.
Aric was surprised when Elara presented him with a leather coin purse, as she caught up to him outside. "Here, your take from the mission, I thought you may like to have your own money."
Aric shook his head, pushing the coin purse back, "I would rather you hold on to it for me, I don't even know the currency used here, much less the worth of most items. Plus, this way I have a reason to drag you shopping with me."
The smile that spread across Elara's face told Aric that he'd made the right decision there, though he really would probably waste most of it. "Are you sure? It's your money, you earned it." Elara tried one more time to encourage him.
Shaking his head, "No, you hold onto it, I trust you with my life, so I'm pretty sure I can trust you with my money," Aric replied with a wry smile.
"Although, I do have two purchases that I would like your help with." Aric had thought about this on their way back to the city, he desperately needed to see if ammo could be made for his rifle, or at the very least, casings and bullets, and he would use his magic to manually fire off the rounds.
"Since you likely know the best places around here, I'll take whatever recommendations you have for me." He said digging his last round of ammunition out of his pocket, "I need to see about getting more of these made, and I also desperately need a holster for my rifle. The sling was fine in combat in my old world, but here I find that I'm being drawn into long drawn-out sword fights and the weight is difficult to counter."
Elara nodded, "While we don't have anything like the gunpowder you described here, I think I have any idea that you may like." Giving him a brilliant smile, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him back into the crowded streets of the city.
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With the urgent council meeting behind them, Elara led Aric down a series of winding sidestreets, reminding him of the circuitous route she had taken them along to Tanius the Artifact merchant.
Soon they arrived at an unassuming shop front, the thick wooden door banded with heavy iron with light engravings weaving through them. Stepping inside, the sweltering heat nearly made Aric pause, but he pushed through.
A powerfully built orc looked up from the blade he worked over an anvil. "Elara! Back so soon?" he rumbled cheerfully, before his eyes slid to Aric. "And you brought company?"
"Aric, meet Gorun, the finest enchanter in the city," she said. Gorun grinned proudly at the compliment, clearly enjoying the praise. "He's crafted many of my own staves, and he's one of the only people I would trust to look after my robes and tome."
Elara requested Aric to hand over his rifle and ammunition as she explained his desires, and Aric then explained the functions of his rifle as he field-stripped it and showed the orc the inner workings of it. Gorun nodded along as he watched with interest as the rifle came apart and went back together with ease.
Gorun took Aric's measurements for the holster, after which Elara pulled him aside for abrief, hushed conversation. When she rejoined Aric, the pair bid farewell to Gorun receiving promises from the big man to have the equipment delivered to her house by the morning.
As the pair began the walk back to the beautiful compound, Aric decided to broach a topic he'd been wondering about, "I've been wondering, Elara. What exactly is your role in the guild, obviously you're a valued member, from the reactions I've seen. But after today, I feel like there's more to it than that."
"It's nothing that serious," Elara replied with a chuckle, "I've been working with the guild for a long time, climbing up from apprentice tier, to one of the only master ranked guilder in this branch. Along the way, I've developed something of a reputation for being 'too serious', but I've managed to take on every challenge that's been sent my way."
"Master-tier?" Aric asked, having never heard her speak of the ranks within their society.
"Have I not told you of the ranks? How did I miss that...?" she muttered the last. "There are several ranks that you can climb through, working from Apprentice to Grand Master. With each successive rank needing larger amounts of contribution points from successfully completing missions."
That was almost lackluster, but Aric supposed could understand the growing significance as you climbed through the ranks.
"I suppose that makes sense. Though, it was kind of attractive watching you throw around some of that built-up authority." Aric said giving Elara a wink when she turned to look back at him.
As the pair reach Elara's compound for the night, Aric found himself excited to be back. The days of travel and all of the fighting leading up to the battle in the village had really wrung him out. He relaxed into a steaming bath that Seraphine had prepared, grateful for the comfort it offered.