The first thing Lanek tried to do was limit the scope of the room, specifically by trying to get rid of any items that were outside of his budget. Unfortunately, it turned out that this was not an option as he was still bombarded with items that would cost many times more than what he had on him. He was starting to wonder if the stones spent here would also go toward empowering Eldros. If so, it was very likely that the System was trying to bolster the Primordial as it was actively adding even more incentives for Lanek to kill things. That, and the fact that the System would no longer allow him to empower himself alone, added a lot of credence to that theory.
I wonder if the others that were summoned to this world are being pushed in the same direction. The Void seems to be forced to play within the System’s rules, so maybe the gaunts are threatening the System? They do seem to be outside of its influence. Considering the scale of the invasion and how long it has been going on, it would make sense for the System to try to empower the stronger beings on the world to help stem the tide. I’m going to have to remember to ask if I ever run into one of these other transmigrated people.
Returning his attention to the room, he tried to focus on utility items as he had only seen weapons and armor before, this time watching as the room’s selection shrank down substantially. Instead of the aforementioned gear, he was faced with more mundane items. However, the remaining selection was extremely limited, with cloaks, boots, jewelry, and other accessories being the majority of what was available. Lanek didn’t mind, though, as he wasn’t exactly inclined to spend reward stones on a rope or clothing even if it could be improved. Considering some of the video games back home, he figured the accessories before him would offer nice boosts if they could be enchanted, which it seemed Eldros was able to do.
“Any saddles?” He called out, half-jokingly as he didn’t really expect an answer. Immediately upon making the request, the room changed once again, this time showing a variety of saddles. Chuckling, Lanek looked over the selection and instantly felt overwhelmed. He had only ridden a horse once in his life and that had been as a child and he hadn’t been responsible for getting the horse prepared for the ride as it had been a vacation excursion with his father. As a result, he had no idea what made a good saddle.
After inspecting and identifying a few and assuming that they would adjust to fit their intended recipient, he began sorting them out. He discarded a few that had bits, both because he remembered vaguely reading about how they could be harmful, although he didn’t remember why, and because he was pretty sure that Maximilian’s beak would snap it in two with little effort. Honestly, I should just look for something that would be comfortable and gives me something to hold on to. My bond with Maximilian should give me all the control I need.
With that, Lanek set about picking out a saddle that looked durable, comfortable, and had a small cup in positioned ahead of and lower than the stirrups. He wasn’t sure what it was technically for, but he suspected that it was designed for resting the butt of a spear when not in combat. Another perk was that it had convenient attachment points for bags and the like, but he wasn’t sure what would happen to those bags or the saddle itself if Maximilian returned to his vessel.
Well, only one way to find out. With that thought, Lanek paid five reward stones and confirmed his purchase of the saddle. After the saddle faded out of view, he waited for a few minutes before calling out to the room.
“Uh, can I get out of here now?” Apparently, his request was all that was needed to leave and he found himself opening his eyes in the tower. He guessed that he hadn’t actually gone anywhere as Maximilian was dozing in the room and completely at ease.
Mark of the Herald has detected a compatible companion. Assign saddle to Maximilian?
Lanek accepted, freaking out momentarily as the demigryph was abruptly recalled into his soul.
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Mark of the Herald has bonded with Maximilian. Calibrating… Complete.
A moment later a spooked Maximilian returned to the room with a black collar that appeared to be made with the same methods as Lanek’s brigandine armor. Black metal rectangles were sewn onto a fabric background and seemed to be quite lightweight and comfortable for the demigryph. When Lanek poked at it, Maximilian pulled back, glaring at him for a moment before puffing out his chest and seeming to pose for a moment.
“Good lord, fine. I’ll leave your new accessory alone, you vain beast.” Maximilian huffed at him before approaching and headbutting him. “So, wanna show me what the collar is all about?”
Maximilian huffed again before the saddle that Lanek had purchased materialized onto him, perfectly-fitted. Well, Lanek assumed it was perfectly-fitted and adjusted. Wanting to try something out, Lanek asked Maximilian to stay still while he attached his pack to the saddle. Upon dismissing Maximilian, the pack fell to the floor. The demigryph returned a moment later, sniffing at the bag before looking at Lanek.
“Good to know, whatever is on the saddle won’t go into your vessel and probably won’t stay on you when you dismiss the saddle. No big deal. We’re going to have to put that saddle to the test tomorrow, buddy.” The demigryph stood proudly for a moment before whining quietly. “Yes, you look great.”
With those words, Maximilian seemed satisfied and dismissed the saddle before lying down and dozing off. He chuckled at the sight, feeling a bit melancholy at the same time. His last dog had acted much the same way every time Lanek had given him a new collar, harness, or even a sweater. The German Shepherd would pose and preen for hours, acting incredibly proud of himself. Even now, several years after the dog’s passing, he still missed him terribly.
Shaking off the encroaching sadness, he decided to call it a night. That night, his dreams were filled with memories of 15 years alongside his German Shepherd, Max.
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The next morning found Maximilian and Lanek eager to leave. Lanek was starting to feel the pressure of having a big task waiting for his attention and Maximilian seemed to want to stretch his legs. Unfortunately, Sanguineus and Kazuma were both still evolving, so it would just be the two of them for now.
Lanek barred the tower from the inside and returned to the roof. He summoned Maximilian and climbed into his saddle before the great demigryph leapt off the roof and landed smoothly on the ground near the front door. Lanek projected his thanks to beast, glad that they had been able to secure the tower. He anticipated having to explore out this way in the future, so having a secure outpost would be a huge boon to that particular adventure.
“Alright, bud. Time to head back to Caelis.” Maximilian paused for a moment, waiting for Lanek to point him in the right direction before leaping forward. While Lanek had thought he had been prepared for Maximilian’s speed, he realized immediately that he had been sorely mistaken. The demigryph courser was incredibly fast, causing Lanek to panic and cling to his neck tightly. Maximilian, detecting his rider’s discomfort and panic, slowed down to a more leisurely pace while sending soothing feelings toward him.
Throughout the day, Maximilian gradually increased his speed as Lanek became more comfortable. Eventually, Lanek reached the point where he trusted Maximilian to prevent him from falling and had grown accustomed to the speed. Although, he resolved to ask Ograch and Liv for some advice when it came to properly riding a mount. With their classes, they must have picked up a skill that he hoped to be able to learn without having to resort to spending stones to simply buy it. If possible, he wanted to avoid spending reward stones on things he could learn with hard work or from a teacher.
With Maximilian’s speed and stamina, they came within sight of the southern wall of Caelis within two days of leaving the tower. With the sun setting quickly, Lanek chose to make camp as he had no desire to wander Caelis after dark and it would still take quite some time to actually reach the gate.
While he made a small fire and Maximilian went off in search of food, Lanek felt a strong pulse resound in his chest. It was followed by another just a few moments later. Smiling, Lanek opening up the System and found the notification that he had been impatiently waiting for.
“It’s about time!”
Sanguineus’ evolution is complete. Kazuma’s evolution is complete.