The clearing was much larger than Jazmel had considered, and he realised that Mana had been siphoned into certain parts of the clearing and changed to be wielded in a certain way.
DING!
YOU HAVE NOTICED THE CLEARING ARRAY!
YOU HAVE LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT ARRAYS!!
…
+1 INT
+1 PER
Just scanning things and noticing them, he could earn stats. That was important to him and now he was going to ensure he tried to notice more things.
They array dissolved or shut off and the clearing cleared, it allowed them freedom and once they left they came upon the walls. The high walls of what could’ve been a city, but the walls were so high that Jazmel couldn’t see beyond it. his keen vision told him that there was some sort of barrier in the walls, an array that disrupted perception or even peering past the walls. Jazmel studied them in wonder and smiled at how advanced they were, he wondered if that were something he could have built into the outpost. But he would have to wait and see how far he could move with the black wing faction.
“The walls are designed to perfection.” Elai uttered beside him, in wonderment. He nodded and smiled as she studied them. “The inscriptions alone are beyond anything I’ve seen in the labyrinth.” She uttered and he looked at her curiously.
“You can read arrays?” he asked, and she nodded but then looked at him in confused surprise. “You can read them too?” he shook his head. “I can see them, or I can acknowledge what an array is, beyond that. I don’t have the skill.” He shrugged and she smiled. “Oh I forget about your eyes, some gift. I should be jealous, but I mean you do so many impossible things. Which one should I envy first.” She barked a laugh, and he couldn’t help but smile.
“When we get back to the black wing faction, we will see about learning what we can about inscriptions and arrays.” He offered and she agreed, but scribbled down notes and he assumed they were ideas she got from the walls.
Sadé had been standing beside the great doors of the wall and she stood waiting for Jazmel to come over. when he did she motioned to the doors. “They are barred for anyone but you, it might be because we are simply visitors that you brought along.” And he stepped forward and he felt his spirit commune with the grand doors built into the massive walls.
DING!
GUEST OF THE MIRETE!
…
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EXP ACCRUED!
WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE HERE?
…
The system had never asked him a true question before, he didn’t know what to do.
RESPOND!
…
To return the seed of the Mirete! he responded and awaited to see what the system would do.
RESPONSE IS ACCEPTABLE!
…
QUEST COMPLETE!
RETURNING THAT WHICH HAS BEEN LOST!
+3 PER
+3 INT
+3 VIT
He shivered as energy shrouded his body and melded into his core. He hadn't had a quest, only a plot but the system had not alerted him that he had completed his plot. this was confusing but he would take the extra stat points all the time.
As the doors opened, turning in on themselves he noticed Sadé and Elai being shrouded with system energy too, he imagined they were rewarded alongside himself.
The barred doors opened and as they opened Jazmel could feel the Mana seeping from behind the door. It was bountiful and dense; he could feel just how special this domain was. He had heard whisperings of Mirete and how it was a gate unlike any others, but he didn’t have any idea as to how he could imagine it. but now before him he could feel it, he hadn't seen it yet, but he could feel it.
The doors opened further and before them stood a knight, a paladin in armour made of leaves and bark but Jazmel could tell from the Mana woven into it. that there was no doubt that it would be stronger than any metal armour he had come across.
Beyond the doors were settlements. Buildings of homes carved out of the lower halves of trunks that Jazmel could perceive the life Mana of many people inhabiting them. some were seekers and other strengths but also some were not even seekers, simply denizens of the labyrinth. He looked about in wonder, though he saw no shops or storefronts he noticed people moving around doing tasks of labour, in simple garbs and woven clothing.
Mirete seemed to be a simple village, a haven for all and guarded well. But Jazmel had no true ideas as to why. He looked around and saw people enjoying their simple lives and not motivated for the thrill of diving deeper into the labyrinth. It was interesting to see this side of the labyrinth, something that in truth. Added a little peace in his heart.
The knight bore a shield and a sword, sheathed on his back but his eyes were upon Jazmel , to his surprise they were similar to his own except rather than blue they were a soft green, like algae. The knight studied him; analysed him and then his two representatives before standing to the side and letting them enter through the space he had been blocking.
DING!
YOU HAVE STOOD BEFORE A TIER III WILLOW PALADIN!
+1 VIT
+1 END
He nodded at the notification, and it disappeared, how had he gained stats just for being studied, he wondered how strong the willow paladin must be. It seemed to be an evolved form or variation of the willow knight, but he hadn't seen how. He would study it when he returned home.
“Hello.” He heard and looking up ahead, Jazmel saw a face he hadn't seen in quite a while. The old man from the Xuanhuan realm stood leaning against a tree and smiling.
“Hello to you too. I have not seen you in many months.” Jazmel said and the man smiled before inclining his head at Jazmel and his guests.
“Come let us go somewhere, where we can speak.” He led the way up to another floor, a natural hillock that rose higher; a set of stairs, planks made from wood. Had been wrapped around the hill allowing whoever was ascending or descending to gain a view of everything. Jazmel could see that the village was rather big; almost a city and the walls encircled them covering them in their array.
“I have to admit, this sight is truly marvellous.” Elai said and the old man smiled simply and winked.