While Solarcrown hasn’t had any new pearl growths in a few centuries, there is a possibility of one appearing anytime. Based on the data we have collected from recent pearl fragments, the world inside would most likely be a volcanic one. While the new world would help the kingdom with the metal shortage, it could also be a dangerous event. Disaster would strike if the sprouting were to happen too close to another important pearl like Woodridge or Goldacres. The disaster could shut down our food or wood supply which might mean the kingdom would have to open its gates to the outside world again.

- an excerpt from ‘The next pear of Solarcrown’ written by Sani Tuguard

Hunting at night had a few quirks of its own, for example having to eat your dinner in the morning. In Aspek’s case, he also had to prepare it first. For today it was just a simple stew made out of wolf meat. While usually not the best meat to use for a meal, it’s amazing what an enchanted pot and some experience can achieve.

After completing today’s meal Aspek first took a bowl out to Nandy. The rough woman standing guard was delighted to see actual food for once.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here after the mission? We never have enough men around here.” – asked the woman, with an already stuffed mouth.

“Woodridge guild still hasn’t sent anyone?”

“Why would they? They don’t consider this a part of the forest since you don’t need to climb for half an hour to reach the canopy. Valleygrove is a sore sight for them.”

“While I do like helping out here, sadly I’ll still have to head back. I’m basically the only hunter in Heavenfall, other than the old man, but it’s not like he’ll get off his butt unless something serious happens.”

“No need to remind me, that ungrateful bastard hasn’t visited his own wife for 2 years now. The only good thing I’ve gotten from him since is that he has thought you how to cook.”

“Send Lelen over some time, maybe she can learn how to not cook poison.”

“Speaking about Lelen, go give her food before I have to defrost the base again.”

With that Aspek went back to the kitchen and this time he came out with two bowls of stew and headed to a table, which was in front of a little shack. A few seconds later, most likely smelling the food delivery, Lelen burst out from the shack. She wasn’t covered in blood anymore and wore casual attire. A cutesy red and white dotted dress, while it has seen better days, its colours have already long faded from its original splendour, it was still quite alluring. Lelen almost looked like a pleasant young lady in it. Almost since she was already wolfing down the wolf stew.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Not letting her get too far ahead Aspek started eating his meal as well, although a bit less like a wild beast. During their meal Aspek spoke up:

“Is your tracking pole spell something you learned or is it a revelation?”

“Revelation” – Lelen gave an unusually short response, too busy with the food.

“I’ll leave a mana tablet here, by the next time I came around could you ask a fairy if it can be inscribed or if it’s unique to your mark?”

“Couldn’t you keep track of your prey if you hit them once?” – Lelen looked up puzzled why the Silver Spike would need her tracking spell.

“I can, but it’s not too accurate, and I can’t share the location with others. I need it just in case. I’m planning on joining a blister raid soon, a new one is appearing in Bustling chasm, and it seems to be a large one.”

“Will Heavenfall turn into a triple-conjoined pearl? I always wanted to visit one of those, three worlds meeting in one place has to make something fun!” – said Lelen, now more interested in the conversation than the food.

“Can’t happen, it’s already too unstable as a normal conjoined pearl, exactly why all the blister pearls are appearing. Also, for it to become conjoined it can’t start from the inside.”

“Wow look at mister know-it-all, I didn’t know you were a pearl expert.”

“I’m not the expert, Sani is, she can’t stop talking about her new research recently.”

Mentioning Sani’s name seemed to have distanced Lelen from the conversation again as she went back to eating. So did Aspek, they didn’t have much time if they wished to sleep enough. The first petal has already bloomed on the Solflower closest to Woodridge. Its light danced through the branches illuminating the last few pieces of meat left of their meals.

Right as they finished the meal and were preparing to go to bed, Nandy and Trand walked inside the base. The small boy was barely noticeable next to the tall woman, it wasn’t helping that Trand was half sinking into the wooden floor, ready to get away as soon as his boss allowed him to.

“Meeting time?” – asked Lelen.

“Yes” – replied Nandy – “Trand go and tell them what you saw.”

“Big den in a big tree, thirty plated wolfs, one of them is big, very big.”

“As you heard, the den is located at the edge of the forest cliff, thirty moonwolves, and one alpha, a big fella, it might even evolve into a pseudo-fiend soon, we don’t have time to wait for reinforcements from the guild. We’ll attack 1 petal before mid-bloom.”

“So, we have 5 hours of sleep?” – asked Aspek.

“Yes, and sleep battle ready, bring the Porcupine Aspek.”

“Ah great, it’ll be spike picking out of the bed again.” – cut in Lelen in an annoyed voice.

“Meeting dismissed”

After the meeting, both Aspek and Lelen prepared to sleep. Aspek got on a coat covered head to toe with silver spikes. While uncomfortable to sleep in, it had to be done since the spikes had to soak in his mana before his greatest weapon could be usable, and if he wanted to sleep before the raid. He had to do so while dreaming, again.