Ethan felt his ears pop as the train exited the tunnel, and then, a brief moment later, they arrived at the train station of Fortuna. He felt the mountain chill as he stepped out of the temperature controlled train. The train station itself was located not far from the tunnels, and Fortuna itself seemed to be a fortress built into the side of the mountain.
“I’ll need to get some extra jackets.” Alia shivered, as she carried her bag out of the train.
“We should get a place to stay.” Basil said. “They’ll get snapped up quickly if there’s so many travelers.”
“Yeah.”
The first thing he noticed was the amount of tracks on the street itself. Smaller tracks, meant for smaller loads. Mining tracks that went into the mountains. There was a general map of the city outside the train station, and a brief history of the train system. It initially started as a mining network, to assist miners with moving stuff out of the deep mountains. They evolved into the first people-carrying prototypes twenty years ago.
“Viscount Roman Macbell.” Ethan noticed that there was a picture of the present ruler. “A relative to Grandmaster Macbell?”
“Yes.” Alia nodded. “If I’m not mistaken, Viscount Roman is the Grandmaster’s nephew.”
“You really know a lot.” Basil said.
“I have to do my homework, if I want to be better than the rest.” She grinned. “Can’t just rely on punching harder.”
“Ouch, I’m offended.”
“Anyway, let’s get a place to stay before the sun goes down.”
As it turned out, their worries were unfounded, as there were a lot of inns in the city. Fortuna was a gateway city to the Garden, where travelers came here to take the train, so businesses responded to the demand. There were talks of a bigger network of train tracks, but the Grandmasters frankly just didn’t have time to build more trains.
“Basil, what rank are you now?” Alia asked as they had dinner. The trip from the Garden took them almost the entire day, even with the incredible speed of the train.
“1st realm, 10th stage. A little more to the 2nd realm.”
“Nice.” Alia said. “I didn’t know how you managed to get a rare-grade, though.”
“My family borrowed money and begged one of my distant relatives for a rare-grade. A lot of money. I actually just sent some money back two days ago to help pay off that debt, but I technically still owe him a favor.”
Alia nodded.
“I still need to send like another 200 GP back, just to cover the debt my parents took on.”
“Shit.” Alia cursed. “That’s a lot of money.”
“It is. Andrew and Jovan got theirs as vassals of House Mirrorsong.”
Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. “Vassals?”
“All three of us came from Fullern, remember? Andrew and Jovan’s dad served house Mirrorsong as one of their army captains, and so the Duke gave them a rare-core as a reward for their service.”
“That’s a nice gesture from the Duke.” Alia said. “Not many nobles do that. Others would ‘loan’ it to you, and ask you to pay it back by capturing a rare-grade from a wild rift.”
Basil shrugged. “Yeah. In a way.”
Ethan internally cursed. This was going to be quite complicated. He couldn’t use Kaname that night, as she spent her 7 hours observing the heroes and the suspected Celeste Mirrorsong. He’d try to get her to check on them tomorrow.
***
Week 3, Day 2
“Alright. Let’s visit a temple?” Alia said with a laugh. “The map said there’s actually two temples in this city, an older one from the early days of Fortuna, and the newer one built during the mining rush.”
“I’d like to go to both, actually.” Ethan offered an alternative. “You guys don’t have to come along if it bores you.”
“Nah. I’ll go. It’s just a day, what could go wrong.”
Basil nodded. “Eh. Traveling with friends is fun, and it’s just one day. Sounds like a good way to get a sense of the city, too.”
“You guys didn’t arrive through Fortuna?” Ethan asked.
“Most of us travel by the old roads, not on these fancy trains. I didn’t even know they existed.” Basil laughed.
The dusty streets were filled with muscular workers in dirty overalls. The air had a whiff of soot and ash. From their inn, the new temple was not far. It was located right next to the central square of Fortuna, a mostly snow covered square that’s currently unused. On warmer days, they’d have fairs and markets.
The newer temple was carved out of a darker type of marble, unlike the bright, milky white marble of the Garden.
“Donations to the temple?” A priest stood outside, with assistants.
“Can we go in?”
“We’ll need a small donation. 1 gold will be enough.”
“1 gold is not a small donation.” Basil quipped.
“It is for the Garden’s students.”
“I’m not paying.”
Ethan just sighed, and placed 1 gold into the wooden donation box. The priest opened the small door and let him in. Alia paid and followed. The inner chamber of the temple had a really high ceiling, the sun’s rays barely eked in through a small opening at the top.
A statue of the five goddesses standing guard, made of the same gray marble. One goddess held a sword to the sky, standing on the shoulders of another goddess., another had a book as if it was chanting, another held a staff that thrusted forward, as if it used a spell, and the last goddess held a spear, and guarded their rear.
Ethan touched the marble plate-
[You’ve gained 5 fragments of divine energy. You now have 7 fragments]
[You’ve visited 4 of 128 Five-Goddess Temples or Statues in the Kingdom]
And smiled. He turned to Alia, and saw her praying. Her eyes were shut, her hands clasped together and so he waited.
“Making a prayer?” Ethan asked, his voice echoed just slightly in the chamber.
“Yeah.” Alia nodded.
“I’m done.”
“So... fast?”
“Yeah. Let’s go to the other one. I’m here just to see this particular statue.”
Alia looked at Ethan, a million and one questions on her mind, and settled on- “...really?”
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“Yes.” Ethan smirked. “Let’s go.”
Basil wasn’t expecting to see Ethan walk out so quickly, because he had already walked to the nearest cafe where he sat down and ordered something to eat. “Done? So quickly?”
“Yup.”
“I just ordered my food.”
“That’s okay. We can wait for your food.” Ethan said. “I’ll be back, just need to use the washroom.”
Basil and Alia looked at each other. “So... what did Ethan do?”
“He just touched one of the statues and then walked out. It’s... not what I expected.” Alia sat opposite Basil. “I thought he’d have some weird ceremony or something. He didn’t even look like he was serious about praying.”
Basil touched his chin. “That’s unusual.”
“Yeah.”
Ethan returned and sat back at the chair, and ordered something to eat. “Sorry, did I go for a little long?”
Alia and Basil smiled at him. “Oh not at all. So what’s next?”
“I’m planning to hit the old temple.”
Alia stared at Ethan, her mind in thought. Eventually, she decided to ask anyway. “What exactly are you looking for? You look like you came to just... see the temple like a checklist, and that’s it.”
Ethan rubbed his hair, and nodded. He knew they’d suspect something. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I’d like to see all the temples.”
“Why?”
“It’s... a hobby?” Ethan wasn’t sure what explanation he’d give. “I can’t really say why, but it’s... it’s an addiction, I guess. I just need to go there.”
“Seriously.” Alia didn’t look all that satisfied with the answer.
Basil sighed. “Alia, let the man keep his secrets. It’s just his kink.”
Alia thought about it for a while, and then laughed. “Got it. I guess everyone’s a little strange.”
Ethan nodded. “Thank you.”
Brunch was actually pretty good, and they got moving immediately after.
***
Kaname was dressed in normal civilian clothes for a change, her hair covered with a bandana to pull off the civilian look. Her target was David Vivan, since he was alone.
It took a while, but she found him at the stables, getting transport to the Glade of the Eternals. The stables were filled with wagons and other riders, all transporting eager rifters to the Glades.
“5 Gold for transport to the Glades.” Kaname thanked her lucky stars that she remembered to get some money from Ethan, and paid the fare.
“Are you a rifter, miss?” The transporter asked, curious. He accepted the fare anyway.
“Yes.”
“Huh. I guess rifters come in all shapes and sizes. It’ll take about an hour to get there, alright. Even with these enchanted wagons! Are you taking the return trip?”
Kaname realised they probably tracked movement in and out of the glade, and shook her head. “I’ve got something planned.”
“Got it.” The wagon-driver nodded. Most of these wagon-drivers were common-grade core holders, and a few had rare grades, and the wagons each carried at least ten. There were private wagons too, and she noticed one bearing the Argos family crest.
The trip was smooth, the road well paved due to the high traffic, and there were regular security posts that kept watch. Everyone in the wagon kept to themselves, the wagon she was in was filled with merchants, all selling their wares to the rifters.
The glades of the Eternals was a large jungle, and the magical energies of this area were unstable. Everyone disembarked from their wagons and gathered for a briefing, even those in their private wagons.
A Warden of the Glade stood outside, and he briefed the rifters. “Greetings rifters. I won’t hold you up for too long, but I do need to tell you the rules. First, if you die, no one will save you. We don’t track people who come in but don’t come out. If you die, you die.”
There was an audible gasp from those who made the trip for the first time.
“Second, we, the Wardens of the Glade, are tasked to keep the monsters within the glades. If you spot any wild rifts behaving strangely, this means if you see the portal rifts changing colors, or changing shape and sizes, report it to us. This might be a rift break, and that happens every other day. Do not attempt to clear the rift without the Wardens.”
“Third, there is a restricted zone within the Glades. There will be other Wardens at that restricted glades barrier. Do not enter that area, because you will die if you’re not at least 4th realm. Got it?”
Those present nodded, and Kaname surveyed the presence of nobility. Most of those present were juniors and seniors.
“Alright, go on in. There are designated rest stops where some of my fellow Wardens will stand guard. Those intending to do their trades may set up shop there, but do keep in mind the 1 gold surcharge on every transaction.”
There was a moment of silence, while the gates opened. It wasn’t a particular large one, and then some of the rifters started to walk in. It wasn’t a ‘run’, the gates are opened every few hours anyway.
Kaname shuffled through the crowd, and tried to follow David Vivan as he walked through the crowds. He looked around, and eventually decided to go on his own. Sara Argos already had a small group of her own, which included some seniors.
The rest of the parties were smaller, and they split. The glades itself was just a sprawling area with a lot of trees and streams, and Kaname activated her [camouflage], and gradually kept pace with David Vivan.
Then they felt the dark goddesses’ power throughout the glades.
***
The second temple was located deep in the industrial district of Fortuna, where workers processed the ores from the mountains. Half of these processed ingots of iron would be sent to the Garden, where they are used to maintain the Tower’s structure.
The temple was covered in fine dust and dark colored ash, but it’s inner sanctum was still relatively clean. The statue of the five goddesses posed with a different tool in their arm.
He entered alone while Alia waited outside.
[You’ve gained 5 fragments of divine energy. You now have 1 shard and 2 fragments]
[You’ve visited 5 of 128 Five-Goddess Temples or Statues in the Kingdom]
As he stepped out, Alia nodded. “Done?”
“Yup.”
“I suppose we can explore the other villages around Fortuna?”
Ethan looked around. “I want to just have a look at the stuff they make here-”
Then they felt the dark goddesses’ power coming from the glades.
[Ethan: Kaname! Report!]
[Kaname: Master, I’m headed to the source of the problem. Will update.]
***
Kaname ran in the direction of that energy burst. The glades were thick, and finding one’s way was complicated by the magical streams and unusual trees, but within minutes, Kaname arrived at the source of the energy.
“Lady Mirrorsong.” A large dark shadow in the shape of a man stood in the center of the glade, with arms spread out. There was a distorted rift behind that shadow. It’s glow was irregular, and it throbbed. “I’m glad you could join us. Come. This rift contains the promised reward.”
Celeste Mirrorsong stood alone, but she didn’t move closer. “...how do I know that the rift contains what I want?”
Kaname snuck closer.
[Kaname: A shadow is with Celeste Mirrorsong]
[Ethan: Shit. Is she a spy?]
“Oh course it does. Why would I lie?”
Celeste Mirrorsong stared at the rift, and shook her head. “I require assurances. Show me the object.”
The shadow growled. “...don’t get ahead of yourself, Lady Mirrorsong. You are not in a position to bargain for the elixir.”
She hesitated, but she steeled herself. “Then you will get nothing of me. This is a trade, not a command. I will not enter a dark rift without such assurance.”
The shadow moved to object, but then, it looked in Kaname’s direction. “Hmm. We have company.”
A dark dagger materialised and flew towards Kaname. Celeste Mirrorsong shook her head, and activated an ability that shrouded herself in a fog. “The deal’s off.”
The shadow laughed. “Oh, there will be a next time, lady Mirrorsong.”
The dagger exploded in the woods, but all it destroyed was a wooden log. [Kaname: I’ve been discovered.]
She appeared a distance away, but both the shadow and Celeste Mirrorsong had disappeared. The rift’s unnatural fluctuation also began to vanish, and it reverted itself to an ordinary rift.
[Kaname: Master, they disappeared.]
[Ethan: Shit.]
Kaname searched for Celeste Mirrorsong, but couldn’t find her. Somehow she really had vanished. No signs of the shadow either.
As she walked away-
She stopped, and detected David Vivan watching from behind a tree.
“Stop.” David Vivan stood there, sword in hand, and pointed it at her. Kaname stared at the hero. He just got here.
Kaname did stop, still out of range of the hero’s sword. “Yes?”
“Did you see anything?” The hero asked.
“Sorry?”
“The... the agents of the dark.”
She gave her best oblivious look. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
David Vivan stared at her. “Really. You happen to be at the location where there was a huge surge of dark energy and you saw nothing?”
Kaname pointed at the rift. “Oh, you meant the unusual wobbling from the rift? I was just about to report to a warden.”
David watched Kaname walk past him. “Anything else? Did you see... any dark shadows?”
Kaname looked around. “Shadows are everywhere, what are you talking about?”
The hero squinted his eyes, he wasn’t satisfied, but he didn’t press his case. “Are you one of them?”
Kaname didn’t answer that, but David didn’t push his case.
Instead, he turned and walked to the rift that was once wobbling. He checked the grounds and noticed the remains of the explosion. “Hmm... I’m too late and that woman is suspicious.”