Chapter 28
As their ship sails through the horizon as the sun rises
Rumble Rumble Rum
A brewing storm unfurl, silently rumbling upfront, slowly consuming the morning sky. Chilling winds then blew
Whoosh
Caressing the flying ship and its crew.
"..... Our 1st stormy ride in our 1st voyage"
Elizabeth stated as she hold the ship's wheel.
"Let us take a turn away from it"
Tap Swipe
Placing the map they bought from the town, Sarah then muttered as she navigate their way
"... Then we should head to the northwest, there's a nearby island not far from us"
Rumble Rumble
"I just hope we can safely get there in time before this storm hit us"
Swoosh
"Just tell the others to prepare, it will be a bumpy ride from here on out"
Sarah then went inside the Quarterdeck, informing her sister about the rowdy sail. Entering the quarter, she then saw Kanade and Tsubaki reading the books that Amhan gave to them
"... Never in my life would I have expected to meet an [Elysian Spirit].... And it would be disingenuous not to feel honored to meet not just 1, but 4 beings of the other world in this place"
Though her tone felt gentle and monotonous, her gaze speaks of hatred and anger
"[*Elysian Spirit]?"
Kanade asked, curious
"They are people who are from the other realm, or another world, either summoned or reincarnated. The latter is referred as [Elysian Spirit], people who possessed dead body or reborn as a child, and people who are summoned are known as [Aetherial Voyager]"
Surprised, not only that they weren't mainly called as "otherworlder" or "people from another world", but also because
"How can you say we are one?" (tsu)
Staring at her, Amhan then stated in nonchalant tone
"If I hadn't, that would define my only worth."
The 4 seemly stared at her as she then waved her hand, as she summoned 2 books from her palm, and
Snap
From the black ground of the tower, underneath the shade, pile of bodies of people then emerged at their side, lifeless and battered. She then offered it to Elizabeth
"What the-"
"Take this as a compensation, and an apology"
"... For what?"
Staring at her, she sigh as she glance at her side and murmured softly, her expression tinged with sadness and overwhelm
"..... Karma is what you refer to what I received, as I sought to sacrifice the 4 of you for the sake of my children, only to see it all collapse in regret..... I was a fool, believing the words of a psychopath's empty promise."
She then gazed at them and added
"And let us just say that I did it out of guilt and regret"
Sigh
"Everything is written there, all the islands I have traveled, and all the skills and classes I have seen and discovered. Secrets, people, things, and locations, everything I have known for the years I have been here is written there, use it as you see fit"
She then listlessly stood up as she walk towards the stair
"Whether this is fate or something, I just hope you bring luck, not misfortune"
"..... There's a storm brewing ahead of us, so the ride will be bumpy from here on out"
Hearing her, Tsubaki and Kanade then noticed Sarah's presence as she stood there. She then slowly went towards them and sat there, as the 2 resumed their work as they continue reading the prized book
Rumble Rumble
Dark clouds then started covering the whole sky
Flash! Boom!
With roar of a distant thunder, and a flash of lightning
Swoosh
Carrying with a chilling breeze, a strong gust of wind passes them.
Pitter - patter Pitter - patter
Rain drops then started falling as the sky rumbles and growls.
Crack! Boom!
Covered by the roof placed atop of the steering wheel, Elizabeth then steadily turn the ship to the east, coursing through this turbulent voyage, as the storm gradually shown its ravaging might.
Rumble Rumble Rumble
Flash!
"So for 10 years, we just constantly traveling around the world, visiting island after island, defeating monster along the way, and finishing some Quest in our journey. It was amazing"
She stated as her gentle caress, her delicate hands traced the edges of his body, not overly erotic yet subtlety intimacy. It was a touch lingered with desire yet veiled with innocence. Sensing her message, he then halted her approach as she stopped her hands and spoke, quite turn on
"Not on this body"
Pouting, Kanade leaned her chin on his shoulder, hug him and spoke
"Why?"
"Not now okay"
"Mouuu~!"
She then caress her head unto his, feeling dejected. Finding her cute, he just let Kanade be spoiled for this moment. Sighing, he then gazed outside of the window, and spoke is a stern tone
"So how did such journey ended you 4 in this state?"
And glance at her.
"..... Later, I will tell you later"
And smiled as she replied, trying to hid the worries and anxiousness she have.
"But for now, how about we try settling this child here~"
"Hey!"
.....
After basking themselves in the tub, dressing up, taking their lunch, Kanade explained everything to Shin to all the knowledge they have garnered throughout the years they been traveling, and one of them is
"Unlike people from this world, we from the other world can easily bypass the power system, or the status system which are:
1. From Iron rank, we can easily reached 150 [STR], whereas the residents of this world can only go 50 [STR], and 150 for Iron III. But to raised it to 200, we needed to rank up to Silver to exceed our stats, and so on.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
2. We can easily see the status of each individual of this world, starting from [STR], [AGI], [INT], [DEF], and [VIT], whereas they can only see [DEF] and [VIT], with an exception if they acquired [Inspection], a much higher tier than [Appraisal]
3. If we think about a class, or acquiring a certian class, we can easily knew the requirements needed to aquire it, while those people here needed knowledge from those who have acquired and mastered it.
4. We from the other world can easily obtain [Skill Theft] and [Plunder], unlike the people here. It's a skill where we can steal somebody else skill and make them our own.
She also explained that common sense from the past and this time are different, as back before they were summoned/ reincarnated, Iron rank can't go against Copper rank, but this time as long as the opponent isn't 3 ranks above you, chances are yours to take if you are smart enough, or strong enough to go against it.
Residents of this world can't enter dungeon that aren't on par, or maybe a bit higher than their rank, unlike them. Dungeons keeps people from venturing inside for greed, fame, and glory just for them to end up as a dungeon fertilizer.
She also explained the levels of threat in this world, which are followed:
[Banish Island] ≥ [Bound of Curtailed] ≤ [Proclaimed] = mysterious threat
[Rightful Island] ≥ [Renowned Islands] = mythical beast/ beast of legends
And also the dungeon appearances:
Small and Medium Dungeon = Banish to Proclaimed
High Dungeon = Banish to Renowned
Extreme and Highly-Extreme Dungeon = Banish to Rightful
She also taught Shin about the book they have received from Amhan, which is the [Witch of Sympathy].
"The book of [Codex of Insight] lets you survey what material you have obtained in your journey. Just place the material in the center of the book cover, and it will directly showcased all the information about it, the things it can turn into, the possible way to used it, and there locations.
While [Adventurer's Log] let you know all the islands, inhabitants, hidden treasures, and also undiscovered dungeon and ruins in each places. It also records all the skills and classes discovered and known"
She also added the most notable guilds in this world, which are
} <>×> {¦ Top 6 Guilds in Centum Fluitantia Insulae¦} <×<> {
Adventurer's Guild - - > guild that places its adventurers in the topmost priority. They deal odd jobs for people, and undertake Quest that normal people shouldn't take
Skywrights Guild - - > referred as the eye of the sky. Guild that focuses on Airships.
Assassin's Guild - - > if you needed a job to be taken care off in silent, this guild offer such service, may it assassination, information collection, simple ground work, or dirty plots.
Knight's Guild - - > a guild that focuses on strengthening their Knights, and like Adventurer's guild, they take odd requests. Only people born as a noble are allowed to enter the guild, with an exception of the few.
Dark Guild - - > still unknown to many, but they're the guild where secrecy and mystery still unfolds that even the assassin's guild can't dare to trespass. They are known for causing fear and dread to many, and one of their notable work is destroying a powerful household in the [Rightful Island].
Merchant's Guild - - > guild that doesn't care who they transact, as long as they can profit they will even visit hell itself.
[Accepting any of the guild's request, or Quest will let you rank up, and further increasing your status and also strength]
} <>×> {¦ <~~~~×~~~~> ¦} <×<> {
"And by the way darling, how come you are still a Copper rank?"
"Well, I couldn't find any guild during my stay here"
"Eh? I think every island above [Bound of Curtailed] have guilds in them, especially that we are located in the [The Renowned Islands], so how come?"
Shin then answered her questions, even though his confused
"Well, I didn't found any in the [Banish Island]"
"?..... [Banish]? What, what are you doing in the [Banish Island] darling?"
"..... That's- Because that's where I Iive?"
"What?"
"What?"
"What?" (both)
After clarifying the misunderstanding between them, Kanade finally understood the situation
"..... Byakko"
"Yes"
Byakko then stood before them as Kanade called her out. Kanade then explained everything she have heard from Shin to Byakko, which made it puzzled while listening.
"Verily, not merely a mixed dungeon, but for us to suddenly travel from the [The Renowned Islands] to the [Banish]..... This is indeed most unexpected."
"Now that explains why we can't open that door"
Kanade then explained that during the time when they conquered all 5 floors of this dungeon, they then found that wooden door, which where they expect the boss of this dungeon is, but even how much strength they have, that door won't budge.
When conquering a dungeon, one simply need to kill the boss of it and destroy the [Dungeon Core], and the dungeon itself will cease to exist. But if you don't destroy the core yet you have slained the boss, the dungeon itself won't dissappear, and rather continue to summon monster after monster inside of it, and replace the slain boss right after. Some guild, kingdom, or island used it to their advantage to profit, or strengthen their army.
"If you did so, will the other guardian of this dungeon dissappear?"
"As I've mentioned previously, we guardians are fundamentally different from the boss. Unlike them, we have the freedom to leave our floor at our own will, and even once when the dungeon itself is entirely conquered"
He explained. He then added
"But this still raises the question, how, or what causes such phenomenon to happen?"
Finding nothing, Kanade simply continued her discussion to Shin, and further explaining all the things he needed to know when venturing out. Afterwards, she then gazed at Byakko, which it then hesitantly nodded. Shin was puzzled as he watched Kanade stood up, and Byakko standing behind him. Kanade then further distance herself from him, which further confused him. Kanade then slit her palm, drawing blood from her hand
"Indestructible chain of blood, flesh garnesh from the silent ones"
And as the drop of blood drip from the ground
"From beneath of thy earthly husk"
A large circle then appeared below Kanade. An **upside down U with a diagonal slash atop then appears at the center, with 3 large circles circling it. At the center of each circle a letter F with a slant diagonal lines was scribe.
"I asked from the prayer mine, entwine my being: [Fettered Embrace]"
Swoosh
Emerging from underneath, a towering black pillar enveloped her form, its imposing presence accentuated by four chains, exuding an eerie aura of both dread and an unexpected peace.
Clank! Clank!
The 4 black chains then bound her feet and arms, tightly locking her.
"Child, stand down"
Byakko spoke in a imposing tone, as he placed his paw on Shin's shoulder, when he was about to rushed towards her, confused and worried.
"Hah... Haah... Hahh"
Steadily relaxing her breath, she then spoke with a firm gaze
"[Memory Alter: Release]"
Snap
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!"
An agonizing pain of torment flew towards her, amounting pressure inside her head.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!!"
Each breath she felt were like needles grasping her lungs, with her brain being wrapped with a tight band, squeezing each ounce of her senses, mashing it like a dough.
"Aaagghhhhhhh!!"
A relentless pressure akin to being boiled alive with a skinless body, poured with a galloon of salt
"It hurrrttss!"
She yelled, with tears of blood gushing out from her, streaming from her mouth, eyes, and nose.
"Stand down"
In an ordering tone, Byakko spoke, as Shin gritted her teeth, furious and irritated. Both of them were helpless, as they watched her suffer.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Thud
An hour passed as Kanade was now standing on a pool of her own blood, the chain that was holding her then released her. She then stumbled down, lifeless and
"..... Kanade?"
Motionless. Anxious, Shin gazed at her weathered and battered body
"Don't worry about me darling"
"!"
Shocked, Shin glances around as Kanade's voice suddenly whispered on her. He then gazed at front to confirm, and still saw her motionless body laying down, yet she heard her spoke?
"I know you are confused, but we don't have much time left. This is a unique tier of spell that could be classified as [SR], [Ethereal Projection], where I can separate my spiritual self from my mortal shell
Now darling, I apologize, but here on out you will be traveling alone, as we can't be with you"
"What? What do-"
"The others, they are dead"
"... What?"
"Malus Dreadweaver, [The Fallen Sage of Malice], was one of Shinji's 12 guardians. He cast a spell that caused everyone except me to perish. Finding out I survive and witnessing my resurrection of them, he then enacted another spell that binds us together, where I can't distance myself from them, or else they will crumble to dust"
Hearing those sudden words, Shin was speechless as he listened, not knowing what to say to the information he have received.
'Dead? Resurrected? Shinji? Guardian? Spell? What?'
"It might take a while for you to understand this, but please be warn, don't ever place your trust on the [Skywrights Guild], whatever you do, distance yourself from them. They can't be trusted"
She spoked in a firm tone
"And darling, do I am sadden about our separation, please-"
"Can they still be brought back?"
"..... What?"
"Can they still be brought back?"
"..."
"Answer me"
".... Yes"
"How?"
"The journey will be-"
"How?"
He spoke in a high tone. With his firm resolve and unwavering tone, Kanade couldn't help but answer his question
"..... 5 years from now on, during the [Trifecta Eclipse], when the sun and moon doubled in the sky and the star [Twilight's Gambit] shone, the island of [First Sacrum of Haven] will emerge. There, a solitary tree that only bears a single fruit every 55 years will be seen. Legends said that from the seed of its fruit {Phoenixes} were born, and from it sap it created immortality.
And if those words bore truth, that's the only thing that could resurrect the 3 of them without any side effects"
She stated, gentle yet anxious as she spoke.
"5 years from now on"
He muttered in his breath, lost in thought
"Darling, it won't be a safe journey"
"..... I didn't expect it won't"
Sarcasmly he responded to her worries, and smirked. Feeling that he won't back down, Kanade simply sigh and stated
"I really forgot how stubborn you were. At the living room, atop of the cabinet, there's a small chest there, coated in teal and coral paint. Inside of it is a [Storage Ring], all the things you needed for your journey is already inside of it, use it however you like"
"Prepared aren't we?"
He muttered as he smirked.
"Darling, whatever you do, please don't let your entrusive thought won, I'm begging you"
Sensing her anxiousness from her words, Shin simply smiled as he replied
"I'll try"
"My time will be almost up, Byakko will escort you out..... And darling, please be safe, I will be waiting for your return"
Nodding, silence then came.
"..... Child"
Though dejected, Shin then turned around and climbed up to the back of Byakko, as it then enlarge itself comparable to that of a mountain, before they then traveled back to the wooden door. Glancing back, Shin gazed at Kanade's unmoving body, before he closed his eyes and whisper
"I'll return soon"
<><><><><>
*Elysian spirit" typically refers to something associated with the concept of Elysium, which in Greek mythology was the paradise where the souls of heroes and the virtuous were sent after death. The term "Elysian" itself relates to Elysium, describing something blissful, delightful, or peaceful.
"Aetherial" comes from the Greek "aither" (the upper air or clear sky), often associated with the heavens or celestial realms, and "voyager" indicates someone who travels through these ethereal or otherworldly spaces.
**Uruz rune means strength, vitality, and primal power. It is often associated with physical health, vitality, courage, and the life force. While Asuz associated with communication, divine inspiration, and the power of the spoken word. It represents the breath of life, clarity of thought, and the connection between the earthly and spiritual realms.
Chatgpt answered this btw on kanade's worry "Darling, it won't be a safe journey"
"I'll be sure to pack my luck then. Thanks for the heads-up!"
"Safety's my middle name. Just kidding—it's actually Danger."