It's demonic! Bred on the planes of hell and capable of only sin and disaster. Birthed in the minds of the most morally black. Disgusting. I don't know how people tolerate this absurdity, it should all be destroyed. To bring the worst out in every race, is that not the work of the devil, the undivine? It is, is it not? Every civilization to have ever dabbled with such things destroys itself! It is a demonic thing, unwanted, preying on the temptations of the layman! Technology doesn't advance science! It devolves morality! Weaponry, implants, drugs, mindmasks, transportation? What can technology do that magic cannot? And without the twisted ideals that it brings?
-Arthemuy Caster, High Mage, 7th Seat.
He twisted, under the shade of the keid's harness. The saddle was peppered with pillows. Large enough across he could easily lay horizontally and sleep comfortably, even with Nayah and Saga doing the same. The back of the beast was broad, maybe five by eight feet. He enjoyed listening to the keid talk with each other. Luck's mount complained heartily about Saga riding on it, somewhat frightened of the shar. Ace's was annoyed at Tric darting about its face. The one carrying Erok and Maxworth had it the best apparently. They were all very vocal about getting rid of their riders once they found a watering hole, something Luck's keid doubted they would come across in the Hydr Dunes.
Of course, they could not know Luck could understand them.
Peering over the saddle of the creature he could see only barren rock and desert, a scene as lonely as the moon. Dust clouds rose in the distance, some unknown creatures kicking up the scuffle. The keids walked roughly in a triangle, they were a social creature Luck surmised. It was obvious in the constant dialogue they shared. Their hooves kicked sand backward where Peace slowly but surely became a speck, another particle in the brown trail. It had been hours since their departure.
Outcroppings of darker brown rock dotted the landscape, adding a scarred look to the dunes of Hydr. No plants as far as Luck could see save for curious growths he spotted that called the rocks home. Light green, lost in beige, nearly covered those rock outcroppings. Some type of lichen that managed to live on extremely heated rocks, battered by the heat of the sun.
Luck had learned the main danger in the dunes was dehydration. The chance to come across something living in the dunes was nigh impossible. Everything here died, so he was told. The only ones thriving were the birds in the sky, somehow immune to the heat of the desert they glided slow above the sun. Scavengers. Scavengers that had been circling them since it became clear they were leaving Peace. He could spot them every now and again as he leaned out from under the awning.
Turning inward he looked at his fellow passengers. Luck's mouth was dry as he watched Nayah take a rationed sip from her own leather waterskin. No doubt the liquid tasted like old leather from her face. She glanced his way, having turned back into the saddle from staring out into the dunes as well. Saga still slumbered between them, Nayah only slightly terrified of his sleeping form, apparent in the way she made no sudden moves.
"Thirsty?" She asked, or rather whispered loudly. "You can have some if you want. I know you don't have any supplies." Her gaze was curious since Luck hadn't taken a single sip of water for nearly half a day in the heat. The dry scorch seemed to have no effect on him.
"Nope." Luck grinned.
The grove, though he didn't come across them in person, harbored many bodies of water dotting the forest. Water fresh, blue, and sparkling clear. Drawing from his grove he called that water directly into his mouth. He took a veiled gulp and looked to Nayah, a carefully amused look on his visage. The perks of the Evodim allowed him that luxury, summoning items from your dimensional room was a common thing. It so happened that Evodim had reign over a large lake before his influence died out in the grove.
"I don't understand how you do that. You seem like a normal human. You're not even sweating! " She said exasperatedly.
"I guess I'm just used to traveling. Just assume it's as if everywhere I go is home." He took another swig of water surreptitiously. "Really, like home is just a step away for me."
Tric flew by once again, perching on the saddle. Luck, per routine, handed her a waterlogged soaked apple and coldleaf. Tric grabbed them with a chirp and flew off to Ace's keid. She dropped the soaked apple at an angle and Ace caught the tossed fruit under the awning, raising it in thanks to Luck before taking a large bite of the watery fruit. Ace gave him a goofy thumbs up as he popped the coldleaf in his mouth.
Luck shook his head. The properties of the fruit in his grove were truly astounding. The ones Ace had stocked up on just so happened to be extremely useful here.
Unlike Luck, the black-haired mercenary retire was still sweating profusely. Luck stayed as dry as the sand.
She squinted, watching once again as Luck procure the fruit from a container she couldn't see. Yet not once had she witnessed him take a bite of the fruits he produced himself. "It's like you're perfectly cooled." She said crossing her arms.
Luck closed his eyes again, seeming to all to be simply meditating on the ride. He felt the keid move under him, each step a rocking on the saddle. The dull crunch of coarse sand as they approached rock and the seiving sound of finer grain as they grew further.
In truth, he was searching his grove, combing it with his senses. There he found a small animal, a bright green mammal the size of a squirrel. It had extremely short and coarse fur. But most importantly, it belonged to the short list of herbivores that foraged in the territory of thermal sensing predators. In short, the Heatblind, aptly named and one of the few creatures cataloged in Spirit's general information package had perfect control of its own internal temperature.
Luck had been drawing upon the little critters the entire trip which is to say most of the day.
Nayah wasn't far on her estimate, in fact she was completely on the dot. Luck was perfectly content to sit in the sun. Completely combatting the heat, however, takes some mana on his part according to Spirits analysis. There was a minuscule draw on his mana pool.
"I've only seen a Lesser Human before, but he still had to drink water often in this sun." Nayah said.
"I'm a little different from a Lesser Human. " Luck replied.
Spirit, characteristics of Lesser Humans. He queried silently.
As usual, Spirit was quick to respond. Lesser Humans, unlike most of the subhumans, found themselves in a harsh climate that changed frequently. As a result, after the Great Split and the millennium after Lesser Humans have evolved into powerful physical specimens. They are larger than average humans, nearly twice their size. Despite the label of their species, they are respected among other humans for their powerful stature and physical feats. For comparison, three or four Lesser Humans could overpower a callamoth. They are race accustomed to harsh climates, able to function at temperatures considered extreme to most.
Thanks. Luck nodded mentally. Isn't a few thousand years kind of low for drastic natural evolutions to take place?
The System, a neutral force, is also widely debated at the annual Scholar's Meet. Many of their dialogues are included and drawn upon from the general information package. It has been previously agreed upon that the System is also a force of change, allowing creatures affected by it to evolve at a rapid pace, especially those faced with hardships in the environment.
Interesting, it makes sense. Though, I'm kind of curious how exactly Ethodthem could alter the phyiscal aspects of sentients. I'd assume any changes made to the body were actually earned by physical feats in this case, probably extremely beneficial ones as well.
Continued feats done by an entire race lead to racial changes and adaptations. Such is the process that dictates the rift between all subhumans. There are no recorded instances of this happening but it is widely agreed upon based on oral histories.
Ethodthem's influence permeates Aerae. Spirit didn't bother to reply.
"I'm not as big as a Lesser Human." Luck chuckled.
"No, but your muscles, though I'll admit you're thin are well defined. Are you half maybe? That kind of definition you only see on races naturally built for it or dedicated training. And there aren't any training halls or guilds in Peace, or anywhere nearby for that matter." She questioned.
Was she not human? She kept asking as if she wasn't.
"I'm assuming you aren't human then?" Nayah, leaning forward, a position she found herself slowly easing into, blinked as if aware of Luck's question and her own pestering. "You're fascinated by me so much so I feel that you aren't."
Her hair flashed orange.
Luck decided it wasn't worth pursuing. "I'm perfectly human to answer your question. As average as you can be with a little tweak from the System, but that's not for you to know."
"Well, it's not polite to ask for that information so I'll refrain. Am I to learn any bartending on the trip? Have you brought any drinks or spirits?"
Luck did bring some. They were all present in his dimensional room. There was more to bartending, however, than simply being able to mix drinks. One needed to know how to interact with patrons, how to put on a show, how to talk to people. There wasn't an actual bar here unless Luck wanted to bring her into the dimensional room. And she needed to know her way around one if she-
Targeted analysis complete.
Luck paused a moment. What? When did I ask for a targeted analysis and of what?
You did not. Advance action taken. Minor mind-altering magics were detected affecting your person. The mental lapse is extremely subtle, almost unnoticeable by the Mk3. However, it seems that a targeted question towards her nature set your mind towards an answer. Removal from this train of thought allowed detection. You have been affected previously but there have been no unprecedented behavioral changes, only now am I able to detect past altercations to your surface thoughts.
What? Nayah's been altering my mind?
He didn't allow a break in the flow of the conversation. "I have but you'll need a bar to put them to use. Simply practicing combining liquids won't make you a bartender. Don't worry though, we'll find you something to practice." Luck kept his face carefully neutral, examining hers in turn. She didn't seem the least bit guilty, but if she was altering his mind then he would treat her as one capable of deception.
Yes, however, the effects seem harmless. She is avoiding query to her nature. Magical Entity detected. Mind and Illusion magic detected. Nayah shares similar attributes to the Illuse, a magical creature considered exotic in most circles. The Illuse are powerful magic casters with multiple affinities of magic. They are a race widely sought after for their high natural mana output. Often, they are enslaved as priceless batteries or enchanted to teach aspiring mages their craft. Low magical input used to avoid detection. Her magical signature is heavily shrouded.
Am I vulnerable to Mind magic with you in my head?
Powerful mental magics are easily overridden by the Mk3. The Mk3, regulating mental processes and entwined in the brain, is able to weed out mental irregularities with unerring precision. Mk3 users need not worry about mind-altering effects, though straightforward mental attacks and subtlety in a Mind mage's approach may deem troublesome.
"Okay, I will do this even if I have to wait for most of the trip," Nayah replied.
"Why bartending anyway?" Luck asked absently. "It's not exactly a rewarding job in a world as large and wonderous as Aerae." He waved, the motion of his hand a wide circle.
"No reason. I just want to learn something. To do something. There is little to do in Peace, but the lives of the Arena Field combatants are always interesting to hear. The bartender at the central tower always has second-hand stories for me." Her voice trailed gently. "They live as my father did." She added quietly. "Just a taste of that adventure is what I desire. A chance to see life as my father did." The girl turned towards the dunes, hair whipping gently from the wind.
"You'd think a girl fluent in Shadowspeak and knowledgeable in poisons would know a thing or two about adventure." Luck took in her unguarded expression. Her reverie froze as she turned slowly to Luck. "Don't think I don't remember your attempt on my life. You poisoned the glassware. And Borg tried to kill my friend. And you had the nerve to talk about the deed right in front of me." He said, leaning back against the lip of the saddle. "Though I'll admit you didn't do it verbablly, but rather in Shadowspeak."
Her hair, under the shade of the awning, was a deep brown. It framed cautious blue eyes. Her hands, Luck noticed, moved slowly to the pouch her mother had made her take. "It was a necessity. No one enters Dersoc as casually as you did. Trying through the river below only invites death and suicide by the serpents nesting in the shadows. I'm still unsure how you managed."
"And you'll stay unsure." Luck rested his elbows up and behind him on the saddle. There was a soft smirk on his face, knowing Spirit could activate his chitin armor and that he could pause time he felt perfectly safe. "Why Dersoc?"
"Dersoc is a city full of deceit and death. It's home to hardened criminals and slave trade. There's an unspoken rule there. Strangers are to be killed less they leak the location to any major city with the means to shut down the whole operation." Her hand now rested directly on the pouch, as if the thing was some type of weapon. She was avoiding the question. Stalling for a better answer perhaps.
Luck openly watched her, his eyes unshyly alighting on her hand. "What were you doing there?"
"Purchasing slaves for the Arena Fields." Luck knew that wasn't the whole truth. Still, Luck frowned at the mention of slaves.
He tilted his head in enlightenment. "You were practicing, weren't you? And not just your bartending either."
"What are you talking about?" She replied defensively, her hand untying the strings to her pouch.
"Your mind magic, Illuse." He said nonchalant, waving a hand in the air. The word was stressed, stretched out and non-accusing.
"Excuse me?" She said affronted. "I've no idea what you're talking about."
Saga peeked open an eye.
I am here Amber Eyes. If you need me.
Thanks Saga, but go back to sleep. I won't.
Saga grunted mentally but he stayed awake.
"You can't hide from me, Nayah." Luck told her even as her hair flashed orange. He paused, "You can't." He repeated, smirking.
"How did you-"
"If you're going to travel with us we need to trust each other." Luck replied, now on the opposite side of the saddle. For all accounts appearing to have vanished. A quick transition with Time magic allowed him to swap positions. "And I don't appreciate your mistrust." To her, it would seem as if he teleported. Her eyes widened, darting about as she finally tracked him down.
Her arm twitched. A small glowing orb of swirling color appeared in her hand. Instantly, Luck paused time. He moved to sit right beside her, a few feet closer to her. Her other hand was clutching the contents of the pouch.
Mage beads, a magical conduit similar to wands or staves. Her already ample magical power will be amplified.
Time resumed and the bolt of magic flew past where Luck had previously been, shooting off past Ace's keid. Luck watched the colored trail it left in the air impassively.
Solidified Illusion magic. Aside from minor magical burns, it causes extreme hallucinations. Spirit chimed in.
The missile flew with a whistling noise before exploding in a silent explosion of color. Ace's eyes trailed it as well and he followed the source standing up in his shaded saddle.
"Good aim." He said.
"How are you doing that?" She hissed. Her hair flashed bright orange again and her face became confused as Luck only languidly stared at her, unconcerned.
"I'm not going to do anything Nayah. Your secret's safe with me. I'm not about to enslave you or anything." Luck explained. "Besides, you're out of your league. You can't touch me so you'll just have to trust me." He paused time again and moved to his initial position, resting against the far side of the saddle opposite to her.
"Just my luck. If anyone finds out I'll be harvested, enslaved, or worse." She grimaced. "How did you know I was part Illuse? What gave it away? I've taken painstaking precautions against discovery."
"I'm simply observant. Really observant." Luck answered. "And I'm fairly decent at knowing myself. So consider it strange when my thoughts derail."
"If you tell anyone it will ruin my life. Especially, in a city as large as Ardun. I'll be hunted down and forced to power whatever magical enchantments enshroud the city." She frowned. "An Illuse is a priceless battery. Even a half one."
"Nayah, to be honest, I wasn't planning to even drag you along if I hadn't owed you for cutting two months off our journey. I couldn't care less about your life, truthfully. But I won't ruin it for laughs. You've got it good. There were people in Peace starving, you know. It was largely why I gave your mom the seeds anyways. There are people less fortunate than you've ever been. I'm going to teach you bartending, Nayah. It's the least I could do. But i'm here to help people, to look out for the little guy. Ratting you out just causes suffering. There's no point."
"It's not like you could even tell anyone out here." She took another measured sip from her waterskin. Her face carried a faint puzzlement as she looked at Luck, forgetting for a moment she had tried to attack him, instead losing herself in trying to figure him out.
Luck caught all this. "Exactly, so I'd appreciate if you don't attack me." Luck's face went sharp, his eyes went to the nearby keid that Ace was on. "Because the next time you do we aren't above killing you." Nayah, curious, followed his gaze.
She shivered.
Ace stood on his keid glowing faintly with electricity only visible because of the shadow of the awning. His stance was set and he was perfectly still despite the motion of the mount. Faint crackles of light broke the shade. His hands were splayed out beside him. His face was steeped with focus, a killer's glint in his eye. He was staring directly at Nayah, no doubt in his eyes that he couldn't hit her perfectly from where he stood.
Luck regarded her quietly.
With a nod, Ace turned away. Tric's head peeked down from above the awning over Luck, she had perched there listening to the conversation as soon as Ace had noticed the missile of Illusion magic fly by. Saga relaxed.
Nayah noticed all the interaction with wide eyes but she breathed a little faster when she noticed Saga looking at her, perfectly awake. He had been forgotten in all the commotion, especially with Luck distracting her. The shar had laid so still the entire time he could've been mistaken for another pile of pillows.
There had been many ready to react if Luck couldn't handle it. Though that was extremely unlikely.
"Y-yeah," Nayah replied.
Luck gave her a measured glance and turned away.
Erok and Maxworth missed the entirety of the interaction, having been slightly ahead of either keid. Erok was lounging on his back from what Luck could see and Maxworth sat stock still, silent and patient.
The keid knew where they were going. Only a few nudges on the reins corrected their course.
Luck reached into his shirt, his hand emerging with a crystal pendant. The motes of light gathered within shined brightly forward, reassuring him of their path. It was the necklace that pointed towards his family.
Spirit, display Diversi's Map.
A translucent map appeared in mid air, it glowed a digital light blue as was customary of Spirit's augments. Nearly everything surrounding Ardun was mapped. The City of Adventurers, its location marked ominously by a lone 'Ardun' floating in blank space on the map.
Surrounding the blank space, however, were detailed notes on the terrain and topography.
To the North lie the Frozen Zones, steep icy mountains, and cliff faces pockmarked by caves and other such hazards. The map's elevations surrounding the Frozen Zones were sharp and irregular. It seemed that main dangers here were hypothermia, heights, and ice leopards. To the West lay Krukon's Forest, scribbled notes drew arrows around the whole area, noting various landmarks to watch out for and, curiously, hostile and friendly baboon tribes. Luck could only guess why that particular detail was worth including. To the South lay Snakes Way, a path leading to Ardun infested with snakes. This way was littered with warnings across the whole map that left Luck amazed at how the original cartographer even survived the initial mapping of the area. Various sightings were recorded as it seemed the territories of the larger snakes, much like the baboon tribes apparently, constantly shifted, save for a few with permanent homes. Sightings recorded snakes with girths up to twelve feet, and hundreds of feet in length. He thought he read it wrong but the measurements were written there clear as day.
Then to the East were the Hydr Dunes. A small green arrow depicted Luck's current position on the map. Hydr Valley, where Peace was located, happened to be recorded on the map and therefore the initial position, when they left, was known. Spirit was able to calculate this and represent their position on the map. Such a thing wouldn't be normally possible but there were a variety of landmarks, namely oddly shaped rocks, that Spirit was able to reference with the map and allow for error to give a rough estimation of the whereabouts of the group. It helped that the map was more or less perfectly accurate. Whoever created the map knew his business.
Luck took another hidden gulp of water.
Unfortunately, this allowed the Luck the sad luxury of knowing exactly how long the journey would be. They had not even dented a fraction of the trip. And they had been at it for several hours now. The notes surrounding the portion of the map regarding the Hydr Dunes simply stressed the necessity of enchanted water containers or some other such source of water. It seemed there were little dangers in Hydr Valley aside from the length of the trek, lack of water and supreme heat. He did mention that the mirages surrounding the edges of the dunes might throw off weary, thirsty travelers. There was no magic to this other than the delusion created in the traveler's own mind. He remarks that if he wasn't so experienced in waymaking he might have easily become lost. There was little else in the Hydr Dunes than sand and rocks.
However, the creator of the map did mark places of note, remarking on the oddities of the area. At some locales, the cartographer notes supremely weird twisting formations of metal, set into the sand as deep as any other boulder. These metals marked excellent campsites as their surface, to the hand, was extremely cool. A luxury in the battle with the sun. The mapmaker stresses the various nights spent by these metal structures, that any aspiring to traverse the dunes should find great comfort in resting by these pieces of metal.
Luck found that odd. There had to be some history there. A short query to Spirit brought up nothing, however. The Hydr Dunes have no known recorded history, as did many remarkable environments in Aerae. The lack of a history should be no surprise according to Spirit. Aerae was too large a place to have reliable records on hand for any geological subject.
The sun was setting but the keid didn't seem at all tired. Truly a map wasn't really needed since it was a straight shot from Hydr Valley to Ardun. Although, Luck couldn't have known that with the map. He shrugged mentally, it was still nice to have.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
They approached one of the metal formations a large round gray-blue ball that tapered out into the sand. Near the top, it sprouted haphazard spikes. It seemed like a whale breaching the surface albeit with multiple horns. While the portion Luck rested against was smooth the rest of the metal was twisted into ridges like wrinkled leather. After explaining the properties of the metal it wasn't long before Ace, Saga, Tric, and Nayah pressed into the metal with content sighs. The heat of the day was apparent.
"You all smell terrible." Luck remarked, scrunching up his face. "You especially Ace."
"Sorry I sweat in the heat like a normal human being." Ace said pointedly. He had been using his black hoodie as protection under the sun. He was shirtless now, his hoodie worn loose on his body.
Nayah chipped in. "Some of us are actually uncomfortable in the heat."
Amber Eyes, again you surprise me. I should not have underestimated by bondmate. Saga projected, opening an eye. The shar was licking his coat to cool down.
Luck smirked. "Sucks." Pure, genuine empathy lined his features before it was replaced with a sarcastic smile.
Sorry that you didn't see me enduring the heat? Don't worry about it, I wouldn't have either. He continued with Saga.
You misunderstand Amber Eyes. I am not sorry, simply mad at myself for judging you incorrectly. That you were in need of help with the girl.
For judging me weakly. Luck surmised, raising a knowing eyebrow towards the shar. Saga only huffed and lay his head down.
Ace looked at Luck from under his hood. "It's quite unfair, truthfully." He pulled his hood down lower, but Luck caught the ghost of a smile on his face. Thinking about what brought that smile on reminded Luck that he still didn't know what Ace had chosen from Jerxos. The God of Rebirth, quirky as he was, had opted to give Ace a ramping elimination impartation, a far cry from Luck's card game. Aside from Lightning magic and Tric he chose two more tools that Luck still hadn't identified. He gave a good natured sigh, Ace wouldn't make it easy either. Not unless his hand was forced.
He rested his head against the metal.
The metal was indeed cool to the touch, a soothing chill spread across his neck. It was a contrast to the heat he felt all day even through the buffer of his magically supplemented temperature regulation.
Erok roped the keids on the spikes above with help from Maxworth. The thick rope wrapped securely around the keid's torso. The large beasts weren't in the mood to argue with their stop, they were tired as well, though not as tired as one might assume. They were bored of walking for the day Luck gleaned. Impressive, given that they didn't drink or eat the entire trip.
The beasts were content to talk amongst themselves.
Luck enjoyed hearing Erok's stories, even if they weren't for him. Maxworth only nodded but that didn't curb the roken's enthusiasm. He was relating the tales of his travels with the keid. Apparently, to Erok's people at the very least, the beasts weren't considered violent, only mischevious with a tendency to go overboard. Less physical races found this demeanor fatal in such large creatures.
Soon enough Luck drifted off into a practiced light sleep.
He awoke to the smell of cooking meat. He was sweating. He took a mouthful of much needed cool, crystal clear water, straight from his grove. Pulling on the aspect of the Heatblind, he cooled himself down. It was only after he had done all that that he stood up. His back was pleasantly cool from the metal he slept against.
He had sensed Ace and Maxworth rise earlier, the rest followed them, but Luck was content to rest longer, having drifted back into light sleep. Now, it seemed they caught food.
"Morning." Luck greeted, sounding well-rested. "I thought all the food here died a long time ago?" It wasn't a small animal that they caught either. Maxworth was slicing pieces of meat off the pig-sized rodent. Nearby, there was a hole in the ground, as if something burrowed out of it.
"Bait. Trap." Erok replied in Common. "My people do this many times." It was then Luck caught sight of some rotten meat lying near the tunnel the rodent created.
"That's a vurr." Nayah replied, munching on her skewer. "They're nighttime scavengers. They're smart, but the threat of starvation pushes them to take risks. A vurr on a full stomach wouldn't have tried such an easy meal. They know to stay away from Peace but further out our hunters catch them often enough."
Ace, Luck noticed, was helping Maxworth slice up the rodent. It had light brown fur, shoveled hands, and, currently, half a belly. The pieces of meat were both drying and cooking on a flat rock, the sizzle of the fat smelled mouthwatering. Erok was there skewering each set of cooked meat with large skewers.
"Thanks." He said, taking one. Biting into it was heaven. It wasn't conducive to avoiding suspicion for Ace or Luck to disappear into the grove to go hunting so he'd been snacking on fruit the past day. Surprisingly soft with fat, the juicy meat of the vurr couldn't have been healthy. "Damn, that's good." He said with a mouthful, taking a seat on a nearby rock.
Maxworth tossed flanks of raw meat upwards for Saga to catch. "Don't feed him too much. He might get too fat to run from Tric." Ace warned, chuckling to himself. He winked at Saga when the shar glanced at him flatly. Saga was too busy ripping into the meat to give Ace his full attention.
Ace himself threw pieces for Tric to nibble on.
Luck rested his elbows on his knees. He bit into the skewer horizontally, pulling the flesh off the wood with viciousness. He caught Erok, still, basically barbequing, staring at him. Luck raised an eyebrow.
In Roke, "How are you sustained without water, druid? I have noticed you don't carry any magical flask." The roken was much more eloquent in his native language than Common. He stabbed another piece of meat, stony fingers deceptively nimble.
"Oh? Who said I needed water? I could be just like a roken in that regard. Or a gentleman for that matter." Luck replied, savoring the food. He nodded towards Maxworth.
"It is clear you are not." Erok chuckled. "And that you do not wish to share."
Luck only stared at him. "No, I don't." Assuming him to be done, he went back to his skewer. He was right, Luck didn't want to share that information.
The roken continued, "The keid are in a good mood. The journey is good for them. Staying idle isn't healthy for beasts such as they."
The creatures were still secured to the twisting formation of metal. They rested on all fours, their own harnesses providing shade for their massive bodies. They, evidently, weren't immune to the heat. They pressed against the metal as well.
Erok was observing him, he knew. He could feel his eyes, even if he hadn't noted the interest the man had seemed to have in him back in Protc's temple. He and Maxworth had been quietly watching him. Luck was all too aware of it. Their intentions were genuine though.
He actually had to catch himself. He had assumed they were out to get him, or wish him harm. Truthfully, it wasn't so. He smacked himself mentally when he realized the men were simply curious. This wasn't the city. That life was over. He had no ties here. No enemies.
All the same, he wasn't one to share his business.
After breakfast was done they continued on their journey. It was short business getting the keid moving and everyone on them. The vurr was a nice buffer for their supplies. The more food and water they acquired on their trek, if at all possible, lessened the strain on their own supplies. Not that Luck needed that.
The vurr jerky went onto Erok and Maxworth's keid. The two were leading for no other reason than the natural inclination of their mounts.
Hours passed in what seemed like minutes. Luck thought everything died in the dunes but every hour he would spot something living. Still, it was a bleak landscape. The animals he did find were often just scraping by. None of the others saw them or even noticed them, of course. Luck was only capable of the feat through One with Nature. Simple Nature magic couldn't commune to this degree.
Luck chuckled slowly as he watching Nayah swatting at flies. The ones around him didn't bother him. A glance over the saddle and it seemed Ace was reading his dictionary. It was surprising he even had it still. It was a good way to kill time though.
Tric walked on the edge of the saddle when she noticed Luck's attention. The little dragon chirped and got Ace's attention. Ace perked up but Luck waved him down. Nothing was happening. He returned to his dictionary somewhat regrettably.
"There is something here!" Erok yelled, breaking the silence of travel. Maxworth was already standing, just short enough to do so comfortably under the awning, staring out into a pit that the keid had stopped in front of.
"What's going on?" Nayah asked as if Luck would have the answer.
He ignored her. Luck's mount stopped nearby, following the lead of Erok's. Dismounting, he walked to the edge of the pit. A quick check showed this particular landmark wasn't represented on the map.
"What is it?" Ace asked, having climbed down himself. Nayah was right behind him. "Oh. This doesn't look natural at all."
Spirit began spouting out observational data. Fine details that Luck would've spent significantly longer to notice. He relayed, "The sand's been disturbed here. Could be a burrowing animal like the vurr but the diameter of this pit is too large for that. The noticeable divot, however, indicates something was occupying this space for a long time, depending on how often these dunes get good wind. It's weird, there's nothing even around here."
"Something came out, that's for sure." Ace remarked. "See that?" He said pointing around the circumference of the pit. "No excess sand. Nothing was digging here if anyone was entertaining the idea. What came out of here was big." Realizing Ace was speaking passable Common Luck rose an eyebrow at him.
Maxworth's quiet voice had a good point as well. "There are no tracks around here. No breeze since yesterday either." Which meant the tracks couldn't have been covered if something left here.
"I've not seen anything like this before. It is disconcerting. Not natural." Erok replied in Common.
"Not at all."
Spirit, active scan. As far as you can reach. Luck began to rotate his head, scanning the environment to allow Spirit the most visual input.
Active scan already in progress. 89% nothing unusual.
Let me know as soon-
Spirit's voice cut in suddenly. Anomaly detected, northwest. Fifty meters.
Luck's eyes shot to the direction immediately. His body tensed. Ace was the only one who noticed.
"Lucky, did you feel something?" Ace said slowly, his eyes pointedly on Luck's face. "Talk to me."
Black carapace covered his body. In an instant, at Spirit's discretion, he was armored fully. Northwest, fifty meters. There was nothing there. Nothing visible.
But Luck trusted his S.I. "There," He said pointing. "Something's there."
It was the other side of the pit.
To Ace's credit he didn't question Luck. He moved further from the group, facing roughly where Luck pointed. Erok looked to Luck questioningly, but he was focusing on what Spirit was slowly outlining. Luck's eyes could barely make out a shimmer in the air.
He pulled from Saga, the shar now beside him growling. His nails sharpened. His nose awoke to the scents of the desert. He felt faster. Stronger.
His eyesight became sharper. He could make out what was there.
I can see it Amber Eyes. Just barely. It is watching us. Its eyes follow us like we are prey. Saga afforded an inquisitive look to both Ace and Tric who seemed to be looking directly at the thing as well. They see it as well, Amber Eyes.
Long powerful legs connected to a sleek body. The arms were bladed, segmented oddly. The thing was bobbing up and down, shifting left and right as if eager. The head was connected straight to the torso, and its smile was all mouth. There were long spiraling spikes on its back.
"What the fuck is that." Luck whispered.
"I see it Lucky." Ace said over his shoulder. "Me and Tric both. It's got electricity running through it." The man's words were in urgent English. "It's just standing there Luck. Watching us. God, what I'd do for a gun right now."
Luck stared at it. There was something mechanical in its movement, true. But this thing was thinking. Luck could see it. He could see it thinking, planning. Clear in the way the thing regarded them, watched them.
With a start, Luck realized the stealthed enemy was still fifty meters away. The size of a big rig, it had to be. By now the thing was completely outlined in blue and red, the red denoting its weaponry. The outer arms were highlighted red as were its back, mouth, and shins. Its legs left no doubt they couldn't outrun the thing. Powerful and sleek, just watching it stand there gave a sense to the power in its legs.
"I see nothing." Erok frowned, his grip was tight on his hammer. Luck found the roken was looking the entirely wrong way. But that wasn't true. He was watching the keid. They were grouping closer, stomping, and huffing. Somehow they were sensing the enemy. They didn't seem to bother with the thought of running either.
Nearby Maxworth unsheathed his daggers, he took a step beside Erok.
Nayah's eyes were darting around, she was scared. "I can't sense its mana." She whispered, somewhat panicked.
"It's inorganic." Luck replied, voice tight. "It doesn't have any."
Slowly, ever so slowly, it reached for one of those spikes on its back. Its head cocked to the side. A deep chitter resounded across flat desert sand, an undesirable vibration. Alien. Old. Ancient. Those were all words that popped into Luck's mind at that moment. It's body jerked to the sound, getting lower.
"Intruders. Unknown origin. Defend Last Light." Luck shivered, a cold chill traveled down his spine as the staccato translated. Omnilingual allowed him to understand. "Eliminate. Protocol East."
What seemed an empty stretch of sand exploded in sudden brown plumes of angry sand.
"It's coming!" Luck yelled, already thinking of what steps to take. His mind worked in overdrive.
Vibrating clicking came from a cloaked enemy only Ace and Luck could see. But now their whole group could tell how large it was. The sand being thrown back as a consequence of its steps was no small amount. It was easy to see where the thing was going.
Straight for them.
Erok yelled incomprehensibly, perhaps feeling the tension in the fight without even vision of the enemy. He ran forward, towards the thing. Maxworth was his shadow, crouching behind him but keeping steady pace.
Deep staccato announced the things attack and Erok grunted in pain. Chipped rock exploded from his chest as he went sailing overhead, his grip tight on his hammer. Maxworth sliced upwards, taking Erok's place near instantly, somehow knowing the invisible path of its bladed arm. He contacted and sunk shin deep into the sand. The man was silent as he traded unerring blows with the thing. His body held against forces Luck was sure would break his own. There was a deceptive strength in Maxworth's metal arms.
In two seconds he was knee deep in sand, the concussive force using him as a nail. The thing's other hand, clear for Luck to see, was holding the bladed spike it pulled from its back, acting much in the same way a sword might, and it swept low, aiming to cut Maxworth in half.
Luck didn't let it.
Luck's foot found the floor with all the strength of a piston. His intent was strong, wild. A swath of sand absorbed the momentum of the swing, curbing the lethality. Still, Maxworth was sent flying. The metallic man skittered across the sand on his side, finding his bearings he tucked in and rolled up on his feet.
Luck growled, a part of Saga overcoming him, he didn't have time to watch. He could sense his bondmate on the other side of the thing, stalking it, patient. The shar had gone to flank, using the keid as cover to get behind the thing as soon as he had noticed its interest in the group. Now, his position was roughly behind the cloaked enemy.
It watched Maxworth get up, its head jerkily tilting right to the staccato it produced from its throat. Eerily, the thing, showing signs of attacking Maxworth, turned suddenly to Luck.
Sand exploded behind it as it lifted its bladed spike, its other hand supported itself against the floor as it swung at Luck for extra reach. It lunged, its projected arc coming to him as a faint afterimage.
It came no closer, time had already paused.
He wasted no time, energy, or mana. He simply ducked under the swing. It would go right over him. He assessed the situation around him, still frozen in time. He didn't want to test his black armored shell against that blow.
Erok ran forward, hammer gripped and keeping low to the ground. His stance was a powerful one, meant to keep his feet under him. Maxworth was doing the same, neither of them were shy to engage an unseen enemy. Luck could appreciate that.
Nayah stood with the keid, a swirling ball of fire hovered above her.
Ace Vent was crackling with frozen lightning. Tric glowed with untapped energy in similar fashion. It was the perfect picture of power. A bolt of blue lightning stretched jaggedly towards the thing's weapon arm. Ace's face was a halfway between a snarl and smile. His left arm was thrown forward, it connected to the bolt traveling in mid-air. His right arm was cocked back, swirling power cradled in his fist.
Time resumed.
A ringing boom threw Luck to the floor. His hearing rang. A gust of wind whipped Luck's back. The bladed spike no doubt. Another boom threw Luck down again, ears ringing louder, disorienting him. He pulled from Saga again, his Nature magic allowing him more physicality than usual.
His vision got sharper, his movements more fluid, more balanced. His muscles, stronger. The aspect of the shar was a powerful thing. Luck was already moving, he ran forward into the things reach. It'd be harder to hit a small target close to its own body. He didn't look up just yet. Spirit tracked the thing, even outside his vision he had an awareness of it.
His ears were already ceasing their ringing, Troll's Blood and Exceptional Regeneration doing their job.
He dodged right, his leg shot to the side, pushing his body right even as a mound of sand wrapped tightly around the thing's leg. A fireball crashed into the same leg. Its leg was covered in glass, the heat being that much. It broke the glass in the next instant. The heat was nothing to this enemy, just as he suspected. The metal the enemy was made of was cool to the touch for a reason. Its spike stabbed hard into the ground right over his shoulder. Luck felt the weapon scrape against the chitinous armor over his cheek.
These things, Luck figured, were the metal formations dotting the Hydr Dunes.
It screeched and Luck had no time to ponder further, he dodged left, rolling in the sand. Its spike erupted out of the sand, its edge after Luck's neck. Luck froze time again, not trusting himself to be quite fast enough to bend backward and avoid getting cut in half.
Hopefully, Erok and Maxworth didn't mind a little sand in their eyes.
Luck's movements, with some help from Earth magic and the thing itself, outlined the creature for the rest of the group. Its body could be faintly seen moving about the plumes of sand. Its head jerked to Luck chittering mechanically. "Assessing threat intelligence. Threat level increased. Restrictions lifted."
Its arm began to transform into something with a barrel. Saga leapt onto its back, he avoided the spikes perfectly and brought the thing down with his weight. Erok greathammer fell with all the force of gravity upon its arm. Its arm cracked and bent, its screeching intensified. It retreated backward, screeching loudly.
Luck tried to slow its movement with waves of sand against its legs. His intent was strong and his reactions were fast, even casting the magic on the move. The thing cut through the sand easily. It chittered at its arm, unresponsive to its command. Its other arm bent at an impossible angle to stab Saga through his hind legs, both of them. Saga roared in pain, slashing at the things back to no avail.
"Saga!" Luck watched as the thing's head rotated on an invisible neck. Saga was close enough to bite. "No!" Luck paused time but immediately he released it. He couldn't keep time frozen long enough to reach them.
Then the keid struck. They rammed with their shoulders, toppling the thing. The beasts were all muscle and with one arm disabled and the other being held down Saga was able to scrabble free from the thing. It was covered in light sand, it took most of Luck's concentration to keep it that way. Spirit was learning to do it on the fly, taking the load off of Luck slowly but surely. The feat wasn't possible without Spirit, not this much concentration. Sand was incredibly difficult to manipulate.
Luck ran over to Saga. Wordlessly, Luck sliced open his palm. Don't argue. You can't stand.
My thanks, Amber Eyes. The shar licked at the wound, knowing its properties.
The keid held it down, and its cloaking died down to reveal the grey-blue metal Luck knew he would see. Its eyes glowed faintly yellow with electricity. Luck and the others gathered around its torso.
Luck's legs burned, but already that pain was dissipating. His breathing had already turned to normal. The scrapes and bruises earned by the random pebble or two he found dodging in the sand disappeared. In long seconds he was back, perfectly healed. He was pushing his muscles to the limit the entire time, basically at a sprint as he dodged the thing. It wouldn't have been efficient for anyone else, they would've burned out and died, getting stabbed or sliced in two, for Luck it took advantage of his regeneration and physical attributes. When he pulled from Saga his already altered physical form enhanced further. Thanks to that, he was able to move like an acrobat and a sprinter combined.
The majority of the group were looking towards the keid in wonder.
"Thanks." Luck directed towards the keid. Why did you help? You all were content to leave us at your earliest convenience before.
The one holding its bent arm against the ground, the same arm that stabbed Saga, huffed. We like to have our fun Druid Lockyer. Luck blinked, they knew?
But we would not leave a Knight of Nature to die. We could not. Said the one holding the broken arm that was in the process of transforming before Erok destroyed it.
The largest of the three keid lay across the things legs. We would not leave you. We are honored to travel by a True Druid.
You knew? Luck blinked, chuckling mentally despite himself.
We knew.
Luck shook his head, observing the head of thing swivel around, a faint whirring in the movement. Erok hefted his greathammer over his shoulder, a slash of rock removed from his chest. His chest rose and fell deeply. Nayah held her mage beads chanting softly under her breath, Luck was only able to just make it out. Maxworth crouched nearby the things neck, finding a place for his dagger to rest. Similarly, Ace stood above the head, crackling with magic.
"A fucking robot." Ace's eyes never left the thing. "It's a fucking robot." He spoke in English.
"I know this metal, sir." Maxworth added, looking back to Erok. The roken frowned.
"What does your friend say?" Nayah asked. "What is this thing?"
A master of communication. To speak and understand all languages, written, signed or spoken. Omnilingual. His voice was staccato, surprising all those around him, "What are you?"
The thing answered back. "Intruder. Unknown origin. Querying Sovereign. Protocol East. No response. Unit discretion." It blurted out a series of short clicks and then paused. "Carrying out Protocol East to best of unit ability. I am Guard." It stilled.
"It's carrying out orders." Luck knelt beside the thing. "Protocol East, it says. Its name is Guard." The translations came easy to him, but something about him knew they were slippery, not quite accurately encompassing the words the thing spoke.
Nayah's looked at him. "How are you speaking to it?" She exclaimed. "You know what this is?" She still held her mage beads, but Saga was eyeing her Luck knew. His eyes didn't leave Guard.
"I'm a master linguist, I told you." Luck answered, shortly. "You didn't believe me."
"Protocol East, sir?"
"What is Protocol East?" Luck clicked deeply, his mouth, throat, and tongue worked in tandem. The technique was foreign to his mouth yet familiar to his mind. "Why did you try to kill us?"
Its eyes flashed red and everyone moved. Nothing happened. Its head twitched, jerked to look at each of the group in turn. Its alien maw worked silently before the clicking came. "You are not the enemy. What are you?"
"What is Protocol East?" Luck repeated, impatience and anger in the words.
It thrashed against the keid, but the beasts were pure muscle. They held it down. "The Sovereign is unresponsive. Unable to retrieve orders. Unit Leader unresponsive. Individual discretion." Its movements became erratic, its head tilted unable to hear something when it snapped back to Luck. "I am Guard." But the language it used had changed.
"Easy Max," Erok cautioned, the gentleman was still poised with his dagger. The metallic man had flicked his wrist. Luck noticed a smooth groove in the metal. Maxworth's daggers were sharp, vorpal maybe.
"Hello Guard." The change in sound hadn't gone unnoticed. Briefly, Luck was reminded of leading Ace around at The Pools. The people around him had no idea what they were saying. "Why did you try to kill us?"
There was a low whirring, different than the previous one. Maxworth inched closer. Ace, seeing this, lessened his hold on his magic, and trusted the gentleman to keep the thing in check. "Protocol East must be carried out. The enemy must be rebuffed." It looked around only now noticing Maxworth. It stiffened as it assessed the damage the dagger had done.
It was speaking Precommon. That language, at least, was included in Spirit's records. An extremely ancient precursor to Common, the language was towards the very start of the timeline Spirit had access to. Historical records referenced little else at the time. "What is Last Light?" He said, recalling its first words to them.
"That is improbable. All know Last Light." The voice was low, modulated, background vibrato accompanied it. Luck didn't respond. "Last Light is one of the bastion cities. The Last live there."
Luck frowned, his scar becoming more prominent. "Defense drones?" He said to himself in English. Ace heard and rose an eyebrow.
"Yes." It answered immediately. Ace looked over in surprise. "You all are Lasts. The enemy does not speak nor understand language." It was speaking English. Fluently, too. Smoother than it did Precommon.
Luck regarded it for a second to the curiosity of Erok and Nayah. "The enemy is long gone." It took only a single glance to Ace to confirm each other's thoughts. "Ethodthem." They both said.
Luck continued. "You've been asleep. Your unit is unresponsive. The Sovereign is unresponsive. It could've been eons since you've last walked Hydr Dunes."
"Impossible. Protocol East are standing orders to defend Last Light from the enemy due East of Last Light."
"Where are they then?"
"Unknown." It whirred. "A new strategem is possible."
Ace chimed in. "When was the last time they've tried that?"
"Never." It hesitated. "Protocol East must be carried out. Sentient life will be wiped of Arune should the bastion cities fall."
"Arune?" Ace asked. It was an ancient name for Aerae.
"This planet." It answered.
"And should the enemy be defeated?" Luck ventured.
"Protocol Revival initiates." It answered as if educating a citizen.
"And if sentient life thrives once again?" Ace asked, following Luck's lead.
"No existing protocols. No action required. Hibernation in the hopes of never waking." It said bleakly.
Luck and Ace paused. The drone might have a use in the near future. Ancient beings were waking up. Luck knew that. He never entertained the idea that some might be friendly.
"What's going on?" Nayah asked.
"Druid?" Erok questioned.
"It's ancient. A drone of an age long gone. Built to protect a city that doesn't exist anymore." Luck replied, using Common once more. The drone did not seem to understand Common. "It's woken up to the update. Ethodthem is restoring old entities."
"Hold up, Lucky." Ace interrupted. "Last Light, I think its Ardun. Aren't there monsters constantly attacking its walls? The frontline's been pushed back. It's not nearly as bad as the robot is making out to be, at least from what I hear. Ardun, it was programmed to follow protocols to protect due East of the city. The sun's at our backs Lucky." He explained. "It has to be Ardun."
"You think it can help?"
"I don't trust it." Nayah was quick to reply.
"You'll have to learn trust those you travel with, their opinions included." Luck shrugged unforgivingly. "Erok, Maxworth? It knows we're not enemies now. Do you think it can help us?"
Maxworth was the one to respond for them. "In light of the System update, we may need all the help we can get. The transition from the Hydyr Dunes, Krukon's Forest, the Frozen Zones or Snakes Way is known to be exceptionally dangerous. The update will undoubtedly make this more so, sir. I advocate its assistance." Of course, they had done their research, they were planning this trek before Luck even met them.
Erok grunted. "You have my answer then."
Nayah looked at Luck as he stared at her. "I'll trust you. " She said with quiet sureness.
Luck nodded, addressing the drone in Precommon, "Last Light still stands." He said simply. "The lines of battle have been pushed further back, past your guard. Do you know what the System is?"
It paused, whirring. "No."
"Do you know what Ethodthem is?" Luck tried.
"Yes, the encompassing neutral force that allows the Last to combat the enemy. It permeates Arune." Evidently, the named used by the gods was what it was most familiar with.
"Ethodthem brought you back. Your city still needs defending. Come with us, we will travel there together." Luck told him. He couldn't gauge what the drone thought. In fact, Luck didn't think it a robot, it was too thinking to be that. Too independent, individual. Though also not. Peculiar.
Luck asked the keid to step away and they did so, the drone standing up shakily, chittering staccato as it checked itself. It looked to the group. It's body tilted with its head. Luck remembered during the battle its allowance of restrictions being lifted. The thing hadn't fought at its true potential. With a shiver, Luck realized it could easily kill them at full capacity.
"I cannot. Must find unit, regain bearings, contact Sovereign, resume Protocol East or retrieve new orders. Thank you, Last." It said finally in English. "Must prevent accidental attacks on the Last. Must update the other Spectres. Years unknown have passed. Defend Ardun." It repeated itself in assurance. "Thank you, Last. " It said once more.
"What are the Spectres?" Luck had to ask.
"We are the Spectres. Once Last, uploaded into these bodies to protect the living. It is the fate, the honor of the dead to preserve the living. The end of Project Revival allows our eternal rest." It was a person. That was why Luck felt something off. There was a decidedly human confusion to the drone. A type of curiosity and hesitation earlier.
They were people from long ago. "We'll meet again, at Ardun. Whatever chaos awaits there."
"Goodbye Last." It said, and Luck wondered how it was going to convince the other Spectres.
The drone is compatible for data transfer. Additionally, it seems possible to hack its core programming and gain control of it. Multiple firewalls are ancient but well studied. He blinked at Spirit's analysis. There are broken systems within, unrepairable. It is possible to-
Luck cut Spirit off mentally outlining what he wanted to do instead.
Affirmative. It is possible. Spirit replied.
Luck wanted to help. He walked forward, resting his hand where Spirit told him to. Guard's eyes lit up in data, a perfect stream of condensed information flowed through its consciousness. In moments it was done and Guard was looking towards where another hunk of metal was located on Diversi's Map.
It looked down to Luck. "Thank you. Goodbye, Last."
And it disappeared immediately. A short pause followed before sand erupted from where it stood and it was off. Luck corrected himself, until Guard was off.
Somehow he felt it wasn't the last time he would see the drone.