Luné Alpenglow

Darkness was nearly falling on the land, as Luné set a few rocks beside Kaede to inspect. While Kaede looked over them, Luné began to plan out the new quarry area. She created some small holes in the ground around a large area, then she cleared the grass. She began trying to dig out the quarry on her own, but found a screen in her face immediately.

Warning

Use of Mana required to form new area. Mana will no longer be collected until the expansion is completed. Collected mana will instead be used to add to the expansion.

Size: Large

Cost: 400 Mana

Completion time: 6 hours

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Luné frowns mentally at this, as she does not have the mana required for it. If she waited roughly ten hours she would, but she did not want to wait that long, besides if she did, it could potentially be even worse for her. Especially if something decided to suddenly attack. She called a group of monsters over, and had them get to work. When she had more mana, and especially if she could upgrade her core again, she would be willing to do so.

Luné hears Kaede speak, and she turns her eyes to the Nekomimi, “Take a close look at this rock. What do you see?” Luné answers almost immediately, she inspected the rocks before giving them to Kaede, “Nothing. They’re just normal rocks.” Kaede smirks and then speaks with a smug sounding tone, “Look again.” Luné starts staring at the rock, and after a few minutes, she speaks with annoyance, “What am I even looking for, it's a normal rock.” Kaede grins, then says, “There is a slight shimmering, so extremely slight that it is barely perceptible to the naked eye. However, if you use mana to see, it becomes far easier to notice, though still barely noticeable.” Luné stares at the rock, then soon frowns and gives up as she says, “I still can’t see it.”

Kaede smiles happily as she begins to put the rock back down, “You’ll see it eventually. Then it will be easier to tell which are and which aren’t. Now, I need to get back to Homrhi. Have to continue the plan.” Luné smiles and answers her with some encouraging words and feelings. Though they feel awkward to Luné. Kaede grins towards the house where Luné is, before saying, “I’ll keep safe, don’t you worry. I will return with good news. Though it could take a day or two.” She casts her teleport spell, and was then gone.

Luné refocuses her sight on the beginnings of their dungeon town. She had no idea what to work on next, and her thoughts were drifting towards Sebastia and her leaving, again. She began to feel lonely, so she decided to leave the core for now, and go wander. Standing up, she began to wander, heading down into the caves to explore them in person.

Jazak Forgeson

Jazak stood calmly, thinking to himself as Alais stares at him with irritation, likely upset he backed down from that situation. Jazak spoke, deciding to explain himself, despite not fully caring what she thinks, “Despite popular belief a Berserker isn’t a madman who charges into battle uncaring of the odds. We know nothing about Focalor, nor his true goals, and now we know he’s puppeteering someone likely innocent in this. We cannot just jump at the situation, or we risk that woman’s life.” Alais responds with a rather bigoted answer, “She’s a damn Nekomimi. They’re pretty much worthless. Probably was someone’s plaything before getting taken over. There’s no loss.” Jazak shakes his head, then answers with a pitying tone, “We will never see eye to eye, will we? No matter who, they do not deserve to die. I already learned that, and understood my guilt when I did.”

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Alais just stares at him, confused and irritated that he pities her. She remains silent however, trying to understand his side, but she is incapable. Arseni watches the conversation, and keeps his input to himself. Jazak turns and looks up at the tower he just exited. He had informed the local government, and that was all he was obligated to do, but he had to continue. To atone for his past sins. He would save the Nekomimi from Focalor, and protect the city and Dwarven Federation while doing so. He has a strict timeline, but he will do it. Two days, at most. It will be over then.

Kaede

Kaede sat quietly on a roof, she would need to inform Grolit of her success at dismantling one slave ring. It was about time to continue bringing this situation to light. She had started with a declaration to the local government. Now she had to make a statement to the populace. What could she do next? She illusioned herself into “Focalor” again, and stood. She remembers her time back home, at the Schola. Her training had been split, almost 80/20, between normal magical studies, and combat studies. Jazak may think her staff is just a staff after that situation, but if so, that could be his downfall. She looks at her staff, and feels the illusion over it.

She takes a second to cast another spell, transforming the staff into a proper rapier and casting component. She smiled happily, remembering her old combat instructor. “No self-respecting mage would ever stand in the World of Zenith, let alone the continent of Reltai, without knowing a Reltaian Melee Combat Style! Magical or physical!” Kaede swings the rapier around, testing its weight, and smiles contentedly as she notes it feels exactly how her old one had. She looks off into the city, putting the rapier and casting component on her hip. It was time to continue her objective, and bring this to light.

Sebastia Rin

“Now that we have eaten, it is time to get back to training.” Sebastia looks at the Freeborne, and speaks, “What do you mean? I thought we were done for the day?” The Freeborne dabs a cloth on her mouth, then sets it down neatly, before standing as she says, “We were. It is evening. We will begin the next portion of your training.” Sebastia begins to stand, accepting this for now. The Freeborne walk out of the house, and around the building, followed by Sebastia. Behind the house, sat several small pillars of stone. The Freeborne holds a hand up to Sebastia, indicating for her to stop, and then she steps into the center of the pillars.

“I will first give an explanation. The world is a dark place, filled with evil in all corners. Even places that seem so bright and luminescent. Nothing does not cast a shadow. Where there is light, dark is required, and vice versa. If that balance is not maintained, then a world could fall to one side. The light turns all eternal, and protects all life, ignoring their pain when they one day find themselves crushed by the bodies of those above them, unable to enjoy their eternal life. The dark ends all, taking away everything and leaving nothing in return but hunger and destruction. One must be willing to fight both as a Guardian of the Equilibrium. So watch, and understand.”

The Freeborne raises her arms to her left and right, closing her eyes. A soft blue glow begins around her, and that blue glow begins to turn darker. As the Freeborne stands still, silently casting something, the world around them seems to shift. The feeling of the air gains a colder chill, and it becomes slightly more difficult to breathe. Suddenly, a dark rift rips open in front of the Freeborne, at the edge of the pillars. The Freeborne lowers her arms, and looks forward, at the rift.

A dark creature steps out, its red eyes piercing, its dark gray tusks hold extremely firmly, and its tar-like skin floats on nothing, but still holds a firm shape. The holes in its body let Sebastia see through it, at the world past it. She looks at it, concerned and worried. The creature glances at the Freeborne, then at Sebastia. The Freeborne slings her right hand up and left, causing the earth around the beast to slam into it, knocking it to the ground. It scrambles to its feet, bellowing its disturbing cry, and charges the Freeborne. She simply sidesteps, and brings her left hand upwards, knocking the creature into the air, and back down onto its back. The Etherling quickly brings her hand down in a cutting motion, causing the earth to mold into around thirty daggers, which pierce the creature. It cries out in anger, but begins to slow in movement, fading from existence.

A bright white rift appears, and out of it comes a humanoid creature. Its eyes were covered by a pearlescent cloth, which also wrapped its body, allowing only its arms to be free. It floats, and raises a sword, bringing it down towards the Freeborne, who simply jumps to the side. With another swing, the Freeborne dodges, before bringing her arms to her side, near her shoulders, and pushing forward. A burst of flame catches the creature off guard, and begins burning it. It swings wildly in circles, before succumbing to the flame.

As she finishes the demonstration, the air returns to normal, and Sebastia is standing in silent shock. The Freeborne speaks in her calm tone, “You will have to learn to summon your enemy. To bait them into your trap. They will not come to you, or they will attempt to make you come to them. What you saw were their common fodder. The ones who will attempt to outwit you will not be common fodder.” She looks at Sebastia, no sign of what just happened was on her face. “Let us begin.”