Archived History: Aethercloud Spire.
Aethercloud Spire, located in the Atlas Confederation Republic’s Horos Region by the northeast close to Verdellia’s Evernation borders. A spire mentioned to be the living races’ own tower reaching the sky beyond.
A haven for the wizard scholars who study the mysteries of Aether magic. Compared to Sha’en Sect and Yshaad Sa’Jara, by deriving its own mathematical formulas, they have learned to harness its powers into spell formulas, a common example of which are spell buffs.
Established on the 7th Spider Cycle of the 2nd Union Era, it has been approximately 145 cycles since then. Founded by the last known descendant of a deity; Ornas the Red, who died at the 29th Spider Cycle from old age. Hartold was his next successor to be the tower’s Grand Aether Arch-Mage.
Its exterior is an immaculate white marble with symbols of the arcane carved into its surface. With numerous other specialized supplementary facilities built for various purposes, the Spire’s area had expanded to the size of a small village. Guests from outside approved or given a recommendation by a level 1 wizard and above could enter the area.
The inventors from Mechanum Nexus Guild often collaborates with them for aether research to overcome barriers and improve our understanding of aether to further horizons.
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Hasen Town was only three days away by carriage from Gathos Town. Although Master Hartold, or rather, Mister Hartold as he requested Mettel to call him instead, insisted that they walk by foot—in the end, the wizard got tired in the middle and hitched a passing carriage in the middle of the road.
To describe the town, the architecture wasn’t really that different from Town of Gathos, albeit smaller in size. Governor Hasen, with a position one step higher than Mayor Gathos, was the principal representative in this town. However, it held an important place in the region—it held a teleportation channel.
According to what he knows, there are Aether channels embedded deep into the ground, intertwine with the dungeon layers. On these channels were nodes of higher and concentrated aether sources called simply Aether nodes. Civilization had progressed that they could utilize such nodes to their advantage. Yet, along such nodes come a major dungeon gate in the form of—
“Woah… this is the first time I saw a dungeon tower.” Mettel exclaimed upon seeing the unnatural building almost reaching the clouds. Slender, sleek, a spire hued in the austere gray color of basalt. What made it stood apart from the pristine wizard spire towers was how defined, angled its edges were. Almost as if the faults of the earth were pulled out. Unbelievably, Hasen Town’s dungeon gate wasn’t even in the top 10 of the largest and most outrageous dungeon gates. The top 1, located in the center of the Karan Continent, could rival an entire mountain by its width. The height reaching outer space.
“Mister Hartold, how many major dungeon gates are there in our continent again?”
“Around 34. Including the oceans beyond our land. Well then, I think we just about arrived.” The carriage they were hitching at the back of stopped.
“Hey, we arrived at the entrance.” Said the coach driver. The pair alighted and naturally lined up in the civilian queue. They didn’t have to wait long. When it was their turn, Hartold simply brought a badge of the Aethercloud Spire. The guards bowed respectfully as they let them pass. Lodging an inn room was their first priority.
“Okay we’ll stay here for a day then continue on. My old bones are creaking in protest *Crack*.” Hartold stretched his back. Mettel didn’t believe that, of course.
“Now then, are you just going to be stay here or would you be willing to go somewhere interesting with me?” How was that even a question? It was a no-brainer.
“I’ll come with you. It’ll be boring here.” Hartold smiled.
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Dungeon Guild. As the name would suggest, it’s a formal gathering for licensed and hired dungeon helpers venturing to the dungeons. It had a three-storied chiseled white front, velvet and golden banners draped over the sides of the entrance with the emblem of a lion and a dragon respectively, and a fancy massive title above the double doors gate. The interior resembled a bright tavern at first glance but of course, a dash of professionalism, a sprinkling of classical paintings hung on the walls, and an attention-grabbing bulletin board.
Mettel had already been to a similar building before. There was one in Gathos Town as well.
While Mister Hartold went somewhere, he simply sat at the reception hall, in one of the tables. He couldn’t help but overhear some of the conversations, particularly from a person standing in a podium dressed like the nobles of yore with his pompous clearly extravagant clothes speaking in an articulate yet dragged out manner. An orator. Other hunters were gathered in front of that orator.
“The Prime Minister has declared and imposed stricter dungeon-venturing temporary regulations following the advent of a new unknown sub-layer’s discovery between the 1st and 2nd strata. Bronze-Rank Hunters must have a party of at least five members, must have the level 1 clearance of a guild overseer, and a legal dungeon material trading license. Harsher punishments are enacted upon any violations of the general requirements stated previously and lastly, as always, illegal smuggling.
Not only it brings damage to the economy, it brings adverse effects to the ecology and pollutes the ambient aether. Notwithstanding the potential harm such unregulated items poses to conduct criminal acts. Furthermore… -“ The orator effectively delivered the message, Mettel was impressed. They further went on about not engaging in any anomaly in the Arid Sub-Layer and instantly report to any authorized organization such as the Argonautica Praeda or the Dungeon Guild. The orator ended with a bow soon enough.
Mettel shifted his attention and looked at the bulletin board to read some of the notices: “A new monster type is suspected to have been conceived in the 2nd strata, Enchant sub-layer. Researchers and (org from Argonautica) have encountered and confirmed it to be a nocturnal-appearing monster shrouded in fog. It’s danger level reaches (rank). Hunter parties from (rank) and above required to subjugate.”
Stolen story; please report.
“Searching for Mr. P’s family heirloom, a bare-statue of a woman’s torso, from 3rd avenue! Very important, pls inform me as soon as possible if you catch sight of it.” This one was… particularly odd. Not only was it written in a very bad way, like a child’s handwriting, it came with an almost photorealistic drawing of the item. Mettel continued on reading. Most of them were more or less the same old monster subjugate, capture, tame, or locate.
Mettel stood up and walked up to the smaller bulletin board next to the main one. In here was posted the latest hot news published by the Karan Press.
[Verdellia Evernation has seen a massive boom in inter-species marriage in recent years. This is in large part thanks to the vision of its wise founders and another due to its Major Dungeon Gate for the 1st strata Haven sub-layer and 2nd strata Enchant sub-layer!
Book a trip around its –…. Ride a cozy mobile bungalow swimming through the Nara Lake. And so much more! Discount rated at—]
[Aegis Vanatoria’s last spark remains—the people have been eagerly searching for the heroes’ lost daughter somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd strata layers. The Oraculus Astrum have confirmed that her life condition is alive. Several searching parties have been dispatched to find her. In addition, General Ekbanok of the Vorfang Empire is leading an elite party for this purpose!]
[Mithra Scholarium has made another groundbreaking progress towards the development of portable handheld information-sharing devices called handheld transceivers. The device is a pair that enables distant parties to transmit their voices through this technology, similar to a high-scale far-distant telepathic-domain aether magic. Dungeon Hunting has been made ever-easier with such items. Mass production would begin at—]
[The Church of Sol’thara, of the Unending Sun, has released its statement regarding the criminal inhumane activities of the Solquar Chem Plant, specifically their operation on the Solquar mineral which is the symbol and main prayer medium of the Sol’thara Church.
“Such profane blasphemous intentions using the sacred lives of the people and the symbol of our Lord deserves punishment of the highest degree. Its directors, shareholders, sponsors and anyone involved with this abominable plan spanning over five cycles, with forbidden aether magic to boot, shall be given the Just Execution the instant they are captured.” ]
All of the information he’d read were plenty interesting too. Especially the last one.
Finishing up on that as well, Mettel then walked around the guild hall. He wanted to take a closer look at some of the artifacts or paintings. Of course, he naturally overheard some loud conversations.
“Hey hey have you seen the Wanderer Troupe’s theater play of the Nothing from Ashes drama? I’ve been dying since forever to see one!”
“Oh, you haven’t watched yet? I pity you, it’s one of the greatest masterpieces of the 2nd common wealth era. Theater critics claim it brought theater playing to new heights with its insane production.”
……
“You know it’s really a sad thing the Aegis Vanatoria died. I was saved by them once, you know? Now their poor daughter is still lost somewhere because of what?”
“Shh, keep your voice down!”
………
“Look, I’ve been seeing more organizations and powers that are showing their heads. What is exactly happening? I thought we got through the worst period following the latest monster outbreak.”
“Why are you asking me? It’s just how it goes sometimes. We got no part in all of that anyway.”
…….
Mettel continued to listen and look around for half an hour. Eventually, Mister Hartold returned to come pick him up. He apologized for taking quite a while and headed towards the town’s market district to have their lunch.
The boy gazed around the people of the town. How do they compare to Gathos Town? There was an inherent difference between the two that it just doesn’t add up. What was it? Then he’d found out—the people here were smiling more. Their eyes held a shine that the other doesn’t. Even the dungeon-farers roaming the street, more than what he expected and experienced, had that freshness of natural ease to them that Erick, Litney and Tryndale hadn’t. Why was that?
“Interested in the people, Mettel?” Hartold spoke from ahead.
“I am not sure.” That was all he said. For frankly, what else could he say? His eyes cast downwards just a bit more than usual.
Soon, the two dined themselves on one of the simpler diners. Chicken soup, colorful vegetable salads, roasted meat and vegetables, grilled pork, soft breads and a ginger tea. They probably could eat in a restaurant that actually uses monster meat, which not only is more nutritious but also contains slight amounts of aether—but Mister Hartold didn’t want him to get hooked on that just yet.
They were about to leave the restaurant when someone bumped into their way.
“Oh I’m sorry about that.” Mister Hartold apologized. But the other person was gobsmacked, his eyes widen as if seeing a ghost. Particularly, he had a memorable face Mettel still remembered.
“Ah Gun.” It was Gun Hotez. Who now looked… distinctly different? Though his external appearance was largely the same, Mettel noticed his air was different.
“Oh ah, I am very sorry about this, please ignore me—yes, yes. I am just a stranger roaming the streets. Nothing to do with anything. Just a mob.” Gun Hotez hurriedly backed away, turning around to almost breaking off to a sprint.
“Hmmm peculiar person. Is he from Gathos Town?” Mettel nodded.
“Yeah, he’s from the outskirts of the town, Gun Hotez. He was the boss of the group that almost caught us.”
“I see. Interesting. What an odd fellow.” Mister Hartold stilled his direction towards Gun Hotez for a while before shaking his head.
“In any case, I still have to meet up with Governor Hasen and a few of my aethercloud associates stationed here. It would probably take me until dinner to finish going around. What say you?”
“Hmmm, in the meanwhile, I am just going to train my telekinesis back in my room.” Mettel wasn’t up to more waiting.
“Alright, wait for me then.”
The day after. The two left the town proper through the portal gate, costing a hefty fee of one gold coin per person—fortunately, Mister Hartold’s badge let them use it for free.
The portal’s appearance was that of a wide runic circle imprinted onto the teleporting chamber, which by the way, Mister Hartold told him that he would have to study and understand all of this in first glance someday—making him dread his future prospects.
In the center of the chamber was a matrix core, with a multifaceted side, connected to both the ceiling and the floor through a column of intricate moving gears. At the middle of the column extends long jointed bronze needles linked to the core. It was officially called an Energy Conduit Pillar.
The chamber blew Mettel’s imagination out of proportions as he looked around more than necessary. This is what he’s supposed to study? Heck, it feels like being more of an engineer! Even the ceiling and the floors, you could catch a glimpse of larger machinery parts.
Soon, the runic magic circle lit up with the pulling of a lever by the entrance. The matrix core whirred to life as the needles spun in a blurring speed. The light soon swallowed them up.
When it disappeared a second later, Mettel found himself in an identical chamber. Another person led them out. Mettel later learned that all teleport destinations were in a facility resembling the ancient structure called pyramid.
After going through the motions of getting checked by the personnel, Mettel finally laid his eyes upon the dream of many hoping to be a wizard. The Aethercloud Spire.
“Well, welcome to my jurisdiction, Mettel.”