Chapter Sixty-Eight: Dumb Mistake
As I approached the Aerlyntium, I finally let myself take a break. I sat cross-legged and pulled out a water skin and some bread from my inventory. While the bread was bland and stale, the water felt refreshing after my acrobatics display. When my stamina was restored, and I felt refreshed, I reached out to touch the orb. As soon as I did, I realized my mistake.
The orb started spinning and zooming around the room. It began guzzling carpets, and I ran as fast I could, jumping and flying down them quicker than I ever could have believed.
I was in the center of the room, and the exit was on the far left side. Thankfully, the orb was starting with the carpets closest to the entrance, but time was still of the essence.
I can’t let a dumb mistake be the end of this run. Well, it wasn't a dumb mistake, per se. I would have had to open the orb to save my companions, but this entire run had been a mess. I just wish everyone would stop meddling and that companions would stop getting themselves killed, even if there was no way to prevent this one.
It was surreal that I had encountered two of the three gods by now. Something was nagging at my head, though; I just couldn't figure it out. I'd have time for that later; for now, I jumped from carpet to carpet, all caution sent to the wind.
The orb was closer now, having devoured half of the room, and I had only made it about two-thirds of the way to the exit. I was way past out of stamina, and it felt like I was burning my blood as fuel. I made a particularly long jump between two horizontal carpets and fell against the carpet, knocking the wind out of me.
This is it, I’m going to lose the run and be without my companions yet again.
I let out a cry, my voice hoarse and ragged, my muscles screaming in protest. This whole thing was frustrating and stupid. Just then, a voice broke through my despair, one I was not expecting to hear.
[You have looted Aerlyntium 1/7. Magic Carpet Ride. You have received the Proprietor. You have received the Proprietor's shack. You have received Thomas; you have received Klericho. You have received Thumbs. You have received Magic carpet x 25. You have received a wooden deck plank x 25. You have received basin floor x2. You have received water x 10.]
Magic Carpet Ride Aerlyntium 1/7.
Name
Amount
Effect
Description
The Proprietor
1
This is a specialty merchant who sells magic carpets.
I don’t know his name. But he has one of those swirly villain mustaches.
_
What's His Name, What's His Name, We Threw Out His Name!
Proprietors shack
1
It's a tiny one-bedroom shack
See effect.
Thomas
1
It’s Thomas! Exciting!
Ever notice how he dies a lot?
Klericho
1
It’s Klericho! *jazz hands*
He dies a lot, too, so it's no wonder they never beat this floor.
Thumbs
1
It’s your minion!
He finds stuff!
Magic Carpet
25
It’s a magic flying carpet.
You can use these carpets to fly around, requires mana to use.
_
I can show you the world Shining, shimmering, splendid
River
10
Do I need to explain rivers to you, too? It’s like a lake, but the water flows in a direction. Like, come on, man, it’s water!
It's a plot of water. Connect multiple, and you’ve got a river.
Wooden plank
25
Basic building material
Helpful in constructing bridges, walkways, or repairs.
Basin Floor
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
2
Durable flooring
A sturdy surface for setting up camp or placing structures.
I let out a groan and sat up. I had to be blessed by some god of luck because the Aerlyntium had stopped devouring items right before the carpet I was currently resting on. Around a quarter of the carpets were gone, but there was still a path to and from the entrance. I lay there for almost an hour, not moving. I knew I needed to worry about the Reaper and bring my companions back, but I was just so tired.
It had been one thing after another after another. I had always read about these great heroes in stories that toiled and toiled without resting. But here I was in a dungeon with infinite lives and recovery, and I was sick of it after just a few days. What does that say about me?
Whatever it said, I couldn't let it get to me, so after my too-long break, I finally picked myself up, waited a moment, and jumped to the next carpet. I immediately stumbled and fell, barely hanging onto the carpet. I pulled myself back up and wiped the sweat off my forehead before resetting my position.
In all my earlier hustle and bustle, I hadn't worried about the timing of the jumps or the placements. The momentum I had carried, or perhaps even a bit of Lady Luck, had allowed me easier passage through the room. I took a position at the edge of the carpet and tried again. this time, I flew over the carpet and landed in a crouch.
"Just three more, Crystal," I muttered, catching my breath before launching myself at the final elevating carpet. I managed to land running, kept my momentum, and launched myself at the last carpet. It was horizontal and moving away, but I caught the corner of the rug and used my momentum to swing up and onto the carpet.
My stamina was now at 5, and I could feel the burning in my legs intensify, but I pushed on. I stumbled off the carpet, legs trembling, and collapsed onto the landing dock, gasping for breath. It was time to bring my group back. With a deep breath, I activated the Aerlyntium Placement Grid. There was a lot I could do with the APG, but it made more sense to start placing things when I had more stuff on my next run. So, instead of placing the deck, Carpets, or Proprietor down, I put Thomas, Klericho, and Thumbs.
"Hey guys," I said, looking at my companions' angered expressions. They remembered what had happened. "I'm sorry. I had no idea that was going to happen. It's not like I can control Aurentum. At all."
“You accepted his bargain. I can feel the taint on you now,” Klericho spat with a fury I had yet to see in him. He had always been so relaxed, calm, and rational, but now his eyes were icy with fire, and he left little room for compassion or explanation.
“What bargain?” What is he talking about? I thought, panic rising.
"When you picked up the coins he dropped, you made a bargain with him. You're tainted," Klericho continued, his voice dripping with anger.
"Look, I didn't know anything like that would happen; I'm sorry."
Thomas put a hand on Klericho, calming him.
“Fighting now won't fix the problem, and we need to continue onward if we hope to make it to the next floor.”
~Run 5, Textiles Room, Floor 2, The Fallen Merchant City of Aerlyn~
"Oh right, this place," I said as I walked into the room, following behind Klericho. "It smells so gross and musty here, like week-old socks that haven't been changed."
“Yes, fortunately, we won't be here long,” Klericho replied.
"What are you talking about? It took me about an hour to get through here by myself," I said incredulously.
Klericho took on a self-satisfied smirk as if he knew something I didn’t. He grabbed torches out of his inventory and started throwing them at the carpet maze. As he threw his tenth torch, the magic happened. The rising heat and thick, feasting flames of the torch pile gathered near the wall, finally started blazing at the base of the carpets. Later, an explosive tidal wave of heat rocketed into the room, making me fall to the ground as the dust in the carpets created a bomb of heat and fire.
The fire spread like a plague among the carpets, a devouring beast claiming the rich silks and woolen fabrics as fast as possible. When the flame, thick and fat with its feast, reached the other end of the room, I received a notification.
[All devouring flames has killed trickster goblins 1 and 2. You have dealt overkill damage. You have received death boon x 2]
"Well, alright then. That was easy," I remarked.
"Only works on this room, but it makes good use of all of the torches you probably picked up on the first floor," Thomas spoke this time. "It destroys the loot of the goblins, though."
A horrifying thought entered my mind, and I paused before asking,
“Did it destroy the key?”
"What key?" Thomas asked genuine confusion in his voice.
“The key to the treasury room. There’s an Aerlyntium in there,” I explained.
"Wait? No one told me about another room," Thomas replied, surprised.
"Did you even try solving this room alone, or have you always destroyed the carpets with fire?" I asked, my irritation mounting.
“Um, the first one?” Klericho admitted sheepishly.
I shook my head, anger welling up in my chest. Their solution was quick, but we'd lost out on loot from the two goblins, the aerlyntium, and an entire 'treasure' room worth of loot. The anger boiled over, and I couldn’t control it.
“You complete idiots! Have you ever considered that maybe that key is somehow needed to beat the djinn or that collecting all of the Aerlyntium might do it? What is with you?”
Thomas grimaced, but Klericho was done with me. He screamed back, getting in my face and grabbing my by my leather armor.
"Thomas, I believe I am done with this miscreant. Once the Merchant has his claws this deep in someone, there is nothing to be–"
Just then, an ethereal light, full of silver and purple hues, descended on the wooden platform. The heavens had opened up, and Rellum appeared. He spoke with little preamble: "Klericho Ardentia. Did I not command thee?"
“Yes, my lord, but…”
“Did I not command that you forgive all and forsake none?”
“Yes, my lord, but…”
"Did I not command that those under the clutches of the Merchant of Death and Malikap were of equal value? They are creatures one and all in need of grace, compassion, and mercy. Your decency and patience mean naught if you only afford them when you feel they are deserved."
"Be careful, young one," he said. "Penance is seldom awarded to Aurentum’s chosen.”"And of those in the dungeon, they are currently most valuable," Rellum said, not quite glaring but keeping all three of us held aloft in his gaze. "The work we are all doing here is essential. Thalia may not be one of my Flock, but her future is in her hands. Thalia," He turned and addressed me specifically. "I know you never believed, but Aurentum must not be allowed to leave this realm. His influence will re-corrupt the world, reintroducing evils once thought lost to time. If you work hard, we can prevent him from exiting."
“Why do I have to do the hard work? You are the Saint. The will of God on earth. Why me?” I asked, frustration and fatigue evident in my voice.
"My powers, like Aurentum's, are limited here. I can only work directly through Boons or through my devotees. Unfortunately, a large number of my devotees have been corrupted through the schemes of Malikap. This weakens my power and ultimately strengthens Aurentum's power here. That, however, is a worry for another time."
"Alright, I can understand that, but why me? There are so many other Penitents wandering around. Surely, they are better choices than me. I was a thief. I was a murderer." I hesitated, unsure about that last bit. The glimpses I had caught of the worst day ever hinted that I had done something terribly wrong. And then those two strange memories where I had controlled the events? I kept killing my father. There had to be something to that. Was that indeed the person I had been?
"If I only chose the most pure people, then I would've ascended alone. What I truly seek out in the penitent and the devoted are a set of qualities that stand above everyone else—qualities that you have."
“And what qualities are those?”
"You are persistent. You are good-natured and friendly. And most of all, you believe that you can change. That was the part that filled most people with uncertainty. People come here, knowing what Penance is, and do not show any initiative to figure out what they need to fix about themselves.” He paused, a look of gentle pride on his face.
“But from the beginning, you have been fixated on it. Couple your nature with your status as a Mercenary in Aurentum's army, and we have a foot in the door towards fixing everything. That is if you want to do this. I am all about choices."
I meant to ask, "What does it mean that I'm a mercenary? I don't even remember signing up. Did I even get a say? I'm certain he's been messing with my mind. Is he the one responsible for why I forgot everything?"
"No, I do not suspect that you had a real choice. However, we now live in the world of that decision, or rather lack thereof. As a mercenary, you are not considered a true penitent. While you can still ascend the tower freely, you cannot leave. Instead, Aurentum intends to leave in your place when you reach the peak. Just like what happened with Elric."
"So everything I've been doing is a waste? Some jerk of a deity is just going to swoop in, claim my hard work, and leave me here for eternity?" I sighed heavily as Wrath filled my heart.
I struggled to stand under the force of anger. It felt more substantial and amplified than it ever had. I don't know what he did to me, but I despised Aurentum. He had caused every problem I had in the past few runs.
"Not necessarily. That's why I'm here. I plan to fix things, but I need your help."
“Alright, what do I need to do?”
End of Part Two