- Day 18 -

Departure, Part 1

As I sit in the dining room, slowly enjoying the thick ham sandwich Kate had bought me, I watch the morning sunlight begin to peer in through the small open window at the far end of the room. As I do, I let thoughts wash over me was more to the background ambience of the girls chatting as they work.

Yet again, I feel the melancholy creep back in as I catch Kate’s eye and she smiles while continuing her conversation with Millie. It’s the knowing that I won’t be able to enjoy quiet moments like this for awhile that’s doing me in. Sure, I could avoid feeling like this by just taking them with me, but they can hardly enter the dungeon and leaving them outside is too risky, especially with what I’m planning for...

I continue to sit, munching away while waiting on those still sleeping above coming downstairs.

The original plan is already majorly behind schedule, what with the sun already breaking but not like we can’t make up the time--

“It’s the crack of dawn Aburi, what’s this about?”

Risk is the first to reach the dining room.

“Can’t say til everyone’s gather; needs a barrier; hungry?”

I try my best to finish my mouthful while taking and offer him the remaining half of my sandwich at the same time, which he takes without hesitation and takes a seat.

“I see. To do with our friends over yonder?”

“In part. Busy; It’s about to get busy.”

“Ah. Right.”

Having seemingly figured out some small part of what this is all about, Risk leaves the table, sandwich in mouth, and pulls Bella, who just appeared in the doorway along with him back upstairs. I assume he’s figured out we’re leaving and is packing some things and getting Bella to do the same. Not sure what I said, or didn’t say to lead him to that conclusion though… Anyway, where was I? Ah. As long as we keep this discussion short, we can all leave for the stables and get out of the city before too long. We’ll make up the pace on the road, and we don’t need to worry about readying supplies before leaving as I can still use [Warp] to return to the city.

With my current level of [Warp], using it to quickly travel from Aslogia to the Capital out of the question as it would take around eight times my current mana at level three, but jumping part way isn’t a big deal.

Eventually, everyone makes it to the table with Bella and Risk both fully armed. Allowing me to raise the barrier and explain what’s so important. I keep the discussion short and I explain the events of the night to a captive audience. Everyone seemingly nods along with only Risk asking a couple of questions about Prince Edis and Ruslant’s role in the faction. Everyone else just remains quiet throughout. I guess it is a lot to take in and think about.

“If we’re leaving today, and you’re certain we can do this, then I’m on board.”

“Really? I honestly thought you’d against this Risk.”

“In truth, I am. The little voice telling me that this is a real bad idea is sounding off, but...”

“But?”

“There’s also that other voice that says if you say we can do it, we can. I’m choosing to listen to it… Besides, you’ll hardly change your mind to my objection.”

“If you raise a point I haven’t considered, I might… Hm, fine. Fair enough--”

“That said, and I’m sorry for this lass.”, Risk looks to Emily as he speaks, “You should stay here.”

“What?!”

Emily understandably shrieks out at Risk’s words, standing as she exclaims her feelings loudly. The chair she was sat on falling to the ground with a loud thump.

I can’t lie and say I don’t feel the same way. No matter how you look at it, Emily just isn’t ready for an adventure of this scale yet. While I could up her stats and make her skill proficient, her lack of actual combat experience poses a serious concern and makes her a weakness for the entire team. Bringing her along with the expedited timeline would be a grave mistake that could cost our lives.

“Sorry Emily, I agree with Risk on this one. I had planned to speak to you later but as Risk says, you’re not yet ready for where we’re going yet. We don’t have the luxury of time to get you ready either. You’ll have to stay back on this one--”

“Master?! You as well!? But the Catacombs! I wasn’t a burden!”

“You did well there lass, but Aslogia is likely to be a completely different beast. Everyone will be responsible for themselves, in situations where life and death are separated by a hair's breadth--”

“I can take care of myself!”

“Emily, Risk isn’t saying you can’t. He’s saying that at Aslogia, you can’t only take care of yourself. You’ll need to be able to cover for the weakness of those around you as well. Something you cannot possibly do yet. You’re too new to all this to be able to identify and cover for any of us in a stressful combat situation where life and death are decided in mere seconds. It’s something that only comes with experience, and if we had more time, we would have gotten you ready, but time is now something we don’t have. You cannot come, I’m sorry, but that’s the way it has to be.”

“Master!”

She looks around the room, seemingly looking for someone to step in for her before focusing intently on Bella. Bella takes a moment before noticing her gaze but upon realising Emily is waiting on her speaking up for her, scrunches up her face before folding her arms. Pouting, Emily continues on to look at Sybil next--

“Not ready.”

Sybil bluntly agrees, much to Emily’s dismay.

Everyone looks to be in agreement with the logic of our words. Even deep down, I’m sure Emily realises it too. Yet she clearly feels betrayed by everyone for saying it aloud.

“Emily, there will be other chances. For now, remain here and train. We’ll all be back before you know it.”

She meekly nods as Hannah picks up her chair for her and pats her on the shoulder in an attempt to console her. I’ll make it up to you Emily.

“Katharine’s waiting for us at the stables. Once I lower the barrier, everyone should pack what they need and be ready to leave as soon as possible. Hannah, Kate, Millie, if you can spend today readying provisions for our journey, I’ll come back and collect them sometime later today. It should be obvious but I can’t take you girls either. Gruff will still be here and I’ve asked Duke Rayford to check in from time to time incase you need anything while we’re gone.”

“We’ll be fine Master, you needn’t worry. I’ll keep the stove heated all day. Hannah, take Gruff with you to the morning market and buy all the ingredients you can. Millie, I’ll help you with the cooking.”

“Thanks Kate. Okay everyone, let’s be ready to leave within the hour.”

I look around the room as they begin to chatter with each other. Nodding as my gaze reaches each of them. With everyone clear that time is working against us, I lower the barrier, and everyone scatters quickly upstairs except for Gruff.

“Don’t worry lad, I’ll keep the girls safe.”

“Thanks, Gruff. With you around, it should keep certain parties at bay. I’ll be counting on you to keep them safe.”

He nods and follows Hannah out of the room.

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With everyone else getting ready, I should find Katharine and let her know we’re running late.

*Zip*

I warp to the outer southern edge of the city before walking onwards towards the stables. As I get closer to the stable, I spot Katharine talking with someone, while two nearby stable hands are readying a very expensive looking cart and four strong-looking tan horses with grey manes. Two of the horses are being hooked up to the dark-red cart, and the other two seem to be being saddled for riders. The cart looks to be made from a reddish hardwood, most likely teak, and besides looking expensive with its silver trim, it also looks to be very modern when compared to other carriages I’ve seen around the city. I say modern as the cart has suspension springs and large wooden wheels. The wheels are topped with a couple of centimetres of rubber set in a deep inline tread. Unusual considering I’ve not seen any other wagon wheel using the same design. The cart also has large detachable struts for a canopy that’s currently not set up. With the cloud cover only getting thicker, we’ll probably need to put that canopy up before leaving.

“Aburi, you’re late. Did something happen?”

Katharine notices my arrival and stops talking to the man to speak with me. With a nod to Katharine, he disappears into the stables.

“Errands took longer than expected. I see you’re readying the transport, good call.”

“Thought it would help if I did. Where is everyone?”

“Still gathering their belongings for the journey. I’ll go collect them in a moment, just didn’t want you thinking something was up and come looking… Have you been here long?”

Katharine smiles widely at my question, taking a moment before answering.

“Awhile, but it gave me a chance to speak to someone I haven’t in a while so don’t worry about it.”

Your expression betrays your words, Katharine, though I am at fault. You should never keep a lady waiting.

“I apologise anyway. I shouldn’t have kept you waiting without sending word.”

“It’s fine, I used the time to have Albert collect supplies for our journey. They’ve loaded a months supply of cereal, water and food to the back for us. See.”

The cart is indeed filled with various sized crates and barrels. There’s probably still enough room for all of us to travel on it, though it will be rather cramped back here. I’ll just store all these in my inventory once we leave the city… I’m still going to leave Millie to cook as much food as she possibly can before we get out of [Warp] range though, as I can also store it and it doesn't seem to decay. I’ll take Millie's home cooking over campfire gruel any day! ...Though I admit, I feel a little bad having the girl slave over the stove all day. A silly thought considering she loves cooking but it still feels, I don’t know, odd? To be okay with it.

“That’s perfect Katharine, thank you. I thought I was going to have to gather this while we were on the road seeing how behind schedule we are.”

“You’re welcome…”

She holds my gaze for a moment.

“If I may… is Emily coming with us?”

I feel myself chuckle through a sigh.

“Seems everyone's thoughts are in sync on this, huh. No, she’ll be staying behind. We had a discussion this morning, and everyone agrees that Emily’s not ready for what’s to come and will sit this one out, don’t worry.”

Katharine nods and seems to be relieved, sighing with a shallow breath.

“I think that’s for the best. She’s got courage, but I’ve been to Aslogia, I don’t think we would be able to look after her and do what needs to be done.”

“We all feel the same. I’ve told Emily they’ll be other opportunities. She didn’t take it well, but I think she understands… How're you feeling anyway? We’re heading to somewhere that holds deep significance to you after all.”

She tilts her head slightly before looking up to the sky.

“I… don’t know yet. I don’t think it’s sunk in Aburi. I’m just following you and concentrating on that for now… I might end up a nervous wreck as we arrive-- Not that I’ll be a burden!”

“Katharine, I know you’ll be fine... But if it starts to get to you, you know you can talk to me, right?”

Katharine looks to her feet for a moment before letting out a single, seemingly thoughtful laugh, before subtly placing her arms behind her and smiling up at me. She pauses a moment, looking at me without a word, when a sudden burst of wind blows up from behind her, causing a few strands of her tied-back golden-brown hair to come loose and fall forward over her face.

“I do… I will... Mm. Thanks, Aburi.”

She forces the free hair back behind her ears, returning to a standing pose as she speaks while nodding. I swear, this woman has turned cute into an art form. I’ll be holding this scene up here for a while.

“…I-I’ll go collect the others and be right back.”

“Okay”

*Zip*

I return to the house to find everyone waiting for me in the main room with a couple of bags. As the carriage is already quite full, I collect the belongings and store them in my inventory for now. Once we’re on the road, I’ll sort everything out properly.

*Blink*

As I look round the room, I notice Emily is not here to see us off.

“She’s out helping Gruff and Hannah collect ingredients.”

Seemingly reading my mind, Kate fills me in.

“I see, I guess I’ll talk to her later then. Everyone ready?”

They all nod, with the exception of Risk who knows what's coming.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

“Take care, everyone!”

Millie shouts out as I nod and gather everyone together before using [Mass Warp] to take us all to where Katharine is waiting.

*Zzip*

“Ugh, I’ll never get used to this!”

“Whoa, she’s a beauty!”

Risk complains while Bella instantly claims one of the riding horses for herself, running over to it and stroking its neck gently as she comments.

“Then I guess you’ll be riding alongside then. Sybil, can you drive the cart?”

I get a single nod from her in response before she almost instantaneously disappears from sight to pet the two horses attached to the front of the cart. Figured that would be her preferred job on this journey.

“I’ll take the second horse if that’s okay?”

I nod to Katharine, Risk doesn’t look to be an experienced ride...r…? Wait a second. No one here has a ‘[Riding]’ skill? With everything being skill-based, I find it hard to believe that ‘[Riding]’ isn’t one... AE, you’d normally jump in here.

[** Non-relevant skills are being suppressed from display **]

Non-relevant? Who decides what’s relevant?

[** Controller **]

Controller? ...Oh, you mean me?

[** Subconscious **]

I see, so you’re auto-loading preferences? ...How am I meant to know what skills are relevant and which aren’t if you’re suppressing them? Show me everything please.

[** Enabling full display **]--

No sooner did AE do this, did I realise why the information was being tamed down. An intense pain hammers down on me instantly, forcing me to fall to the ground in anguish.

I… I can’t breathe!

The pain is so sharp, heavy on my chest, making taking a breathe a laborious task. My head isn’t much better with searing pain burning my eyes, forcing them closed.

Suddenly, I remembered my very first conversation with AE. AE exists as an interface between me this wave thing. It exists as a barrier, direct access to the wave overloads my brain!

S-stop it...Stop!--

“MAKE IT STOP! TURN IT OFF!! AE, TURN IT OFF! SUPPRESS IT! I WAS WRONG, SUPPRESS IT NOW!”

“A-Aburi? Suppress? Suppress what? What’s wrong!?--”

[** Reverting **]

The pain starts to recede, but it’s still so intense, like white-hot pokers searing holes in the back of my eye sockets. Hallucinations of...c-colour. Images that make no sense scream through my mind, causing my entire head to f-feel like it’s being awkwardly pulled and compressed rapidly.

If I had waited much longer, I have no doubt I’ve had passed out and subsequently died. What the hell was all that!

[** Real-time information display obtained from wave origin **]--

Is too much for my mind to handle; yeah, I remember now AE, thank you. You could have reminded me before doing that! If you have any notification alerts or warning modes, I want them all enabled going forward!

[** Preferences updated **]

“--You’re sweating Aburi, what’s happening! B-Bella quick, fetch him some water from the cart.”

Katharine, worried about me, pulls me to my feet and leads me over to the cart. Risk stands beside me, hovering over me slightly. Having heard me scream out “AE”, he must have a pretty good idea of what just happened but is choosing to remain quiet about it.

“Drink”

Bella hands me a cup of water. After I take it, she continues to offer out a cloth as well until I take it. I assume this is to dry my face?

Beads of sweat are continuing to pool up all over, and I can feel the heat searing off my body. Information overload seems to have pushed all my insides out of whack and my head is still pounding intensely… My mind is racing too with so many thoughts and images, though little of it makes sense to me.

“T-thanks. Sorry everyone, that took me by surprise.”

“Are you okay? What happened?”

...I can’t really lie. I shouted out ‘AE’ afterall. Guess I’ll have to be honest here.

“I have a skill called [Analytical Engine]. It gives me insight on… Well, everything around me, and I mistakenly dialled it up to eleven without thinking. It completely overwhelmed me suddenly. Sorry for scaring you all, but I’m fine now, honest.”

“...Whatever it was… Well, you do seem okay, though you're very red--”

“Beetroot”

Sybil cuts Bella off. Thanks for the descriptor, Sybil.

“I’m fine now, thanks Bella, Katharine. We need to get going, we’ve wasted enough of the morning--”

As I go to stand, Bella forces me back down.

“Then you rest here, we’ll get the tarp up and then we can head off.”

Bella looks oddly concerned for me, actually, looking around, everyone seems to have firm expressions.

“F-fine. Then I’ll leave it to you Bella and rest a moment... Thank you.”

Their expressions soften and Bella nods to me before ordering everyone to task.

While I can’t argue with AE needing to suppress information after what just happened, I don’t follow why skill information is being suppressed. Especially if I ask for a detailed scan. The only thing I can think of is that part of me felt I didn’t need to know, so it wasn’t shown. But this is stupid, as I seem to believe Mathematics is important to know someones level in! How the hell do I work around this without killing myself?