By the time the sun rose and fingers of light stretched across the town, Edgar was already awake. His new [Monstrous Awareness] ability was the same as [Animalistic Awareness], as far as he could tell, and spent some time ogling the Amalgamation’s sword in his inventory. He had never fought with a sword before, but he could convince Mirai to give him some pointers.

He also checked in with his skills and abilities, meditating even though he had no essence to groom. His skills greeting him in their unique ways. After greeting the other abilities, he stopped by the curse, which was hovering near the center of his core.

You have made a lot of trouble for me, but even Pharaoh insists you are a gift… ‘There is a more important currency than level…’

After a few minutes of pondering Pharaoh’s cryptic message, he withdrew from his core to find Mirai stirring against his shoulder.

She blinked at him, cracking a small smile.

“Good Morning, Mir.”

“Morning, Edgar.” She smiled.

Edgar stood and the two of them moved through a few stretches under the light of the morning sun, shaking the sleepiness from their limbs. When they were ready, they climbed the ladder back down and made their way back towards the tavern where the others would be waiting. As they walked, Edgar told Mirai about Monte, Briar, and the strange organization.

“How strange… Why would an Order of Sisters care about a Prince? I wonder if Monte knows more than he lets on.”

Edgar shrugged. “I can’t help but trust him. Let’s meet up with him again in Central. I’d like you to meet him.”

She raised an eyebrow. “He’ll probably be in the Eye, you sure?”

“What’s the Eye?”

“The Key’s headquarters. It’s a strange place and they don’t exactly welcome guests, but maybe it won’t be so bad if I’m not traveling with my mother on her Guild business.”

They rounded a corner, and the tavern came into view, smoke already rising from the kitchen. Edgar and Mirai entered, waving to a server and taking seats in a booth. They chatted for a while longer until their party trickled in.

The first to arrive was Jim, who ruffled Edgar’s hair and began ordering food. Priz arrived, who looked bleary, perhaps a bit hung over after the festivities last night. Nat and Nate came after. Edgar couldn’t tell if they were a couple or not, but they seemed to go everywhere together. And, after a long stretch of waiting, Klein arrived. He was looking clean and walked with a spring in his step.

Jim and Priz glanced at each other, smirking.

“How’d you sleep?” Priz asked Klein suggestively.

“Very well.” Klein smiled. “This tavern is great. I’ll be sorry to leave this place. Maybe I’ll come back on my next break.”

“Yeah, the tavern is great.” Jim chuckled. “Good food, good drinks... long red hair…”

Klein nodded absentmindedly for a moment before catching on. “Hey, none of that. Not before coffee, at least.”

As if summoned, the server arrived with a steaming pot and poured some for each of them.

As they sipped, Edgar glanced around the table. “I’m sorry for taking off last night. Did Klein fill you in on what happened?”

“Yes, some. He mentioned an assassin of some sort and something about the Woods of Yor.” Priz said, glancing at Klein.

The others nodded.

Edgar continued with the story from there. “It sounds like the order the assassin belonged to will be waiting for us at the Woods of Yor. It may be dangerous to continue on our current path, but…” Edgar glanced around the table. “If we go, it may be a chance to learn more about them. We could learn why they’re interested in me.”

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Mirai shook her head. “No, I don’t like it. They tried to kill you.”

“We can always find another route.”

“Monte said there aren’t any decent alternatives. Any detours will add a month to our journey, maybe more.”

The party grumbled, looking at each other.

“We’ve got to get back to leveling soon, but I’d rather delay that than straight up die.” Nat said.

Mirai sighed. “We’re supposed to meet someone in Central. A month is too long; we might miss them. Why don’t we just hire a guild cart? Attacking a guild cart would bring all the guilds down on them. There’s no way they’re that stupid.”

“If they are, do you think a guild cart could hold out against an order of assassins?” Edgar asked. “Maybe we could hire an extra guard as well.”

“We can’t afford a guard that strong, I could ask my…” Mirai drifted off. “No, that won’t work either.”

Klein uncrossed his arms. “Monte said it could add a month, but let’s talk to the portal guards ourselves on our way to the Ice Caves.”

The server brought over breakfast, and after they all had their fill, they packed up and left, the door of the Surly Spider smacking against the frame one last time behind them.

The sun shined as they made their way down the road, soon passing by the two portaled rifts; their black-purple centers whirling over foundations of stone. The Mason appeared to have used different types of stone for each, red sandstone for the first and pink granite with columns of limestone for the second. At this distance, Edgar could barely see them, but Monte’s inscriptions decorated much of the stonework.

They continued on to the portal at the end of the road, where they crowded around the guards, hoping for good news.

After hearing their request, the guard nodded. “What do you want first, the good news or the bad?”

Klein looked optimistic, but Mirai spoke first. “The bad news, please.”

“Travel through the Woods of Yor has gotten dangerous enough that the guilds are telling people not to go if they’re under level ten, even though it’s only a level four world! Makes you wonder what in Pharaoh’s name is going on over there, and I don’t know what level you lot are, but honestly, I just recommend you don’t head that way.”

Mirai sighed, stalking in a circle.

Klein piped up hopefully. “And the good news?”

The guard stood straighter. “Well, with this going on, the Cart is discounting rides through the best detour while the Sword tries to bring things under control, since it’s an important throughway headed to central.”

“How much time will it add to our journey?” Edgar asked.

“They are saying a week, but it could end up being only a few days with how fast those maniacs drive.”

The group looked at each other.

“A week isn’t bad,” Mirai said.

“Much safer, too.” Priz said.

Klein nodded. “Then it’s settled. Where can we pick up the detour?”

“You’re headed to Central?” The portal guard asked.

They nodded.

“Then, after the Ice Caves, you’re headed to Berryville and the Dune Seas?”

Mirai nodded, unfolded the ad hoc map Raiden had scribbled for them.

“The detour picks up there, in the Dune Seas, so talk to the portal guards there.”

Klein smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

The group looked at each other and then at the portal.

Portal: [Great Ice Caves]

* Rating: Level 8

* Conditions: [stable]

Klein spoke. “Alright, layer up everybody. It’s gonna be cold.”

At that, everybody groaned except Klein, who threw on his coat with gusto. Mirai produced a parka with a fluffy hood, and the others all equipped their winter garments. Edgar opened his inventory and equipped [Fluffy Coat], trying not to notice Mirai’s skeptical side-eye or Jim and Priz’s poorly concealed laughter.

With the group geared up, they walked into the portal.

“Safe travels, all!” The guard called after them.

Edgar gave a wave as the black-purple energy of the rift surrounded them in magical darkness. After a few steps, he felt the ground beneath his feet change and they emerged icy floors, with a massive structure of ice hanging above them like a great cathedral.

High above them, raging winds howled through the ice, making it resonate with a strange music. Klein waved them along towards a large opening in the sheer wall of ice ahead of them, with a language that Edgar found he could read etched into the ice, shimmering with magical light.

Welcome to the Great Halls of Ice and Snow.

“It sounds like the conditions outside are poor, which is pretty normal around here.” Klein said. “We can find out when the weather will clear up enough that we can reach the next portal, but in the mean time, I’ll show you all my favorite spots!”

Edgar couldn’t help but smile at Klein’s excitement as he led them through the grand arch and into the Great Halls.

~~~~~

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