Walking back from the pond, I looked down at the new dress I was wearing, something I wasn’t accustomed to wearing but it felt nice. It didn’t hinder my movements either, and I was used to wearing a skirt so my movement wouldn’t be restricted. Nodding in approval, I slowly walked back towards the small town we had built as Alice flew over and landed on my head.
From the outside, it looked like a collection of small huts and campfires. After sharing the book about construction around, there were a handful of people who learnt how to make shelter without needing the more complex parts. While the huts were fairly simple, it offered protection against the weather. The Orb was in a slightly bigger building, with Sally, Gray or I in there to ensure nothing happened to it.
As I walked, I watched the surroundings as various people were moving around, working or talking. Some of the children were playing while others did tasks like cooking or cleaning an area to build more huts. Seeing this scene made me glad I had continued with getting them out of Crater, even with my feelings of not caring about what happens to them.
I had considered why I didn’t care for them, had thought of it long and hard. It wasn’t that I was completely uncaring for them, the feeling that I felt is that I had done all I could for them, and now I didn’t want to keep protecting them, they had to learn to do that themselves. I’m happy to help them gain some levels, but at the end of the day, I didn’t want to be responsible for nearly a thousand lives.
Is it selfish of me to think like that? I don’t know, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Every day that passed the feeling of wanting to do what I want and not be tied down grew stronger, is it because I had been tied down by the humans in the past and wanted to do my own thing?
I knew it wouldn’t be fair on Sally and Gray if I just up and left without them. Making my way to Sally’s hut, I knocked on the door and entered. Seeing Sally sitting on the ground, she turns to look at me and nods as I sit near her. Before I could start speaking, she started.
“You want to leave, right? Then go, Gray and I can look after everyone.”
Tilting my head in confusion, Sally offers me a rare smile. “Olivia came around earlier and mentioned the map. Gray already knows too, he thinks it's best if you go. Elizabeth still needs help after all. Plus you can always return or we can always join you.”
“Don’t you guys want to join us though? We could go together.”
Shaking her head, Sally looks over behind her. Following her gaze, I saw Chloe sleeping. “Chloe feels pretty strongly about staying here, and besides I want some quiet time after everything that's happened. Gray also feels the same.”
Nodding to her words, I started to realise that she had a different goal in mind. My goal was to go out and explore more of the world, Sally wanted to stay here and protect Chloe and the others. Gray has his own goals as well. Even if I was to leave now, Sally was right, we could always meet up later on or I could come back, Olivia said her village was close to Crater Hell.
After talking to Sally for a while, Gray joined us. As we got to talking, he was very much in the same opinion as Sally, but he was more concerned about getting Elizabeth help. She’d helped us in the past, and we wanted to return the favour. He wanted to entrust her to Olivia and I to see if we could get her help outside of here.
We continued talking throughout the night, mainly about what we wanted to do in the future. We were similar in the fact that we wanted to continue getting stronger, but we had different reasons for doing so. I wanted to get stronger so I wouldn’t be held down by humans ever again, Sally wanted to get stronger to protect those close to her and Gray wanted strength so he could continue helping those we had saved.
I knew I wouldn’t return for a while, this feeling must’ve been shared with Alice as she was playing with Pup and I could feel a sense of sadness from her. I wouldn’t leave her behind, and she wouldn’t leave my side either. As we continued talking, I also thought out my plan of leaving, sooner rather than later.
***
After two more nights, Olivia and I decided to head out towards the marked location. Comparing the map that Elizabeth had bought along and the map I was given, it would be a relatively safe trip all things considered. The highest level marked was level 16, which made me wonder how the humans didn’t find this way out.
“Perhaps there is a dungeon there, or a really high level monster?” Offering an explanation, I considered what Olivia said and had to agree, something must’ve been there to prevent the humans finding this way out. The map said it was a staircase, which would be very obvious, but perhaps to powerful people like those two ladies, what is complicated to us is rather simple to them.
Checking over my equipment, mainly the new dress and armour, as well as my supplies of food and water, I made sure I was ready to go. Olivia had an excited expression on her face, she had not seen her family in a few months. I couldn’t understand that feeling, but I was happy for her either way.
We planned to have Olivia carry Elizabeth with me in front to deal with any enemies, even though it’s likely it wasn’t needed. Seeing her still asleep even after all this time pained me. Her facial expression never changed, never looked troubled or disturbed. It’s frustrating to know she’d saved me twice, while I haven’t even saved her once.
Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I see Sally and Gray walking over towards us. Saying our farewells was simple, after all we’d see each other once we were able to heal and wake up Elizabeth, so we shouldn’t be separated for long. With one more look behind us, we head off with Olivia carrying Elizabeth. We had decided to head out during the day and had estimated it would take two hours to reach the staircase.
Just as we were about to leave the grass plains, I took one more look behind me. Feeling sadness overcome me, I let the tears fall, not knowing why I’m suddenly feeling sad. Perhaps it was knowing that I wouldn’t be seeing everyone for a while, even though we’ll be coming right back once Elizabeth had awoken, she’d love the sight of everyone finally living a life outside of slavery.
Turning back, I gave a nod to Olivia who had also stopped and we continued on, running as fast as we could. We thought of taking it slow so as to not disturb Elizabeth, but on the off chance our speed would wake her, we decided to go as quickly as we could. As a result, the original two hour trip very quickly became an hour.
***
Arriving before a massive cliff face, I craned my neck to the sky, unable to see the top of this cliff and looking left and right it continued on forever. Looking down at the map, it wasn’t too detailed, but it had some landmarks, one of which shows a ruined building where this staircase supposedly was. Looking at the ruined building in front of me, I knew this was the one, it was built along the cliff, like the cliff itself was a wall.
The building looked like the old blacksmith from Zalus, except it didn’t have any foges and instead was filled with old bookshelves, or at least they may have contained books at some point. Upon entering, there were footsteps in the dust on the ground, footsteps of two people at least. I wonder how the humans missed this place, or did they explore it and find nothing?
Following the footsteps that came out of the building, we backtracked it towards the rocky cliff that ran along as a wall. On the wall is a statue of a humanoid, the defining features had worn away, leaving a rather blank and rounded statue. Touching the statue caused nothing to occur, but it was big and the footsteps led away from here.
Looking at the statue, the thought of punching it crossed my mind, but knowing that it was still here meant I couldn’t just destroy it, otherwise Flannery would've destroyed it…or maybe not. Just as I was wondering what to do, I heard a voice resound through my mind.
“Inject mana into it.”
Hearing this voice, I frown as that seemed to be too simple, but I do as Flannery suggests. Feeling mana pass through my arm, I felt a strange energy join it. Figuring this must be Flannery helping me, I surge the mana through the statue as it starts to glow as a faint grinding sound comes from it.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The statue slowly moves inwards as it cuts me off from pushing mana through, like it was pushing part of the wall away as it slowly revealed a dark cave. Walking in, it was a dark cave, further in was an incline upwards, there were no stairs but it was the only way to go. Looking back at Olivia, I offered to take Elizabeth for a while and we set off up the incline.
There was no light, and using Moon Glow I provided light for Olivia. After climbing for an hour, it started getting damp and there was a strange stagnant smell in the air, bothering my sense of smell. After another hour of slowly climbing, I felt a pressure building on my shoulders, nothing too heavy but it felt like I was getting heavier.
The more we climbed, the heavier this pressure got. Soon, it became harder to take steps, and while it was still possible to climb it still felt straining. Within the next five hours, we had to stop due to the exhaustion we felt. Sitting down where we were, the pressure remained as we took a break. Right now Olivia was struggling to lift her arms while I was the same, however since I had slightly higher strength I found it a bit easier to move.
“It feels like the gravity is getting heavier the more we climb…which makes no sense.” Hearing Olivia talk, I tilt my head and ask.
“What’s gravity?”
“Oh, um…it’s like the thing that keeps us on the ground. It’s also a type of magic, some use it for strength training.”
Hearing the part about training, I decided to give it a go after a bit of rest. Taking out the old bracelets from Teacher Lee, I put them on and felt my limbs double in weight. Finding it nearly impossible to lift an arm or leg, I kept trying to move slowly while Olivia watched with interest, resting Elizabeth's head on her lap.
Slowly I started to move my body, and with some difficulties I could take a few steps before I ran out of breath. Knowing this was an opportunity to get some training in, I kept pushing myself while Olivia grew bored of watching and started reading. Taking my usual fighting stance, I threw out some kicks and punches and as time went by, I slowly got used to the new pressure I was under.
After a few more hours and some rest in between, I became very used to the pressure and weight from the bracelets. I couldn’t move fast, but my muscles were getting stronger. After resting for a bit longer, we decided to move once again, this time with Olivia carrying Elizabeth while I continued to wear the bracelets.
Strength Stat Rank increased to D-
+50 additional Strength Stats.
As we continued like this for a few days, we rested every few hours, mainly to switch who was carrying Elizabeth and to eat. The pressure continued to slowly get heavier and one day I received a surprising message from the System.
Raising an eyebrow at this, I had suspected I could increase my strength, but not to this degree. Opening my status, I saw the updated Strength stat.
Stats
Alisha, the Aspiring Hero
Strength: D- 130 Agility: C-
210 (+100)
Intelligence: F+ 100 Toughness: F 50
As that message faded, I felt myself get slightly stronger, a strange feeling but one that told me the strength provided was separate to what I had built up myself with this type of training, which made me consider what this could mean. Was the strength I’ve gained worthless compared to what the System just gave me, or is it a small bonus?
I don’t know which one it was, but I wanted to test it out later. After a few more hours of walking, we finally reach what seems to be the end, a pair of doors. Thankfully this set of doors did not have a glow to it, and after some rest, Olivia and I slowly opened it.
Walking out from the doors, we arrived in a dark cave, with light coming from an exit nearby. Heading to the exit, we step out of a cave into a forest. Taking in a smell, I could tell we were outside, the fresh air smelled completely different. The pressure from climbing had completely disappeared, and turning to look behind me, I saw there was no exit there anymore.
Confused, I attempted to go back but there was no cave, it's like it had completely disappeared, in its place were just some trees. Looking at Olivia, she seemed surprised too. Looking around, Olivia frowned for a moment before saying “I have an idea where we are…at least, which forest we’re in.” As she looks around, she points in a direction “Let’s head that way, I can feel the call of Ithil from that direction.”
Taking off my bracelets and storing them again, I look in that direction and nod. Trusting her here we continue walking while I keep my guard up. Switching Elizabeth between us every now and then, we finally break through the forest, and a new sight enters my eyes, causing me to start feeling excited.
An open field laid before us, I could see roads and people moving with carts and other things, travelling down the paths. The distance between those roads and us was quite large, the field looked to be free of monsters. Looking at the sky, a question came to my mind.
“Olivia, how long does daylight last for?”
“Mm, I’m not sure, fourteen or fifthteen hours?”
Looking at her with suspicion, she gave me a smile and said “In fact, daylight not lasting long is unique to Crater Hell, it’s unusual and out here the daylight lasts a lot longer. You remember Zalus right?”
I didn’t get to spend much time outside in Zalus…not mentioning this to Olivia, I trusted her words and looked at the field again. “Do you know where we are now?”
Shaking her head, she points at the carts and people. “Let's follow them, we should arrive in a human settlement or town and we can get our bearings there.”
Touching my ears and feeling Alice still sitting on my head, I turn to look at Olivia and ask “Will I be okay?”
“Mm, evolved monsters are a fairly common sight and humans have learned to accept them. You’ll be okay.”
Nodding to her words, I still felt slightly uneasy thanks to my past experiences with humans. Getting onto the path, we start walking along the roads, passing by other humans. Some glanced at me with interest, and not only me but also Olivia and Elizabeth before looking away after losing interest. Others just outright ignored us.
Feeling a bit more comfortable with their responses, we soon saw a small town enter our sights. There were no walls here but there were guards and a line to enter the town. Upon seeing the town, Olivia grinned.
“I know where we are! We’re about two days walk away from Ithil! Alisha, I can finally go home.”
Seeing her smiling so brightly with tears on the edge of her eyes, I felt happy for her. I still couldn’t understand her feelings, but seeing her this happy made me feel happy.
After waiting in line for a few hours, the sun was still out which was strange. I wasn’t used to feeling weakened for this long, but I put up with it and soon we reached the guards. Looking at us, one of the guards held out a hand and looked at us.
“80 Copper for the monsters, 50 Copper for the Elf and 20 Copper for the Human.”
Tilting my head in confusion, Olivia takes out a small pouch and reaches in. Taking out two small silver metal pieces and handing them to the guard, he nods and gives Olivia a small pile of copper coloured metal pieces back. Waving us in, we move in as I look at Olivia.
“I’ll fill you in. This is a currency called money, coins to be exact. It’s the most basic form, 100 Copper coins makes 1 Silver, 100 Silver makes 1 Gold. 100 Gold makes 1 Platinum. There is more, but the average person can live off 50 copper coins a week, so having more than that isn’t something your average person has. Right, let's find an inn and rest for a while before heading off.”
Feeling my mind once again feel overwhelmed with the information, I ask her what an inn was. Explaining that it was a building that had beds, baths and food for travelling people made me stumble for a moment.
“You have a lot to find out and learn about. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you slowly!”
Nodding in response, we found an Inn called The Raven’s Rest, an appropriate name for us thanks to Alice. Heading in, Olivia does all the talking while I look around. There were a lot of people in the lobby of this building and soon Olivia and I were being led somewhere. Arriving at a room, I enter and see three beds in a small room.
“Let’s get Elizabeth washed and reclothed and then eat and rest shall we?”
Nodding, I let Olivia handle Elizabeth tonight while I play with Alice. Feeling excited at the prospect of exploring, I held off for now as our main objective was reaching Ithil and finding Elizabeth help, but I still looked out the window of the room and watched as people walked around, talked or in one person's case sang.
“It’s exciting isn’t it Alice?” “Kraa!” “Hehe, I can’t wait to see Olivia’s village.”
Chattering like this, Olivia was soon done and once we ate, we turned in as the sun was setting. We planned to only sleep for a few hours before heading off again, the sooner we arrived the better it would be for Elizabeth. The town here was rather small, smaller than Crater but had a more exciting atmosphere.