Chapter 101 Once Again I Return
Looking at the person who resembles Xelyphe, I throw my head through a loop. I am asking my parents, "Who is this?" I want to clarify who I am talking to because Xelyphe's appearance was very androgynous before and is now more feminine.
"Drake, we need to discuss this when we get back to the settlement; we shouldn't speak in-depth about it out here. You never know when a monster might come out to attack." My father reprimands me lightly.
"Says the man who just entered a tower without telling me what it was about with a thumbs up and vague description." I retort back.
"You were fine, weren't you, so what's the harm? And also, your mother knew about this tower, so it's not like you went in without any knowledge." He looks at his wife expectantly.
Smacking my face, I glare at him, "No, Dad, she didn't know. She was not in the best state to pay close attention to what was happening. And since you want to head back to the settlement to get things handled there, let's go."
Working through my menus, I quickly pull up the option to bring us back to the settlement. Upon pressing yes, we were quickly whisked away from our location and arrived on the other side of the fog wall. Making our way to the manor, we pass by many people working on different projects and returning from the fog.
Hearing a flutter of wings, I see Ritotorous leaving his perch on one of the tombs to return to the manor. He probably has something to talk about, but that makes me curious: Why hadn't I seen him in the past day? As we proceed through the settlement, I see more people opening chests in the open since they don't have houses yet. Thankfully, we haven't had any other weather but sunny days. I will need to fix that soon, but from what I can see, Laxreal has taken the time over the day to get some of the buildings in order.
I can see at least five different projects being worked on as we speak, and one more thing I paid attention to was the settlement's resources. While we were gone, their values changed.
- Tier 1
Wood - 28 (+140 units per day)
Stone - 375 (+140 units per day)
Metal - 2605 (+0 from Small Mine)
Food - 582
Tier 2
Wood - 10 (+14 units per day)
Stone 16 (+14 units per day)
Metal -
Food - 4 (+1 Per 5 days) -
I see two more huts having been built while we were away and another ten tombs being constructed. Some stones are used to make a stone slab road heading from the manor and going in a straight line down each cardinal direction. One of the directions was correct at the gate we walked through. The road construction is ongoing, and I can see it slowly taking shape. I check one last thing before we manage to get to the manor.
- Small Mining Outpost Level 2 X 1 (+140 units Tier 1 Stone, per worker (MAX: 6): 30 units of Tier 1 Stone, and 3 units of Tier 2 stone, and an additional 10% chance to harvest Tier 2 metal)
Small Lumber Outpost Level 2 X 1 (+140 units Tier 1 Wood, per worker (MAX: 6): 30 units of Tier 1 Wood, and 3 units of Tier 2 Wood, and an additional 10% chance to harvest Tier 2 Food) -
Interestingly, we don't have an amount based on the workers showing in the interface, so I asked if anyone is willing to work in these areas to help keep things moving faster. I arrived at the manor and immediately headed to the kitchen because I was hungry. The rest of the family followed me.
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"Shall we talk about what has happened?" I say while gesturing at the person who looks like Xelyphe's direction.
"Sure, since you know about bloodlines, this will make it much easier to explain." My father starts, "You know how in mythos a phoenix can reconstitute its body and raise itself from the ashes of its former self?"
I nod along, understanding what he is saying so far.
"Well, this is that, but there is a little misnomer that people forget about. A phoenix can reconstitute itself from the ashes of its death and become the person it believes that should be at that time."
"So, you are saying that during the reconstruction of their bodies, after death, they can become someone that they have wanted?"
Rocking his hand back and forth, he tries to explain it but can't find the words, and Xelyphe steps in at this point. "For me, I have wanted to have more feminine features, but due to the low level of my bloodline, I only awakened a part of the healing capacity that a phoenix should have. There was no means for me to revive after death fully, but here, I was able to learn the ability through countless life and death experiences during the Tower of Trials. My bloodline could still be further refined, but at this time, there is a cooldown for how often I can use this skill. Right now, the cooldown is 50 years, requiring me to give up at least two tiers of experience even to facilitate the rebirth."
"So you are now..." I look a bit confused.
"I am now a woman, but if in the future I want to and have the option to, there is potential I could become my androgynous form again, or even a male form." She says bluntly.
"Okay, so what does that mean for me?" I ask, still confused.
"Nothing. The only thing that has changed is that I can bear children now and could, in the future, become a man if I choose."
"Oh...That's it?"
"Yup."
Sighing and shrugging my shoulders, I continue to look at my family. "Stupid bloodline crap." There is so much I still have to learn about bloodlines, and my parents haven't been the best help yet; maybe they will finally get the hint and start helping me learn about bloodlines. However, now that I think about it, most of what they know about bloodlines doesn't work in this world other than the physical characteristics that will be true anywhere. Still, I need to learn the baseline before I can build up from there.
From this point, we discuss how bloodlines worked more in my home world. It was a big thing that needed to be kept under wraps. For what reason, no one knows. But I can make some guesses based on my father's information. It probably involved someone who didn't have their bloodline awakened getting hurt over the fact that there were these beings doing feats of strength and, in some instances, defying basic physics and developing a weapon that could break, if not kill them. As part of a 'truce,' people started to keep it under wraps, which led to an increase in the technology level on the planet, which was developing to the point we were at.
Sighing and explaining my guesses to my father, he thinks about it, and from what he remembers, it sounds about right. Those that later awakened their bloodlines were brought under him and several other trainers and used as soldiers against the harder-to-handle monsters of the world. For the most part, those who were able to control their bloodlines were sent back to society with a contract stating they weren't allowed to disclose any information about bloodlines or face the death penalty.
That seems harsh as punishment for just talking about bloodlines, but the government was exceedingly cautious about spreading the word. I am glad that we aren't in a world like that anymore and instead are in this beautiful, danger-filled, death-threatening world; I can only sigh.
Having finished our discussion, I grab the food we have been making and bring it to the table, where we all sit and eat. Wanting to finish the meal in peace, a gentle knock on the door sounds like bones hitting wood. Pressing my hands into my face, with my elbows on the table, I call out, "What is it, Laxreal?"
"I am sorry, sir, but I am not him." With a gentle push of the doors, another undead from under Draemish walks into the room. "I have a message from Lich-Laxreal, though."
Looking up, I see an undead of the zombie variety. Thankfully, there isn't a putrid smell. One of his hands is only left with bone, while the rest of his body looks a bit worse for wear than a typical human. There are patches of dead skin and some puncture wounds on his arms and legs armor, and his eyes are like a dark lake, with no sclera. But other than that, he would appear like any other human.
"Lich-Laxreal?" I asked.
"Yes, sir, Lich being his title, sir." He is speaking to me very formally, and it feels uncomfortable. Wanting to get on with whatever message Laxreal sent me, I asked for him to deliver the message. "Lich-Laxreal would like to see you at sir's earliest convenience in the mage tower."
Running my hand down my face, I look at him. "Couldn't he have just come here, and we could have discussed what he wanted?"
At this comment, the undead looks at me and smiles with his grey teeth, "Lich-Laxreal said that you would ask that, and he said, and I quote, 'I don't want to leave my experiments, and he is late for his lessons.'"
Trying to remember what he meant by lessons, my face blanches. I had promised Rognar and Sylvasti that I would practice my swordsmanship and archery under their tutelage, and Laxreal said he would work with me on my spellcraft. Quickly checking the time, I see it is only 3 pm. Getting up in a hurry, I sprint out of the manor and head to the mage tower first.