Anna and Piper went back to Piper’s room to talk after setting a time to meet with Kai in the morning.
“He is definitely up to something,” Piper said.
“He never talks that formally for anything,” Anna added. “What is he hiding?”
“I have no idea,” Piper responded. “Do you think he had something to do with Levi?”
“He forsure wouldn’t be acting alone,” Anna said. “You think our families are making their moves to get him?”
“I hope not,” Piper said. “Why would they even do that?”
“Control and power are the only reasons why they do anything,” Anna said. “Do you think our parents are right?”
“I doubt our mother’s agree with the antics. But I don’t know, Anna. Every part of me is telling me know but there is another voice that is questioning, why would our fathers go through so much effort to show that Levi is not good?”
“That’s the question that keeps playing in my head as well. This seems like a lot of effort for one 3-star summoner. Maybe we are wrong… I don’t think we are, but they are much older than us.”
“It is possible that we have overlooked that. But why would Levi be so kind to us? Give us a platinum coin from selling the magic essence to that kid? Cook for those village people? Those aren’t things an evil person does?”
“It could be,” Anna said. “It could be a huge ruse…” the pair looked at each other and shook their head. “Yeah, not a chance.” Anna had met a lot of people in her lifetime. She has travelled to many different cities and kingdoms. She has met her fair share of awful people. They were all the same, it didn’t matter if they were outright awful or covertly awful there were signs. Anna met an aristocrat that smiled wide and was generous to the general public. The second he introduced himself to Anna, she saw the true menace behind his eyes. She didn’t trust him for a second.
Later, that guy asked Anna to come to a social gathering that night as his guest of honor. She respectfully declined and told her father that they should go. Leandro trusted his daughter and they left early, unannounced but Leandro did leave a trap in case they were followed, or someone entered their room. Later that night both signals went off. Guards of that aristocrats house came and tried to escort the pair back, insisting that Anna be the guest of honor. Leandro’s patience had gone, and he killed three and left one severally injured to tell the story of what happened.
Anna never found out the true nature of the social gathering, but she knew it was bad news, especially after guards were sent after her. That look, that malice behind the eyes, is what Kai just showed tonight, and it was not something Levi ever showed. This whole situation seemed strange and had the undertone of politics. Anna knew her father was not a perfect man by any stretch of the imagination. He was a ruthless leader who cared deeply for his family. She never knew him to be brash and make moves like this.
“Does this smell like some political games to you too?” Piper asked, interrupting Anna’s thoughts.
“I think so… but who?” Anna asked.
“My father,” Piper said flatly.
Levi had figured out that their ritual only lasted for six hours at a time. Every six hours they would put this mask on that had something in it that caused a person to pass out from smell. Then he would wake up, mask off, and be hanging in a different ritual room. There was a rotation of three rooms. Levi noticed the ritual circles were not improving with each one, some of their strengths greatly varied and the elf was not getting faster at setting them up. Levi calculated that he had about five minutes with their only being one 3-star magic user.
This was the day when he would make his escape. His plan was to release Dameion first and Anza and drones after, if he could. If not, just Dameion. Then Dameion would release all the mana from the elf that was standing guard, knocking him out, and give the mana to Levi, who would be able to push harder to release the mimics. The mimics could all provide a wall of protection and release his chains.
Finally, the time came, Levi steeled his breath and nerves. The elf walked to the back and disappeared. Levi conjured a chaos orb, and it exploded on the ground behind him cutting off the ritual circle. Dameion and Anza and team Ember flooded out of Levi in an instant. Anza cut Levi loose, and he jumped out of the ritual circle. Before the elf could react to the loud boom from the chaos orb exploding the ritual circle, his mana was being quickly drained. Levi felt the mana from Dameion enter his mana pool, and he felt infinitely better.
He had his full range of powers. He closed his eyes and quickly created a trap ritual while the other elf was drawing the circle out.
“What the fu-” the other elf screamed as he was stuck in chaos bars. Serenity and Vapor came out and began masking Levi’s aura and creating a cloud to sneak out of the rooms. Levi had no idea where he was, but thankfully, he had a map. Looking at the map it showed that he was in the basement of the Vendular complex. Levi could now access his inventory and used his scepter that he had gotten and teleported out into the city. He appeared in the middle of the bazaar, naked, and bruised.
Levi quickly put some clothes on and had Serenity hide his aura. The scepter was great, it gave him the option to teleport. He couldn’t teleport very far, and it was a fifteen-minute cooldown before it could be used again. Levi guessed that the maximum distance of teleportation was 5 kilometers. The fact that he had teleported not 600 meters from the entrance of the Vendular complex told him everything he needed to know about how deep he was.
Levi suspected that he would have maybe 5 minutes before the elf’s mana was restored and he woke. Rather than sit and wait, Levi walked slowly and casually out of the city gates. He had to be extra cautious because if Lord Leandro was around, he would be sensed immediately. The revelation that he was under the Vendular complex was not lost on him. He decided he would put that piece of information in his pocket for later.
“We should move with haste,” Vapor said.
“Bet,” Levi said. Dameion and Serenity fused with Levi to provide the best aura defense they could. Levi hoped on the cloud Vapor created and they took off. Vapor could reach fast speeds, faster than Levi could sprint but not faster than Anza could travel. Once they left the city gates Anza would gladly take over. Levi had to control his breath because his nerves about running into the Onyx or Vendulars were looming over him until he left the city. They finally reached the city gates and Anza formed under Levi and she took off running. Anza could run 5 kilometers in 15 minutes. By the time they had reached the edge of the ice valley, Levi could use his travel scepter again.
Knowing it would not clear the Ice Valley, but it would give him more distance, Levi was fine physically, if not a little hungry. But he didn’t need to eat; he just loved eating. Levi remembered he had some stored stew that he had made for the village. He took some of the stew and ate it, feeling a full belly and much better. Then a bright light appeared over him. Like a comet, two elves appeared in front of Levi.
“Not so fast, human.”
“Boys,” Levi said.
“We are men and elves. Boy is a term for human filth,” the elf on the right spat. “That was a cute trick, but that will not work again. Our orders are to capture you, and as you can see, there is no escaping us.” He held out his hands and laughed.
“So, what’s the plan?” Anna asked.
“Tycen should be joining us for dinner today, it’s his week here. We gather up and leave.”
“There seems to be a lot of tension on your auras,” Tycen said entering in through the window of Piper’s apartment. “What is happening?”
“We have to leave.” Piper said.
“For what?” Tycen asked.
“For finding Levi.”
“What do you mean, where is Levi?”
“We don’t know, someone took him nearly two weeks ago and we have been told to sit on our hands and do nothing!” Piper said, anger filling her voice.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“I see,” Tycen said. Anna gave him a look to be the voice of reason. “Piper,” he said softly. “You don’t know where he is, who took him, or”
“Don’t say that” She interrupted. “Get to your point.”
“My point, Piper, is that we don’t know anything about what happened to Levi-”
“We think my father took him,” Piper shot back.
“So, what your plan is to go home and accuse your father of kidnapping? I want Levi back too but there isn’t much we can do.”
Piper screamed and threw knives into the ceiling in rage. She knew Tycen was right. She had to be sensible and right now she was not. She missed Levi and she felt like she was letting him down every second she wasn’t actively doing something to find him.
“I just don’t want him to think that we aren’t looking for him,” Piper said softly.
“We are and we have,” Anna said softly. She walked over and held her friend. “He’s going to be okay; I have a feeling.”
“I don’t think I’m going to be okay,” Levi said, standing in front of the elf twins.
“You are not,” the one on the left sneered. He moved with quickness and went to attack Levi. This elf was fast but not as fast as Piper. Levi called him elf 1. Levi easily dodged the attacks of elf 1; they were quick but not that quick. Levi pulled out his staff, and elf 1 pulled out two short swords. The other elf, elf 2, pulled out a bow and arrow and waited for an opening to shoot Levi.
The first time Levi had been taken from these two they had used the distraction of the ghosts to take him. Levi was not distracted this time. Levi was pissed that he got taken. Even more so that the stupid duke Trey won’t leave him alone. Levi conjured a chaos orb, and it exploded in the torso of elf 1. He flew back mostly unaffected, besides being cleared. Levi had no time to admire his work as arrows started flying towards him.
Anza intercepted all of the arrows with ease. Willow and Crystal started to fire swarm around elf 2. Vapor created a cloud of smoke so that Levi could ride on it around the battlefield. While she did that, she also covered the battle in scalding steam. The elves started to scream in pain. Serenity used her aura powers to locate elf 1 in the midst of the steam and Dameion followed the spot. He went down and started draining the mana once again from elf 1. Levi above the steam, used the spell, Void Storm.
Eight small black holes swirled around Levi and then shot in the air. The black holes kept swirling until northern lights appeared inside the fissure in the middle of the circled black holes—beams of the northern lights shot down over the steamy battlefield. Elf 1 looked up to see the display and tried to run a beam, hitting half of his body. All that remained was the half didn’t get hit. Elf 1 staggered slightly, then fell dead.
Elf 2 screamed at his brother’s demise. Staring at the dead body was enough distraction. Tentacles pierced the elf in many locations. He was unable to move as three beams from the void storm blasted him. He looked like Swiss cheese as Anza let go, and the elf dropped.
Enemy Defeated: Elf Rogue
3-Star
Loot: Elven Short Swords x2
Loot: Elven Clothe Armor
Loot: Elven Clothe Boots
Loot: Platinum coin, 10 Gold coins, 100 Silver Coins, 1000 copper coins
Enemy Defeated: Elf Ranger
3-star
Loot: Elven Long Bow
Loot: Elven Quiver
Loot: Elven Ranger Bracers
Loot: Platinum Coin, 10 Gold coins, 100 Silver Coins, 1000 copper coins
Status: Progress Made
Plus 1 to Strength
Plus 1 to Stamina
Plus 1 to Speed
Plus 6 to Vitality
Plus 7 to Wisdom
Attributes Total: 1007
Strength 106
Stamina 116
Speed 97
Vitality 206
Wisdom 482
Levi wanted to keep moving, so he rode Anza and looked at all the notifications he had after looking at his progress. He sighed at the much slower progression he’d experienced after fighting the barbarians. All the training he had done had barely made an impact on his progress points...
Objective: Secrets of Arvendon 3- part 1 of 2 completed
You have escaped the city after being captured. The Vendulars have an underground bunker where they keep prisoners. What else could that be for?
Reward: Mana potion x1
Reward: Letter #6
New Quest: Escape
You have been captured and escaped from your capacitors.
Status: Quest: Escape - Completed
Reward: Magic Essence
Reward: Chaos Essence
Reward: Pure Essence
Warning!
Your magical senses have been cut off. All familiars have been fused with the summoner. Once your magical senses are reinstated, your familiars can defuse.
Warning!
Your magical senses have been cut off. All familiars have been fused with the summoner. Once your magical senses are reinstated, your familiars can defuse.
Warning!
Your magical senses have been cut off. All familiars have been fused with the summoner. Once your magical senses are reinstated, your familiars can defuse.
Character Log: Levi Winters
Class: Familiar Summoner
Rank: 3-star
Ability: Ritualist
Ability: Elected Stranger
Ability: Familiar Bonds
Ability: Chaotic Harmony
Ability: Dungeon Treasurer
Spell Log:
Orb of Chaos
Orb of Water
Orb of Fire
Orb of Lightning
Void Storm
Familiars:
Anza - the Mimic
Willow & Crystal - the Crystal Wisps
Vapor - the Steam Spirit
Dameion- Avatar of the Void
Serenity - Aura Dragon
“That was a lot,” Levi said.
“What was the best item?” Serenity asked. She was gently flying next to Anza, who was running at full speed once again.
“Magic essence,” Levi said. “Another one, why do I keep getting these? I also got another letter.”
“Better to have them now then need one later,” Serenity said. “What does the letter say?”
Letter #6
It’s been a year since my last letter. A lot has happened. None of it is good. There is a threat of war between the Onyx kingdom and the Arbors. They want control of Arvendon and Arcross, the final two cities in Arbors kingdom. War is a greedy man's tax that causes the poor to pay in blood.
They are forming a federation to help organize all magic users. If you wish to be a part of this federation, you can sign up for free; they check your powers and abilities then allow you to join. They are called Adventurers. My advice, join the federation. Find some friends form a team and rank up. Grow your adventure status. Show the world that summoners matter. They can be vital in a team aspect. I haven’t had a student since my last apprentice. The world must see the value of summoners.
As Always,
M. Veluvius
“Well,” Levi said. “Now that is an interesting letter. The Onyx’s took over this land from the Arbors whoever they are. Damn, I wish these were dated.”
“It is always good to know history; that could be helpful in the future.”
“Indeed,” Levi sighed. “I’m excited to be home,” Levi paused. “Home…”
“This is your first time calling Arcross home?” Serenity asked.
“It is, yeah…” Levi sat in silence, thinking about that for most of the ride back. Anza made it back to the river by the stroke of midnight. It was late, all the shops were closed, and the town was asleep. Levi used Vapor’s cloud to fly to his room. In his room, he sent Vapor to inform Piper that he was home and safe. He went to take a hot shower; he had been hanging for who knows how long, and he needed to get clean once again.