“Don’t say it in such a dark manner Maf, they all desire the same outcome we do. And our master’s gifts to them are simply that,” Alathein chided.
I narrowed my eyes, that snide bastard. He and Maf were the most similar but with Alathein being far more intelligent, they were simply different sides of the same coin. Alathein’s side being quite polished to hide his true intentions.
My cheeks heated up ever so slightly and I looked away.
Polished indeed.
Maf scoffed.
“So do you agree, gifts first and then an explanation?” Yaron asked.
They all looked at each other. Three of them, the ones that tended to be protected by the others were already given gifts. If they interpreted the gifts as a payment of participation it was highly unlikely that those without gifts wouldn’t agree to participate.
Though, they never really had a choice in the matter.
As for their individual goals, it appeared that Dot and Lefty were the only ones with the more direct goal that was inline with ours. Dodger and Brick seemed to have entered the tower out of boredom more than anything.
Paeris and Sailhin would be the more difficult to manage. They didn’t enter with the goal of clearing the tower. The Ylandyr that she mentioned though appeared interested in the dark innerworkings of the tower’s society. I’m sure clearing the tower is one of his possible solutions to whatever problem he is fighting.
“Has Quartz received his gift?” Brick signed slowly, he never took his eyes off the young master.
“His gift is different than yours. But he has accepted it.”
A direct lie would be more troublesome later on.
They all looked at each other and seemed to come to an agreement.
“Great, we shall start with those that have already received their gifts.” Alathein said, “I think it would be best to move to the sitting room, I feel it would be rude of us not to discuss things in a more formal manner.”
It took them another moment before they filed into the other room. We didn’t follow right away, as we all needed to shift to our normal heights.
Once in the sitting room, we gathered to the right of the fireplace and Tharyll stood in front of the group.
“I am Velentharyll, the first monarch’s Vassal. Brick, after your performance in your trial. My master had selected you as her avatar and had gifted you with lava mana awakening. My master looks forward to how you will continue to adapt to your new strength and has taken a liking to you outside of your fighting abilities. She values your devotion to your sister, she is very pleased with how kind you have been to the young master.”
“Lava is quite a rare mana, is there a reason outside of the events of that floor that lead to that choice?”
He wrote those words above his head assuming Tharyll couldn’t understand his signs.
Tharyll grinned and signed in response, “your blood was already well adapted to that mana.”
“Do you mean to say that he’s not entirely human? Only elemental-kin are-”
Sailhin covered Paeris’s mouth to shut him up.
“Not the time for any elaboration on that.”
“You are right, it would infer that he is not purely human, you can rest assured that unless he dies suddenly, you have more time with him than you think,” Tharyll said in ijanoin.
Paeris’s face went red immediately and he looked away from him.
“My turn,” Maf said pushing Tharyll aside.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“I am Maferanthdriorenth, the fourth monarch’s vassal.”
Alathein snickered, and I couldn’t hold back a grin. Maf’s face twitched trying to disguise his annoyance.
“Lefty, you were chosen by my monarch because of your performance in your trial.”
He switched to Egalthi, “dark mana awakenings are connected to one’s emotional state. If it were not for your past, you would’ve received a different gift, and may not have been selected by my monarch.”
He switched back to common, “Your inventive manipulation of your mana suits your personality well. My master wished to have a conversation with you, thinking you would get along well with them.”
Alathein nudged Maf slightly.
“My turn, as long as your avatar doesn’t have any questions,”
Lefty shook his head.
“Great,” Alathein said smiling as Maf glared at them and stomped off to join Tharyll.
“I am Alathein, the sixth monarch’s Vassal. Paeris you were selected partially due to the mana needed to complete your trial, and as well as your style of mana manipulation. Light mana requires someone with either the born talent, or the in depth knowledge that leads to instinctive use of it”
“Don’t go glossing up your mana type. Light and Dark need just the same amount of skill.” Maf snapped.
“Maf we were all given time to finish without interruptions,”
“You’re being too prosaic Alathein, just say the truth, that Elves are mostly only able to use light mana, and he needed it for the floor,” Terothyn interrupted as well.
Alathein turned their head and their eyes went cool, a smile was still on their face but they were seething.
A very intentionally polished coin.
They turned back, “apologies for the interruptions, do you have any question Paeris?”
“The spirits, that helped, were they part of the tower or was that somehow you?”
“No, but an explanation regarding that can occur later if you’d like. They didn’t have anything to do with your gift.”
“Alright, then I don’t have any other questions.”
“Good.” Alathein stepped away.
Yaron stepped forward, “I am Yaron-Udiag, the seventh monarch’s vassal. Dot you were selected by my master because you share very similar interests. However, because of that he was unable to narrow down what sort of gift he wanted to give you. As I have limited power here, you have a few options on how you would like to do things. The gifts he intended to give you are as follows: a forge, where in you could forge new weapons for your party mates, fully translated copies of the manuals you found during your trial, and a new staff that is more efficient with mana movement, and would give you the ability to break it apart and use the separate pieces as extensions of your own body. Our delay was due to him trying to figure out a way to give you all of these things.
“It was only after the fifth monarch provided help with the second option that we narrowed it down to the first and second. So, the options we are actually left with are the forge, or the staff. If you chose the staff, my master would like to also gift you a portable work bench and some new tools as well.”
My master is always willing to share information with those who are eager, though this would be more up to Mypheryn, and how they behaved on their floor.
Dot was staring at Yaron her mouth agape, “are you serious? I’m going to get the golem’s manuals?”
Yaron smiled, a genuine smile I hadn’t seen in quite some time.
“Yes, you will.”
“That’s more than enough, but I even get to chose between a forge and a new staff and new tools? How would the forge even work?”
“If that is your choice, it will be a bit complicated, but the forge will be placed outside, time within the forge will pass differently than outside of it giving you enough time to create six weapons. You can decide who those weapons will be for, and I will assist you in their creation if you require it. All materials will be provided for.”
“If I chose the other option, can I still get the materials for the weapons? I know that on the Shadow seekers’ floor there was a forge. Maybe there will be one I can use on the fortieth.”
Before Yaron could respond, a banner appeared with a ding in front of his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The seventh Monarch has agreed to this proposal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yaron sighed, “Master, I thought you all agreed not to interrupt us.”
He swiped his hand and the banner away.
“Yes, Dot that is an option.”
“Then I chose that one!” Dot was beaming.
A ding, and a woosh, and a staff and a storage ring appeared on the small table in front of her.
“The storage ring contains the table and tools, as well as the materials for six weapons.”
“Amazing!” She grabbed both things.
Silion stepped forward, “I’m Velensilion, the second monarch’s vassal. My master noticed you tend to break your weapons very easily as they are not suited for use with aura. She assisted in providing Dot with materials to be used to create a weapon for you, but your gift will be a few weapons made with that same ore which is much more suited for use with aura.”
A chest appeared on the ground next to her.
“Inside is a great axe and two short sabers. As well as a small scabbard that has the same effect of a storage ring. You will be able to place weapons inside it and pull out whichever you’d comes to mind for you.”
“Awesome! I missed my axe.”
Silion stepped aside allowing Terothyn to step forward.
“And finally, it’s Sailhin’s turn, I’m Terothyn, the third monarch’s vassal. You were selected because of your fighting style. You also have two options regarding your gift. Either you will receive a new weapon made from mithril or you can erase your cousin’s memories of meeting you on the previous floor and have your old spear repaired.”
“What?”
Any pretense of wariness seemed to drain from Sailhin’s face.
“A brand new weapon, or your cousin’s memories and your current spear’s repair. Make a choice.”