The trio arrived back at the cavern early the next morning. When we arrived we found a pair of guards waiting outside. As soon as we entered a wave of heat slammed into me. It felt like I had entered the most intense sauna of my life.The cave was much larger than I expected. It was more accurate to call it a cave system. From what I could see there was a literal city inside the cave. It had at least three levels but seemed to get hotter the further inside you went. Zakia led us through several turns until we arrived in a two tiered room. The area we entered was the larger of the tiers. It held a large stone table with seven Ifrit eating some kind of steak like meat. It was dark enough that I thought they had burned it but it was still juicer than any steak I had on Earth. That fact reminded me that I hadn't had anything solid to eat since I arrived in this world. Well there was the scorpion meat.

"It appears our guest is a bit distracted." The voice of the Matriarch pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up and found her beckoning us up to her. I looked to check with Zakia who had already started moving. Since no one attempted to stop me I followed. We reached the top of the stairs and found a smaller but more ornate table. This one looked like it was made out of obsidian with veins of lava flowing through it. I hesitantly touched the stone expecting to burn but it was surprisingly cool. I took a seat as the Matriarch began speaking.

"I take it you all were successful? What did you find out?" Her gaze lingered on me for just a second longer than everyone else. I wanted to ask her about that but decided to leave it alone. It wasn't my house and there were more important things to worry about. Together we explained everything that happened. Once we recounted the battle the group left it to me if I explained what happened in the tomb. I decided to let her know. I needed friends and I don't know what a "Place of Power" actually is. When I finished my story she nodded slowly her face a pensive mask. Before she could respond plates of food were delivered. A plate that held a creature that looked a bit like a black lobster only it had a single eye on the front of its shell, three claws and a scorpion's tail. It was also as big as my head. I did my best to not look as confused as I was and politely waited to see how other people would eat it. It didn't take long to learn how to disassemble the creature. It was a bit like eating craw fish just bigger. There was a spot where the tail and body met if you pressed down twisted and pulled you could separate them and then you could eat the meat out of tail. You would do something similar for the claws and sip the juices out of the body. It wasn't until I had eaten all the meat in the tail that Shauriana started speaking.

"I had received the notification young Suzerain. I hadn't realized it was you until you told me. It will be difficult for you to protect yourself at your level. Though if you can do it the rewards will be great. I did not gain my suzerainty until I was nearing my second century." When I heard that my eyes widen and nearly choked on my food. I was just about to ask a litany of questions when I caught her smirk. I blushed and took a moment to calm myself. Based on the prompt we might not be on the same side. Though she didn't look like she was preparing to have me burned alive. I also needed her.

"Ah well a lot of things happened but I am afraid I don't know what a "Place of Power" is nor do I know what this "Game" is though I assume its world politics?" She nodded slowly while breaking open her crustacean with much more grace than I had done. She took her time to savor the food which I had the feeling that she was doing to to mess with me. She struck me as someone that had this food at least a few times before this but I decided not to complain about it. When she was ready she began.

"To answer your first question Places of Power are locations where the natural magics of the world converge. These magics are attuned to each of the natural elements Pyros, Hydros,Aeros, Geos, Lumos,Umbros, Animos, Mortos. These elements crisscross through Akopia and in locations where they meet they forms nodes. These nodes are unique and are called "Places of Power". They are incredibly rare and gaining position of one even more so. You must first have an affinity of at least 70% with each of the magics making up that place. You must then find its associated nexus crystal and absorb it into yourself. A process that is excruciatingly painful something that I imagine you have already learned."

I had to hold back a flinch as the all too vivid memory of the pain went through me again. Thankfully she continued speaking. "You must then have enough power to hold onto your Place of Power. I am unable to tell where yours is which is good. I assume that the others will be unable to determine its location. I believe the World is involved in that. I am not sure what the stipulations are for that but I would keep it to myself."

"If you were me what would you do?" I politely cut her off not wanting her to move on from the first point and into the second. She smiled wryly at me. "In your position I would expand my personal power before claiming the Place of Power but since that is done you will have to forge yourself in fire. The world will be your anvil and your determination your hammer. I would begin thinking about the path you will take. Akopia has as many way to gain power as there are stars in the heavens. None of them will be easy of course. You will also have to determine what to do with your Place of Power. How will you rule the people that flock to your banner? Kindness and cruelty are equal weapons in the world."

"I uh well I see." Excitement and nervousness were growing in equal parts in the pit of my stomach. I needed to get my hands on books. I knew virtually nothing about this world and I was going to build a city? I needed money. I needed farming equipment. I need well I needed to see my Place of Power. Before I could get too deep in my thoughts Shauriana began speaking again.

"As for your second question it is both more and less than politics. The Game refers to the competition played amongst all of the royalties of the world. The rules of etiquette they toy around with. Their plotting and scheming but even further than that it is the process of gaining and expressing power. If you choose to search for more humans you will discover more about the game. One of the reasons we live deep in the Black Canyon is because we have no interest in joining in those games. That and this is the seat of my power."

I finished the rest of my food as I listened to her explanation. It was very Game of Thrones like but it wasn't difficult to follow. People would want my shit soon I needed to be able to protect it. In a way it was the same logic as the playground bully. I needed to be able to prove that I was willing to fight for what was mine. If I didn't than I would lose it. "What can you tell me about magic? I am planning on being a magician but I don't have a lot of spells." She nodded as a couple of people came to collect the dishes.

"I would suggest you head into the Free Cities. A magician's spell list is a private affair and you won't find too many willing to share what they know with you but there are quiet a few old ruins in the desert. When people who lack the affinity for magic come across scrolls and tomes they take them their to be sold. You can also recruit people willing to settle in your new settlement." She paused for a beat before continuing. "Assuming you decide to create a settlement for other people. You should be able to gain access to different farming equipment and the other small but key things you will need." She gave a nod to an elderly Ifrit in long black robes. He was dark skinned with a bald head with embers for a beard. He entered the room and placed three scrolls on the table.

"These are a reward for helping my people. You went far beyond what I asked you to do. I was going to give you a set of robes but it looks like what you have is already good enough. Instead I gift you some schematics that we found while exploring a few years ago. Unfortunately we aren't human so the schematics were little use to us. I looked down at the worn paper. They all had a light yellow discoloration along the edges. I picked up each one making sure to let the item prompt appear before moving on to the next

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You have found a Blueprint: Tenement Building Blueprint Tier: Superior

Details: This allows for the construction of a tenement. A tenement is a settlement building that provides housing to members of the settlement. It can also serve as a locations for citizens to meet and eat meals.Citizens may be pleased(30), acceptable(60) or packed(90) depending on the total number of people.

Durability: 5/10

Item Quality: High

Requirements: Construction skill of 15

Weight:3oz

You have found a Blueprint: Hall of Knowledge Blueprint Tier: Superior

Details: This blueprint allows for the construction of a Hall of Knowledge. A building that allows for the gaining of Science Points and the ability to research scientific advancement.

Durability: 5/10

Item Quality: High

Requirements: Construction skill of 25

Weight:3oz

You have found a Blueprint: Seat of Government Blueprint Tier:Superior

Details: A settlement building that acts as your seat of government. Having one allows one to gain access to additional settlement controls.

Durability: 5/10

Item Quality: High

Requirements: Construction skill of 45

Weight:3oz

My eyes bulged as I read each of the prompts. Each of these buildings were amazing! The tenement building sounded like an apartment building which were always nice especially if you got a room the top floor. The Hall of Knowledge was also a key building. Scientific research was the backbone of a society. If it worked like in 4x games than I could have guns, lasers, golem and who knows what else if I got enough science. Lastly the Seat of Government would be important. I didn't know what these extra controls were but I was pretty sure I wanted them. I dismissed the notifications and turned my focus back to the Matriarch who was clearly enjoying herself.

I got control over myself and placed each of the scrolls on the table. I looked up at Shauriana and smiled. "I am incredibly thankful for your gifts. My only regret is that I don't have an equal gift to give you." I grouped the three scrolls on the table and did my best to push them to the back of my mind.

"I am glad you feel that way. I hope that your people and mine can form a beneficial relationship that stands the test of time." Her voice had become more playful the more they talked. I was going to ask her another question when she spoke up again. "Please arrange for a mount for our new friend. I imagine he will want to set out for his lands soon." The guard she was speaking with nodded and silently left the room. She then turned her focus to me. "Will you stay here tonight? The Canyon will become more dangerous as the temperature drops."

I nodded my agreement."If you will have me I would like to sample your hospitality." I felt a bit like a was larping in a medieval world but if using old and fancy language got me a few bonus points who was I to complain?" She nodded her head and instructed a guard to have a room made for me. She was just about to leave when a question occurred to me. "If you don't mind what are the common government types here?" She raised an eyebrow and settled back into her seat.

"As far as I know there are only monarchies. The Hestastian Dynasty is a Theocracy but its ultimately still ruled by a single woman and her family. The Free Cities aren't technically monarchies due to being City-States but each one has a single ruler and then various advisory-type positions. Why do you ask?" It was what I expected this world seems to be based on democratic ideals. I politely shook my head at her question. "Ah, I was just curious. Some of the places back home were talking about democracy and I wanted to know if here was similar?" There was a brief pause as she assessed me before she stood up.

"There are none as far as I know. I do not know where you are from but the democracies that have attempted to exist here always fail. Ultimately they are too slow to make decisions. When choices need to by the minute democracies can only act by days. I would be careful about following in their footsteps. It is time for me to turn in for the evening. Will you please lead our guests to their quarters? A guard in thick black leather armor with a scimitar on his hip stepped forward. "Of course Matriarch." He looked at me and gestured to a hallway on the opposite side of the room. I watched Shauriana leave and then stood up.

The room they led me into was about the size of a bedroom back home. I had to duck to get through the doorway and it had a bed that would fit most normal-sized people. I would need to shorten myself a bit but all in all, it wasn't too bad. I took a seat on the bed and pulled off my outer garments. Thankfully they offered me some replacements. Within ten minutes I was in bed and thinking about what tomorrow would bring.

I ended up sleeping until the sun was high in the sky. The Matriarch made arrangements and gave me a creature called a Rock Salamander. It was about the size of a horse and looked like a salamander made out move stone. It was the most aptly named creature I had ever seen. They gave me a saddle and showed me how to sit in it properly. All together it took nearly an hour before I was heading away from the cavern. I was able to convince the warriors to give me a second water-skin this one filled with normal water but that wasn't the point.When I had traveled for a few minutes I received a notification.

Notice! You have learned the skill Riding. You know how to saddle, care for, and ride some sort of animal. Through a combination of techniques and natural ability , you stand a good chance of earning your mounts cooperation.Each level of this skill gives +3% mounted speed and resistance against being knocked off.

The new skill was definitely worth it though with a 72% affinity I wasn't sure if it was going to be worth relying on. Then again it seemed like having an affinity above 80 or so was rather rare. After traveling North West long enough for me to get out of sight. I then turned and headed back toward my secret spring. On the back of the salamander, the journey took less than an hour. I took a long sip from the water skin before pouring out the water and refilling both of them with the Spring's water. Once I had stocked up on my potions and taken time to shelter from the heat I mounted up and headed back out into the desert. This time heading the call to the North West.