“Mawe, you’re early.” Master Sims barked. He was sitting behind his desk on one of the higher floors of the tower. His rather round midsection pushed against the edge of the desk, keeping him distant from the paperwork he was going through.
Edan met the steely gaze and shrugged. Master Sims barked at everyone, he didn’t take it personally.
“I’ve got plans for later and I figured this was an informal meeting. Thought I’d see if you were free.”
“Well, I’m not free. And I doubt you just happened to come before your classmates, hmmm? Hoping to avoid a confrontation?”
“Maybe.”
Mast Sims nodded in approval.
“That’s a good mindset. Fight when you need to, not just when you want to. Avoid trouble if you can. This whole damn realm will shovel more than enough trouble at you if you so much as sit and wait.” Master Sims clapped his hands together and stroked his mustache.
The window behind his desk was high up the stone wall. Wide enough for Edan to slip through if he wanted. The shutters had been thrown open, allowing light and wind into the office. Being so high up, it was rather cool in the room, though Edan doubted Master Sims felt it with his high level. Blue sky and white clouds drifted by.
“I don’t mind telling you first. I had hoped to avoid repeating myself, but it can’t be helped.” Master Sims leaned back, his chair creaking dangerously, as his eyes flickered to the closed door behind Edan. “Perhaps it allows me to be a bit more open as well.”
“It’s to do with your reward for the rankings.”
Edan smiled, shifting forward in excitement.
Master Sims shook his head. “It ain’t like that, Mawe, it ain't a reward for you. Could be a death sentence.”
“What do you mean?”
Master Sims sighed and explained.
“They’re letting you lot into the Academy Dungeon.”
Edan opened his mouth, then closed it, his brow furrowing, confused.
“Unsupervised,” Master Sims continued gravely. Edans face fell when he continued “You’re allowed to keep what you find and challenge the monsters below.”
“But, we can’t! We’re ungraded. I mean-it would be…the monsters would…” Edan’s words fell over themselves as he tried to think through the implications.
“The Vitalis in the first few levels ain't too bad. You could survive for a couple of hours without getting oversaturated and dying. The monsters are likewise manageable for those with a foundation system, provided they are trained, as you all are, and work as a group.”
“Work as a group?” Edan echoed quietly, his shoulders slumping as he looked at his hands in defeat. “That sounds likely.”
Master Sims sat forward, his voice dropping to barely a whisper. “It was meant to be a good experience for the nine. They get to work together, strengthening their bonds and through them their sects. They’d find a whole bunch of rewards and come out of the dungeon bursting with Vitalis, ripe for a breakthrough. You and your classmates would look on in wonder and envy, wishing you were as good and as skilled as they were.”
Edan let out a hollow laugh. The sunlit room suddenly felt cold and dark.
“And let me guess, it would somehow solidify their place in the class ranking so whoever wanted to challenge them come next challenge day would be at a disadvantage from the start?” Edan asked sarcastically.
Master Sims tapped his nose. “Most are already capped and ready to birth their system. The few remaining like Kumi, are close. The dungeon would help push him over the edge.”
Edan continued to stare at his hands. There was a small scar across his index finger on his right hand. He had gotten it the first time he sparred with live blades. Sanik had been his opponent. It had been Edan’s own over-eagerness that got him injured. He’d dropped a dagger and in his haste to pick it up, all while keeping Sanik in his field of view, he had grabbed too high on the blade.
“Sometimes you need to leave it behind.” Sanik had said, bandaging his finger. “Don’t hurt yourself trying to get back something you’ve lost. Instead, focus on what you have and push forward.”
Edan had known it to be a message meant for him regarding his father. The man who claimed to love his son yet went running off after a woman who left them both.
Now though, the words made Edan’s fist clench. He would focus on what he had. He had a chance.
“Can I run it alone?” He asked Master Sims.
Master Sims looked at the boy. Taking in the determined blue eyes and the hard set of his mouth.
“No.” He said bluntly. “But you’re fast. You can try to avoid the monsters, but I would suggest against that option as well. Too much can go wrong.”
"What would you recommend?"
"Stick with the group. Stay near the back. Don't draw attention to yourself. Survive."
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“When do we enter?” Edan asked
“Nine days. After next weekend.” Master Sims answered.
After my birthday Edan noted.
There was still a little time before the rest of the nine were expected, and Master Sims knew they would have been told beforehand by their parents what to expect, both as a reward and what to do once they got into the dungeon. It wouldn’t hurt to fill Edan in a little.
-
Edan managed to slip out of the officer before the other students came through. To be extra safe he took one of the back stairs down the tower. It exited around the back of the school courtyard and he had to wander through the gardens before reaching the main gates.
There wasn’t much of a crowd around on a weekend and Edan enjoyed having the bridge mostly to himself. Above, seagulls cawes mixed with the sharp trills from Sunspits. Edan watched one swoop down and skim across the shallow waters. He smiled as it rose, a fish clutched in its talons.
There was a short blast from a deep horn and Edan turned to the sound. A small masted fishing vessel was being pulled through the channels between isles. He leaned against the bridge railing and watched the sailors on deck both vessels yelling at each other. Edan couldn’t make out words, the sea wind carried it away, but he could see them gesturing to each other, their hands waving about.
The fishing vessel wasn’t much larger than the tug boat, but it sat heavy in the water as they pulled it between the islands belonging to the Four Star Sect and the Golden Throne Sect. Obvious signs of damage could be seen along the hull and deck. The cause was likely the creature stretched across the deck. It looked like a mix between a lobster and a squid. Tentacles hung over the side of the boat, dragging in the water. The creature's head and body looked to be covered by a deep blue shell, spotted with splotches of green. Ropes were tied around its body, leading up to a pulley system nearly as tall as the mast. Seagulls flew in circles around the boat, screeching and making a nuisance of themselves.
Edan wondered if the locals had a name for it. No doubt [Identify] would give the system name, but sometimes the locals enjoyed calling the creatures something different.
Deep Sea Tenticled Crustacean - level 25 sounded boring when compared to Green Speckled Squidster.
Edan watched the two boats disappear around the island as they made their way towards the Western Port. With a sigh, he pushed off the railing and continued on his way.
There was a woman selling stiff pouches of bread, stuffed with ground meat and spices, nearby when Edan got off the bridge and he grabbed two, holding one as he munched on the other. The meat was ungraded but the spices added a depth of flavor Edan enjoyed.
Edan wandered through the streets, slowly making his way toward the shores of the Kentushi River. The high walls of the estates and private docks made it difficult to see the river, but occasionally Edan would catch a glimpse between two properties.
The city watch, dressed in good quality armor, and wearing helmets that covered their face, stood at corners or walked along the roads in pairs. Edan wasn’t surprised at the increased security. This area belonged to the high-profile and wealthy. The warehouses were privately owned and often a mark for the Thieves Guild. The houses were large and full of treasures.
Well, maybe not treasures, but they likely had more than a few items worth stealing.
Finishing off his second meat pouch, Edan dusted his hands on his pants and turned away from the Kentushi, moving deeper into the heart of Stratta. He let his mind wander as he walked. The information Master Sims had passed on swirled around and around in his thoughts like smoke, and just like smoke, Edan had trouble seeing through it.
He couldn’t come up with a viable plan other than be fast, be sneaky, and be smart.
Cassie was behind the counter when Edan walked into Harvey’s. Her sandaled feet were kicked up on the counter, her dress sliding down to show quite a bit of thigh. She held a book in her hands, eyes darting across the page as she read. She didn’t look up as Edan entered, though the tilt of her head let him know she was aware someone was there.
“Gimme a sec.” She called out, eyes still on the book.
“No rush, it’s just me.” Edan flashed a quick smile as she glanced up.
“Oh, Edan! Let me just finish this chapter. Luisse is about to profess her love to Hardini and hopefully break the curse keeping him trapped as a Sardine.”
“Uhh…what?”
Cassie didn’t answer, her attention back on the book.
“Hardini, the Sardini,” Edan muttered to himself as he strolled among the shelves.
He had spent many a day here when he was young. Cleaning, for some tokens, or just to browse and waste time.
Edan stopped at a glass case and peered inside. Various vials, each with a neat little label written on the front, were stacked in rows. Edan read Healing (minor) Healing (major) Mana Replenishment (minor) Stamina Renewal (Minor) before moving on. The case had a seal on the side depicting various tools arrayed out like the petals of a flower. The Crafters Guild. That meant the potions were created by professionals.
“Edan, you still here?” Cassie called from the front.
“Here!”
Cassie made her way around the shelf, appearing at the end of the aisle with a smile. The book was closed in one hand, her finger pressed between the pages to mark her place.
“Did the Sardine turn into a prince?” Edan asked, nodding at the book.
“A cultivator from a powerful family, and no. His evil brother interrupted Liusse before she could confess.” Cassie scowled.
Edan wanted to chat more but he could tell she wanted to get back to her book.
“Is Harvey around? He mentioned something about a package yesterday.”
“Traders Guild?”
“That's the one.”
“Yeah, he left it behind the counter. Didn’t say you were the one collecting it though.”
Edan thought it was more likely she hadn’t heard if she had been reading. But he didn’t mention it.
Cassie reached under the counter and pulled out a round parcel. It was wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. Edan looked closely, noting the fine lines drawn across the paper and the golden thread mixed with the twine.
“What is it?” He asked.
Cassie tossed it in the air and caught it again before bringing it close to her eyes and squinting. “No idea. It’s light though.”
“And leaking Vitalis, if it needs scribed parchment and reinforced twine.” Edan picked it up gingerly from Cassies offered palm. It made his fingers tingle. “Probably isn’t safe to keep it a storage ring.”
“Is it safe for you to carry it?”
“I doubt your old man would let either of us touch it if he thought it was dangerous, let alone carry it.” Edan pointed out, though he was happy she worried.
“True.”
Edan tucked the package into his front pocket. He wasn’t comfortable with it being so close to Edan Junior so he pulled it out and put it in his back pocket. He also wasn’t comfortable with it being so close to a butt cheek.
He pulled it out and tucked it into the pocket on the inside of his jacket. The stone rested next to his heart and he imagined he could hear a low hum from it.
Cassie watched, her eyes twinkling. “So prefer to risk your heart than the boys or the butt?” she asked.
Edan couldn’t think of a witty comeback so he just grinned.