The researchers steadily unpacked their belongings from the truck, setting up a proper working area with large mats covering the weathered ground, tables for their equipment, and even some foldable chairs to presumably take short rests. It seemed their studying of the surroundings was going to take longer than Ascalon and his companions expected, though they didn’t particularly mind.
As the various scholars worked together, Ascalon peered at the distance while chatting with his friends. The ruined landscape reminded him of old battlefields, a solemn yet unnatural feeling taking hold of the destroyed city. Lowly beasts roamed at the edge of an imaginary perimeter set by both his aura and Lilithra’s emblem, studying them from afar, being understandably wary of their presence.
Just as the knight pondered about the creatures, the conversation shifted to the Gifted network, eventually touching on their recent encounters and their growth. Just then, Lilithra nudged his side with her elbow, with Selorien peeking from behind her.
“Here!” She chirped as a blue screen appeared in front of Ascalon, showing Lilithra’s stats.
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“I forgot to share my progress—with everything that’s been going on lately!” She added shyly, an awkward smile on her face. They had indeed been quite busy for a while, and also, hadn’t really found the right moment to talk about it while enjoying the quieter, restful times.
“Splendid!” Ascalon replied after absorbing the information, noting Lilithra’s growth. She puffed out her chest as a smug grin adorned her face. Then, another window appeared—this time, Selorien’s.
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“I’m kinda envious of her stats!” Selorien said in a joking manner, though there was some truth behind his words. Lilithra’s growth was indeed impressive, after all. Ascalon nodded in satisfaction at both of his friends, a warm smile spreading across his face as he replied.
“You both are doing great! But do not falter—strive to become even better!” Ascalon declared with a triumphant voice, his words fueling both Lilithra and Selorien’s ambition. They nodded in acknowledgment, exchanging knowing looks just as Ragna approached them, looking tired but satisfied.
“Whew! We’re done setting up the base!” He exclaimed animatedly, garnering the group’s attention. “Since everything’s going without a hitch, why don’t you check up on what everyone’s doing? Hehe!” Ragna suggested in an enthusiastic voice, gesturing toward the other researchers.
“Alrighty!” Lilithra beamed with a mix of curiosity and glee, and looked at her companions for confirmation. While Selorien didn’t seem that interested, he nodded alongside Ascalon, and both encouraged Lilithra to take the lead.
After a brief look around, Lilithra decided to check on Lilly first—mostly because she was the closest to them. Lilly stood atop a portable platform, about as tall as Ascalon, equipped with a small set of stairs and a handrail for easy climbing. Ascalon admired the equipment with interest, as it reminded him of siege towers… just in a very miniaturized and modernized version!
The small girl noticed their presence and waved at them from above. “Hey. How are you guys doing?” She asked with a warm smile. Lilithra beamed back at her as she looked up.
“Doing alright! How is, uhm, research going?” Lilithra wondered with intrigue, noticing that Lilly had a pair of binoculars on her neck. The tiny one traced the air with her fingers, likely manipulating a network interface.
“Oh! It’s going slow… but that’s just how it is!” Lilly replied shyly, her gaze set in the distance. “I’m surveying the area and taking notes, to check if there are any noticeable changes since the last time we studied the place!” She added enthusiastically, putting on her binoculars.
Ascalon remembered she was the one that specialized in ‘catastrophes’, and it was intriguing to see what kind of work she was doing, even if it seemed simple. As she grew engrossed with her work, Lilithra urged the group to move on to the next researcher.
Nearby, Damian stood by idly, his brows furrowed as he watched Lidia collect soil samples in small, translucent tubes. Since Damian was a veterinarian, he didn't seem to have much to do for the time being. Ascalon wondered just how much information they could discern from just a handful of dirt, though he was completely oblivious to their science.
Lilithra decided not to interrupt them—especially because Damian looked intimidating—and moved along, casting inquisitive glances at her surroundings. It was interesting to see how quickly they had set up their base of operations, even if it consisted of makeshift spaces.
One of such spaces was a tent, where Julian and Irwin were busy fiddling with some equipment—likely conducting tests that Ascalon couldn't even begin to comprehend.
Once again, Lilithra felt like intruding would be inappropriate and simply watched from a distance—although that was still fun in its own way. Time passed in silence—with the occasional Selorien yawn—until Irwin rose his voice from within the tent.
“Incredible! It really is changing.” He proclaimed, earning the group’s curiosity. Then, Julian’s voice followed.
“But it’s too early to really tell…” Julian sounded more skeptik, though he couldn’t fully conceal his excitement. Lilithra peeked at the tent while fidgeting, clearly holding herself back from just barging in and asking what they were doing—it was so easy to read her.
Ascalon wanted to fulfill Lilithra’s wishes, but thought it would be too rude to just go and interrupt them, so he made a mental note to ask about it later. For the time being, it was better to simply distract her. His gaze traced the contour of the tent, and an idea flashed across his mind, prompting him to voice his thoughts aloud.
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“Lilithra, what are your plans for our Guild stronghold?” Ascalon smiled at his own words, imagining themselves in a grandiose castle, overlooking the city of New Lumingard with chivalrous vigilance! Though Lilithra tilted her head in confusion before replying.
“Huh? Isn’t The Chalice our base?” She asked, trying to remember if they’d ever touched the topic before. Selorien sighed at her side, while Ascalon spoke up.
“Yes, The Chalice is our current meeting place—but what about a more proper, grandiose establishment?!” Ascalon’s voice was brimming with enthusiasm, causing Lilithra and Selorien to be slightly taken aback by his words. Selorien crossed his arms, thinking briefly about the matter before replying.
“Yeah, it would be cool… plus, you gotta think about the future, Lil.” Selorien chimed in, garnering the group’s attention. “If we grow in numbers, it’s gonna be a hassle for Raphael, too.” The elf added, his words ringing with truth.
If they were to increase their Guildmembers, it would be harder to accommodate them within The Chalice, since the main hall had to be used for proper customers rather than Guild meetings. Lilithra was likely aware of this too as she frowned, deep in thought. She looked conflicted, which was to be expected.
“But… I like that Uncle joins in on our conversations… He always has good ideas and stuff…” She replied in a dejected tone, her gaze dropping to the ground. Ascalon let out a thoughftull ‘hmm’ as he pondered over her words. Fun chatting aside, Raphael’s counsel proved to be quite good, so it would indeed be beneficial for him to join their future Guild meetings—if time allowed him.
“I know he would be glad to offer his advice—but having him travel to meet us would indeed be an inconvenience for him.” Ascalon stated as he nodded, acknowledging the predicament. Then, Selorien jolted in place, his face flashing a grin of realization.
“Oh wait! I have a solution for that!” He declared proudly as he raised both his arms with enthusiasm, his excessive energy causing both Ascalon and Lilithra to look at him in astonishment. “Let me present to you… my second advanced class skill!” The elf continued, tracing the air with his fingers in an exaggerated manner and prompting a blue screen to appear before his friends.
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Lilithra gasped in awe while Ascalon narrowed his eye as both read the skill description. That was an incredibly powerful skill, even if it didn’t help in combat situations. Ascalon was especially struck with disbelief, as even the most powerful mages back in Excadia couldn’t maintain a permanent portal without actively channeling their magic into it.
But that wasn’t all that impressed him, as his military mind raced with strategic thoughts. A rogue that could infiltrate enemy lines and set a gateway right at the heart of their camp could result in a devastating offensive. It could also be used to place an instantaneous escape route for allies by being just at the edge of the battlefield.
And the fact that the rogue would only need to not engage in combat for the skill to work—aside from the limitation of having to visit both places—was just too powerful for a ‘class’ that could simply vanish into the shadows at will. Ascalon was just completely mesmerized by the ‘Nocturnus Crossing’ and its potential usage.
“I am at a loss for words.” The knight said in a soft voice, followed by a deep sigh and a content smile. “You may envy Lilithra’s stats—but you are by no means lagging behind!” Ascalon added cheerfully, causing Selorien’s expression to soften. He was visibly moved by the knight’s words—perhaps he had needed to hear that.
“It’s amazing! bonkers! Incredible!” Lilithra suddenly blurted out a myriad of words, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and her tone brimming with sincere glee. “How come you get the bestest, coolest skills ever?!” She added as she looked over at the screen again, her enthusiasm radiating wildly.
Selorien chuckled as he recomposed himself, his cheerful but carefree attitude returning. “Imagine when I complete the damn promotion quest!” The elf declared, puffing out his chest. Lilithra jumped in place, likely picturing some other amazing skills Selorien could unlock next.
Just then, Ragna passed by, a conflicted smile on his face. “I see you guys are having fun, eh?! Glad to see it, glad to see it!” He began with a cheery voice. “But please don’t neglect your duties!” Ragna added playfully, but sternly, causing Lilithra to calm herself down, her cheeks reddening.
“S-sorry, I got too excited about something… we’ll do a better job, I promise!” Lilithra exclaimed with confidence, though her blushing made it less convincing. Still, Ragna chuckled as he waved with his hand.
“Oh, don’t worry! Sorry if that came out too harsh—we’ve had terrible luck with escorts before, so I’m just too on edge!” He admitted, sighing as he walked away, his small but robust frame disappearing into Irwin’s tent. Selorien rested a hand on his waist, the other on his chin, and spoke up.
“They sure have been putting us under pressure with these remarks, huh?” The elf pondered, closing his eyes and letting out an irritated ‘hmm’. Ascalon nodded in silence, his gaze set on the tent, while Lilithra replied.
“I mean, if they’ve had terrible guards we can’t really blame them.” She said with a half-smile, shrugging. “Also! He’s right! We shouldn’t be getting distracted or carried away by shiny, astoundingly exciting skills!” Lilithra giggled, and her friends joined her. Then, she looked pensive for a moment, her eyes flashing with mischief.
“Say… why not use it now?” Lilithra suggested with a bold smile, her mind concocting a plan. “Like, set up an escape route just in case!” She clenched her fists and raised them below her chin in a pumped-up manner, causing Selorien to raise an eyebrow at her proposal.
“Hey… that’s a great idea…” The elf considered as he grinned, though it was short-lived. “I should’ve used it back at New Lumingard… damn it!” He complained as he realized. “Ah, but three hours… yeah, no.” Selorien mumbled to himself, likely considering the time limit on his skill.
“Anyway! I’ll set it around… here!” The elf declared as he walked over to the side of Irwin’s tent. He then crouched and placed a hand on the ground, whispering the skill’s name because it was the cool thing to do. “Nocturnus Crossing." He mused under his friends admiring stares.
The ground beneath his hand began to take a black color, as if it were being surrounded by deep, dark shadows. The mass of void-like appearance swirled slightly as he stood up.
“Alright! I’m going for a stroll…!” Selorien joked as he walked away, waving back at his friends.
“Be careful!” Lilithra exclaimed behind him, her lips curling up into a soft grin. “Selorien is really cool, isn’t he?” She asked the knight, who nodded firmly.
“Yes, he is remarkable.” Ascalon added as he beamed at the elf’s leaving figure. Though he was biased, and Selorien certainly had his ups and downs, Ascalon truly believed he was an astounding ally, and a great friend.
Lilithra looked up at the knight with a warm gaze, her cheeks still flushed. “You’re way cooler though…” She whispered quietly, shifting shyly in place. Most likely, she thought Ascalon wouldn’t hear her. But he did, and was feeling a bit bashful.
It wasn’t the first time he had heard her praise him, but somehow his chest felt hot. He could feel his heartbeat quicken, but tried to calm it down by exhaling deeply. It was no time to be flustered by his friend’s compliments! Clearing his throat, he looked down at her.
“Shall we scout the area once more?” He suggested, causing Lilithra to beam at him.
“Yeah! Let’s make sure no critters are prowling about!” She giggled, rubbing her hands together. The sight of her mischievous face made Ascalon’s chest feel tight, and both strolled the area surrounding the camp once more, making sure not to stray too far.
Everything was being really calm and uneventful—perhaps, the researching expedition would continue on without a hitch!