I have been sort of rude to the people who have fought alongside us. Besides, asking questions is safer in terms of the agreement. And while watching a more complex ritual being drawn is kind of interesting, even to the children, whom we have let join us, it is necessary to do something else to cut off more of the scholar’s question. As imperfectly as that works.

RC: Who made these platforms?

P: I have made them.

RC: How did you get that ability? Racial or essence, which awakening stone?

P: I have made them with the first ability I derived from my confluence essence. Hence no awakening stone was used.

P: How in detail did you come to the decision that splitting your group was necessary?

DT: We had wrecked our second skimmer by an accident. Then we stumbled on an enemy scout.

KN: Could you begin your account at an earlier time? It is unclear to me what had triggered your mission.

RP: You need to begin at Bahadir’s contest.

DT: Right. So, a few years ago a professional treasure hunter held a contest to retrieve a relic from an astral space located under the lake. He attacted over a hundred adventurers who spent a lot of money here. After they, the Adventure Society and Bahadir’s people left, bandits moved in.

P: Does this sequence of events imply that the lawless elements operating in this area are doing so only temporarily and had to anticipate the eventual reaction of which you are a part?

DT: We have no solid evidence either way, but we are assuming that.

KN: Please allow me time to consider the implications of what you just stated.

RC: Please step into the circle holding the awakening stone and the token in either hand. Take care to not step on the lines.

Karolína deeply lost in thought I do the translation. Both the token and the stone dissolve.

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PN: Holy cow. This is a major one.

His body begins to shine.

PN: That is new.

P: It happens with humans when they get an essence.

RC: This is an evolution of a racial gift.

P: This is the change that is supposed to let you access skill books.

L: Screw this, I am not going to be the only one left out.

L: Are you willing to extend the deal?

P: Scholar Clouns, we need to request your repeating the feat which you just performed.

I hand her the awakening stone.

KN: How in details did you follow the trail of the hostile spy?

DT: One of our number – Rod Geller, the younger one – has a tracking power. So we followed the trace of the skimmer that had delivered the scout.

P: Why has your assessment that this trace was not designed to lead you to a trap changed to a conviction that your team members have run nto a trap by following the trace?

RP: Because you do not capture a Geller team without extensive preparations. They are that good.

KN: Are an individuals’s essence abilities a matter of public record?

RP: No, not at all. For most adventurers the Magic Society has a record, but that is confidentional.

DT: Shit!

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We have inofficially decided that this will be a long night. And I have decided that we need to get stronger. That means giving up awakening stones. At this stage I wonder whether I will ever sit on a tropical beach with tasty beverages, bad books and pretty girls.

Yes, we could go to a big city. A thought that people fleeing from the bandits will share. No, thank you. Nor will I squander the goodwill I get from adventurers. Even more so, if they belong to important families.

Scholar Clouns is happy with a promise that tomorrow we will let him observe and record our abilities he has been awakening. I have conjured a second platform for rituals under his close observation. Right now he is closely observing Stjepan setting up a ritual for a stone Lidija has looted from the elementals. That has the advantage that he cannot ask questions due to the language barrier.

KN: You mentioned that we may use skills and knowledge we have brought hither.

GP: I am working on a skill booklet with the exact terms. Expect it at noon tomorrow.

KN: That will be helpful. I consider it my duty to do against an epidemic whatever I can do to fight it. I just wish I had more equipment.

I hold my antennae closer to my skin.

P: Have I mentioned that I am carrying the results of plundering a pharmacy with my storage power?