I twitched a smile at Lakshmi’s anger.
“Alright, that’s fair.”
Mother came out of the engine room, looking considerably the worse for wear. She leaned against the wall.
“Lilyanna, dear.” She said wearily. “I think this old woman is about all adventured out! Would you be a sweetheart and take us home?”
I laughed. “I would be happy to, mother.”
Lakshmi protested angrily. “Wait a minute! What about the Sparrowhawk?! We can’t just leave her here! What if somebody steals her!?”
I stared at her blankly. “Lakshmi, we’re in the middle of the Sand Sea. Daniyel says nobody comes here.”
Lakshmi pointed angrily up at the strange black dome. “What about them!? What if whoever lives there takes her!?”
Soriya smiled, and pulled out Diaboli, hoisting the gun onto her shoulder. “Then we’ll politely ask them to give it back.” She said, smirking.
“Her!” Lakshmi said heatedly. “Sparrowhawk is a her, not an it!”
Eshaan stepped between the two feuding women, thus proving he truly did have no brain.
“Now, now. Ladies, let’s not fight-”
Lakshmi and Soriya spun on him and shouted “You stay out of this!” in unison.
I ignored the argument and walked over to Daniyel. “Lakshmi makes a good point though. Is this a building? Is there any history of anyone living in this wasteland?”
Daniyel shook his head. “There are legends, of course. The ruins of the Ancients are in every corner of every land. But I sense no animosity here.” He frowned. “But more importantly…”
He walked over to the open hatch, extended into the sand lapping against its sides like a small dock. He pointed down. “While the Sparrowhawk will float on the sea, we do not have sandshoes, and we will not.”
He demonstrated by stepping down into the swirling dust of the sand sea. He immediately sank up to his knees. He laboriously climbed free, stepping back onto the Sparrowhawk’s extended hatch.
“We must leave, regardless of whether or not there is anyone to object to our parking the Sparrowhawk.” He said calmly. Turning to Lakshmi, he added “We will return soon, with the materials to effect repairs.”
Lakshmi scowled, crossing her arms, but the point had been made.
I summoned Gate at the end of the Sparrowhawk’s hatch, and we stepped from the Sand Sea to Breezewood in a blink.
***
Gate blinked out of existence, leaving the Sparrowhawk rocking gently on the slowly rolling waves of the Sand Sea.
For some time, nothing happened. Then ground trembled, and a trickle of sand shifted from the base of the black dome far overhead, tumbling down into the swirling ‘waves’ of the sea.
***
Back home in Breezewood once more, I let out a contented sigh. “Oh it’s so very good to be home!” I said.
Mother hugged me, and rubbed my head. “I’m glad to have you home as well. But where will you go now?”
I blinked at her in surprise. “You’re not going to make a fuss?”
Holly wiped at her eyes, and smiled at me. “Dear, I’ve made my peace. You won’t stay until you’ve settled that itch inside you, that much is clear. And regardless of what I want, I hardly think I could stop you.” She sighed. “And while it was nice to stretch my adventuring legs, and the extra levels I picked up from chasing after you, I don’t think I’ve got much more in me.” She drew me into another hug. “You have my blessing. I just want to know where you’re going. And maybe… come back to visit me, and let me know you’re still alive?”
I smiled and hugged her back. “I will mother, I promise. I’m sorry I’m being so selfish.”
Holly laughed. “No you’re not. But it’s sweet of you to say so.” She patted my head again. “Now. I think a bath is in order.” She turned to look at the rest of the group. “For all of us, I think! And after, you can decide where to go.”
“We’re repairing the Sparrowhawk, of course!” Lakshmi piped up.
“We can’t do that without materials. And we need to buy those. Speaking of which, how did we do at the shop Eshaan?”
“Oh!” Eshaan blushed, and pulled out a wad of bills from his pouch. “Really well! The prices things sell for at the capital are amazing!”
Daniyel chuckled. “And the prices of food and lodging are equally amazing.”
Soriya clapped her hands together. “Oh! Oh oh! That reminds me!” She spun around to me. “Lily, they have burgers!” She pulled out a severely mangled paper packet and presented it proudly to me. “They call them Spyrals, but they’re hamburgers!”
I looked down at it doubtfully, then up at her.
“Ok, well, this one is a loss, but I told you! I told you that greasy street food is a constant of the multiverse!”
I blinked, faintly recalling her earlier comment. I took the packet from her and unwrapped it, feeling a very faint smile float across my lips as I saw the smashed remains of what was obviously a cheap hamburger. I looked back up at her, my smile growing.
“So it is.” I said softly, a pang of homesickness stabbing at my heart. I lifted it to my mouth and took a bite, feeling an odd sort of comfort knowing there were hamburgers in this world too.
Eshaan blinked in concern. “Lily? Lily are you ok?! You’re crying?! What’s wrong?!”
I sniffled, and wiped my nose, shaking my head. “Nothing, really. I’ve just… really missed this. Thank you for coming to get me.”
Eshaan turned pink, and rubbed the back of his head. “Ah heh. I really didn’t do much at all. It was more princ… Lakshmi. She was the one who came up with the plan.”
I blinked. Lakshmi did? But Eshaan’s the hero. Wasn’t he supposed to become competent when I got kidnapped and organize the whole thing?
Lakshmi bounced up to me. “I told you I could be useful!”
I turned to her, frowning in puzzlement. Did she… actually-?
“I’m sorry that the Sparrowhawk crashed.” Lakshmi’s face fell, but then brightened slightly.
“It’s ok. This one didn’t catch fire! Or explode! I was actually inspired by some of the things you did on the Pelican…” She started to explain, and I shook my head.
“Let’s just… get a bath. And some clothes.” I said. I sighed. “I suppose now I understand why adventurers like clothes woven with Runes. I have ruined two perfectly good dresses now.”
Eshaan hefted a small bag in his hand. “Well, the good news is we got some pretty good prices for the monster drops at the Spyre shops! I can buy you a new dress!”
Soriya lifted an eyebrow. “You’re awfully free with our money there, Eshaan.”
Eshaan immediately ducked his head. “Sorry, yes, of course it’s everyone’s money.”
“That reminds me.” I said. “We should try to make sure that Priya and Devdan made it to Spyre safely.”
Lakshmi tipped her head to the side. “They should have. The airship we were riding wasn’t crippled.”
Soriya shook her head. “How would we find them?”
Mother clapped her hands. “Alright, that’s enough chattering, baths now!” I smiled and nodded in agreement. Mother and I darted inside my home to pick up fresh clothes, and mother took the opportunity to give me a quick hug.
“I’m so proud of you, Lilyanna! Making trouble for those in power! And I leveled so much on your little adventure!” She posed proudly. “I’m level 25 now!”
I gaped at her in shock. Mother’s higher level than me again?! How… I shook my head and hugged her back. “I’m happy for you. I reached level 23.”
Mother nodded in satisfaction. “I had firmly decided my adventuring days were behind me, but you brought me out of retirement.” She sighed. “I still want to come with you, but I think… you made your case. Your friends showed me how competent they are, and you did very well on your own.” She shook her finger sternly at me. “Try to be kidnapped less often! You should have seen the state your boyfriend was in!” She tapped me on the nose. “Good kiss though, I approve.”
I flushed scarlet and ducked my head. “Motheeeer!” I moaned at her in annoyance.
Mother laughed cheerfully. “Oh do go on, you’ll understand someday when you have a daughter of your own.”
I rushed up to my room, cheeks burning and hurriedly pulled on one of my older dresses. It was already a little too short and too tight, but it wasn’t like I was spoiled for choice!
I rushed back downstairs, and felt my blush returning as Eshaan’s eyes locked on my chest. Soriya’s giggles did not help.
Definitely too tight! I muttered to myself. I grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind me, desperately pretending this was all fine. “Come on, lets go! I am so looking forward to this!”
We headed to the baths and proceeded to get clean. Afterwards, we gathered in one of the small meeting rooms at the bath. It was a relief to be wearing the simple robes the bathhouse provided, and it was more of a relief to finally be clean again!
Mother excused herself saying she would go and buy me a dress that fit, then left us to our plotting. Such as it was.
“So, what do we know?” Soriya asked, sipping at a cold beverage.
We looked at each other silently for a moment. I shrugged mentally. Somehow the healer girl is the leader? How did we get here…?
I didn’t much like the answer, obvious though it was. On the other hand, I liked the idea of following Eshaan’s lead much less. It might be heroic, but his viewpoint tended to be headfirst through the brick walls that the plot threw at him.
Maybe I can do something less headstrong? I thought hopefully. Right. I chided myself. Like getting kidnapped three times and losing control of the plot to my evil shadowclone. That’s totally less headstrong than following Eshaan.
“Well, lets start with what I learned as the Saintess.” I said, setting down my empty bottle.
“Firstly, all three of the shadows from the Cavern of Trials are present in the Spyre, and the shadow me is apparently angling to get close to the Imperial throne.”
Lakshmi blinked. “What the what? What’s this?”
I tipped my head to the side. “Didn’t I explain this?”
“No.” She frowned.
“Oh.” I took a moment to catch Lakshmi up on what had happened.
“Ok, so you’re saying that an evil Lily is trying to cozy up to my father?!” She summarized.
“While seeking godhood from the Ancient artifact that they used to test me for sainthood, yes.”
Lakshmi frowned. “Well she won’t get it that way! The artifact is wildly unbalanced when it’s just you touching it, there’s something it’s missing, like half a power core. By rights it shouldn’t have had the fancy light show at all!”
I coughed, feeling myself blush, and said quietly. “Actually… shadow me is a boy.”
Eshaan’s eyes went wide, and then narrowed. He let out a long “Ooooh.” Of comprehension.
Lakshmi blinked. “So these things are opposite in gender too? Soriya’s is a boy and Eshaan’s is a girl?”
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Eshaan said “Actually, only Lily’s is opposite. But who can say why the Ancient’s do things the way they do! What’s more important is what it’s doing!”
I gave Eshaan what felt like a pathetically grateful look and nodded firmly.
Soriya spoked up. “I have something to add there. My opposite cornered me in the crowd, and at my presentation. Extremely unpleasant bitch, and I wish her all the worst. But what was more concerning, the shadows seem to be hard counters to each of us. I couldn’t cast when shadowme was pinning me down, and the shadow Eshaan I saw in the crowd was some kind of technology guru, he shut down the artifact when it started to run rampant. I imagine this… Deacon… had something similar to Lily?” She looked at me questioningly.
I frowned, tapping my lips in thought. “I can’t be sure, but that would definitely explain why I couldn’t seem to get anyone to listen to me, even with a {Persuade}. And… come to think of it, whenever he was around, it started seeming utterly hopeless to use any magic at all.”
Lakshmi huffed and crossed her arms. “Well that doesn’t make any sense at all! If this guy is you’re opposite, shouldn’t he be all crass and rude and nothing but a musclehead?”
I blinked. Soriya snorted a laugh and Eshaan chuckled.
“She’s got a point, Lily.” Said Eshaan, his eyes bright with repressed laughter. “That does sound more like someone who’s your opposite.”
Soriya gave another giggle, then sobered. “While that’s funny, that’s not quite what I think the Cavern of Trials was set up to do. Our shadows aren’t really our opposites, they’re dark mirrors of us. Who we might have become, who we wished we were, all twisted and jumbled. They’re supposed to show us our darker emotions and desires, and when we fight them, we gain insight into ourselves.”
Lakshmi scowled. “So the Ancients are as moralizing and preachy as the Church? But with tech?” She shook her head angrily. “What a complete waste of magitech!”
Daniyel said quietly “Not all magitech is designed around flight and freedom, Captain.”
Soriya clapped her hands. “Alright, back on topic! Shadow Lily is seeking godhood, and is worming his way closer to the throne for that purpose!”
Lakshmi scowled again. “He can have my stupid brother for all I care, but I don’t think daddy deserves that.”
“We have an unexpected ally in that front.” I said. Everyone looked at me curiously. “Our friend, Commander Khine. He is convinced that a faction of the church is somehow wrapped up in his rebellion. Part of his payment for turning me over was that he could comb the church records looking for the rebellion, ask for favors from the church.” I spread my hands. “So I don’t think he’ll look kindly on Deacon getting close to the throne.”
Soriya was quiet for a moment, then said “I don’t suppose-”
Lakshmi cut her off with a hard slice of her hand. “I already know what you want to say. No. I’m not going back! I can’t!”
I raised my eyebrows. “Can’t or won’t?”
“Can’t!”
Daniyel cleared his throat, and Lakshmi shot him a look that was pure poison. He looked at her gravely, then said “The princess could return, she vastly overestimates her father’s anger. But it would be extremely awkward, and severely curtail her other activities.”
Eshaan frowned in confusion. “But what about all those other festivities at the inventor’s thing? Aren’t you supposed to give a lot of speeches and deliver awards?”
Lakshmi’s look got even blacker, and she growled “Yes. And she will. Father will just trot out someone who has a passing resemblance to me and have her do it.”
“Oh!” I clapped my hands together. “Like a body double!?”
Lakshmi blinked and then said “Well, yes. Just like that.” She shook her head. “Anyway, it’s a pointless task, ceremonial bullshit. That’s most of what I’ve done for the past 10 years!”
We were silent for a bit, then I said “So it seems that we don’t really have a good ‘in’ to the palace. Which is troubling, because shadowme is making moves there.” I pointed at Lakshmi. “But on the bright side, it seems that shadowme is missing a critical piece of the puzzle, since you said that the artifact needs another source. Another Saintess?”
Lakshmi shrugged. “That’s what it felt like, some kind of Dark Saintess, I guess?”
Soriya nodded. “Well, right now they’re missing both. So whatever plans Shadow Lily is working on has been foiled for now. Though we can expect the church to redouble their efforts now that they know that their Saintess is real and what she looks like.”
Eshaan tipped his head to the side. “Still, it’s weird how they knew what they knew. I’ve seen those posters in adventurer’s guild halls for several years now, they came out way before I ever met you two in the Cavern of Trials.”
I exchanged a troubled look with Soriya. “We’ll have to set that aside for now. Troubling issues. We can assume that the church will be actively pursuing us though.” I sighed. “I guess we get to fight paladins now.”
Daniyel seemed to perk up. “Truly? I haven often wished to test my might against those who take the noble orders. They are said to be fearsome warriors!”
Soriya rolled her eyes and lightly whapped Daniyel on the shoulder. “The point is not to fight them, remember! Not to die gloriously!”
Daniyel’s voice was affronted. “I would not die!” He protested. “My skills are much better than the paladins’!”
I cleared my throat. “Please, I’m begging you, please do not succumb to testosterone poisoning.”
He frowned. “What poison is this?”
Soriya laughed. “A disease targeting exclusively males. It gives them urges to do stupid things like fighting an entire battalion of soldiers because it will show how tough they are.”
Eshaan’s eyes lit up. “I could do that!” He flexed his arm. “After all the levels I’ve gained-”
I put my fingers on Eshaan’s lips. “Eshaan, please be quiet. That’s exactly what Soriya was talking about. We do not need to fight them.” I paused, then said curiously “Could you really?”
Eshaan nodded eagerly; his eyes bright. “Yeah! I got so many levels from helping to rescue you! I’m level 23 now!”
Daniyel nodded gravely. “A worthy achievement indeed. I also have reached level 23.”
Lakshmi blinked. “That’s funny, I’m level 23 too.”
I felt a slow smiled creep across my face, and looked at Soriya questioningly. She smiled and nodded.
“Yes, I think we’re all the same level now.” Soriya said. “Doubtless the harmonic forces of the WorldLines we’re following are at play.”
Or it’s just that part of the story, where we’ve finally gotten everyone together. Or maybe that’s exactly what she said in plain people speak? I furrowed my brow thoughtfully. Though shouldn’t we have six? Is mother… no she’s level 24, that’s clearly a mentor figure. Eideth, maybe…? Maybe it really is just five of us then? Still, that tells me what we ‘should’ be focused on.
All the talk of levels reminded me, I hadn’t looked at my status screen in a while now. I focused on myself, using {Study}.
{Name}: Lilyanna of Breezewood {Level}: 23
{Classes}: Spiritist 10/Orator 5/Arcanist 6/Gourmet 2
HP: 536 MP: 766 DEF: 86 M.DEF: 129
Current Status:
DEX: 86 INS: 129
MIG: 86 WIL: 129
Skills: Healing Power, Aura, Awaken, Barrier, Cleanse, Heal, Lux, Mercy, Reinforce, Holy White, Bonds of Friendship, Encourage 1, My Trust in You 2, Persuade 2, Bind & Summon, Arcane Circle 3, Arcane Regeneration 2, Cooking 2
Special: Ætherborn, Keybearer, Heretic Saintess, Air Pirate
I found myself twitching a smile at the Specials and found myself wondering if the WorldSoul had some kind of sense of humor or not. It’s not like the numbers seem to mean anything… well, aside from being able to still live after getting hit with gunfire, I guess! But it’s… kind of cool to see how far I’ve grown. And the new powers I have.
“So, it seems that our best course of action is seeking out the locations of the other Arcaum, the voices of the System? So we can keep them out of the hands of the church and stop them from falling into the hands of my evil double. That should stall his plans, and that will allow us to work around shadowme, and eventually defeat him.”
Soriya immediately nodded. “Yes, that sounds right to me.”
Eshaan scratched at the back of his head. “I dunno, it seems like we’d want to stop your shadowself first? Maybe we can find a way to contact Commander Khine…” he trailed off under the glare from Soriya and myself. “Maybe not.” He said quietly.
Lakshmi shook her head. “The first thing we have to do is repair the Sparrowhawk!” She declared.
I smiled. “Well it certainly is hard to go new places if we don’t have a ride! And maybe we can get some kind of good deal from Devdan and Priya.”
Soriya said “Is a new focus crystal for the drive expensive?”
Lakshmi’s shoulders slumped. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
I shook my head. “That’s not a problem. Money we can do. It’s just a little grinding, and then travel between cities. That’s easy!”
Eshaan looked up, suddenly smiling. “That’s right! You can travel with Gate! We can sell your mother’s potions, make a profit, sell things from Spyre to Farna…”
Soriya said “Daniyel, are there monsters in the Sand Sea that might be worth something?”
Daniyel slowly raised his eyebrows. “I believe there may well be. We would need a pair of sandshoes for each of us, but that is hardly a difficulty.”
“Well, there we go then!” Soriya nodded. “That’s our plan! Make a lot of money and buy sandshoes, new gear, and a focus crystal!”
“And keep a low profile.” I added.
Soriya tipped her head to the side. “Are you going to try dying your hair again?”
I sighed and shook my head. “I suppose I could, but I don’t really think it will work. It’s probably hoods and kerchiefs for me from now on.” I looked over at Lakshmi. “Lakshmi, do you want us to dye your hair? It’s not as nice as that locket you had, but…?”
Lakshmi thought about it, then slowly nodded. “Actually… yes. I’d like that. The WorldSoul tells me that I’m a Pilot now. I think…” she nodded again, clenching her fist. “I think this is what I want to do. No, I know this is what I want to do. ‘Real’ pirates might not be very nice… but I’m going to be an Air Pirate! Searching for lost treasures of the Ancients sounds… exactly right!”
She slugged down her drink and slammed the bottle onto the table. A very enthusiastic gesture for a bottle of milk tea I thought.
***
We spent the next two weeks slowly accumulating money. Devdan and Priya had indeed settled in Spyre, and were making a go of it in the mid-levels of the city. To my pleasure, it seemed they were doing fairly well… though Priya whined about not being able to attend the noble parties.
Most amusingly, the fact that the transport which was supposed to have been sunk, instead arrived (if a bit battered) in port, seemed to have caused a commotion in the markets. Good deals were to be had on all manner of ‘surplus’ imperial weapons and gear. I gleefully picked up the staff that I had been eyeing lustfully on the transport as well as a very nice upgraded Sage’s Robe. Sadly, it still behaved exactly the same, and I was once more clad in the blindingly obvious red and white of a healer mage. I noted it had a slightly different pattern this time though. It seemed the robe was reacting to my levels in Arcanist. I idly wondered if it would grow an apron if I continued to level up Gourmet.
Daniyel, Lakshmi, & Eshaan all found good equipment that satisfied them, though Eshaan insisted on keeping the sword that I’d bought for him back in Leshan. Soriya seemed more than content with her strange fusion of Diaboli and what I was slowly starting to suspect was her version of the magic crystal of special plotness.
As expected, Soriya’s hair dye refused to stay in my hair, fading entirely away overnight. Lakshmi’s hair on the other hand came out very well. She kept a single streak of red, but the rest of her hair made a lovely ebony black.
“It will still need to be redone to keep your roots dark.” Soriya cautioned. “It’s not like your old locket.”
“Well it’s not like I have access to the Imperial mages to make another one for me, now is it?” Lakshmi said wryly, examining her hair in the mirror. “I like it. And I’ve learned it’s important to work for things you want.” She nodded at her reflection.
That was interesting… she seemed a lot more determined and self-confident after organizing my rescue.
In between trade runs, I took a moment to talk with Soriya.
“You know you’re probably the other half of the missing whatever for the artifact, right?”
Soriya nodded. “Oh yes, that’s obvious.” She grinned. “It’s actually kind of exciting, I’m a secret plot girl!”
I sighed. “Well, I wish I could be a secret plot girl too, but apparently pink hair has a price.”
Soriya gave me a sympathetic hug. “Don’t worry Lily, we’re on the main plot now!”
“I don’t really know how though?” I said. “How are we even supposed to find these other Arcana? The ones I picked up stubbornly refuse to talk!”
Soriya grinned and tapped her nose. “Trust a witch! I’ve got a great idea for a ritual.”
I smiled at her enthusiasm. It was hard not to feel energetic and optimistic when I was around her.
We didn’t get around to buying sandshoes until after we’d purchased the focus crystal. The trade runs and monster drops in the places we’d already visited (even the sewers… ugh!) turned out to be quite profitable. Devdan was over the moon with us as regular trading partners, he said he was making all kinds of contacts with the exotic materials we got him. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but I knew it made us money. That, combined with “rare” and “exotic” goods from the far edges of the empire (Farna and Breezewood) meant that we had plenty of cash in short order.
We bought our improvised sandshoes from Devdan, and made final preparations to head back to the Sand Sea and start the repair of Sparrowhawk.
***
Gate opened and deposited us into the burning heat of the Sand Sea. Soriya and I had prepared with the temperature control ritual, but we could still feel the ominous heat beating down on us. However, we were faced with a more immediate problem.
“Where the hell is my ship!?” Lakshmi yelled.
“Forget the ship, what the heck is this thing?!” Eshaan pointed to an enormous black hemisphere that towered over us, sparkling in the sun.
Daniyel looked over at me. “Miss Lilyanna, are you sure this is the same place we left from?”
I nodded dumbly, staring up at the enormous impossible dome of utter blackness that towered over us.
“WHERE IS THE SPARROWHAWK?!” Lakshmi shouted at the top of her lungs, kicking up a drift of sand, and promptly sinking to her knees as her sandshoes were swamped.
“You promised the sparrowhawk would be safe! YOU PROMISED ME!” She shrieked, struggling in the drift of sand.
Daniyel reached down and lifted her bodily out of the sand sea with one smooth motion.
He crouched down, bowing his head to Lakshmi. “Princess, I have failed you, I am most terribly sorry. Take my life in apology.”
I shivered all over realizing he was genuinely serious! I hurriedly trudged over to them. “No! Nobody is killing anybody today! No murdering party members or noble sacrifices!”
“MY SHIP!” Lakshimi shouted into my face.
Eshaan rapped his knuckles against the black surface, and then yanked them back, hissing in pain.
Soriya laughed at him. “Well that was dumb, what did you expect! Pitch black and soaking in the desert sun?!”
“It’s cold!” Eshaan said.
That got our {Loremaster}’s attention. “It’s what?!” Said Soriya and Lakshmi in unison. They hurriedly sloshed over to the edge of the hemisphere and peered at it, poking it gingerly.
“It is!” Lakshmi gasped in shock. “How can it be cold, it’s in the middle of the desert?!” She pulled out a small gadget from her belt and started waving it slowly around the surface.
“Incredible…!” Soriya leaned over, and started casting small spells at the sphere. She suddenly stood up and turned to us. “Incredible! The surface… it’s a perfect absorber of energy!”
I looked up at the perfectly black sphere next to us. “It’s… a capacitor? It’s storing the heat energy?”
“Not just heat energy!” Lakshmi’s face was animated and she was waving her arms in excitement. “All energy! The spells Soriya cast should have left traces… but now that I’m looking-“ She waved the small gadget in her hand “-there’s no traces of natural accumulation of mana! It’s as though this structure is siphoning everything into it! The amount of energy is must contain is… incredible! What could possible use so much energy?!”
Daniyel frowned. “Of greater concern.” He pointed a patch the size and shape of a doorway at the edge of the sphere, which was slowly lowering downwards into the sand. “What… or who… is inside that wishes us to visit? And should we accept their offer?”
Soriya and I shared one brief glance and then said in unison “We go in, of course!”
Eshaan gave me a sappy grin, and said “You know this is why I love you, right?”
I felt the blush on my cheeks spread to my entire body, my scalp tingling with the heat of my embarrassment.
“Alright, alright, enough with the kissyface, lets go!” Lakshmi grabbed Daniyel’s hand and hauled him into the opening, pointedly ignoring Eshaan and me. Soriya sauntered along behind them, an unbearably smug look on her face.
Eshaan offered his hand to me, and after a long moment, I swallowed and took it. I did kiss him after all… I thought.
We followed after the others, the dark doorway swallowing us. The air inside was immediately cooler. Noticeably so, but oddly not painfully cold as I had half expected. It was just… a well air conditioned space. It was also vast. Entering the doorway, we found ourselves looking out into a hollow sphere, easily two kilometers across, filled with what looked like glowing fireflies spread out below us. We were standing in a broad entrance room, with a railing at the edge, which looked out into a cavern spread out below us, filled with row upon row of terraces filled with buildings. Filling the middle of the sphere, spiraling in delicate filigrees of light, were a glittering spiderweb of what appeared to be walkways that touched down in every part of the sphere.
Soriya said softly, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the sight. “Next dungeon it is… good leadership, Saintess.”