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Chapter 596 Common Adventurers
🕑 Added 2020-11-10 11:16:39 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hey there. New chapters up and more hopefully on Tuesday.
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Author's note: Hey there. New chapters up and more hopefully on Saturday. Do let me know what you think :).
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Chapter 596 Common Adventurers
“I take it this Meadow is quite powerful?” Aki asked.
Ilea calmed down, still grinning at the elf. “You can fake confidence, that much I give you. Meadow is like a literal god. Far beyond anything anyone I know could fight. Well someone might but that’s beside the point.”
“Wait, you know someone who can fight that tree?” Feyrair asked suddenly.
She smirked. “Ah but were you not evenly matched?”
The elf paused briefly before his fake pride apparently won out against his curiosity. “Of course. You were talking about me.”
“Exactly,” Ilea said. “Who else could be as impressive and powerful as you, dear Feyfey.”
“We agreed on not using that nickname,” he said.
“You’re right. My apologies,” Ilea mused.
Aki made a noise that sounded a little like him clearing his nonexistent throat. “Then I shall await your return, Ilea.”
She could tell the dagger was excited at the prospect of an even stronger body. She understood of course. I’ll have to make sure I’m strong enough to solo an Executioner before we even try this, she thought, squinting her eyes at the machine.
Ilea trusted Aki, despite his nature and potential history. Or even enchantments that would change his mind. Iana had already worked on stabilizing his mind and personality, hopefully they could prevent tampering by an outside source as well. What she didn’t like about him controlling an Executioner was the fact that he would effectively be stronger than her.
And she knew that even the calm and responsible Aki he had become would be teasing her nonstop if he had the capability of beating her in a fight.
“Is something wrong with me?” Aki asked in a teasing voice, tilting his head to the side slightly.
“You’re just a little too excited… is all,” Ilea said, squinting her eyes once more.
Aki chuckled. “Oh but what would make you think that, oh great Lilith. I would surely not abuse the power bestowed upon me by your excellency.”
She nodded very slowly. “Suure.”
“Now leave. I know why Trian called you here. One of my students might be in danger, though I rather pity the fool who trapped him,” Aki said.
Trapped. I hope you’re right, Aki, Ilea thought and smiled. “We’ll make sure we find him. Until next time.”
“I believe I haven’t introduced myself. Feyrair Kaa. Apologies again for the misunderstanding,” Feyrair said and bowed gracefully.
“There is no need to apologize, Feyrair Kaa. Sal… var… nakuun,” Aki said.
The elf stood there silently for a moment before he smiled. “Navii.”
Ilea looked at them with raised eyebrows before she left, the elf in tow. She displaced them through the city until they reached the outermost walls.
She did add anti space magic enchantments into the walls. Nothing better than in the office though, but at least it’s something, she thought and walked towards the nearest gate with Feyrair.
“What did he say there in the end?” she asked.
The elf glanced at her, only his eyes visible due to his concealing armor. “Hmm. What indeed.”
She smiled. “Mysterious, are we?”
“Perhaps a trade would let me share the secret knowledge of the Elven language with an outsider such as yourself,” Fey said.
Ilea looked at him, the two exiting through the city gate. “And what would you suggest is a fair trade for the knowledge of a few Elven words?”
She spread her wings, a few travelers glancing at the duo with interest and awe.
Feyrair did the same, white flame flaring out behind him as he ascended next to her, the two quickly on their way northwards.
“Gate?” he asked.
“No. It’s faster to fly from here,” Ilea said.
“I see. As to the trade… why don’t you tell me who you know that could beat the Meadow?”
Ilea grinned. “Ah so you were that curious after all.”
“Well, I can already beat that tree easily, but it is a powerful being. It’s only natural for me to seek even more dangerous foes,” Feyrair suggested.
“Obviously,” Ilea said. “I’ve met a Fae.”
The elf hissed, his eyes opening wide as he grinned form ear to ear. “Now your Class makes sense… did you meet… you know, a real one?”
“The whole,” Ilea said. “You know about them then?”
“I’ve heard stories. But everyone who interacted with one of them said they were weak and powerless. The only logical conclusion I could come to was that they were illusions, part of a whole, or versed in trickery. But your suggestion that the Fae could fight Meadow makes me think that the respect they garner from ancient Elves isn’t misplaced,” he explained.
“The small ones are just part of a collection of minds. The full things is… well you’ve met the Meadow. It’s a similar experience. Otherworldly. I’m friends with one of the parts and the whole… well it didn’t eat or kill me, so that’s a good sign. But you met a dragon, right?” Ilea said.
Feyrair suddenly looked thoughtful, his hair losing color as he looked forward. “We both met creatures beyond what we thought could exist. Meeting isn’t the best word… it was a random encounter, but you know how I am,” he said and grinned.
“You attacked it immediately,” Ilea suggested.
He grinned. “It must’ve taken a liking to that. Or it had a purpose… maybe it liked my armor, my hair, who knows. I woke up with my body burnt beyond recognition, but alive. And knowing a name I hadn’t known before.”
“Not a very spectacular story,” Ilea said.
“The truth rarely is, isn’t it?” Feyrair said. “But I vowed to find it again. Some day.”
Ilea smiled. “You want to fight it?”
He considered for a moment. “I don’t know. I don’t know if it is possible.”
“With enough time and evolutions, everything is. I’ve fought and killed astral spirits the size of a city and survived. And so can you. A Dragon is just a few steps above that, if at all,” Ilea said. “I’m excited to beat Meadow too, as you should be.”
Feyrair laughed, his contemplative expression gone. “You’re so young… and yet when you say it so simply, I can’t help but believe you. Sure, let’s fight and fight, until we can take on even the ancient horrors slumbering in their lairs and caverns.”
“It’s really not that far fetched. You’re basically a dragon yourself already,” Ilea said. “And I’m getting closer to becoming an Elemental.”
“I’m definitely on the better path there,” Feyrair mused.
Ilea smirked. “Ah I wouldn’t be so sure. Icy was pretty fucking cool. But I’ll reserve my judgment until I’ve met a Dragon myself.”
“You already have,” Fey said, pointing at himself with a confused expression.
“Yeah Icy wins that round. Easily. No contest,” she said.
“I don’t believe you mentioned Icy before,” Fey said.
“It’s a friend of Meadow’s. An Ice Elemental, though it stayed in its own realm. I hope to meet it again someday,” Ilea explained.
The elf hissed. “Of course it is. If anything, I’m glad I have met you, Ilea. Finally someone who can appreciate the finer things in life. It’s so rare to find these traits in a Cerithil Hunters.”
“Because they all die super quickly?” Ilea asked.
“Precisely. The only reason I’m still around is Isalthar,” Feyrair said. “But now I’ve found another healer, and I’ve become quite durable myself, far gone are the offensive Classes I focused on in ages past. Though sometimes I miss the overwhelming power.”
“Not worth it if you die when you’re halved,” Ilea said.
“Easier said than truly understood. Not until you experience getting halved,” Fey mused.
“Try losing your head,” she said. “You didn’t tell me what Aki said yet.”
He smiled. “Sal Var Nakuun… I’d say it means good fortune. To which I replied with Navii, which might mean something along the lines of I respect it, or I respect what you said.”
She rolled her eyes. “Perfectly mundane. Of course it is.”
Ilea looked through the messages still remaining from their stay in the Praetorian facility. The flight to Baralia would take a few hours at least.
‘ding’ ‘Your groups has defeated [Executioner Praetorian – lvl 800]’
…
‘ding’ ‘You have defeated [Hunter Praetorian – lvl 750]’
‘ding’ ‘The Azarinth Sentinel has reached lvl 473 – Five stat points awarded’
...
‘ding’ ‘The Azarinth Sentinel has reached lvl 476 – Five stat points awarded’
‘ding’ ‘Kin of Ash has reached lvl 467 – Five stat points awarded’
…
‘ding’ ‘Kin of Ash has reached lvl 470 – Five stat points awarded – One Core skill point awarded’
‘ding’ ‘The Faen Valkyrie has reached lvl 419 – One stat point awarded’
…
‘ding’ ‘The Faen Valkyrie has reached lvl 425 – One stat point awarded’
‘ding’ ‘Phaseshift reaches 3rd lvl 18’
‘ding’ ‘Phaseshift reaches 3rd lvl 19’
‘ding’ ‘Flare of Creation reaches 3rd lvl 23’
‘ding’ ‘Displacement reaches 3rd lvl 20’
‘ding’ ‘Displacement reaches 3rd lvl 21’
‘ding’ ‘Space Shift reaches 3rd lvl 17’
‘ding’ ‘Body of the Valkyrie reaches 3rd lvl 19’
‘ding’ ‘Body of the Valkyrie reaches 3rd lvl 20’
Compared to her earlier efforts, Ilea downright bathed in the core explosions this time, deactivating her resistances and defenses to get whatever she could for her general skills.
‘ding’ ‘Arcane Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 20’
‘ding’ ‘Blast Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 3’
‘ding’ ‘Blast Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 4’
‘ding’ ‘Heat Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 13’
‘ding’ ‘Heat Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 14’
‘ding’ ‘Void Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 7’
‘ding’ ‘Void Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 8’
Ilea hoped that the Elves wouldn’t find an untimely end, her resistance training deal hadn’t even started after all.
Feyrair was closing in on level four hundred as well, the elf progressing at a frightening speed. She really did wonder if the opportunities simply hadn’t been the same or if he was holding off on leveling to gather achievements and general skills.
The two flew through the plains, the elf agreeing to be pulled by Ilea’s ash due to her faster speed. She did have to insist based on the potential danger one of the Sentinels was in.
Ilea started flying slower when they reached the northern parts of Lys, or what she thought were said parts. Her map helped of course but without any landmarks or Huntress marks to guide her, finding specific settlements wasn’t an easy task.
She landed on a small road she spotted in the distance, flying a few meters above ground until she saw two travelers a few hundred meters ahead. “Keep your armor on,” she said to Feyrair. “And don’t eat the locals.”
“But that’s the only reason why I’m here,” he mused, still a little grumpy at having been carried by ashen limbs. He was the dragon after all.
Ilea did reassure him that his wings would surely get better in time, not talking about how early she had gotten her Ashen ones.
She landed a few meters behind the two men and their donkey pulled cart filled with various bags. Food and drink mostly. “Greetings travelers,” she said, watching the two jump and spin around, the older man drawing a shortsword.
He wore a simple shirt and trousers, barely any hair remaining on his scalp. The younger man seemed to be in his teens, conjuring fire as he took a step back at the sight.
Ilea only had to wait a few seconds for the two to realize they were a little in over their heads when it came to martial power.
“The Specter…,” the older man murmured, his hand shaking before he steeled his resolve.
[Warrior – lvl 24]
[Mage – lvl 30]
Ilea thought it funny that who seemed to be the son had a higher level. She ignored Feyrair as he walked to the mage and inspected the flame with curiosity.
“We’re not here to fight you,” she said. “We’re looking for a place called Samethol. Do you know where that would be?”
“Your control is impressive for that level. You’re not a mere fire mage. Show me what you can do,” Feyrair said and burst out in white flame, teleporting to the side as he gestured for the boy to join him.
“Don’t kill him,” Ilea warned.
The warrior glanced between her, the elf, and the boy. “Samethol is… a town west of here, several day’s travel but you’ll have to turn back to find the road leading into the forest. It’s a dangerous road to travel at night.”
Ilea smiled when she saw the boy muster his courage, sending a few wisps of flame at the monstrous elf. “Do you know the specific distance and direction?”
The man scrunched his brow, turning towards the forest and pointing. “It’s hard to say miss, but I’d say about this way. There is an inn ahead, perhaps you could hire a guide.”
“We’re leaving,” Ilea said. “Thank you,” she added with a glance to the man, summoning a piece of silver.
“You are still frightened of the flames. You must embrace them, as part of what you are. Do so and you will find enlightenment,” Feyrair said as he spread his wings.
“How do I do that?” the boy asked.
“Conquer your fear. That is all that I’ll tell you,” Feyrair said.
“Who are you?” the warrior asked with wide eyes.
“Travelers. Good luck on your way,” Ilea said and spread her own wings, ascending to join the elf.
She heard the mage whisper as he watched her fly away. “Lilith.”
“Lilith,” Fey mimicked the awe inspired word when they were hundreds of meters away, laughing. “You don’t like it? Your name is known to many.”
“I don’t like the attention, no,” Ilea said. “But I guess it can be useful.”
“They were frightened with your name or without,” he said.
“Did you really care about that level thirty mage?” Ilea asked.
He hissed. “You have such interesting ways to develop magic… at such low levels, your possibilities are so versatile. That boy could follow paths never tread before.”
“And what would he have to do to… conquer his fear?” Ilea asked.
He grinned. “Burn down his town, set himself aflame, burn monsters trice his level without fear in his heart. I doubt he has what it takes, but I have been wrong about people before.”
“Wonderful. Ah well, I became a fire mage by burning myself as well. Who knows,” Ilea said.
“But you’re a healer. He doesn’t have that luxury,” Feyrair said.
“Well then he should become one first and try afterwards,” she suggested.
Fey pointed at the distant smoke, the trees here spaced out far more, even terrain making way for large boulders and stone breaking out from beneath grass and roots.
“Becoming a healer isn’t as simple as you think it is,” Fey said, especially for someone with an affinity for fire.
Ilea landed on a dirt road that led towards the rising smoke. She knew from experience that the town wasn’t in flames. They were probably just cooking.
“With the Sentinels, it is,” she said and smiled.
He hissed. “That is your organization then? Though I assume the training isn’t quite that easy.”
“No, it’s hard. But the people who join aren’t random people wanting to be adventurers. It’s nothing compared to what they’ll have to face out in the wilderness,” she said.
“The wilds are the best place to learn, that is true. Though I suppose the knowledge and guidance of more experienced mages and scholars could be beneficial. Not something usually done amongst Elves,” Fey mused.
They walked the rest of the way, seeing the small town in the distance. “You’re given your Classes by the Oracles who make you, right? And diverging afterwards isn’t really a thing?”
“We are. Yes… it’s much harder to diverge, for various reasons. Even amongst Hunters, direct experience is usually preferred to guidance. However after so much time, I can definitely see the merit. Teaching Elves though… especially young ones… that is a task I don’t wish on anyone.”
“You just need to beat them down often enough. I saw Elfie do it,” Ilea said.
“And yet they betrayed us,” Fey said.
Ilea ground her teeth. “Yeah. Not something I expected, that’s for sure. I’ll definitely want to have a word with them.”
Feyrair hissed. “If they’re alive. The domains don’t think highly of Hunters, let alone the Sanvaruun.”
“I saw them. Why would he have waited with killing them?” she asked.
“To gloat? To torture them? Who knows. I don’t know him like Isalthar does,” Feyrair said.
Ilea grunted, the two reaching the low stone wall going around the town of Samethol. Ivy and shrubbery already climbed some of the defensive perimeter, a single man in a brown duster leaning lazily next to the closed iron gate.
He only noticed them when they stopped a few meters away, looking up before he sneezed. “Shadow?”
“Amongst other things,” Ilea said, summoning her badge and throwing it over.
The man fumbled, missing the object before it reappeared in his hand. He did a double take before he righted his hat and cleared his throat. “You may enter.”
Didn’t even look at the badge, Ilea thought.
[Mage – lvl 104]
“Cheers. Where do I find the local guild?” she asked.
“No guild here. But if you’re looking for jobs, check the inn. Haya is the one you’re looking for, can’t miss her,” the man said.
“Big building on the left?” Ilea asked.
He grunted affirmatively and opened the small gate.
Ilea smiled under her armor, changing into simple clothes before she moved her ash to her neck. Feyrair still looked like some kind of high level armored warrior however, but she didn’t particularly care.
“No offense, but that look won’t inspire as much fear and respect,” Fey said when they entered the town proper.
The people around glanced at the newcomers with caution, quickly moving on not to draw attention.
“That’s the point,” Ilea said. “You know, sometimes I just want to feel like a normal person.”
Comments
chumponimys
Pretty sure it was implied that this already happened since Michael voted to bring her into the Lily
Nocturne
I mean, slice of life can have plot too.. yeah, it’s very much action and adventure but it definitely has slice of life feels in between all that
So basically, what I'm getting is that when Ilea becomes a diamond elemental rather than ash, she turns into a 3 inch pixie?
Lommel
Ash is the residue *after complete combustion* (to quote from a definition) - no noticeable amounts of carbon left usually. Okay - what you get as ash it very much depends on what you try to burn and the conditions (temperature, enough oxygen), but if there is any carbon left it's traces. I guess you confuse ash with soot, which is the (undesirable) result of incomplete combustion. Which brings up another point: Ilea's ash constructs, like her armor, would be gray - basically, stone - not black. Yes, Ilea is throwing around stone spears and balls and has stone armor. Or a gemstone. It really varies quite greatly because what you burn and how determines the outcome. So we cannot say for sure what's in Ilea's ash - but carbon is the rarest component in ash. Human ashes to diamond cremation services exist, but the result is not pure carbon (Cremation leaves behind an average of 2.4 kg of remains, known as "ashes" or "cremains", but this is not actual ash but unburnt fragments of bone mineral, which are commonly ground down into powder.) Example for (fly) ash turned into stone (bricks): Google "fly ash bricks", they are light gray, and they are stone (60% ash content).
John Scott
So the Navii forest is the respected forest? venerated forest? It’s a neat name
You know, I always figured she was using volcanic ash because it's black so it was tiny minerals and crystals. Wood ash from a fire is usually white... and I've never seen the colour of human ash. Anyways, thinking about it the ash from her would be 'magically' carbon based probably, so perhaps she could condense to diamond or some other crystal. I guess she is using some sort of superheated graphite powder that is magically ash. Diamonds are brittle but luckily her armour reforms almost instantly so she could have great shock absorption and very sharp tendrils. The biggest issue might be her exhibitionist tendencies being exposed...
evyatar
will ash manipulation evolve to diamonds or something similar? ash is carbon, condense it more and more and you get diamond?
Rommelfanger Bob
Obviously it is up to the author if something in this direction will happen. I didn‘t mean it as in her „joining“ the nobility, we all know Ilea would not care the least for such things. As you said such titles are nothing in front of pure power like she has. I‘m merely interested in the concept of them meeting. As to your question on the identity of Elisora, I don‘t know, she has however somewhat piqued my interest from what we have seen of her.
Lommel
Please, no rush, that does not even need to happen at all as far as I'm concerned. Reminds me too much of every other LitRPG piece out there where every single author wants nothing but to have their MC be part of the nobility. I know it's in fashion, lots of movies and stories about being a prince or a princess. Let's *not* go down that same route. Even more so since those human nobles are nothing, that's purely within the (weak) human society that it means something at all. Since Ilea spends a majority of her time with non-humans self-proclaimed human nobility or any kind of human-society-inner-hierarchy would have little meaning to her. Chapter 440: "Ilea chuckled. “Talk to the Empress of Lys? That’s the last thing on my list.”" By the way, that reminds me of chapter 398, who is Elisora Acantha, a.k.a Leya of Lys, mind mage lvl 318, mother of Maria Acantha (void mage)? She was introduced like I was supposed to know her, but even using Google to search all chapters and the WiKi I find nothing more than the above.
It saddens me, so much waiting
Rommelfanger Bob
I‘m wondering at what point will she be meeting the Queen of Lys? For example as a feast to the major players that helped in the war (the question is, would ilea even attend?)
quantumsoma
You people read this as slice of life?! I've always read it as kind of uncertain about it's future, sure; but the potential of an actual story developing has always been in the world building, which has been what's kept me around for so long.
Probably 3-4 chapters here to go, investigate, and resolve Gael. Best case it's a 4 mark and that levels Illea a bit past 480. At least a couple of chapters to return and help finish off the current dungeon. Minimum one more for Illea to attempt a solo Executioner. All in all that's probably 490. A couple of chapters for resistance training. Then she needs to find something to kill to actually make the push to 500, which will be another 4 to find and grind. Has to be a bit drawn out so it's more epic. Overall at least 12 chapters before the next evolution at best, assuming she's not side tracked. Realistically probably 20+.
Johannes Sauer
Having to wait till Saturday is a bitch.
Martin
I hope they'll get at least few levels from this quest
Nate
So Fey-Fey also likes being a mysterious stranger, haha. I'm glad he's not as one note as he originally appeared...
Nate
Oh the lols that could have been had had she gone with Trakorov rider...
Nate
It would last exactly as long as it takes someone to do something dumb and/or bullyish in front of her...
Nate
It's probably for the best - a drunk level almost-500 could probably "accidentally" level a town, haha.
Torbjørn Nilsen
Some people doesn't seem to realize this entire story is slice of life. That's (part of) what makes it so awesome.
Luciaron
Nice chapters!
Martin
Feyrair is surprisingly benevolent towards low level humans, Quite unexpected comparing to other elves. Ilea wants to feel like normal person but high level Elf is accompanying her. If people in town learned about him, there would be less ruckus if she parked the Trakorov outside the town gate
Joe ?
I really like how Ilea has a plan to kill everyone she knows just in case.
Lommel
Ash is very rare. Ashen wings even more so. Combined with "healer", there is only one. Apart from some new Sentinels, but they are not yet known. Also, what "side plot"? The whole novel consists of side plots. Would you prefer it to be just Taleen now until they are all gone? I don't. Those interruptions are very life-like and realistic. Keep them coming!
quantumsoma
Why does everybody always immediately go to assuming she's Lilith? If anything, the stories should make it seem impossible to actually encounter her (for normal people, that is). Also, this whole side plot seems unnecesary.
Lommel
BY THE WAY, when is Ilea going to give the records from the Michael clones she promised to bring over from the other realm to Michael (the blood/gold mage)?
Lommel
Okay. So now I have to wait FOUR DAYS until I get the next two chapters. Unacceptable! This violates the United Nations Convention against Torture!
The Arcane Emperor
No, Elfie is the elf she met in the Tremor dungeon when she first went north. His real name is Niivalyr Olanis . The two traitors slit his throat when they left and he was also the one who has Ileas mark
Alsia
Thanks for the chapters :) I want to see Ilea blending in as a normal person for like, a week or something. Just chilling and having some beers at the inn, chatting up the locals who remain ignorant of who she is
PlasmaticPi
A little confused. Was Elfie one of the elves who betrayed them?
fbt
ty for the chapters!
Redbeard
My bet is that Gael found a Taleen dungeon and was teleported away.
Melting Sky
It's a bit like asking your friend who has seen a few more farms than you to pinpoint the location of a needle rapidly moving through a thousand miles of haystacks using snapshots of the hay it was swimming through 6 months ago.
Andrew
Thank you!
Silver Beard
General complaint...but all this interaction with the elves who are obviously more worldly (even the Lily group to some extent)..not showing any of Cless Painting of our lost metal worker? Scenery, mobs, etc...surely something might be recognized?
Chase Clawson
Woo! Two more excellent chapters :) loved Trian and Fey interacting, they were great xD
It occurs to me that the level 30 mage is probably in for a giant shock the next time he gets evolutions. "Has taken advice from a centuries old elven fire mage. Has raised fire against an enemy more than 15 times your level and survived."
Cyryl Chołodowski
I have a serious case of "I want more". It'd also be nice to get some more of Illea talking with random Sentinels (some of the new recruits etc.)... but it would also be nice to see her coming evolutions... and what's happening to that old friend of hers? Wait... the Lily stuff is also coming... So much story to come, so little time. I request a fundraiser to give Harthane a device to bend time.
Hrm, feels like a side quest but Illea has run into decent enemies in random places before. Maybe another four mark dungeon boss?
Dominic French
One quick question how big are the executioners? So far in the story I've been imaging them to be about 3.5m tall.
MountainFox
24 levels to the Big E!
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Redbeard
How to feel like a normal person: land out of sight and walk into town on foot; try to get drunk; fail to get drunk; get harrassed because of the healer tag; kick names and take ass; realize you're drunk and go to sleep.
That's why she wants to be. Because she most certainly isn't one.
Brian P.
A normal person, says the woman untold levels above anyone else there, as she walks besides her armored elf companion.
