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Chapter 528 Meadow
🕑 Added 2020-07-25 13:58:23 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hello there. New chapters up and more hopefully on Tuesday :).
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Chapter 528 Meadow
As do many species, I found, the creature said with an amused thought attached to the words.
So its a hobby for you? To help creatures awaken, Ilea asked.
A hobby a past time. No, its more meaningful than that. It is what I am.
Hmm do you remember your own awakening? Ilea asked.
Yes. Before the last darkening. I remember feeling the wind, hearing sound for the first time.
Thats pretty cool I dont remember my own birth, Ilea said.
Amusing. I am not a mammal. Your kind often needs time to develop fully. I was not aware in my development, nor was I birthed to a mother.
Formed by mana? Ilea asked.
I have not been able to determine the circumstances of my creation. An unexpected mutation is my best guess. Perhaps I was merely a particularly resilient growth of grass before.
You mentioned the darkening do you mean the eclipse still under way? Ilea asked.
Eclipse the process of a celestial body covering another?
You know about planets and stars? Ilea asked. But yes, I think thats essentially the meaning. When the moon temporarily covers the sun. But I dont think it should last as long as this one has.
I have learned some things about the astronomy of this realm. In this case it is not a moon covering the sun but the planetary body doing the very same. You are currently on the only moon of Sephilon. Erendar.
Were on the moon? Ilea asked.
Yes. The Astral Spirits you have encountered came here from Sephilon, no longer unwilling to wander this moon.
Because the sun is covered? Ilea asked. Wouldnt they just come every night then?
I dont understand your question. What do you believe the sun does?
Provide light and energy? Ilea asked.
Yes. And stability. To that which you call mana. Your presence here is a testament to your achievements. I knew it would be difficult for the Pale ones to survive in your realm as soon as those three entered Erendar but I had thought it impossible for your kind to enter my domain.
That still doesnt explain why the spirits wouldnt come at night, Ilea said.
Energy does not dissipate instantly. It takes many orbits without sunlight to cause a collapse. The one you see here is only just in progress. Enough for Astral Spirits to deem our surface acceptable but perhaps not yet enough to prevent all formation of life.
This eclipse has been going on for more than a day? Ilea asked.
Orbits of the sun, not Sephilon. It is an exceptionally rare phenomenon. Few beings remain who have seen the last and fewer still remember it. I could predict it and tried to find a way to prevent the collapse of this civilization.
Fleeing to another realm was that option you talked about? Ilea asked.
I thought it impossible for a long time. The discovery of disconnected realms was surprising. A foolish hope turned into my only plausible option as our efforts failed, one by one.
Yours and Zaikeds? Who was she? Ilea asked.
The Queen of the Pale ones. The wisest of them all. And one of few who could communicate with me. A high Mental Resistance is necessary to comprehend my thoughts, something their species struggled with.
Zaiked refused reason, attacking the unknown species from your realm, thus dooming the remaining survivors of her kind. It is understandable, her history one of warfare and struggle. She had never deemed communication a favorable trait. Those who had cooperated with me beforehand were slain when she came to power. Her strongest warriors failed to kill me, which allowed rare interactions to take place afterwards. If only based on respect and fear.
However even in the most recent orbits, she remained suspicious, without trust. Her very last actions were to fight an unstoppable foe instead of flight into a new realm of limitless possibilities.
She shared the possibility and those who wished to take the risk already went through the fragile fissures. I know now that they did not survive.
Doesnt sound like she was particularly wise then, Ilea said.
Zaiked and her army fought the Spirits, both those of Death and those of Sephilon. They killed thousands but losses soon became more regular, Astral Spirits too much for most of her warriors to kill. For every one they slayed, ten more would take its place.
Children started freezing in their mothers arms. Those too weak to bear the changing mana went mad and attacked their own. Crops failed and hunger plagued even the most powerful of her kind.
I believe that she was already lost when you arrived. Because she had lost everything she had held dear.
There are plenty of creatures still around, Ilea said. What about them?
She considered them lesser. They have the strength to survive but not the will to fight.
What do you think? Ilea asked.
They are all Eyes.
Eyes for what? You? she asked.
Eyes that perceive existence. Existence cannot be with no Eyes to see, thus I seek to help awaken those who remain blind.
I dont really get that, but okay. You seemed to have more of a connection to Zaiked than just her eyes though, Ilea said.
I am not immune to the effects of sentimentality. Empathy is a sure way towards awakening.
And you dont blame us for coming here? For killing so many of your eyes, Ilea said.
You are awakened, as are those who came here. I feel that I must try and prevent the deaths of those I sheltered for so many orbits but I will not fight Awakened to achieve that goal.
And thats why youre talking to me? Why you didnt eat me yet, Ilea asked.
I determined that there was a possibility of your cooperation. Your kind has yet to kill any of Erendars awakened without reason. While the Queen thought diplomacy to be an admittance of weakness, I think it the only way for Awakened to cooperate.
Desires, needs, and goals differ greatly among the various awakened species I have met. I have found no evidence to suggest that animosity is the only possible result however. And yet we remain in part influenced by the instincts that once drove us. Most awakened would not be able to accept my existence, either responding in terror or aggression.
You have met many powerful beings and thus you stand here with a more complex understanding of my existence. Yet still you remain suspicious. I can feel it. But you are here, willing to communicate with a creature that is not of your own kind.
So your goal is to get the others into our realm. The problem is that there simply isnt enough mana there to keep them sane. Ive seen it happen, Ilea said.
Yes. That is a problem. I feel however that mana is flowing through the spacial tunnel, spreading into your world.
Into a populated city that wont respond kindly to the invasion of another species, Ilea said.
You do not have the power to convince them?
I dont think so. There are too many parties involved. Im inclined to help the weaker beings here, seeing the evidence of your fucked up world but you yourself are way more powerful. I dont think I can trust you without good reasons, she admitted.
I understand. It is the logical conclusion.
It remained silent for a moment.
Erendar is not a static place. Are there places in your realm where the mana density would be enough to sustain the creatures that remain within this palace?
Yeah, Ilea said. The problem is getting them there.
You have a way to pass into my domain. Do you not have the power to move them into such a territory?
No. You also understand that I cant just accept the mana leaking into our realm followed by other species that may or may not be hostile, she said.
It is true that I cannot speak for the survivors. I merely wish for their continued existence.
Can you close the gate? Ilea asked.
It would require an incredible effort but it is possible for me to close the tunnel. I do however see no reason why I should do such.
The creatures here will fight the creatures on the other side. Eyes will be lost one way or the other, Ilea said.
That is no certainty. You admitted you cannot speak for them, nor can I speak for those still in Erendar. Understand that if I shut the gate, my whole focus will be needed. All efforts to prevent Spirits from finding this location will cease, nor will I be able to fight them off should they arrive.
And you cant just form another gate somewhere else? Ilea asked.
You underestimate the efforts that went into its creation. Opening another such gate would bring the Astral Spirits upon us just as much as closing the present one would do. It may also be impossible to do so in this city. The spacial fabric is fickle as it is. I cannot be sure of the consequences should I interfere in its natural state once more.
Hmm , Ilea said when the stone gate behind her exploded.
Fucking fiiinally, Hector exclaimed. Hey creature, where are you keeping all the gold?
Shiny metals held no meaning to most of Erendars awakened species, the being replied.
You taught it Standard? Well fucking done, he said and rolled his eyes.
I have learned from you as I have learned from her, it said.
Is there anything worth looting here other than the trash in those vaults? Hector asked.
What you call trash are memories of ancestors who died in battle. Each holds value both historical and sentimental, it explained. I do not know what you deem worthy to call treasure, water mage, but I suggest you look for it yourself.
Maybe killing the remaining monsters here might at least get me some experience, he said and stepped onto the grass. Or I could kill you, youre just a bloody meadow after all.
Amusing. You are welcome to try, mage. I wont hold a grudge for your baseless confidence, the being said.
Ilea laughed.
Come on, if we work together, we might get a four mark kill! Hector said.
Even if that thing was obviously weak and near death, Id protect it from you, she said. But I agree with it, I think itd be quite amusing if you tried.
I agree, Hector said with a grin, shooting a beam of water at the tree.
Nothing intercepted the beam and it hit the tree without a visible impact.
You are no longer welcome here, the being said before Hector vanished, including his water sphere and a part of the floor he had stood on.
Did you kill him? Ilea asked.
I do not kill Awakened beings. I merely placed him close to the exit, it said.
So hes right and we could just try and kill you? You wouldnt kill us even if we injured you? Ilea asked.
Correct, the being said.
I dont think I could do it, Ilea admitted. Can you try that spell on me though? I want to see if I could resist.
She felt the attack coming, a surge of incredible power pulling on her very being. Ilea appeared a few meters away.
Impressive. Your resistance is high, but your abilities cannot stop overwhelming power, the being said.
Did you try to move me here? Ilea asked, gesturing around herself.
No. I aimed for the entrance, the being said.
Hectors voice came from the tunnel Listen here you shit! I wont just be dismi-
You moved him again? Ilea asked, smiling both at Hectors inability to even approach the creature and the fact that she was only halfway towards the entrance.
I resisted partially.
That I did. We seem to have found ourselves at an impasse, young Lilith. I deeply value your willingness to cooperate but it seems my involvement ends here, it said.
Ilea sighed.
What will you do once everyone is dead and our realm is as infested with Spirits as yours? she asked.
The possibility of Spirits choosing to enter the tunnel remains small. I shall examine my failings and await the end of the eclipse. My efforts during that time will be focused on those who remain blind but refuse to fall to the beings who have invaded this land, it explained.
There are creatures that survive all that? Ilea asked.
Few but yes. You are not the only being with the power to face Spirits, it said.
Interesting hey maybe you could teach me Space Magic, help me advance my skills, she said.
You know that fighting will advance your skills the most. There is an untold number of spirits out there, willing to cooperate, it said.
Yeah but they wont help me with Space Awareness. You can. Youre limited by Classes and skill slots too, arent you? No matter how high your level reaches. Or am I wrong? she asked.
There are limitations to all beings, it said. It would take many orbits to reach meaningful change or progress. Orbits we do not have.
I got my Space Class somewhat recently. Most of my spells arent even in the third tier yet. But theyre close though, she said.
You suggest there may be a way for you to support my goals should your power reach sufficient heights?
Ilea shrugged. Who the fuck knows?
I already have a way to go back to Elos. Displacement already lets me form a gate between two places. Might just be theres a possibility somewhere in there.
That is true. Even I cannot grasp at the potential slumbering within your spells. May I ask why you would cooperate with a being such as I? it said.
I empathize with your situation, I guess. If what you said was the truth, Ilea said. Your power and expertise in space magic might help me personally but mainly I think that an ally such as you could be the difference between our species extermination and our long term survival.
Hey maybe I AM the ashen knight of humanity. Damn you Maro.
You deal with me as if I were your equal. That is an incredibly rare phenomenon. Fascinating. Your high level in Veteran suggests it is not a deception, it said and paused. I would give much for the survival of those I lead to awakening. A haven within a safer realm may be the best I could ever hope to achieve. I have failed to prevent the eclipse or remedy its effects and I doubt the next five thousand orbits will lead to a different result,
I shall humor you, Lilith. Know however that whatever deal we strike in the end, I will not kill an Awakened being. Never, it said.
Ilea grinned. What about teleporting them away again and again? Or creating an impenetrable barrier between the enemy and for example a city?
That would be possible. If my will suffices. I am far from the most powerful being, even in this realm, it said.
I think youre plenty powerful, Ilea said with a smirk. My new level two thousand Meadow friend and space magic instructor!
First I think its necessary that the survivors make camp down here. Otherwise the humans coming from the other side might just kill them, she said.
They lack the mental fortitude to hear my words, it said.
Then write it down, or do they not have writing? she asked.
There are symbols. It doesnt suit complex instructions but perhaps it is possible, the being said, the tone of its voice decidedly energetic.
Use this, Ilea said and summoned her notebook, opening it to an empty page before she summoned her pen.
A local space chamber impressive. I had not thought you this advanced, the being said.
I didnt make that myself, Ilea said and showed how the pen worked.
She didnt have to hold the notebook as both items started hovering, the pen moving over the page with precise and quick movements.
Make sure they understand that the other side doesnt have enough mana, she said.
Tschush, who do you believe youre talking to, young human? it asked.
Did you just shush me? Ilea asked. How do you even know about that?
I am more aware than most. More humans have entered this realm and they share information quite freely, it said.
How should I call you anyway? I have no clue what the identification says, Ilea said.
I do not believe in the concept of such a definition, the being said.
Is Meadow okay? Ilea asked.
I prefer Endless Meadow, Meadow replied.
Sure. Meadow. Short for Endless Meadow, Ilea said with a grin.
Your attempts at humor are falling flat, Lilith, it said.
Yeah, yeah. Everyones a critic, she said and received the notebook.
Scribbles and unidentifiable sketches covered the page. Hopefully enough to convince the survivors.
I really care about them, she thought, waving at the Meadow before she vanished. Weird insect creatures from another realm. Maybe because I slaughtered thousands of their brothers and sisters. No, they were already monsters.
For a moment she considered some kind of spell cast by the Meadow to make her cooperate but her Mental Resistance didnt support such a theory. Her healing didnt find anything physical and her soul perception didnt inform her of something strange either.
She decided that maybe she just tried to help whenever possible. The benefits were definitely present but she could have just as well not given a fuck. She just hoped the Meadow wasnt some unimaginable horror trying to deceive her.
She did had a good impression of it so far and if anything, shes made better experiences with powerful monstrous entities than most humans. Humans are the real monsters, yadda yadda.
Ilea appeared in front of a group of insects. A few of them she even recognized as the ants she had met in the throne room.
Most of them shied back.
She just stood there and held up the notebook, opened at the page used by Meadow.
They made clicking noises, obviously arguing with one another before a few of the creatures walked closer.
You understand? Ilea asked.
They replied in clicks. A few of them rushed out into the nearby tunnels but most remained.
Ilea turned and walked back towards the Meadows area. Theyre following me. Good.
She met Michael on the way, his eyes darting from her to the insects behind.
What , he got out and joined her.
You can communicate with them? he asked.
Just one of them, she said as they continued down into the same hallway she had entered with Felicia.
Comments
I think he saw it as a sentient tree, literally. So incapable of fighting back and worshiped and protected as a god. If he took it down he'd get huge bonuses for his next class, and his greed is far greater than his intelligence...
How can Hector hear the meadow now and wasn't able to do so few chaps ago? (At least, he didn't seem able to) And the part of Hector attacking a fucking ???? sapient being when his veteran skill should have told him it was >2000 is really strange. He didn't hit me as a suicidary guy. Quite a bit crazy ok but to "attack" (he didn't give his all okay but still) such a being is really strange. If the meadow wasn't such a pacifist, he would have been crippled or dead for such an action.
There was a note somewhere that Illea being translocated to Elos means there's a good chance Earth is suddenly having classes, levels, and monsters. So I'm kinda expecting an eventual Illea-Saving-Earth arc where she returns and has to help humanity get on their feet against unbeatable monsters, or interdimensional invaders or something.
CryoHydra357
Am I the only one who wants to see Ilea go back to Earth, If only to see her friend from med school?
Michael scott
Let's be honest. It's not the weirdest friend she ever made.
kjoatmon
Yah. Fall in love. Have kids. Dominate the universe through peaceful means and a few fae bits that love violence!
Illea needs to figure out a way to introduce Meadow to the Fae. They seem like they would get along.
I can't wait for the next chapter...!! If only because I imagine Michael's reaction is going to be priceless
Han Pol
This starts to feel like a good ark were Ilea can have some actual goals beyond immediate needs and the previous ark makes more sense from a story perspective as well overall it was a good bridge to this one so I approve. I hope that Erendar is a bit more diverse then just spirits of death and astral ones. But the gate and the city of the pale ones might also be a good abse for the medic sentinels. And ones some of them reach a level of the mid to end 200's it might be reasonable to level them over in Erendar, at least for the next 5000 days or 15 years. I guess that the time directly afterwards will also be unstable even if I guess that year 13 will be the worst.
Yaksher
Claire: "You got a level 2000 talking tree to tutor you in space magic?" *long sigh*
Johann Franz
Speciesism
Nate
I love Endless Meadow's philosophy about eyes, but that brings to mind something I've been wondering: What do you call a humanist in a world with more than one sapient species? A sapient-ist? It's kinda a crap name. I mean you could always make up a cool sounding name like "Hyperionism" or something but you lose the ability to parse the meaning just from hearing the word...
Nate
It's not that surprising - moon (I forget the name) seems to have a higher average mana than Elos, and Ilea has already found near level 1000 creatures all over the place there, kinda...
Vegetables
Into the wonderful
Connor Bruha
Thanks for the chapters!
Brian P.
Sure, but counterpoint: fuck 'em.
Straven
Loving this little move. Thank you so much for another great batch of chapters.
Alexander Dupree
The ritual failed to work several times this was the first time it did. Also it wants to have some kind of escape for its dark ones so it's probably exaggerating a bit so it doesn't have to risk closing everything off again.
Thanks for the chapters!!!!
Chase Clawson
These were two absolutely wonderful chapters! Meeting new friends is one of my favorite parts of this series :)
Jonathan
Only if it's endless.
Jonathan
I'm sure they've been praying for a savior.
Blaublue
Thanks for the chapter. Nice development, but a small critique: A little too convenient for the plot that Meadow has opened 5+ portals already to Elos without complaint, but now not able to do so again with a portal connected to the North
Michael scott
Thanks for the chapters. Ilea wanted to level her 3rd class skills. Well now she will be able to super level them with mega tree help. I can see her taking the tree and the insects to Hollowfort. The mana density in the north is enough, plus with the dark ones they will be more accepted.
MacDB
She's playing a dangerous game being so open with her friendliness to monsters when she's been told many of the Lily are human supremacists.
That's kinda the definition of politics...
Julien Fellegara
I was thinking Bob as a fun careless guy with potentiel for light fuck. Now i find him a miserable bastard who deserve to die fast. Ho and the story is on the good way now. Baralia was uterly boring !
Alsia
I want me a friend like Meadow. Actually, I want Meadow as a friend. I'm looking forward to see how this new twist plays out :) On the bright side, anybody strong enough to even get close to Meadow will most likely leave it alone. Anybody that would be too stupid to try to antagonize it in the human plains is probably way too weak to withstand the mana density. Hector getting summarily dismissed by a sentient Meadow that had had enough of his shit was great. I can't wait for Ilea to casually show off her new lv 2000+ as if it's the most normal thing in the world.
Tim Johnson
so now im wondering if Meadow is going to somehow end up camping under ravenhall as its final protector or in the north by hallowfort, maybe in the descent.... then again, that may cause conflict with the ascended. i wonder if the mana density is just a product of the environment, or if meadow is causing it.
Deinos
Hmm guess I'll have to be careful next time I'm cutting my lawn.
fbt
nice chapter! interesting and fun to read. TY :) So many details were well chosen I won't waste time flogging that pony, but gj. Nice payoff for the long setup here. And Ilea rocks!
Robert Mullins
My understanding is that it is the tree, the grass, and the bugs. Rather than being a physical being in the usual sense it is a living personafication of a meadow. The meadow space itself is what is a alive rather than collection of matter inside it and it's expresses it's existence physically via the tree, grass, and bugs.
Andrew
Thank you!
Max Scherer
Ileas interaction with powerful beings way above her weightclass are just one of the best. And finally somebody sees that! :D
sharkattack
I'm curiously interested in some alien insect slice-of-life now
Null
It's not a tree, it's the grass since she couldn't grab it... the illusion it appear like a butterfly was the being manipulating space to take that form ....or I think so... whatever....it would be cool if ilea can for some reason move the entire thing to the north with a combination of space awareness, gate and 3er tier Force...
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Seb
TBH I hope she switches force for the storage skill. The Fae even warned her that she shouldn't rely on the storage item and pick up her own skill. I think the possible benefits of a 3rd tier storage skill much better than force...
Slicedtoad
This chapter is awesome. You've taken the slightly boring (relative to the rest) Barilla plot and turned it into something awesome to read. Your ability to continually introduce exciting things into the setting is amazing.
Tim Deral
Awesome chapter ! 😂😂😂, I Love the whole displacement thing and that the tree actually has a personality
Luciaron
Oh man, stronger creatures than the meadow?
Would be near impossible to convince it. Talking about a hive mind where more then half stopped paying attention to llea in their conversation.
Tommy Littlefield
That’s a pretty cool tree
Cyryl Chołodowski
Well... who needs political power, when you have power power. Someone bullies those close to Illea? She will take care of it. Someone tries to bully Ravenhall or Dark Ones town? Super Plant Extraordinare will take care of it. And at some point? The many voices will come to care for their little mortal.
MountainFox
If there's one thing space mages have in abundance, it's personal space.
Robert Mullins
Hrrmm. She just talked about force not being what she hoped and didn't want to spend a core point on it yet. I wonder if she will learn a new active skill related to gateways that allows her to move or create/destroy them.
Estrini
lilith savior of mantis creatures
Robert Mullins
Superfae may have the space magic skills required to move the gateway to the north.
PhantomGlitch
Thanks for the chapters!
The-Anti-Akuma
Second! Thanks for the chapter!
E.W.
First! Thanks for the chapter
