Chapter 95: Arrival at Dawn

The old guild receptionist requested an 8 person luxury tiger-drawn carriage through a large electronic box, with the Echo company logo, a golden wrench, which was also crested upon each of the weapon rings that the Rangers held.

Being the leading company in technological developments, they have just begun making use of energy stones for remote activities and communication. These were the same rocks that were used to light up rooms, and even the very same rocks that line up the caverns of the Hasbin gulf, simply radiating with pure energy. However, these resources were scarce, and not infinite, thus the price for each manufactured device from the Echo company was astronomically high, causing a large gap in quality of life between the wealthy and the middle class.

The upper class could enjoy lavish, automated lives, while the rest of the world had to work hard to simply put food on the table. The Echo company hired these same people to mine the rocks, which often involved delving into the very depths of the earth just for a single glimmer of these rocks. The working conditions and the risk involved to procure one of these were dreadful, and after the company began procuring these radiant rocks, earthquakes and other natural disasters became more commonplace in the continent, as if the earth was repulsing the idea of ridding it of this source of energy.

Nevertheless, they didn't stop mining, and many small towns around the capital city of Naji were forced to flee due to lack of protection from the wrath of nature. An extremely dangerous process that many were not fans of, but were in large demand from the rich. 1 stone could power an entire household of these electrical appliances that the Echo company produced.

Naturally, the company's attention eventually turned to the Hasbin gulf, which was simply thriving in the stones dotted around the cavern. However, each of the guild grandmasters, including the current one, Julianne Starsage, defended the riches of the cavern, which were used in an eco-friendly manner to power these homes. Eventually, the Echo company and the Ranger guild came to an agreement, where the Echo company would still sell them the appliances and gadgets they produced, to further sales.

"Interesting! So that's why even the small dorm rooms have power! So those huge rocks are what provide it, huh? Yeah, come to think of it, I usually do see a glimmering rock in the middle of some buildings. So that's what's giving everything else energy?" Xenia asked as she took notes, listening to Saphrilla explain as they rid in the spacious carriage, drawn by 4 white Kindus tigers.

Precisely. Though it is common knowledge, I suppose I can give you a pass since you were borderline comatose for the past 6 years. This practice only became commonplace around 8 years ago, so it is understandable if you still do not know of it," Saphrilla affirmed.

The two girls sat in the corner of the carriage, whispering to each other as Saphrilla explained more things about the mechanical world.

"You said mining those rocks angered the earth, right? Isn't that a problem..?" Xenia asked as Raxo joined them in the corner, Quint sleeping along the seats as they conversed, Rein faintly listening in on their conversation.

"Yeah, it's fucked up. Most of the time, they don't even get any rocks. One gram of that stuff is worth a fuckin fortune, but the shit's like impossible to find. You know how many people have tried chipping pieces of it off the Hasbin gulfs walls? More than I could count. Though, every time, a mysterious force stops them. Nobody knows what though," Raxo interjected, whispering as to not wake Quint, who was beginning to snore.

"I guess that mysterious power wants to keep the balance in the gulf, huh? Yeah those rocks can do cool things, but maybe we shouldn't be extracting them from the ground…"

"That's right… That's why…"

At that point, Rein's mind began dozing off, his mind preoccupied with different things as he headed to the capital of Orthlys. 

For the past few days, Rein had been training his STO skill in the silent room in the dorm. Focusing on keeping it active for longer, he also tried training memory flip, which always lasted for 1 minute. However, he found that he was able to keep memory flip active for longer than 1 minute, and as 2 minutes passed, he heard a notification on his system.

[Skill Up!]

Memory Flip+: Every (24 → 12) hours, allows you to copy a Spring from your inverse history for (60 → 600) seconds

[Stats Up!]

Intellect 301.4 → 305.8

Using the knowledge that he had about doing various activities, he wondered if he could do the same with his skills, and his training came into fruition, though his System Take-Over has yet to upgrade.

However, even more pressing matters clouded his thoughts. The royal palace, the royal guard, the king, his aunt… Would they be there? Along with the protection of Saphrilla, Rein also accepted this request to scout out the capital city.

What would he do if he learned that she was in the palace? Would he wreck it? Bring it to the ground in a tremorous fury? Or what if she was somewhere in the city?

He was worried as to how he would act if he gained that knowledge, yet his turmoiled worries didn't stop his fatigue as his eyes closed, drifting into a deep sleep on the gently rocking carriage, as the gentle night breeze blew through the dimly lit area, caressing his white hair as he soundly slept.

He awoke to a familiar white haze, a void that he had grown accustomed to. The inverse system, sitting crosslegged, waiting for his arrival. They talked to each other, easing each other's pains as they conversed.

Eventually, Rein woke up as he felt the carriage come to a stop, the slight orange hue arising over the horizon. He was the first to wake up out of the group, everyone else sprawled out over the soft carpet ground. Before waking them, he left the carriage and tied the tiger's leash to a fence along the walls of the city. As he walked the tigers to the stable, he caught a glimpse of the city through the gate.

It was the most breathtaking thing he had ever seen, as if it were a setting described in a book of fiction. A large, metropolitan paradise, buildings made out of smooth metal, freshly paved roads, mysterious moving vehicles, large skyscrapers, and buildings, all of which built along the cliffs that hung off the edge, with large highways connecting it all to a central island in the middle of the water. The centerpiece of the city, the Orthlys royal palace.

His pupils grew in amazement as the sun rose over the glistening city, filling the reflections of the smooth chrome metal with orange light that hung in the visible air in rays of sunlight. However, through all of that, the palace that stood in the middle resonated a cruel aura that exuded all the way to Rein, which snapped him out of the trance he was just experiencing.

He shook his head and tied the leash to the stable, petting the tigers before he re-entered the carriage, softly waking his colleagues up as his conscience filled with thoughts and plans.