Chapter 276: World of the Aura Sword

Chapter 276: World of the Aura Sword

The day passed in the wink of the eye. The chaos of lunch and dinner, the time spent training in between, even the massive rearrangement of Dallions realm seemed to have gone in a flash. There was no telling whether he had spent a day or a week in true time, doing everything he wanted to do, all with the goal of getting his mind off things that were and that would be. There was but one regrethe hadnt managed to see Euryale that night. The gorgons workshop was empty, with nothing but a note telling Dallion that she had been called by the city guard to assist in something.

Dallion was slightly hurt that no details were mentioned, but considering he did the same when making his deals with the mirror pool and what not, he decided he wasnt the right person to judge.

Hannah was up as Dallion left for the guild. Since the copyette incident, the two didnt exchange much more than hellos and goobyes. Dallion knew she had no ill will towards him, and everything considered he couldnt be too upset at her either, but needed some more time for relations to return to normal. As for the Aspan, things were a lot more complicated.

You should have attempted another level, Nil said as Dallion made his way towards the guild again. Even an attempt would have been a valuable experience for you.

Maybe Ill do it after my trip, Dallion replied.

Suit yourself. An exploration isnt like a day of improving items. You dont have limits on using your skills.

I know, Nil, I know.

There were considerably more people at the guild when Dallion got there. Most of them, as it turned out, were new candidates coming from the nearby towns and villages in an attempt to join the guild. Estezol had explained that the festival also brought in flocks of merchant kids and wandering awakened who wanted to join a guildany guild. Nine times out of ten, the people didnt have what it took, but even so, tests had to be conducted, which was a real nightmare considering everything else going on. Now, Dallion understood why everyone kept referring to the festival since he had arrived here. The festival was the equivalent of months of work packed into a single week. No wonder Nil hated it so much.

Squeezing through the crowd, Dallion made his way to the staircase, then up and to the fourth floor, when the rest of the exploration party had started to gather.

Hey, Vend greeted Dallion. Glad you made it on time.

Yeah, the morning was slow, Dallion said. So, this is it? Despite his attempts, Dallion couldnt hide his anxiousness. He could have sworn it was under control this morning, but now, moments before the event, it was back in full force. Do we split into groups?

Not for this. Strength in numbers. Dont worry, though, youll be pretty much a packrat. And healer.

Dallion arched a brow.

Everyone in the city knows about your firebird. Youll be in the front line, ready to fix people up if they get wounded.

Shouldnt I be in the back lines? Dallion wondered.

What good will you be there? The people in front are the ones wholl get hurt. Crafters are behind. Dont worry, youll learn fast when you see it.

Or you could have learned if you had done some more reading on medium group tactics and strategies, Nil said bitterly.

There were over a hundred formations there, Dallion said defensively.

The only person youre hurting is yourself. I dont particularly care what you read and what you dont. However, you would have been much better prepared if you had done as I suggested.

Giving the kid a hard time already? a female voice asked behind Dallion. Looks like mentoring someone has gotten to your head.

Turning around, Dallion saw the crafter who hed met during the rescue guild job. Since then, he had learned quite a bit of things about her, namely that she was an acting captain for the Icepickers crafters, as well as Janna and Kallans mother.

Congrats on passing the third gate, the woman turned to Dallion. Sorry I couldnt make it to your celebration, but had this to deal with. Kids say hi, by the way. Both are envious that you got to take part in this before them.

Thanks, Dillion said in a somewhat stiff fashion. Im sure theyll get their chance.

Yeah no. The womans expression changed. Im not letting them anywhere near a world item.

That dangerous? Dallion asked.

Dont ask me, Nil said. World items are unlike the rest. I guess the people who built them wanted to keep the connection between the world and the Moons.

You are in the WORLD of AURA SWORD

Unseal all Temples to fulfil the WORLDs destiny.

Everyone gather round, Agnii shouted. Looking at her, Dallion saw that she was surrounded by a pile of backpacks which definitely wasnt present back in the guildhall. Get your backpacks. Thats your food and water for the next two days, so keep it safe!

Food and water? That was a first. Dallion was familiar with the explanations, but now he wanted to take a sip and bite just to see the difference.

Like a well-oiled machine, the members of the party passed by the crafter, each picking up a backpack and continuing down the temple hall. When it was Dallions turn, he found that the backpack was far heavier than he initially expected. His body stat allowed him to pick it up without problem, but some effort was involved.

All set? March asked.

All set, the other captain replied.

Good. Group outside.

Dallion looked about, confused what to do, when Vend tapped him on the shoulder and gestured forward. After half a minute walking, the group reached a large wooden double door.

Get ready, Vend whispered.

For what? Dallion was barely able to ask when two of the party members opened both sides of the door, revealing the landscape outside.

If there were any doubts why this would be called a world item, they were now gone. The temple, as it turned out, was on the top of a mountain, providing a vista throughout the land. The valley below shifted from a plain with sparse vegetation to a forest, then to a plain again.

Sword Tip mountain, Vend said. This is where we start. The next point is all the way through the forests, along the trail to the stone obelisk.

Dallion could only nod as he left the temple. The air was sweet, though chilly, as one would expect when on a mountain. Remnants of what once must have been a road began at the door, quickly giving way to rocks as they reached the cliff.

The world has ten levels, Vend explained. Each has a temple with a guardian that opens the way to the next level. The levels are worlds within themselves, but also part of a whole.

Like portals?

No, its physical. Its closer to sphere items. There are tunnels that lead to other parts of the realm, only we dont have staircasesnot anymore, at leastbut just tunnels leading down. Theres one thing to keep in mind, Vend pointed in the distance.

Initially, Dallion didnt see it. After a few moments, the point of interest was obvious. Vend was pointing at a flock of birds, possibly crows, flying just as calmly as they would if they were in the real world.

It really is like a real world, Dallion thought.

A short distance away, Marsh was having a hushed conversation with Euryale. Whatever they were discussing, the two made sure to whisper softly enough so that no other awakened could hear. Once they finished, the gorgon went ahead, down the mountain, while March turned to the rest of the group.

Well do some hunting when we get down there. Our immediate goal is food, materials, and water for the next leg of the way. Stay together, help out as much as you could. Once Agnii is happy, we move on to the next temple. One thing to remember. Therere no cracklings or stinkers in this area, but the animals are still here. If you come across anything you dont know or cant handle, dont do anything rash.

What is out there? Dallion whispered to Vend. Bears?

Bears would be fine. We could use them for fur. This place is its own world and like any world it has its creatures of the wilderness.