Chapter 576: Canopa Outpost

Chapter 576: Canopa Outpost

It took several moments for Dallion to get adjusted to the reality around him. The shift from a sea to a forest was greater than usual, not to mention that he needed to get re-used to gravity.

The clerics were in the process of separating the bodies of the dead in two piles: one for the members of the Order and the other for the cultists. When Dallion attempted to go question some more of the items of the cultists pile, though he was stopped.

Im sorry, initiate, a war cleric said, with an expression revealing he was anything but sorry. The archbishop has ordered that you dont approach the bodies.

Me in particular? Dallion tried not to sound amused.

Yes, initiate. He referred to you by name.

That made little sense, since the level of Dallions empathy trait allowed him to talk to item guardians miles away. Still, there was no point in antagonizing the Order, so he just nodded and turned around.

Will you do anything if I start asking questions? Dallion asked.

Depends on the questions, dear boy, Nil replied. Now that I know what you think of me, I know that you suspect I could do something to stop it. Just keep in mind that Im doing this for your own good.

You tend to say that a lot lately.

The echo had behaved in similar fashion back when Dallion had entered the fallen south. Although, back then, he hadnt done anything violent. To use magic in a fashion to destroy a guardian was untypical. There was definitely something Nil was hiding, but maybe there was a reason to do so.

You win this one, Nil, but there will come a time when I reach level eighty, and when I do you wont be able to hide things from me.

Dear boy, if you reach level eighty, therell be no reason for me to hide anything.

Before leaving the settlements remains, Dallion offered to help the surviving clerics. The offer was swiftly rejected, although Dallion could feel it being appreciated by some.

An unnerving quiet surrounded Dallion as he walked through the forest. The fight had scared off everything from insects to top predators. Even the trees were shaken up, not saying a whisper. For a brief moment, it almost felt as if he was a non-awakened again. The moment quickly passed, as the insatiable post-trial hunger hit him like a ton of bricks. While the previous trial had been a mental one, the one he had completed just now had exhausted him to the extreme. Hunter training and experience allowed him to endure, but it wasnt a pleasant feeling.

From what Dallion remembered, it was roughly a day from his current position to the Academys village. If he sprinted, he could get there faster, but that was only going to exhaust him more. The best thing he could do was to go further in and catch something to eat. Unfortunately, as it soon turned out, the lack of animals wasnt merely caused by the battle. Predators that had tried to attack Dallion so eagerly the last time he was in the area were nowhere to be found. Only small creatures were presentfar too small to satiate his hunger unless he caught hundreds of them. In the end, he decided that a dozen were better than nothing.

The birds Dallion caught were green-feathered, roughly the size of pigeons, with more bones than bone. As far as his senses were concerned, that was a blessing, for the taste was vilely bitter. Even cooking them did little to help that. Still, they were food and as any hunter knew, food wasnt something that one had to like.

Night in the forest wasnt all that different. A few minor predators had made an appearance, none of them particularly large or tasty. More interestingly, though, it was at this time that the frees started talking again, letting Dallion know that the sudden change had suddenly happened months ago. One day, the majority of the animals just vanished. Dallion was aware that the poison plague had disrupted migration patterns, but this didnt seem to be the case. The plague plants had never gained a foothold in the west, not to mention that the shift had been too sudden. More and more, it was starting to look like the Academy was involved. Officially, the village that they had taken over was meant to help apprentice mages train. The truth was that they were involved in creature research. What kind, Dallion could only guess, although he speculated that they were more focused on magic creatures. However, as Dallion had seen in the memories of a rogue mage, accidents werent uncommon when it came to the Academy and always it was others that paid the price.

Nil, what are the chances that they had been seeking the phoenix?

Minimal, the echo didnt mince words. High-level mages are just as greedy as nobles. No one would risk having their subordinates find something they want. Not only would it be politically strenuous, but also highly inefficient. Countess Priscord sent you, not her army, to find it. Why would others be different?

Mages are a bit stronger than common soldiers, Nil.

Youd be surprised.

I also want to have a word with Eleria, he said in a firm tone. Shes still in charge here, right?

The scribes silence suggested that to be the case. From this point on, the decision was out of her hands. After dealing with nobles and their servants, Dallion had gotten to know a few things regarding how things worked. It was common for subordinates to use their power to keep random people from seeing their superiors, but when the person was noticed, everything was up to the person in charge.

How long will your visit be? Lelandra asked.

Half a day at most, unless Im given a job.

The time was long enough to seem intriguing and short enough not to be bothersome.

The woman remained silent for a few more seconds. The levels of anxiety coming from her grew.

You are most welcome to our village, the woman said reluctantly. Please, follow me.

Thank you.

After less than fifty steps on the path, the front gate of the village was suddenly in front of them. The experience was similar to switching between realms. Instinctively, Dallion split into instances, several of which took a few steps back. As expected, they found on the same path only to see the village gone.

Portal magic? Dallion asked as he made his way forward.

The scribe didnt answer.

Still intent on making a fool of yourself? Nil sighed. It only works the first time, you know.

Whos pretending? Dallion asked.

The settlement had changed considerably since the last time Dallion was here. Rather, it seemed like an entirely new outpost had been built in its place. The walls were far larger, made of stone, the individual houses were gone, replaced by larger structures that held space for more people, and libraries had grown to the size of small forts. The only thing that remained the same was the rural section, although it was no longer simple villagers tending to the fields and animals.

Metalins, Dallion whispered, looking at the metal constructs that moved about autonomously, like rogue suits of armor. I thought that they were only used within the realms.

They increase productivity, the scribe explained, although she too was uncomfortable with their presence. It only takes a few apprentices to control them.

That doesnt sound too reassuring. Dallion meant it as a joke, but his comment drained the blood from Lelandras face.

Careful, dear boy. Dont make new enemies until after getting the information.

Didnt you tell me that those were the Academys crown achievement? Dallion asked.

And they were, but theres also the minor issue that they were based on the Crippleds skills.

Metalins are Star tech?

Why do you think the Academy sent expeditions to the South? Many of the Academys recent discoveries are linked to Star technology. As I said, magic is nothing but the art of finding loopholes. And if one can find loopholes in the laws of nature and the Moons, imagine how easy it would be to find such in the laws of the empire.