Book 6: Chapter 48
Tafel stared at her root bracelet with a blank expression. She hadnt even finished all her preparations, but the unique hidden piece was already gone. She raised her head and looked at Jeremy, who was staring at his own root bracelet with an open mouth. Didnt you say it was really difficult to find the unique hidden piece? Tafel asked. How did they get it in less than a day?Vissit novelbin(.)c.om for updates
What!? The melon-shaped egg on the table flashed repeatedly. The unique hidden piece of the first floor was found, and I wasnt there to witness the moment!? You guys were supposed to take me with you! Do you know how many generations of my ancestors are disappointed right now? If all of them spat at you one time, youd drown in spittle.
Tafels expression darkened. She hadnt expected Vur and Lindyss to find the unique hidden piece that fast either. In the end, who was it that won? If Vur fought Lindyss. Although the Recordkeeper had claimed Lindyss would win in a fight against Vur, Tafel still wanted to witness it for herself. I knew I shouldve followed them.
Why didnt you? the melon-shaped egg asked. You shouldve brought me too! What were you thinking? Were you even thinking? Do you even think? My goodness, no wonder why my mama entrusted me to Vur instead of you.
Without saying a word, Tafels horns glowed silver, and a portal to her cache appeared at the edge of the table. Tafel pushed the egg, and the caterpillar shouted as the egg rolled and fell through the portal, his protests cut short when the portal winked out of existence. After thinking about it for a bit, Tafel opened her cache portal in front of herself and retrieved the egg, holding it up in front of her face. Are you going to behave?
What answer would I have to give you to prevent you from putting me back in the cache?
For someone with so many ancestors accompanying you and giving you advice, you sure are dense sometimes, huh? Tafel asked and placed the egg down. She scratched her head and glanced at the papers covering the table. There were coordinates written on them along with descriptions of the setting at each coordinate. Since her usage of portals was the only advantage she had over Lindyss and Vur, she figured shed scan the whole stage with them, eventually locating the unique hidden piece. Unfortunately, she was too slow; no, rather, itd be more appropriate to call Lindyss and Vur fast.
Illaaah!
Tafel leaned back in her seat and stroked her chin. Even if she couldnt obtain the unique hidden piece and lost a muffin in a bet, that didnt mean she had to sit and mope around. There were still regular hidden pieces waiting to be discovered and eighty-nine more days to look for them. Depending on the activity, ninety days could be a long or short amount of time. A furrow appeared on Tafels brow, and she turned towards Jeffery. Is there a way to clear this stage faster?
Yes.
I knew it, Tafel said and nodded. If one had to spend ninety days on the first floor alone, wouldnt that mean Mary was still partaking in this exam as well? It hadnt been that long since the red-haired woman had disappeared and Vur had received the invitation. Whats the method?
Within every region, demarked by climate, theres a temple with a trial, Jeffery said. If you clear the trial, youll get a piece of equipment and, if you wish, pass the advancement exam. Of course, clearing the temples trials are much more difficult than surviving for ninety days, and to open a temple, you have to offer a months worth of food and water.
Tafel raised an eyebrow. Has anyone ever cleared all the temples in one go?
Jeffery shook his head. The regions are massive, and as Ive said before, regions are sectioned off to allow the resources within them to regenerate. If you want to complete all the temples, it might take a few years for the closed regions to reopen.
I see, Tafel said. Once Lindyss and Vur came back, then they could all go examine a temple. If the rewards were good, then theyd clear more, but if not, Tafel really didnt see a reason to stay in this stage for all ninety days now that the unique hidden piece had been claimed.