E-book 7: Chapter 50: Welcome Dwelling

Victor leaned over the chest and peered inside, instantly amused by the System’s sense of justice. His trusty outdated Kethian Juggernaut helm had been damaged within the dungeon, so now he was being awarded a brand new one. Was that the case? Had the System tailor-made the reward for him, or was this simply random likelihood? He supposed he’d by no means know. He reached into the chest and lifted out the moderately plain, steel-colored helmet. It regarded like it could cowl his head, his forehead, and the perimeters of his head. The within was lined with supple, padded leather-based and regarded fairly comfy, however he couldn’t assist being dissatisfied; his outdated helmet had been much more distinctive and stylistically intimidating. “Bleh,” he grunted, holding it up for Dar to see.

“You sound dissatisfied. Isn’t that one of many new set items?”

“Most likely,” Victor trickled some Power into the helmet and was awarded with a System-generated description:

***Helm of Sojourn – it is a set merchandise. Acquire 5 items of the set and convey them to the Sojourn Metropolis Stone to imbue them with curated set bonuses.***

“Yeah, it’s.” Nonetheless holding the helm aloft, Victor peered into the chest, guaranteeing he hadn’t missed something. As he regarded, although, the chest started to interrupt aside, turning into Power mist and fading out of existence, going wherever the System drew it.

Dar took the helm, turning it in his fingers, learning the angles. “These aren’t frequent awards. Did you obtain every other items within the dungeon?”

“Yeah, I did.” Victor regarded round, shocked they hadn’t drawn any type of crowd. Was it because of Dar’s presence? Was he intimidating the “decrease” Sojourn denizens? He supposed it wasn’t an on a regular basis incidence for somebody of his stature to be standing round with the easy folks.

“I imagine these units will change in look when absolutely enchanted, based mostly on the imbuements you choose or present. It’s fairly a sturdy system; the council spent a fortune on it.” He handed the helmet again to Victor, who slipped it into the pouch with the remainder of the items he had gotten.

“I want one other piece earlier than I can ‘imbue’ them.”

“Go to the public sale home. The drop charges are excessive within the Vault of Valor, a lot greater than within the different metropolis dungeons. Few folks would have the endurance to assemble a full set on their very own, in order that they’re prone to be some on the market.” Dar turned to the archway main from the vaulted corridor. “I’m off. I’ll ship transport for you tomorrow. I’d such as you right here early so my advocate can put together you.”

He gave Victor an extended look, making a sound like softly grinding stones in his chest. Victor realized he was chuckling as he took in Victor’s shredded, burned pants. “Gown appropriately.” He didn’t await a response; moderately, he appeared to shimmer for just a few seconds, after which he was gone. Victor needed to jerk his head towards the doorway to see that Dar had both moved impossibly quick or teleported down from the platform. He simply caught a glimpse of his flowing pink cape as he departed the corridor.

“All proper, then.” Victor took a deep breath and began down the steps, glancing round nervously as he realized increasingly more folks had been stopping to take a look at him. It confirmed his earlier idea; nobody had wished to be caught daring to stare whereas Dar was round. He all of a sudden wished he might step into a rest room or one thing to alter his pants, however with no thought the place to start in search of one, he determined a hasty exit was extra so as. He hurried down the steps and thru the spacious, magically appointed foyer. The solar had risen additional, and its gentle sparkled on the crystal towers, forcing him to squint as he regarded round and inhaled the contemporary air.

Visitors had picked up, and throngs of individuals walked back and forth on the sidewalk. He noticed a person sporting a brief black cape flag down a passing automobile—one thing that delivered to thoughts a cross between a carriage and a steam practice. Victor observed an emblem on the aspect like a fantastic P, and when he regarded on the visitors, he noticed a number of different unusual autos, all totally different in design, with the same emblem. He supposed he might summon Guapo and see what it was like driving round within the visitors, however he was drained and desirous to be out of the general public scrutiny, so he tried his luck flagging one of many vehicles down.

He selected a big one, in regards to the measurement of a panel van from Earth. It was brass with tall, skinny, spoked metallic wheels. One thing clung to the edges, shifting round them like steam, and he figured it needed to be some type of Power enchantment to offer padding and traction. The driving force sat on the highest, controlling the massive automobile with brass levers. He was a small fellow sporting a excessive, brimmed hat, and when he noticed Victor wave, he nodded eagerly, steering the steam-belching conveyance over to the aspect of the road. “Want a carry?” Victor nodded, giving him his deal with.

The driving force nodded. “I do know it! It’s down within the outdated River View neighborhood, proper?”

Victor nodded, remembering the realtor mentioning a riverwalk just a few blocks from his home. The driving force pulled a lever, and the door opened with a hiss, revealing a spacious inside with headroom even for a person Victor’s measurement as soon as he’d sat down. The seats had been plush leather-based, and the air inside was scented with espresso and vanilla, making Victor’s abdomen rumble. He questioned in regards to the scent’s origin however discovered nothing aside from extra leather-based seats when he regarded across the inside. The door hissed closed, and the automobile began shifting. Stunned by its pace and clean journey, he watched out the window because the buildings rushed by.

They had been compelled to cease for visitors just a few occasions, however Victor hardly observed. He was near drifting off to sleep, his thoughts replaying the bizarre, jumbled occasions from his time within the problem dungeon, particularly his ultimate encounter with Arona and her crew. Had she actually slipped away to attempt to end the dungeon? He might solely think about how irritated these she’d left behind had been.

He hardly remembered what he’d carried out because the Side of Terror, however it couldn’t have been nice for Sora and that nature man. And Arona had left them to that! Pondering of the facet, he didn’t really feel a lot lingering guilt after utilizing the spell. That felt like a primary. Was it as a result of he knew he hadn’t killed anybody? He thought it was in all probability extra doubtless a results of them beginning the combat 5 versus one. How might he really feel unhealthy about something he did in that scenario?

When the taxi—as Victor considered it—pulled up in entrance of his home, he was happy to have solidified his outlook. He shouldn’t really feel responsible about any of that enterprise, least of all damaging the dungeon. How was he imagined to understand how fragile it was? For all he knew, the System and any surroundings it ruled had been indestructible. He discovered himself nearly trying ahead to the so-called inquest. In his thoughts, there was no method the council’s accusations would stand as much as logic.

The driving force requested for 5 Power beads, and Victor handed him ten, amazed that anybody might make a dwelling on so little. He’d barely reached the gate resulting in his little courtyard when Valla slammed into him, wrapping her arms round his waist in a vise-like squeeze. “Oof!” Victor laughed.

“I’m so glad you’re dwelling. Rumors on the public home had been wild! Some folks thought you’d be imprisoned!”

“What the hell? Why?”

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Valla regarded up at him, squinting within the daylight. “As I mentioned, rumors—drunken ones, at that. Folks appeared to assume the council would maintain you chargeable for the dungeon’s harm. Lesh wished to search out the council constructing, however he was drunk, and I hoped you or Ranish Dar would ship phrase to us. Nicely, extra, I hoped you’d come dwelling. And right here you’re!” She laughed and squeezed him once more.

“Nicely, no matter rumors you heard had been solely half-right,” Victor sighed, returning her hug, urgent her in opposition to him, gently stroking her again, and operating his fingers alongside the mushy ridges of her feathers.

“Half-right?” She regarded up at him, and Victor grew weary of stretching his neck down, so he forged Alter Self, bringing himself nearer to her top.

“It was nerve-wracking, however watching Lesh cheer and listening as you rapidly turned a crowd favourite was enjoyable, too. Naturally, figuring out in regards to the Lifesavers helped, however I heard one of many entrants died. Is that true?”

“Yeah, early on, I noticed that message.” Victor rubbed a hand by his hair, sighing as he felt the grit sticking between his fingers. “I didn’t meet the individual, and I’m unsure who eradicated them. You didn’t see it on the display?”

Valla started chopping some greens and turned on the sink; all of it regarded a lot like a scene out of a contemporary Earth kitchen that Victor felt a bizarre wave of one thing like déjà vu, so sturdy that it began up some butterflies in his abdomen. She turned and answered, “No. Whenever you weren’t on the central viewing window, I watched your smaller window more often than not. I missed it.”

Victor nodded and stood, jerking a thumb towards the hallway resulting in the bedrooms. “You care if I am going clear up? I might use a soak within the bathtub if there’s time.”

“After all! I ought to have instructed it.” She put down the knife and came visiting to him. “I’d be part of you, however I’m having fun with the concept of cooking one thing good. I invited the others, too. Do you thoughts? We’ll spend a whole lot of time alone tonight, sure?”

“Yeah. Yeah, that’s good. Thanks, Valla.” He regarded over to the counter in the beginning of her preparations and added, “In the event you’re drained, we might take a nap. I’ve obtained tons of ready meals in my storage rings . . .”

“No! We’ll have one thing contemporary. There’s a lot to have fun and much more to debate; Lam met somebody you’ll discover fascinating, and Darren and Edeya will get pleasure from some recommendation about their first dungeon.”

“Oh yeah? Nicely, now you’ve piqued my curiosity.” Victor leaned down and, intending to provide her a fast kiss, discovered himself wrapped up in one thing much more amorous. Valla’s mouth tasted just like the fruit he’d simply eaten, and she or he will need to have favored one thing about his as a result of neither broke it off rapidly. After a number of lengthy, feverish moments whereas each of them did some exploring with their fingers, she lastly pushed him off.

“Tonight!” she panted, breathless.

“Proper,” he chuckled, wiping his mouth with a smile.

“Did you simply wipe my kiss off?”

“Uh . . .”

Valla laughed and pushed him once more. “I’m teasing! Go get cleaned up; you stink.”

“I stink?” Victor grinned, then he stepped ahead, squatted, stretched his arms round Valla’s hips, hooking them just under her butt, and hoisted her over his shoulder. “I feel that dinner can wait a couple of minutes. I’m kidnapping you!” As she howled in protest, slapping his butt along with her palms as she dangled behind him, Victor carried her again to the bed room and their non-public bathtub.

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Arcus Volpuré leaned in opposition to the excessive, limewashed brick wall, gazing down the road on the little villa gate the enormous and his winged girl had simply stepped by. So, this was his dwelling. He’d anticipated one thing grander, however measurement and prowess didn’t essentially translate to class. Nonetheless, it stung a bit extra figuring out a peasant had gotten the higher of him. Strista shifted beside him, pulling her cowl ahead, additional sinking her visage into shadow. “Nervous?” he requested, his skinny lips curling right into a smile.

“After all. I mentioned I used to be fascinated by vengeance, not suicide.”

“Chill out. Didn’t you see how they fell throughout one another when she got here to the gate? He received’t be again out quickly. Even when he did, it’s not like we’re doing something untoward; we’re simply out for a stroll.”

“As if he’d purchase that. Two folks he’d simply vanquished occurred to walk into this outdated slum?” She turned and gestured towards town. “Come. You’ve seen his dwelling. It’s sufficient for now.”

“A fearful little chook, aren’t you?”

Strista turned an enormous golden eye his method, and Arcus needed to hand it to the avians; they might definitely scowl. Her darkish feathers and golden beak solely made it extra extreme. “I’m afraid of him, sure, however I’m not a little bit chook, and I’m not weak. Don’t mock me, Pyromancer!” He observed her hand resting on the coiled whip at her aspect and held up an open palm.

“Peace, woman. I agree; I’ve seen sufficient for now. We should tread calmly with this matter—his grasp is influential.” He had seen sufficient; now that he knew the home, establishing a watchful acquainted could be easy. He’d be taught the person’s routines, be taught extra about his acquaintances, particularly that beautiful, celestial being who’d simply met him on the gate, and discover a approach to extract some fee, be it materials or symbolic. “I’ll have justice,” he whispered harshly, turning to his coach parked on the nook. “Come, I’ll ship you to Balefor Estates. You continue to reside there, sure?”

“That’s proper. Can your coach fly, then? It’s moderately distant.”

“Oh, aye. On wings of flame, no much less. I’m completely happy for the journey; we will talk about who else would possibly get pleasure from our little alliance. The enormous made no small checklist of enemies yesterday. With just a few good minds coming collectively, I am certain we will consider a approach to extract our due.”

Strista nodded and took his proffered hand, cautious to not hook his tender flesh along with her needle-like talons. They’d recognized one another most of their lives and had, as soon as upon a time, been lovers. Now, although, Arcus had little time for romantic distractions; he was shut to really understanding the character of fireside, to turning into one with it. Nicely, he’d been nearer two days in the past. Now that he’d fallen again into the eighth tier, he had years of arduous work forward of him to regain what he’d misplaced.

Because the thought handed by his thoughts, his physique started to steam, and flames lit up behind his eyes. Strista tried to drag her hand away, however Arcus tamped down the fireplace and continued together with his grip—one thing in him yearned for the closeness regardless of his bravado. One thing in him nonetheless stung from the punishment that bastard large had doled out.