– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 43 –
“Should I just continue calling you Thanatos?” asked Megumi.
“Damian,” said the Thanatos squad leader. “We’ll be setting up fortifications down here. Don’t get in our way.”
“Suits me perfectly. My primary concern is that none of the undead breaks through the Bulwark. Your lives are secondary.”
Damian smirked. “You ...
2022-06-08 10:48:07 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 43 –
Terry and the others were travelling through the desert of black sand.
“I would have never figured your mana signature to be aspected,” said Megumi from the front.
“I’m more surprised that they let an aspect-impaired mage into Arcana Academy,” said Lizzy, who was walking next to the Captain. “You would think if anyone knew how to ...
2022-06-08 10:47:40 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 38 –
Terry jolted awake. His heart palpitated, and he broke out in a sweat. He examined his surroundings.
“Bed?”
His memory of the last day was hazy at best. He had no recollection of entering this room. Terry was glad to discover that he was still wearing his armor. He hurriedly checked his equipment – dagger, ring, throwing needles, storag...
2022-06-08 10:47:07 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 32 –
“How far away?” asked Terry.
“Around four hundred Terrys,” replied Devon. “Almost there.”
“How come we haven’t encountered anything on our way here?”
Yeah, I was so looking forward to meeting possessed terror grizzlies and elemental armies. You know, the real authentic Wastes experience. NO, I was not. Why are you ...
2022-06-08 10:46:42 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 32 –
“WHY? WHY ALWAYS NAKED?! WHY?”
Terry tripped while running but caught himself and continued dashing into the direction of the voice.
You’re screwing with me, aren’t you? Are you making voices? Admit it.
Am I going crazy or you? Heh. Redundant. Distinction without a difference.
Hello?
An...
2022-06-08 10:46:12 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 21 –
“What’s the idea?” asked Mia. She caught Brynn’s raised eyebrow. “Don’t get me wrong. Today, you are generously paying for my time and I am not exactly complaining, but I also don’t enjoy peddling in false hope.”
“No need to call it false,” grumbled Bjorln.
“I sympathize with your feelings, but we have examined everythin...
2022-06-08 10:45:47 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 17 –
Bjorln held out his hand and helped up Jorg over the ledge.
“The best time for harvesting the soothing dew is shortly after the sun has fully risen,” said Bjorln. “We’re still early. Come, let’s sit down.”
They settled next to each other on the mountain plateau. In the distance, they could see the Guardians’ training grounds and...
2022-06-08 10:45:20 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 16 –
“S-sorry for being late,” apologized Lori.
Elena stood up and walked over.
“No worries,” replied Tiana. “We still need to pick a mission, anyway.”
“How are you holding up?” asked Elena. She examined her best friend concernedly.
“It’s—” Lori sighed and shook her head. “I’ll manage. Thanks for askin...
2022-06-08 10:44:39 +0000 UTC View Post– Beginning of Arc 2, Undying Defiance –
– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 8 –
Isille opened the door and saw the two bundles of misery staring blankly into nothingness.
“Get up and get dressed,” ordered Isille. “We are going for a walk.”
Lori and Jorg did not answer. They had barely spoken a mouthful of words since Terry’s disappearance a week a...
2022-06-08 10:44:15 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 1 –
“No trace of him,” muttered Siling with a voice full of anguish. She turned towards the group. “Neither Grumpy nor I can sense Terry’s life signature. In fact, there is no life signature matching folks aside from us.”
Just like that, the last bit of color vanished from Jorg’s face. Tiana gritted her teeth and looked around without knowin...
2022-06-08 10:40:22 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 1 –
The group was slowly walking towards a passageway into the next room. Elena continued to carry the silent Gellath on her back. Fortunately, the rooms after their face-off with the inscribed earth giant had been familiar again. The layouts were the same as on their way down. The creatures were roughly the same as well.
“So, what are those items?”...
2022-06-08 10:39:52 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Rising Sun, Day 100 –
It was quiet in the room. This only made Gellath’s occasional whimpers seem even more deafening. They had tried to get him to talk again, but Gellath had not responded to their shouts.
“The inscribed earth giant does not leave its range,” said Tiana. “The other grounded constructs obstruct the path to Gellath. None of them are showing any s...
2022-06-08 10:39:28 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Rising Sun, Day 100 –
“Sounds workable,” murmured Tiana. “If we can use the layout to our advantage, that would make things a lot easier.”
“Siling and I will try to create a new opening on the right,” said Lori. “Then, the openings in both walls are aligned and we can break through without following the narrow passage. Maybe we can even trap some of the du...
2022-06-08 10:39:04 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Rising Sun, Day 99 –
*Hong* A deep bell-like sound echoed through the dungeon room and then the entire floor quaked abruptly. *WRRRROOOMM!*
For a moment, there was utter silence.
“Did anyone else’s sphincter just clench itself?” asked Miguel. “Or is that just me? What was that sound? Is the dungeon supposed to shake and make that...
2022-06-08 10:38:34 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Rising Sun, Day 99 –
Terry half hoped that the Mark-and-Recall spell scrolls would turn out to be faulty products. Alas, no such luck. All Mark spells were successful.
Terry felt that the mana suppression inside was noticeably different. When he voiced his concerns, Alrik shut him down and blamed his nerves. Most of the others were too excite...
2022-06-08 10:38:08 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Rising Sun, Day 95 –
“This one looks interesting,” judged Miguel. He pulled out a pamphlet for a corrupted culling mission from the pre-approved list provided by the local Guardian advisors.
The three groups of Terry and his siblings had all agreed to team up and travel together in order to get some broader experience with various mission types. They had alre...
2022-06-08 10:37:38 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 215, Season of the Rising Sun, Day 52 –
“Are you certain that your soul has fully recovered?” asked Terry. “There is no rush. We can wait.”
“Yes yes,” replied Siling. “I’m fine.”
“Putting the recovery topic to one side for the moment, are you really sure that you want that as your next soul spirit?” questioned Tiana. She was looking with disgust a...
2022-06-08 10:37:09 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 73 –
Siling and Terry were whispering to each other.
“About finished with your scheming?” asked Tiana with a confident smirk on her face.
“Sure,” replied Terry and grinned. Today, he had come prepared with a plan and with his newly purchased mana-crafted item: a fingerless corset glove.
It took way longer to get the glove than Terry...
2022-06-08 10:36:45 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 63 –
“Uhh…” Siling blinked with a blank face until she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Excuse me, but what?!”
Terry cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head. “Uhm, I don’t think you’re very good at this.”
Tiana rolled her eyes and hissed through gritted teeth: “Do you have a better plan...
2022-06-08 10:36:20 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 49 –
“Lori, STOP!” yelled Jorg. “What in mana is going on with you today? This is a spar, not a wasted death match.”
“Tse.” Lori rolled her eyes.
“Seriously!” Jorg shook his head with an exasperated look. “Stop bursting so much. Or do you not like your mana channels anymore? Is that it? If you want to destroy them, go get a pill...
2022-06-08 10:35:55 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 46 –
“Run or jog?” asked Miguel.
Terry looked to Siling.
“No need to worry about me. I got Furball.” Siling climbed on the back of the soul bear spirit. “I will keep an eye out for bandits entering our tunnel.”
“Then you and I should take point,” said Terry. “Keep our barrier items close and ready, just in case.”
T...
2022-06-08 10:35:32 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 46 –
Terry noticed the link between his and Siling’s Guardian card flash. The time had come. He silently sneaked towards the edge of the ledge and leaped over it.
He used his spell and his metal gymnastic rings to position himself directly on top of his target. He inhaled slowly and retrieved the prepared dart together with a cloth drenched in anesth...
2022-06-08 10:35:02 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 46 –
A tall man with a dark grey coat and well-worn travel boots nodded briefly. “Greetings Mirabilia. Greetings Isille.”
“Morning Khaled,” returned the human woman while Isille next to her silently raised her hand as a greeting.
“Are these the examinees for today?” asked Khaled. He lifted his chin at Terry’s group. “A few f...
2022-06-08 10:34:35 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 20 –
Samuel waited until everyone had moved past the passage door and into the second half of the room. “Before we go on, why are you all here? We have already covered what you will find in a dungeon: inevitable death. But what is it that you seek?” He looked at Jorg.
“Riches, duh,” announced Alrik. Jorgen frowned, but nodded.
“And adve...
2022-06-08 10:33:55 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Setting Moon, Day 20 –
“Hah…”
The family was going towards the dungeon entrance to meet up with the others.
“Hmph…”
“You know, Florine,” started Isille with a decidedly unamused tone. “My child, my beloved daughter, apple of my eye, if you have something to say, then why don’t you say it? If you hoped we can int...
2022-06-08 10:33:24 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Rising Moon, Day 95 –
“This is…” Calam inhaled deeply and then whined in a drawl: “Boooring!”
“Harvesting the midnight primrose or scanning the local wildlife for signs of mana corruption?” asked Terry drily.
“Yes!” groaned Calam.
Siling chuckled. “I do not mind a relaxing mission now and then, especially if they pay well.”
Today,...
2022-06-08 10:33:02 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Rising Moon, Day 91 –
A few days after they had taken the mana cursed introduction together, Terry’s group was waiting again at a dimensional gate to leave Arcana, but this time, a supervisor from the Guardians was waiting with them.
Eventually, a short old man approached them. He had a wrinkly face, a kind smile, and twinkling eyes. “Greetings, young ones.” He ch...
2022-06-08 10:32:21 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Rising Moon, Day 86 –
Terry, Siling, and Calam were waiting at the dimensional gate in the eastern district of Arcana.
Today, the three could easily be identified as belonging to the same group because they were all wearing similar armors. They had made a deal with one of the local blacksmiths and got a discount in exchange for providing the materials from the cloud bad...
2022-06-08 10:31:37 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Rising Moon, Day 31 –
“Aunt Brynn,” started Terry, “You mentioned once that you are aspect gifted in the air aspect, right? Why haven’t I ever seen you cast an air spell?”
Terry, Lori, and Brynn were taking a break from mana crafting practice.
“Is it not obvious?” retorted Brynn and gestured at her crafting materials. “It’s because I do no...
2022-06-08 10:31:00 +0000 UTC View Post– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 214, Season of the Rising Moon, Day 20 –
“First the basics,” said Brynn. In front of her, Lori and Terry were sitting with eager eyes. “Mana crafting is an umbrella term for several techniques. The most common ones are: Aspecting, imprinting, carving, and rune inscriptions.”
Brynn tapped her right index finger on her chin. “Normally, that is also the order in which we teach them...
2022-06-08 10:30:19 +0000 UTC View Post