Chapter III
The Outside World
After making a quick stopover at his quarters to return the Dragon Staff to its resting place, along with a short visit to the washroom. Tiberius had set out for his rendezvous with the Floor Guardians.
The weather outside the mountain was pleasant enough.
The cool breeze wafted across the plateau felt pleasant on the Dragonoid's scaled skin. Far above the real sun, its radiant warmth kissed his golden scales, and cast small shadows.
Although Tiberius had seen this view before, it had been at night.
His dark vision ability had allowed him to see much more than he otherwise would've, it was still hampered. The colours and details were muddled by the lack of illumination.
What he could see now took his breath away.
Far in the distance, sunlight glittered on the tops of the snow-capped mountains.
Stretching out before Tyrnaust, the trees with their lush and verdant green stretched out like a sea. Gentle breezes caused the leaf-covered limbs to sway and bow simulating the ripples and waves.
Thanks to his keen eyesight the Dragonoid could make out the forms of birds –real birds- flicker through the treetops. While in the sky above he made out a few larger birds, probably more predatory types like hawks or falcons gliding upon the thermal updrafts.
These updrafts carried with them the fresh unpolluted scent of this world. He could detect the scents of various types of flora and fauna.
The air was so clean. No thick smog banks to waft through the landscape threatening to choke anyone without the proper breathing equipment. Smog banks that marked their passing with an oily residue on most surfaces.
Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily on gentle breezes across the brilliant blue sky without a care for their destination. So different from the heavy dark clouds that clogged the skies back on earth. Clouds to whose presence sent people seeking shelter from the acidic rain.
This world was different.
This was a world unspoiled by industry and the machinations of mankind.
Gazing at the vista bestowed a sense of wonder the Dragonoid hadn't felt since his early days playing YGGDRASIL. Just as then, Tiberius felt he could spend endless hours just watching the clouds drift.
Nevertheless, there was work to be done.
Pulling himself away from his idle musings Tiberius turned away and continued on his way towards the Rotunda.
Within the white marble building, the air was cool and still. Passing through the foyer the Dragonoid entered the Throne Room. Here he took note of the room's two occupants.
Nido and little Kip stood at the base of the multi-tiered throne podium.
"Good morning, my liege." Nido offered his greeting with a customary deep bow.
"Kip wishes master well mornin' too," the Kobold offered in his raspy voice. A smile spread on his muzzle as his reptilian tail wagged in a rather canine-like fashion.
"Nido, Kip," Tiberius nodded in acknowledgment, "I trust the two of you are doing well."
"Indeed, we could not be better." Kip nodded enthusiastically his agreement with the other's words. "Thank you for inquiring."
Tiberius quickly surveyed the room, making sure he hadn't missed seeing anyone else.
"I don't see Yuliana around. Do you know where she might be?"
" I do believe that Lady Yuliana has gone ahead to await your arrival at the doors of the Council Chamber. Along with sirs Aeon, Koraboros, and Mathias."
It mildly surprised him as he half expected to find the Guardian Overseer and the others waiting for him. Especially given the demeanor she'd displayed during their conversation.
"Yess, yess, she takes the others with her."
The Kobold chirped.
"Well in the case I shall be going to meet them." Tiberius paused, his head swiveled around, "As the Chief Attendant, I believe your presence could prove useful."
The one-eyed man nodded and fell in behind the Dragonoid. As the pair prepared to leave a soft whimper caught the attention of both individuals. Turning their gaze fell upon the diminutive bard.
The Kobold upon the lowest step of the dais with his head drooped on his shoulders as his tail hung motionless. Kip absently fidgeted with his hands. Something Tiberius noted he seemed to do often, perhaps it was a nervous tick or something. The Kobold's silver eyes stared up the pair with a wide sorrowful gaze. His intentions were made clear to any that gazed upon him.
Tiberius looked upon the reptilian's pitiful display and sighed.
"Very well, Kip. You can join us as well."
In an instant, the Kobold's once somber mood was lightened as a wide toothy grin returned to Kip's lips.
Together the three moved away from the room's center and towards a side passage that would lead to their destination. Upon reaching the winding stairs Tiberius began to regret his decision in choosing the meeting's location.
But there was nothing to be done about it now.
The Dragonoid assumed a slightly hunched stance and with Nido and Kip in tow began to ascend the stairs.
Reaching the top of the stairwell, Tiberius could see the four individuals waiting patiently in the middle of the hall outside the Council Chamber.
Yuliana stood at the forefront of the small group, Koraboros and Aeon stood shoulder to shoulder behind her. A short distance behind them stood the Fae Abomination, Mathias.
An air of apprehension hung heavy over the group.
Though Tiberius didn't fully understand the reasoning behind it. He likened it to the group waiting for admittance into an exclusive club. After all, it was one thing to know of the club's existence, but something entirely different from being made a member.
Stopping before the group the Dragonoid was received with a bow.
Pressing his palm flat against the smooth finish of the white oak doors, he applied gentle pressure.
The doors parted and permitted the party to enter the Council Chamber.
The room beyond was that of a large rectangle with a high vaulted ceiling. The floor was a polished redwood overlain with a rug of scarlet with patterns of golden swirls. High overhead multicoloured paper lanterns danced against the backdrop of the blue granite ceiling. The glow of the lanterns illuminated the chamber below.
The eastern and western walls were lined by tiered auditorium seating. The base of the grandstands was elevated above the ground by three feet. This extra height necessitated a short staircase for access. The grandstands themselves were carved from a dark rosewood, lacquered, and polished to a shine. Each pew was covered by a thick cushion of green velvet with silver trim. It was in these stands that the members of the Sanguine Dragons would sit and take part in the guild meetings.
At the center of the room, between the two grandstands sat a long rectangular conference table made from the same dark rosewood. The table was lined on either side by ten ornate high-backed chairs. The seat and backs of the chairs were covered by purple cushions with gold trim. These twenty seats were reserved for the guild's officers.
At the head of the table sat a chair reserved for the Guild Master.
The chair was gilded with gold leaf, the legs carved to resemble those of a dragon, armrests like scaled serpents, and crowning the high-backed chair was a horned wolf head. The beast had an alert expression, with ears perked and eyes wide. Atop its head, a pair of silver horns, around these horns a golden circlet, bejeweled with diamond-shaped pieces of Auroracite.
The chair was something they'd found on the auction house and picked up because it looked cool. But looking back on it, Tiberius felt the chair had been overpriced and far too gaudy.
Tiberius entered the chamber without hesitation. To him, the room was nothing of extraordinary worth. It was just a simple room meant for the simple purpose of conducting the guild's daily business.
In the time it took the Dragonoid to cross the room and take his place at the head of the table NPCs had hardly moved. The group remained standing in the doorway, their collective gaze scanning the room. Occasionally their eyes would linger on some spot for a moment or two before moving on. This lingering gaze gave the impression they were seeing something that Tiberius could not.
It was only when the Dragonoid motioned for them to join him did they begin to move.
Their movements were slow and measured as they moved deeper into the room. It was the type of motion one would expect someone to use when in a sacred place.
Tiberius watched them closely as they approached. Upon reaching the far end of the table the NPCs split.
Mathias, Aeon, and Yuliana took the tenth, seventh, and third seats on the left side. While Koraboros and Nido moved to take the sixth and first chairs on the right. Little Kip, however, didn't choose any seat and instead moved to take his place standing upon Tiberius' left at the head of the table.
Their choice of seating was something that surprised Tiberius.
Very weird. Why did they choose those seats? Did they somehow know their creators had those seats? Or is it simply a coincidence that they just happened to pick those?
The Dragonoid gestured towards the chairs, "Please be seated."
Adhering to formal protocols the NPCs stood by until their master had taken his seat before seating themselves.
"Before we begin, I would like to apologize for my apparent absence the other day. It would seem that I had been left rather drained."
At the mention of their master's dilemma Koraboros' face bore a serious expression.
"Perhaps shifting through the worlds had drained you of your energies, my lord. If that is the case then perhaps it would be best for you to rest longer and regain your strength."
Tiberius surveyed the faces of the others. Nido and Mathias were hard to read with their impassiveness. While Aeon with his face hidden by the shadows of his helmet making it equally difficult to understand his thoughts. However, it was the beauty to the Dragonoid's left displayed that her inner thoughts most clearly.
"Yuliana, something you wish to say?"
For a moment the Guardian Overseer seemed to hold her tongue.
"Sir Koraboros does put forth a fair point, my lord. Your welfare is our primary concern. And given recent events, would it not be best for you to recuperate. After all, how can we be certain that other ill effects are not present?"
Tiberius listened to her words and thought about the matter.
Perhaps they were right. This whole situation was full of unknowns, maybe it would be best that he take more time to rest. Yet he felt fine since waking up. Well aside from the sore neck.
But it was not outside the realm of possibility that during the transition to this world something had happened to him. Something beyond the obvious transformation into his being an eight-foot-tall bipedal dragon.
What if his stats had been affected? Could there be some kind of debuff that affected his energy levels? What if every time he fell asleep it would be for a day, or worse maybe longer? Sleeping for such long intervals was not something Tiberius could really afford to deal with right now.
"Very well, I concede your point. Therefore to alleviate your concerns after this meeting is concluded I shall speak with Neeshka. Will that be acceptable?"
Hearing their master address their concerns did much to dissipate the tension that hung over the Guardians like a cloud.
Tiberius nodded.
"Now to begin. Yuliana, how has your audit of our current holdings progressed?"
Being addressed the Guardian Overseer rose from her seat. As she rose Yuliana produced a compilation of papers that Tiberius was certain she didn't have a moment ago.
"I have begun taking inventory of the Great Treasury and storage cells. However, given the extensive size and scope of the treasury. It shall take some time to fully catalog. Although early estimates show that Tyrnaust's resources far outstrip the current levels of expenditure. To this end, we could effectively operate under this elevated status for many years to come before we begin to see a meaningful impact."
"Thank you, Yuliana. Those resources will serve us well. However, we will still need to seek ways to recover those losses. I do not feel comfortable solely relying on our holdings with no backup plan."
At his words, the beauty gave a heartfelt smile before performing a graceful half-curtsey and returned to her seat.
The Dragonoid's gaze shifted along the length of the table.
"Aeon, what do you have to report?"
The Seraphim rose, his armour clinking lightly in the quiet of the room.
"The mountain is secure and remains on high alert as directed. In coordinating with my compatriots, Lady Yuliana and Sir Koraboros, we have begun to send expeditionary scouts into the forest which surrounds Tyrnaust. As of yet, there have been no indications of intruders within the established perimeter. Furthermore, under the recommendation of Sir Koraboros, we have directed creatures such as mimics to be stationed within the forest to serve as scouts."
The Dragonoid leaned forwards, placing his elbows on the polished tabletop, and rested his snout on the interwoven fingers of his hands.
"I see, an early warning system of posted sentries would give us a clear advantage should an enemy appear. A very sound idea. Though we must also take care the enemy does not detect them and we lose that advantage. With that, I believe we can afford to lower the alert status of the mountain back to more moderate levels."
"But my liege, are you sure that such an action is warranted? There is still much of the area left unsurveyed."
"There seems to be a lack of threats within our immediate vicinity and with your preparations, I do not see why not. Lowering the mountain's status does not mean becoming complacent."
"By your command," the Seraphim gave a deep nod of understanding before being seated once more.
"Now then. Mathias and Koraboros, what progress have you made in your divinations?"
The fashionably dressed Fae Abomination shared a look with his demonic compatriot then stood.
"Starting with the mountain as the center I have moved the divination outward in concentric circles. To that end, I have managed to map much of the surrounding forest and the foothills of the nearby mountains."
From the billowy sleeve of his robe, Mathias produced a bound roll of what appeared to be parchment. He turned and extended his arm, offering up the roll to his master.
Before the Dragonoid could rise from his seat, a low grunt came from his right.
Nido cleared his throat once more, his one blue eye locked onto the small reptilian bard on the opposite side of the table.
It seemed to take the Kobold a moment before he let out a sharp yelp.
"Oh, yess."
Jumping into action, his reptilian feet pattered on the scarlet rug as he scampered to the far end of the table. Kip paused before the much larger figure of the canine skull-headed Fae. His small hands were held up waiting to receive the cargo.
Mathias tilted his head and placed the roll of parchment into his waiting hands. The small retile offered up a grin of thanks before hurrying back to the head of the table.
"For you, master."
Kip's bright eyes shone with eager glee and he held out his paper cargo.
"Thank you, Kip."
Tiberius offered the Kobold a small smile of appreciation as he took the roll of parchment from him.
"Forgive the simplicity of the illustration, this is only a rough draft. Once I have a more complete image of the area I shall refine the work."
Placing the parcel on the table before him, the Dragonoid unrolled the paper.
Unfurled the full size of the parchment became apparent, now it stretched out a good twenty-four inches across. A clear grid pattern was stenciled on the paper to divide it into numerous tiny squares. Occupying the central square a sketch of the mountain, below it in a fancy calligraphy a label spelled out "Tyrnaust". Surrounding the mountain were identical stencils that represented the dense forest. Although on close inspection the individual stencils looked akin to broccoli clusters than trees.
To the northwest of Tyrnaust a long line of similarly shaped markings. No doubt these represented the nearby mountain chain. Further along the chain and situated near the base of the mountains a large oblong shape –somewhat resembling a kidney- that simply tagged "Large Body of Water". Far to the east of Tyrnaust, it appeared the forest thinned out. Or at least that's what Tiberius assumed as the drawings of the tree clusters grew less numerous. They were instead replaced by countless hatch marks and the words "Grasslands". Beyond that, the majority of the parchment remained empty.
Overall it was an effective though rudimentary map of the surroundings.
However, as the Dragonoid studied the map his attention was captured by a pair of markings to the south of Tyrnaust.
Lying almost directly to the south of the mountain was a crude illustration of a house. While to the south-southwest of the mountain stood a grouping of these houses.
The Dragonoid's flame-coloured eyes seemed to glow.
Pulling his attention from the map, Tiberius' eyes fell upon the Fae Abomination who still stood at the far end of the conference table.
As if he was anticipating his master's question Mathias spoke.
"Those markers represent the two locations I have found to be inhabited."
The news of this discovery floored the Dragonoid
Tiberius' gaze returned to the roughly drawn map before him.
So there was life here after all. He had expected that at some point they would find signs of this world's inhabitants. But to find them so quickly and in relatively close proximity was surprising.
So many questions ran through his head.
Just who were they? What were they like? Were they even human or were they something else? All these questions and more boiled down to just one simple statement.
"Tell me."
Mathias nodded, "I discovered the smaller habitation center first. Upon its discovery, I immediately notified Koraboros of my findings."
As if on cue the regally dressed Demon Lord rose from his seat.
"Indeed, he did. After making my way to the Orrery I conferred with Mathias as to the nature of his discovery. Then through the use of the divination crystal, we observed the location for some time. To ascertain a more detailed understanding we made use of the cover of night to dispatch a troupe of Shadow Demons to conduct a more in-depth investigation."
"What have they learned?"
It came as no surprise to Tiberius when he too produced a stack of papers.
When the demonic guardian made an offer of these papers to his master it was Nido who stood. The one-eyed attendant made the short trip to his comrade to retrieve the papers. With the reports in hand, Nido returned to his seat before handing off the stack of files to the seated Dragonoid.
Taking the documents in hand Tiberius began to sift through them.
The stack was actually made of several smaller stacks. Each stack was bound by a thin lace of cord. Moving passed the cover page, Tiberius' eyes scanned over the information within.
Each page was near filled to the brim with text discussing a myriad of subjects.
These reports are really thorough. He even made charts.
"Impressive," the Dragonoid skimmed over many of the pages before setting the pile down. "But for now would you summarize your findings."
Tiberius leaned back and gestured to Koraboros to continue.
The Demon Lord nodded with a sharp grin.
"The location to our immediate south appears to be a human village situated on the border of the forest and grasslands. The village itself consists of simple stone and wooden structures. There are a number of well-used earthen roads that lead into and out of the village.
Reports from the Shadow Demons indicate the number of humans is approximately one-hundred-twenty. They can be furthered divided into twenty-five familial units. The inhabitants appear to be primarily made up of farmers that work in nearby fields. There are a few who seem to make their living hunting and gathering from the forest. But the majority seem to avoid it. There don't appear to be any soldiers amidst their numbers, so their overall combat capabilities are low to non-existent.
Upon the Shadow Demons completion of their survey, I assigned them to follow the roads. To increase their speed, we divided the numbers into groups of two."
"Excellent, a sound plan, Koraboros. I take that is how the second site was located?"
"I cannot take credit for its discovery. That honour belongs to Mathias."
The Demon Lord gave a slight bow and motioned across the table.
Though the Fae Abomination's fleshless head betrayed no emotions. The same could not be said for his eyes. Those red pinpricks of light glowed and seemed to dance in empty sockets with delight.
"It was a simple matter, my lord. As I examined the various pathways I noticed the road leading to the southwest appeared to be the best-preserved. This would indicate it saw the most traffic and I would assume at regular intervals to warrant its maintenance. Thus I merely followed it to the logical conclusion, which meant this road would lead to another settlement."
The Fae paused.
"As for the second location, it could best be described as a fortress city. Given the dimensions observed we estimate it supports a population in the order of ten-thousand or more."
"Have any details beyond that?"
Koraboros straightened up as he answered his lord's inquiry.
"I am afraid we do not, my liege. Given the number of inhabitants this municipality supports and the obvious sophistication over those of their village-bound kin. I felt it best for the Shadow Demons to not enter right away."
Tiberius rubbed his thumb along his lower jaw in thought.
"Prudent thinking. A city of that size and wealth could assuredly afford far great defenses than a simple village. It is also possible they could have the means to detect and counter the Shadow Demons."
"Your words of praise are most kind," the Demon Lord spoke.
"Mathias, you have done well."
Again the Fae's eyes seemed to twinkle.
Silence descended over the room.
So now we know that the world does have humans in it after all. Which is good, they might have some answers. Though what should my next move be?
The Dragonoid turned his eyes towards the ceiling, absentmindedly following the movement of the lanterns overhead.
I guess if you think about it there really is the only course of action. We have to make contact with them seeing as we can't hold up in the mountain forever. Besides, we need information and we need to test the disposition of the locals.
Shifting in his seat Tiberius moved to stand.
"I wish to thank you all for your efforts in this matter. Particularly in lieu of my unplanned absence."
"Such praise is unnecessary. We merely sought to fulfill your wishes, my lord."
"Yes, our service to you is rewards enough."
The iron-like voice of Aeon joined the words put forth by his demonic compatriot.
Yuliana shared a smile with her fellows before turning to face the Dragonoid.
"What they say is true. Your will is all that matters to us and it is our pleasure to see it made manifest."
"You all have my gratitude nonetheless." Tiberius inclined his head to the gathering in a sort of bow. "As to the matter of human settlements, simple observation can only grant us so much information. To this end, I have decided to put forth the effort to make contact with them myself."
A tenuous silence settled over the gathering.
"Surely you jest, sire."
It was Aeon who voiced his incredulity of his master's words. It was a disbelief that the others too shared.
"I must agree. Making contact at this junction may not be wise, my lord."
While the others voiced their own opinions it was the Kobold who garnered the Dragonoid's attention.
Kip edged forwards to stand beside his master's seat and placed a small-clawed hand upon the armrest.
"Yess, master. It not safe goings alone. What if master gets hurt?"
Hearing his words seemed to trigger something within Tiberius. A low rumble of warning left the Dragonoid's throat.
"Are you implying that I am weak? That I am unable to defend myself?"
The Kobold flinched and backed away. Hunching over he attempted to make himself a smaller target for his lord's anger.
"No, of course not."
"Then just what are you suggesting?"
"You said so yourself, my lord. We do not know the disposition of the people of this world. Nor do we know the full extent of their capabilities. It is the only logical conclusion to bring along protection into an unknown situation."
Koraboros accented voice cut through the tension as he leaned forward over the table.
After spending the entirety of the meeting in silence, Nido spoke for the first time.
"You are the one chosen by the Creators to lead them. You are the greatest of their number. None within the mountain would doubt your strength. We are only concerned with your safety."
The serenity found within the Chief Attendant's voice seemed to reach through the haze of anger that simmered within the Dragonoid. As the fog cleared a sense of calm returned and smothered the anger to allow Tiberius to think clearly.
They're right. There are too many unknowns in this situation, and they were only expressing their concerns for me. So why did I get so angry about it?
The Dragonoid sighed and allowed his posture to relax.
"Very well, I understand. I will not go alone to make contact."
But who should I take with me? I could take one of the Valkyries but what if they're not strong enough if trouble occurs. Aeon and Naziah are out, their angelic wings would stick out like a sore thumb. Same for Lyleth. Koraboros could fit in but he is a Demon Lord. So it might not be best to bring him along. I don't know how suite Nido would be if we run into a fight. And Kip's abilities are meant for group support. So I guess that just leaves, Yuliana.
Turning the golden-scaled being inclined his head and looked to the Guardian Overseer.
"Yuliana, would you be willing to accompany me on this outing?"
At his words, the raven-haired guardian's usual smile grew wider.
"Yes, of course. I shall join you and I pledge myself wholly unto you. I shall protect you even if it costs my life."
Hearing her declaration and contemplating the possibility of her demise caused a knot to form in the pit of Tiberius' stomach.
"I doubt such things will come to pass. Just be ready when I call upon you."
"I shall, Lord Tiberius."
The Guardian Overseer performed a half-bow from her seated position.
"Aeon, Koraboros, I want the two of you to also be prepared should we require reinforcements." The pair nodded in understanding. "Then unless there is any further business to discuss, this meeting is adjourned."
The assembled NPCs rose from their ornate chairs and bowed deeply to the golden scaled Dragonoid.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Tiberius rounded the head of the long table and strode towards the chamber's exit. The Guardians remained motionless, only their collective gaze moving to follow their master. Only once the armoured Dragonoid had left their presence did the group return to life.
As the doors closed behind their master the group's collective gaze fell upon the Guardian Overseer.
Koraboros returned to his seat and rested his chin upon an upturned palm while gazing behind his loose bangs.
"You do realize the severity of the task you've taken upon yourself?"
The Demon Lord's accented voice was cold yet firm in its tone.
Yuliana turned to meet his calculating gaze with her own hardened stare.
"Of course I do. Just as well as any who live within the mountain do."
"It is always easy to make such claims when one's convictions are not put to the test," Aeon's iron voice rang out, "However, it is something different to truly live up to those convictions in the face of adversity."
Hearing another voice their apparent doubts provoked Yuliana. Clinching her fists she turned to glare sharply at the Seraphim.
"Do you now doubt my abilities?"
"We are not doubting your ability. Nor are we questioning your devotion." Koraboros' reply was measured and carried the weight of the situation. "We simply wish to impress upon you the true weight of the position in which you find yourself. The Supreme One is the heart of this mountain. Without Lord Tiberius, I fear all would crumble."
"Now, now my friends. There is no need for a show of hostilities. Not here, not in this place." Nido's voice rose above the others. Yet he had not raised his voice, allowing it to preserve the calm. "Here the Creators met to solve their problems, not to do battle. Can we not do the same?"
The word of the older male hung heavy over the heads of the group.
"Your words are true," Aeon bowed his head, "Such sacrilegious actions mar the sanctity of this space."
"While I do not necessarily bow to such pious constraints. I will nevertheless agree with the statement. This is not the place to hold such talks."
The Demon Lord spoke as he rose from his seat.
Yuliana released a short sigh.
"Again, Nido you are the voice of reason."
Pausing the Guardian Overseer steered her gaze to the vacant seat at the head of the table. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she turned to face the others.
"I share your fears for the master's wellbeing. He is all that remains of the beings who gave us life. We must not, cannot allow any harm to befall him. To any who wish to stand against his glory. We shall see them brought low and on their knees, they will beg for oblivion."
Bound within those words was the strength and resolve to make them a reality. They were words that matched the feelings and thoughts of those present. At that moment a wordless vow was agreed upon and signified by only a silent nod.
"I suggest we all prepare."
o – o – o – o
Tiberius moved through the cityscape of the Ninth Floor looking for his objective.
The Dragonoid was not seeking his quarters, at least not yet. No, his goal lay near the more crowded center of the floor. Along the way, he passed by many of the floor's once decorative venues.
The luxurious palace-like exterior of the Euphoria Bathhouse loomed large. The exterior was littered with water features. These ranged from simple fountains where the water trickled down the textured wall. To more elaborate creations like the large central fountain before the entrance. Here a large stone dragon sat belching a jet of water into the sky for it to then rain down upon the marble figures of Fauns and Satyrs as they danced around the base. Some of them carried round jugs from which more water poured into the collecting pool.
The Great Forge, a building shaped like the cooling tower of old nuclear power plant designs stood out from its surroundings. Through the opening, Tiberius could see the glow of the forges and hear the sounds of the bellows.
A number of the floor's resident Nymph NPCs could be seen gathered at one of the medieval-style taverns.
Occasionally the Dragonoid would pause to make sure he was headed in the right direction. After all, it had been a long time since he'd last had cause to pay a visit to Neeshka.
Now it should be around here.
A few turns later the Dragonoid stood before his goal.
The structure was a surprising one considering the more urban surroundings.
This building resembled a rather typical fantastical woodland cottage.
It was about two stories tall. Along the roofline, a stone chimney stood high above the golden hay of the thatched roof. Wisps of white smoke flitted up from the terracotta chimney pipe. The walls of the lower level were of simple rough-cut grey stones. Green lichen smothered much of the stone while leafy vines crept up some parts. While those of the upper floor were made of wood covered with plaster and painted a soft khaki. Large picture windows allowed plenty of natural light and under each windowsill a trough filled with colourful flowers.
The cottage sat upon a landscape of lush green grass that stretched out some thirty feet in all directions from the walls of the house. A white picket fence surrounded the manicured lawn, almost as if to keep the outside world from encroaching upon this plot of paradise. The gate was situated under an archway of rod iron with decorative vines of metal. Leading from the gate to the house was a path of flat river rocks of various shapes and sizes. The cottage's front door was sheltered under a pergola of dark wood shrouded with woody vines. The walnut door possessed a stained glass window in the shape of a heart.
Stepping up to the door, the Dragonoid cleared his throat then knocked three times.
A few moments ticked by before Tiberius could hear movement coming from inside the dwelling. The sound of the door latch caught attention followed by the creak of the hinges as the door moved. The door swung wide to reveal the cozy-looking interior and the resident of the domicile.
"Oh, Lord Tiberius."
A cheery feminine voice greeted him.
This was Neeshka, the Chief Healer amongst the NPCs of Tyrnaust.
Neeshka was a heteromorphic monster called a Chimera, meaning her body was an amalgamation of various creatures.
The Chimera stood a little over six feet tall with a body that was overall well proportioned. Full figured like that of a mature woman, including a heavy bosom, and covered in a layer of shaggy white fur. Her head was that of a deer with a short pair of curved goat horns atop her skull and long droopy ears that reached her shoulders. Neeshka's muzzle was, however, rather un-deer-like. Her snout was much broader than that of a herbivore and much more like that of a carnivore. Indeed, her dog-like nose pad and the set of prominent canines that could be seen protruding passed her lips suggested this. Neeshka's irises were a soft lavender in colour with the pupils of a feline, widening in the dark and narrowing to slits in the light. She had long eyelashes that added to her feminine looks. Behind her, in place of a typical corvine tail was something else. Her tail was a long scale-covered appendage that ended in the head of a cobra. It looked as though the serpent had been grafted to her lower spine in place of a tail. From under the edge of her long robe, the fluffy furred four-toed feet of a lion could be seen peeking.
Neeshka was clothed in a simple set of clerics' robes, these robes were composed of several layers. The base layer was a simple gown of lilac cloth that fell to her ankles and was cinched around her waist by a sash of crimson. Embroidered on the gown was a white heart with the Rod of Asclepius at its center. Over this layer, she wore a hooded robe of white-gold with darker amber-gold along its edges. The hooded robe was slightly shorter than the gown, only coming down to just below her knees. The sleeves were loose and billowy while the shoulders were padded. The padding was layered in such a way to create an allusion to angelic wings. Hung around her neck was a platinum chain that glittered in the outside light. Attached to the chain was a pendant of gold shaped like a set of wings, at the center of the wings a heart-shaped gemstone that shone with a kaleidoscope of colours.
The Chimera's lips parted in a toothy smile.
"My lord, to what do I owe this honour?"
"I require your services."
Neeshka nodded and stepped aside to allow the Dragonoid entry to her home.
The lower height of the door was something Tiberius was mindful of as he crossed the threshold.
The inside of the cottage was as one would expect.
A short foyer opened up to the main room.
It was a fairly spacious room that spanned the width of the building. On the northern wall, a fireplace above which sat a mantle with many small knick-knacks. Close to the fireplace is a lush azure ovoid rug. Nearby, a sturdy-looking rocking chair made of a nice redwood. Not far away a stout coffee table sat a plush sofa. The entirety of the wall opposite the fireplace was lined with shelves. These shelves had been crammed to the brim with a myriad of books. As for the other walls, they had been decorated with paintings. Many of which depicted nature scenes.
One painting stood out amongst the others.
Hung over the fireplace, in a central place of honour, was the image of Neeshka's creator, Ogremlin. The picture was without a doubt a screen capture with a photo filter integrated into it to make it appear as an oil painting.
The western wall was dominated by a staircase that led to the second story. While the eastern side of the room was more like a kitchenette, complete with cupboards, a sink, and a stove and oven setup.
Neeshka had stayed by the door for a moment after ushering the Dragonoid inside before joining him.
Standing in the middle of the foyer Tiberius was unsure just what to do. This was so different from all the other times he'd previously visited the Chief Healer.
Back in YGGDRASIL, Neeshka's interactions had functioned like any other of the NPCs. Running a basic set of A.I. routines one would only need to give the correct commands. Or one could always interact with her through the use of in-game menus and make their selections.
But now, with Neeshka having joined the ranks of the living with the others there were no menus or commands to give.
Tiberius simply didn't know how things would play out.
Maneuvering around her large guest in the foyer, the Chimera moved deeper into her humble abode. Turning she beckoned for him to follow with a simple gesture.
So he did with the soft clinking of his armour and the creak of the floorboards under his weight.
"How may I be of service to you?"
The Chimera was soft-spoken with a warm and caring tone. Her voice was soothing to hear and carried an almost motherly quality to it. Listening to her did help to the Dragonoid at ease.
"Before we begin, I have a question for you." Tiberius paused thinking of how to phrase it. "You have been informed of the current situation surrounding the mountain, correct?"
Neeshka nodded gently, "I have indeed, my lord. As has all who dwell within the mountain. To the best of my knowledge that is."
"Good, then I need not explain further on that."
The Dragonoid nodded to himself.
"Well, when we had arrived this new world I had assumed I was unaffected. However, that may not have been true, seeing as I slept for an entire day. Something that leads me to wonder if perhaps it had affected me. So I would like for you to examine me and determine if that is the case."
Neeshka's once smiling carefree expression turned serious at his words.
"Then I shall endeavor to do so, sire. But to do so I must ask you to remove your armour before I begin."
This statement was somewhat of a surprise to Tiberius. Though as he thought on the matter of the healer's words it was actually within reason. It was typical when visiting a physician to be required to remove some articles of clothing during an examination.
In reaching for the buckle on the side of his cuirass the Dragonoid paused. Quickly he recalled the rather obvious reason that stood in the way of its removal.
Sighing he closed his eyes and concentrated on the wings upon his back. As before he pictured the wings being there and then cleared them from the image.
Just as the night before the webbed appendages began to atrophy and recede. In a few short moments, his wings had vanished from sight. Then came the tedious procedure of removing the numerous armour plates.
Fidgeting with a strap and buckle Tiberius glanced to the waiting healer.
"Would it be too much if I asked for your assistance with this?"
Neeshka's once stern expression quickly softened and became one of mild surprise. The Chimera then inclined her head, pressing her chin to the top of her bosom, and cast her eyes to the side in an attempt to avoid making eye contact.
"It would be an honour to assist you."
Neeshka's voice was soft and hesitant. This bashful response from the Chimera healer left the Dragonoid perplexed.
I just asked her to help remove my armour. She's acting as though I just asked her to go on a date.
Stepping up to the Dragonoid, Neeshka circled around to stand beside him. Reaching out the Chimera set her hands to work on the nearest buckle. With the strap tension loosened Tiberius removed the piece.
No sooner had he held the plate in hand than Neeshka was reaching for it.
Passing the piece over, the Dragonoid watched as the chimeric female held the plate for a moment. Her eyes scanning it as her fingers reverently traced over its surface. Then turning away the Chimera made her way to the sofa where she placed the plate upon the cushion. Done with that Neeshka quickly returned to her master's side and started on the next buckle.
The pair repeated the act several more times.
A buckle would be undone and a strap loosened. Tiberius would remove the armoured section, Neeshka would then place it upon the sofa's cushion to rest with the others. With her aid, the time this task had previously taken was reduced significantly.
With the Dragonoid now bereft of his armour the female Chimera moved away. She retrieved a heavy-looking wooden stool from the kitchenette side of the room. As she placed it down in the more open center of the room, Tiberius understood what she wanted him to do.
Being seated on the stool put Tiberius at a more comfortable height for the healer to perform her examinations.
What followed next reminded Tiberius of any visit he'd had to the doctor in the past.
The female Chimera made a slow circle around him, her eyes scanning over his body in the process. Occasionally Neeshka would pause and lean in for a closer inspection. She had him open his mouth to look over his teeth. Carefully she manipulated his thick eyelids as she checked out his eyes. She even tested his joints ensuring their proper range of motion.
Once those tests had been completed Neeshka asked him to manifest his wings once more. With his wings made real again she set about looking them over. The Chimera measured them and inspected the webbing before testing their movements.
Everything was done with a clinical detachment. Accompanying the physical exam Neeshka asked him plenty of questions.
Throughout Tiberius had no problems, however, he found her means of checking his heart and lungs a tab uncomfortable.
Neeshka had circled around out of sight to stand behind the Dragonoid. Stepping over the Chimera straddled his tail before suddenly leaning forwards. Feeling the furred-covered female pressing her body flat against him sent a jolt through the seated Dragonoid. Taken aback by the unexpected move Tiberius' body when stark still and rather stiff.
Tilting her head, Neeshka lifted her muzzle to rest beside his ear.
Or at least what passed for an ear. Positioned higher than a human ear, there was an unassuming fold in the thick scales and within that fold was a narrow opening that acted as an ear.
"You need to relax, master." Her voice was gentle much like how one would talk to a child.
The Dragonoid merely rolled his eyes in response.
That's easy for you to say. You try relaxing with those heavy things pressed against your back. Especially when it's been so long since you were this close to a girl.
Lowering her head she turned to the side and lifting a floppy ear, she nestled herself in between his wings.
"Now take a deep breath, hold, and then breath out."
Tiberius complied with her instructions. Inhaling deeply his chest expanded, though not near what it had during his earlier tests. Several seconds passed by then he released his pent-up breath. Exhaling slowly the Dragonoid felt his body sag slightly with it.
"Repeat."
So he did.
Though her methods were similar in some ways it was still unlike any previous visit he could recall.
Though the differences were clear from any other physician. But the biggest of these was her manner. She was not just some cold and clinical professional who didn't really care about the patient. Someone who acted only on the company's orders to clear you for work.
Neeshka was the direct opposite.
The female Chimera doted on him. Asking him at every turn how he felt directing her warmth and compassion towards him. Listening to the dulcet tones of her voice did much to lull Tiberius deeply into a more relaxed state. In the process, he felt a rather pleasant warmth spread throughout his body, and not all of it was because of the warm furred body of the female currently pressed tightly against his back.
In this tranquil state old and forgotten memories of days gone past bubbled up in his subconscious. Memories such as the times in his youth when his mother would dote on him whenever he would come down with some illness.
The shift in the Dragonoid's mood and slower heart rate was not lost on Neeshka.
"Are you okay, my lord?"
A peaceful mumbled "hmmm" seemed to be the only response Tiberius was capable of.
Lifting her head the female Chimera examined the Dragonoid's face. She noted his closed eyes and the relaxed expression worn on his draconic visage.
Neeshka smiled and spoke in a hushed whisper.
"I am glad you can relax so, master."
The pair remained in the embrace for several moments longer before Neeshka pulled away. Striding around the Chimera stood before the larger reptilian being.
"Well, I am quite happy to say that nothing appears to be wrong with you." Neeshka placed her hands on her hips, "Well, physically speaking that is. However, I cannot rule out any magical effects yet."
The Dragonoid's brain swam through a relaxing haze, though he was still aware of her words. Through half-lidded eyes, he watched the female and felt the urge to speak yet his thoughts were slow to gather.
Neeshka extended her right arm to place her open palm hovering mere inches from the Dragonoid's broad chest. The Chimera's mouth moved though what she said was lost on the addled Dragonoid.
Tiberius bore witness to what came next.
There was a sudden flash of light as both he and his physician were consumed by a golden aura.
The soft glow persisted for several moments before its intensity began to fade, then dissipated altogether.
When the glow had gone completely Neeshka allowed her arm to lower to her side.
"You do not seem to be suffering the effects of any magical influence."
Absently the Dragonoid rubbed his chin, "Hmm, then is it possible the allotted time has passed? Or maybe you were unable to detect any?"
The chimeric doctor wrapped her left arm across her midsection while she reached up to cup her chin.
"Seeing as we are in a new world the possibility does exist there may be some magics that are beyond my ability to detect. However, I do believe there is a more plausible explanation."
Pulled from his thoughts the Dragonoid looked to the Chimera, his browed arched in curiosity.
"Given the variations, I detected in your vitals and the changes in your overall demeanor during the examination. I believe you were merely exhausted."
From his seated position the Dragonoid could only gawk at the white-furred healer. To hear the answer to his predicament was such a simple diagnosis was not something Tiberius had been expecting.
Could that really be all there was to it?
Tiberius thought about it for a moment.
Before this transference or whatever it was had happened he had been running on fumes. In preparations for the big shutdown, he and his guildmates had been pulling another marathon session. Nearly a full seventy-two hours Tiberius and friends had been going.
Normally he would have never pulled something like this. But this was YGGDRASIL's ending and they were going out with a bang.
Several times he'd nearly passed out and would have if not for his stockpile of stimulants. After all, when it came to the grueling hours of overtime sometimes you just needed a quick pick me up to make it through.
Certainly, if he was that tired, even with his little nap before this whole situation. Then it was no wonder why he slept for so long to clear out that deficit.
Neeshka offered him a small comforting smile. Surprisingly her rather prominent canines did little to detract from it. Her lavender eyes shone bright and her long fluffy ears were draped about her face. She had an almost puppy-like innocence about her.
Breaking the silence Tiberius looked up to Neeshka.
"I am sorry to have wasted your time over such a simple matter."
"I must disagree, my lord. Your health is always my top concern, even if the matter is as trivial as a common cold or a stubbed toe…" Neeshka giggled softly and shook her head, "Besides any time I am allowed to spend in your presence can never be said to be wasted."
Tiberius looked away, still not used to hear such praise, as he felt heat gather in his cheeks. Instead, he focused his gaze on his armour laid out upon the thick cushions of the nearby sofa.
It had been laid out in such a manner that one might be forgiven to think an invisible man in a suit of armour was laying down.
"Then if I may, could I ask one more favour of you?"
"Of course."
The Dragonoid strode to the sofa and lifted a piece of his armour.
"Can you help me put all this back on?" he asked with a sheepish grin.
Neeshka answered with a simple nod before approaching.
As the door swung open the Dragonoid took a moment for his eyes to adjust before stepping outside. Pausing he turned to the female who stood at the threshold.
"Thank you again, Neeshka."
The chimeric physician bowed, "It was my pleasure to assist you, Lord Tiberius. Do come again should you have any concerns."
With a nod, the Dragonoid turned to follow the pathway through the garden. Halting at the entrance he lingered for a moment watching as Neeshka shut the door to her home.
Maybe she was right and I was just tired after all. Heh, I certainly feel much better now.
Tiberius stretched, feeling the lack of tension throughout the muscles of his body.
Being her in presence certainly helped me. So soothing. Guess she really does live up to her title as The Doting Mother.
o – o – o – o
Standing upon the balcony Tiberius again gazed at the sky overhead.
The warmth of the sun was quite pleasant and seemed to soothe him. Since the visit to the Guild Healer, Tiberius had felt quite revitalized. This was quite a good thing given the mission he and the Guardian Overseer would soon be embarking on.
He'd already prepared himself as best he could.
After leaving Neeshka's home, he'd stopped briefly by his quarters to fetch some equipment. He'd spent a fair amount of time playing through various scenarios and did his best to ensure he would be able to deal with them.
Now the Dragonoid's thoughts dwelled heavily on this first real excursion from the safety of the mountain and into the unknown of this new world. Almost absentmindedly Tiberius fiddled with the jeweled pendant that hung from a red and silver chain about his thick neck.
The pendant was crafted from the scale of a mythic-class monster, a Prismatic Celestial Dragon. Infused with the surface of the metallic scale were gemstones of exceeding rarity. Flawless cut gems of Zircrmorite, Ilvnolite, Ullrsonite, and Warihmite, all shone with the utmost brilliance. At the center lay another, a jewel that shone with a brilliant scarlet and almost seemed to pulsate much like a heartbeat.
This special gemstone was what was known as a Life Gem.
Within YGGDRASIL Life Gems could only be created by mixing the blood of a powerful creature –the Prismatic Celestial Dragon in this case- with that of the gem's recipient. This concoction was then infused with a soul stone. Life Gems would confer special buffs and abilities at the higher tiers. Though this depended on the sort of creature that was used in the creation.
The metal of the chain was crafted from Titanite, the tale-tell Damascus patterning giving it away. However, where it would normally be simple bands within the metal, there were now streaks of gold.
This was a blessing of the blood of the Celestial Dragon which was added to the metal to enhance it.
These precious ingredients were assembled to create what was known as an Amulet of Supremacy.
An Amulet of Supremacy, a creation of the ultimate skill in craftsmanship. The amulet's power maximized its wearer's natural attributes. Everything from their base stats like strength, stamina, speed, health, etc… to others like the wearer's spellcasting ability was increased to the fullest potential. If properly utilized it could be used to boost stats beyond YGGDRASIL's imposed player limits.
It was because of these boosts that some players within YGGDRASIL felt that the Amulet of Supremacy was balance-breaking. A small number even placed it alongside the likes of the World Class Items. Exceedingly rare items within the nine realms that held untold powers.
Others viewed the amulet as nothing more than just another in a long line of legal exploits. Seeing as there were numerous rituals that magic users would undertake that would boost their abilities beyond imposed limitations.
Luckily it seemed that the amulet's tremendous costs, prohibitive requirements, and its extraordinarily low chances for successful creation kept the issue of its existence from being a widespread problem. Leaving it in the realms of being no more broken than guild weapons.
This amulet was by far the single most valuable object the Dragonoid had in his possession. Its creation had cost him two hundred million in YGGDRASIL gold, let alone the outrageous number of man-hours it had taken.
It was not something that Tiberius used lightly.
In the past, he'd used it enough times to be counted on one hand. The amulet had given him the edge to come out on top in a handful of duels against other high-tier players. Though it was not without risk.
Should he have lost the duel, it was quite possible that Tiberius would then have had to forfeit this expensive piece of gear.
Granted the amulet was only useable by Dragonoid players of the max level and of a special class. Should any player of another race or of the wrong job class attempt to wear it they would then fall victim to the amulet's defensive instant death magic.
Yet other options did exist for the victor.
They could have ransomed the amulet back to Tiberius. Or worse they could've sold the amulet in the YGGDRASIL auction house. Either option would have been a dreadful blow.
Nevertheless, in the face of this new world, the Dragonoid was not about to face the dangers that could exist without taking every advantage he could.
The Dragonoid's thoughts were interrupted by the metallic clank of armoured personnel.
Tucking the pendant back under his armour chest plate Tiberius turned. His gaze falling on the triumphal arch that stood as the balcony's silent sentinel.
Beneath the stone arch, a procession of figures approached.
At the head of the parade strode the Guardian Overseer, Yuliana.
She'd forgone her usual Doric peplos and had donned a set of full plate armour in its place.
The armour was nondescript, its appearance denoting nothing of the wearer's gender. There were three distinct layers to the setup.
First, there was the inner layer of a black bodysuit that acted to insulate and augment the wearer's physical attributes. The second layer was more or less a layer of padding designed to cushion any physical impacts. This layer also protected from piercing damage aimed at the joints between the armour plates. Finally, there was the outer layer of metal plates the colour of tarnished silver and their purpose obvious.
The armour set's most outstanding feature was the helmet that she carried under her right arm.
The helmet was crafted from the same unique metal as the rest of the suit. But its appearance was what set it apart. Taking inspiration from the ancient tales of the gorgon Medusa.
The faceplate had been molded into the form of a beautiful woman. Within the eye, sockets lay jeweled lens crafted from blue sapphires. The main body of the helmet was designed to be reminiscent of Medusa's snakes for hair. From the top of the forehead, the scalp was covered by six thick-bodied serpents swept backward like hair. These snakes were intricately detailed with small scales and even the faint pattern markings to be seen. The serpents flowed following the contours of the head. Four of the snakes hung down to the back of the neck, while two draped down across the front of armour's shoulders.
All together the aptly named Medusa Armour was an item of master craftsmanship.
Following behind her, the Dragonoid could see the tall golden armoured form of Aeon. Striding beside him was Koraboros, still garbed in his usual regality. Then behind the three Guardians followed the Valkyries who moved in unison.
Reaching the Dragonoid the group halted and knelt, the metallic clink of their knees meeting the stone echoed.
"I take it you are ready to proceed, Yuliana?"
"I am, my lord. Yet I would again like to voice my opposition to going without a bringing a larger retinue."
Tiberius inclined his draconic visage looking down at the kneeling woman.
"I understand your objections. However, bringing along a larger force of escorts would only serve to attract more attention, which in turn wouldn't serve us in this mission. Furthermore, a larger force carries with it the possibility of them misinterpreting our intentions as being hostile."
Yuliana lifted her head, "Once again you demonstrate your superiority."
"Aeon, Koraboros," the kneeling pair raised their heads, "The possibility of hostilities does still exist. Make sure the two of you are ready should we require your assistance."
"We shall be ready to heed your call at a moment's notice."
"Indeed, you need only to signal, my liege."
The Dragonoid nodded. "Then, Yuliana, let us be off."
"Lord Tiberius, how shall be traveling? Shall we be arriving by way of teleportation or perhaps a [Gate] spell?"
"No," the Dragonoid shook his head, "They may have a means of intercepting or blocking teleportation magic in this world. To allow us the safety of stealth, I decided we would fly there."
As the golden-scaled Dragonoid turned and moved away, the group of NPCs remained in their positions.
Yuliana was the first to rise.
Hesitating to follow she turned and looked back to the others that had accompanied her. Gazing upon the faces of her comrades she could see their mixed emotions at play.
The Valkyries seemed to be looking passed her and to the master with expressions of longing. It was a feeling Yuliana could sympathize with. Whenever the Creators departed from the mountain she too had felt the absence of their comforting presence.
Turning her eyes to the two Floor Guardians she took a read of them.
Aeon remained impassive, his face hidden by the deep shadows of the enchanted helm he wore. But Yuliana could the pressure about him, the Seraphim was just as concerned as the others.
Koraboros was far easier to read.
The Demon Lord stared at her, the gaze of his red cat-like eyes hard and dangerous. His serious demeanor was no doubt to remind her of the significance of what was to come.
But she didn't need him to remind her.
With a nod, the Guardian Overseer silently reaffirmed the vow they had shared within the sacred grounds of the Council Chamber.
Turning away she steeled her nerve and followed after the armoured Dragonoid.
Tiberius stood near the edge of the balcony, his eyes looking out to the horizon as he did his best to look anywhere but down. Even then he couldn't help but sneak a glance to the base of the mountain below.
Okay, I got this. It's just like back in the arena… only seven thousand feet up. Forget that. I just need to open my wings, catch the air, and flaaa… Shit! Has it always been that far down?
Tiberius could feel his heart thundering within the confines of his chest. His muscles tightening with a sudden rush of adrenaline flowing through his veins as he stared at the ground far below.
"Is something the matter, my lord?"
The Dragonoid turned slightly casting his gaze over his shoulder to the female guardian addressing him.
"No, no. I was simply taking a moment to enjoy the view," Tiberius could only hope Yuliana would not see through his ruse. "Oh, Yuliana, how do you intend to follow me? If you need I am sure there are some Amulets of Flight within the treasury. I could go and procure one for you."
Yuliana smiled softly, "I thank you for your kind considerations, Lord Tiberius. However, that will not be necessary. I am capable of utilizing the full extent of my magical abilities even while wearing this armour. As such the [Fly] spell is among my available spells."
"Great," he muttered.
Unable to come up with another reason to delay he swallowed hard, attempting to take his fear with the saliva.
His fiery eyes stared hard at the last few feet that lay between him and the seven thousand foot plunge that waited beyond. Tentatively he took a step, then another and another until he stood upon the edge. Subconsciously the Dragonoid's six toes curled attempting to dig his talons into the stone for grip.
Taking a deep breath Tiberius unfurled his wings to their full width.
One… Two… Three!
With that countdown given the Dragonoid leaned forwards allowing gravity to pull him and disappeared over the precipice.
Instantly Tiberius felt his stomach lurch to seemingly lodge itself firmly in his throat. Bringing with it a wave of nausea as he plummeted through the air. While his heart felt as though it were to going explode from his chest at any moment. The howling of the wind reverberating through his ear canals was deafening as it whipped passed his head. All of this was accompanied by an odd sensation of near weightlessness.
Forcing his eyelids open Tiberius gazed through the clear nictitating membrane which now shielded his eyes and to the ground now rushing up to meet him. In particular, it looked like he would soon be making quite the impression on the stone bridge that lay before the Grand Gatehouse.
As he'd learned to do Tiberius gave himself over to his now screaming instincts.
Before rational thought could comprehend what needed to be done his body acted of its own accord.
The muscles of his back contracted and expanded to brace his wings. While the wings themselves moved to change their angle for maximum efficiency. The wing membrane stretched taught caught the rushing wind beneath it. The Dragonoid's body shifted and stiffened as powerful muscles pulled tight. His arms lay flat at his sides while his legs were held out straight. His tail swished to act as a rudder.
As he'd done in the arena Tiberius leaned back pulling himself out of the dive and aim towards the sky. The muscles of his shoulders constricted and his wings gave several mighty flaps pushing aloft. Something made all the easier with the powerful updrafts that came off the mountain as he soared ever higher.
A familiar ecstatic smile crept across his scaled lips.
The Dragonoid received a shock when the armoured form of Yuliana settled into position to his left after having momentarily forgotten about her.
Having donned her helmet the female guardian watched her master before exchanging a nod of acknowledgment. Then together the pair performed a slow loop and turned away from the mountain.
The master of Tyrnaust and his companion then headed south and towards their destination.
o – o – o – o
Soaring above the earth was a peaceful experience and made for a great chance to see the sights along the way. This also allowed him to witness the scale of the forest that surrounded his mountain home.
All during their trip, the duo had kept to higher altitudes and amongst the clouds to minimize their chances of being spotted.
Ahead their destination was finally coming into view.
The dense trees of the forest thinned out and nestled near the edge sat the stone structures of their objective.
Turning his head Tiberius looked to the Guardian Overseer. It seemed she had the same idea as he found her already looking at him. With his left arm, he motioned to a small clearing in the thick foliage.
Yuliana nodded and moved to follow as he aligned himself to land.
Going into a dive the pair quickly closed in on the waiting glade below.
Tiberius was the first to land, with a great flap of his wings he slowed before gently setting down upon the lush grass. The grass felt cool and the ground soft beneath his feet. He blinked several times to remoisten the clear membrane which had protected his eyes before it retracted to leave his vision unobstructed.
"Master," Yuliana called out as she touched down on the soft earth, "Why did we land here? The village is still some distance away."
"It's not far now, perhaps a mile. And I felt it would be best to change my appearance before we meet the village inhabitants."
"Preposterous," Yuliana seemed to bristle at his words, "Why should the Supreme Creator of the Sanguine Dragons be forced to hide your magnificence? To accommodate these lesser beings?"
Tiberius turned, a small smile at play on his scaled lips.
"I do appreciate your compliments. But I rather doubt they would react well to seeing an armed and armoured bipedal dragon strolling in their midst."
"But they must. It is only natural for the weak to bow before the strong. As such these humans will accept their place or die where they stand."
The Guardian Overseer's words were punctuated by her gauntleted hand coming to rest upon the hilts of the pair of elven short swords that hung at her waist.
The Dragonoid regarded the armoured female before him for a moment. To hear her speak those words in such a harsh and ruthless tone took him aback.
Tiberius approached the Guardian Overseer, "Yuliana, we came here to learn about the people of this world and gather information. We did not come here to conquer. For the time being, I wish to avoid bringing undue attention to ourselves if possible. Is that understood?"
Yuliana stiffened and bowed, "By your will."
Tiberius' eyes lingered on Yuliana for a few moments longer to be sure his words had been understood before he turned away.
Straightening up the Guardian Overseer watched as her master moved away. His lengthy strides put a fair distance between them.
He stood idle for a moment, his muscular tail rustled in the grass as it swished lazily. As time ticked by Yuliana felt the urge to ask what it was they were waiting for. Yet she held her tongue.
Finally, something happened.
The air around the Dragonoid grew hazy and darker with each moment that passed. The miasma grew so thick until only a dark silhouette of her master could be seen within.
Yuliana didn't know just how long the fog remained surrounding Tiberius. But at last, it faded from existence leaving behind the now altered lord of Tyrnaust.
Where once had stood an eight and a half foot tall golden scaled Dragonoid now stood a simple human. Gone was the draconic visage that she had idolized as the epitome of perfection.
As he turned she was able to see his face for the first time.
Though his appearance was drastically different from the norm, Yuliana could still see hints of his true self shining through this human façade. His face still bore the same symmetry and strong masculine features that approximated his draconic beauty. His steely blue eyes still possessed the same intensity that captivated her and sent shivers down her spine.
A part of Yuliana shone with pride at being so trusted by her liege that she was the first to see him in this form. She also had to admit that even in this far lesser form, Tiberius was still rather handsome to behold.
However, deep down she didn't like it. This was not her master, this was but an illusion he had adopted, and looking upon it left her with a feeling of longing to once again lay her eyes on his true face.
Yet the truth of his existence remained unaffected.
No matter the form the Dragonoid took, he would always remain the undisputed lord of Tyrnaust and all that sheltered within its walls. To view him as anything less was unbecoming, even bordering on blasphemous.
"Yuliana, are you okay?"
His voice had lost much of its former resonance. But it had lost none of its potency, immediately snapping the Guardian Overseer from her musings.
"Whatever do you mean, my lord?" Yuliana feigned her understanding.
"You seemed rather distracted a moment ago," the now human Tiberius approached his companion with a soft expression of concern. "I asked if you were ready to go and you just sort of spaced out."
"I apologize," Yuliana hurriedly replied. Thankfully her master couldn't see her face behind the facemask. "I was simply thinking of our impending meeting with the humans."
Tiberius simply observed the armoured female for the moment.
I hope she's going to be able to be alright with this. I mean this is the first time Yuliana has been away from the mountain. She's probably just nervous about being away from home and the fact I'm here without an army at my back. I guess I should finish up so we can get underway and get back.
Putting his mind back to the task at hand Tiberius accessed his personal inventory, another holdover from YGGDRASIL.
He extended his arm as if to take something into his grasp. In doing so Tiberius felt a discernable level of resistance in the air before him. Then his hand and much of his forearm seemed to dematerialize into the ether leaving him with but a stump.
Had it not been for his brief experimentation with the wardrobe in his quarters at Tyrnaust, Tiberius would probably have been rather panicked over this.
Still, it was an odd experience to see his arm visibly gone. Yet he still retained all sensation from the limb that seemed to disprove it being gone.
Reminiscent of the occurrence with the wardrobe, it was like an imaginary menu had been opened within his mind. He could visualize the full breadth of his inventory holdings.
Flicking his wrist upwards or downwards resulted in scrolling through the extensive listings. While swishing his hand as if to brush something away changed the category Tiberius was currently observing.
At the moment, it seemed the grouping was that of magical items.
A swath of names flooded his mind. A plethora of scrolls, a wide assortment of wands, enchanted amulets, and all manner of potions were listed. Healing items, defensive items, and items for offense all awaited within this pocket dimension.
With each movement of his hand a new category came to the forefront of his psyche. This intrinsic link between them reminded him heavily of his instinctual connection to his abilities and magics.
Besides the item's names, should he linger on any listing then an image of the item would be projected into his conscious thoughts.
The imagery of clothing and armours popped into his head alongside pictures of crafting items such as gems, pelts, and rare materials.
He sorted through the lists until the names of the pieces he'd been looking for came to mind.
Here Tiberius paused for a time to make his selection.
Withdrawing his arm from the void the first of the pair of items he'd chosen came into view.
The object in his hand was a helmet.
The helmet was crafted of the same Star Silver as the rest of the armour he currently wore, and like the armour was equally as customized.
The helm was fashioned into the form of a wolf's head.
With exquisite detailing the canine's head looked rather life-like. The fur etched with swirls and ruffles as if caught in the breeze. The dimpled texturing of the nose pad at the end of the muzzle. The tips of the wolven fangs peeking out from beneath the lips. Even the swept-back ears with their furred tufts were all quite detailed. The ruby lens set within those eye sockets gleamed in the sunlight.
The addition of draconic traits stood out from the canine.
Affixed to the end of the wolven snout was a small horn perhaps an inch tall. Behind it a second smaller horn half as tall then a third half the height of the second. The bridge of the muzzle was covered by a broad row of scales. The scales ran from the nose up between the eyes and over the scalp. Set between the wolf's ears was a row of rear projecting spines, the longest of which was six inches long. These spines created the illusion that a crown had been placed upon this metallic wolf.
Tiberius looked over the helmet within his hands.
His thumbs rubbed over the wavy pattern of the fur molded into the gleaming surface. Turning the helm around he hoisted it up before slowly lowering it down over his head.
The feel was of the interior was comfortable if a snug fit thanks to the layers of padding inside. While he had expected the ruby lens to give the world outside the helmet a scarlet tint he was wrong. It seemed the lens was merely a cosmetic feature.
In wearing it Tiberius found the helmet was well ventilated, a major plus as it kept the interior from becoming stuffy.
Once more his arm disappeared into the ether only rematerialize a moment later.
Held within his grasp was a longsword sheathed in hydra leather dyed a deep blue with an undyed belt.
Tiberius cinched the belt about his waist, making sure the sword was placed properly at his left side. After tucking the belt's excess beneath itself the Dragonoid reached across his waist to grip the sword's hilt.
Drawing the blade from its scabbard Tiberius held the longsword out before him.
Capping the hilt was the pommel crafted to resemble a crown of tall spires. These spires held a special gemstone. The gem was shaped like a teardrop and coloured an amber-orange that almost seemed to flicker.
This particular gemstone was a rarity known as a Binding Bloodgem. These gemstones were rare and only craftable by players who'd unlocked the highest tier of the alchemist job-class. The gems provided a stat buff to whatever piece of equipment they were equipped with.
The gem was crafted using the blood of the World Enemy, the Devourer of the Nine Worlds. The incredibly powerful last boss monster of YGGDRASIL's main campaign. It was a monster that was said to be, though never confirmed, to be well above the level 100 cap. Overcoming this powerful creature took the full might of the Sanguine Dragons.
Every member of the Sanguine Dragons possessed one of these gems. Crafted for them by guild member, GiftedTerror, as a celebratory gift.
The dragon bone grip was a flattened ovoid which widened slightly in the middle and aligned with the blade itself. The shape allowed Tiberius to innately know in which positions the blade's edges aligned. The bone grip was wrapped with the hide taken from the same Celestial Dragon he'd harvested the scale for his amulet from. This gave the grip a pearlescent colour.
The sword's crossguard was cast from a golden metal that extended four inches beyond the edge of the blade. The quillon was twisted into a spiral and its ends were capped with a snarling wolf's head. The center of the guard was formed like that of a dragon skull from which the blade project like a great deadly tongue.
The blade itself measured some forty-six inches long and was made of metal with a scarlet colouration. The colour was so dark it appeared almost black. The first third of the blade possessed a slight undulating wave reminiscent of the flamberge, better known as flame blade swords. While the other two-thirds of the blade remained straight.
The fuller that traversed the length of the blade was unique.
The metal of the fuller appeared to glow white-hot and flowed along the length of the longsword like a river of molten steel.
As a touch of irony Tiberius had dubbed the blade, Severance, and like the rest of his gear had been enhanced to that of a divine class item.
Taking hold of the hilt with both hands the Dragonoid gave the blade a few practice swings. A satisfying swish followed the sword as it cut through the air. Pleased with this he returned the longsword to its sheath.
I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Guess it's time to get going.
"Yuliana, are you ready?" the armoured female nodded, "Then let's be off."
o – o – o – o
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky overheard as Tiberius and Yuliana neared their destination.
The armoured duo paused at the makeshift boundary where the dense forest began to give way to grasslands.
Here prairie grasses had been plowed under in favor of numerous crop fields that lay between the village and the forest. While some of the fields showed healthy growth of wheat, perhaps? Other fields consisted of nothing but freshly tilled earth.
It was in these empty fields that villagers toiled away with various farming implements.
Beyond the fields, the homes of the inhabitants could be seen.
The Dragonoid's eyes scanned over the field workers and the village. So far from what he could observe matched up the information the Floor Guardians had provided. This indeed seemed to be a simple farming village.
Taking a breath Tiberius mustered his courage and took the first steps from the cover provided by the woodlands and into the open air of the fields.
As to be expected the sudden appearance of two armoured individuals from the forest had attracted attention. Throughout the fields, the scattered villagers stopped their work to stare at the approaching newcomers. A few of the laborers had done more than that as they turned and made a hasty retreat to the village.
No doubt they were going to forewarn the rest of the village inhabitants of their coming.
As Tiberius and Yuliana made their way along the simple trail between the fields the pair were keenly aware of the villagers following behind.
So long as they kept their distance Tiberius was content to ignore them. However, the same could not be said for his escort. Sparing a glance he watched the Guardian Overseer as her head swiveled to locate each of those that followed in their wake. Her hands were ever-present upon the hilts of her twin sabers.
Up ahead near the outlying buildings more people had started to gather.
It was a small crowd that seemed to consist mainly of the village's men. Some were young perhaps in their teens while others were in their thirties to forties. Some had in their hands various tools: hammers, scythes, hoes, while a few even carried pitchforks.
Perhaps they had simply brought the tools with them from their work.
Or more likely given the way in which they held these implements they were intended to be used for self-defense.
Deciding to not rouse their ire and thus hamper their goals, Tiberius came to a halt several yards from the gathering. Yuliana was quick to follow suit.
Silence hung over the gathering.
Tiberius regarded the villagers before him.
Their work-worn faces showed the toll toiling in the afternoon sun carried. Their bronzed skin glistened with sweat and smudges of dirt marked their clothing and exposed forearms.
Overall the group's expressions remained stoic as they seemed to be sizing up these travelers.
Though in the crowd the Dragonoid could see the glimmer in the eyes of some. The telltale signs of curiosity bemused some of them. While a few appeared downright excited to see these armoured wanderers.
Tiberius cleared his throat, "Hello, I hope my companion and I are not disrupting you. But we have some questions we'd like to ask you."
The villagers seemed mostly unmoved by his statement. Though a number of them appeared to whisper amongst themselves.
It was in their lack of replies that a thought occurred to the Dragonoid.
Oh crap, please tell me they understand. This is something I really should have asked Mathias and Koraboros about before we left. I really don't want to play charades with them.
As moments ticked by there was a rustling as the assembled villagers parted. Slowly they moved aside to allow an older man to move between them.
The man possessed the same sun-kissed complexion as the men of the village. His face was also weathered with heavy winkles denoting his age. If Tiberius were to guess, he would place the man's age somewhere around his fifties. Even for someone of his age, the man's body was surprisingly muscular. An apparent benefit of spending his life honing his physique through hard work and his toiling in the fields. Atop the man's head, much of his short dark hair had a pronounced grey tone. This gave him a salt and pepper look.
His clothing was rather simple consisting of a long-sleeved white undershirt with a short-sleeved overshirt that came down to near his knees. About his waist, a pair of earthen-toned trousers with dark leather shoes covered his feet.
It was rather plain to see that given the reverence with which the other villagers gave him, this man was someone of authority.
"Greetings strangers," the man offered in a gruff yet friendly tone. "May I ask who you are and what brings two such as yourselves to our village?"
Something about the man's manner of speech caught the attention of the Dragonoid. It appeared the words he'd spoken did not align with the movements of his lips. It reminded Tiberius of watching foreign films and how the dubbed voices had this exact phenomenon.
Strange, I wonder if some kind of translation magic is being used.
"I am Tiberius and this is my companion Yuliana. As for what brings us here. We ventured from the roads some time ago and got turned around in the forest. It was lucky that we came this way to happen across your village. I take it you are in charge here? Then could you tell us where we are?"
The older gentleman nodded.
"Yes, I am the chief of this village. My name is Wyllam Ostur, and you are in the Village of Carne."
Tiberius hesitated to hope his explanation would be made more believable, "I am not familiar with the name. Do you have a map by any chance? So that we may be able to regain our bearings."
The older man stared at him for a long moment.
"Yes, follow me."
Without waiting the village chieftain turned proceeded back the way he'd come. The Dragonoid and the Guardian Overseer followed close behind.
At their approach, the villagers parted further to allow the pair to pass. Their eyes betrayed a certain level of suspension about these newcomers.
As Tiberius was led through the community he took the time to study his surroundings.
The village was very much as the reports had indicated.
The houses were basic stone and mortar with thatched roofs of straw. The majority of the buildings were but a single story. However, there were a couple that had the addition of a second level.
The aesthetic was something he was familiar with. The reason for this was the medieval aesthetic was one that YGGDRASIL and many other games had used in their designs.
Seeing this a small part of the Dragonoid had to admit disappointment with that acknowledgment.
At the pair's passing more and more of the parish's inhabitants came out to see them.
Men, women, and children stood about the paths. Their eyes intently following the travelers and their chief. While the adults seemed content to simply look on. The younger members of the crowd gazed on with inquisitive expressions as they shared quiet whispers.
The trio preceded deeper into the village and presumably to wherever this meeting would be taking place.
Their direction appeared to be steering the group towards a particular building in the villager square.
There by the open door stood an older woman. The woman, who seemed to be waiting on them, was Chief Wyllam's wife.
Judging by the woman's appearance she was probably around the same age as her husband. Even with her aged physique and more weathered appearance, there were strong hints of her former beauty still shining through. Her hair was still soot-black and worn down to her shoulders. She possessed the same sun-darkened complexion, showing that even in her progressed years she was still active outdoors. Oddly she had an almost gloomy air about her as she looked over the trio.
Perhaps she did not like the idea of having guests.
Arriving at the door the village chief took up position alongside the waiting woman.
"This is my wife, Annora."
The woman nodded simply.
"Please," Chief Wyllam motioned towards the open door, "We can talk more inside."
The wife was the first to enter the dimly lit interior, her husband following shortly behind her. Striding several behind them was the armoured pair of strangers.
Upon setting foot inside the couple's home, Tiberius looked over the humble surroundings.
Their home seemed to consist of a single large room with a single door on the far side of the room. Most likely leading to the bedroom. A pair of windows allowed plenty of sunlight to illuminate the open space.
On the left, the room had been devoted to acting as the kitchen space. Several baskets sat upon the countertops. One seemed to have a loaf or two of bread, another was filled with vegetables –fresh from the fields-, and the last one had what appeared to dried meats if Tiberius' nose was telling him the truth.
The rest of the room was sparsely decorated.
An old rocking chair with a shawl draped over the back. An old but comfortable-looking sitting chair opposite the rocking chair. A fireplace sat between them and on the mantle overhead several oil-burning lamps. At the center of the room sat a well-worn table surrounded by four equally worn chairs. There was also a tall bookshelf that held a few books and several rolled parchments.
Everything about the room's furnishings was entirely handcrafted, not a single object looked to have seen the touch of a machine.
They don't seem to have much in the way of technology here. Guess it makes sense seeing as they're just farmers from a small hamlet.
While the chief's wife, Annora, took a seat at the table. Her husband strode across the room to the bookshelf. Reaching up he pulled something from the topmost shelf. Turning he carried the large roll of paper with him to the table.
As he placed the roll on the old wooden surface Wyllam motioned to the seats across from him.
"Please, take a seat. I'm sure you would like the chance to get off your feet for a moment."
A slight frown crept over his lips as he eyed the chairs.
"I am sorry we can't offer something more comfortable."
"This will do fine," Tiberius reassured the older gentleman.
"Would you like something to drink?" It was Annora who spoke, offering a small smile.
"Your hospitality is greatly appreciated. But no, we don't wish to impose."
Rounding the table Tiberius slide one of the chairs out and took a seat. The aged wood of the chair creaked beneath his armoured weight. For a moment the Dragonoid was left with a feeling of unease as to whether or not this chair could hold his weight.
Yet it held firm.
The sounds of footsteps pulled Tiberius' attention. Turning his head he watched as Yuliana followed in his footsteps to stand beside him. Though the armoured female made no move to sit.
Is she just gonna stand there? I could ask to sit, but she would just take that as an order and follow it not because she wanted to. But because I said it.
It seemed Yuliana's odd choice was not lost on the chief or his wife. The married couple stared up at the Guardian Overseer, their puzzlement easy to read.
"Don't mind her," Tiberius steered the topic of conversation away from his companion. "I take it that is the map you spoke of?"
"Oh, yes it is."
Rising from his seat the chief unfurled the paper across the tabletop.
The Dragonoid leaned forwards, his eyes scanned over the markings on the paper from behind the ruby lens.
The map was rather reminiscent of the rough draft which Mathias had presented to him in their meeting. Only this map was more professionally produced and contained far more details.
Tiberius could identify many of the familiar features stenciled on the paper. The great mountain chain that ran through the forest, the large lake near the mountains, and the plentiful grasslands.
There were blue inked lines that squiggled across the page, probably rivers and streams. Thick black lines denoted roads from which simple dotted lines would branch. These dotted lines ran through the forests and mountains. As he would learn these were the lesser roads or in some cases simple backwoods trails.
However, beyond this, there was so much more.
It was dizzying to see the scale of this new world. It easily dwarfed any of the nine worlds of YGGDRASIL and was just full of sights to see.
But what really caught his eye was the written words that accompanied just about every feature printed on the paper.
It was at this particular moment that Tiberius was indeed rather thankful for his helmet.
He furrowed his brow, clenched his jaw, and squinted his eyes as he stared at the words completely dumbfounded.
Ah crap! I can't read any of this, it might as well be just squiggles on paper to me. Damn it, I had hoped with the language translation it would work on writing too. But oh no, that would be too easy. Now, what am I supposed to do?!
From within the confines of his helm, the silence that filled the room was deafening. Lifting his gaze, without moving his head, Tiberius looked to the older couple seated across from him. The chief and his wife were watching him patiently, and from them, he got the impression the pair were waiting on him before speaking.
They don't know I can't read this, they must think I am just making plans or something. And I can't just tell them the truth. It would be a dead giveaway that I'm not from here. Damn it, I guess it's time to borrow a play from an old associate. "When in doubt, bluff."
Lifting his right arm Tiberius cupped the jawline of his wolf-shaped helmet. He intended to make them wonder and thus prompt them to ask.
"Is there something the matter, sir Tiberius?"
The Dragonoid's ploy had worked.
"No, no. It's just I am unsure of where we should proceed to next." Tiberius kept his tone nonchalant. "Given how long it's been I doubt our original plans are still about. So it would seem that we have no destination in mind. We would be open to your recommendations."
The older male across the table regarded Tiberius with an expression that was a mixture of surprise and interest. This was an expression that was equally shared by his wife beside him.
For someone of such an obviously higher social status to be so cordial and open to hearing from common folk was not the norm. For a moment Wyllam wondered if this was perhaps a trick of some kind. He'd heard rumors in his youth of how nobles would sometimes try to trick people. However, something told him that the armoured man was being earnest.
It was the soft clink of the man's armour as he shifted on his chair that pulled the married couple from their thoughts.
"Oh, umm… Well, that would depend on what it was you wanted out of it."
The chief cast his gaze to the map before them.
"If it is coin you're after, you could head to the east and to the Baharuth Empire. I've heard tales of the great arena in the capital where they hold gladiatorial exhibitions. I'm sure whatever the prize is, it's probably sizable."
As Wyllam spoke, he traced his index finger from the indicated location of the village along a solid black line. His finger moved a fair distance on the paper before stopping on another marker.
"Though if you'd rather not fight human opponents. You could always head towards E-Rantel, there the Adventurer's Guild is always open to new members."
The mention of such a place caught the Dragonoid's attention.
"Adventurer's Guild?"
"Oh aye," the man nodded, "They employ teams of mercenaries who collect bounties for hunting local monsters. It's because of their efforts at keeping the roads clear of beasts that we can trade so freely with E-Rantel."
From there the topic moved onto a variety of topics.
Each time Tiberius would point to some area on the map to which he would ask about its possibility of being a destination. In response, the chief would then provide the Dragonoid with whatever information he could.
However, as the distance from the village of Carne increased. The older man's knowledge decreased in an equal proportion.
Still, Tiberius was able to glean plenty of information about things that lay beyond and brought new insight to this world.
He learned how the Carne Village was located in a region that was contested by the two rival kingdoms in the area.
On the western side of the Azerlisia Mountains –the proper name of the nearby mountain chain- lie the Re-Estize Kingdom, or more commonly known as The Kingdom. While on the eastern side of the mountains was the Baharuth Empire.
These two nation-states have had a long-standing animosity passing between them. These hostilities would manifest nearly every year as the two nations would come to clash on the battlefield. The battlefield of choice for the two was a large barren plain to the south known as the Katze Plains.
As they discussed this topic, the chief also revealed how the Azerlisia Mountains and the Great Forest of Tob which surrounded belonged to neither nation officially.
This was good news as it meant Tyrnaust's position was not situated on a country's lands. So at least they would not have to worry about someone being upset over who owned the lands they occupied.
When the Dragonoid pointed to the south of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Chief Wyllam explained this was a nation known as the Slane Theocracy.
Though he wasn't well versed in the topic he did share what information he had.
The people of this nation were a devoutly religious people, and beyond that were very human-centric. They had a general disdain for nonhumans, though the level increased the less human an individual was. Those like Elves were often taken as slaves while others were exterminated.
When the Dragonoid pointed to the other nations marked on the map Wyllam could only answer with a shrug.
"That's all I can tell you, I'm afraid." The older male leaned back in his chair, "I'm sorry I can't be of more help."
"No, it's quite alright," Tiberius straightened his posture, "In fact, you've been a big help to my companion and me. To this end allow me to repay you."
The married couple looked on curiously as the armoured male raised his right arm. Then before their eyes at least half his arm appeared to simply vanish in mid-air. The suddenness of this act shocked the husband and wife who'd never seen such a thing.
Then just as quickly the armoured warrior's arm was returned to the world, seeming no worse for the wear.
"Here," Tiberius' arm stretched forth and from his gauntleted hand deposited a small stack of coins atop the map. "Payment for your services. They're the only currency I have with me so I do hope you'll find them acceptable."
Both the husband and wife gawked openly at the coins their visitor had placed before them.
There were six coins in total, all shone brightly and appeared to be made of gold.
Reaching out Chief Wyllam took the topmost coin from the stack and looked it over in his hand.
The edges of the coin were a uniform thickness with a perfectly circular edge. There appeared to be no signs of any imperfections on the surface with crisp clean lines.
On the face of the coin was the side-turned profile of a stunningly beautiful woman. She wore a serene expression as she was silhouetted by a crescent moon behind her. Wrapped around the edge of the coin was writing in a language the likes of which Wyllam had not seen before.
On the reverse of the coin a different image.
Here there was what looked like a tree at the coin's center. The tree had its roots openly visible and was bare of any leaves save for nine small ones. Encircling the border of the coin was some manner of a serpentine beast. On the creature was an exquisitely detailed scale pattern with more of that strange lettering etched on those scales.
Feeling the coin in his hand the chief was surprised by the substantial weight it possessed. This weight inclined him to trust that the coin and its brethren were the genuine articles.
However, Wyllam didn't get to where he was by just making assumptions. It was still possible that the coins were forgeries.
Turning to his wife a simple look was all he needed to convey his message.
Rising from her seat Annora left the old table and moved off to proceed through the closed door at the back of the room.
She wasn't gone for long and soon returned carrying a small balance scale in one hand and a pouch in the other. Placing the scale upon the worn surface of the table the woman held an outstretched to her husband who offered up the coin.
What followed next was a simple procedure.
The chief's wife held the coin in her hand while the other disappeared into the pouch as it lay on the table.
As her hand moved about in the bag Tiberius could hear the faint clink of metal. Removing her hand from the small sack Annora held a small cylindrical lump of dark metal. She eyed the gold coin in her opposite hand and then the piece of metal in the other. The woman compared their relative sizes and seemed to be satisfied with it.
She placed the coin on side of the scale, its weight pulling the plate down to the tabletop. Then she deposited a dark metal cylinder on the opposite pan. This new weight caused the pan holding the coin to rise but only so far.
Annora reached into the bag once more and retrieved a second comparison weight. This time with additional weight on the scale the gold coin rose higher until both plates hung in balance.
"Your coin is twice the weight of a regular gold piece," Annora lifted the coin from the pan and eyed the coin in hand. "Perhaps we should scratch the surface to be sure of its purity. Or we could…"
"You're being rude Annora," the woman's husband interjected, "Please forgive my wife. She doesn't mean any insult. It's just…"
The Dragonoid raised his hand to quell the man's fears.
"It's quite alright, I understand your skepticism. But feel free to perform whatever tests you wish. The coins are yours to do with as you please."
"No, we couldn't possibly accept such an offer." Chief Wyllam's tone was unsteady, "Just the gold content alone is far too much. But with those etchings, I dare say that these aren't coins at all. But works of art from a master craftsman."
Plucking the coin from his wife's open palm, Wyllam carefully returned the gold piece to the stack with its brethren.
Tiberius remained impassive as he sat upon the rickety chair.
"Where I am from we do not take back a payment given for services provided."
"But surely…"
"Ungrateful wretches!"
For the first time since their arrival at the village, Yuliana spoke. Her tone was sharp as she bristled in anger.
"You would dare to refuse such a gift of benevolence from Lord Tiberius. I should…"
The elderly couple shrank back at the harsh words directed in their direction from the formerly silent armoured female. They were most disturbed as the woman's hand reached across her waist to lay upon the hilt of one of the sabers that hung from her belt.
"Yuliana!"
As the name left the armoured male's lips, Chief Wyllam and his wife felt as though a tremendous force had been pressed upon their bodies. A force so strong it threatened to bowl them over in their chairs.
The command had worked as the Guardian Overseer froze momentarily before snapping to her previous stance.
"Forgive me, my lord."
The Dragonoid rose from the old chair, the wood creaked in seeming gratitude with the removal of the weight.
"I must apologize for this display. She is my aid and as such, she can be rather protective. Again, I thank you and your wife for the assistance you have given."
Tiberius gave a nod to the couple before making his way to the front door.
From the seats, the married couple watched as the two armoured strangers left their home together. Even with the pair no longer in the room, Wyllam and Annora felt compelled to remain seated. Together their gaze fell upon the petite stack of coins resting upon the table.
Their minds began to fill with questions about the armoured duo.
Just who were they and how they could part so easily with such a bounty. It almost boggled the mind with the implications.
Once more on the outside, the Dragonoid couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Well, that didn't seem so bad and they didn't appear to be too suspicious of my story. Overall I'd call that a success. We got some good information about this world. Well apart from Yuliana's little outburst that is. That could've been a disaster, guess we'll have to work on that.
In a way, it reminded Tiberius of the tensions he felt when negotiating contracts with clients. Or the thrill he'd get with speaking with other guild leaders back in YGGDRASIL as they shared their stories.
Tiberius spared a glance back at the chief's home before he shook his head and put it behind him.
He hadn't moved very far before he found himself pausing in the village square. It was apparent that much of the excitement of their initial arrival had died down. Now the villagers seemed content to go about their routines as if had occurred today.
Though there were still a few who would pause to look at the two armoured individuals. Or those who would share a whisper with their neighbor.
But Tiberius paid it no mind as he stood observing the village residents.
It was a marvelous thing.
In YGGDRASIL, there were villages, towns, and cities scattered across the landscapes of the nine worlds. Each of these was filled with NPC inhabitants to better immerse players in the world in which they adventured.
However, those inhabitants were nothing more than computer code in a game.
Their daily lives were governed by an A.I program. A program that dictated everything for them: when to wake, when to eat, when to work, and when to sleep. All in an effort to create a facsimile of life.
But not here, not in this world.
These were real people.
They were real people with real lives who chose what to do and when to do it of their own free will.
Across the square, Tiberius's eyes followed a group of village children playing a game of some sort. Tag perhaps?
They darted along the dirt roads between the houses. They disappeared down the alleys between the buildings before emerging again to weaver through the adults who moved about. Together their laughter rang out as they called out for one another in their revelry.
No sooner had the children caught sight of the pair of strangers than they ceased their game. The group formed up opposite the plaza and stood by staring back at the armoured figures.
Maybe a minute or two had passed by before one of the children broke from the gaggle of kids and began to approach. The child made a beeline for the pair moving as fast as their legs could carry them.
"Mister, mister," the youngster's voice carried across the plaza.
Having grabbed his attention, Tiberius watched the child approach.
The child was a young girl not yet into her teen years, but surely not too far away. Her face shone with mirth and her brown eyes twinkled brightly in the daylight. Twin streamers of reddish-brown pigtails fluttered and flopped about with her excited movements.
She wore a blue woolen dress that came down to her shins with a red kerchief draped over her shoulders and tied into a bow in front. The sunlight glinted off the metal buckle upon her simple leather shoes.
At the girl's hurried advance, Yuliana moved to intercept her. Stepping forwards she placed her between the child and her master. At the same time, her hands moved towards her weapons.
Drawing near the young girl slowed then stopped several feet away.
"Hey, you're the newcomers, right. So cool," the girl's voice dripped with enthusiasm, "Are you two adventurers? Where are you from? Have you fought many monsters?"
As the girl's excitement took control a near-endless fount of questions flowed from her mouth. To Tiberius, it seemed she had barely paused to breathe before returning to her continuing inquisition.
Sidestepping the Guardian Overseer, Tiberius moved closer to the girl.
"Easy now," the Dragonoid attempted to calm the girl, "Let's start over. What's your name?"
The girl smiled up at him, "I'm Nemu Emmot."
"It's good to meet you, Nemu. I am Tiberius and this…" Tiberius gestured to the armoured female, "Is my companion Yuliana. And to answer your questions. I guess you could say we are adventurers. And yes, I have fought with monsters before."
"Oh, so cool."
To hear the girl repeat the phrase in her fervor was unexpected by the Dragonoid.
After all, this world seemed more in with medieval fantasy. So it was odd to hear the use of more modern slang be used.
"Your armour looks so awesome. I bet it was really expensive."
Tiberius regarded the girl's choice of words.
I wonder if this part of whatever magic is doing the translations. I think she's saying one thing but really she's saying another. If that's the case I wonder what I must sound like to them.
Before Tiberius could reply or the eager Nemu could pose a follow-up statement they distracted.
"Nemu!"
A feminine voice called out to the young girl.
Hearing this voice appeared to drain the life from the young girl before him. She cast her eyes to the ground for a moment before slowly turning in the direction of the voice.
Curious Tiberius followed Nemu's gaze to the form of a young woman striding towards their little group.
The young lady in question looked to be somewhere in her mid to late teens. Though Tiberius couldn't say for certain. She had a fairly light complexion, somewhat surprising for someone who probably spent a fair amount of time outdoors. Her hair was honey-blonde and probably reached her shoulder blades in length. That is if she allowed it to. With its length, she wore her hair in a single braided ponytail which she draped over her right shoulder. While she left the front and sides of her alone. The teenager's face was quite attractive with fine features and expressive brown eyes.
As an outsider, Tiberius found it odd for a girl with looks more befitting a high-born noble to be living in a village of farmers. If this was still a game, it would be probable that she was some noble's long-lost daughter or perhaps a princess sent into hiding.
Her choice of clothing was simple and utilitarian.
A soft cream coloured long-sleeved undershirt was worn beneath an earth-toned over-jacket. The jacket had an odd design. Rather than buttons or ties, the jacket was held closed by a pair of straps. One strap wrapped her midriff while the other strap spanned her collarbones. This, in turn, left the teen's ample bust to be framed by –more like emphasized by these straps. A long goldenrod skirt flowed down to her ankles which allowed her blue-dyed shows to show. While about her waist she wore a sash of gold and red.
She moved with a determined stride, her eyes focused on the young Nemu.
"Nemu, I've been looking all over for you," the teenage female stared down at the younger one, "Mom said you haven't finished with your chores yet. You know you have to finish those before you go off to play."
Nemu wilted under her elder sister's admonishment. Casting her eyes to the ground under her feet the younger sibling refused to look up at her elder.
The older sister sighed heavily, shook her head, and rested her hands upon her hips. The presence of the two armoured strangers seemingly going unnoticed as she focused on her little sister.
That is until the Dragonoid cleared his throat.
"Oh goodness, I'm sorry."
The older sister grew flustered as she reacted to the pair standing nearby.
"My name is Enri Emmot," she performed a small curtsy, "And this is my little sister, Nemu. I do hope she hasn't been bothering you. It's just she gets rather excited around adventurers."
"A pleasure to meet you, Enri Emmot."
Tiberius greeted her with a bow, this caused the girl's cheeks to grow a rosy shade of pink.
"You're sister has been no trouble. She's actually been rather amusing with her enthusiasm."
The young girl's spirits seemed to lift slightly as she offered a small smile. A smile that spread to the elder sister who soon had a smile of her own.
"Well, I'm glad to meet you. But uh, I really must be seeing my sister home."
With a wave and a mumbled farewell, Nemu did an about-face and followed after her older sister. Though from Tiberius' point of view it was more like she slunk after her in a rather dejected manner.
The Dragonoid continued to watch the two girls until they disappeared around a corner.
"Yuliana, I believe we've learned all we can for now. Let's head home."
"Yes, Lord Tiberius."
As she answered the Dragonoid couldn't help but take notice of the Guardian Overseer's more upbeat tone. Still, he paid it little mind, and instead, he chalked it up to her being anxious to return to the comforts of Tyrnaust.
Turning the Dragonoid began to retrace the path the chief had led him down. However, he soon stopped upon realizing that he was alone. Swiveling Tiberius turned back to his female companion.
"Yuliana?"
"Lord Tiberius, if I may ask. If we have completed our task why then are we not using a [Gate] or [Fly] spell to return home?"
Retracing his steps the Dragonoid approached the Guardian Overseer. Making sure to lower his voice to lower chances of another overhearing he answered.
"I don't want to cause a disturbance among the villagers. Tell me, Yuliana, did you notice any signs of magic within the village?"
"No, I did not."
"Neither did I. It could mean that perhaps magic is not widespread and is more of a rarity. If so, then any use of magic on our part would only serve to attract more attention than we already have."
"But my lord, once we have left this village then what does it matter?"
This particular question left Tiberius to wonder himself.
Her point was a valid one. What did it matter if they were to use magic now since they didn't plan to return? Yet that point stuck with Tiberius. What if they did need to return at some point? What if using magic now made them wary to deal with in the future?
"Because… this village has become a contact point. We have formed a rapport with them, they could be useful if we ever need more information."
Yuliana remained silent on the matter for a moment.
"I see. I had not considered the option of returning. Forgive me, Lord Tiberius."
"It's quite alright. Come, once we return to the clearing we will be free to utilize magic again."
This time the Guardian Overseer followed as Tiberius again set off.
The passage of the two strangers attracted little attention on this pass-through. The villagers would glance before returning to their work. Some waved at their passing and others bid them farewell to which Tiberius replied in a show of gratitude.
Either way, it was a relief for Tiberius to not have so many eyes on him and Yuliana.
Leaving the village proper the armoured duo found themselves once more in the fields. The sections of tilled earth were pretty well devoid of workers save for a few stragglers. However, it wasn't long before even they too began to leave. With tools in hand or slung over their shoulders, they marched through the rows and towards the village.
It was rather thankful that Carne Village wasn't far from the forest's edge.
Once more Tiberius and Yuliana found themselves sheltered under the thick canopy of trees.
Although the visit to the Village of Carne had done much to help alleviate some of the Dragonoid's concerns for this world. It had in other ways only filled his mind with new ones.
Things like his worries about these other kingdoms and just how they would react to the presence of Tyrnaust.
Or the fact this world possessed an Adventurer's Guild. Chief Wyllam had said they make a living dealing with the monster of the world. So just how would they view him as a nonhuman?
He pondered these and other questions as Yuliana and he passed through the forest. Though Tiberius still made sure to not lose himself in thought and kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.
The village chief had shared several tales about this Forest of Tob and its reputation for being home to a wide variety of powerful monsters.
However, even after being informed of the dangers, Tiberius couldn't entirely shake the feeling of tranquility.
That is until the winds shifted.
Where once the winds had come from the north now reversed and came up from the south.
Tiberius froze, behind the ruby lens of his helmet the Dragonoid's eyes widened. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply.
"Yuliana, do you smell that?"
"I do."
Carried on the breeze a strong scent.
It was an aroma that the Dragonoid's keen senses had no trouble in detecting. It was an acidic smell, a smell he was familiar with when in his waking life he'd smelled it plenty. It was the scent of smoke.
But it was the aroma beneath that pulled at him.
This one was powerful, tangy, and metallic, something he could practically taste on his tongue. In fact, he had once before already.
Another deep inhalation and he felt a jolt pass through his body. This forced him to take another great breath of this enticing fragrance. Tiberius felt his heart rate increase and his muscles grow tense. While freshly oxygenated blood pumped through his veins. Priming his body in anticipation of what his instincts said was to follow.
Tiberius shifted, turning his gaze back to the way they had come through the forest. His gaze rising to stare through the small gaps in the foliage.
There in the distance, he could make out the source. Wispy trails of black smoke rose high into the sky above. Given the direction and apparent distance, the Dragonoid had little doubt as to the origin.
While the smoke alone was a strong reason for concern. It was the other scent that had sent a shiver down his spine that was his main concern.
"Yuliana, we're going back!"
The armoured Dragonoid did not wait for the Guardian Overseer to respond. Instead, he'd already begun to move, his pace already hurried was ever quickening.
A knot forming deep in the pit of his stomach egged him.
