Hyperion Evergrowing

Chapter 108: Distance

Leif observed the growing tension between two armed forces as they squared off in the market of Klos. Words like ‘jurisdiction’, ‘treaties’ and ‘overstepping’ were thrown around with reckless abandon, and anger flared from both parties. Adventurers and civilians formed a rough semicircle around both the Ahle-ho and Empire soldiers, as if to spectate an upcoming fight.

He watched the shouting match for several minutes before coming to a definitive conclusion. I absolutely have no interest in getting involved with this mess. Leif had thrown his metaphorical weight around while entering civilization, but now that he was inside human territory he just… didn’t care about butting into what was clearly a political nightmare. Besides the more he stuck his head into business that didn’t involve him the more likely it was his disguise was discovered.

The imperial captain who had confronted him and his companions at the river checkpoint drew himself up to his full height and quoted some sort of law or official document. He looked so unbelievably smug, like a child who had just stolen a handful of candy and gotten away with it. The man had introduced himself after Leif and the others had gotten through the checkpoint, he had practically bowed and scraped into the mud before returning Leif’s academy badge.

Leif could recall his name if he wanted, his memory was far sharper now than it had been prior to his evolution. But he couldn’t muster up the motivation to bother. He cast one final look at the burning building, sighed, then walked over to where the middle aged woman and her children stood watching as official representatives of foreign militaries argued legal semantics.

“I investigated your house.” He said telepathically, not interested in raising his voice to be heard over the shouting match. “The fire started on the ground floor behind the counter, I didn’t see any signs it was deliberately started. If you have a basement, maybe that was the cause, but it was hard to make out details through the smoking rubble.”

The woman looked at him with wide eyes as the toddler she was carrying let out a huge yawn. “I-I see.” She said, “Thank you… uh, sir?”

Leif nodded, turned on his heels and walked out of the market square.

===

Leif leaned back in the chair he was sitting in, staring despondently up at the ceiling of Frederick’s office. The chair would have collapsed into splinters beneath him without several skills working in tandem to prevent just that. He almost wanted to let [Wood Manipulation], [Embolden Vegetation] and [Gold Iron Physique] all drop so he would annihilate the chair, then likely the floor beneath him all in one shocking display of: I no longer want to be here.

Liv, Samil and Olav were out in the town, shopping for the goodies they would need to bring back to their families in Far-reach. Apparently Kala had asked Samil to seek out some minor enchanted items, which was no longer looking like an option. Instead he was sharing the small office space with the guild representative and two very unhappy captains standing to either side of him.

Why did it have to be my meeting? He thought, groaning internally as the imperial captain repeated a line about ‘the mandate of the emperor’. The man had said the exact same thing almost ten times in the past thirty minutes, then would pause, cross his arms and smile triumphantly. Leif was in no position to judge all officers of the Mekrys Empire negatively simply based on his experience with this one man, but he was beginning to have patriotic feelings towards the republic, a nation he basically knew nothing about.

This meeting was supposed to be about the Pherin dungeon, but that hasn’t even been mentioned once. He mused, flexing and manipulating his aura in increasingly complex patterns. I should find a guide for aura advancement, it might have some exercises to speed up the rank up process.

“This incident does not put the frontier treaty into question, and even if it did, nobody in this room is of high enough rank to do anything about it.” Peri said through clenched teeth.

“The garrison commander would beg to differ, captain.” The man Leif was deliberately trying to not remember the name of said.

“Well, why isn’t the commander in this room?”

“Because I speak with his authority on this matter.”

Kill me. Leif thought, opening his system window to scan through the potential options for his next skill fusion.

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“I hope I do not need to remind you, captain. That the Imperial rank structure and the rank structure of Ahle-ho’s private armies are not identical. I am of equivalent rank to your commander.” Peri said, this was the third time she had explained that.

“Please.” Frederick said placatingly. “I know tempers are hot right now, but all three of our organisations have been tasked by our respective leadership to work together. The incident with the enchanters shop is most unfortunate, and I have already offered compensation in the form of Pridelance’s own connections.”

I can’t fuse my two aura skills yet, they both need to be at the same rank. [Fists of Conflict] and [Consuming Aeons] have some potential synergy, but both skills are quite complex in what they do already…

“You seem to be under the impression, guild representative, that that is an acceptable level of recompense for the failure of your accomplice.” The imperial said, gesturing at Peri. “But it is not, this was a blatant attack on my forces capability to operate within this region. It is unacceptable for-”

“Do you realise that enchanter was taking commissions from all parties present.” Peri said, talking over him.

That resulted in another round of arguments, Leif just wondered if Peri had included him in that ‘all parties present’ comment. He let out a long, exasperated sigh, then he focused on Frederick. “I need a good reason to stay within the next two minutes or I’m walking out the door.”

The man blinked, then nodded subtly in his direction. A minute later the guild representative expertly stepped into the conversation, cutting off both officers as they just began to start up another round of ‘whose job is it anyway’.

“Please, I need to remind both of you the reason for this meeting. While I am in no way dismissing the concerns or grievances of both of you, this is not the reason why we are here.” Both officers' mouths snapped shut, glaring at one another but not speaking. “As I was informed yesterday by the noble currently sitting in the middle of this argument, the Pherin dungeon has been destroyed.”

Silence hung in the air as the information was processed. Finally the imperial captain asked. “Who? And how?”

“That is what we’re here to discuss.” Frederick said, “So let's shelve the matter of the enchanter for now and focus on the topic at hand.”

“Well.” Peri said, crossing her arms and sitting down. “This is… fantastic news. Untamed dungeons are the leading cause of monster attacks all across the frontiers of human territories, even more so than the factions that are rumoured to exist.”

The unnamed man sniffed. “The dungeon was a potential resource, we know of one more thanks to that failed expedition from last year, but there hardly seems to be a reason for resettlement.”

“If I may, an undead dungeon is not a resource worth attempting to exploit.” Said Frederick. “I am aware of the tamed dungeon beneath the imperial capital, but this hardly seems like the same situation. From what information I am privy to, the dungeon was slated for destruction, though I am unsure if the forces sent to do so have been dispatched.”

“And there is proof of this?” Asked the man, looking at Leif for the first time since the beginning of the meeting.

“Yes.” Leif said simply, mentally tallying the pros and cons of revealing his involvement.

“The information was checked by this room’s truth telling enchantments.” Frederick said. “And scrying spells cast last night seem to be verifying the lack of undead assaulting this region.”

“I… I will need physical proof of this event.” Said the officer.

The air warped above Leif’s hand, then a blackened shard materialised into his palm. Leif could feel the death-aspected energy dwelling within the crystal, small amounts of power slowly trickling into his hand only to be crushed and converted.

Peri let out a sharp intake of breath, and Frederick looked at the shard with wide eyes. The imperial captain reached out a hand, only to flinch back and swear under his breath when his hand got within thirty centimetres of the crystal. “How on earth can you hold that?” He asked as he shook the limb he had extended out like a dog trying to dry itself. “My hand is numb, and it fucking hurts.”

Leif returned the crystal to his spatial ring. In truth he wasn’t sure of the exact nature of the aspected mana shard, nor was he aware of its value. But judging by the shocked looks on the faces around him it was likely something special. “It’s from the core, but I will not be disclosing how I obtained it. Does this suffice as ‘physical proof?’”

Nods from all around.

“Good.” He said, standing and stepping towards the door. “I am leaving for Ahle-ho in a few days, I would like a letter of introduction for your guild, Frederick.” The guild representative was already reaching for a blank piece of paper. “And as for the incident with the enchanter… I did not see any evidence of arson when I investigated the property with my perception skill. The fire started behind the counter, I do not know how as my skill doesn’t provide very much detail in situations like this. I have no intention to involve myself further in this matter, but as a motion of good faith I will offer my services as a healer should it be requested. Peri, I want to interrogate those prisoners before I leave, specifically the tall spear wielder because of something I noticed when I tried to get information from him before. Good-day.”

And then he left the office, his heavy footfalls resounding off the walls as he walked down the stairs. He strode across the common area, passing two dozen adventurers as they loudly talked and drank. Leif found it strange the guild building seemed to serve so many functions at once, but he supposed it was a cultural thing. He was stepping out the front door when the floor beneath the eating, shouting and laughing adventurers exploded into a shower of splinters and flames.

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