Zoras's eyes lit up at the compliment. "Grimchar. Don't think I've heard that name before, but perhaps that is an alias. As for the history of this world, that is exactly my job to know, but you need to be more specific. It's a long history, and I have spent a lifetime studying it. I assume you don't have that much time."
"I'm mostly interested in the warring factions. Who are they? Why are they fighting? That kind of thing," Newt said.
Zoras turned to the bookcase behind him and with both hands grabbed a thick tome off the middle of the shelf. "I suggest you start with this, The Great Wars: A Brief History." The book made a loud thudding sound as he placed it on the table.
"Either we have different ideas of brief, or this place has seen a lot of wars. That book is massive," Terran said wide-eyed.
"That's just the first volume. There are four more in that series," Zoras responded with a deadpan expression.
"I guess you better get started, Newt. Let me know if you need anything else." Terran smiled at his friend, but Newt was already leafing through the book on the table.
Jondar followed Terran out of the room. "I'd say I'd look out for Newt, but it seems like Zoras likes him. I've never seen him be that relaxed with someone touching his precious books."
"Kindred spirits I'd guess. Newt loves to learn, and Zoras loves to show you how much he knows. Seems like a perfect match."
"True. True." Jondar chuckled.
As Terran was leaving the conservatory he saw Ara speaking with the leaf gatherers. She stood with her weight on her back foot, hand on her hip, gesturing casually with her other hand. He waved at the armorer when she noticed him. She smiled broadly and held up a finger to him, indicating he should wait. Terran stood watching for a few more seconds while she wrapped up her conversation then walked towards him as the gatherers went back to their work picking leaves from the trees.
"Oh good. I was just looking for you," the elf said with a sad smile. "I have something for you." She looked down at her closed hand as she brought it to her chest and took a deep breath. "Before Chanterelle left to take the loamers to Karst Hollow she asked me to craft an item for you. I've finished it, and I thought Chanterelle would have wanted me to give it to you even though she is not here. Perhaps it can be a token of your memories together. I'm sorry, Terran. I wish she was here to give it herself."
Ara reached for Terran's hand and placed a delicate leaf amulet on a thin chain into his palm. The leaf reflected the light, sending a rainbow of colors across its iridescent surface as he turned it around.
"This is beautiful, Ara," Terran said softly. "Thank you. I know Chanterelle would be happy with how it turned out. Thank you for giving it to me."
Ara nodded while squeezing Terran's shoulder. "Of course. The enchantment took a while, but I think you'll be able to use it."
Terran used his analyze skill on the prismatic leaf.
Rock Leaf Amulet
Clear Thinking enchantment: Once per day dispel an illusion.
"Chanterelle said that she was so grateful to you for helping her be who she always wanted. You were able to dispel the illusion to her father that she was a loamer, and helped her be the warrior she was meant to be. I thought what better way to represent that than enchanting it to dispel illusions," Ara said.
"That is amazing. I'm sure that will come in handy sometime. I really don't know what to say," Terran said with watery eyes, clutching the amulet to his heart. He finally placed the thin chain around his neck then rubbed the smooth leaf between his fingers. "Thank you, Ara. This is so special."
The matronly elf embraced Terran and squeezed tightly as he rested his head on her shoulder, the weight of the amulet around his neck reminding him of the weight he felt missing Chanterelle. He took several deep breaths, trying to stave off tears and gather himself. He was grateful for the item and the thought behind it, but for now the wound was still open. His heart ached, missing Chanterelle's embrace.
Chapter Six
"You were up earlier than normal," Luna said as Terran returned to his room in the upper branches of the chieftain's hut. The gray lynx stood and stretched, arching her back.
"I knew Newt would want to get started first thing. Once he has books on the mind, there's no stopping him."
"Plus Zoras is always in a better mood in the morning. He hasn't had time to remember how much better he is than everyone else when he first wakes up," Luna said, licking her front paws then using them to clean her face.
Terran laughed. "You might be right. Want to join me while I try to find a conch shell?"
"Oh, now you have time for me?" the lynx chided.
"What do you mean? I always have time for you. You're my companion."
"Let's just say you've been rather distracted since your friends arrived."
"I'm sorry, Luna. I have been busy." Terran sighed, sitting down on his hammock, rubbing the new amulet between his fingers. "Between losing Chanterelle and my friends coming through the portal, I can see how you'd feel left out. I'll try to do better."
In response Luna rubbed her face on Terran's leg. He reached down to stroke her soft gray fur as she purred. The pair sat in silence for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts.
"I can't sit in here anymore. Let's go see if we can find a conch shell. I need one to grow an emerald crystal," Terran said, rising to his feet.
Terran had planned to ask Petram about locating a shell, but the smell of cooking herbs wafting through the air made his stomach growl. "Whatever Sanisar is cooking up smells delicious. I'm going to see if it's ready."
Luna rolled her eyes. "Typical. Man distracted by food smells."
Sanisar was cheerfully stirring the giant cauldron simmering over the fire while humming a little tune. "Terran. Pleasure to see you."
"What is that amazing smell, Sanisar?"
"A mushroom soup. The loamers just brought back a fresh harvest, and the herbs I planted near the orchard are growing quickly, so I'm trying out a new recipe."
"When do we eat? The aroma is distracting the trainees," Lhoris said as he stuck his nose over the soup.
Luna grinned. "Oh surprise. Another male guided by his nose."
"It won't be ready for at least another hour. Get out of here and stop distracting me, before I ruin the whole cauldron," Sanisar said, shooing the pair away.
"Weren't we supposed to be looking for a conch shell?" Luna reminded Terran.
He stood, eyes closed, inhaling the smell with a small smile on his face. "Oh yeah. My grumbling stomach distracted me."
"What do you need a conch shell for?" Lhoris asked when he overheard Luna.
"It's one of the items needed to grow an emerald crystal. Conch shell, large emerald, and a shellflower."
Lhoris stood silently, seeming to contemplate something. After a deep breath he motioned for Terran to follow him. The captain led Terran and Luna to his room in the barracks tree. Silently he pointed to a shelf in the back corner. Much to Terran's surprise there was a giant conch shell about the size of his head on the top shelf.
"Oh wow. That's perfect, Lhoris. Mind if I take it?"
"Actually, yes I do," Lhoris sighed, sitting down at his desk and hanging his head. "I had intended to give the shell to Ara as a gift." He sighed deeply before continuing. "Once, when we were much younger, we traveled to the sea together on a mission. Ara loved the waves and the smell of salt in the air. I loved seeing her so happy. For decades I've kept my feelings for her to myself, but now that we have a stable settlement and a place to call home, I'm tired of being alone. I was going to present her the shell and confess my feelings.
"The shell gift is actually my second choice though," he continued, looking down at his hands. "I really wanted to return a family brooch that she lost to her, but with all my responsibilities here I haven't been able to retrieve it. If you're willing to get the brooch, I'll give you the shell."
"I'd be happy to help," Terran said with a smile. "Where would I find the brooch?"
You have received a quest: Retrieve Ara's family brooch
Reward: Increased reputation with Rock Leaf Elves and a conch shell.
Get some reputation and play matchmaker. It's a win-win for everyone.
"We were on a scouting patrol on the edge of the forest near the Silent Plains when we were ambushed by a swarm of giant beetles. We had just stopped near a watchtower along the wall for a bite to eat when they attacked." A blush rose up his cheeks as he continued. "The brooch must have fallen off where we stopped, but we didn't notice until after we got away from the beetles. I tried to creep back and retrieve it that night, but there were still too many bugs there. I'll mark the exact location on your map."
Terran opened his map and saw the location Lhoris had just added. He guessed it was a four- or five-day journey to the east. "I can leave today. I need to get a shellflower from the Silent Plains, so I'll grab that after we get the brooch. I love it when quests line up."
"Thank you, Terran. I know Ara will be thrilled to have a piece of her family history back."
"We won't even tell her that I got it," Terran said with a wink.
Lhoris gave a weak smile. "I just hope it reminds her of the times we spent together." The elf sat up straighter and his face cleared of any emotion. "I will continue training the warriors while you're gone. They are doing rotations between the archery range and improving their spear skills. Are there any instructions or orders you would like carried out when you're gone?"
"No. It sounds like you have it covered. I'll see you in a few weeks," Terran said with a bow of his head towards the captain.
"Oh good. An adventure," Luna said as they left the barracks. "I'm getting sick of the taste of the squirrels around here."
Terran wrinkled his nose. "Let's see if Zara and Flynn want to join us. I'm sure Newt will have his nose in a book for a while."
The common area of the inn was in chaos as Terran and Luna entered. Several elves were scurrying around with mops and cleaning rags. An enormous puddle was spread on the floor at Jondar's feet and he was soaked from the waist down. The plump elf stood with his arms out, laughing as Zara was trying to wring out his robe.
"I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean to. Here, let me help you clean that up," Zara said as she had the hem of his robe in her hands.
Flynn was doubled over clutching his stomach in a chair next to Jondar. "Classic Zara. You're even more fun with that uncontrollable arm," he said through peals of laughter.
"Shut up, Flynn. This thing sucks. I don't think you want to make me angry right now."
"You're right, you're right. I'm sorry," Flynn said, holding his hands in the air as a signal of truce.
Luna sniffed at the puddle on the floor. "There's enough ale on this floor to satisfy even Jondar."
The statement brought fresh laughter from Flynn and Jondar as Zara's face matched her flaming red hair. She threw up her hands and collapsed into a chair, shaking her head. "I give up," she sighed.
"Really, Zara, it's fine," Jondar said with a warm smile. "It's just ale. I've been told I always smell like the inside of a keg anyway."
"I need to find a way to control this thing. I'm tired of it causing me so much grief and putting me into a rage."
Terran pulled up a chair and sat down at the table. "Maybe I can help with that," he said kindly. "I've got a few quests to do. I'll share them with you guys and we can work on that, and help you learn to control the arm as we go. What do you think?"
Zara perked up at the idea, but Flynn was shaking his head. "I think someone should stay and keep an eye on Newt. That guy will forget to eat if we leave him alone with all those books. I'll stay here and take care of him. You two go without us."
"I might be able to get more progress when I'm not surrounded by people laughing at me," Zara said while giving Flynn the stink eye. "Where are we going?"
Terran shared his quests with Zara so she could see the details. "I was planning to leave today if that works for you. We're headed east to the Silent Plains."
"The sooner I get out of town the better. I'll go pack my things now," she said. The chair went tumbling across the room when she accidentally knocked it with her arm as she rose. "I'll be ready in two minutes," she said, gritting her teeth and setting the chair straight.
"It will take me a little more than two minutes," Terran said, grinning. "I'll meet you at the central fire as soon as I'm ready."
The berserker just nodded on her way up the ramp towards her room. She held her demon arm tight to her chest, taking slow, deliberate steps, trying to avoid any other accidents. Her movements reminded Terran of how she had tried to control her body before they entered the game. She had often suffered from tics of her arms and legs when her emotions were high, and had told Terran it was a symptom of her disease when he had first asked her about it. He was surprised to see her in game character appearing to have the same problem.
True to her word Terran found Zara sitting arms crossed, pack at her feet, waiting for him by the central fire. She jumped up and grabbed her pack as soon as he and Luna neared. Terran grinned at her enthusiasm. Zara was always ready for an adventure.
"I thought we'd go south, hit the Old Road, and then head east. It may be a bit longer, but traveling on the road will be much faster and probably less dangerous," Terran explained.
"I'm just happy to be out questing. I'll go whichever route you suggest."
The ever-autumnal trees of the glen swayed in the slight breeze as the small party left the settlement behind. Although Zara bounced on her toes and cheerfully swung her arms as she walked, her smile didn't reach her eyes. Terran had known her long enough to know that something was bothering her, but he decided to wait for a while to ask her about it, hoping she would start the conversation.
"So how did you and Luna become companions?" Zara asked after a couple hours of travel. "You're lucky. She's amazing."
Terran smiled. "Yeah, she is amazing. I found her caught in a sticky trap and helped free her. We've been together ever since."
Even though Luna was several paces in front of the pair, she looked back as Terran recounted the story of their meeting. "He's been ruining my stealth ever since," she added when he was done.
Zara grinned. "I'm not surprised. He's never been known for his ability to be quiet. He used to get in trouble in class all the time for talking or not using his inside voice."
"Tell me more stories about him as a cub," Luna said as she waited for the pair to catch up to her.
"How about let's don't," Terran pleaded.
"I met him when our teacher paired us up to work together on some assignments. I found it difficult to work with others, and I'm pretty sure Mr. S was hoping the task would keep Terran focused and quieter in class," Zara began with a grin. "Most of the kids didn't like me, but Terran didn't seem bothered. He always seemed keen to help out an underdog."
"Or a lynx cat," Luna giggled.
"I'm glad he did. We worried about him being alone. Plus every team needs a cat. They have such great hearing and eyesight. A lynx can spot a mouse over two hundred and fifty feet away," Zara spouted off.
"Don't get her started on cat facts. She'll never stop. You'd think she was a cat herself," Terran said, shaking his head. "On second thought, go ahead, then she'll stop telling stories about me."
"I've kinda been fixated on cats since I was a kid," Zara admitted to Luna.
"Well we are incredible, so I can understand the reasoning," Luna responded, flexing her claws.
"Zara, when did all this clumsiness start? I don't remember noticing it before the hag cursed me. Did she do something to you too?" Terran asked, changing the subject.
"No. This started happening when I got the demon arm. I was doing just fine before that. It's almost like part of my old self decided to show back up in game."
"I had that thought too when I was watching you walk up the stairs. It almost looked like your tics were starting up."
Zara nodded as the edges of her mouth tu
rned down. "It feels like that, but I have more power too. I think if I can learn to harness the rage, I could be unstoppable. Well, probably not unstoppable, but super powerful at least."
Terran was a little surprised when a quest popped into his view.
You have been offered a quest: Help Zara gain mastery of her rage.
Reward: Isn't the satisfaction of helping a friend enough of a reward?
"Did you get a quest notification too?" Terran asked.
"Yeah. It's a relief just knowing I could be able to control this thing. It's like the arm pumps anger through it instead of blood, and I'm constantly battling to retain control. At least with my tics it was unlikely that I'd hurt anyone, but this thing…" Her voice trailed off.
"Have you noticed any triggers or is it random when the rage takes over?"
"Well, I'm clumsy with it all the time, but I think that's from just being tired trying to constantly retain control. As for the rage, I don't notice it taking over, but I think it happens whenever normal anger would arise. Especially if someone I care about is being hurt. That's when I get blackout angry," Zara said through clenched teeth.
"Looks like just thinking about it is making you angry," Terran pointed out.
Zara nodded as she held her demon arm tightly to her chest. Sensing the anger rising in the berserker, Luna rubbed her face on Zara's leg and purred. The gesture brought a bit of calm back to Zara's features. Her face softened and her lip curled up in the hint of a smile as she rubbed the lynx's head with her good arm.
Terran watched the interaction. It wasn't really possible to stop a fight to pet a cat, but maybe Zara could learn to tap into that feeling on her own. If dogs could be taught to salivate at the sound of a bell, maybe they could devise something to train Zara to remain calm.
The Ghost Tower: A LitRPG Adventure Page 4
