by A F Kay
The largest dragon, which looked all black, locked gazes with Ruwen. The stare wasn’t hostile, but it didn’t seem friendly either. He had the strange feeling he recognized this dragon. Maybe he’d seen it, or one like it, in many of the drawings he’d seen. He looked away, not wanting the giant beast to think he wanted a fight.
“Ruwen! Sift! You came!” Hamma yelled.
Ruwen turned to see Hamma running toward them. She had red cheeks, a drink in one hand, and a triangle piece of what looked like bread in the other.
She wore the robe Blapy had provided, and her face glowed. She had a huge smile and wavered a little when she came to a stop.
“What is happening here?” Ruwen asked.
Hamma looked around. “It’s a wedding reception. And I’m celebrating leveling to seven!”
“Congrats!” Ruwen said.
Sift grabbed a fried roll from a waiter as they walked by and took a bite. His eyes grew large, and he dashed after the waiter, grabbing a handful of them.
Behind Hamma, a large city stretched into the distance. The party was taking place on the outskirts. The buildings were taller than any he’d ever seen. Some of them looked hundreds of feet tall. Most had a natural shape like wind or water had carved them from solid rock. But others looked to be spires made of glass, and they reflected the lights from the party.
Hamma handed her drink to Ruwen, and he took a sip. It tasted like apples and sage, and his head spun. A debuff appeared.
Intoxicated (Stage 1): -5% Perception, -1 Dexterity, -1 Wisdom, -1 Intelligence
And a buff appeared as well.
Intoxicated (Stage 1): +5% Confidence, +1 Strength
Ruwen’s eyes bulged, and his throat burned from what felt like swallowing magma.
“It’s good, right?” Hamma said, taking a sip. “I have to cast Purify on myself about every twenty minutes to get rid of the debuffs. This stuff takes you to stage four in a hurry.”
Ruwen couldn’t talk yet. His throat had clenched tight.
“You’re famous here! Did you know that?” Hamma asked.
Ruwen had a terrible feeling and not just from the drink. He shook his head.
“I’ve seen your battle with the chickens on the magic windows. They call themselves the Savage Seven now.” Hamma looked around. “They’re here somewhere. You made them famous, too.”
The burning in Ruwen’s throat ignited his cheeks.
Hamma turned back and quickly put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t be embarrassed. I think it’s sweet what you did for them.”
She took another sip of her drink.
Ruwen realized she hadn’t slept and croaked out a question. “Aren’t you tired?”
She pulled the sleeve of her robe. “This robe has a passive that keeps me rested.” She looked at Ruwen. “Do you want to dance?”
Ruwen looked at what appeared to be chaos on the dance floor. He didn’t recognize any of the dances either.
“Unfortunately, we have to get back,” Ruwen said.
Hamma’s eyes glazed over for a moment as she checked her clock. She handed her drink to a waiter, and then her whole body pulsed white as she cast Purify. Ruwen removed the Stuffed Centipede of Solace and prepared to kiss it to remove the alcohol from his system. Then he remembered it crawling on Sift’s face and biting his cheek. Ruwen stuck it back in his Inventory. He’d walk off the debuff.
Sift reappeared, and both hands were full of rolls.
Ruwen shook his head.
“Waut?” Sift asked his mouth full.
“I didn’t realize it was so late. The time just flew,” Hamma said.
“I lost track of time myself. Shockingly, Sift was the responsible one,” Ruwen said.
“Hehonthible,” Sift said, nodding his head.
Hamma laughed and took one last look around. “Let’s go before I change my mind and never leave.”
Ruwen touched the building wall. “Chapel.”
Chapter 46
The three of them stood in Ruwen’s room back at camp, and Ruwen erased the gate runes with his hand. Hamma wore her Uru robes again.
“It’s six forty-five in the morning here,” Ruwen said. “We cut it a little close.”
“At least you got us back to camp this time,” Sift said.
Ruwen glared at Sift but didn’t take the bait. “I have to meet Big D at seven.”
“Sift and I have to report to our leaders at seven, too,” Hamma said.
“You want to go get a quick breakfast?” Sift asked Hamma.
“You just ate like twelve rolls,” Ruwen said.
“Check your clock, that was eight hours ago,” Sift said.
Hamma laughed. “I’ll go. I drank more than I ate, and I could use a meal.”
Sift slipped out of the room, but Hamma paused. She locked eyes with Ruwen.
“You helped me find something I thought I’d never have,” Hamma said.
“What?”
“My independence,” Hamma said. “Thank you.” She blushed and then quickly left.
It made him happy that Hamma had enjoyed herself so much and had gained such valuable things while in Blapy. The whole experience had been much better this time.
I’m hungry, too, Rami said.
Ruwen realized Rami must have heard Sift talking about food.
You can hear other people? Ruwen asked to make sure.
Sometimes.
Okay, what do you eat?
Information.
Well, he liked information too.
I have some books. How much do you need to…eat? Ruwen asked.
Until I’m full.
Ruwen couldn’t argue with that logic. He removed the Worker textbook from his Inventory and placed it on his bed.
Now what? Ruwen asked.
I just need to touch it for a moment.
Ruwen didn’t understand what good that would do, but he brought his left hand up under his right ear. A second later, he felt a little pressure, like a raindrop, as Rami fell into his hand. He carefully placed her on the book cover.
He knelt next to his bed and studied Rami. She had two tiny eyes. They were black with flecks of silver and gold like tiny stars. Rami’s body vibrated for a moment, and Ruwen would have missed it if he’d blinked.
That was good. How many books do you have? Rami asked.
That was an excellent question. Ruwen glanced through his Inventory. He had five more textbooks, the Collector Novice Manual, the book Tremine had given him on Naktos, the alchemy recipe book, the four books from Blapy’s library, which included his Harvesting book, and Blapy’s rule book.
Thirteen more, Ruwen said.
Maybe one more then.
Ruwen removed the Observer textbook and set it next to the Worker one. Rami scrunched her body together and then stretched out, slowly moving across the Worker textbook.
What did you do just now? Ruwen asked.
I absorbed the book. Now I can digest it.
A hundred questions came to mind. Absorbed it?
When I vibrate, I can see inside things.
Ruwen’s eyes widened. You just read that entire book?
Yes, but it’s mostly useless right now. I have to index it before it’s valuable. Then it becomes information.
Indexing? Like in the back of some books?
Something like that.
Ruwen looked at Rami’s two abilities again.
Effect (Passive): Algorithmic Optimization
Effect (Active): Vibrational Conduction
So the vibrational conduction was a way to gather information using vibrations. That seemed a little crazy, but he didn’t doubt Rami. The idea of reading an entire book in an instant made Ruwen jealous.
And your algorithmic optimization is the indexing? Ruwen asked.
Part of it.
Rami didn’t offer anything else, and Ruwen didn’t want to pressure her. He would find out the details in time. Rami reached the new book, and a moment later looked up at him.
I’m done, Rami said. Thank you.
Ruwen shook his head. If he had this ability, he would travel to every library in the world. How many books were there in the world? That made him think of another question as he reached down to let Rami crawl onto his finger.
How many books have you eaten? Ruwen asked.
My mom feeds me a lot.
Ruwen pictured a tiny little family of Bookwyrms and smiled.
Like a hundred? Ruwen tried again.
Let me count.
Ruwen placed Rami on his ear, and she crawled behind it. He felt her move to the top and poke her head out of his hair. It tickled, but he ignored it. He placed the two books back into his Inventory.
Three million four hundred eighty-three thousand six hundred seventy-seven.
Ruwen’s jaw dropped.
And your indexes? Ruwen asked.
I’ve been refining them and reduced them to just billions.
Ruwen didn’t know how to respond to that. That is amazing.
Thank you. But that is just the boring stuff. Amazing is coming.
I can’t wait. I’m sorry I underestimated you.
That’s okay. You’re just ignorant, and you don’t like change. I’ll help with the ignorance. The change you’ll have to manage on your own.
Ruwen forced down his anger. What Rami said about change was probably right, but the ignorance comment hurt.
Did I upset you? Your heart rate increased, and your skin flushed. I didn’t mean to.
It’s okay. Truth is sometimes hard to hear. I think I formed my identity around being smart, and so being called ignorant is hard.
Oh, you’re smart. Mom wouldn’t have let us bond otherwise. You’ve done well with what you know. But I said ignorant because…Rami paused. Can I try something?
Sure.
The base of Ruwen’s skull grew cold, and then he stood on a beach. He looked around, confused, wondering where his room had gone. A young lady, maybe sixteen, faced him. Her dark hair hung past her shoulders, and her eyes were the same black with flecks of silver and gold that she had in her Bookwyrm form. Faint freckles dotted her nose and cheeks.
“Where are we?” Ruwen asked, surprised to hear his voice.
“In your mind,” Rami said.
Ruwen looked around again. “I thought there would be more in here.”
Rami laughed. “I created this. I wanted to see what I could do. As our connection deepens, I’ll be able to do more.”
Sand squished between his toes, and the air felt heavy with moisture. The waves eased on to the beach, the sound calming.
“This feels real,” Ruwen said.
“Thanks.”
Rami crouched down and grabbed a handful of sand. Standing, she held it in front of her. With her other hand, she touched the sand with her index finger and showed him a grain of sand.
“What you’ve learned in your sixteen years,” Rami said, staring at the grain of sand.
She held up the sand in her fist. “What I’ve learned.”
Rami dropped the sand and pointed down the beach in both directions. The sand traveled to each horizon.
“That rest of this sand is the knowledge in the universe,” Rami said. “We are all ignorant.”
Ruwen sighed. “I know. I’ll try and keep more perspective.”
“You’re only sixteen. It will come.”
“How old are you?”
Rami smiled. “You should know better than to ask a woman her age.”
The beach disappeared, and Ruwen returned to his bedroom, kneeling by his bed. The coldness at the top of his neck faded. The beach had felt real. As real as he felt right now. It shook him.
Do I think of you as a girl or a Bookwyrm? Ruwen asked.
Eventually, it won’t matter. Sometimes you think too much about the wrong things.
Ruwen pushed himself up. It’s hard to tell the difference.
I know. I’m going to index your books now. It takes a lot of energy, so I might not be able to respond to you right away. Thanks for the meal.
No problem. Enjoy.
Ruwen pushed aside the blanket serving as a door and entered the central room. The Campfire had disappeared. He slowly walked into his bodyguards’ room and found Wip snoring on his cot.
Carefully he pulled back the outer blanket and stepped outside.
Qip leaned against the building, a cup in his hand. “Good morning, did you sleep okay?”
Ruwen studied the big man looking for any undertones. Did he know they’d disappeared all night?
“Good, thanks,” Ruwen said. “How did you sleep?”
“Like a baby. Do you want breakfast?”
“No, I’m not that hungry, and I don’t want to keep Big D waiting.”
“You’re a wise man.”
“I’m trying.”
Ruwen had spoken the truth, but he also desperately wanted to know what the boxes of necklaces he’d been carrying around were for. Big D had said today would be the day they’d get to use them, and his curiosity was killing him.
Chapter 47
Big D stood with all the Class leaders, and Qip and Ruwen waited outside the ring of adults until they had finished their discussion. As they all left, Big D waved for him to come over.
“Good morning, young man. I see you survived the night, and even made it here on time,” Big D said.
“Good morning, yes, I appreciate the accommodations.”
“You still have those boxes Bliz gave you?”
“Of course,” Ruwen said.
He didn’t mention how he’d almost left the boxes on the beach in Blapy’s level four. He shook his hand, remembering the pain the single Coiled Lightning ring had caused when he’d been forced to wear it while submerged in the water.
“We’ll get going as soon as the first group arrives. I asked the leaders to fetch their first candidates,” Big D said.
Ruwen thought about asking what group he was in and then decided he didn’t care. This dungeon, while valuable to have so close to Deepwell, would be nothing like Blapy.
“Why do these boxes cost Energy?” Ruwen asked.
Big D smiled. “Because they are powerful artifacts from a different time.”
“Just because something’s old doesn’t mean it requires Energy.”
Big D raised her eyebrows. “Oh, so you’re an expert now?
Ruwen blushed.
Big D lowered her voice. “You’re right, though. It is because these are divine artifacts and contain a piece of Uru herself.”
Ruwen gasped. “What? Such things exist?”
“Keep that to yourself. While these are only useful to Uru’s Ascendants, it would be a disaster to lose them.”
Ruwen’s curiosity ravaged his mind. He started to ask another question.
Big D raised her hand. “You’ll have all your answers in twenty minutes.”
The Class leaders returned with their candidates in tow. Hamma arrived with the nine Order Ascendants. He smiled at her, and she winked at him. The Observers came next, and the ten teenagers stood quietly, watching those around them. Sift’s group appeared a minute later, the ten Fighters a much louder group.
Ruwen’s Perception worked well in the dungeon, but less so on humans. Ruwen had to focus intently on someone before any information appeared about them. Since all the teenagers around him were low level, Ruwen’s Perception gave him a decent idea of each Ascendant’s stats.
Sift had a small loaf of sweet bread in each hand and took turns taking bites from them. Ruwen shook his head. Where did Sift find the room for all that food? The Workers showed up next, quickly followed by the Merchants. Everyone stared at each other for two minutes until the five Mages finally arrived.
Slib locked gazes with Ruwen, and the Mage sneered at him. Slib wore a blue robe, a ring on every finger, and sapphire earrings. From Slib’s stats, it looked like it was all Mana and Intelligence gear. The bully had also reached level three. It looked like his family had really gone all out to g
ive Slib every advantage.
Ruwen held Slib’s stare for a few seconds and then looked away. Slib, while dangerous, no longer filled Ruwen’s thoughts with dread. He had bigger problems now. He would still need to be careful. Even if Slib didn’t pose the threat he did while in school, the Mage’s family had already proved its power to wreak havoc. In fact, Slib’s bodyguard, House Captain Juva, stood outside the small crowd, watching for any danger that might affect Slib.
Big D stepped forward. “Listen up, everyone. You will form the first nine groups for the dungeon today. Let’s go.”
Big D turned and marched into the pine trees. Everyone followed, and within moments the sounds of the camp disappeared. Ruwen studied the branches above them and the sky beyond, his memories of the Leopard Bat from the previous night fresh in his memory.
The path to the dungeon wound up the mountain, and after ten minutes, the ground leveled out. They walked another five minutes, and the trees transitioned from pine to aspen. A minute later, they entered a small open area, and Big D paused.
In the center of the clearing, a rock mound emerged from the ground like a boil. No trees grew in the area surrounding the jutting rock, which looked twenty feet tall. A rough oval opening occupied the center of it, and a tunnel angled down into darkness. Boulders lay strewn about the entrance like the dungeon had vomited them from its depths.
The wind, without the trees to block it, spun around them. Ruwen pulled his cloak closer to help protect against the cold air, which felt like tiny knives against his skin.
“We’ll organize inside,” Big D shouted, and then strode toward the entrance.
Ruwen hesitated but then quickly followed. He would rather figure out the details before entering the dungeon, but he trusted Big D knew best. Plus, it was really cold standing in the wind.
