Chapter 28 – The Shifting Skies and a peculiar Quest

  Having spent a few minutes hunting level 20 cave lizards, I stuffed the surprisingly lightweight skins in my bag. For how many I got of them, I was surprised it ended only weighing 5 kilograms.

  I took a deep breath, the air crisp and cold, but not freezing like before. Then finally I tapped the notifications of before.

  [Clever way to have done the dance of the Ninja Mouse! Very clever indeed! Take some cheese.]

  +9 Stealth

  +2 Patience

  +3 Insight

  Skill upgraded!

  Dance of the Ninja Mouse I [Adept]

  Having observed predator-like grace of stealth, and danced in great peril to minimize detection, you have leapt large strides towards understanding the intricacies of the Ninja Mouse.

  +15 Muscle Memory [Passive]

  +13 Blind Awareness [Active]

  + 15 Stealth [Active]

  + 15 Reflexes [Active]

  Upon Activating this skill, you attune yourself to your surroundings and your body. Being able to learn true stealth, one must embrace the dance. (5 minutes)(2 minute cool down.)

  My forehead throbbed at the sheer audacity... But I remained calm and tapped the next one.

  [Congrats on beating a unique raid boss monster! A feat that makes you worthy to walk the path of the boss hunters!]

  +2 Willpower

  +2 Endurance

  +1 Luck

  [Prerequisites met! Quest unlocked. Go talk to the leader of the Hunters Guild in the city Bruska.]

  [You put yourself in harms way to protect your companion, nice going chap!]

  +3 Shielding

  +2 Toughness

  Skill upgraded!

  Guardian’s Heart V [Journeyman]

  Your heart carries a seed of hope. You inspire. You help and stand against great odds to save others. Will you venture even further down this path?

  +5 Body [Passive]

  +5 Shielding [Active]

  Upon activating, you project your shield with sheer force of will over a single ally for twelve seconds.

  [Keeping your cool in front of a Beastie much too strong for your lonesome, eh? It certainly honed your senses.]

  +3 Perception

  +4 Toughness

  Skill upgraded!

  Battle Observer III [Expert]

  You know how to keep focused even in a chaotic battle that seems lost. Instead of falling prey to a negative mindset, you think fast and observe your surroundings, revealing solutions most would never notice.

  +12 Perception while in battle.

  +7 Insight while in battle.

  +32% to reveal objects that can be used to fight.

  [Like them runes don’t ya? Well you saw some that no other adventurer has laid their eyes on before.]

  +5 Perception

  +2 Insight

  Skill upgraded!

  Promise of the Runes I [Journeyman][Tree][...]

  Rune Seeker

  A whisper stirs the fog and becomes a breeze that reveals old secrets.

  Upon the whisper, reveals Runes for 40 seconds.

  100% chance to reveal Novice Runes

  80% chance to reveal Apprentice Runes

  60% chance to reveal Journeyman Runes

  13% chance to reveal Expert Runes

  7% chance to reveal Master Runes

  0.7% chance to reveal Ancient Runes

  Active: 1400 Mana per usage.

  Passive: Sense if there are runes nearby (Range: Medium.)

  I sat back with a huff. It had been tense. And without some of those abilities... I don’t know if that boss fight would have been possible. I knew it would be hard, but... I underestimated just how hard. We could have kicked the bucket multiple times. I might have respawned, still wasn’t entirely sure. But what would have happened to Talia...? I shook my head. That I did not know at all. I needed to be on my best game, for more than just me.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Finally my boots crunched on the new snow outside the rock of the cave as I moved toward the exit. I looked out over the frozen plains with Talia next to me. The massive blizzards that almost ended our journey were already gone, the last remnants of the long lasting snow storms fluttered up into the now clear skies like small butterflies.

  For the first time, I saw the towering mountains of the Great Spine in clear view. There still raged massive storms with dark ominous clouds across their peaks.

  The quest to get to Sturm Tsadar has still not been completed. It made me wonder though... why has nobody ever gotten into this zone?

  The curiosity nagged on me. If I had the time, I would love to investigate the why.

  I looked to Talia her auburn hair blowing in the wind, but underneath I saw a hopeful smile as she said, “The sky hasn’t been this clear for so long... I can’t even remember.”

  “It looks beautiful.” I said.

  “I can’t wait to see it green,” Talia said before walking forward.

  As soon as I stepped out of through the path between the ancient stone pillars I heard another ping, and it popped up without me initiating it.

  [Congratulations! You have completed the hidden Tower Siege Quest: Sturm Tsadar’s Plight (Unique).]

  The blizzards of years has finally ended. The Artifact stopped. Now the lands can start healing. But adventurer, this is only the start of the secrets of this vast land.

  +1 Endurance

  +1 Willpower

  +5 Wildcraft

  +5 Lore

  +5 Athletics

  Bonus: (Prerequisites met!) A Heart Set Free part 1 unlocked. (Unique)(Hidden)

  Bonus: Map marker for the hidden fortress in the Great Spine

  [Not unlocked:]

  Quest Path through the Great Spine needs to be unlocked and completed for all players to gain access to the new mysterious storm lands of Sturm Tsadar.

  [Congratulations on finding the hidden alternative quest of Sturm Tsadar’s Plight. You are the first to unlock this quest!]+7 Perception

  +4 Lore

  [Congrats on completing the hidden alternative Quest of Sturm Tsadar’s Plight. Find Gregor in the plaza of the old ruins of Shaura to receive rewards for the quest.]

  I stood there wide eyed. Now just wait a darn second... there are hidden alternative quests for some Tower Sieges? Other quests maybe? What is up that?!

  I worked at the frikken company and this is the first I hear of it?! Ha, Eri, Claire and Nate was going to have a fit for me not knowing of this going into this serious mission. Unless... unless it was a need to know under the higher ups. Now, what it meant for the rest of Realm of Ancients was at minimum profound. As for the first time since dropping back into the game, I thought of Tai Yitomo and his cohorts sneaking into the game after the cataclysm. What are they after, anyway? But this new knowledge gave me a slight advantage going forward.

  I shook my head. Talia was already a full hundred and fifty meters away from me! I ran to catch up.

  With the clear weather, we could see paths we hadn’t before. Getting to Shaura wouldn’t take so long. Part of me wanted to return to Frosgard to stock up... but who knew if those goons from that town were still after me.

  No, I had to go to Shaura, talk to Gregor and then straight to the Travelling Stone. I have been trapped in this zone for what, 5 days so far? Man... it felt like 20. Survival really messes with your senses. I needed to get to a bustling city to make contact, asap.

  ~

  A few hours later, the sun started nearing the horizon. I was just thankful that no blizzard hit us again. There had been zip, no shelter on the way to the city ruins.

  As we jogged up the snowy hill, suddenly a massive stone spire became visible down in the valley. It was clearly man made. The single stone spire was surrounded by a multitude of stone buildings across the hill surrounded by open plains, some of the buildings were ruined, but a surprising amount still intact.

  “Shaura,” Talia said, her breath puffing out in small cloud in the cold crispy air.

  I pulled my Saber Fur Cloak tightly around me and stared at the ruins. It certainly was spectacular even in its abandoned state.

  As we neared the first buildings, I looked up. The central sloping spire had gone from my thumb’s length, to a towering behemoth of a spire casting a long shadow over the one side of the city as the sun neared the horizon.

  We stepped underneath a grand arch and into a plaza. I could imagine the once grand plaza, with stalls of merchants and people dancing in its center.

  Now, the afternoon sun shined over the glossy surface of the snow. In the center of the plaza was a big fountain of two Sabre tooth tigers roaring over the plaza. The water frozen from their mouths.

  As I stepped around the fountain, suddenly Talia came running past me at a speed. Immediately I unsheathed Xianmou, standing ready.

  But the next moment, I saw her jump forward and embrace a cloaked figure. Gregor.

  “Talia! You are safe! Thank goodness.” The man said.

  “We did it. The Mire Tyrant is dead and the Artifact destroyed. Shaura can live again.” Talia said, tears running down her cheeks.

  I walked closer, wanting to listen to the exchange more close.

  “Truly? That would be wonderful news –“ He said but stopped the moment I came close. Suddenly he looked serious and continued, “The quest is done, I see. And you have found one that was willing to follow your stars.”

  The last bit he said looking straight at me. His eyes kinder than the serious tone he suddenly took. Follow her stars... Follow her stars... wasn’t that a voice in my head?

  I shook my head wildly as the moment just confused me.

  Then Gregor stepped away abruptly from his hug with Talia and walked towards me, startling her in the process. I gulped.

  “Leo Stormchild. You chose to put on hold your own crisis and helped Talia, why?” Gregor asked, not sounding at all like the Gregor I met in the Far Seeing Eye at Frosgard. I gulped again.

  “Y-Yes I did. I did it because her plight called to me. Not just called, I perceived the way she felt.” I said, it didn’t make sense to me but that was the truth.

  “Good. I can finally give her leave to go. To start experiencing the wider world at long last, oh, how I waited for this day. I will handle things in Shaura. I sense there is greater need on the path you walk. Will you accept this, to help her find her way?” Gregor asked, his eyes searching mine in a way that my core tremble.

  No question mark, nada, nothing showed up above his head like before. What was going on?

  “Yes, I will.” I said, with a surety I didn’t understand, like telling a father you would take care of his real daughter. But Gregor wasn’t Talia’s real father, yet something significant had happened that I couldn’t even begin to understand.

  The the moment this exchange took place, Talia suddenly stepped in, her whole face full of panic and uncertainty. “Father, what do mean? What are you talking about? I should stay! I should help rebuild! What –”

  “No my child. You know I was just given custody over you. Shaura and Frosgard was ever just a temporary path. So that one day you can find your way back your real home. The time has come, and Leo has been chosen.”

  Talia recoiled a bit, her breathing started to speed up. I knew it wasn’t me that she was upset with, but something in the way Gregor was talking was causing her great distress.

  “But our people needs –“

  “You have done wonderfully Talia. But, you have to trust me. The time has come to search for your real home, to remember what was lost.” Gregor said in a warmth I hadn’t expected in an NPC as he walked forward and hugged her, “I am so proud of you.”

  It was then that Talia looked over his shoulder at me, her eyes filled with tears. I sensed there was a lot confusion still, but she bit her lip finally and nodded, wiping at her face. Giving a final hug before stepping back. “You took such good care of me. I will remember it.”

  Gregor walked to me and clasped my hand like a long lost friend. “I am so glad she crossed paths with you. I have wondered if ever someone would find her and walk that path to returning her home. This is not the quest you expected, but you have proven yourself. Take hearth, she will be a powerful ally to you. You have my blessing. Now enough. I have work to do to get this city back up and running. Take this as reward.”

  He gave me boots and a key, winking as he did so. And finally, to Talia he gave a silver necklace and a small puzzle box. Right as he gave it, his persona suddenly switched again to the quirky man I met at the telescope.

  Ping!

  Ping!

  “Busy, busy, busy. No time to waste.” He said as he hurriedly scurried forward and wandered off.

  Huh?

  _

  Let me know in the comments if you wish me to continue naming songs to go with certain parts of a chapter going forward. ;)