Chapter 29 – Travelling Stone and a Hope

  Ping!

  Suddenly an Angry Pixie popped out of thin air, glaring at me like I was the scum of the earth. But I ignored it, the Angry Pixies were exactly as their name suggests, angry. It had handed me a letter before disappearing in again. Curious.

  [Well done Mr. Adventurer, well done indeed in unlocking the next leg of this journey. Not an easy thing to do, much less figure it out, since you are the first to succeed in it. This was never about craftiness or wit, it is about something entirely different. - Anonymous.]

  (Hidden Quest updated!)

  What on God’s green earth was that?! An anonymous letter sent out of the blue?! Gears spun in my head, it happened right after talking with Gregor.

  And Gregor... that wasn’t normal at all! He just changed the way he talked and moved... Was NPC’s ever like that? I couldn’t remember a single example. Even in intrigue quests the NPCs playing both sides and secretly helping the adventurers had some sort of consistency to their way of talking and movement.

  Even the Countess de La Vare acted as a rich noble woman, but behind the scenes she had more empathy and stuff like that, but it wasn’t like a day and night shift in mannerisms... Something was weird. And that ‘Anonymous’ figure sending a letter through an Angry Pixie without me being registered in a city yet. Definitely weird.

  “Talia, don’t you think that was weird?” I said, having completely forgotten the mood of the conversation.

  “Of course it was weird!” Talia snapped. Her hazel eyes ablaze with confusion. “He just wandered off like he did not just say all those things!”

  Oops. I thought.

  I cleared my throat and took Talia to the side. “Listen, saying goodbye for any parent is never easy. He cares. I saw the depth of how much he cares, it almost had me losing it myself. But it was like when I had to go to Japan for work, my parents knew I had to go, but it still wasn’t easy for them to say goodbye. Kinda awkward really...”

  “Where...?! Never mind.” She said testily, before sighing deeply, “This is just... I don’t know. Not what I expected. He had been dreaming of the land healing. And when it happened, it’s just like he had wanted it to happen so I can spread my wings...”

  A way to explain it. I thought. But there was definitely more to it.

  “Where is your real father?” I tried, hoping that would shift her line of thinking from ‘how could he’ to ‘why did he?’.

  Talia paused, some of the fire in her eyes died down, the orange streaks in her irises almost looked a bit more muted all of a sudden.

  “I... I don’t know.” Talia said chewing on her bottom lip, “Gregor said my father did all this to give me a chance to live. That one day I will get the chance to go find him. But no matter what I asked, Gregor always said something that could be interpreted the same way, that is until now... maybe he wants me to go find him.”

  She lifted the necklace and the puzzle box and suddenly a small smile tugged at the corner of her ruby lips.

  For my I part, I was confused like no tomorrow. It didn’t get me anywhere near to an answer to why. Sure, NPCs in Realm of Ancients had a broad range of dialogue and actions thanks to the triplet AI. But the way Gregor just changed on a dime had me running in circles.

  But one thing was for certain, I couldn’t dally long, so I took a deep breath and said, “Talia, I have to leave soon. So, if you wanted to stay you can stay. But I have to go through the Travelling Stone today, hopefully in the next half an hour. Take a moment, go give Gregor a hug, and if you want to take that leap, that next step in your life, find me over there at the Travelling Stone.”

  Talia bit her lip and nodded before walking back towards Gregor.

  I strode towards the Travelling Stone on the other side of the plaza. Before getting there I realized I still had a few unread notifications. I tapped on the one older ping from just before the boss fight, and after the fight.

  [You reached level 50! You qualify to pick a skill to unlock.]

  I ignored that one for now. Still had to pick my level 20 skill. I’d do it later.

  [Level up!]

  XP gained for defeating the Giant Ice Embraced Mire Tyrant.

  + 58 000 XP

  Ha, I chuckled. I couldn’t fathom why getting my Star Cartographer Primary class would give 200 000 xp, but the hidden unique raid boss only got 58k? That was interesting. Yet, it still was way more than normal. Since, normally I would have fought it with at least two full parties of players. And thus the XP would be split. I couldn’t complain at all.

  With that, I tapped my Character Status.

  Leo Stormchild

  Race: Norskai

  Level: 53 +

  [Primary Class] [...]

  __[...]

  Health: 867 (+70)

  Energy Bar: 834 (+60) [Tier 5 accessible]

  Mana: 5 130 (+ 400)

  Armor Rating: 111 (+12)

  Classes[...]

  >Equipment [...]

  [Attributes]

  Choose the Attributes you wish to increase. This will affect your character.

  [Points to allocate= 19](18 used) (P = Passive gains)

  Strength 50

  Vitality 55

  Agility 50 (P + 1)

  Willpower 41 (P > + 6)

  Intelligence 38 (P > + 4)

  Acrobatics 51

  Luck 58 (P > + 1)

  [Race Attributes]

  [...]

  Endurance 27 +4 (P > + 4)

  Survival 32 +3

  With that huge hidden raid boss victory that had no party split for the XP, and just 6 levels gained? And worse, I was about to leave the Challenge Zone, where XP gains were higher. I sighed, I knew the time would come. I said a very reluctant farewell to fast leveling. That wonderful long companion of this frozen wasteland! Enough to make a grown m– No, I shook my head and allocated my points.

  Leo Stormchild

  Race: Norskai

  Level: 59

  Star Cartographer: The Storm Blade of Radiance[Class Level 77][Unique][Primary Class] [...]

  ________ [Secondary Class][Explore and find your first sub class tree in the world]

  Health: 877 > 887

  Energy Bar: 954 > 974 [Tier 5 accessible]

  Mana: 5 500 > 5 730

  Armor Rating: 123

  [Energy gain per strike: 52] - (Potential)(Agi)

  [Mana regen p/m: 570] - (Reflexes)(Vit)

  [Health Regen {Out of danger: 53 HP/min] - (Athletics)(Acro)

  [Health Regen {In danger}: 0.53 HP/min] - (Athletics)(Acro)

  >Equipment [...]

  /

  Xianmou [Rare]

  {(P)+25% Attack damage,+30% Critical strike chance}[{A}Master’s Edge:{+ 25% Sharpness and a chance to ignore 20% Physical Armour}]

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  (Current Slotted Runes) [Deep Harrow Tree- Epic Rune(unique)][Attack Speed III-Rune(Uncommon)][High fall Strike II – Passive Rune(Expert)]

  Swamp Dagger [Uncommon]

  {+5% Attack Damage +1% To cause bleeding.}

  Rune slots[Dark Ice Stab III – Active Rune(Expert)][Fire Starter I – Active Rune(Apprentice)]

  .

  Skinning Knife [Common]

  {+1% Attack Damage, +70% Skinning effectiveness}

  Amulet of the Emerald Twins [Ancient] Req: +20 Stealth & Reflexes in the presence of strong winds or lightning.]

  Shadow Veil Ring [Uncommon] [Stealth +10%]

  Ring of the Mountain Goat [Uncommon] [+ 2 Agility,+ 7% Movement Speed.]

  Etched Silver Gauntlets [Adept]{(P)+ 15% Accuracy +10% Agility in combat}{(A) + 3 Charisma for 10 minutes}

  [Swift Strike I- Rune][Stone body II-Rune]

  Frost Sabre Fur cloak [Novice]

  [+20% Exposure Protection,+3 defence against piercing damage,+4 Armor Class]

  250/250 Durability

  Sabre Fur trousers [Primitive]

  [+14% Exposure Protection,+1 defence against piercing damage,+2 Armor Class]

  250/250 Durability

  Sabre Fur boots [Novice]

  [+15% Exposure Protection,+2 defence against piercing damage,+2 Armor Class]

  120/120 Durability

  Woven bag of holding [Rare]

  [Empty Rune Slot]

  Tara’s Compass [Rare]

  \

  [Attributes]

  Choose the Attributes you wish to increase. This will affect your character.

  [Points to allocate= 1]

  Strength 50 +1

  Vitality 55 +2

  Agility 51 +1

  Willpower 47 +2

  Intelligence 42 +2

  Acrobatics 51 +2

  Luck 59 +1

  [Race Attributes]

  [...]

  Endurance 31 +4

  Survival 32 +3

  That was fascinating. Even with my levels now being 4 levels higher than my previous run on Realm of Ancients, before the cataclysm, I was really surprised by how much of a buff my status got from passive gains through really pushing myself to the limit and finding so many rare secrets. It made a huge different. I do not think I could have beaten that boss on my previous build, not even close.

  Maybe stabbing that bear was worth it – Nope! No! Just no! It had been harrowing! If I ever see that bear again... I shook my fist in the air.

  With a bewildered sigh, I stepped towards the Travelling Stone. It was a cone shaped stone pillar with multiple layers and near to the top a round hole going through it. Behind it was an intricately carved stone arc.

  I took out my two keystones I had with me. One was for Hem Iree Woods. But it still held the problem of being a forest that is hard to enter, and even more so to exit. So, for now, that was not an option. I would have loved to go wrestle some bears though... maybe later. A sudden memory of my sister giving me a very disapproving stare entered my mind. I just huffed, “Yeah yeah,” as if she was there scolding me for discriminating against those poor bears.

  I held up the next Keystone I got from the Raid Boss. The mystery location one. It was my best bet, albeit an unknown.

  I looked to the arch. I knew if I held my hand with the stone in the hole from the Travelling Stone, I would get 5 seconds to enter it before the portal closes. Then it would go on a 24hour cooldown. I always liked this way of fast travel, it made you consider where you wanted to use your fast travels carefully, instead of the oft used spam fast travel anywhere.

  Still. Could have used being able to spam fast travel right about then. I might need to go find a fast creature mount somewhere.

  Talia was still animately talking with Gregor, so I wasn’t certain what her choice was yet. I decided to give it a few more minutes before I had to go.

  I walked around that area of the plaza and saw a few larger empty shops, snow heaps covering their doors. I spent a moment digging it out enough for the first door to open.

  It was an old gardening or Herbalist shop, or something of the like.

  Everything seemed worse for wear, but at the back I scavenged through some heaps of decayed books. And was surprised to find two whole books at the bottom.

  As I opened the lid, a small transparent bag slid free, containing seeds. I tapped them both.

  [You found some strange unknown seeds.]

  +5 Scavenge

  Plus five? That was a lot for finding seeds. I shook my head.

  [You have found an old book, sheltered underneath a whole heap of books that withered away. There is an old language name, but some characters you make out. How to grow unusual fruits and plants. Go to a historian versed in this language to unlock its secrets.]

  + 1 Lore

  +2 Scavenge

  [You have found a book on uncommon methods to taming creatures.]

  +2 Scavenge

  [Congrats on finding the book, Jorgu’s Guide to Taming][Apprentice]

  +5 Wildcraft

  +3 Chance Affinity

  Jorgu’s Guide to Taming[Apprentice]

  A book that clearly has been read many a times by its previous owner. It contains fascinating titbits on how to tame creatures with the tame icon. Remember, not all creatures are easy to approach, much less tame. (Only creatures able to be tamed with Apprentice tools.)

  About to open it outside, I saw Talia walking towards the Travelling Stone, her features downcast. She was chewing on her bottom lip like it was bubblegum.

  I stepped in next to her. She ignored me.

  Still, I calmly walked next to her. The side of her eye caught me, but she kept looking down, kicking up a little snow with short kicks.

  After a few more meters, I put my hands behind my head and looked up at an old frozen tree in the middle of the plaza.

  “You know,” I said, “There is a certain duck species I heard about. They nest high in a tree, away from all the animals down on the ground. Now, when the ducklings reach a certain age, the mother duck flies just out of reach from the nest.”

  Talia finally looked up at me, her eyes glistening slightly, but I could see the intensity of the plight of her heart on her shoulder. Her hazel eyes searched mine then as she took a deep breath and asked, “And what happens to those ducklings.”

  “Well, you see,” I said while pointing my finger from way up high in the tree and down to the ground, “They know they need to jump to the leaves down below.”

  “But... but what happens if they hesitate? The nest is nice and safe isn’t it?” She said, looking longingly up into the tree.

  “Sure. And the jump is high,” I said nodding along, “Very understandable for them to hesitate. But the beautiful thing is, the mother keeps calling while swimming happily in the pond nearby. And the moment they jump they flutter down and bounce on the thick carpet of leaves and join the family. Ready to go on exciting new adventures below.”

  “Leo... what do you want me to do?” She asked, her eyes looked wild then, her hands waving and gesturing, “Jump?”

  “I want you to trust that your Father always intended for you to search for him. To search for him with everything you got. Gregor understands that, that is why he is calling for you to make that jump.”

  Talia turned to me, tears sliding down her cheeks once more, she started opening her mouth again to speak, but closed it again before biting on her bottom lip once more.

  I help up my Keystone, the one she had a duplicate for and took her soft hand then. I could feel the years of living in frozen frontier on them.

  “Talia,” I said, squeezing her hand softly, “If you want to stay, stay. You know this place. You now have a Keystone like mine. You can hold it in the Travelling Stone and open the portal to where I am going whenever you are ready, a door to the wider world.”

  With that I started walking towards the Travelling stone on my own.

  The snow crunched under my boot. To be honest, I was a bit nervous myself. I had no clue what was happening on the other side. But, I took a deep breath.

  So others may live, I repeated for myself, reminding me why I was still on this mission. Yes, so others might live.

  As I reached the Travelling Stone, I pulled out my Keystone and held it close to the carved hole in it.

  Right, let’s do this.

  Just as I was about to push it inside, ready to run into the portal, Talia called from behind.

  “Don’t! Don’t leave... I -I don’t want to stay here without you.”

  Her sudden call caught me so off guard I almost pressed the keystone in and lose my balance. That would have been an unpleasant outcome.

  As I turned, Talia ran until she reached me. “Don’t let it get to your head, but... you get me. I have enjoyed your company, more than I care to admit.” She said with a slight smile.

  I grinned broadly.

  “Now now, Miss Duckling, you ready to jump?” I jested with a wink.

  “Funny.” She said with a mock glare and gave my shoulder a punch.

  I just shrugged with a smile and said, “After you.” And point to the rock arch.

  Just then she turned around kneeling, her leather glove pushing away the small layer of snow on a mound. Underneath, I could see green grass. Talia finally touched it happily and finally smiled deeply at me. “Guess I am ready to jump. Thank you, Leo.”

  She stood up then and walked to the stone arch, her shoulders were squared once more and she nodded to me.

  I held the Keystone in my hand and pressed it into the round gap.

  Immediately the intricate carvings on the Travelling Stone started lighting up, glowing with power. It reminded me of Viking symbols in a way. Then, a large beam of light shot from the stone right to the top of the arch, and a bright sheen of light crashed down over the empty space between the arch.

  I saw a different Travelling Stone on the other side. One I have never seen before. Red wood railings, with green pillars was visible on the other side of the portal.

  I rushed forward. Having only seconds to spare, I grabbed Talia’s hand and we ran into the portal. A whole new land waiting for us on the other side. I grinned broadly and leapt into the portal.

  ~~~~~

  ~~~~~

  Deep between the cliffs of the great mountain range, storms thundered, and blizzards swept with gale force between the high rock of the sheer cliffs. But the great hulking form of the beast walked step by step further and further into the nigh on impassable pass through the Great Spine. Its thick fur was pattering wildly in the raging wind, yet the beast continued.

  With a frustrated snort that sent a frosty cloud into the winds, the bear trudged forward, its massive claws crunching under its massive weight, each step a promise of reckoning.

  The little morsel had gone to a different land, he could feel it. The scar on his leg still had a lingering throb, one that was a call to fight in the wild. He would search for that irritatingly agile two-legs and what a meal he would make. He dared wrestle his siblings till they passed out in the woods. A fine meal, indeed. A loud growl echoing in the gorge.

  To be continued,

  [END of Book 1 of Heart of the World, Tales of the Ancient Heart, a LitRPG series]

  _

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