Chapter 51 - Reuniting

  They arrive at the meeting point shortly before nightfall, crowding around the edge of the river. As expected, the others weren’t there to greet them.

  “How long do you think it will take for them to come check?” Bryant asked.

  “We had an arrangement to check in every few days,” Zephyrs said. “I can go explore and see if I can find them now that Daniel is here.”

  “Best option we have right now,” Daniel said.

  “So, we settle in to wait while the Sylph tries to not get distracted,” Savgar said. “Too bad we don’t have a better way to reach each other.”

  “Perhaps I can be of assistance,” came a voice nearby.

  “Hiya Reynard,” Zephyr said waving to the empty air. The space Zephyr was talking to rippled revealing a large humanoid fox-like creature. “Your territory is so much fun!”

  “I am glad you like it,” Reynard said. “Is this the rest of your group? I don’t sense any more members of the Order hiding.”

  “Yep,” Zephyrs said. “This is all of them.”

  “So, you’re the Southern Lord,” Savgar said.

  “I am.”

  “Why are you being so helpful to us?” Savgar asked. “Member of the Order or not, I have never heard of one of the Lords allowing any to stay in their territory. And doesn’t it go against a beast’s nature to give up territory.”

  “I think what he is trying to say, with respect, is that we just don’t understand,” Reuf started trying to ease the tension.

  “It is quite alright,” Reynard said. “Your small friend is right to be suspicious. I have my reasons, and some I will not share. What I will share is that over the millennia, I have come to appreciate all that the Order has done, and while I may not be able to join the Order as you have done, I still wish to do my part. You are right that a beast would not normally give up territory. Conceding territory, even willingly, is seen as a sign of weakness and would only invite challenges from others. However, this is not truly my territory.”

  “It isn’t?” Reuf asked.

  Reynard shook its head. “None of the Beast Lord truly control their territory. You could say, we are simply… house-sitting, for the original owners.”

  “Who is that?” Victor asked.

  “The Akashic Order,” Daniel said. “You still consider the place theirs?”

  “Consider?” Reynard asked. “No, the place has always been theirs. This is something you will have to understand as well if you make your city here. The Akashic Order still exists even if they have left the First Realm, and some had even come back before. But the last was several thousand years ago. That is why I am open to allowing the new members to create a city in the area. But I cannot promise the other Lords will be so inclined.”

  “Even if the city we plan on making has nothing to do with the Akashic Order?” Elaine asked.

  “Jack mentioned what you are planning to do,” Reynard answered. “A novel idea, and you will have to use the fruit of the Order’s labor to do so. I think you might find that your goals and theirs are more aligned than you think. But all we care about is making sure Kharzast and its secrets remain only accessible to those of the Order. That will fall to you to protect soon.”

  “You make it sound like you plan on leaving,” Victor said.

  “We still have some more responsibilities left to us,” Reynard said. “Then yes, we will leave, but there is still time until then. Have you taken steps to hiding the entrance?”

  “We have,” Daniel said. “And we plan on closing all the other ways into the city as well.”

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  “That is good,” Reynard said. “Then I will take you to your compatriots. You have a plan for Clayton?”

  “We are still working on that,” Daniel admitted.

  “I know you mentioned sealing his path,” Victor said. “But can’t we just kill him? That would be so much easier.”

  “You can kill him,” Reynard nodded. “But unless the path is bound, others may still find their way to it. The sooner it is bound the less likely there will be others that might stumble upon that path. Not to mention those that already follow it. Even now I can feel the Old Ones power start to return.”

  “We are still at a lost for the process of how the Order did it,” Daniel said. “I don’t suppose you can help us with that?”

  “I was not around when they performed the ritual,” Reynard said. “But I will offer my assistance if I can.”

  “Then we might find a way,” Daniel said. “But all we can do for now is try and put a stop to him.”

  “Then that will have to be enough,” Reynard said. “Come, I will help you navigate my illusions. For the ones that have not undergone the Trial, it can be a rather confusing experience. For those that have it, please use your new sight.”

  Reynard led them through the jungle. It shifted and changed around them as they walked. Most of them noticed nothing unusual about the experience, but Bryant, Daniel and Reuf found the sudden shift and changes difficult to keep up with and in some cases, nauseating. Several times, Bryant almost walked out over a cliff, only to be stopped by Savgar.

  “Pay attention boy,” was all Savgar said.

  “It isn’t his fault,” Reynard said, a small smile appearing on its fox face. “Without the sight of the Order, these illusions have been the death of many. It has even convinced dwarves that trees can talk.”

  “That was you!” Savgar yelled.

  “My apologies,” Reynard said chuckling. “I do not get the opportunity for much entertainment and couldn’t resist seeing what would happen.”

  “I was not expecting that,” Elaine said.

  “Why is that?” Reynard asked.

  “It is just hard to imagine a Beast Lord like yourself playing pranks,” Reuf said diplomatically.

  “Power doesn’t change one’s nature,” Reynard said. “It only enhances it, and I have always been a trickster.”

  “Were you messing with me in the Trial as well?” Savgar asked.

  “I can assure you, no one can interfere with the Trial,” Reynard said. “What ever happened in there, I had no part in.”

  “It would defeat the purpose of a test if anything was able to interfere with it,” Daniel said.

  “Fine,” Savgar said. “But no more messing with me!”

  Reynard only smiled in response.

  “I think you might have just encouraged the Beast Lord to do more things to you,” Reuf said.

  They continued through the jungle until they eventually came across a clearing atop a cliff side. A river cut through the rocky landscape forming a large waterfall pouring over the edge and into a large lake below. Nearby several people were practicing shooting arrows as they approached.

  “Everyone is here already?” Teresa asked. “I thought it would be a few more days at least. Who is that with you?”

  “This is Reynard, the Southern Lord,“ Zephyr said.

  “We decided that we shouldn’t wait much longer after Elaine finished,” Reuf said. “If everything works out, we can undergo the Trial after we rescue your people.”

  “Is everything ready here?” Savgar asked. “I don’t see much set up.”

  “We been focused on making the bows and arrows,” Jack said. “Sylvian made a bunch of shelter and sleeping areas up in the trees.”

  “And a garden,” Sylvian added.

  “I am not sleeping in a tree,” Savgar said.

  “We can probably make you a stone hut or something in the meantime,” Elaine said.

  “Better idea,” Savgar said. “Why not set up the Foundation Crystal. I assume this is where Reynard is allowing you to make the city?”

  “It is,” Reynard said. “You are welcomed to, but just so you know. I cannot assist in any of the challenges the System invokes on your city. You will have to overcome it yourselves.”

  “That is fine,” Savgar said. “The first challenge shouldn’t be difficult for us to handle.”

  “Challenges?” Jack asked.

  Daniel started one of his common lectures. “Each settlement advancement is accompanied by a challenge the System imposes to test the place. The challenges are a way of proving the settlement is capable of surviving. Similar to our Species Quest. It goes in order of Camp, Homestead, Hamlet, Village, Town, City, Metropolis, Megalopolis, Ecumenopolis. That is the standard settlement advancement process. Each one comes with its own set of requirements.”

  “I haven’t even heard of most of those,” Bryant muttered.

  “If you make the settlement without a Foundation Crystal, you get a little bit of a reprieve in the level of the challenges,” Daniel continued. “But you also miss out of a lot of the rewards and benefits.”

  “You also don’t get anything warning you when you reach the needed requirements,” Savgar added.

  “You want to start that up now?” Teresa asked. “I sort of thought we’d would take care of Clayton first and then work on that.”

  “No time like the present,” Victor said.

  “Might as well start the process and gain the benefits for the upcoming fight,” Savgar said.

  “Before that,” Reuf said. “Perhaps we should discuss certain things. If we are going to do this, then there are certain things everyone should be aware of.”

  Sia placed a hand on his shoulder looking nervous. “They should at least understand before we commit to this,” Reuf said to Sia. They shared a look and Sia slowly nodded.

  “I also have something I would like to share,” Zajowle said. “Perhaps now is the right time.”

  “Let’s get some food and settle in then,” Elaine said. “It doesn’t sound like a simple conversation.”