The following day was much the same, aside from a question posed to Lisryn, “Wouldn’t you going missing for a while cause problems since you are the leader of the Church of flict?”

  Her answer, however, was even more surprising than was expected, “In the past, it would have been the case, but thanks to the gods having a disagreement, flid I were able to get things ged up so that every week one of the Padins speak with them, allowing them to take my pce if needed.”

  Besides that question being answered, some time was also spent arranging supplies for their trip, with Niphru suggesting many things the others had not sidered. Ohe day to leave arrived, Morris met them before they left the spire, discussing the location they would head to. While the group found it odd that Lisryn had not arrived yet, that quickly ged to shock as they made it outside and found a wagon filled to the brim with mana crystals, with two of Lisryn’s guards sitting beside it.

  Seeing the shocked expressions, Lisryn expined, “The Padins require huge amounts of mana to survive, and ot hahe trip through the mana-starved pins without a solid stockpile to e. They have assured me that they will be fine once we reach the wilderness, however. But we do have the trip back as well to worry about.”

  Morris nodded, opening his robe to reveal that both the inside of it, as well as the traveling gear beh, were covered in much more impressive-looking crystals. He followed up with his own expnation, “All of us who have spent signifit time ging ourselves require more mana than we produbsp; Here iy, we easily siphon it from the ambient, which assists with our duties uting mana levels. In the wilderness, there is plenty to absorb as well. But outside the cities and before the vilges, we have t our own stoana.”

  After taking a moment to catch his breath, he tinued, “If they had lower numbers but higher quality mana stones, we could recharge them at our destination, but it takes far loo charge thousands of tiny ones. The Church has alurchased smaller ones, allowing us to retain the rger ones for the emergency uses such as the atta the city.”

  As the descriptions were given, the carts of several groups were brought outside the spire, including their own. Uhe Church’s reinforced wagon with a simple bar to pull it, the spire’s wagons possessed steam engines ected to their textured wheels.

  After a moment to ect the more primitive carriage to the steam-powered ohe group trekked out of the city, taking the southern gate. Along the way, Morris stated, “Part of this test is to see how you handle an unfamiliar enviro, so we are headed somewhere none of you have grown up, hence heading to the south. We will be going directly to our destination without stopping at the town or vilges along the way, so I hope yed for everything you want along the trip.”

  Fortunately, it appeared Niphru’s assistance had led to everyone bringing what they thought they needed, so no one was tempted to ask to return. Seeing that everyone appeared prepared, both Morris and Niphru nodded in approval before spotting each other and chug.

  As nothiing occurred to distract the group, they spent their time talking amongst themselves, though Lisryn, Dawn, and Niphru kept their attention mostly focused on their surroundings. After the first uful day, they set up camp in the middle of nowhere, settling in for bed, with the trio who had been attentive along the way insisting on shifts to keep a ht.

  As expected, one of the guardians remained o, joining those who had been chosen for first watbsp; It came as a total surprise to all but Lisryhey spoke up for the first time anyone had heard, in order to discuss tips on things to do while on guard duty to both pass time and keep focused. When asked, the woman responded, “We don’t o be so secretive anymore, so hiding how many of us, or who is present, is no longer a major issue. It is quite nice, even if it takes effort to break the habit of remaining silent.”

  Later on, as the shift ged, Morris stopped Niphru for a moment so they could walk together and excimed, “I fot about this earlier, but other spires are also sending out groups, and we are due to meet with some. It may be best to have you remain out of sight until we discuss your preseh the roups to avoid any acts.”

  With a slight chuckle, Niphru replied, “Or maybe I could just use an illusion.” As he finished speaking, he hid himself and overid an image of a random man, strengthening the illusion as much as he could.

  Once he was fident his bit of trickery was as strong as possible, he tinued, “I make it about this strong, and eve was weaker, it seemed tainst the appre the spire.”

  Frowning for a moment, Morris scratched his head for a moment before responding, “If you are certain you hold it up, it might work. I do admit your illusions are much strohan any human mage of your level. You will have to be in the middle of the group, however, as we don’t want anyone who gets lucky to be able to attamediately.”

  Niphru dismissed his illusion and nodded, following the a with a firmation, “I do that; I just don’t feel like I should have to hide away. It seems better to hide in pin sight, if that makes sense.”

  As Morris sidered the idea, Niphru tinued, “This would eve us have Dawn introduce me and our abilities before I make myself known, which might help too!”

  “That is a good idea, Niphru. If Dawions she has an Awakened panion first before you are noticed, it should be less of a risk when you do reveal yourself. I’d like to suggest having her introduce you as her panion while you are still disguised, however. Then it won’t be as much of a shock, I don’t think,” Morris added after finishing his ption.

  Before Niphru could run off to join the rest of the guard shift, Morris called him back to inform him, “Don’t worry about needing to let Dawn know when you switch with her; I will still be up and discuss it with her. Then we catch back up in the m as we travel.”

  After a moment of thought, Niphru nodded and replied, “I’ll just let her know we discussed a problem and that you want to talk to her about it then.”

  “Thank you, I will be resting for a time before I rejoin you, though I will keep watch with my magic as well,” Morris stated as he turned back toward the tents behind them.

  The rest of the night passed ufully, though Niphru had some trouble sleeping, a perhaps he should have simply stayed up to talk with the others. Eventually, however, he joihe others in slumber until the sun rose.

  Shard