Update 8: Hazy Maze Cave



Morning.
Good morning.
Why're you up here? Usually you're training when we're all sleeping.
True, but even I tire of training every now and then.
...
What? What's that look for?
Just surprised. You seem like you have infinite patience.
I...would fancy myself a very patient man, yes, but why would you assume that it's infinite?
Because you don't sleep. I couldn't handle that, it'd make me want to stop existing. I can only handle so much happening in one day.
I see. If it's any consolation, I cannot imagine what a life where one loses several hours of each day to nothingness must feel like.
Mm. Do you get lonely when the rest of us have to sleep?
In the strictest sense, yes. I've spent enough time in isolation to mentally gird myself against its ill effects, though.
...
What were you doing up here before I came up?
Oh, I was observing the sheep, off in the distance. Their mindless wandering sets my heart at ease, in a way that's difficult to describe.
The sheep are cute. Cute things make people feel nice.
I'm afraid I don't know what you mean by "cute."
...I have much to teach you.



Man, having to fly back and forth between Tharsis and wherever we're exploring's going to be a real pain in the ass.
Unfortunately, it's either this, or we experience that violent teleportation sickness every time we have business in town.
I'd almost take the sickness, man. I'm telling you, this is going to get unworkable if we go any further.
I...find it difficult to disagree, but all we can do for now is put up with the travel time.


Ah, it's... Y'know, it's not really anything... Well, mmm—
Hm? Speak up, dear, I can't hear you.
Right, I'll take over from here. Ahem... Thanks.
You're welcome. I think a celebration of your accomplishment is in order! Does ostrich sound good to you, dearies?
Yes'm!
Yeah, sounds good.
Wonderful! Bring the rest of your guild here for dinner later. We just got a fine ostrich earlier—I'll wring its neck later and prepare a wonderful feast for you all.
...Yep! Okay. Thanks. We're going, Shelly.


Okay, a lot just happened there.
Listen, I can't help it if I get tongue-tied around women I like.
See, being tongue-tied is one thing, losing your ability to talk is another.
Eh, maybe. Fact of the matter, though, is that it's just who I am.
I guess. Anyway, uh... Was I hearing things, or did she sound kinda...excited, when she talked about wringing the ostrich's neck?
Yeah, I noticed that too.
...You got any thoughts on that?
Yep: now it's going to be even harder for me to talk to Dalla.
You're a godsdamned disaster, you know that.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.


Oooooh, dis is so excitin'! New land, new mats, new things ta make!
We'll make sure to bring back nothing but the best junk the Scarlet Pillars have to offer, eh?



You have scarcely arrived but have already succeeded in going beyond the northern barrier.
No-one has managed to do that before us?
Not within my lifetime, at least.
One has to wonder how that is possible, especially given that the bloodbear uprising was not a factor until recently.
True, but it's also possible that the bloodbear uprising was actually a boon here. The path down to the third floor might have been blocked and hidden until the bloodbears charged through it, for example.
...I can't rule that out, actually. That then begs the question, however, of why the tablet was in a area that was hidden until recently.
That, I cannot speculate on. Perhaps you will find the answers as you explore this new land.


Hello again.
Ah, I remember you. You heard that one of those new guilds managed to open the path to a new land?
Mhm.
Ahhhh, I'm so excited!
Oh, are you an explorer too?
Huh? No, you couldn't pay me to set one foot in those deathtraps explorers call labyrinths. What I'm here for is the ingredients. I was able to fly around in the new land for a bit, and man, I can barely contain myself, thinking about the dishes I can make with these...
I know there's ostriches out there. Uncle Ranger never cooked ostrich—I wonder what ostrich meat tastes like. Also, how well it pairs with fruit sauces...
I can't say that was my first thought, but... Heh, you don't mind if I borrow that idea? Oh, one thing, though. For as good as the food out there is, the monsters like it just as much, so be careful. The sheep will inhale the mushrooms, and the mantises...take a very worrying delight in carving up and eating the birds and fish.
Mantises...like...birds and fish. Okay, thank you.
Hey, Daffodil, how's it going?
Have we met?
W-What? C'mon, you guys stay at the inn, right? You hafta have seen me around.
We sleep on our skyship.
...Dang. Well, even if you're not staying there, you know that Dalla'll let you use the storeroom there, right? Just 'tween you and me, guilds normally only get space for 10 different kinds of things, but I've deffo seen some guilds with bigger stashes than that.
Oh! Perhaps they're using some form of spatial manipulation in order to compress their holdings into a smaller volume.
Wha? No, my thinking is that Dalla just gives 'em more space, probably as thanks for doing her a favor. What kinda asks she's got for explorers, I dunno, but there you go.
That's a huge book. The hell is it?
It's the Zoologics. I'm trying to memorize it, so I can know what materials monsters drop. Now, please, go away. I'm busy.


Somewhat nervous, if I'm being fully honest.
Same.
Understandable, I suppose. Everything from here on out is uncharted territory. But braving the unknown is what explorers live for, in the end.
Correct, but that doesn't preclude us being nervous.
Our guild's still only a few weeks old, after all.
Right. Seems like it was just the other day that you established your guild. Still, your accomplishments speak louder than the dates on the paperwork. Try to stay bold, hm?


It's a pain in the ass, yeah. At least Wiglaf and Kirjonen are willing to help us out there.
Oh, great, yeh already met them. Saves me the trouble.



Keep at it, Guild Daffodil. As long as you continue exploring, I will do everything I can to accommodate you.
And we'll do everything we can to keep impressing.



A request from Dalla? How serendipitous.
I suspect that she intended for your guild to accept this request. In any case, Dalla is looking for mushrooms from the Scarlet Pillars, to aid in creating new dishes. She provided a basket for the request—you can simply place the mushrooms in here, and then return the basket to me when you are done.
I do not find mushrooms particularly appetizing, but I hope Dalla's new dish pleases those who do! Oh, and what about this other request?
Yes, this one is from a travelling sorcerer. It seems he wants you to find him a Plant Reference. Unfortunately, this particular volume has been long out of print, but I do know there are a few copies floating around town.
Would the atelier have any in stock, perhaps?
Possibly. I know Wynne occasionally purchases items that have no purposes for her usual smithing, if they're rare enough.
I see. We'll also take this one, then!
Many thanks. Kismet be with you, Guild Daffodil.



Good day, Wynne! Would you happen to have a Plant Reference in stock?
Yeah, actually. What's got ya asking?
We took a request from a sorcerer that was looking for it.
Ahhh. Yeah, it's always da magic types dat look for dese. Ya'd think plant science people'd want it more. Anyhows, if ya wanna buy it, 1000en'd be fair, but...
Ooh! I assume the "but" is implying that you know of a different way to procure a copy?
Yup, I figured you'd be excited 'bout dat. Anyway, dere was dis soldier dat came around da other day, braggin' about how he pulled a Plant Reference from a bloodbear's body. Why a bear had one? No clue. But hey, if ya wanna try your luck, dat's dat.
I'll let the others know, then. Many thanks, Wynne!
No prob!


Sorry, but, uh, why are we down here, Xiaohu?
You just excitedly tell us to run down to the third floor of the Lush Woodlands with nary a word as to why, lass.
...Oh, yes, sorry! One of the requests at the Dancing Peacock involved tracking down an out-of-print tome of botany, and to make things simple, there's reason to believe we can find one down here.
There's a soldier over there—he looks scared. Let's talk to him before we look for the book, okay?
Oh dear, yes, he may be in need of assistance.


You wouldn't happen to be the guard that had a copy of the Plant Reference, would you?
How did you— Wynne told you, didn't she.
Yes!
I really should learn to keep quiet around that girl. Anyway, the book was in my pack. If you want to go get it, be my guest. I'm not going to risk my life to get that thing back.
Where did you drop your pack?
Uhh... Oh, right, it was near the rocks that have water flowing from them. The monster ambushed me there. Now, if you'll excuse me...
The soldier clasps you on the shoulder before walking off, most likely back to town.
The water-rocks were right...here. Let's go.


As you squint, you can see a torn pack hanging from the monster's deadly claws. If you wish to take back the book, you have no alternative but to challenge the monster.


How underwhelming.

You rummage around inside and find a luxuriously bound Plant Reference! Exactly what the client wanted!


Great success! Thank you, everyone, and my apologies for not being clearer about why I wanted to quickly head out.
Hold on, the pack isn't empty...
You also find a number of medicines and a large knife for exploration! What a stroke of luck! You are able to claim them as your own without any further effort on your part!




Oh, wait, ya got it already! Heh, I knew it. Way ta keep on top of things!


Here is the Plant Reference!
That was quick. Did you purchase this from Wynne?
No, we found it inside the Lush Woodlands! Why do you seem so surprised?
Oh, pay me no mind. Here is your reward for a job well done.











...Oh, right, treasure maps. Anyone opposed to just getting these out of the way?
You sound real unenthused-like about that.
There's no fun in treasure hunting when you're just going where a map tells you.
Yep, what she said.

More dampening mist, eh?


Hmm. A completely clear liquid with low viscosity.
Judging by its runic composition, I'd say this is some kind of neutralizing solution.
Think we could throw it at monsters to get them back to normal when they power up?
It's certainly worth a shot!

Snooze.


Disappointing.

I thought the jars we found before were packed full with energy, but this takes it to a whole new level.
No.
Oi, I didn't even say anything!

Please be very careful with these.

There we go, that's one mushroom for Dalla's request.
Going by how worryingly big these mushrooms are, I think three should be enough.

Wake up, everyone! We've finished gathering mushrooms.
...They're all still out cold. I can't blame them, I guess.
No, no, I'm still here.
Dgh— Sorry, I forgot that you don't sleep.



Ah, are you— Goodness, you look exhausted.
I feel fine! I possess the ability to stay fully alert until my body finally forces me to sleep.
That's not a good thing, Xiao.
Merula is correct, that is...quite unhealthy. I'll deliver these to Dalla as quickly as I can. Allow me a moment.


No, seriously, that is not healthy.
Perhaps! But also, perhaps Naijou can teach me how to handle a lack of sleep—
Naijou doesn't need to sleep because he is a large lion-man with significantly different physiology from us. Please, try to sleep like the rest of us do.
...I'll consider it!
I suppose that's the best answer I could expect from a researcher as fanatical as you...


Dalla is uncompromising when it comes to food—it is quite a rare sight to see her as excited as she was. I did not, however, inform her of your very apparent exhaustion. I suspect she would be quite cross with you if she were to get wind of that.
...I'm having trouble mentally picturing an upset Dalla.
That is for the best. Ah, also, she asked me to give you these medicines as a bonus, on top of your increased storage privileges.


...Well then, that's a, uh, very generous bonus.







Pork, huh.
Izzat a bad thing?
No, we just didn't each pork much. Pigs and pig-like monsters are weirdly rare in Yggdrasil Labyrinths—that's what Uncle Ranger said, anyway. Apparently he and my moms fought some boars, but their meat wasn't suitable for culinary use.
Well, hey, you've got some new recipes to teach the bloke once you go back, eh?
...Recipes that Uncle Ranger doesn't know.

Oi, mind if I tag along?
I— If you stayed back when we get into combat, I don't see an issue, but is there any particular reason why?
We're explorin' my home! Could give you all some real important pointers, y'feel?
Well, it's hard to argue with that, I suppose.




Hm. The Lush Woodlands and the surrounding minor labyrinths were choked with trees—this, on the other hand, is choked with mist.
Damned near impossible to see through even these twiggy trees with this mist, aye.
Yeah, get used to that, the trees around these parts just kinda naturally attract all kinds of vapors what make it hard to see.
Good thing we have a map.
Beyond the misty trees, these flowers are strikingly red. I don't think I've ever seen their kind before.
Ooh, yeah, careful with those. That's dragonsbane all around us—real poisonous.
Sure does sound like everything's going to be out to get us.
Dare I ask why these flowers carry the name "dragonsbane?"
Funny you should ask, one time, there was this real huge dragon that came down to menace the Pillars, and it just wouldn't leave, right? So what we did was we took a bunch of the dragonsbane, fed it to one of the sheepies that wanders around the Pillars, killed it instantly. The dragon sees the sheep, thinks it's a free corpse ripe for the eating, takes just a small bite, and y'know what happened? Damn thing instantly flies way the hell away, makin' the most disgustin' noises I've ever heard all the while.
...And we are...surrounded, by the flower your compatriots used to make this dragon violently ill.
Yup.
I was not expecting the danger we face to escalate so severely and rapidly.
Eh, could be worse. You could've come when the black dragonsbane's out and about, whoof.


Right, what else... Oh, wait, 'fore you open that—

Wugh—
Aaaaaaaaaagh!
Mlp...
Ray, what— What is this miasma?!
It's... It's almost like some kind of super-concentrated sulfur, ugh!
Yeah, I was tryin' to warn you. I don't fully get what's up with this gas, but a bunch of the animals here don't really take well to it. Never been bothered by it, myself.
I don't smell anything, either.
Oh, how I envy you two right now...
Okay, let's...let's move quickly.


Every second in here is worse than the last.
Hey, you're holdin' up better than most other living creatures do.
That's hardly worth...celebrating...
Marlin? Are you alright? You seem—
The...the rest of you might want to...stand b—


Marlin?!
I have some—! Urk...
I...don't feel good...
Ah, shit...
The others rush to Marlin's side, but by then, everyone has noticed the ill effects taking hold. You feel severe lightheadedness and nausea wash over you... The world sways as if an earthquake had struck.


...I messed up real bad, didn't I?
Such are the dangers of having to give advice ad-hoc.
What in the...?! What are you doing here?!
Oiii! If it ain't Great Queen Disapprovin' Mugs! How ya been, eh?
I... You, Sentinel! Help me get these four to safety!
Of course.

♪ No music ♪


...Uuogh...
That should be all of them.
Thank you for your assistance, ma'am.
Do not thank me. You two should have moved to immediately get these four to safety.
Doesn't mean we can't thank you.
...
sigh
I have spent who knows how many days, weeks, months, worrying about your well-being after you abruptly left to "see the outside"—on foot, no less—and the first thing you do is call me, what was it again?
Great Queen Disapprovin' Mugs.
That is truly how you think of me?
Eh? No harm, eh, auntie? Some folks're just like that, 'specially to one-in-a-lifetime rebels with a cause like myself. Ain't no hard feelings! You're a sweet sorta auntie.
...Your travels have not changed you one bit, Wen. I would be more perturbed by you were it not for the bizarre group accompanying you. You are traveling with a Sentinel, even.
Is that an issue?
The Sentinels have their land to watch over, and we Vessels have ours. To see a Sentinel in the Scarlet Pillars is unprecedented. To see a Sentinel, a Vessel, and four humans travelling together is...unfathomable. Did you arrive on that flying monstrosity?
Un...fathomable? Monstrosity?
Ah, thank the heavens, she has awoken.
Your companions did not injest a lethal amount of miasma, at least.
Who are you?
I suppose I should be courteous, regardless of the circumstances.



My name is Harper. My passed-out friends are Shelly, Marlin, and Eine. The "Sentinel" is Naijou. It sounds like you already know Ray. We're explorers—we recently found a path from the Windy Plains to here.
The lands to the south...? You discovered how to dispel— No, that does not matter. Heed my words: this is cursed ground. If you do not heed your steps, you will succumb to the miasma from the night shard.
...Maybe that's what Ciaran needs to make the Air B'n'B fly higher.
I have no idea what you are mumbling about, and I do not wish to know. I have spent enough time here as-is. You humans are our creators. It is out of respect for your guidance that I assisted in saving you. However, the ties between us were severed at the Battle for the Holy Tree, and we have no wish to restore them.
...Hm?
Understand that you are not welcome. Our preference would be for you to do nothing here and leave at once.
The woman finishes her speech, but as she begins to depart—
Oi, what about me?
...You left of your own volition, Wen Ray-shin. I will not stop you, or force you to return with me, but know that any knowledge you share with this Sentinel and these humans is dangerous. Whatever consequences may arise are yours alone to bear.
Having said her piece, the woman disappears somewhere. Though she seemed displeased at the idea of you remaining here, you can continue your search if you wish.

♪ No music ♪




Ugh. How long were we out for? What happened?
Not too long. A woman who looks like Ray found us; she helped Ray and Naijou get us out of the miasma room.
Her name's Wufan, by the way.
Did this Wufan have anything to say to us, or was she merely a good-hearted passerby?
She...doesn't like us being here. Told me she'd prefer if we just left.
She also seemed distrustful of my kind, or at least distrustful of me for having wandered away from our home.
Also that humans were her peoples' creators.
Well, that's a new one. I've heard of man-made walking-talking automatons out in Armoroad, but...flesh and blood creatures?
Much as I like humans, I'm havin' trouble picturing them creatin' me.
Barely a few steps into the second leg of our journey, and already, this is quite a lot to take in...
Maybe we'll get more answers later. She also said that the miasma comes from something called the night shard.
As awful as that stuff smells, I'd bet getting the rock that generates it might be helpful for getting the Air B'n'B to go higher.
I thought that, too. It means we'll have to put up with the miasma, but is everyone okay with looking for the night shard?
Well, there's not much else we can do until we can fly higher, and the night shard is the best lead we have.
Aye, I'll put up with that gas.
Well, the gas doesn't affect me or Naij, soooo...
Let's go, then.


Quickly quickly quickly!


That's quite the large lizard.
Slow as a frozen ocean, though.


Why do you suppose the mushrooms look as though they're screaming?
Being a walking, living mushroom must be painful.
...That is a rather distressing thought.

Ngh... Come on, Shelly, you can hold it— Be brave, motherfuckers!
Oh, hell, Bloody Valentine is seepin' through you, isn't it, lass?
Yeah, of all the godsdamned things to be heredi— Nut up, ye lily-levered codswallops!

Please don't admire this, Eine, I see those stars in your eyes.


Achoo.


Let's just put this thing out of its misery.


Wonderful, my mace is covered in noxious spores.






That thing's...inhalin' the miasma?
Gross.
It appears to be inhaling and spewing in equal measure.


New botanical finds means new medical concoctions.


Ohhhhh bunny...
Bunny...
Snap out of it, you two! Do these rabbits possess hypnotizing powers?!
I think they are simply entranced by the rabbits' rotundness.

Their skulls are...surprisingly soft. I almost feel bad.






Oi, you really gotta park yourself there?!
Can't move, can't breathe, someone use a thread!



Pahhhh...
Perhaps that was a bit hasty...but on the other hand, we did run a very high risk of passing out in front of an angry FOE.
It was the right thing.
...Shelly, lass? A thought occurs.
You're wondering how we're supposed to get the Air B'n'B back here after using a thread, aren't you?
Bingo.
Good, hopefully you've got an idea, because I don't.
No worries, Xiao and I're prepared for this. Oi, Xiao, we had to thread outta the forest. Can you get someone to drive the ship to Tharsis?
Great, thanks, love.
I am quite confused.
I think she and Xiaohu figured out how to use runes to make sound travel very far.
That's probs how it works? I just answered her questions about sound as she threw 'em at me. There's some circle magic in there, too.
One must wonder if there are any limits to what our runemaster is capable of...
Probably not. But she's a good person, and helping us.


Yeuch! Why's all this junk smell like sulfur?
Probs on account of the place we got it from. Oh, and maybe some light dragonsbane got on there, too.
The new place's already gettin' weird with it, huh?


So, if we may take a second to slow down and think: given that attempting to sneak behind the poison lizard has not worked so far, perhaps we should attempt to pass it while it's to our side?
With a thread, we don't have much to lose if it doesn't work, eh? Let's give it a shot.



Good planning, Eine.


I can clear some of the trees.
Ooh? How's that?
A very powerful arrow.


Hm.




No, this cat isn't cute.

No scratching.


My coat...! Hmph, guess I'll be spending some time with a needle tonight.





Woaaaaaaaaaah. How'd you do that, Mar?
Quick steps let you get behind anything easily.



Hm. There's no easily accessible door from the one we just came through.
Think you can blow a hole through those trees before those four've gotta run back?


Good idea.


Okay, Eine's getting purple-faced, time to run back.


GAH-huuuuuuh...
Let's give the poor guy a second.
Thank...thank you...


With any luck, there will be a door we can rush to through the shortcut.


Thank the heavens...



The gas appears to be emanating from this rock. I believe we've found the night shard.
...We should probs let the others breathe before we start minin' it.


A...copy of the Monstrous Codex?
No, it is something more.

Oh, for fuckin'— 'Course there's junk here, why wouldn't there be.


...


There, that's better.
Great, now let's get out of here!



Okay, new plan: we keep a stock of Ariadne threads aboard the ship, so we can just return when you need us.
Using a thread on the ship is disorienting, but at least it doesn't cause teleportation sickness.
Good plan. Anyways, good news, we got something that'll help my baby fly higher. Probably.
Oh, nice! Hopefully it wasn't too much trouble?

That is an interesting expression you're making.
We have quite a lot to inform you four of, but first, we should go see Ciaran.


Can you make our ship fly higher with this?
Whoof, that's a helluva smell. Still, this thing's just giving off gas without anything causing it... Very interesting. Lemme go run some tests, sit tight.

Oh?
Installing this'll give yer ship's lift a real boost. Good work findin' this. Yeh got any hands yeh can spare to make this go faster?
Like hell I'm gonna let someone tinker with the Air B'n'B without my help.
Heh, fair enough.
I can assist, as well.
Good, I think that's plenty of hands. Let's get to work.


...Hafta say, I didn't expect to be working with yeh on a skyship, Waylon.
It's been quite a while since I've last had to work with one, yes.
Last? Huh?
Yeh haven't told them about how yeh came to Tharsis, have yeh?
Well, no, it hasn't come up.
No, hold on, what are you two talking about?
Mind if I explain, Waylon?
By all means, though don't take offense if I interject.
Alright, so. On the record, my da's the one that invented the skyships that everyone in Tharsis uses. Big improvement over the old pieces of junk yeh see everywhere else in the world that eat fuel like nobody's business, and can't get too far off the ground. Off the record, though... A tad over ten years ago, on a stormy night, something big crashed just outside the town. A flying machine.
With Whirlwind and I on it.
Wait, what? You were traveling with him? I know you two have a history, but—
I had no say in whether or not I went on that voyage. Believe me, I would have said "no" to traveling with only him if I had a choice.
Don't see what you could possibly have against the man, but I won't pry. Anyhow, yer friend Waylon here pretty much immediately got to settling down here in Tharsis after the crash, but Whirlwind set about helping us fix the crashed ship. Took us over five years to get it up and running again, and that was with Whirlwind's help. Between both his discovery of iridescent ore and his suggestion to replace whatever special fuel source the ship had with it, if he hadn't been there, we'd have never fixed the thing.
You...didn't help with repairing the airship?
I like Tharsis and the people that live here, what else can I say? I chose to settle down and become an engineer over getting our ship back up and running.
Yeh also wanted to get far away from Whirlwind, I'm guessing.
That was also part of it, yes.
That's...a lot to take in, but I'll process it on my own time. I'm guessing the new iridescent ore-powered engine you put in their ship became the basis for every other Tharsis skyship?
Bingo brongo. By the way, props to whoever designed yer ship. Yeh had some real talented engineers in yer crew, Heedless Blaze.
You— You know about that? How?
I watch the skies for a living, Shelly. I hear and see a lotta things. Plus, well, yeh know, yer average skyship pilot isn't taking a godsdamned dreadnought around these parts.
...It needed to be big, given how big my crew got.
Heh. Just wish I could've met yer engineers before yeh disbanded. Oh, the upgrade's done, by the way.
Wait, really? That was fast.
Oh, we finished damn near immediately. Turns out yer engine's real forward-thinking; again, wish yer old pals were part of my team here. I just wanted to talk a bit. Let's get a move on back to the rest of yer friends, eh?


...So the mass production of skyships was the impetus for the Count's call for explorers?
Yep. Pretty sure he wants to meet the rest of yeh lot, open up relations, that kinda amicable city-state leader kinda stuff. Probably learn more about how yeh build skyships, too—even now, that one yeh crashed is still leagues above what we can do.
I see. I can only hope that we don't disappoint.
Heh. Anyway, we should pipe down about now.
Um, how did it go?
Yeh're all good to go, the Air B'n'B's gonna fly a lot higher than it could before. Best of luck, Daffodil. If yeh'll excuse me, there's probably a mountain of papers I gotta tend to.


More sulfur-smellin' mats?
Hopefully, this will be the last time we will have to deliver anything that smells this foul.



Man, the whole town is abuzz. Everyone's talking about new skyship upgrades, going higher than before...
Wow. Good news spreads fast, I guess.
...Y'know, there's another small labyrinth back in the Windy Plains. No-one could get to it before, but if you flew at the right spot, you could see it. I wonder if anyone'll remember it, now that everyone's gonna be swarming the heights of the Scarlet Pillars.
Probably not, but hey, thanks for the tip.
Your clothes are interesting.
I will take that as a compliment.
What are the shining parts made out of?
Dragon crystals. I'm a hunter, you see. We follow dragons around and gather the crystals they secrete as they fly through the skies.
Dragons leave crystals behind? Huh.
...Listen to my advice. Humans, recently, have taken to the sky like they own the place, but don't be fooled. The dragons rule the skies. If you see one out and about, keep your distance.
A dragon could probably really hurt a skyship.
Exactly. 'Course, long as you don't get in their face, they won't actively chase you. We humans should be grateful that they tolerate our presence at all, I tell you.


























...Huh. So that's what that light was. You're up late.
I was writing a letter to one of my moms. I told her I'd send her letters while I'm out in Tharsis, but haven't had a chance to write anything yet.
Good kid. Well, not a kid, you're as old as I am, but I mean in terms of you writing to family— You get what I'm trying to say.
Yes. Thank you, Ace.









Next Update
Previous Update
Table of Contents