*Plip*
*Plop*
*Plip*
*Plop*
*Plip*
*Plop*
My foot steps echoed off the slick cave walls as I made my way back to the watergate that I had previously destroyed. Eventually I return to the point of the incident. Metal lays about the ground. I'm actually surprised I didn't cause a cave in, I got lucky there.
Walking past where the gate used to be I gaze at my surroundings.
"Wow"
The cavern the watergate leads to spans at least half the mountain. I notice all around there are strange contraptions placed systematically around the cavern.
'Hmm, those look like fans. Wonder what they're for?'
Putting that thought aside, I begin to explore the outer edges of the cavern and notice something. There are many other watergates all around. This place must be designed to let water out of different gates depending on where the owner needs it. But how do they move the water back?
Eventually I head over to the center of the strange cavern. In the center there seems to be four poles that lead straight up. Between them a metal box with doors.
"What's this?"
- Notice -
- The contraption the Host is observing is an advanced magical tool called an elevator -
After some explaining:
"Oh so it's like stairs or a latter, but for lazy people."
- If that is how the Host views it, that is what an elevator is essentially -
I guess if I want to learn more about this place I'll have to get in to see what's up above. I enter the elevator and the system instructs me on how to use it. All I had to do was place my hand on an orb in the wall and focus my magic energy there.
Suddenly, I feel a jolt under my feet and I realize that the elevator is traveling upwards at a very fast speed.
'This thing is fast'
After about ten minutes the elevator comes to a halt. I suspect the elevator went all the way up to the top of the mountain based on how fast it was going and how long it took to stop.
The doors slide open and my hypothesis has been confirmed. I take a few steps out of the elevator and stare down at the forest below.
"Well that elevator saved me a lot of time. I wonder who could have built such a thing, and why?"
Looking further I can see where my village is. From here it looks like it's a toy, but I know better. Finally turning around though I gaze up and notice the tower only I can seem to see is right in front of me.
"I'm going to learn your secrets one way or another"
- EMERGENCY NOTICE -
- EXTREME DANGER DETECTED. THE HOST IS ADVISED TO HIDE -
I immediately jump behind a rock and curl my body so nothing in the direction of the tower can see me. I wait for a minute and I hear footsteps. In a disgruntled voice:
"Why's the elevator up now? Don't tell me it's malfunctioning now of all times. I'm on the cusp of success here. I better go check the hydro generators below, they should be gathering power now."
'Ohhhhhh, they were generators… crap. Doesn't that mean they're not running anymore. I mean it's my fault I kinda destroyed the watergate.'
I hope this person isn't too angry. I look a little bit over the side of the boulder and my thoughts immediately stop.
Red scales, reptilian wings, snakelike yellow eyes. That's definitely one of the dragon folk. But what's he doing on Rya. Last I checked this planet doesn't let other races settle here.
This is common knowledge but fifty years ago, all the major races warred with one another. This event was called the Realm War. After this happened, the humans of Rya closed their boarders and deported all the other races. So for a dragon folk to be on Rya, well it was certainly surprising.
I pull myself back behind the rock and stay as silent as possible. In the books I've read it is said dragon folk have an excellent sense of hearing. With this in mind, I slow my breathing and close my eyes, careful not to move a muscle.
"Whacha doin there kiddo?"
I look up, and the dragon folk stands on the rock I'm hidden behind.
- Notice -
- New Quest Assigned -
- Escape from the dragon folk -
- Reward -
- ??? -
Seeing this Immediately explode my whole body to give me the element of surprise. The dragon folk flashes back faster than I can follow but it doesn't matter. When I reappear I've already leapt off the side of the mountain. The dragon folk follows me and attempts to grab me from the air but I expected this.
I've worked on this move with my father for a while so there's no way it would fail. I explode myself but when I do I infuse my lightning magic into the explosion. Since the dragon folk is flying in the air towards me at top speed he cannot stop himself in time to avoid the explosion.
So this explosion blows him back towards the mountain top and stuns him for a little bit. As I rematerialize I continually explode my feet to propel myself away from the mountain. When I feel like I've traveled far enough away I stop the explosions and land ungracefully in a tree.
Letting out a sigh of relief, "Well that was dangerous wasn't it. I think I'm gonna cut this trip short, I need to talk to my father about this."
'Wait I wonder what the rewards for succeeding in the quest were?'
'System what did I get for escaping'
- Notice -
- The Host has not successfully completed the quest -
'Wait what'
"Well hello there kiddo, why'd ya leave so suddenly. I didn't even learn yer name."
The dragon folk with his wings extended outwards floats above me gallantly, not a scratch on him.
"Well shi…" I begin to say as the world around me fades to black.
End of chapter eighteen.