Chapter 243: Old Friend
Erani, Ainash, and I stood in the nighttime roads with the courier, who apparently had a message from Sylvie.
So, what is it? I asked.
The courier showed us the paper in her hand. She saysHey, currently kinda in the middle of a financial crisis. Shits going down. Anyway, I cant really afford much, so hopefully you can come pick me up from Salvation and take me to Precipice? I know you two are probably busy with your terrorism or whatever, but heres hoping you can spare some funds or influence to let me room with you for some time. Ill help you out with whatever if you can. Anyway, sorry for contacting you right after you left, but a lot started happening once you were gone. So, yknow. Whoops. Anyway, see you soon. Sylvie.
Financial crisis? Isnt she rich?
Thats all that was written in the Message Paper sir, sorry. The courier stuffed the paper back into her pouch. Regardless, I wish you well. Good luck with your affairs.
With that, she left.
I frowned. Huh. Do you think thats real?
What do you mean? Erani asked.
I dunno. Random person suddenly asking for money and all that, sounds like it could just be some sort of scheme to steal from us. How do we know that was a real messenger?
Didnt you see the bottom of the paper? She put her signature down.
Have we ever seen her signature before now?
Erani pursed her lips. Thats fair. But we have that item, right? A short trip to Salvation shouldnt be much of an issue.
I nodded. Right, with the Beacon, it wouldnt technically cost us anything to go to Salvation and back. Just some Mana. True. Guess we can pop over to see whats up. And, actually
I glanced around to ensure there was nobody around, then continued in a lower voice, It could be beneficial to go there anyway, right? Annor and Eita have been seen around in Precipice. If Arlan and Erani are seen all the way in Salvation the same day, with no record of anyone having used the teleportation circle, then it could help keep people from guessing were the same people.
Thatssmart, she said. Only, it does require that Arlan and Erani be seen publicly in Salvation. Which is dangerous, considering were known fugitives.
I built up some goodwill for us when we killed Jon, remember? Shouldnt be an issue as long as were careful. I glanced around the area. So then, should we figure out where to put it?
We walked through the desert, in search of a secluded area that would be fitting for what we required of the Beaconnamely that it be easy for us to find while being difficult for everyone else to find.
Generally, that meant walking a far way off in a random direction, foregoing roads and anything else that could guide a person to randomly stumble upon the location we chose.
As we walked, the night grew darker, and eventually, midnight came.
Time Loop has refreshed its uses.
Recycled Loop has activated. Due to 2 uses being leftover, you have gained the following Stats:
+1 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence
5 Stats remain until you must Level up.
Wed technically come to the first day of the tournamentthough, nothing would start until later in the morning. Hopefully we could get whatever Sylvies financial crisis was sorted out in time.
I also still had two more Spells to UpgradeRay of Frost and Curse of Echoes. Normally, I liked doing them one at a time so I always had as many Time Loops available to me as possible, but with the tournament coming up, Id most likely try to get both of them done before this new day ended, since soon wed be seeing the beginning of the fights themselves.
Are you excited? I asked Erani.
I mean, we only just left Salvation, so I dont see why Id be excited to return.
No, for the tournament. Excited to compete?
She chuckled. Maybe half excited, half stressed out of my mind.
Nah, dont be. Even if you lose a fight and get eliminated, youll still have me and Ainash. One of usll win for you.
No, no, its not about the end results, I dont think. I mean, the high-stakes nature of this whole thing certainly contributes, but I guessI dont know, this feels like the first time my abilities as a Sorcerer are really being tested.
What? I asked, laughing. You know youve fought a Young Dragon before, right?
Well, sure, I guess. Its not really a logical feeling. But fighting Humans is different, you know? Against a monster, its very asymmetrical. You were both given completely different toolsets, and sure, youre comparing who utilizes their abilities better, but if you lose, then maybe your opponent simply had a better set of tools than you did. But against other people, we all started at the same point. So if I lose, then its because I made the wrong decisions along the way, and they didnt.
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But thats only true if you lose to someone whos the same Level as you. If theyve got even just two or three Levels over you, then it wasnt really fair to start with.
No, even in that case, I still had opportunities to Level up more or shape my build to be better against opponents who have higher Stats than me. Youre a good example of thatyour build is good at evening those odds.
I still dont think that you losing can be chalked up to you just being objectively wrong, or anything. Besides, youve fought against plenty of people before.
Right, and I dont really think that, either. But I do feel it. Like I said, its illogical. Justa formalized competition like this, everything made equal except for your individual choices, it puts the pressure on. Especially with so many spectators. You dont feel what Im talking about?
Not really. It kinda makes it more exciting for me. Maybe its the same aspects thatre making you stressed, except theyre just amping me up.
Erani snorted. Well. Glad to know youre confident.
I am confident. Im telling you, one-on-ones are where I thrive, and Ive beaten way more powerful opponents than some random adventurers. Itll be easy.
See, now Im just worried about you. I sometimes fear that Time Loop is making you feel immortal.
Oh, cmon, you know I was playing it up to ease your worries. I dont literally think itll be some piece of cake. But, that said, I do think were gonna win.
You cant just say that. What if we lose?
We wont.
But see, now if we do lose, itll be even worse because youll have to remember all that time you were so confident.
I looked at her. Do you think the moon is made of cheese?
She blinked. What?
The moon, up in the sky. Do you think it is a very large ball of artisan cheese?
...No?
But how can you be so sure?
Because I dont see any reason it would be made of cheese. Do we need to get you to a healer?
No, no, but now if we ever find out that the moon is made of cheese, youre gonna be so embarrassed about how wrong you were.
Erani rolled her eyes. Okay. Sure. I get your point.
But arent you worried about how you might be wrong about the moon not being made of cheese?
You do realize youve made a terrible comparison, right? One of these two is completely possible and youre understating how likely it is, while the other is completely impossible and youre overstating its odds.
Nope. They are equally likely. Both completely impossible.
Arlan, the longer this conversation goes on, the worse its gonna be if
Youre right. If the moon is made of cheese, Ill probably be pretty embarrassed that I compared it to the completely nonexistent possibility that we lose this tournament.
She gave me an unamused look.
Okay, fine, Ill drop it, I said. But only if you admit that were gonna win.
Im not going to
Cmon, cmon, I said, wrapping an arm around her. Its easy. Just say, Were gonna one hundred percent dominate all the losers who are unlucky enough to be paired against us, and were gonna win the whole thing, and Emperor Etrin himself will come down and bestow upon us infinite Enchanting materials, and everything will be good forever.
Ive never said I think were doomed to fail, or anything. Youre too worried about nothing.
And youre too reluctant to act confident. See, now that Ive had this whole conversation, Im gonna have to do as best as I can, because if I fail then youll never let me live it down. But youre acting all modest and everything, meaning youre leaving the option to yourself to not try as hard as you can. And see, thats just not fair.
She sighed. Okay, fine. Well win. Happy?
Great. Now, if we fail, Ill make fun of you.
For saying something that you made me say?
Im trying to give you some motivation.
Erani smiled and rolled her eyes. How kind of you.
She pecked me on the lips, and we looked forward, continuing in our journey. Ainash had run ahead and was standing on top of a large dune, surveying the area.
How would we even find out the moon is made of cheese, anyway? Erani asked.
I dunno. Maybe well run into a moon denizen.
You think there are people who live on the moon? And, what, theyve come down to our world to say hi?
Its possible.
Im going to go ahead and disagree.
Fine, fine, I said with a laugh. If we actually meet someone whos from the moon, Ill be very embarrassed.
Found place! Ainash messaged us from up ahead. Little cave that we could hide Beacon thing in!
Oh, perfect, I responded. I think were far enough away that itd be unlikely someone would run across it, too.
It didnt take long, but soon the Beacon was set up and ready to go. Standing in the small covered area, sandstone all around us, all it took was a simple push of the mind, and suddenly the small crystal was floating in the air. From there, all it needed was a simple 1k Mana before itd be charged and we could teleport back to the Goblin forest in Salvation. To return, itd take 10k, and from that point the cost would be so high it would basically be unusable. But the cost reset after a week, so it would hopefully not be a problem.
It took less than ten minutes to charge it up this first time, with me simply holding my hand around it as its glow became more and more intense.
Then, eventually, I got a notification.
Anchor Point is charged with 1k/1k Mana.
Okay, I said, looking at Erani. Ready to head to Salvation? Time to see an old friend.
Old friend? We saw her a day ago.
Yeah, but it sounds better that way. Like were doing something important instead of just going to help her with whats probably some random annoyance.
I dont know, she did say it was a financial crisis. Sounds important.
See? So dont you agree that we should talk about it like its important? I mean, were using this new magic item that lets us teleport, for the gods sake. We get the right to be at least a little dramatic, dont we?
Erani shook her head and let out a chuckle. You are so weird. Okay, sure. Lets see an old friend.
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