Over the next several days, a routine emerged. Lassim woke together with the other servant rank disciples in the dim of the early morning, their resident barracks filled with the soft rustle of waking bodies and quiet morning greetings.
The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of rain and the distant rumble of thunder from the perpetually stormy skies above the sect. Breakfast was a simple affair, often consisting of eggs, steamed buns, and occasionally some preserved fruits to mix things up.
The conversation was light, mostly about their quotas and any new techniques they planned to try in the fields. Jiro often shared anecdotes from his previous experiences, while Mirana and Riku offered advice on where they’d seen some Thunder Source Stones in other areas. Sadly, Lassim was restricted to searching for stones in only the Tempering Fields..
Lassim’s luck was not as great as his second day when he had gathered 15. He gathered 10 Thunder Source Stones on the third day, 13 on the fourth, and 11 on the fifth.
Each day’s work was arduous, working physically with the shovels or pickaxes with the storm’s intensity varying unpredictably, sometimes drenching him in warm rain and at other times pelting his [Aegis] barrier with hail. The rain didn’t bother him much, as Mari would come out to enjoy it when it was particularly coming down in a pour. Yet, never once was he struck by lightning.
Yet, all said, he managed to meet the 50 stone weekly quota two days early, amassing a total of 51 stones. He’d keep the extra stone for the following week, but it was time to turn in this week’s quota to earn some free time. The sense of relief for having the first week done was growing on him.
The other servants, having reached their quotas as well, agreed to submit their collections together at the Sect’s Mission Hall the next day.
The following morning, they made their way through the bustling sect grounds, exchanging banter and enjoying the brief respite.
The path to the Mission Hall was lined with tall, ancient buildings and shops with their lightning poles and walls that crackled with lightning energy as they absorbed the strikes of the storm.
The air around buzzed with the vibrant life of the sect, filled with the sounds of training, conversation, and the occasional crackle of a spell being cast or the rumble of the storm overhead. However, everywhere they went, their servant robes stood out and the other sect disciples would go out of their way to avoid the group’s path.
Upon entering the Sect’s Mission Hall, Lassim was struck by its sheer scale and activity. The vast hall was a grand structure, its high vaulted ceilings supported by massive pillars carved with intricate lightning motifs.
The walls were adorned with countless mission request parchments all organized by disciple rank and cultivation level.
The floor beneath Lassim’s feet was a polished stone that gleamed under the soft light emitted by floating luminescent orbs, reminiscent of lightning clouds, giving the entire space a nice glow.
The hall itself was filled with countless counters and tables, behind which sect disciples and workers inspected the materials submitted by mission takers. Lassim marveled at the sight of various beast carcasses being cataloged, each laid out meticulously on large stone slabs.
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Some of the carcasses were of creatures Lassim had only heard about in stories his mother would tell when growing up, Lycanthropes and jackalopes, their exotic forms sparking his curiosity.
He watched as workers carefully inspected herbs and gems under special glass monocles, their faces etched with concentration. The herbs were arranged in neat bundles, their vibrant colors contrasting against the dull gray of the stone tables. The gems, on the other hand, glowed with an inner light, their facets catching the ambient light and refracting it into a dazzling array of colors.
Each inspected item received a stamp of completion after the review, a process that seemed both efficient and thorough. The sound of the stamps hitting the paper echoed through the hall, a ceaseless activity.
The air was thick with the scent of ink and parchment, mingling with the earthy aroma of herbs and the metallic tang of blood from the beast carcasses. The vastness of the hall and the business of it all was exciting to Lassim who had only really seen the mostly empty Tempering Fields and the Quartermaster’s hall so far.
The group approached one of the counters, where a worker greeted them with practiced efficiency.
"Good morning," the worker said, his voice even and polite. "Here to submit a mission completion or register for a new mission?"
"Yes, we’re here to submit our weekly quotas" Jiro replied, stepping forward. He reached into his pouch and pulled out his collected materials, placing them on the counter.
The worker passed off the materials to a nearby middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a meticulous demeanor at a table behind him. He began examining each item with care. His fingers deftly probed for imperfections or signs of fraud, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the materials.
"Everything looks in order," the worker said after receiving a stamped sheet from the employee behind him. He then took a moment, stamping a slip and handing it to Jiro.
Jiro nodded and stepped aside, allowing Mirana to approach the counter.
"Here are mine," Mirana said, placing her collection on the counter.
The worker repeated the process, his movements swift yet thorough. "Impressive quality," he remarked, giving Mirana a nod of approval after seeing the worker’s comments on the completion sheet before handing her a stamped slip.
Riku was next, his expression serious as he placed his materials on the counter. The worker examined them with the same meticulous care, finally nodding in approval.
"Good work as always, Riku," the worker said, handing Riku his slip with a smile.
Finally, it was Lassim’s turn. He stepped forward and placed his Thunder Source Stones on the counter, watching as they got passed from the counter to the worker who began his inspection.
After receiving the stamped sheet, "Nicely done," the clerk behind the counter said, his eyes flicking up to meet Lassim’s. "You’ve met your quota with some time to spare. Must’ve been tough on you as Thunder Source Stones are hard to find."
Lassim smiled, accepting the stamped slip.
As he glanced at it, he noticed it was redeemable for 3 TSS after his punishment ended. It was a surprising but welcome realization that his efforts would still yield rewards instead of being purely for punishment; a small comfort over the monthly 500 mid-grade ESS allowance.
The slip was made of fine parchment, its surface smooth to the touch and embossed with the sect’s emblem in gold.
Storing away his slip, Lassim joined the others as they moved away from the counter.
"What should we do now? Anyone have any plans now that we’ve got some spare time?" Jiro asked, looking at the group.
Mirana’s eyes lit up with excitement. "How about we visit Kýpello Keravnós?" She turned to Lassim to explain, "It’s a tea house with the sect’s lightning theme. My friend is performing there, and I’d love for you all to come along."
"Sounds like a great idea," Lassim said, his curiosity piqued. "I’d love to see it."
"Count me in," Jiro added with a grin.
Riku shook his head, a determined look on his face. "I’ll have to pass. I need to head back to the caves. Another pair of hatchlings have emerged, and the elder has increased my quota again in anticipation of their feeding requirements. That guy really is a pain in my ass. The sooner I can raise my cultivation to the next stage, the faster I can get one back at him.
I hope he knows this just motivates me more."
Everyone gave Riku a look of understanding and pity.
"Good luck, Riku," Mirana said softly. "We’ll miss you. Maybe you can join us for the next one?"
Riku nodded, his back straight with determination as he headed off. The rest of the group turned and made their way towards Kýpello Keravnós.
The path to Kýpello Keravnós took them through the heart of the sect, past an open training ground where disciples sparred in unison as part of a class lecture under the watchful eyes of a sect elder that gave pointers, and through some serene gardens where ancient and lightning scarred trees were towering and releasing occasional sparks of electricity.
This was Lassim’s first time seeing the garden area of the sect and he was amazed at the healthiness and growth of the mini-park area. It seemed like such a contrast to the barren and desolate endless sands and tempered rocks he’d grown used to so far.
Just past the edge of the gardens, they arrived at Kýpello Keravnós.
It was a quaint yet vibrant establishment, its décor infused with lightning motifs on the window frames and doorway.
The building itself was constructed from dark, polished wood that gleamed in the soft light, its roof adorned with intricate carvings of thunderclouds and lightning bolts. The building was large to accommodate many disciples and had a stage in one half of the café that Lassim could notice through the window’s intricate latticework that made up two walled sections.
Inside, Lassim saw what were possibly wild lightning sprites flitted about, casting a soft, flickering glow that added to the tea house’s charm. These tiny creatures, no larger than a hummingbird, emitted a gentle hum as they flew and their bodies crackling with energy.
These were the same that he’d seen inside the Tempering Fields countless times since he arrived and over the last several days. Their presence lent the tea house an air of magic and wonder that he quite enjoyed.
A pretty and cute hostess greeted them warmly at the door, her eyes sparkling.