As they walked through one of the Myriad of hallways of the Adventurer’s Lodge, Lassim found himself deep in thought.
He voiced his concern to Hallen. "If the lodge offers so much—work, knowledge, even emergency support—what truly sets it apart from the Cultivation Sects?"
Hallen smiled, recognizing the opportunity to deepen Lassim’s understanding. "You see, while the Lodge provides essential services and a system for mobilizing power, Sects are the cradles of cultivation. Like the academies, they not only train spirit warriors but also develop and pass on battle arts and martial techniques.
Moreover, the Sects have their alignments and politics, but the lodges are neutral ground. The Lodges serve all of Nexaria, treating every intelligent creature, whether human or beast, and their kingdoms as equals."
Lassim nodded, his interest piqued.
Hallen continued, "And their neutrality means they can act without bias, assisting any kingdom or tribe without the entanglement of political loyalties. This positions them able to help out, especially in times of crisis or Dragal invasions. The Dragal does not discriminate and neither does the Lodge."
Absorbing Hallen’s words, Lassim felt a respect for the lodge’s role in the broader world as they entered their next destinationーthe cartographer’s shop.
The room was cluttered yet fascinating, filled with the musty scent of old paper and ink. The walls were lined with shelves bursting with rolled-up maps and books.
Behind a large, cluttered desk, an elderly man with a weathered face and keen eyes, lifted his head and peered at them through his half-moon spectacles.
Noticing Lassim’s approach, he pushed himself up from his chair with a grunt, his joints protesting.
"Hello! We were wondering if you might help us with a map and a route to the Lightning Sect in the Southern Continent. My Young Master here is in dire need of your guidance." Hallen informed the elderly gentleman.
Mumbling to himself, the man shuffled around the room, picking through stacks of maps before selecting one, then pulled a couple of books from a shelf and another from a separate pile on the floor.
Laying the items out on the counter before Lassim and Hallen, he dipped a quill into an inkwell and began tracing a route on the map.
His hand was steady, marking the path with various symbols and notations that seemed to dance across the parchment.
"This route will take you south through many diverse terrains," he explained, his voice as raspy as the scratch of his quill, "You’ll encounter mountain passes, forests, a desert and several sleepy villages where you can resupply. This route will also take you through the domains of several intelligent beast kingdoms, but fret not they’re all reliable."
His finger paused over a particularly dense cluster of web-like symbols. "The closest lies here, the Spider Queen’s Web, the heart of the Arachnid Kingdom. They are half-humanoid, half-spider, and extremely intelligent. Their society is stable and intricate, woven much like the webs they are named for, with the Spider Queen at the center of it all.
Nothing happens in her kingdom without her slings informing her."
Pointing to one of the books he had retrieved, he continued, "This volume contains a primer on their language and customs. It’s essential you understand it if you wish to pass through their territory without conflict. You’d do well to study it fully before encountering one of their threads."
Lassim listened intently, absorbing every detail.
The cartographer’s knowledge was extensive, as he further covered not just geography but the cultural nuances necessary to navigate the many other diverse lands safely as he continued explaining each notation on the map at length.
After nearly half an hour of detailed explanations, the old man straightened his hunched back, fixing Lassim with a look that bore the weight of experience. "The road to the Southern Continent is long and fraught with peril, but also filled with the potential for discovery. Take these additional two books.," he said, handing over the map and books.
"The first is a basic beast language encyclopedia that will help you with your attempts to recognize the language of the more prominent intelligent beast species and their language systems. It won’t cover everything but it should help you get a rough idea and start from somewhere if you encounter a species not listed." Gesturing to the larger tome with a glowing lock on its cover.
He then demonstrated opening the book and how turning the dial on the cover transformed the pages, the text magically appearing or disappearing, switching from one species to the next based on the dial’s position.
Lassim was amazed at the tome’s technology but now wasn’t the time to ask how it worked.
Gesturing to the final book that was leatherbound and weathered, he continued. "The last book has a list of all edible planets and fauna you may encounter in the veridian continent, and some from elemental planes we’ve discovered. Should you run out of supplies and find yourself hungry, refer to this book and use its descriptions and reference paintings as your guide. May these tools guide you well.
Everything included will cost 25,000 mid-grade ESS. Please pay with my assistant scribe in just a moment."
The old man went behind a curtain, shouted something incomprehensible, and then returned back to his desk behind the stacks of papers and maps.
An exhausted and tired looking younger man came out from behind the curtain and helped final up the payment of the goods.
Thanking the cartographer, Lassim felt a surge of excitement. The journey to the Lightning Sect seemed daunting, yet the path laid out before him sparked an adventurer’s thrill in his heart.
With Hallen’s nod of approval, he paid for Lassim’s supplies and they left the shop. Lassim stored away the map and books in his magic pouch.
Lassim, now equipped with invaluable cartographic knowledge, shifted his focus to practical preparations.
They made their way to another bustling store within the many hallways of the Adventurer’s Lodge. This time, one that was known for outfitting adventurers with everything from daily necessities to specialized gear.
The store was a treasure trove of supplies, with shelves and racks laden with a variety of goods that catered to the diverse needs of travelers and warriors alike.
The air was filled with the mingled scents of leather, dried herbs, and the faint tang of metal from freshly forged armors and metal clasps on unique looking leather backpacks; ones surely enchanted to work as magic pouches.
As Lassim moved through the aisles with Hallen, he meticulously selected items essential for his journey.
First, he replenished his provisions, choosing high-energy dried meats and fruits, sturdy breads that could endure long travel, and several large flasks to fill with fresh water.
Knowing the unpredictable nature of his path, he also picked up a variety of medicinal potions and healing salves that could prove crucial over the next year of traveling.
He would be able to stop and resupply at any of the many villages, but he was concerned a bit about not being able to find reliable goods in an emergency.
Next, Lassim browsed the equipment section, selecting a new, more durable set of travel clothing suited for the varied climates he would encounter.
His grandparents had given him the current whale-hide magic bag that he held at his waist, much of it filled with the cooking wares and Rohese or Vanthar emblazoned formal wear. He had one nondescript set of clothing too, but none of the clothing suited any kind of colder climates.
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According to the route, near the end of his journey before he’d cross the ocean, he’d need to pass through the snowman territory by climbing or flying over the tallest mountain in the Veridian Continent, Mt. Aso.
With this in mind, he chose a lightweight, reinforced cloak designed to protect against both harsh weather and enchanted against minor physical attacks.
He also bought some thick leather boots enchanted for additional grip on rocky terrain and reinforced warming gloves.
He rounded out his purchases by selecting a set of thick furred martial styled robe, also enchanted with self-cleaning and minor defense against Spirit Transformation stage attacks. Its form was designed to still prove functional during combat.
As Lassim finished gathering his supplies, Hallen provided advice on the best choices for the southern continent’s particular challenges.
With his supplies secured and neatly packed into his magic pouch, Lassim felt a surge of readiness.
Each item were the pieces of the puzzle for his journey, preparing him for the obstacles and opportunities that lay ahead on his path to the Lightning Sect.
With a final nod and hug of thanks to Hallen, they left the store, Lassim’s steps firm and his spirit buoyed by the prospect of the adventure.
Hallen smiled at Lassim. "You’re all set now, Young Master," he remarked proudly.
"Before you set off, would you like to see the initial stages of the project? They began their work this morning. I’m sure you’ll find it most delightful Young Master!"
Lassim paused. A moment passed before curiosity overcame him, and he nodded, "Why not? It would be good to see more of the family’s work before I leave. Also, I don’t know when the next chance to see how they build those amazing floating cliffs will be."
With a decision made, they exited the Adventurer’s Lodge and made their way through the bustling streets of Etherys.
Their destination was a set of cliffs that overlooked the majestic expanse of the city, near the main royal palace where the previous night’s celebration had taken place.
As they approached, the grandeur of the deep cliffs and crevices filled with the abyss below opened before them, offering a breathtaking view.
Reaching the plot where the crew had set up near one of the cliff faces, Lassim and Hallen stood side by side as they greeted the team hard at work.