Arrival at the Destination

Neia’s feet step onto the wet soil surrounding a set of pillars. A set of tents has been set up surrounding the entrance to the Uniphon Ruins.

Immediately, they're able to spot the now familiar group under a large white tent.

“Ah! Neia!” Manako calls, attempting to stand but giving up halfway. “I’m glad you're okay!”

“Thanks…”

“Where were you?” the warm-toned Astolat Anael asks.

“I was chasing Absalon…”

“Where is he? Did he have the crystal?”

“I’m sorry, but I lost him… I didn’t see a crystal?”

“Ah… I see…” Astolat retreats backwards.

“Neia! With you here, we may be able to make it!” Helia says, placing her hands on a makeshift table. “We still have a few hours until the entrance ceremony!”

Helia explains that a rescue cart has arrived and is willing to give them a ride immediately.

“What are we waiting for? Let's go!”

The group agrees, then turns to look at their future teachers, Locke and Astolat.

“Don’t look at me, I don’t have the job just yet.” Locke passes it to Astolat.

“Then where is it…”

“Uh… Miss Astolat? Is there a problem?”

“Huh? No, no… It's fine, I'll have Osmond take the blame.”

“Hk!” At that moment, Neia’s guild had built up too much. “Hey, about Osmond…”

“Neia!”

“Eh!”

Manako quickly turns to Neia.

“Before we leave, I want to talk to you!” The petite girl explains.

“O-okay?”

–

At the edge of the camp.

Neia and Manako stand not far from each other.

“Thank you!” Manako says, bowing.

“Wha? Why?”

“Because! You not only believed me, but even came for me, even after jumping out of the train…”

“Wait!” Neia grabs Manako by the shoulders. “You're giving yourself far too little credit. You’re the one who escaped, saved Eris and Nerrisa, and defeated that dracoling! I barely did anything.”

“Still, you were there! And that made me happier than anything else.”

“I…”

…

“It seems you figured something out?”

“Yeah… I remembered… And I know what I have to do…”

“Good…”

“Oh, and sorry about the bugs!”

“Ah! It’s okay… I had Helia take care of them… I’m sorry as well…”

“I’ll have to thank her!”

“Eh? Pft, Haha!”

“Hehe!”

–

“Alright! You all stay here, survey the dungeon, and report your findings! Search the surrounding areas for the Cargo and Absalon!”

“Yes, Miss!” The dozens of blue-coat-wearing workers reply.

“Alright, let's go!”

After all this time, the prospective students had finally returned to their original goal: to make it to Delphoscere.

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

“So, what lesson did you learn this time?” The voice behind Neia’s ears asked.

The group had boarded the rescue cart and had begun their journey once more. After multiple hours, Neia had finally fallen asleep, only to be met by the voice.

The lesson? The thing I learned is that you get quiet when other people are around.
“I just don't want to make you look like a creep who talks to themselves.”

I already am that, though…

“Regardless, I’m quite curious. Since you are already in Delphoscre, why even go to the Lyscynal?”

Well, for one, I needed to. To be accepted into the upper course, I had to meet with Helia in Lyscynal. Still, asking me to meet them in the city before it was suspicious, so no way was I actually going.

“A coward, as usual.”

Exactly.

“...”

What even are you?

“Who knows?”

… Haah.

Despite all my troubles, I didn’t come out with any pluses… Even the book I bought got lost or burned in the crash… Dammit, and that one was a rare banned one too…

“... While, the next time we speak, maybe you’ll be able to guess what I am…”

Wha?

Neia’s body lurched left to right as their shoulder was being shaken.

“Huh?”

“Neia, look!” Manako said, pointing to the horizon.

There, the silhouette panted the sky. Delphoscere was upon them.

–

The city is split into three sections: Central, West, and East. To the east and west, mountains rise like curved wings, containing inside them a large lake to the west and a forest to the east. The lake is similar to an above-ground pool; its surface level matches some mountain peaks. To the east, the great forest of Delphoscere was situated; in the center, a large tree ascended into the heavens.

In the center, what at first appeared to be a mountain eventually revealed its true form. At the center, a tower rises from the earth, reaching even higher than the great tree, its limit being invisible to the naked eye. Around the tower, 5 rings of varying sizes float. These made up Delphoscere proper. These districts spin continuously, very slowly. Each platform is a different size, with the top-most one being the smallest. Though even that platform is the size of most capitals. It holds the University of Saionia.

On the exterior of the wing, like mountains, many houses and buildings had been built on shaky scaffolding. This was the slums, not even technically inside the city. Above the west lake, several floating islands float with water cascading down into the lake.

“Whoa!” Someone said.

“Pretty impressive, huh?” Astolat said, pride in her voice. “ It will still take an hour to reach it.”

–

The rescue cart pulled into the station.

Several people lined up to watch the passengers get off this rare cart.

“We! Finally! Made! It!”

“Geez, calm down!”

Hiiro and Eris excitedly disembarked.

“Hmph, Peasants!”

“Huh?!”

Eris and Nerisaa continued their bickering.

“Those two don’t change, huh?” Helia says, a wry smile on her face.

“I thought they made progress…” Astolat looks on, dejected.

Locke, Manako, and Neia disembark last, finally stepping into the land of Knowledge.

Neia looked on as the group celebrated finally arriving-

“Looks like the stars aligned!”

“HUH?!” Neia quickly jumped back, making distance between them and the speaker.

Neia’s face fills with shock, not because it was who they expected it to be, but the opposite.

“Osmond! Don’t go scaring them like that!” Astolat chastised her coworker.

“H-how, you were”

“Dead?”

Osmond Uzziel’s corpse had been thrown at Neia; they were quite sure that he was already dead. Especially once he reached Delphoscere.

“Haha! While I don’t worry about it!” Osmond strikes a pose and explains, “In Delphoscere, the crime rate is zero, and you can’t die or get sick!”

“Wha?!”

Can’t die..?

Perfect!

The problem with most spells that could get rid of my soul is that they kill the body as well… But if you can’t die.

A smirk appears on Neia’s face.

I promise, I will find a way.

And so, Neia Sampsa took their first step towards their goal.