Vol. 3, Chapter 29: Planning the First Flight

The location of the next [Demonic Flower] has been discovered. Starting from the very edge of the [World Devourer Woods] the distance has been estimated to be at one thousand four hundred and thirty three meters, about one and a half kilometers roughly speaking.

"It's not too far, but not exactly close either, especially not with all the [Demons] in the way."

A clear frown appears on Cecilia's face while staring at the newly marked location on our map in the war room. Having led a total of three expeditions into the forest, she has gained a good grasp on how difficult it is to advance within the woods.

"And there's a Champion to boot. They're supposed to be about as tough as we are, aren't they, Aurelius?"

Six scratches the back of his head, troubled by what is to come. I feel that he may be reaching his limit with all the fighting that he's done in the past few days, and I don't see him allowing himself to relax either. Even when there's nothing going on, he joins the rest of the troops on patrol and trains with them when he can. He's hard working, I'll give him that, but he's too tense and I fear that the stress might start to get to him.

"I won't lie, Six, they're tough. But remember, so are we. According to what Michaela said, there's only one Champion on their side. We have him outnumbered."

"But what if they have more and it's just that Michaela didn't see them?"

He brings up a good point. Michaela had to retreat rather quickly after being struck by the Archer Champion's arrow. There was no time for her to properly confirm if the Archer was the only one.

"If it's any comfort, the Faefolks generally do not like outsider in their lands. If they were forced to summon a Champion, it is likely that they would keep them to as few as possible."

Stepping in is the princess, trying to help with the unease. Though I am indeed thankful for that, I don't think she's helping very much. Even now, Six still doesn't like or trusts her a single bit, and he hold everything that comes out of the princess' lips in contempt.

"But you don't know for sure, do you, princess?"

As expected, Six is even more agitated now.

"I apologize. You are quite right, Sir Six, I should not have spoken about what I do not truly know."

Hearing the princess' apology, Six clicks his tongue and moves himself towards a corner, his arms crossed over his chest. It's clear that every word the princess utter will put him in an ever worse mood. Now that the princess knows better, she cautiously keeps her distance from him.

With those two settling down, I turn my focus towards Toto.

"How's it going with your aircrafts, can they take us all the way?"

"Not even close. The frame is still too heavy to fly us very far. We're testing with lighter materials now, but most of them aren't strong enough to carry passengers either. If I have to be honest, this is actually harder than I initially thought it would be. However, if we can somehow magically make what we already have lighter, I'd say it might work."

With that, all of our gazes turn towards the princess, and without showing signs of being overwhelmed by the sudden expectation, the princess speaks calmly.

"At best, I'll only be able to cast [Feather Weight] trice. Any more will be beyond my limit."

The Enchanter spell, [Feather Weight], is a spell capable of altering the weight of a single target. It was a cheap and rather worthless spell back in Elysium Online, but here in Elgardia, it's an extremely powerful spell that can render even a Champion powerless. Of course, with power comes a prince, and the cost of casting it is exponentially higher than its Elysium Online counterpart. That being said, as Champions, we should be able to cast it more than three times without problem. If only anyone here had spent precious skills points in learning it in the first place. In Elysium Online, weight has only been a factor when players carry more items in their inventory than their carrying weight limit. Players that know what they're doing will rarely even go over that limit, and even if they did, a movement speed penalty is hardly worth spending a skill point on a skill that does very little. Needless to say, neither Toto nor I, the only two Champion here with the Enchanter as subclass, have the skill.

"Assuming each aircraft can carry two passengers, we'll only be able to fly six members over if we rely on the [Feather Weight] spell from the princess. If we can, I want at least twice that number."

I agree with Cecilia, six is too few. Heck, I'd say the even twelve isn't enough, unless they're the best of the best, and even then, I doubt all of them would return alive.

"Princess, do you know any others capable of the [Feather Weight] spell?"

Previously, I've asked the princess to teach me the spell, but the thing is, I absolutely couldn't understand it, not one bit. She said something about having to temporarily destroying the balance that holds all things in place, and after that my mind went completely blank, not for my lack of attention, but that I simply could not make sense of anything she was saying. Frankly, I don't think she knows how to explain it either, since it felt as if she was quoting someone else. What I do understand is that this spell, the one spell that is considered the most worthless in all of Elysium Online, is one of the most powerful and difficult to grasp spell in Elgardia, and few are capable of wielding it. Honestly, I don't expect the princess to know someone who can wield such a spell, and even if she does, I don't expect to be within arm's reach. Considering the state of the world, I'd say most of these mighty casters are either dead, or are already part of the [Demon] horde.

"The priestesses of the Holy Beast should be able to wield the spell."

To my surprise, the princess actually named someone, and they're close by as well. We can easily go get them and return in a day or two.

"Are you sure?"

I ask just to confirm.

"They should be able to, I was taught the spell by the Holy Beast after all. There should be no reason that they wouldn't know it."

This is great news, perhaps with this, our plan might be viable. But wait, did she say that it was the Holy Beast that taught her the spell? The [Holy Guardian Beast]... She's capable of transferring her thought right into someone's mind, can't she? With the princess' inability to explain to me how the spell works, perhaps it's not something so easily put into words. Perhaps rather than words, it's something that can only be communicated through a much more direct means.

"That settles it then, we're going to have to pay the Holy Beast another visit. Who wants to come?"

I scan the room and Cecilia is the first to step forward. We had already discussed it previously, that the next time I visit the Holy Beast, she'll come with me as backup, in case I get overwhelmed again with all the things thrown at me. Of course, the princess is coming too. Being currently in charge of the kingdom and a former priestess of the Holy Beast, who else here is better fit to ask the Holy Beast any favors.

In the end, the members that will be going are Cecilia, the princess, and of course, yours truly. Six and Toto will remain at the garrison. With Six stating that someone will have to defend the place just in case something happens and Toto needs to get the aircrafts prepared by the time we return.

With that, the meeting concludes, and though I would love nothing more than to finally head to bed, dawn had already arrived.

***

"Back so soon?"

The two priestesses of the Holy Beast, one with triangular feline-like ears, the other with pure white antlers of a dear, both stand before the entrance to the Holy Beast's cave. Somehow, they feel somewhat unfriendly, and perhaps it's just my imagination, but I think they're kind of staring at me. Well, maybe they're like that with everyone.

The princess steps forward and state our businesses, prompting the two priestesses to consult one another with but their eyes, nodding to one another before finally leading us into the cave.

While following suit, I once more feel the sensation of being charged with energy as I go deeper, the fatigue I've been feeling from the lack of sleep instantly being dispelled the moment I stepped in. To Cecilia walking beside me, I lean close and whisper, trying not to draw the ire of the two priestesses leading the way.

"Can you feel it, the energy in here?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know, like all of a sudden you feel more energetic."

"Not-"

Cecilia stops to yawn.

"Not in particular..."

That's odd. Is it just me that feels this way about this place? Why is that? I guess I'll ask the Holy Beast later if I get the chance.

"Welcome once more, Princess Aurelia, Aurelius, Merida. And I see a new Champion has come to visit as well. This is indeed a lively occasion."

With her voice resounding within our minds, greeting us with an abundance of friendliness, is the Holy Beast, apparently quite glad to have some company. It makes me wonder if being stuck in this cave all day has made her lonely.

After each of us had taken our turn to return the Holy Beast's greeting, the princess wastes no time moving to our main business here.

"So you wish for my servant's aid? Very well, one of the two will go with you."

Like before, the Holy Beast is quick to agree in regards to helping us. She's rather generous, though perhaps it has to do with how desperate our situation is.

"Your Holiness, may I have a few words?"

After seeing that the business had been quickly concluded, Cecilia steps forward. As always, she's not hesitant to take action on her own accord. If it were me, I don't think I would have spoken up so freely.

"Go ahead, I do not mind. In fact, I do so enjoy a good conversation now and then."

"Then I'll cut straight to the chase. What is this world's connection to our?"

"There are a myriad of worlds out there, Champion. What makes you believe that there is a connection between this world and yours?"

Cecilia proceeds to explain to the Holy Beast about Elsium Online, about the concept of video games, and about how there's a great deal of similarities between the MMORPG and Elgardia.

"An entirely imaginary world created within a... What did you call it, a computer? And you would interact with such a world through a 'player character'? How should I put it? This makes those of your world sounds almost godly, to wield such fantastic power."

The Holy Beast appears to be extremely intrigued by what is being told to her of our world. Never would I have ever expected a divine being to display the child-like curiosity I'm looking at right now.

"It's the power of civilization!"

Cecilia proclaims with pride, thought, really now, it's not as if you're the one who achieved any of this. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, alright?

"Civilization, is it? How curious. For the longest time, I thought of civilization as nothing more than a way for mortals to rebel against nature, to prolong their lives and make harvests more bountiful. To think that it is capable of creating something even I could not even dream of before now. You've opened the eyes of this Keeper today, Champion, and for that I thank you."

"Oh it's all good. Civilization's great and all, but we still need nature to survive, and we're sort of in trouble on that front to be honest. And please, just call me Cecilia, I'm not one for stiff titles."

"That I shall do, Cecilia. I wish I have a more informal name to give, but I am afraid that I am just the [Holy Guardian Beast]. This is what I am known since morals have become aware of me, and I have not been given another name since."

"In that case, would you mind if I give you a nickname?"

A cold sweat rolls down my back upon hearing those words, and from behind me, I can feel some intense glares. It's the priestesses, they must not think highly of something trying to give a pet name to a higher being that is the Holy Beast. But why me as well? I didn't say anything. Please just glare at Cecilia instead.

"Let's see... Holy Guardian... Guar... Bea... Beatrice! How does that sound?"

"Beatrice... Very well then, you may address me as Beatrice from now on."

Beatrice, is it? Personally, I don't think it's all that fitting. It's lacking in a dignified feel suitable for a Keeper. Looking at the princess and Merida by my side, they seem to think the same as seen from their bitter smiles. Well, naming conventions aside, I feel that we're slowing forgetting something.

"Uh, while I hate to rain on your party, aren't we forgetting something? You know, about the connections between our worlds?"

At my mentioning of it, Cecilia widens her eyes, apparently only just realizing it. It seems that while I may have reservations about speaking freely with the Holy Beast, Cecilia is simply too talkative, to the point that they veer off topic.

"In regards to that, Cecilia, Aurelius, I truly have no idea. By the time the Keepers, including myself, were born, this world was already here. We know many things about this world, but for things outside of it, I am afraid you may have more luck seeking out someone that is more primordial than I."

Looks like in the end, the Holy Beast knows nothing. But who's older than one of the Keepers? I'm told that they're as old as the land. What could possibly be older than that?

"Where can we find someone older than the Keepers?"

To my question, the Holy Beast hangs her head low, slowly shaking it. She does not know if such a thing even exists.

"That's a shame."

"I apologize for my inaptitude."

"No, you've done more than enough for us, Ho-, Beatrice."

"I am glad to be of aid, it is why I am here."

"That being said, can I ask one more thing of you today?"

Again, I can feel their glares, as if telling me to leave already. They really do hate me, don't they, the priestesses. I wonder if I've done something to make them hate me so much. Or perhaps, it's a jealousy thing, since us Champions tend to get along swellingly with Beatrice here.

"You want me to teach you the [Feather Weight] spell?"

"Or anything else that may be useful. Is that doable?"

"That depends on person to person, but I am willing to grant you the power. Now, if you will, come closer."

Towards me, the Holy Beast lowers her head, kind of feeling like she's snuggling up to me. Just barely, I suppress my urge to press myself against her fluffy face.

"Close your eyes and relax, Aurelius."

I do just that, shutting my eyes and focus my mind. I start to hear the breathing of everyone around me, they're light and quiet, but I hear them clearly. Eventually, my head starts to feel light, and I gradually lose the feeling of the ground beneath my feet. It's as if I'm floating, yet, I don't feel afraid. Then, all of a sudden, something pops into my vision. It's a box, within which bold red texts were written. [Error] it says.

Realizing that something is wrong, my eyes snap open. Yet, the error message remains within my vision. Soon, another [Error] pops up, with yet another flowing it. One after another, the error messages starts appearing, to the point that my vision is becomes filled with nothing but the red text box.

"Aure... us, w... at's wr... g!"

"... et aw... y f... om th... H... ly B......st!

Faintly, I can hear voices calling out, but I can't quite make out what they're saying due to the static in my hearing.

By the time my vision starts spazzing out as well, I'm already panicking. I have no understanding of what's happening, but I do know that something is very, very wrong. Then, as if a screen of an old television, my vision turns to black with a snap.

***

End of Chapter 29