Book 2 Chapter 11

Even though it made him look suspicious, Diya couldn’t help but repeatedly look over his shoulder. A couple of hours had passed since they started, and the sunrays caressed the titanic oasis behind them. They were two-thirds of the way over the dunes now, and the temperature was still low. The sands had already started shifting, though. The subterranean worms had begun their stirring. They were still sluggish, though, and didn’t concern the pair. Diya’s eyes kept drifting back to the groups spilling out of the oasis.

The trio of hunters was a distant speck that occasionally appeared as they crested the dunes. Besides them, several similarly dressed parties had also emerged from the trees. Most of them traveled along the path marked in the guidebook. At the same time, the others ventured into the endless sea of sand or towards the crags. It was the latter that bothered Diya.

The miners from before walked a path parallel to theirs but didn’t concern him as such. They laughed and talked amongst themselves, heading away from the pair diagonally. Unfortunately, three groups were walking behind them too. The guidebook claimed that miners and brave Climbers often braved the crag’s edges. Apparently, only the foolish and suicidal ventured deeper into the rocks, and those that did rarely returned.

Climbers will travel for days to fight a creature in a valley or on the planes but will avoid the beast residing on the mountaintop next to them. They’d rather die a hero’s death after a perilous journey than break a bone or sprain an ankle on unfavorable terrain. That’s why the best riches can be found off the beaten path, where people are too scared or lazy to roam.

While taking it easy on Jagdish’s vessel, Diya poured over Neer’s journals from cover to cover, looking for details regarding the twelfth floor’s Omrito. His words were still fresh on Diya’s mind. Neer’s words hadn’t failed him yet. He’d consistently taken the road less traveled, and Gaia had rewarded him for it. Perhaps they’d get lucky and chance upon a card to enhance Gwyneth’s soul. Finding another elemental upgrade was unlikely, but he kept his fingers crossed for something telepathy related.

It was starting to get bright when they stepped off the sand onto solid rock. Gwyneth looked between the dune sea and the path ahead hesitantly. Diya took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Summon your soul and keep it high,” Diya said. “I doubt we’ll need it so soon, but its presence and the sharpened sight will make you more comfortable.”

Before fulfilling his request, Gwyneth scanned the parties behind them once more. None of them was close enough to see the lamp, so she went ahead and summoned her spirit. Her shoulders visibly relaxed once they materialized.

“That’s better.” She sighed. “I don’t feel naked with my lamp by my side. The spear helps too.” She tapped the blunt end of the hard rock. “You’re right, by the way. I’d rather traverse across hard ground, even if it requires climbing and descending, than deal with the ups and downs of soft sand.”

“It’s not just that,” Diya said, pulling out the FTF’s compass. “Without one of these, traversing through the crags will be a challenge for most.”

“That’s certainly a bonus,” Gwyneth said. She nodded at the mining party and the pair of local hunters speeding across the dunes toward the crags. “Them lot are a bit too close and keep eyeing us. Let’s get moving.”

Diya nodded. “I’m more worried about the locals than the miners. Let’s pick up the pace as soon as we’re out of sight.” Then they entered the rocky maze.

The seventh floor either had seasons or a river that flowed through it a long time ago. Narrow passageways ran between the crags with walls marked by changing water levels. The dense rocks overhead provided shade, so traversal didn’t turn unpleasant as the sun climbed the sky. Distant clicks of pickaxes striking rock or metal grating against stone reached Diya’s enhanced ears. As the ground became uneven and traversal involved several ups and downs, the sounds became more distant.

Occasionally the pair encountered steep climbs or sharp drops. The Slimeskin made covering them a breeze. The latter was easier to deal with than the former. When ascending, Diya couldn’t always throw the tentacles all the way to the top. He’d have to slingshot himself up partway, climb bits of the rock faces, and then pull Gwyneth up. Diya resolved to alter the summon later so he could launch it from the gauntlet without the mesh unfurling.

“This is amazing,” Diya mumbled as they walked, dividing his attention between the path ahead and his journal.

“Your soul is going to get terrifying as you progress,” Gwyneth said. “It’s already not fair. How many is it now? Seven tier-threes?”

Diya nodded. “Three in the inkwell, three in the journal, and one in the deck. I’m having trouble filling the slots, though.”

“What do you have in the journal?”

“My lance and the new exploding frostfire blades,” Diya answered. “Adding Exploding Inkfire Ball to the final slot feels redundant with the other spells.”

“Perhaps you should go for something defensive next,” Gwyneth suggested. “A shield or a barrier could come in handy if we get overwhelmed.”

“That’s a decent idea. Perhaps, I could come up with something that could also double up as a trap.”

“Do you still have Intoxicating Rose in your deck?”

“I do. To be honest, I’ve been so engrossed with the summons and the journal I haven’t given my primary deck much thought.” Now, as a tier-three climber, Diya’s deck could house a tier-three, two tier-two, and up to three tier-one cards. He had picked up several cards by trading with the crew, but not many synergized with the rest of his abilities. “Since I don’t have any tier-threes besides the cards I crafted, I’m carrying three tier-twos, including Intoxicating Rose. Jagdish traded me a tier-two Burst of Strength, and I got a tier-two Marksmanship off the helmsmen. Mole’s Claw still feels too useful to remove from the deck. The final two slots are free. I kept Ensnaring Vines and don’t know what to do with the last one.”

“Poor Diya.” Gwyneth sighed. “So spoiled for choice.” She glanced at the new sleek gauntlet on his left arm. Instead of black, Diya had colored it a dull charcoal-grey color. It looked more natural and less like an ink construct. “Do you still plan on fusing that with Mole’s Claw?”

“Adding claws to the gauntlet will make it even deadlier. I reckon it will also help me figure out the runes that boost digging. I could make some powerful tools with that.”

“I’ve got to say, Diya. I’m incredibly jealous. Let's hope I get a few decent upgrades that make my soul half as powerful.”

“It’s no match for a beast or elemental soul of the same tier still,” Diya commented.

“Beast souls will stand no chance against you before long,” Gwyneth said. “Arthur used to say that hollow souls match beast souls in strength around the fifth or sixth tier. I’m hoping this interval helps me upgrade the shell. In the next, we’ll chase element or energy-wielding monsters.”

“Wouldn’t focusing on lightning and healing be better?”

“I just want your level of versatility.”

“I’m a jack of all trades and master of none. Whatever weakness we have, I can cover it. However, there’s nothing I can do exceptionally well. Meanwhile, you excel at bringing the pain. The healing is a bonus, too. It might be for the best if you focus on one or two paths, so we can tear through obstacles. When something knocks us down, you can help us recover from it. That’s enough.”

Diya paused, helping Gwyneth down a sudden drop. The path divided into three ahead of them. He got his compass out to help decide which direction would be best. Spiderwebs filled the one they needed to take. After the first floor, Diya refused to deal with swarming arachnids. He rejected the path and picked the one to his right. It appeared to be going upwards and would hopefully let him alter their course ahead.

Worried that Gwyneth would develop bad habits, he had her scale some bits on her own too. He guided her, of course, and had a safety line in case she slipped. Since they still had a long way to go, Diya didn’t push her too hard. Weapons training would have to wait too. The new spear had the same length as her old one, but the Slimeskin and Spiderleg were much lighter. It wasn’t the best for improving her muscle strength and control, but that was a concern for later.

As they followed the FTF’s compass, Diya made plans for his future climbing career. He hoped for the best for Hina. She had a unique spirit, and he hoped that the Ito clan was putting it to good use. Weight alteration spells would give her a significant advantage over large beasts. If things went well and she agreed to join his party, climbing would become a breeze. Hina had proven herself above average with a mace but would most likely serve best as ranged support.

It was close to midday when it started getting warm. The sun had spent several hours heating the crags, and they were now radiating heat. “How did you know?” Gwyneth asked. Her breathing had gotten heavier. “I mean, I’ve read about how bad things can get in arid climes, but the textbooks don’t do it justice.“Thank you for the coat.” Gwyneth adjusted the slimeskin garment she wore. “I was dubious when you lined it with Chill runes, but it certainly helps. Dehydration would likely have us by now without them.”

Diya fished Neer’s journal out of his pocket. “I take everything my brother wrote seriously. He never failed to paint a colorful but accurate picture.” He decided to spare the canteen and took a sip out of the innkeeper’s waterskin. It housed sweetened peppermint tea. Diya helped himself to a mouthful before passing it to Gwyneth. “Believe me. Things would be so much worse if we were out on the dunes with no shade.”

“I bet the worms are stirring now, too,” she remarked.

“They hunt using vibrations in the sand and can grow as big as whales,” Diya said. “That’s what the guidebook says, anyway. I’m stupid enough to challenge most threats, but not something that I can’t see—” Diya cut himself short. “Do you hear that?”

“What?” Gwyneth asked, going still.

“Running water.” Diya pressed his ear to the stone wall. It was still cool and soothing against his skin. “It’s close.”

Gwyneth took the guidebook from Diya and leafed through it to the area’s map. Its creator had only bothered exploring the crags' exterior and not ventured far into it. As a result, they were now in the blank space. However, the map displayed several water bodies flowing through the crags. Most of them disappeared into the blank space.

“It must be one of the streams,” Diya said.

“Or it could be their source!” Gwyneth exclaimed. “I bet you can make a tidy buck with the FTF if they can monopolize the water supply.”

Diya didn’t reply. He disliked the idea of any one person having full control over a water supply. Everyone deserved access to fresh water. It was as vital to life as air. The nobles would happily make a profit off basic commodities, but Diya considered it beneath him. Even though Gwyneth hated the Delawneys, he guessed after all the time together they had rubbed off on her. He didn’t voice his thoughts, of course. Being compared to the nobles would most likely enrage Gwyneth.

They continued through the tunnels, following the sound of water. Before long, Gwyneth could hear it too. A short descent took them into a deep crevasse lit by the midday sun, and they found themselves at the entrance of a titanic cavern. Light leaked into it through several openings in the domed roof, dancing off the huge pool underneath it. The body of water bubbled and rippled like it were alive.

“It’s so clear.” Gwyneth gasped, rushing over to the water’s edge.

“A beautiful sight, isn’t it?” A female voice asked, making the pair jump.