Book 2 Chapter 7

Gwyneth stopped struggling once the vehicle had passed all the way into the seventh floor. The third rum-carrying wagon didn’t follow them. She remained motionless, watching the gate. Only a handful of pedestrian climbers followed, and they weren’t dressed like the sixth-floor residents. The chaos on the other side must have frozen all transit. Diya waited until they turned a corner, and the gate was out of sight before relaxing. Gwyneth didn’t pull away, though. She leaned against Diya as her entire body trembled.

“We couldn’t have helped him,” Diya whispered into her ear. “There were too many guards around, and they all had enhanced weaponry.”

“I know,” she replied after a restrained sob. “If he didn’t get carried away with the distractions, the guards wouldn’t have brought their hounds out. We could’ve all gotten away without issue.” Gwyneth’s trembling intensified, and a loud sob escaped her. “I don’t get you, men. You get a new toy, and you forget common sense and restraint. The nobility doesn’t recruit dullards into their security forces. They can tell when someone’s trying to create a distraction.”

“I’m sorry, Gwyn. Maybe he got away—”

“Don’t do that.” Gwyneth turned around to face Diya. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “We both saw that spear rip through his wing. They got him.”

“Perhaps they didn’t kill him, then,” Diya said. “You can’t beat yourself up about whatever happens to Ashish, alright? It was my decision to have him go on his own. Your instincts pushed you to go help him, but I didn’t let you go. If you need someone to blame, blame me. I’m a selfish man. If I get to choose who gets hurt, a stranger or a person, I—” Diya caught himself mid-sentence. He didn’t know how he felt about Gwyneth anymore and didn’t want to give her the wrong idea until he was sure. “—a person I care about, I will never choose the stranger.”

Gwyneth sniffed and wiped her eyes. “You’re an idiot,” she said before turning away to face the wagon’s exterior. Gwyneth took Diya’s hand and tugged. “Let’s get off before the driver stops, or something else happens.”

Diya guessed the wagon driver had passed through the gateway before the chaos unfolded. Perhaps he missed what had happened with his companion’s cargo. He didn’t care either way—at least, that’s what he told himself. Diya had set his objectives as getting away from the DeLawneys and warning Baba of Edgar’s capabilities. He was ready to take an amoral path to get both jobs done. It wasn’t just Alexander’s life that was at stake, after all.

The pair waited until the cart slowed at a bend before leaping out. They tightened their cowls as soon as they landed and rushed off the main street into an alley. Diya kept a firm hold on Gwyneth’s hand and didn’t stop walking even though he didn’t know where the side road led. Occasionally, they peeked over their shoulder, looking for anyone matching their pace. After four corners, when no one appeared to be tailing them, the pair relaxed and came to a stop.

“Did you see anyone you recognised?” Diya asked.

Gwyneth shook her head. “There were a couple of Climbers with the DeLawney crest, but they weren’t dressed like the house’s enforcers. I think we’re in the clear, but there might be more around the gate.”

“We can’t risk exiting the tower hear, then.” Diya sighed. “Let’s track down the Upgrade and Binding stations, then? I’ll need to check my soul’s compatibility—”

“Let’s not waste time on a Binding Station, Diya,” Gwyneth said. “We’re passing through this floor and likely not to return after we move on to the next one. In fact, there is no point in using one unless we can safely return to the primary hub.”

“You’re right. We can’t go home unless we enter any of the floor hubs, and none of them is particularly hospitable now.”

Neither of them was sure which noble house had developed the seventh floor’s hub, and they didn’t have the time to find out. So, they covered their mouths before returning to the main street. Diya didn’t dare to ask for directions and draw anyone’s attention, so he followed the traffic’s flow while hunting for the local Upgrade Station.

It didn’t take Diya long to figure out why the seventh-floor hub was so built up. The Montagus couldn’t directly transport their goods from the sixth floor to the primary hub since the doors they monopolised all led upwards. As a result, they used the floor as a staging ground before transporting materials out of Gaia’s Ark. Smart entrepreneurs must’ve entrenched themselves around the hub before any other houses could take control and built a settlement to take advantage of the ongoing traffic and security forces. It explained why only a fraction of the structures bore the Montagu crest.

The pair spotted the rum-carrying wagons parked among many outside a Montagu building. The two drivers were speaking animatedly with several other guards. They appeared concerned, but none of the people present ran towards the gate. Unless they had attuned themselves to the binding station, they’d have to go the long way around to reach the settlement.

After half an hour of exploring, Gwyneth spotted a trio of upgrade stations. They stood in a triangle not far from the hub’s gate. Diya refused to approach it straight away. On the other floors, several small groups roamed around the stone monoliths. Much to the pair’s relief, most of them appeared unaffiliated or preferred not displaying their family’s crest. Diya and Gwyneth retreated into a nearby alley’s shadows, waiting for the crowds to thin. When an hour passed and traffic density didn’t decrease, they gave up on waiting.

Due to the trio of upgrade stations, they didn’t have t deal with any lines. Diya tried his best not to look over his shoulder half-a-dozen times and not rush. Gwyneth clutched his hand and stuck close to Diya’s side. Her breathing was heavy by the time they reached the stone monoliths. Once there, Diya fished the leviathan’s card out of his trouser pocket, summoned his soul, and held them out for Gaia to study.

Only a few meet creatures of the Endless Depths. Even fewer live to tell their tale.

Glrrg might’ve been a fledgling, but that didn’t make him any less dangerous. If he weren’t confused, weak, and starving, you would’ve surely died. Explorer doesn’t rely on luck during his travels, but you apparently do more than most.

Gaia’s words were harsher than usual, catching Diya off-guard. He guessed she wasn’t pleased with the creature’s depth.

Absorbing Glrrg’s card will temper your body to be more agile and strengthen your lungs. You’ll hold your breath longer and deal with pressures better. Swimming will come to you more naturally, too.

Diver’s Lungs will double the inkwell’s size. Glrrg used his gifted lungs to control his buoyancy and survive greater depths than most creatures. Keeping liquids out of it took priority. However, Explorer’s Fountain doesn’t function with air. Besides increased ink capacity, Living Inkwell will house a third summon, too.

The possibility of an additional summon and more ink alone was enough to make the monster card worthwhile. Gaia continued speaking, and Diya listened eagerly.

Read the Currents will enhance Runeseeker’s abilities.

Much to Diya’s annoyance, Gaia didn’t elaborate. He hoped it meant he’d have an easier time figuring out keywords for cards and isolating sections of discovered cards.

Explorer wishes to know how you’ll use Aqueous Armaments: Efficient Conjurations or Psychic Summoner.

Much like when Diya absorbed the first card, he found himself transported back to the fountain room. Things had changed, though. A large wooden door stood behind him. Diya assumed it was his way out if the offered upgrades didn’t please him. He couldn’t tell whether the visions would become a regular occurrence whenever he upgraded or only if the card had high compatibility with his soul.

Diya waited, counting down from thirty, hoping Explorer would appear, wearing Neer’s form. They didn’t come. So, he focused on the fountain ahead of him. Two pedestals stood in the babbling pool's heart, carrying the two possible paths for the fountain pen. Diya waded towards the skinny, stone platforms.

The one to his right carried a scaly armoured hexagon made of ink. It reminded Diya of the leviathan’s conjured armour. The Slimeskin conjuration had more detail and individual segments than any of his creations.

“Efficient Conjurations,” Diya whispered to himself as the word resonated in his mind. Much to his surprise, he didn’t need Explorer to explain what the ability did. All of his summons and conjurations would enjoy reduced ink costs and greater integrity, and he’d get to add more detail to them. Diya wasn’t sure whether that meant his creations could house more runes without increasing a summon’s tier or he’d get to add more elements without an increased ink cost. Either way, the option felt brilliant.

The second pedestal housed a swarm of wriggling ink tentacles. At first, it made no sense to Diya. Then, when he approached the odd ink construct, it stilled. He tilted his head, curious about the odd entity, and the tentacles followed his movement, bending with him.

“Psychic Summoner grants me telepathic control over my summons, doesn’t it?” Diya asked, hoping Explorer would appear out of the shadows to answer his question. Much to his disappointment, the mysterious entity didn’t manifest. However, Diya got the impression that he’d get to create animated summons, too.

Even though Diya had hoped for an upgrade with telekinetic abilities ever since he earned his soul, he found himself gravitating towards Efficient Conjurations. Diya believed it had more to offer. Besides, given how he liked to fight, telekinesis would only split his attention further. The spells in his journal’s slots currently did a good enough job of covering his lacking ranged options.

Odd. My predictions suggested Psychic Summoner would be your preferred choice. Analysis on you shall continue. Your ink troubles are resolved for the foreseeable future.