Chương 235: (230) 4.9. Sky-Dwellers

While their group followed along behind him, Okeran gave them a quick overview of the valley. Apparently, the valley was first colonized by a large group of refugees fleeing a devastating war going on up above. Their ancestors ran into the mists in a desperate attempt to escape the all-consuming battles, knowing that few would dare follow them.

According to their written histories, those who survived the monsters were lucky enough to stumble upon the valley, and they quickly took refuge down here where it was safe from the mist. Having experienced firsthand just how many of their friends and family members had died in the devastating wars up above, they came to the conclusion that all the ceaseless bloodshed and carnage was directly caused by the System, which they simply called the 'mental words,' these days, and they taught their children the same.

That started the tradition of refusing to accept a class upon reaching the age of maturity, and simply ignoring the System for the rest of their lives. Vin thought the entire idea of a civilization that merely ignored the System's prodding to take on a class was interesting, but his friends continued to struggle to accept Okeran's words.

"So you're claiming that this is some sort of paradise, just because you don't take on a class?" Scule asked, peering cautiously at the elder man.

"Come on, the System isn't the root of all violence! You can't honestly expect us to believe you have some sort of village of saints just because none of you have chosen any classes."

"Of course our valley experiences the occasional crime or conflict. We are only human, after all," Okeran nodded.

"But when we each have merely the strength of a regular person, as opposed to that of a titan, one man is not able to go on a rampage and force others to war."

"But the System is so much more than just combat classes," Shia pointed out, gesturing to her staff.

"It allows for the creation of wonderful tools, and the use of magic and powerful skills that make life easier! I've seen Farmers grow plants in a fraction of the time anyone else could, or Crafters make wonders the likes regular people could never hope to replicate! Why not just allow people to take up Crafter classes if you're that concerned?"

"It is a slippery slope, and one that we do not wish to slide down," Okeran said patiently.

"Please, I'm quite fine discussing our way of life with you, but I ask that you don't go around trying to convince anyone the way we live is 'wrong.' We have had peace in this valley for countless generations, and it is always a sad day when one of us decides to give in to the mental words and is forced to leave the valley behind." Scule immediately went to follow that up with something, but was shushed by Reginald's tail gently tapping him on the head.

The action seemed completely in character for the rat, but it gave Vin pause for some reason. After a second, he realized why.

"Wait, Reginald... Can you understand what Okeran's saying?" At this point, each of them had their own method of comprehending other languages and talking to people from the many fragments they ventured into. Vin had his Polyglot passive, taken back at level two with the bonus passive point given to him in apology by the Gods overseeing the new System. Shia had her wooden choker, an artifact gifted to her by Erik before leaving the Sacred Forest.

Alka had a built-in translation artifact somewhere in the many different artifacts making up her golem body, taken from the floating library. And Scule had a temporary magic charm, a brooch given to him by Malzar, an infernal Warlock and a friend of the petian. But while each of these allowed Reginald to understand any one of them, the rat shouldn't have been able to comprehend any languages spoken by anyone outside of his and Scule's fragment.

In answer to his question, Reginald looked up at him and squeaked in confirmation, pointing at Scule with the tip of his tail, before pointing back at himself. Translating as always, Scule explained.

"I actually picked up Magical Bond for my level 35 passive," he said, leaning down to lovingly pat Reginald's head, who closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.

"Any beneficial, supernatural effect I have on my person is shared with Reginald as well, and vice versa. So not only does he benefit from things like my translation charm or my Capstones, I benefit from the Stone Armor runic object Eithan gave Reginald a few weeks back."

"Well I'm sure Reginald appreciates no longer having to worry about what we're talking about with people," Shia said, smiling at the adorable rat.

"That's a pretty good pick for a passive, in my opinion."

"I give him a lot of grief, but I'd do anything to help Reginald," Scule admitted, rolling his eyes at the collective and only slightly mocking group 'awwww' he got in response.

"Alright, that's enough of that. Okeran, you guys got any toxic plants down here? Might as well find something to do to pass the time while we're here."

"Nothing so dangerous," he said, before pausing.

"Though there is an herb that occasionally grows near the edge of the valley that tends to cause paranoia if ingested, so we try and root it up when we can. It looks remarkably similar to another plant we use to make tea, so you can imagine how often the issue occurs. If you can find a batch, you're more than welcome to take as much of it with you as you'd like."

"Good enough for me," Scule said, sharing an unspoken look with Reginald who nodded and climbed out of Vin's pocket.

"I'm going to go check out this plant. I'll meet back up with you guys sometime this evening." A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. As Scule and Reginald took off back toward the cliff face, it was Alka's turn to speak up.

"Any chance you could show me the path out of here? I think I want to try my hand at fighting those monsters without you guys and your fleshy bodies to worry about."

"You… want to fight the drifters?" Okeran asked, frowning.

"I'd be happy to. But I feel as though I should warn you of just how dangerous-""Yeah yeah, they explode, figured that one out for myself," Alka said, waving away his concern.

"Might as well take the opportunity to train against a new type of threat." Okeran could do little more than shake his head, but it seemed he wasn't about to argue with her about fighting the monsters. With a shrill whistle, one of the four valley-dwellers who had walked off earlier came jogging back, and after a quick exchange, she led Alka off toward the passageway back up to the mists.

"Do you guys have any sort of leader, or anyone like that?" Shia asked.

"My own people's fragment borders yours, so I feel as though I should introduce myself."

"No, no leader," Okeran said quickly, as if even the idea was something he wanted to avoid her voicing out loud.

"After the mental words, giving any one person the power to tell everyone else what to do is the next worst thing we could do. We are few enough that if ever we need to decide something, we simply give everyone a vote, regardless of age or ability."" Everyone, everyone?" Vin asked, curious how such a society would work.

"Like, is there an age limit?"

"They need to be able to talk and understand what's going on, of course, which means normally around the age of six or so," Okeran said simply, as if giving a six-year old the same voting power as an adult was completely normal.

"They live in the valley just like the rest of us, why shouldn't their voice be heard?" Fascinating… Vin could think of quite a few reasons off the top of his head why that might not be the best idea, but he wasn't exactly here to argue with Okeran about how to run life down here in the valley. Clearly, their methods had to be working at least somewhat, as they had a functioning society down here even after who knew how many generations.

"Well, if you don't have any sort of leaders or anything, I think I'm just going to go wander around for a bit," Shia shrugged, giving them both a small wave before heading off toward one of the nearby clusters of trees. Vin had no doubt she would have a positively riveting conversation with the plants, but he knew from experience it was rather boring to watch.

"So just to confirm, you guys don't have any sort of magic at all, right?"

"That is correct," Okeran nodded.

"It is a calmer, more peaceful life. You're welcome to look around and ask anyone whatever you'd like, provided you don't try and persuade those you meet to give in to the mental words." These guys are lucky none of the Red Dawn fell down here… Assuming they survived the fall, they would have utterly eviscerated everyone. Lumel would no doubt be interested in running around and chatting up all the different people, asking detailed questions about their society and trying to figure out what made these people tick.

Vin, on the other hand, wasn't much of a people person. Without the draw of magic or wonders to entice him and reel him in, he didn't really have any desire to go chatting up a bunch of strangers. Not to mention he got the vibe that regardless of anything Okeran said, the man really didn't want them to spend any longer here than absolutely necessary.

Vin's eyesight was good enough with his incredibly high focus that he was actually able to gaze far across the valley, where he saw some of the younger, no doubt more impressionable members of the valley, being shepherded away into buildings before he or any of his teammates could get to them and taint their minds with their 'poisonous thoughts' surrounding the System. It was a tough situation to be in.

Seeing as Vin and all of his friends were nearly at their second prestige, any one of them could pretty easily go on a killing spree down here if they felt like it. Obviously, they'd never do such a thing, but Okeran didn't know that. The poor man had to feel like he was balancing upon a piano wire, where any wrong move would result in the death of him and everyone he cared about.

It made Vin a tad curious why Okeran had encouraged them to wait until nightfall to leave the valley rather than trying to get them to go immediately, but perhaps that suggestion truly was the members of the valley looking out for them.

"I think I'll take some time to myself as well," Vin decided, a sudden idea popping into his head.

"Just to confirm, there aren't any monsters or anything down here in the valley, right?"

"No, the drifters remain up above," Okeran confirmed.

"There are no monsters down here."

"Thank goodness. I like to meditate, so I'm probably the biggest one at risk of all my friends," Vin laughed, carefully watching Okeran out of the corner of his eye. If these people truly were laying some sort of trap and planned to attack them, it would be best for them to go after him first. His divine boon would see to his safety no matter what they threw at him.

"Anyway, I've taken up enough of your time, so I'll make myself scarce as well. Though I appreciate all the help you've already given us!"

"Please, we are always happy to receive Sky-dwellers," Okeran smiled, sounding entirely sincere.

"If anything else comes up that you need assistance with, just ask for me." The two of them exchanged one of those strange, high-clapping gestures, and then Vin was on his own. As he watched Okeran walk back to his people, he pondered his options. Well, regardless of whether or not they plan to attack at some point, I still have a couple of hours trapped down in a valley without anyone else bothering me… Sounds like the perfect time for magic practice!