Chương 45: Chapter 44 - Veymur's Gift.

The flux-sea churned beneath her, as the Sea Queen climbed another wave. Nythera gave Synchronized Thunder another tug, keeping her on course for Mistvale. She watched the horizon closely.

"Nythera you can't keep ignoring your education just to pretend to be busy steering the ship, you remember your agreement with the council" Rowen pestered her.

"Look Rowen, we are drawing near to Mistvale and the waves around here are perilous, I need to focus on this." She replied, a concerned look on her face as she watched the waves.

"Get your ass back in the cabin so we can go over noble greetings or I'll have Halt do it for me." Rowen's final judgement landed.

"Oh why didn't you say so before? Lets go review that right now, I think you mentioned something about bowing at the correct angle last time?" Nythera led the way directly to the cabin. Rowen snorted, following behind her "About time". Nythera opened the cabin to find Shelly, already pouring over maps, complaining about a flux current. Why couldn't we be going to those northern shipyards… Mistvale sounds so boring She trudged in and took her position in the practice drill for noble etiquette.

"Greetings, Sir Stormbridge." She curtseyed. Rowen scowled "Greetings Miss Aurendor."...... … She slumped back against the deck, watching the clouds pass above. Steps thundered as they approached her.

"Are you ready for training?" Halt asked.

"No." She replied, defeated.

"I will allow you to rest this once, a ship makes a poor place to train, no proper ground beneath your feet. When we arrive in Mistvale, your training will resume." And his steps thundered away.

"This girl is too spoiled…" he muttered. Is he always covered in that stone? Even when he sleeps? She looked back over the gift from Veymur Greater Blessing of Veymur Gain all XP at an accelerated rate. Your domain gains +5% to all yields.

"You couldn't have attached anything more… useful? Like "Instant etiquette" or something." she mumbled to herself. Halt had been pestering her over and over these last few months about spending more of here tokens, now that she ascended, all of her subskills could take an additional token and all of her primary skills could take two more.

"Why do you make a new primary skill or two and upgrade the rest." He suggested numerous times. Nythera eventually floundered her way in the dark back to her bunk and settled in for the night. The next morning waking only when Halt's steps thundered above her, the sound echoing through the hull. She rolled out of bed and emerged from the depths of the hull. All around the ship, thick mist hung, hiding the waves that crashed against the ship. Old Edgar perched on the bow, watching for signs of land.

"Two degrees to starboard." he shouted louder than should have been possible. He hobbled swiftly to the stern of the ship and took the wheel from Leo, who was shushed in an instant by the angry old man. Edgar led the ship deftly into port, steering as he had hundreds of times before. Rows of houses came into sight through the mist, dark shapes in the fog, along with the masts of vessels docked at the harbor. Lizigeons croaked, but were hidden within the mist, only fleeting shapes visible in the fog.

I fucking hate those stupid flying lizards. Half an hour later, Sea Queen was tied up to the dock and they disembarked. Waiting at the end of the dock stood a crowd of eerily silent people, staring at every movement they took.

"Greetings, I am Rowen Stormbridge, son of Edric Stormbridge. I have ventured here to speak to the chief of Fogtown." Rowen presented himself in front of the crowd. A giant of a man lumbered his way through the crowd "Rowen." He reached out his hand and they shook.

"It has been a long time, you were but a boy when you last visited this isle." he smiled.

"Come, Chief Rorick is waiting." At the mention of Rorick the silent townsmen created a path through their ranks. These people do not seem… particularly welcoming. But if what Rowen said was true and they are all exiled from Karaveth maybe it's justified. She steeled herself, knowing the truth deep down. I am here to make these people, my people. The town was set against a rocky shore, leading up a hill. Unlike Myrraval, the roads were cobble or packed dirt at best.

At the top of the slope was a series of longer, larger buildings, chimneys let out smoke into the mist above. Their guide, who was introduced as Simon, elaborated "Things get a lot colder here on Mistvale than you fellas up in Myrraval, but our weather is far more stable, the mist is always here and the wind never blows much." This will soon be my land, I need to take initiative. She mustered her courage and spoke up.

"What are the main exports here? What is Mistvale's biggest industry?" She asked, her voice coming out weaker than she intended.

"Haha, well its quite simple little lady, lumber, which is my trade, and fish. That's it, we don't have any fancy dungeons like Myrraval or Karaveth and much like the other islands, the interior of Mistvale is too dangerous to properly explore." Simon explained. Edgar mumbled angrily "We're lucky it's Flux-fall, don't kid yourself Simon, the waters 'round these parts get treacherous in Wrath." Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

The interior of the Chief's hall was huge, wooden racks lined the walls and a huge hearth with a roaring fire sat in the center of the hall. The smell of herbs swirled through the room causing her nose to scrunch up.

"Greetings Chief Rorick, We have met before, when I was but a lad, I am Rowen Stormbridge, son of Edric Stormbridge." He bowed. Gesturing to Nythera "This is her majesty, Nythera Vel Aurendor, Queen of Myrraval.". She tried her well-practiced curtsey and somehow avoided tripping on her own feet this time.

"Well met, so this is your queen…" Rorick stroked his short white beard.

"I know why you're here, if you can get it, you can have it." Yes! This means they don't care if I take the core!

"But we want concessions." Rorick continued.

"I want you" he pointed his fire poker at Nythera "to bring Fogtown and all the residents of Mistvale into the economy of Myrraval. You earned our gratitude when you killed Damien, now help us build this godforsaken rock into something worth living on." he finished.

"That can be arranged, I just instituted a new ferry system to connect the towns of Myrraval, Fogtown can be brought into the circuit or given a separate ferry line." Nythera suggested. Rorick's face sat in still contemplation.

"And once you have the core, all of my skills will affect Mistvale, meaning you get the benefits of this." Nythera added, pulling up her status and sharing three skills with him. Grand Administrator (lvl 7) (1 tokens) Controlled domain crop and ore yields increase by 1. 2% for every level of this skill. Increase all yields by 1. 2%. Manufactorium (lvl 2) (0 tokens) Domain mines produce +1% ore per level. In-Domain Artillery and shells are manufactured at +1% speed per level.

Lord of Fire (lvl 1) (0 tokens) Forges within your domain work 1% faster per level. Dungeon currency is increased by 1% per level. Rorick's eyes widened.

"I heard rumors, but it's even better than I thought… all yields, that is a terrifying skill. All of these are terrifying." He collapsed into a chair covered in fur coats of various animals.

"We accept, if you find the core, me and my people will work with you, not for you" He nodded at Simon.

"Take them upriver in the raft, until the Falls. If they give you trouble, toss them in the river." He ordered.

"Thank you kindly, we will not forget this gesture of kindness." Rowen said.

"Don't thank me, just help me fix this blasted island, Mistvale would do a lot better if you could get some kind of lumber yield skill. Keep that in mind and By Kronan keep Karaveth away from us" He shooed them out the door. That skill never ceases to impress, these mayors seem to want one thing and one thing only, higher yields. Nythera snorted. Simon led them straight to the marina, where they boarded a small, tub-shaped raft.

"We best be on our way. When Wrath hits y'all don't want to be stuck on Mistvale." Simon remarked. Edgar returned to the Sea Queen.

"Such a journey, I'm too old to be gallivanting around like some kid." he whined. The trio drifted their way up the river, some skill of Simon's seemed to have their raft gliding over the water, as if on ice.

"I keep hearing about Wrath this Wrath that, but Halt refused to explain anything." Nythera pouted, leaning against the gunwale as she stared into the foggy shore. Rowen sighed.

"God's Wrath isn't something that can be explained so easily, have you ever experienced a tempest of the Mereian Pass before? Or one of its minor cyclones?" he asked. Hm, when Will and I made the crossing it was clear and sunny skies.

"No, the weather was fair when we made the crossing." She replied.

"Then I can't explain God's Wrath to you, all who came from Vathrial explain Wrath in comparison to the worst weather of the Mereian Pass." Rowen concluded, shattering her hopes for clarity. As they drifted up the river, it narrowed rapidly. Simon's skill appeared to have them going faster and faster, until they were practically skidding on the top of the water. Every time his pole hit the river bed they would rocket forward. I wonder what profession this guy has, or class. What gives this kind of skill?

A distant roaring could be heard, Nythera scrambled to the front of the ship and peered out. Into fog. I already hate this place. The roaring reached a crescendo within minutes, the water's surface becoming equally tumultuous as if to match it.

"This is as far as we go, up ahead are The Falls." Simon remarked, sending their raft gliding into the shoreline and onto the dark beach. A Nythera and Rowen hopped off.

"Ok so where is the center of the island from here?" She asked.

"Haha, I have no idea, but I figure you can get a clear idea from the top of the falls. Good luck, miss." Simon chuckled and kicked his raft off the beach with practiced ease. Talvik's voice beckoned to her "Now, if you can claim this core, closing in on Authority Level Baron will be possible. Just don't get ahead of yourself, non-avians have to be careful, if you fall you might die." Talvik huffed.

"Shut up" she muttered back.

"What did you say?" Rowen turned to face her.

"Oh nothing at all." she smiled. His face was covered in doubt, but he didn't question her.

"We should find a way up the top of those falls, I suppose we could just climb up, but if I had to guess your Strength and Endurance are probably lacking." Rowen stated with one eyebrowed cocked questioningly. Nythera nodded "Yeah, that might be true, let's look for another way up." Damn you Shelly, leaving me with this idiot, why did you have to go map the western islets now of all times …

"You know Rowen, I might have a better way up…" Nythera said as they walked along the sheer cliff face.

"And that would be?".

"If I used the Culverin enough times we could probably blast the top of the cliff down and create a kind of climbable landslide. I think a few dozen shots could do it." She replied, puzzling over the Flux costs.

"The first thing you do when you arrive on a new island is blow up half their island… did you learn nothing from my etiquette classes, is common decency a mystery to you?" Rowen shook his head. Nythera held up her hand.

"Wait." Her face somber, she watched the surroundings, turning slowly.

"What?" Rowen hissed, backing up closer to the cliff face.

"I forgot, I need to draw a map here or Shelly will kill me." She replied, pulling a plank of wood out of Boxy and some drawing supplies.

"You …." Rowen's face scrunched in anger.

"Don't take too long we don't have all day, it'd be best to find a cave or some place to rest before nightfall.". He walked off a short ways, kicking a rock.

"Where does she store all that stuff? Women…" he muttered. Nythera set about, sketching the island from fogtown and then down into its interior, doing her best to draw waterfalls and cliffs. Well its not the prettiest, but I am proud of it. She held her map up to the fading light. The lines, a little straighter, and the dimensions a little more accurate than they had been before. Cartographer (lvl 6 > 8) Cartography (lvl 6 > 7) Not bad! I wonder though… Shelly mentioned system-granted "ley-insights" before.

Is that via the cartography skill? Wait… She took the two free stat and put it in resonance without much thought.

"Rowen I'm done" she called out into the woods, the idiot had wandered off somewhere. Sitting back on a boulder to wait.

"What if.. What if the cartography skill was evolved? Could that help trigger ley-insights faster?" she mused over the subject.

"But a whole evolution token for this? That's expensive.". She heard footsteps approaching as she looked through her status. Finally you're back, but what should I do? I have an evolution token left over, I could use it on this, but I should also use one on Cannon Arm. And Aether Culverin. And Grand Administrator Shittttt Talvik's voice entered her mind "You should pay more attention to your surroundings.".

"You will look up in precisely 1. 563 seconds." A rhythmic, perfectly-paced voice came from behind.