Chương 124: 123 - Done

The sun was setting on the Iron Library. Alexandra watched its light disappear behind the scattered clouds, painting the sky purple. She was sitting on the roof, filling up her Solar Core with the last of today's energy. Two weeks had passed since she'd decided to act, and she'd yet to find a solution to her problem. She'd scoured the library for inspiration, browsed the contribution point shop, and racked her brain to no end.

In the end, she found nothing that could shake off the weight of Raymond and Alfred for good. She couldn't just leave the Iron Library and hope for the best. Raymond already had Sera tailing her. Even if she somehow managed to do that, nothing stopped them from finding her again, even if she hid in a low-level region. They'd done just that in Baleria. Alexandra wrapped her arms around her knees. The sea breeze was hitting sand and salt onto her face. She didn't know what to do.

In an attempt to change her mind, she summoned her journal. Daily quests summary: Three Quests Completed -> +130 exp, +3 STR, +2 DEX, +3 CON, +3 INT, +2 PER Daily Quest Streak: 83 -> 96 She closed it. Getting halfway to level seven was nice, but it wouldn't solve anything. Her skills progressing also wouldn't help. Perhaps saving enough contribution points for an uncommon skill could be her saving grace, but that was a long shot. The difference between her and the people who wanted to use her was just too much.

The sound of someone climbing the ladder to the roof snapped Alexandra out of her thoughts.

"There you are." She froze. It was Willow.

"You can't escape from me now." Alexandra opened her mouth. Closed it. Looked away.

"That's enough. You've been avoiding me for a week, and I know why." Willow stood before her. Alexandra looked up at her. Their gazes met. Willow was smiling.

"You know you can talk to me," Willow said. Could she? Willow was Alfred's granddaughter. She'd side with him.

"What did he tell you?" Willow asked. Alexandra flinched, then immediately hated that she did. Why did she have to be scared of everything? Why couldn't she trust her friends? Did everything have to be some sort of conspiracy? Her gaze hardened. Willow saw it and decided to stay silent. Maybe Willow was in cahoots with Alfred. In fact, she probably was. But Alexandra didn't want to live like that.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"I shouldn't have avoided you." Willow sat down beside her.

"It's fine."

"No. It's not. I'm just…" She paused.

"I'm tired of being told what to do by people I can't stand up to."

"Yeah, that sucks." Alexandra looked at her friend. Willow was looking at the sky. The purple clouds. The dying light.

"You agree?" Willow turned her head.

"Of course I agree! But until we're strong enough to make our own choice, that's how the world works." Alexandra nodded.

"I want it to stop now."

"Me too." Willow paused.

"Alex, you're the one who permitted me to ask my ancestor for help. It's not very fair of you to blame me for the consequences." Alexandra had nothing to answer to that.

"I know you're frustrated," Willow continued.

"But you have to be realistic. Getting help doesn't mean giving up on your autonomy." She grabbed her shoulders.

"You understand." Alexandra bit her lip.

"Yes." She couldn't control everything. Not yet. Some things were out of her hands, but not everything. If she focused on what she could influence, if she survived, eventually… Alexandra stood up.

"Fine. Let the old ones plot. We'll have more leeway in the low-level zone. It might not be perfect, it might not be freedom, but it will be the first building block of our future." She extended her hand to Willow. Her friend grabbed it and pulled herself up. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"Now what?" Willow asked.

"We'll be leaving soon. Until then, we grind." * The signal came three days later. Alexandra was walking out of the Troll Cave, having gathered the last scraps of contribution points that were available to her via Manyfold Style. Instead of the empty base camp she was used to, Heber was standing still in front of the massive metallic door of the dungeon.

"Miss Alexandra, it is time." She took a good look at the man. His diamond robes shone against the moonlight. His expression was schooled. Neutral.

"Is Raymond gone?" she asked. Heber nodded.

"Time is of the essence. Let us return to the library at once." She followed. Back at the library, they found Kam and Willow already waiting inside Alfred's office.

"There you are," Alfred said.

"Are you ready to leave?"

"I want a sword."

"You'll have it." Alfred turned to Heber.

"Go get one for her. Anything else?"

"Coins," Alexandra said.

"Enough to get settled." Alfred gestured at Willow.

"Taken care of. Let's go." Alexandra, Kam, and Willow followed the old mage into the corridors of the Iron Library.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To the teleportation circle." She frowned.

"We didn't need that when we came here." Alfred shook his head.

"Teleportation is about as complicated as magic can get. The Magus' teleportation devices are unique and not something we can replicate. The traditional method is a lot more cumbersome." They soon arrived in an underground room with what she assumed was the teleportation circle etched into the floor. It was a complex arrangement of drawings and lines composed of various materials. Shades of silver mixed with gold, crimson, and azure.

"This is a formation." Alfred pointed at the circle.

"The basis for this field of magic is extremely complex. Not something we teach before Platinum. In essence, we're drawing into the fundamental flow of the land to provoke a reaction." Alexandra nodded. There would be time to learn about formations later.

"Are you sure this is safe?" she asked.

"Mostly," Alfred said.

"To be completely transparent, there always is a risk with teleportation. A controlled risk, but a risk nonetheless."

"Cool."

"Miss Alexandra, your training expeditions to the Troll Cave are more dangerous than what we're about to do. The chances of something going wrong are minute." Alexandra exchanged a glance with her friends. Kam didn't seem fazed, though it didn't mean much for the boy. Willow was fidgeting with her robes.

"Shit," Alexandra said.

"We need a change of clothes." She moved her hands to her hair.

"And I should have dyed my hair."

"This has all been accounted for," Alfred said, pointing at three heavy packs stashed along the walls of the room.

"We've prepared clothes, enough food to last a week, enough hair dye to last you a year, money, and basic utensils you might need before you get settled." He paused.

"Hanton is a small place, but it sees a decent amount of passage for a low-level zone. Procuring more shouldn't be an issue."

"Thank you," Alexandra said.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Alexandra."

"What do you want in exchange?" she asked. Alfred smiled.

"I believe we already had this conversation. It's simple. Live. Prosper. Perhaps your existence will further this world's knowledge. Perhaps not. In any case, the Seven have chosen you, and what am I if not their servant?" Alexandra nodded slowly. This wasn't the answer she was hoping for, but she'd given up on getting a straight explanation out of this man. As long as she was out of here, she'd have time to figure things out.

They waited in silence for a few minutes until Heber came back with a sword from the armory. Carrying all her weapons would be too much unless she got hold of a spatial storage device. Alfred hadn't volunteered one, and she wasn't looking to get further indebted, so that time hadn't come yet. Alexandra and her two friends followed the elder's instructions and gathered in the center of the circle with their packs. Alfred stood very still right outside the formation, a slight smile pulling on his lips.

He held his hands behind his back.

"Thank you for trusting us with this, Miss Alexandra. I have high hopes for our future collaboration." Alexandra looked at him, then at the magic circle under her feet. I fucking hope this works.

"Alright, enough delaying," Alfred said.

"Let's get started." Without him moving, the circle lit up. Alexandra felt a surge of mana explode inside the room. So much so that she could barely make sense of what was happening.

"Farewell, Miss Alexandra, Willow, and Kam," Alfred said with a smile.

"We'll meet again soon." The mana surged once more. The circle shone brightly, completely blinding them. Then nothing. Nothing happened. Alexandra and her friends were still standing in the middle of the room. She looked at Alfred. The old Keeper was frowning. Heber was looking at him too, confusion written on his face.

"What happened?" Alexandra asked. Alfred opened his mouth.

"I don't—" He was interrupted by a crisp, feminine laugh that echoed through the room. Then, as if materializing out of thin air, a woman appeared between Alexandra and Alfred.

"What happened?" the woman asked.

"I happened to learn that you finally came to visit us, Alex." Alexandra felt a knot tying itself in her throat as she recognized the newcomer.

"Jenna?"

"The one and only!" She took a step toward her.

"Happy to see me?"

"I—""Veil Sealer." Alfred interrupted. A formless pressure rose from the old man.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" Jenna whipped around. Her smile didn't fade as her eyes bore into the Keeper.

"What? Do I need your permission to see my friend?" Alfred's frown deepened.

"Proper etiquette would dictate that you announce your presence before being allowed entry."

"Oh?" Jenna raised her hand to her mouth.

"Oh no. I'm terribly sorry." She chuckled.

"Well, I'm here now. You're not gonna kick me out, are you?" Alfred took a step back.

"I'm afraid I have to insist."

"Hey," Alexandra called.

"That's enough." Jenna smiled.

"See, old man. That's my friend right there."

"Shut the fuck up," Alexandra said. She noticed Alfred was about to speak up.

"You too, Alfred. I'm so fucking done with you morons. Who do you think you are?"