Chương 3: 2B. Marvels of the Deep

"So?" The woman nudged him.

"Why did you become a scavenger?"

"Librarian jobs are not as fun as they seem," Sam replied.

"I'd much rather deal with an awakened immortal than their spoiled children. At least the former have earned the right to treat me as no more than an ant than the latter who rely on their parents' merit, money, and influence to do so." He caught himself on the verge of a rant and reminded himself of the interaction with Thomas. They're not all bad.

"Sorry. I suppose the better answer is that scavengers have a chance to awaken and bond with spirits. Librarians don't."

"I suppose anyone would choose the life of an awakened over a mortal's," The attendant said, smiling sheepishly.

"I spent my inheritance on a talent seed and awakened a few months ago. Heading into the wilds to find a compatible and friendly spirit is a whole other story, though. I'm not sure I'm cut out for your kind of life."

"I'm not sure I am either. Scavengers aren't expected to fight, but they want us gathering materials and doing our jobs while beasts are running around, biting and breathing fire, lightning, poison, or whatever else they can do. I've lost count of the number of times I almost died on this job alone." Sam shrugged.

"But you have to do whatever you can if you want a chance at immortality, right?" The woman nodded.

"What kind of talent did you get?"

"I'd rather not say." She glanced at the glaring man again, then held out her palm.

"But I'll show you this." Silver light flared on the woman's fingertips before streaming towards the center of her palm and spiraling into a loose sphere.

"The captain gave me a manual for the technique. It's nothing but a light ball right now, but still cool, right?"

"It's a good start. The fact that you've picked up a foundation spell without even bonding a spirit is insane. Most people, including me, can only manage basic techniques. Even those leave me rougher than I'd care to admit. It says a lot about your natural capacity and control."

"I'm Mika," the attendant said, offering Sam her hand.

"I appreciate the flattery."

"Sam," he replied, shaking it.

"How is life in the aviation industry treating you?"

"It's not what I thought it would be." Mika sighed.

"But I suppose you can say that about anything. Flying through and over the first three levels is fascinating. I've seen beautiful and terrifying things, but then I also have to deal with the worst of the worst." She flashed a little smile.

"The hope is to eventually get promoted and serve the likes of the Rangers Legion. I've heard they tip well. Maybe I'll befriend someone with a bright future who'll do all the hard work and ferry me to a spirit."

"Just be aware that the Rangers are not as nice or benevolent as they seem. We started this job with two scavengers, and now there is just me."

"Did they kill your colleague?" Mika asked, horrified.

"No, but he didn't follow orders or perform to their satisfaction," Sam replied, lowering his volume. The other scavengers likely couldn't hear him from the engines, but he didn't want to take risks in case any of them had a hearing-enhancing talent.

"So when he made a mistake during a fight and got himself surrounded, they didn't step in to save him." The land slowly flattened as the airship rose. The cliff face broke into ledges wide enough to hold football fields, growing larger as they rose. Some were barren while others were so dense with trees that Sam struggled to see past the canopy. A centipede twice as wide as a cart rapidly scuttled up the side of the abyss.

It wouldn't surprise Sam if it were a powerful beast seeking the means to descend to the lower floor or roaming the outskirts of Level One, searching for easy mortal prey that had wandered from their safe havens. The beasts on the upper levels were larger, mutated, or magically gifted versions of creatures from the old world. Apparently, they became more nonsensical, otherworldly, and terrifying the more one descended.

He had heard senior members of the legion use adjectives like eldritch, chthonic, and even Lovecraftian. It wasn't long before the outer towns and villages of level one came into view. Rangers Legion forts stood among them, serving as walls between the threats of the lower levels and the last few reasonably safe territories of mortalkind. Finally, the airship ceased ascending, and nothing but a sprawling plateau lay ahead.

Dense forests lined its edges, with long-abandoned skyscrapers, apartment buildings, and other structures sticking out of them. Lush farmland came next, and the towering walls of their destination waited in the distance. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"What's the lowest you've descended?" Mika asked, breaking the silence. She hadn't moved from the seat next to him. It seemed she didn't have much to do in the mostly unoccupied cabin.

"Level Three," Sam answered.

"But that was only because it was quicker to descend and get to your airship than ascend using the traditional paths." He grinned.

"The rangers have deep pockets, and I like being spoiled."

"You had me wondering. I didn't think mortals could get past level two."

"It's not easy. The miasma is dense enough to knock out awakened who haven't completed condensing their first star. Prolonged exposure can kill mortals, but, again, working for the Rangers Legion has its benefits." Sam's employers had instructed him to keep the legion's secret paths and potions secret. It was a part of his employment contract.

"I bet you don't feel anything because of the airship's protective field."

"You put your time as a librarian to good use, didn't you?" Mika asked. Sam's eyes scanned the skyline for more creatures like the winged serpent as the airship turned toward the city. He hoped a spirit much like it existed somewhere in the abyss, and he'd get to meet it someday. First, Sam needed to find a talent seed, awaken, and find a compatible spirit so he could start his descent.

He wasn't sure whether he wanted to do so alone, assemble a party of other independent awakened, or join an organization like the Rangers Legion. The vessel slowed as it approached the city, descending over the fields that fed it and the neighboring settlements. Sam now saw only beasts of burden below. A few avian creatures fluttered above, but occasional projectiles fired from tall watchtowers kept them at bay. The first level's central plateau was reasonably safe, but not completely devoid of predatory fauna.

Ordinary spiritless awakened could fight them with reasonable effort, but they still posed a threat to mortals. Rumors said one of the Level One plateaus, a day's flight east of Bastion, had fallen to an overwhelming horde of beasts that came up from the floor below. Many called it bullshit, saying it was impossible, but Sam knew better. The old scar on his left shoulder was evidence of an incident much like it.

"Approaching destination," the loudspeakers announced.

"Begin landing procedure."

"It was nice to meet you," Mika said, rising from her seat.

"Thank you for being good company and not a creep."

"I appreciated the conversation," Sam told her.

"Are you staying in Bastian or—""We're going to refuel and take off straight away, unfortunately. There's some big job out east." Mika shrugged.

"The overtime is good, so I'm not complaining. Maybe I'll see you on the way back?"

"Sure. Assuming I'm not out on another job, of course."

"You're not going to take any time off?" Mika asked.

"Didn't you just say that you almost died?"

"I almost have enough saved for a talent seed," Sam answered.

"I can't take time off now that I'm so close. Maybe the next time you see me, we'll both be up front."

"Assuming you don't get yourself killed first." Mika shook her head.

"And here I thought you were one of the smart ones."

"All porters report to the cargo hold," the man on the loudspeaker continued.

"Please prepare your cargo for swift unloading." By the time Sam rose from his seat, the three scavengers in the back were already up and moving. The middle-aged man was the last to pass. He was bulkier and stronger, likely hardened from years in the profession. The man tried to shoulder-check Sam, but was much too slow. He stumbled and caught himself on the door leading away from the cabin.

"Watch yourself, buddy," Sam said cheerfully, helping him up.

"The lady told me it might be a turbulent descent."

"Don't touch me," the man snapped, shaking Sam off. They descended to the cargo deck, and Sam was surprised to find a pair of women already present. They stood over a humanoid figure covered in a thick, magick-circle-stitched cloth and bound in thick black chains. Glowing runic writing covered each link. The figure struggled against its bindings, grunting while the women spoke in hushed tones.

"We're going to need your help, gentlemen," the woman further from the door said. Sam saw nothing of her besides her curvaceous silhouette and the several luminous gems that covered her. The other woman swiftly raised her hood on spotting Sam, concealing her black hair and pale skin before he could get a clear look at her face. She marched to the cargo hold's entrance and blocked Sam from entering.

"You'll have to wait until we've disembarked," she told him.

"For your and the crew's safety."

"But the captain said—""We've already cleared it with him and the Rangers," the woman interrupted before slamming the heavy metal door on his face.