Chapter 10

Walking through the dense forest, the canopy overhead filtered the sunlight into a patchwork of emerald and gold. Elara maintained a steady pace, glancing occasionally at Olivia. The girl was eighteen, a year younger than Elara herself would have been back home, yet she carried the weight of the Crimson Covenant and the trauma of her kidnapping with a fragile, quiet dignity. Elara decided it was as good a time as any to pick a brain that actually knew how this world worked. "Hey Olivia, I was wondering," Elara started, her voice intentionally hesitant. She kept her eyes on the trail, feigning a bit of embarrassment. "I know this might sound weird, but our order… they didn't always teach us the most basic things. Some stuff was kept pretty secretive." Olivia looked over, her expression softening from its usual haunted stare. "Ask away, Elara. I'll gladly answer if I know anything." "Thanks," Elara said, stepping over a rotting log. "Well, I was wondering how skill growth is influenced by how you use the skill. Like, the things you fight, or how many people are in your group… and do you know anything about Elixirs?" Olivia kept walking, her boots crunching on the dry leaves. "Well, yeah, Elixirs are super rare. I think our order has some too, but they don't tell me that stuff. Only the genius students would get them anyway. From what I've heard, they increase the growth of certain skills, often related to specific classes. That's about all I know on those." She paused to navigate a thicket of ferns before continuing. "As for the rest, skills level faster in combat situations. Even if you just heal someone, the progress is much quicker if you're doing it while you're actually in a fight. It's about the intensity, I guess." Elara nodded, processsing the mechanics. It explained why her [Rejuvenation] and [Annihilation] had jumped so much during the chaos with the rogue adventurers. "What about the group thing?" "The general growth—and your levels—is decreased a lot by how many people are in your group," Olivia explained. "The experience, or whatever you want to call the essence of the kill, gets split up. It's still generally more effective to be in a group, though. That's why adventurers go to dungeons together." "So if I'm fighting something alone instead of with four people, I level five times as fast?" Elara asked. Olivia gave her a sideways look, her eyes widening slightly. "Yeah, well, theoretically. Only crazy people do that, though. You normally really need a healer or someone to block damage from beasts while a mage channels their spells. It's suicide for most." She stopped, her gaze lingering on Elara's mismatched, scavenged gear. "Hmm… now that I think on it, you're really not limited by that. Is that why you travel alone?" "Yeah, that's one of the reasons," Elara said, keeping her tone casual. She didn't feel like explaining that her "party" consisted of a dead skeleton in a temple and a handful of half-eaten herbs. "You asked about the levels too, right?" Olivia added as they resumed their trek. "Well, you get a lot of bonus experience for both your class levels and your skills by fighting monsters or people much higher in level than you. Again, that's kind of crazy because they're obviously stronger than you. Most people stay within their range to avoid, you know, dying." They stopped by a small stream a few hours later to eat a quick lunch of dried rations. Elara sat on a flat stone, chewing thoughtfully. The [Emerald Enclave Restorer] class was powerful, but she felt the gaps in her repertoire. "What would you suggest to me as a second class?" Elara asked suddenly. She watched Olivia poke at a piece of dried fruit. In her head, Elara was already cycling through possibilities. *Something like a lightning or rock enhancement combined with my current skills… that would be amazing. If I could add elemental weight to my kicks or speed to my blinks…* "Hmm, I don't think I know enough to be of much help here," Olivia said, pulling Elara out of her internal theory-crafting. "You fight with your body, right? So definitely nothing with weapons. Some magic? Ranged doesn't really complement your style since you're always in their face, so maybe something with body enhancement spells?" Elara leaned back, considering it. "That sounds pretty cool. I'll look into that, thanks for the suggestion." She paused, a thought she'd been nursing since she first saw the Wyverns in the sky finally bubbling to the surface. "Is there magic to fly?" Olivia smiled for the first time that day. "Sure. I mean, most classes have a ton of skills to choose from, though only five active and passive can normally be chosen. I think a lot of magic schools have flight spells, but they're pretty advanced. High-leveled mages normally travel that way." Elara's heart did a little somersault. "Seriously?" "Yeah. Not very high up, though," Olivia cautioned. "There are some nasty creatures higher up in the sky and they don't like to share. At least, that's what an old mage once told me at the college." "I'll be able to fly… oh my god, that's fucking amazing!" Elara grinned, the prospect of soaring over the canopies making the grueling trek feel worth it. "What about teleportation magic? Like the skill I used in the fight?" "Well again, there are a lot of spells like that too," Olivia said. "They're even higher up than the flight spells, though. You must be a very high level! Normally they're not anywhere near as fast as what you did. Yours helps you fight. More commonly, mages use it to flee." Elara shrugged. "Well, I got it at level 10, so that's awesome. Although I didn't get any other skills after that for a while. I guess it's a quirk with this class." "Level 10?" Olivia stared at her, her jaw practically dropping. "That's… unheard of. Teleportation is usually a Tier 3 or 4 milestone." Elara waved it off, not wanting to dive into the specifics of her class's rarity. "Oh, what about gear and stuff I carry while I teleport? I've noticed my clothes come with me, obviously, but is there a limit?" "Normally you can teleport the things you're wearing, including a backpack and some additional things," Olivia explained, though she still looked stunned. "The spells differ greatly, though. I hear it's not very nice on the stomach, either." *She knows literally everything,* Elara thought, watching Olivia pack away her remaining food. *Guess their order or the college are pretty good… or this is all basically common knowledge here and I'm just the idiot from another world.* Elara stood up and stretched, her joints popping. She looked at the sun, then at the winding, uneven trail ahead. At their current walking pace, it would take forever to get to Stonegate. "Wait a second, I have an idea," Elara said. She unslung her backpack and shifted it to her chest, buckling the straps tight. "I really don't feel like walking for two weeks to Stonegate." She crouched down, gesturing behind her. "Get on my back, darling." Olivia blinked, her eyes darting from Elara's back to her face. "Are you kidding me?" "Do I look like I'm kidding? You're light, I'm fast. Let's make some time." Olivia hesitated, then stepped forward with a small, incredulous laugh. She climbed onto Elara's back, locking her arms around Elara's neck. "You're fucking crazy, you know that, right?" Elara felt the weight—hardly anything compared to the drag of a full-grown Wyvern—and tightened her grip on Olivia's legs. "Oh girl, you have no idea. You feel like sleeping?" "I don't…" Olivia said, her voice turning a bit sullen as she leaned her head against Elara's shoulder. "Well, me neither. Let's continue then." Elara didn't just walk. She activated [Emerald Enclave State], feeling the familiar rush of vitality and mana flooding her system, and she ran. The forest became a blur of green. Elara's feet found purchase on roots and stones with preternatural precision, her increased Agility and Perception turning the treacherous terrain into a flat track. Olivia let out a sharp scream at the first burst of speed, her fingers digging into Elara's shoulders, but as the minutes turned into hours and Elara didn't stumble, the scream shifted. It became a gasp of awe, and eventually, a jagged, hysterical peal of laughter that rang out through the trees. They didn't stop when the sun went down. Elara's [Aetheric Sense] let her feel the layout of the land even in the dark, and her stamina, bolstered by her high Endurance and the remnants of the Moonpetal Herb, seemed bottomless. They ran through the night, the wind whipping past them, and continued as the sun rose again. By midday, the dense forest began to thin. They burst out of the tree line into an expansive open field, the air smelling of grass and distant woodsmoke. In the distance, the stone walls of a city rose against the backdrop of a massive mountain. Elara slowed to a brisk walk, her chest heaving slightly, a wide grin plastered on her face. "Already out? Have I gotten this much faster?" Olivia slid down from her back, her hair a tangled mess, her face flushed with color for the first time since Elara had found her. She wobbled on her feet, looking back at the forest they had just crossed in a fraction of the expected time. "Hey, that's not a nice thing to say to an eighteen-year-old!" Elara laughed, wiping sweat from her forehead. "You're eighteen? Better eat some more then, girl. We're only a couple more hours away from Stonegate. Ready to see your friends again?" Olivia's expression flickered, the joy of the ride replaced by a somber anxiety. "Let's get there then… my mighty steed." They reached a wide river spanning the approach to the city. A sturdy stone bridge led toward the main gates. Elara stopped at the foot of the bridge, adjusting her cloak to hide the more conspicuous parts of her gear. "Lets walk from here," Elara said. "It'd seem weird for me to carry you, and I hate attracting attention." As they crossed, Elara saw the outskirts of the city were transformed. Dozens of colorful festival tents were being erected, and the hum of a crowd was audible even from the bridge. "They do this every ten years ever since the founding of the city," Olivia said softly, staring at the preparations. "This was supposed to be the first time I…" She trailed off, her voice thick with emotion. Elara reached out, squeezing Olivia's shoulder briefly. "Believe me, Olivia, things will get better." They approached the massive gates of Stonegate. A man in the uniform of the city guard stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He looked at Elara's travel-stained clothes and Olivia's bedraggled appearance with a suspicious eye. "Names and business please," the guard said, his voice flat and formal. Olivia stepped forward, drawing herself up. The transformation was instant; the scared girl vanished, replaced by a young woman of status. "Olivia Hayes, with the Crimson Covenant," she said, her voice clear and confident. "And my lovely assistant, Elara." The guard's eyes went wide. He looked at a parchment pinned to a board behind him, then back at Olivia. "Olivia Hayes? Please excuse me, Lady Hayes. We've had the patrol searching for… well, I expected a more, well, bigger entourage." "The entourage is dead," Olivia said sharply. "Tell Nicole I have to speak with her, alone. And this is Elara—she is to be treated as my equal and is to be taken care of in one of the guest rooms." The guard didn't hesitate. He signaled to a pair of men behind him. "At once, Lady Hayes. We will escort you to the estate immediately." They were led through the streets of Stonegate, which were bustling with traders and tourists arriving for the festival. The escort took them toward the more affluent district near the mountain, stopping in front of a sprawling, elegant mansion. A middle-aged woman with graying hair burst out of the front doors before they even reached the steps. "Olivia!" "Nicole," Olivia breathed, finally breaking. The two women disappeared into a frantic embrace. A female servant approached Elara, gesturing toward the interior. "If you would follow me, miss? We have a room prepared." Elara was led up a winding staircase and into a room that looked like something out of a historical drama—if the drama had a massive budget. The bed was piled high with silks and furs, and a table in the corner was already being laid with plates of roasted meats, fresh bread, and fruit. "Thank you so much!" Elara said, her voice cracking as she looked at the food. The servant looked confused. "It's fine, my lady. It's only food from the festival. The cooks didn't have time to prepare anything yet… I hope it's fine." Elara let out a little giggle. "It's perfect, darling." "Is everything alright, miss?" the servant asked, lingering by the door. "Well… yes. More than alright, to be quite frank," Elara said, her eyes fixed on a loaf of bread. *How the fuck did I survive on grass and monster meat?* She barely had time to take a bite of a pear before a knock came at the door. The woman with graying hair—Nicole—stood there. Her eyes were red from crying, but she wore a look of profound relief. "Miss Elara? Olivia Hayes wishes for your presence upstairs." Elara followed her to a smaller, more private study. Olivia was sitting in a plush chair, wrapped in a clean robe. She looked exhausted but safe. "I thank you from the deepest of my heart for what you have done for us," Nicole said, turning to Elara as soon as the door closed. "We would be happy to reward you with anything at all possible. Money, equipment, letters of recommendation…" Elara felt a flush of shame. She hadn't done it for a reward, but she also knew she couldn't keep living like a hermit. "She promised me some seats for the tournament," Elara said, her voice hesitant. "Food would be nice, too. Oh, and the bed… the bed in the guest room. I'd like to have it." Nicole blinked, a look of surprise crossing her face. "The bed?" "It's really soft," Elara muttered. "Hey there," Elara said, turning to Olivia. "Hello, Elara," Olivia replied. She looked at Nicole. "So, Nicole, that's the woman who saved me. She would like to keep the circumstances of the fight to herself, and I shall respect that request." Nicole nodded solemnly. "Of course." Olivia turned back to Elara, her expression turning bittersweet. "Elara, I want to thank you again, too. I'll leave today for Sunstone Tree. I'd like to be with my family after…" She opened and closed her mouth, her voice trembling. "I'm afraid I'll likely not see you for a while. A long while. I hope you do understand." "As I said, Olivia… things will get better and I believe in you," Elara said, her voice firm. "Do not worry about me. I'll find my way." Nicole walked Elara toward the door, speaking in a low whisper. "You know, some spark in her has gone. It's terrible what those men did." "As I said, I believe in her," Elara replied. "She'll find that spark again. She's tougher than she looks." Nicole squeezed Elara's hand. "We'll get you the best seat we can at the tournament. Food will be supplied to you directly from our best cooks, and the bed is for you to do with as you please." "A normal seat at the tournament is fine," Elara corrected politely. "I'd like to not attract too much attention. I won't say no to the rest, though." Elara made her way back to her guest room. She didn't even bother taking off her boots before she collapsed onto the mattress. She pulled a thick, soft blanket over herself, the scent of lavender and clean linen filling her senses. Within seconds, the exhaustion of the last few weeks finally won, and she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep. The tournament was coming, and for the first time since she'd arrived in this world, Elara had a full stomach and a soft place to land. *** How will Elara's new living situation and connections in Stonegate impact her future? ════════════════════════════════════════