Published at 16th of February 2024 2:24 pm

Chapter 46. Aftermaths And Reunions

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The return journey to the city was long but uneventful. Nox diverted the party when passing myconid colonies they had bombed during their trip to the rift. Several had local wildlife feeding on them. New mushrooms sprouted around the statues, and Caitlin reported that only clean life essence flowed through them. They collected samples and gave Nox half an hour to study the whole organism before moving on. He wished they had Michelle with them. The Beaufort woman could’ve offered valuable insights.

“Anything notable?” Caitlin asked.

Nox nodded. “My latest version of the flame slime concoction seems to work differently on live myconids when compared to brain-dead specimens. After studying my notes and a few more tests, I might have something more conclusive.”

The landscape, though scarred, felt unusually calm. It was like a great storm had passed, and the aftermath awaited them. The party covered a third of the distance until they were too tired to carry on. Lillin took the first watch. Then Alexander summoned squirrels to do the job halfway through the night—he needed a few hours of sleep to recover from the delve’s mental strain. They continued the journey the following morning and reached the eastern gate just before sunset.

Nothing remained of the refugee camps. Nox hoped most of the residents had fled before the monsters arrived. Giant groups of laborers worked together, butchering, burying, or dragging away monster corpses. Long lines of tired, injured, and blood-soaked fighters lined outside the gates, awaiting entry. The moon was already in the sky before Nox and his companions reached the guards and skipped inspection using university identification.

The city appeared emptier than when they left it. Several long caravans and airships had populated the scenery until mid-afternoon. The party had made a game of counting the sails they recognized to rid themselves of boredom. The vessels abruptly stopped around the third-afternoon bell.

“It looks like half the refugees and almost just as many residents abandoned the city,” Alexander stated as they passed from New Outer Ring into Outer Ring.

“They must be terrified,” Joey mumbled. He told them about his life during the walk. Joey fled his hometown under similar circumstances when Sundarshahar expanded its borders. The mana density made the locals sick, and monsters killed half the residents during the night or the subsequent escape. The scene probably brought back terrible memories. “Where do you think they went?”

“South, probably,” Caitlin answered. “Sen’s Watch is a couple of days' ride from here. The more daring might’ve followed caravans heading toward the Imperium or Oakheart lands.”

The party marched straight to the dungeon studies department’s administration office and reported their delve. The woman behind the desk appeared relieved to see them back. She left them waiting for five minutes and then returned with Kris.

“I’m so happy you’re okay,” she said. “I was on the verge of setting off with an airship last night looking for you. Then the diviners told me the rift was closing, and you lot were uninjured and on your way back.”

“It looks like things went well here,” Caitlin commented. “Is Grandmother okay?”

“We didn’t need her as much as we expected. Lorenzo, Wolfhammer, Dean Oleg, and I handled the walls and eliminated the larger hordes before they reached us.” Kris sighed. She waved them to a side room and ordered a page to fetch beverages and food. “Things didn’t go as well for delvers and war mages who went out into the field. The party you left with only returned this morning. Two didn’t make it. The third will never delve again. He might need to switch to research or production. Only a handful of groups, including yours, made it back intact.”

“How is that possible?” Nox asked. “Did all the rifts ascend following the initial assessment?”

Kris nodded. “By a couple of stages in some cases. We lost entire parties and had to deal with minor incursions. Better detectives than I are investigating what could’ve caused this and the mutants amongst the monster hordes. Signs of Void Essence has everyone especially concerned.”

“By Yggdrasil.” Alexander sighed, slumping in his chair. “How long were we gone? The squirrel says time feels wrong now.”

“A week. The corruption and incursions in the rifts appeared to have distorted time. For a while, we thought all the delving parties died. The oncoming hordes and covering fleeing carriages meant most of us lacked the luxury to go looking for you.” Kris turned to the Woodsons. “Your grandmother has been worried sick. You’ll find her on the northern wall, fixing the roads.”

Caitlin and Alexander bid the party goodbye before departing. Joey tried hugging the former before she left, but she kept him at arm’s length. He appeared disheartened when he reclaimed his seat.

“Three of you feel stronger,” Kris commented, and they told her about the delve.

“Nar improved my ability to make constructs out of Djinn Fire,” Joey said afterward. “I feel more in control now.”

“Did he not assimilate anything from the Voidborne?”

“Arcane disruption. The Void's touch gave Nar the power to inject Chaos into Djinn Fire. It's mana intensive but might prove useful against enemy mages.”

“You might have a future as a cult hunter,” Kris said. “Arcane disruption is a potent tool. I wouldn't undersell it. Your party is an exception, but most struggle with enemy casters while delving.” The professor looked at Nox and Lillin. “What about the two of you?”

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“Lillin is a mid-adept, and I'm ready to ascend,” Nox answered. “I already have the upgrade for my star ready. This came sooner than expected, so I don't have a plan or spellscript ready for my next planet.”

“Don't take too long. The danger has passed for now, but we could have a repeat of recent events. Given our weakened numbers, all of you need to be in top form. Good job, though.” Kris nodded at both of her apprentices. “I'm proud of all of you.” She handed all of them new delving badges. “You can wear yours once you hit adept, Nox.”

“Don't we need to pass our exams first?” Lillin asked.

“Student delvers are receiving temporary benefits for service to the city. Take advantage of it while you can.” Kris stopped Nox before he could leave and spoke to him one-on-one. “Your flame slime concoction saved a lot of lives this past week. The healers are raving about your store's sterilization brew, too. Good job. Really. I'm sure Mou will be proud when she learns of your contributions.”

“Thank you, professor.” Nox hesitated before departing. “What about the Woodsons? Won’t they receive promotions? Caitlin is on the cusp of ascension, too.”

“Dean Woodson will directly deal with their promotions,” Kris answered. “Caitlin will need a druid’s touch to grow and evolve her elementals, too.”

The university had given everyone a two-week break from classes. As a result, Nox and his friends had seven days of no classes. It was late in the evening by the time they finished their meeting with Kris. Lillin returned with the professor to her apartment, planning to sleep on the couch. Meanwhile, Nox headed to Aria's apartment. An unexpected encounter stopped him before he could enter her building.

“Nox!” Annabelle called, running up to him. She wore formal business attire under her university coat. The unkempt hair and bags under her eyes suggested her day had been long and tiring, just like Nox's. “I'm so glad you're okay!”

Annabelle threw her arms around Nox and hugged him tightly. She froze a moment later and pulled away. “I'm sorry,” she said sheepishly, blushing. “Last time I bumped into Aria, you still hadn't returned from your delve. When she said, you went without the Beauforts… I assumed the worst.”

“Temporal disruption,” Nox said, struggling to wipe the memory of her warmth and smell from his mind. He had successfully wiped thoughts and memories of her from his mind over the past couple of months. Talking to Annabelle and touching her made them all come flooding back. “We were there for a day and a half at the most. Imagine our surprise when we returned and found all the monsters dead and the battle over.” He used checking his pocket watch as an excuse to retreat further from his former paramour. “It's late. How come you're just getting in?”

“Wilson and I took constabulary positions as extra credit for our governance and lawkeeping class. Duty currently involves scouring the sewers and outer roads for beasts that escaped the battle. Our shift just ended.” She glanced down at her dirty, unkempt clothes. “I didn't want to spend a moment longer without a bath. So Wilson is off submitting our report, and here I am.” Annabelle chuckled. “And I'm rambling. Sorry, Nox. You probably want to find Aria. I'm sorry for keeping you.”

“It's quite alright, Annabelle,” Nox said. “It was nice catching up with you.”

“And with you. I'm happy for you and Aria, by the way. She's been worried sick about you.” Annabelle fidgeted as the pair stood in silence, neither walking away first. “I'm sorry about how I reacted to your relationship the last time we spoke. Given everything that’s happened since, it was hypocritical of me.”

“You had good reason to be unhappy. I'm sorry if I made you think our relationship didn't mean anything to me. It took me longer to move on from us than I made it look.”

The pair hugged once again before parting ways. Nox felt good about the exchange as he climbed the stairs to Aria’s apartment. He knocked and got no response. Nox did it again and received the same results. When nothing changed with a third attempt, he turned around and walked away, deflated. Nox was halfway down the stairs when Aria's door opened, and she peeked out wearing nothing but a damp dressing gown. Locks of damp hair clung to her face while the rest sat atop her beautiful head in a tight bun.

Despite her state, the noblewoman raced out of her apartment and threw herself at Nox. The force would've knocked him down the stairs if not for the Artisan's Arm.

“Where the blight have you been?” Aria kissed him before she could answer.

“Delving,” Nox managed to say when they paused to breathe. “I'm sorry. It kept me away for longer than expected.”

“Join me in the bath, and you can tell me all about it,” she said. Aria sniffed Nox’s chest. “You need a wash more than I do.”

The two lovers sat in silence, soaking and holding each other for several minutes before either found the energy to continue talking.

Aria's had been an eventful week, dotted with life-threatening situations, too. While the guards and professors kept the hordes at bay, several critters used the water supply and sewage network to break into the city. Fortunately, none passed the Nobles Quarter, leaving the university campus and Market Ring relatively unharmed. Aria was in Outer Ring, offering refugees and flighty citizens immigration contracts when the first beasts emerged. She had fought off a few with student constables, saving most of a slum from death and destruction.

The unexpected heroics helped her convince several families to flee to the Edelweiss lands instead of trying their luck on the southern roads or the Imperium. Mage-guarded caravans were not escorting them to the far north.

Despite regular attacks from below ground, Aria persisted with her recruitment efforts while providing whatever support she could to the city’s protectors. She had successfully won a city councilman’s favor during her escapades and submitted a request to transport urchins, too. Apparently, overcrowding and thievery had the government worried about the growing underage population, and she felt good about their chances.

“Maybe Caitlin and Alexander can help,” Nox said. “Dean Woodson is on the council, too. I'm sure convincing her will accelerate their decision.”

“Let's not pressure her right now,” Aria replied. “The last time I saw her, she was on the verge of collapse. Dean Woodson has been helping repair the earthquake's damage, healing the injured, and working tirelessly to stop the panic.”

Even though Kris had fed them, Nox raided Aria's ice box. She hadn't eaten dinner, and the two ate together, half-naked. Even though the pair professed their hunger for one another, they were much too tired to satisfy their appetites. Instead, the pair held each other and talked late into the night. Sleep struggled to find them despite their tiredness.

In the end, Nox uncorked Aria's newest bottle of Spirit Caller's Tea. The resulting warmth and inebriation relaxed his tense muscles and wiped unnecessary thoughts from his mind. He felt terrible about relying on a brew to alter his mental condition, but after facing the Voidborne, it was a minor concern.

Nox had undersold the terror he felt when facing the creatures from the last rift. The Arachne's twisted body and the draugr had taken root in Nox's mind, and he saw them whenever he closed his eyes. The relaxing, psychedelic brew helped him push the images out of his head and replaced them with flashes of Aria's face, lips, and ample breasts. They comforted Nox and filled him with joy. It took him a couple of hours, but Nox finally fell asleep around midnight while Aria spooned him.

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