Bypass
After thirteen days on the road, Cairn's group, if it could be called that, neared their first major waypoint, the City of Eternal Night, Salem. They could have gotten there much faster if they had accepted a ride from one of the many horseless carriages and magic-powered hovercraft that passed them, but Cairn didn't mind too much as the exertion allowed him to improve his Strength, Agility, and Vitality without Leveling.
As the group approached Salem's entrance, the silhouette of the tower that gave the city its nickname came into view.
"That's one big ass building..." remarked Cairn, referring to the megalithic structure protruding from the city's heart like an ebon void. It had to be at least a thousand meters tall, but it paradoxically appeared short due to its radius of ten kilometers.
"That's the artificial dungeon, Merkabah," explained Kaia. "It was created around 940 years ago by the Sage, Eidolon, to study Dungeon formation and the Atmospheric Diffusion Fields used in modern cities to control the weather. Now, it functions as the largest gambling den and casino in the north. Some say the entire world..."
"I believe it..." said Cairn, his eyes gravitating toward the sky as it grew darker, transitioning from the twilight of late afternoon to a breathtaking night sky filled with countless stars. The city itself reminded him of a Las Vegas untouched by the riots that had reverted it to a barren wasteland, but there was no pollution, giving those who gazed up at the sky above a feeling of being insignificant compared to the immensity of an intangible firmament.
"There's no moon..." noted Cairn, prompting the already glowering Asim to remark, "That's because the fools in charge of the city wish to popularize the notion that Lady Restia is blind to the sins they commit within the city limits. They make her out to be a spiteful Goddess that condemns those who do not strictly observe the Tenets, failing to comprehend that it is her compassion and love that allows us to err in the first place..."
Blinking in surprise, Cairn looked to the group of surly-looking Neophytes and their leader, asking, "What about the First Tenet? If what you just said is true, these people clearly have a God Complex."
"That is another example of Lady Restia's compassion..." replied Asim, his brows creasing as he clarified, "She does not force the Tenets upon those unwilling to abide them. Thus, if you live in ignorance or do not follow the Light, you cannot be punished..."
"Sounds about right..." muttered Cairn. He knew there had to be at least a few major flaws in the structure of his new world. After all, if everyone abided by the Tenets and lived according to the Church's philosophy, it would be very difficult for opportunistic assholes to consolidate power at the expense of everyone else. For such an idyllic world to exist, it would have to be far more 'alien' than anything Cairn had experienced since his arrival in Plainaire...
"So, what, should we go around?" asked Cairn, seeing no reason to force themselves to pass through the city. Going around would probably take an entire day, but they had two solid months of breathing room before the Decennial Tournament of Champions began.
Shaking his head, Asim directed his gaze to Merkabah in the distance, his expression and tone firm as he said, "It is the nature of Light to pierce the Darkness, not flee from it. We will not divert our course...."
Turning to Tristan, Ariella, and the visibly pale Chelsea, Asim reiterated, "We will not divert our course. Salem may be a city shrouded in vice and delusion, but it is within the depths of Darkness that the Light shines the brightest. We shall tread its streets and tackle whatever challenges await us. Together."
Demonstrating why Cairn didn't want to travel with a Party comprised of members of the Church, the expressions of Tristan, Ariella, and Chelsea changed drastically in response to Asim's words. Their eyes burned with fiery zeal, but Cairn knew that if they truly attempted to 'shine brightly' in the Darkness, they would be extinguished without mercy. Passion without power was like a blind man trying to paint a rainbow. It wasn't impossible, but it would require significant luck or external assistance...
"I disagree," said Cairn, drawing everyone's attention. "As 'noble' as your intentions are, you're not even allowed to dedicate yourself to the Tenets until you're thirty. If you truly wish to illuminate the Darkness, grow strong enough that your Light can never be extinguished. Four tiny candles can't compete with a reliable torch, much less a bonfire..."
Punctuating his statement, Cairn took one final look at the silhouette of Merkabah before turning right and walking away, fully intent on taking the scenic route around the city's defensive perimeter. His sudden departure left Asim, Tristan, Ariella, and Chelsea at a loss, but Kaia recovered fairly quickly, retrieving Tarou before hurrying to catch up in a few short hops...
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Though he had prepared himself for the possibility that Asim and the others would continue on their own, Cairn was relieved when the group of churchgoers quickly caught up to him, Kaia, and Tarou. Chelsea was a bit cross with him for 'acting arrogantly' despite being the weakest member of their group, but her attitude improved considerably when he produced a military-grade tent, several privacy screens, and a large wooden tub for bathing, sparing them from having to sleep outside, covered in sweat, and exposed to elements and insects.
Interrupting Cairn's self-imposed watch, Asim emerged from the tent to find the former propped up against Kaia's side, basically using her as a support for his pillow as she relaxedly knitted the blanket she had been working on for weeks.
Noting Asim's arrival, Cairn glanced over, asking, "What's up...?" without rising from his reclined position.
Adopting a smile, Asim replied, "I wanted to apologize and thank you for this afternoon. After reflecting, I realized that I was rushing into things to prove my worth. Because of me-"
"I don't need your apology," said Cairn, interrupting the speech Asim had spent the past hour or so working on.
Rising to a seated position, Cairn pulled out his decanter to wet his throat before meeting Asim's gaze and adding, "I didn't say all of that because I thought you were doing something improper. You just need to remember that Tristan, Ariella, and Chelsea are still children. They might be able to defeat the average person, but if pitted against a veteran criminal, they'd only be padding someone's kill count."
"I thought you might say that. Well, not those exact words, but something similar..." remarked Asim, a faint smile adorning his face. It had only been a few weeks since his initial encounter with Cairn, but that was enough for him to get a feel for the frequently scowling youth's character. Cairn might act distant and standoffish, sometimes acting like a smart-ass, but he had a caring or, at the very least, considerate nature.
Rolling his eyes, Cairn was careful not to lean back too quickly as he reclined against Kaia's side, hands behind his head and eyes closed as he said, "If there's nothing else, go get some sleep. We have a lot of distance to make up for tomorrow..."
"Then, until the morrow heralds a new dawn, I bid you farewell..." said Asim, placing his hand over his heart and offering a slight bow. After that, he made his way into the tent, leaving Cairn and Kaia to sit in silence for several minutes until the latter remarked, "You should also get some rest. As infamous as the City of Eternal Night's reputation is, the crime rate isn't much worse than other major metropolises. The odds of someone coming out here to pick a fight with an unknown group are slim, at best."
"Yeah, I know..." replied Cairn, following his response with a protracted yawn. He was definitely tired, so after a few secret text exchanges with Restia, he closed his eyes and permitted himself to fall asleep...
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After another two weeks on the road, Cairn and company were about a day away from the city of Rahst, famous for its white buildings and the fact it was built atop a lake formed from a massive crater.
*Clang*
Receiving a heavy blow against his shield, courtesy of Asim's mace, Cairn slid back nearly three meters before skidding to a stop, his arm aching but his HP only decreasing by 5. More importantly, Asim was unable to launch a follow-up attack, his movements dulled as a result of the bluish-white pulse of energy that burst from Cairn's shield the moment his mace made contact.
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Name: Adam Masterson
IWN: Cairn
Gender: Male
Age: 27(Apparent Age: 16)
Title: Fledgling Hero(Growth Rate+100%)
Class: [Jack-of-All]
[Attributes]
Level: 12/100(43,008/50,915)
HP: 2,479/3,180
MP: 108/383
Str: 10->18
Agi: 30->36
Vit: 40->85+17
Int: 14->23
Dex: 30->38+8
Cha: 60+12
AP: 0
Talents: [Slow Start, Endless Potential(11/100)], [Never Say Die(MAX)], [I Can Do It Too(1/10)], [Animal Magnetism(2/90)], [Shield Mastery(17/100)], [Pain Tolerance(14/100)], [Cooking(10/100)], [Disease Resistance(4/100)], [Grooming(3/100)]
Skills: [Insight(MAX): 1MP], [Domination(1/10): 200MP], [Shield Bash(5/10): 50], [Sophistry(3/10): 30MP], [Penny-Pinch(1/10): 50MP], [Gamble(1/10): 10MP]
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Nodding in approval, Asim remarked, "I can see why Sister Chelsea was in such a dour mood. Brother Cairn's growth is truly astounding..."
"This is nothing," said Cairn, taking a moment to shake the tension out of his left arm and shoulder. "Give me a few days in a suitable Dungeon, and I might even surpass you."
Though he would have laughed if he had heard anyone else say what Cairn had said, Asim remembered how quickly he and Kaia had grown during their short stint in the Gnawing Burrow. Cairn's growth hadn't been that extreme, but Kaia had returned like a completely different person.
"Now I understand why Bishop Adranis advised me to join the Freelance Company once I reach the Capital," said Asim. "I thought earnest training was the key to getting stronger, but it appears the secret to true strength lies in the Dungeons..."
"You're not wrong," affirmed Cairn, unequipping his shield to show he had no intention of continuing their training. "But, diligence has its merits. A person who trains hard and works tirelessly to nourish their talents and skills will 'almost' always be stronger than someone who takes shortcuts to grow more powerful."
"I notice you emphasized the word almost," remarked Asim, adopting a toothy grin as he questioned, "I'm guessing you and Sister Kai'ankh are exceptions to the rule?"
"We definitely have an advantage over most," admitted Cairn, shrugging his shoulders as he added, "But if you, Tristan, Ariella, and Chelsea work hard and team up to tackle increasingly challenging Dungeons, you could easily become Bishops. Tristan and Chelsea would eventually plateau, but you and Ariella have the potential to become Cardinals."
"That's quite the valuation..." muttered Asim, flattered but slightly taken aback by the 'confidence' of Cairn's remark. Others had told him he had potential, but Cairn's words had a certain surety that made it seem like he was stating a fact, not paying a compliment.
"I'm just letting you know so you don't do anything too reckless," asserted Cairn. Then, as Chelsea was approaching from the direction of their camp, likely to inform them that dinner was ready, he looked over, waiting for her to get closer before adopting a cheeky smile and asking, "Ready for round two?"
Snorting through her nose, Chelsea ignored Cairn, looking to Asim as she said, "Dinner will be ready soon. You should get washed up."
"Thank you for coming over to inform us," replied Asim, sporting a broad, friendly smile. Unfortunately, this was immediately followed by him asking Cairn to accompany him, causing the latter to internally grumble at Restia for awarding him a bath large enough to accommodate multiple people. She said it was so that Kaia could bathe comfortably, but the more he got to know her, the more Cairn felt that Restia was a bit of a rascal...
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(A/N: Restia's favorite genres: Romance, Forbidden Love, Mystery, and Travelogues...)