Chapter 3 Part 1

(Narrator) So i have no idea what this Mission is but hopefully someone talks about it. The three amigos and the sexy Dragon Newt are at a shop to get some winter gear.

"Aright cubs, grab these coat's. The climb up Mt. Mininan to Snowwake Summit is quite treacherous." Relov says.

"So what exactly are we going to do on that mountain?" Christopher asks, grabbing one of the fluffy fur coats.

"So the Mission is to find the Demon's Skunkweed. It only blooms for a single day until picked. If we miss the window of opportunity our client will have to wait 50 years to try again, so let's not fail this. The reward is 100 gold." Relov says.

"Damn it. I really want it for my collection now!" Heather says.

Relov turns his head to the side curiously. "Sis really likes to collect plants to extract their seeds." Haider says.

"Well you'll just have to pass on collecting this one. This client is very important. 100 gold is nothing to scoff at." Relov says.

(Narrator) Haha, it is for them.

"How long do we have to get there?" Christopher asks.

"About a week. The mountain is about four days away so we'll have a couple days' leeway before the window is missed." Relov answers, packing his coat into his hiking bag.

"Is there any additional information we may need to know?" Haider asks, giving his coat to his brother.

"Just that it's on the highest part of the mountain. Why are you giving your coat to him?" Relov asks.

Before Haider could answer Christopher says, "He's immune to the cold."

"Curious." Relov says, as his left wing twitches slightly.

"What was that?" Heather notices his twitch.

"The twitching? It's just a habit I developed when I get worried. Are you sure you don't need the coat? It gets brutally cold up there."

Haider nods confidently. "I essentially live in my own igloo."

"Since you have no need for one now, I'll stash it with your belongings." Christopher says. Putting Haider's coat in his pocket dimension.

"*snort* Let's get going. That flower isn't going to harvest itself!" Relov says.

Relov and his band of younglings head a few days east towards the thick forests around the base of mt. Mininan.

The four camp just before the incline, preparing everything they may need for the climb.

"We should be prepared for any obstacle we may face to get to Snowwake Summit. We have rope, ice picks. Haider took that literally." Relov says. Haider swings his icy pickaxe round him as he giggles. "We bought coats the other day, so we don't need to worry about that. Is there anything else? Ah yes. Water, cheak. Food, cheak. Hiking boots, cheak."

(Narrator) Wondering why I skipped the way here? It was boring, that's why.

"I was really expecting to get attacked. Feels anti-climatic that not even dad harassed us the last three days." Christopher says.

(Narrator) Ugh, like I said, boring.

"Yeah well, there are a lot more dangers up Mt. Mininan. There's said to be a dungeon entrance somewhere but it keeps moving." Relov says.

"Cool, I never found a book on Dungeons in Stocaea. What can you tell me about them?" Christopher asks.

"Well. it's a place that spawns monsters. Like literally making them. Every Dungeon has a master and they manage the place. They can't leave the Dungeon for some reason, but thank god. Dungeon Masters are extremely powerful entities. Dungeons have cores that the Dungeon Masters protect with their lives. Destroy the core and the dungeon can't produce any more monsters. The core is not a fixed object so it can be moved. From what the union has gathered, there is no limit to how many floors a dungeon can have. That's all I know." Relov rambled.

(Narrator) my god that was long winded. There is so much more about Dungeons you should know but you don't get to know more till. Well later I guess.

"We should try to avoid this Dungeon entrance if we can. Who knows what creatures could be defending it." Heather says.

"Right...We should get some rest, the climb up the mountain will take a day or two." Christopher says with a yawn.

"We should have plenty of time to pick the flower on the day it blooms. Heather, you preserve plants, is that right?" Relov asks.

"I use a spell parchment with glass containers to add a plant to my collection...and don't worry about the possibility of me stealing the plant. It's way too fragile of a climate that my magic would be useless." Heather explains.

(Narrator) She's lying. I saw her improving her spell yesterday while she pretended to pee.

"I'll take first watch. This mountain can be dangerous, even from here." Relov says.

"Honestly I don't trust you so I will be staying up with you." Christopher says, letting out a dejective sigh.

(Narrator) I don't think that anything interesting will happen so I'll just pick up in the morning.

(Narrator) Literally 10 minutes later.

"So can your Technomancy branch to other aspects? Like food or weapons?" Christopher asks.

"My Technomancy can be used to do anything." Relov says.

"Can you show an example?" Christopher asks.

"Regrettably not, I can't risk getting a high roll. The higher the roll the bigger the mana consumption. It takes so much from the environment if I don't have enough later. It's just as risky as it is random." Relov explains.

Christopher reaches into his dimension and pulls out a Pure Mana Potion. "How about now?" Relov stares at Christopher in disbelief.

"What the fuck. These are like 3 Gold. How can you pull that out so casually?" Relov says, picking up the bottle of blue liquid.

"My father saved the Empire from civil unrest. He also got quite the sum from his father's will." Christopher says.

"Makes sense. What would you like to see?" Relov asks, materialising a Zocchihedron in his hand.

"How about a blade?" Christopher suggests.

Relov rolls the dice and it lands on 89. The dice disappears and a blade of white hot light takes its place.

(Narrator) The inventor was an otherworlder, apparently this is as close as he could get. He wanted to create something called a Lightsaber.

"Aww crap! Don't get near the blade, it can cut anything like butter." Relov warnes.

"Shit, alright. What happens now?" Christopher asks.

"In about an hour, if used it will expire and disappear." Relov says, picking up the blade and drinking the potion.

"Ah, so if you get a high roll you're very powerful." Christopher says.

"I can't rely on it like this, however. It's too unpredictable. I've mastered fire and wind magic to compensate for the most part." Relov explains.

"It's a cool roulette for food n stuff though." Christopher says.

"It is, until you roll low." Relov swallows his non-existent vomit.

"What's the worst food you've rolled?" Christopher asks.

"I would have to say Ash Eel from Mercter. What a vile thing to eat it is. It's like eating a whole bucket of snot with each bite. Not to mention the taste. It's indescribable." Relov shivers.

(Narrator) Imma but in to clarify something. Haider and Heather are sleeping, or at least trying to.

"Do Nekojin like them?" Christopher asks curiously.

Something mutters no from the darkness of the forest. "Ignore that, that was my dad. We can take his word."

"Some of them must like it. It's still being made after all." Relov says. The two wait for a second to see if Heddwyn would inadvertently answer but only the chirps of Grasshoppers can be heard when they do that leg rubbing thingy.

Roughly six hours later Christopher and Relov switch watch duty with Heather and Haider. The two start talking about something but I wasnt really listening. It was something about Heather's plant collection, I think.

"So I know most of the plants you use but is there any secret weapons in one of those pouches?" Haider asks.

"There is one, but I think I'll just use it when I need it." Heather says.

"Is it super dangerous?" Haider asks.

"Very, dad helped develop it as I have the potential to cast it. But it seriously is a last resort. It takes a while to cast and very obvious. I also can't move while casting, if my concentration falters even slightly it could blow up on me." Heather warns.

"Is that why the training room back home needed repairs again?" Haider asks.

"Yes actually." Heather admits.

"Huh, I always thought it was Christopher again. After the first incident." Haider says, looking up at the dawning sky.

Heather joins him on his stargazing and questions and theories start surfacing. "I've been thinking, what if the gods live on the moons? What if the stars are other places they've created. I know the legend but why would they create a utopia on a flaming rock just for another god to destroy it?"

Haider worryingly looks at his sister. "Are...are you questioning your faith?"

"What?! No! Of course not. I'm just wondering if some of the details are different. Isn't it the point of science to question our reality? I'm not questioning my faith, just curious about why they created life in the first place. Why the Demon God attacks us. Why did the Mountain God give us resources and our magic? Why do our souls live in the afterlife after we pass away from the mortal plane?" Heather questions Heavily.

Haider was knocked back slightly. "Wow, didn't hold back with that at all."