[381] 5.4 The Atlantean Trials I

I’m really not sure how I’m feeling as I step on board the airplane and prepare myself for the nine hour flight to this dungeon that supposedly exists about five hundred miles south of Iceland over what is effectively the middle of nowhere.  What I don’t understand is how and why this dungeon was suddenly discovered there, and more importantly, now, while war is going to flare up in a matter of days.

I don’t believe that Alana is trying to get rid of us, and I don’t have any reason to believe that whoever reported this dungeon’s existence was doing so as part of a plot to get rid of us specifically.  Nevertheless, my instincts are screaming ‘trap’, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some high level individuals who plan to ambush us.  Maybe even by design.  If people are trying to gain levels quickly to break through to their third ascension and reap the inevitable spoils of war, I could see the promise of a new, high-level dungeon being the perfect bait.  A recommended level of 92, just shy of the third ascension, to enable someone around 95 to level up easily?  Seems extraordinarily suspicious.

I don’t think Alana knew where the original source of said report was either; if I did, I would have asked her for sure.  And, with this in mind, I think I understand her reasoning.  Chloe and I have a knack for going into dangerous places populated by men and monsters alike and emerging from their clutches alive if not unscathed.  And perhaps, it’s her hope that if this is a trap, we’ll be able to turn the ensnarers into the ensnared.

“Miss Mortensen, Miss Jacobs,” the pilot says.  “It’s an honor and a privilege.”

I don’t much care for the hero worship; a heroine is the last thing I’d call myself.  But over the past three years, I’ve found that expressing as much just causes more consternation.  So instead, against my personal wishes, I simply shake the older man’s hand and thank him.  Chloe follows suit, a bit more sincerity in her actions.

“I trust you ladies have everything you need?”

“Of course,” I say.  These past few years have been good for stocking up my [Inventory] as well.  I’ve got massive stores of [Health] and [Ether] restoratives, not to mention enough food and supplies to live for weeks or even months comfortably.  “We’re ready to depart whenever we have clearance to leave.”

“Wonderful news,” Chloe adds.

The two of us take our seats inside the luxurious main cabin.  After strapping ourselves in— for appearance’s sake more than anything— the main engines begin to whirr.  A few seconds later, the plane begins taxiing out of the hangar and down on the runway.  Another minute, the engines activate full-throttle.  The second-generation Ethertech devices powering the plane are considerably more efficient than the ones created in the initial weeks and months after the System’s arrival, rendering use of jet and internal-combustion engines all but obsolete.

In a matter of minutes, we’re already thousands of feet up in the air, and though I often find myself flying over the city, even my top speed doesn’t match up to what this aircraft is capable of.  New inscriptions activate on the wings and nose of the plane, allowing us to seamlessly transition from subsonic into supersonic flight without triggering a concussive cascade of sonic booms in our wake.

“You’re worried,” Chloe says.  Her hand falls into my lap.

“Aren’t you?”

“Of course I am, love.  I’m worried that all of this is a trap.  I’m worried someone will attack our home while we’re gone.  I’m worried my patients will fall ill without me to care for them.  I’m worried about our parents and our friends.”

“I’m not too worried about Mom and Hank,” I say.  “There’s enough defensive measures in the compound to make a small army think twice about attacking.”

“I know, but after last time…”  Chloe trails off.

Not that I want to think about last time either.  Mom never did tell us exactly what she went through when she was kidnapped three years ago, and we never wanted to pry too closely, either.  She’s been a lot more reserved ever since.  Even with therapy, she rarely leaves the compound, having finally abandoned her job to stay at home and assist Hank and I with our research.

I take her hand.  “Hank’s there with her.  I’m sure that if the worst happens, the two of them will be able to use the hidden escape path before they’re caught.”

Chloe just nods, though there’s no real force behind the gesture.  “I’m also worried about you.”

“About me?  Because you think something bad is going to happen to me in particular?”

“I’m not so naive to believe that there’s no one else out there who is aware of what you are.”  “What we are,” she adds telepathically.  “I’m also well aware that Nicholas is not the only [Tactician] running around the upper echelons of the world’s military powers.  If one of them is able to piece together enough scraps of information and realize that the two of us are basically genetically-modified bioweapons, there’s no telling what they’d do to try to force you to fight on their side.”

I’m forced to nod in acknowledgement, and now realize that some of my earlier projections about the state of the world were misplaced.  I’d thought, three years ago, that we’d see individual people of incredible level dominate the world and rule as local warlords with unchecked power over their dominions.  However, in my shortsightedness, I failed to realize how much manpower— how many people— it takes to efficiently run a city or a nation.

Chloe and I might have incredible raw power, but we lack the capability to run an intelligence network, keep track of an entire planet’s worth of potential threats, and manage everything else that’s going on behind the scenes that I don’t even know about.  No, I’m more glad than ever that we didn’t make the foolish choice to try to go it alone and instead maintain cordial if not always friendly working relationships with Alana and the others.

“Yeah.”  I shake my head.  Normally I’d go out for a walk or maybe a flight to cool my head, but instead, the most I can do is pace around with trepidation in my step.

I take a deep breath and remember the [Ether] manipulation exercises I’ve developed with Samantha.  I haven’t had much need for them in the past couple of years; the minor stressors of grading exams aren’t really on the same scale as world-shaking calamities.

Ever since I’ve moved from [Intermediate Ether Manipulation] to [Advanced Ether Manipulation], I’ve gained a small amount of control over the ambient Ether in a small cloud around me.  This allows me to do my little ‘intimidation aura’ trick with any students who require more than just stern words to cut their mischief out.  I’ve also been able to use my limited control over external Ether to both sharpen and expand the range of [Valkyrion’s Perception] to nearly a hundred yards.

I start counting the tiny mites lurking on the carpet beneath my feet, each no bigger than a fine grain of sand.  Thousands there are, and while counting them serves no tangible benefit, the mental strain of keeping track of so many little bugs keeps me from spiraling.  After getting to just over twenty-two hundred, I stop, Chloe’s hand rubbing against the back of my shoulder.

“Feeling any better?” she asks.

[Your [Advanced Ether Manipulation (Rank III)] has upgraded to [Advanced Ether Manipulation (Rank IV)].]

I chuckle.  “Yeah.  Seems that little stunt was the last bit of work I needed to do to level up my [Advanced Ether Manipulation] Skill.”

Chloe gently ribs my shoulder.  I grimace and rub the impact site; I may be durable, but she’s a lot stronger than she thinks!

I sit back down, and she takes the seat next to me.  My hand falls into hers, our fingers interlacing, and with a small flourish, I deactivate the [Light] glyphs and close the windows in our cabin.

“We still have a few hours left until we get to wherever it is we’re going, and I’d like to relax and rest so we’re good and ready for whatever awaits us.”

Chloe grins.  “You know, there are other things we could do besides just resting.”

“Actually, there is something else I’d like to do.”  I take a deep breath.  Now’s not the time; it’s never going to be the best time, but I can’t put it off any longer.  Not if the world’s going to go to hell and I don’t know what’s going to happen in a few hours.

Turning the lights back on, this time at a dim ambience, I pull a special box out of my [Inventory] and drop from my seat to one knee, facing Chloe who now stares with wide eyes.  I open it, revealing a ring with a large, emerald-cut diamond affixed to the center and several smaller round opals surrounding it.  It’s something I’ve been crafting and enchanting in my workshop for the last three months.  I don’t know if it’ll ever be as perfect as Chloe deserves, but there’s no better time to give it to her than right now.

[[Ring of the Saintess]: A polished diamond ring of a platinum alloy set and enchanted by an up-and-coming enchantress.  Increases [Magic Attack] by + 20 and [Magic Defense] by + 40.  The gems within can store up to 10,000 [Ether] to be drawn by the wearer at will.  In addition, while this ring is worn, its wearer’s magic with the [Healing] or [Restoration] attributes has its efficacy increased by 50%.]

“Chloe,” I say.  “For as long as I can remember living, you’ve been the one constant in my life.  When times have been good, you’ve been there to cheer with me.  When times are bad, you’ve been there to comfort me, a shoulder to cry on, someone to hug and confide in and offer gentle words of understanding.

“We’ve been through it all together.  The simple hardships of growing up from young girls into young adults and so many tribulations both before and after the System arrived.  And I don’t want that to ever change.  We have our [Angelic Bond] and have for a few years, but I want to make our commitment to each other official in law as it has been in deed.”

My heart beats incredibly quickly; I already know her answer, but still asking the question sends me nearly into a panic that only subsides as Chloe touches her finger to my forehead with a radiant and encouraging smile.

“Will you, Chloe Jacobs, do me the honor of being my wife for as long as we both shall live?”

Chloe pulls out a similar box and opens it for me.  Within it is a similar ring, this one made of gold and with a ruby at its base and small onyx crystals.  Replacing my [Ring of Replenishing Recoil], at least for now, I slip it on the appropriate finger— on my right hand, though, due to not having an organic left one.

[[Ring of the Infernium]: A stunning, deep-red ruby ring with onyx crystals crafted by a well-established jeweler.  Increases [Magic Attack] by + 40 and [Magic Defense] by + 20.  Increases the wearer’s damage when using [Fire], [Dark], and [Infernal] elements by 25%, and increases the wearer’s resistance to those elements by 25%.  The large ruby gemstone is also able to store 8,000 [Ether] to be drawn by the wearer at will.]

“Seraphina Mortensen.  You are my light and my life, my sun, my moon, and my stars.  I have loved you since long before I realized I could love you in this way.  Like you, I’ve known you and been drawn to you for as long as I can remember.  I love you, I love you more than simple words can ever hope to express, though they will still have to as they are all that I have to communicate with you.  I hope that the two of us can enjoy decades if not centuries together.  And yes, yes, a thousand times, yes, I will absolutely be your wife as long as you will do the same for me.”

And then we leap into each other’s embrace and start kissing.  Again and again, with passion and love and affection, pure bliss in my heart.  For however brief a time, the world burning around us doesn’t matter, as we celebrate our engagement in our own little sanctuary.