Chapter 80 - The Journey To Zenith City XVIII
I'm going to take the night off and catch up on the forums, there is news other than what has been talked about. I spend some time just scrolling through threads and reading articles on what's been found and other such things. I'm not tired since I'm sleeping when I play Ancients World, so I'll more then likely be up all night. While I love games and Ancients World, sometimes taking some time off is a good thing. The journey to Zenith city will only be a day of walking, Nelmorp is one of the closest cities to the capital. If players tried to go to their capital cities they would be met with a barrier, the barrier scans players to see if their high enough level. Works the same way some dungeons do, I had to go through a barrier when entering the dungeon Devil's Willow.
I don't have much information on Zenith city since Zenith wasn't my starting country in my old future. I've only been here a few times doing mercenary work, while that was a long time ago I'm positive it will look different since it just got through a war. The players in the country of Zenith lose out on seeing a completely rebuilt capital city. Thinking about capital cities, the country of Avalon popped into existence overnight. That only means the system helped build the new kingdom, this didn't happen when it first came to be. The system must have done this so the players in Alsoma had a place. The timing of the events that have transpired in recent time are looking more and more manufactured on purpose.
The quest to defeat the orc general, and while the story quest was my idea. The country was built at an impossible speed, it makes me wonder what is going on at J&X. I would love to find out myself, but they are in a different state then me. One night isn't enough time to somehow sneak in either. My dad has a saying. No matter how long the truth is hidden, it'll always come to light. You could apply this to J&X, I'm sure their are people digging deep into the truth and they will find it. It does help J&X that the government is on their side, and it will make it harder to find anything. I have a journey with some new friends tomorrow, and while it wont last long. It will be nice to have some company for a change.
While everyone in the Adamo family is doing their own things at the moment. There is a secret meeting in the church of the dark ones. The identities of these individuals are hidden behind cloaks, and everyone is silent. "I wish to bring up the need for Fenrir's heart. If we can get our hands on it we will be able to revive 1 of the fallen lords. If Fenrir is as strong as the legends say then we might even be able to revive 2. I think this search for the son is going to end in disaster for us, its obvious he is protected by The Almighty Father. I fear if we continue interfering with his path, ruin we will befall us." One of the dark cloaked figures speaks about his concerns with the goals of the church of the dark ones. This meeting doesn't happen often, but when it does there is much debate.
Another begins to speak in response to this point, the look of his robes say he is a senior member. "While you bring up valid points, the son can be used for the genesis engine. His bloodline and power will be more than great enough once he fully develops. Wouldn't our dark lords want this instead of 1 or 2 of them being revived in this world. In the end we all have to come to an agreement, and I say we focus on the son. We know he is going to Zenith, the ritual masters have revealed this. However, we can no longer locate the person he is supposed to meet." The member with a higher rank them some here brings up his point, and many also agree. Now the council is split, and this isn't good.
One person is in a robe with many markers of authority and he begins to speak, he is the leader here. "The decision between the heart of Fenrir or the capture of the son ultimately are out of our sights, so the next best thing is to disturb the church of lights efforts as much as possible. My spies have told me that they know nothing about the son, but they have special investigators digging up hot leads. Perhaps we should get rid of there investigators and hamper their progress." Many listen as the voice brings up an alternative plan, everyone agrees that this is a better plan then the first two. Soon the meeting concludes and the holograms flicker off.
While many organizations of power begin to make plans and such, the person who is more important than he knows has actually fallen asleep. The night passes and my alarm goes off at the time it usually does. I underestimated the softness and comfort of my new bed, and soon I was knocked out. I look to my phone and notice that its dead, I pick it up and plug it in. I feel how empty my stomach is so I think breakfast is a good idea. I head downstairs into the kitchen and start making a big breakfast. I finish it fast and clean up the mess I made in the kitchen, everyone else is on Ancients World. This is also a first, I haven't been the only up like this without someone following suit before.
No point in waiting around, I head back up to my room now that I'm good and full. I hop into my gaming pod and load into Ancients World. I wake up in the same bed I logged off on and look out the window. The sun is just starting to rise and I smile at the thought of adventure once again. I make my way down to the breakfast and bar to see if my travel companions are already up. I look around and meet Tokil's eyes. I walk over to him and shake his hand. "Good to see you again Tokil, I'm sure that once your dwarf friend gets here we will be ready to go." He looks over to the barrels and I follow his eyes, there is a pile of hungover dwarves. I chuckle looking at the drunks, one of the best people to hangout with are dwarves. They are great conversationalist and know how to have fun, I look forward to traveling with one.
I watch Tokil walk over and pick up one of the older looking Dwarves, he brings him back over and sets him on a bar stool. "This is Thoznal Axeforge, he is the representative that the dwarves have sent. I met him in the coastal city of Rezlai." I look at the dwarf as he lifts his head from the counter to look at me, he has a hard time keeping his eyes open though. He has a well maintained beard along with hints of gray here and there, must be around 120. That's considered middle age for dwarves. He puts his hand on his head and groans, you would think dwarves have great alcohol resistance, but drink enough of the 100% pure stuff they have here in Ancients World anybody wouldn't last long.
I sit next to Tokil while Thoznal gains his bearings, I look over to the clock and see that its getting closer and closer to when players log on. Soon the city and restaurants will be full of players again. He lifts his head and looks at me, he begins to rub his beard in a contemplating way. "My name is Slayer Zern, but you can call me Zern. I'll be traveling with you guys to Zenith, I hope that's alright with you." I hold out my hands and we shake in a normal greeting, he pulls out some flask and takes a long drink. "Already drinking, you dwarves sure are tolerant of the stuff." He laughs at my comment.
He gestures for me to take a whiff of it, I do and my eyes water. "You don't seem like a drinker young man. You can be sure that this will help with my axe splitting headache. It smells like pure alcohol, but its enchanted to help dwarves clear hangovers. A real dwarf always has one, its one of the first containers we craft." Talk about an amazing culture, I'm curious about something though. From what Tokil has told me Thoznal is an expert blacksmith, and expert blacksmiths are something official organization don't let out. Both player guilds and NPC ran establishments would never risk such a rarity.
I want to ask him about that, but there will be time for questions later. I look at Tokil and he agrees with my look that its time to leave. We make our way out of Giovani's pub and head towards the main gate. This trip wont take long, but having back up for the strong monsters likely hanging around will be nice, I know mom and dad are no longer in Zenith. If they were I would've had a notification on my friends list that would tell me a friend is nearby. Time to finally make it to Zenith city.