- Day 17 -

Shadows

After getting washed up and enjoying a good breakfast, courtesy of wonder-cook Millie, I decided to head off on a walk to the library. My primary goal for today is to look into Aslogia in more detail as I want to start appropriately preparing for the expedition. I have this feeling gnawing at me that I need to start prioritising this, a feeling not dissimilar to what I felt upon seeing bulb knight for the first time.

In my spare time, I’ve had AE’s show me the geography of Aslogia and the surrounding area. It’s quite a distance from Sinki’s Capital city and from the distance calculated, it’s most likely going to take us seven days by cart to get there, which is about a twelve to fifteen-day march for the support team. I have a couple of ideas on how to kill time while we travel but there’s also the option of sending the expedition force off earlier, and we leave later.

Anyway, the library should house a large selection of books on the area around the dungeon, and I’m hoping I’ll find some on the dungeon specifically as well. Anything that might narrow down where the source of trouble is coming from will be of great benefit after all as my gamer insight wants to believe the last boss will reside on the very bottom floor as all bosses usually are at the very end of the dungeon. There would be little point in the last boss sitting at the entrance to the first floor, after all, just sitting there, sipping tea…

‘Oh? Well hello there! I heard you might be coming, so I thought I’d just wait here for you. Being the good host that I am and all… No, no. I’m really just that considerate… would you like some tea? It’s rather good.’

Ahem… Anyway, I’m not willing to let myself assume as this world has repeatedly shown me that although it has game-like elements, it doesn’t adhere to the standards one would expect of a game. While I do seriously doubt the source will be waiting on the first floor, I doubt it’ll be on the last either. Information is needed, so we’re not fumbling around in the dark, just hoping to get lucky! ...As to why I decided to walk, well, I’m still being followed after all, and since the tavern, I’ve noticed a new group monitoring me.

I’ve been aware of people following me on and off since the graffiti incident, after the dinner party at Alexanders. I believe my INT and WIS stats are likely to thank for this as the more I raised them, the more visible and obvious they became. The effect has since tripled after upgrading my PER stat, so much so that they may as well be wearing neon-pink clothes now. I believe INT and WIS allowed me to subconsciously notice patterns in the behaviour of those following me and memorise faces which is why I saw them on and off, but the effect of adding PER to this means I seem to sense the intent of subterfuge and I seem to know when someone's eyes are laid on me. It’s really kind of uncanny how this all works, to be honest.

I was only aware of two groups following me until last night. There’s definitely at least three distinct groups now. The first two aren’t all that skilled, most likely just commoners trying to make some easy coin, but the latest group are actually pretty good. I only noticed them because a ping went off that someone was working very hard to stay out of my line of sight in the crowded bar. At first, I considered it might be one of Torrents team, but I remembered they worked in pairs as I instructed which made me chuckle to myself as I realised I’ve never noticed Torrents men following me, putting this new group’s skills under them in order I guess.

With three distinctly different tails following me, this means there are at least three groups or individuals wanting to keep track of my movements. I can guess two of the groups, one being William Trove and the second being Duke Rayford… The third group remains a mystery to me, so I’m walking today to see if I can perceive anything…

When I got to the library, entirely unsuccessful in locating the new tails along the way, I headed to the back of the first floor and picked out various texts on or about Aslogia before returning to the central room and placing them on a table. For the sake of consistency, I also went and retrieved a book or two on Firian Canyon.

Even if I couldn’t locate the new group, the usual groups are still about. As I sat here reading the first book, my front facing the entrance way to the library, it was impossible for me not to notice the front door open and close twice, about five to ten minutes apart. I naturally didn’t show any sign that my attention had been drawn from the book, but seeing as the door opens outwards, it was hardly the wind that did it.

You see, this is what I’m talking about. These little things are the kind of mistakes the first two groups have been making all over the place, causing me to notice them. I may not have had a detection skill or PER high enough to see through their concealment abilities but when they do silly stuff like that, how could I not notice them? However much they’re being paid, it’s too much, that’s for sure.

With my current PER stat, however, as they entered, shadowy veils waiver around them, giving the visage of a person before fading away again as they stop moving… No sign of the third group though, so they either snuck in with one of these two idiots or got in some other way. Ah well, guess I’ll go back to reading in earnest for now...

Hmm, the first book about Aslogia doesn’t really talk about the dungeon itself, focusing instead on the golden era of the Sinki kingdom and the years during this period.

Sinki was a blessed Kingdom during this time with a wise ruler and many talented people supporting the King. A period of unrivalled unity.

The golden era was one of economic power that was only possible due to the thousands of adventurers that flocked to the Kingdom each year, champing at the bit to get the chance to explore the dungeon in search of fame and fortune. From what the book tells, the dungeon is apparently one of the largest ever discovered in the known Kingdoms and has never been wholly mapped, so it's understandable that the adventures flooded into the dungeon every day in droves back then.

With the sheer number of adventurers hammering into it, the upper levels of the dungeon eventually became rather sparse that frequent patrols made them completely benign. This was when some bright spark close to the King decided they should recommend building a city atop the ruins above the Dungeon, though there's no mention of what the ruins were, I’d speculate likely that it was a city from the Aslogia era.

Don’t get me wrong, from a purely economic point of view, I get it. By building a city around the dungeon and administrative offices inside it, you ensure adventurers must sell the stones to you before they can leave the dungeon. This would allow the Kingdom to set the price on all stones and so the flow and distribution are wholly controlled by the state, minus some lost to smugglers and various other entrepreneurs of course. But I question the sanity of anyone who wouldn’t ask the question, what destroyed the city that lay atop of Aslogia before Sinki came along?

And so, I give you the mysterious Golden Era explained. Why that needed the last two-hundred pages to layout, I don’t know...

*Sigh* The rest of this particular book doesn’t contain anything I don’t already know. Guess I’ll move on to this next massive book then.

Well, this one’s pretty much the same as the last but by a different author. Useless as I’m not really looking for other’s insights on the decision to build a city atop a monster-infested dungeon, as I already believe it stupid.

The third book is slightly more interesting--

“Sir Draconis, we meet again.”

I’m pulled from thought to see Rus standing over me, trying to catch a glimpse of what I’m reading. He seems far more confident in himself than when we first met.

“Indeed we do Sir Taylor, good afternoon… I’m just reading information about Aslogia--”

“Aslogia the dungeon or the people? I-If I may ask I mean.”

He inquires, raising his thumb to his lower lip and biting at the nail.

“Primarily I was looking for information on the dungeon, but I’m slightly more interested in the people, now that you mention them.”

“Hm”, Rus lets out a slight chuckle, “You’re not likely to find much about them I’m afraid as the texts on them have all but faded to obscurity, I can tell you what I know of them… I-I mean, if you would like?”

I gesture at the seat opposite me.

“Please, anything you can tell me would be useful.”

He takes the seat with a smile, placing a leather satchel hip-bag on the table.

“From what I’ve gleaned from the texts referencing them, they were a civilisation far more advanced than we are currently. Some texts even refer to them as the true masters of tolla--”

Quite literally, tolla means essence in Aslogian.

“--and others claim them crazed heretics of a dead god, Iomana. I tend to give more credit to the former assessment though as artefacts from their civilisation show more of a culture in technical pursuit over religious fanaticism.”

“Hmm. The entrance to this library has a sign over it written in Aslogian--”

“Oh? You noticed that? I’m impressed Aburi, I mean Sir Draconis--”

“Please, Aburi is fine--”

“Ah, thank you. Um-m, please feel free to call me Ruslant or Rus, I prefer Rus if I’m honest.”

“I will do so then; ‘Knowledge is Wealth’ I believe it says.”

“That’s one interpretation yes, another is to read it backwards. ‘Power through Intelligence’--”

Backwards? ...Actually, reading it backwards, ‘By Wisdom, Power’ I think. Ha, that’s pretty clever--

“One of the most fascinating things about the Aslogians is their duality in all things. Nothing found from their era has only one interpretation making them so frustratingly hard to define and understand. What little texts there are about them, all have conflicting opinions and understandings.”

“I see… So I take it King Malus was an aficionado--”

“Aficionado? Oh, I assume that to mean interested? Indeed, yes. Malus Sinki had whole expeditions sent to the deep south and too our two dungeons, Harris and Aslogia--”

“Wait, Harris is also from the same period?”

Rus pauses for a moment, tilting his head and twisting his nose.

“Yes and no. The lower depths of Harris are believed to be from the same Aslogian era, but it’s widely debated on whether or not it’s origins are the same as Aslogia and therefore whether it is Aslogian in historical presence.”

So basically, no one knows for sure. Still, means Harris now has more relevance to me than before. Rus stares at me awkwardly for a moment. As if wanting to ask something but too afraid to do so.

“Is something the matter?”

“N-no… I was just curious why you want to know about the Aslogian’s and dungeons… I-I mean-n, if you don’t mind--”

“Not at all. I’m thinking about heading out that way is all, and I’ve heard about the trouble there, so I’m just looking for information to help keep myself safe.”

“I see, you mean like the failed expeditions?”

Rus’s expression changes suddenly, having realised his question was too pointed to go undetected. I’ve known since before our first meeting who Rus is, guess there’s no point playing dumb anymore.

“That’s correct, Strategist Ruslant Taylor, Second General of Sinki.”

He laughs out exaggeratedly, seemingly unsurprised I already knew who he was. Rus did give me his name though so he wasn’t really hiding.

“So you knew?”

“Of course, you're the spitting image of your father's portrait in the magistrates building... I must say though that both you and Alexander share a particular nasty trait.”

He shakes his head, sighing loudly.

“I’ll thank you kindly not to draw comparisons of me to that buffoon. How that man rose to General is beyond me.”

And me, if I’m honest… Sorry, Katharine.

“So, why the attempted subterfuge?”

He leans back in his chair, raising his thumb to his lip and rubbing it a few times while looking me in the eye. It’s as if he’s assessing all possible answers he could give.

“You know the best lies are the ones given quickly right?”

He laughs out again.

“Why assume I’m going to lie to you at all?”

“Hm, you’re right. I wonder what could possibly make me think that?”

“That’s... fair. In truth, I came to see if the rumours were true, if you were up to the task and because I found what I heard about you to be interesting.”

“I see--”

“What you’re looking for has long been something I suspected… Read ‘Paths of Chaos’ from the fourth floor. Call it...a gift.”

Rus stands from his chair, collecting his bag as he does and turning to leave before pausing a moment.

“I’ll leave you with a warning Aburi, as I respect your intellect... You’ve joined a race on a dying horse. Make of that what you will, and I wish you luck. It’s unlikely we will meet again.”

He continues on, heading out of the library without looking back even once. Though he’s likely yet another enemy, I can’t help but like him. I guess it’s pretty much as I feared then. Three factions in the castle, and ours, or rather Graham’s, is losing. I should take Rus’s warning to mean the worst and a move has been played that Graham cannot best. My best guess is that he’s lost all royal backing.

It’s catastrophic if I’m right as, without any royal support, nothing Graham or Alexander do will ever matter. Eventually, they’ll be dismissed, or more likely, executed for treason in some made up scandal. This is even worse for me as there’s no guarantee I’ll ever see my reward should I pull off the Aslogia feat either…

Reward, death… Wow, I just heard myself.

...Anyway, I think I’ll go find the book Rus just told me about then head over to see Graham. Better to hear it from the dying horse himself right?

Heading up to the fourth floor, it takes me a while, but I do eventually find the book Rus told me about… If you can fairly call this a book that is; it’s eight pages total, though I see why Rus thinks this is a clue.

-- ‘At the centre, atop the flesh, atop a crystal; the golem lives, a monument to our splendour...’

Were the Aslogian’s experimenting in artificial life? The text certainly hints at that from my interpretation of it anyway. I guess that’s the next logical location for a boss. The very centre of its base. It’s hardly a guarantee, and it’s flimsy, but at least it’s something to go on.

*Zip*