Krinn and the rest came back after a few hours of the node being taken over. They missed seeing the notorious monsters but did feel the land quaking and the other changes that were still happening even up to this point.

They were gone long enough for Jude to explore some of the unique features of this node. Jude found the teleportation circuitry pretty impressive, though he was a long way off from reproducing it himself. Many of the other features were in regards to controlling the environment. Allur Forest nodes had no control over the weather, but Arkess Aquifers had full control. There was even a link to the surface, to help command the weather above ground as well, but there was something wrong with the other end, which made it not work. However, none of these were the most important.

When the Duke of Arkess was still alive, his whole purpose was for the aquifers was to make an area over level 30. His theory was that the source of all magic and power came from below the surface. This source was what quantified the levels of monsters and spawned creatures of each area in the entire world. Monster’s don’t need to level; they can absorb the radiant energy of their environment. This energy can only push a monster’s level up so high. This energy determines the level range for each area.

The last function of this node was made to draw energy from even deeper underground and enhance the power of this area further. This part of the node had confused Anthea the most, but after some time studying it, Jude was able to show Anthea how it worked. It would be a slow process, but if it worked, it would prove the Duke of Arkess right.

“You successfully captured the node!” Krinn called out as they neared.

“Did you have any doubts?” Wen looked mockingly at Krinn.

“Not at all,” Krinn glared back at Wen. “When have I ever had doubts about Jude? Weren’t you the one who attacked him the first time we meet?”

"Why do you keep bringing that up?!" Wen growled.

Ellie spoke to Jude while Wen and Krinn continued to argue in the background, “Congratulations, this place is already looking better.”

“Thanks. We even have a way to get out now,” Jude said. “But we can’t leave just yet.”

“You want to see how this place will turn out?” Ellie asked.

“No, I want to get level 30 before heading to the capital,” Jude explained. “There will be a lot of people competing, and most of them will be at level 30 in their advanced class.”

“Isn’t Spell Analyst an advanced class of Wizard?”

“I thought so too at first, but now I’m not sure what it is. The circuitry for all classes are inside the Modicuit, and they are linked together by the root class they evolve from. But as far as I can tell, Spell Analyst isn’t in the Modicuit at all. It’s somewhat of a mystery to me.”

***

Jude and the rest leisurely spent a week or so in the Arkess Aquifers. Having Anthea in control of the entire area made things exceptionally easy. Not only could they teleport anywhere they wanted to, but they also knew exactly where to go for the best experience since the node knew all the positions of all the monsters.

At night, Anthea would transform into a willow tree and act as a tent. Everyone would sleep under her branches.

Their whole experience went from a stressful adventure lost in lands unknown to one of peace and relaxation. They didn’t hunt non-stop but took their time to enjoy themselves in other ways as well.

Eventually, the day came when they all hit level 30.

“Ha ha, level 30!” Krinn cheered.

“I got a quest to upgrade my class!” Ellie said, but then pouted, “But it looks like it is going to be hard.”

“I got the Druid class advancement quest,” Nellie said. “Krinn, did you get a class quest?”

“No. I’ll have to see a trainer when we get to Geonar,” Krinn replied. “This happens a lot for those who wield axes and are tanks.”

“Did you get a class advancement quest?” Jude asked Cairfray who looked confused.

“I did,” she replied, “I got Enchanter. But I’m not sure why.”

Jude laughed, “It’s probably due to the and spells. They might not be part of your class normally, but they must have influenced the way the saw you. Besides, it is not like you have to be an Enchanter.”

“What about you,” Cairfray asked, “Did you get a quest?”

Jude shook his head, “No, my class is a bit unusual so I might have to meet different conditions.”

“There is an old legend that if you get to level 50, you can directly choose your next class. But there is a downside to that-“ Cairfray was cut off by Wen.

“AAHH?!” This whole time she had been frozen solid in shock. Only now did she finally react to what she was seeing.

“Sister, what’s wrong!?” Krinn asked as he hurried over. “You’re not hurt are you?”

Wen was so shocked that she didn’t even register what Krinn said. She only asked, “Does anyone know what a Valkyrie is?”

No one seemed to know, so Jude spoke up. “A Valkyrie is a celestial female warrior. Did you just get that class quest?”

“Yes, but I’ve never heard of this class before,” Wen said in shock, “It is even ranked as an Elite class. How could I have jumped a whole class type?”

“Is it an Elite class or a Unique class at the level of Elite?” Ellie asked.

Wen focused her attention back to her notifications once again. This time she carefully read them through.

“It appears to be a Unique class at the level of Elite. But still, why did I get something like this?” Wen asked.

“It probably has something to do with this place,” Jude said. “With it being so deep underground and the distinctiveness of how it was created, it could cause an occasional instance of getting a better class upgrade.”

“I didn’t even get a class quest,” Krinn mumbled, but no one heard him.

“So that’s how it is,” Wen said, “gaining level 30 here is the best place to do so. Everyone, let’s work hard and level our new classes here to 30 and see if it happens again!”

“We can’t do that,” Ellie replied. “We have to get to the tournament. Besides, Jude and Krinn didn’t get a class advancement quest.”

“But what if we hit 31 before unlocking our new classes?” Wen seemed almost desperate.

“I didn’t say we couldn’t unlock the classes while we are here,” Ellie rolled her eyes.

Jude picked up on something he felt he wasn’t aware of, “What is this about level 31?”

“Seriously?” Ellie asked befuddled. “You know what a Valkyrie is when none of us do, but you don’t know about level 31?”

Jude just sighed and waited for her to explain.

She said, “Anybody can level up as many as five classes at once without penalty, but once you hit level 31 things change. Any new levels you get from the other classes will need a lot more experience. This is why those who try to get passed level 30 will first get their Advance Classes and Elite Classes up to 30 before trying for level 31.”

Wen joined in as well, “Normally getting level 31 is quite hard, but here, it is just too easy. I’m afraid that my class advancement quest alone will get me to level 31.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Ellie said reassuringly, “When Jude and I completed our unique class quests, we were switched to the class and rewarded the Exp on them instead.”

Wen being reassured they made some plans and all split up. Jude, Krinn, and Ellie went back to rest at the central node while the rest were teleported to areas around the aquifer. Anthea accompanied Wen as her quest was the most dangerous, but like the others was required to be solo. Anthea didn’t count as helping Wen because she was now classified as both a monster and area ruler.

Between teleportation and knowing where everything was, it took less than a day for everyone to complete their quest.

Nellie came back first, she was wreathed in an air of nature and smell of cedar. Her class quest granted her a gnarled staff and a woodland robe.

Cairfray came back next, and she had the aura of refinement. Clean didn’t describe her appearance; it was perfect. Her reward was a blue robe etched in gold scroll work and runes.

Wen was the last to return. She looked like she had just been through a hard fight as blood and grime covered her. Her item was a shiny helm with white wings that flared out, but the most startling thing was the pair of real wings that now grew out of her lower back. They were small, and Jude didn’t think that she would be able to fly with them, but he guessed that as her levels in Valkyrie went up, so to would her wings grow.

Krinn, of course, was the most startled to see his sister covered in blood, “Are you ok?”

He rushed up to her, but she pushed him aside, “Of course I’m okay. This isn’t all my blood.”

Nellie then walked up and said, “Let me heal you.”

Wen nodded, and Nellie began a chant. The heal spell went off without any components necessary. The blood and grime instantly dried and began to flake off Wen.

“Nellie, your new class is great. I doubt that there are many druids in Riwa.” Wen commented.

Nellie nodded her head and smiled in return.

“Congratulations to all our new advanced class members!” Jude said with mirth, “Tonight we will have a party!”

Everyone cheered in response.

***

Jude had been reserving some special ingredients for just this kind of occasion. Soon there was more food to eat than that could feed them all. Ellie had brought out some wine from her , and everyone enjoyed themselves.

“So why didn’t you do your class quest?” Wen asked Ellie.

Ellie replied, “I can’t do my quest here. I will have to travel quite far to complete it.”

“What is the quest?” Wen hadn’t heard of something like this, so she couldn’t help but ask.

“I must find my master,” Ellie said with a little sorrow. No one had seen Theodwin since the time of the .

“That’s good news then,” Wen said assuringly.

Ellie looked confused so Wen continued, “If he had perished, then there wouldn’t have been a quest like this. Now all you have to do is find him. Wasn’t that why you came out with us anyway?”

Ellie cheered up quickly and smiled, “Thank you Wen.”

“We need some music!” Krinn cried out. Then he pulled out a small wooden flute and began playing.

No one had seen Krinn do this before so they were all quite surprised, but not as surprised as they were when Ellie joined in. She pulled out a lute and began strumming the strings along to the tune that Krinn had set out.

But the greatest surprise of all was that Nellie got up to sing! Sweet and quiet Nellie who can barely speak up for herself, started booming out a beautiful singing voice.

Perhaps all she needed was a little wine? Jude thought to himself.

The night ended very late with everyone sprawled this way or that. Nellie managed to snuggle up into Krinn’s arms. Jude remained unaffected by the alcohol and was able to avoid the tipsy Wen and her advances. Not that it was too hard with Ellie and Cairfray as guards.

He really wasn't sure what to do about these girls.

***

The next day everyone made their way to the column that contained the staircase to the outside.

Anthea was there to see them off, and after saying their goodbyes, she pulled Jude aside.

“Master, I must warn you about summoning me in the future,” She said. “Because of my current level and rank, you will need to expend a lot more mana than you did in the past. Even if you do manage to summon me, I will not be as powerful as I am in my territory. At best I will be as strong as any of your friends. However, if you decide to have me invade another territory, I should be at almost full power.”

“How long will it take to restore the Arkess Aquifers entirely?” Jude asked.

“It’s hard to say, master. This node system is much different than the one that you reconstructed me at. The Allur nodes formed me, so I understand them on a deeper level, and when I create new nodes, it is based on those.”

“I understand. I will try and keep in touch better this time.”

She gave him a strange look, "Don't push yourself to hard master."

***

When they entered the Arkess Aquifers, it had been a dry and dying place with little light. But now as the group left it was a place starting to bear life. The light of day shone throughout the realm even though it was deep underground. The dry air became humid. The dirt and plants came back to life. And if you knew Anthea, it was a paradise on earth.

Now their passageway grew dark as the entered the endless spiral of stairs inside the porous column. In no one place could they see the outside through the holes, but the light did slowly filter in. If they had made this trek before the aquifers shown brightly once again, they would have had to use torches or another source of light to make their way up.

Two full days of climbing and they still hadn't reached the top. Occasionally they would find a small break area, but the food and water system used was long gone. Two-thirds of the way through the light from the aquifers disappeared, and they had to rely on magic and handheld to make their way through. On the morning of the third day, they finally reached the end.

The stairs ran up to the ceiling where a trap door was installed. A lever to the side was meant to open the passage, but the mechanism had long ago broken.

Krinn, Wen, and Jude all pushed together to push up the massive stone slab. They could barely keep it open for everyone to get out.

Once outside, they all took in the stunning sight. They were in the middle of a large worn down castle. Sand was piled in the corners. Many stones were missing, and parts of the wall had fallen. They seem to have entered a courtyard as a dried up fountain, half destroyed due to age, sat in the middle. The door they had come out of shut with almost no sign of it being there.

All this paled in comparison when they looked up to the sky. High up above them was a hole that shone as pure blue, but the rest of the sky swirled with angry clouds of sand.

“We must be in the center of the storm,” Jude said.

“I bet this is the capital city of Arkess,” Krinn commented.

Ellie smirked, “We would have gotten out faster if I helped lift the door rather than Jude.”

A small laugh went around the group.

Finally they were out of the aquifers!