Chapter Eighteen

Elysia’s eyes fluttered open to the setting sun visible over the buildings. Her eyes snapped wide as she shot to her feet. Why didn’t anyone wake her up? She left her team hanging.

Before she could take a step, a notification appeared in her vision.

Achievement! Overextended.

“Are you a masochist? Your body told you to stop, yet you kept pushing.”

Reward: Nothing, but if you continue on your course, you will burn yourself out.

With clenched fists, she waved away the notification. Instead of insulting her, it should give her a guide. Maybe Thres had some pointers. Well, if they weren’t mad at her for ghosting them.

As if to rub it in, another notification forced itself into her sight.

Achievement! Bad Teammate.

“Going by your previous adventures, this shouldn’t be surprising, but was it so hard to show up on time?”

Reward: Poor habits shouldn’t be rewarded, but you qualify for one based on your habits.

Unlocked Effect! Solo Adventuring.

Receive 10% experience bonus while fighting alone or with bonded being. 20% penalty while fighting alongside non-bonded beings.

Well crap. What would she do now? Should she even go to Mezo? Was it safe to leave? What if Sereia arrived with the fleet in tow? If she stayed near Urus, she had protection, which she hoped extended to her twin. Did she even have a team anymore?

The ever nosey turtle made its presence known as if reading Elysia’s thoughts, which she probably did. “Yes, team 36 is still active. Your team is aware of your current condition. It’s quite common for young Chrotile to incapacitate themselves during training. They decided to focus on their own training until you were available.”

A conflicted expression formed. She wasn’t sure she would be so understanding if she was in their shoes. There was a reason she avoided relays in track when she could. Unfortunately, as the top mid distance runner on the team, they forced her to into relays. If she had a teammate ditching practice, she would have kicked them off the team. It was probably a good thing she picked an individual focused sport. Maybe Solo Adventuring fit her better than she thought. Even before the merge, she was a lone wolf. Fortunately, she wasn’t a moody goth, at least she didn’t think she was.

Her mind flashed through her school years, cringing at several events involving her acting a little too edgy and dark. No wonder Sereia tried so hard to get her to socialize. Though she was glad she kept her distance from most people now. If she had a ton of friends, she would miss them. As long as Sereia and dad were safe, she didn’t care about anyone else before the merge.

With a shake of her head, she banished the past to focus on the present. “Is my team available now? Or should I wait until the morning?”

“They agreed to a short team training session. Please head to the Crimson Clan training grounds.”

“Thanks Urus.”

The presence fluttered before dissipating, prompting Elysia to pick up her dropped whip. She coiled it and clipped it to her hip before hopping onto the dock. With fast strides, she navigated her way into the Crimson clan district. Despite assurances, she glanced around the red scaled environment fidgeting with nerves, but determined to be a good teammate, she pushed herself forward.

Upon reaching the training grounds, she stopped and peeked around the corner to find three familiar Chrotile standing in a sectioned off area surrounded by occupied training spots similar to theirs. Unlike her teammates, everyone seemed to be running through formations with precision, as if they spent years together. For all she knew, they had. She was the outsider.

Before entering, she sucked in a deep breath, calming her pounding core. With her teammate backs to her, she strode in trying to look confident. Half way across the hundred meter distance, they turned toward her as one. Thauzo gave her a friendly welcoming smile, but the other stared at her expressionless, causing her to wince.

The illusion of confidence shattered in an instant. Her left hand gravitated up to play with a few strains of hair peeking through her helmet while her right hand hugged her waist.

A few steps later, a feeling of disgust radiated through her body, washing away any embarrassment. Her slouched posture straightened as she strode forward, as if she owned the place. Despite being uncomfortable with the sudden artificial change, she embraced it as a shield against those around her.

No one aside from her team gave her a second glance, too busy squeezing in some last minute practice for Mezo opening in the morning.

When she reached her team, Thauzo turned to greet her while her other two teammates continued to stare at her with blank expressions. “Welcome Elysia. Urus informed us of your accident. Don’t worry, we won’t hold it against you. Training accidents happen to us all. Though I would avoid any more strenuous training until after Mezo.”

Elysia gave him a nod, but one glance at her other two teammates told her a different story. At the mention of training accidents, both of them flashed her a scowl which she would have missed if it weren’t for her excellent perception.

While keeping a calm outer façade bolstered by the regal confidence still pumping through her body from deep within, her mood soured. Should she drop out? Despite his and Urus’s assurances, it was obvious the other two weren’t happy. She didn’t blame them either. If she was in their shoes, she would probably do worse than silent disapproval.

Her new effect flashed through her mind, reinforcing her thoughts. She couldn’t control the power she had. Why level further? More power could hurt her. Was Mezo really worth it? She could solo dungeons her own level. With her solo adventuring proficiency, it would be a waste of experience to group delve, even if it might be safer. Maybe instead of delving Mezo she could focus on controlling her power, then ask Thrazk to run some dungeons to power level. She doubted anyone in the area had a chance against him. She could eat the 20 percent experience loss if she had Thrazk crush a dungeon over a hundred levels above her.

As usual, a certain nosey turtle intruded on her thoughts. This time speaking in her mind. “Please give them a chance. If it weren’t for you, I would have had to hold them back. Despite their talents, I can’t allow less than a group of four to delve a dungeon island. Their previously planned fourth member had a training accident similar to you, but it put her out of commission for at least a month. Nonelemental beings are much more susceptible to their elements. She nearly exploded herself from over pressurizing her air magic. Fortunately, she received medical attention fast enough to avoid permanent injury. I have high hopes for all four, so I would be grateful if you would try to delve with them.”

With a conflicted expression, Elysia scanned the trio. “I understand and want to make it up to you for what you did for my sister, but think about it in my shoes. It would be hard to put my life in the hands of a team that I barely know. Especially since my first impressions aren’t great. Also, after my training accident, I gained an effect called Solo Adventuring, so I’m wasting experience group delving.”

“How about this? If you delve with them, I’ll have Thrazk carry you through a dungeon to make up for the experience loss. Like you, he has Solo Adventuring, so he created a build suited to soloing dungeons. Unlike others of his generation, he leveled to where he was on his own instead of getting power leveled to the first-class evolution. I had to give a similar offer to him to get him to join their generation’s dungeon island. You solo types can be hard to entice.”

Elysia glanced at the trio again, but they seemed to be talking amongst themselves. They likely assumed her faraway look meant she was talking to Urus. With how nosey and hands on Urus was in ruling her city, she doubted it was a rare occurrence. “I’m fine with group delving. I know firsthand how dangerous it is to beat a dungeon solo. Unlike Thrazk, I’m not built to tank everything. The only reason I’m still alive is luck. Though according to my effect it says I can take bonded beings with me and not lose experience, so maybe in the future I can take advantage of that. For now, all I have is a kitten, a boat and a wayward twin sister as my bonds.”

A sigh escaped as she continued. “Wouldn’t it be better to find another Chrotile to join their team instead? As I am now with my control issues, I might be a liability.”

The ever present presence fluttered in amusement. “Oh, you child. If only you knew how talented you are. I doubt Thres could control her element nearly as well. Sure you are an elemental, but there is a reason they guard their young until they are at least past their second class evolution. Few know this as they try to hide any display of weakness, but young elementals struggle with control so much to the point they sometimes can’t use skills without blowing themselves up. They need supervised training to even defend themselves, let alone be competent. You are far ahead of those your age.”

She glared up at the sky, uncaring of how she looked. “That’s probably because I’m not an elemental.”

Again, a flutter greeted her. “You very much are. Just because you weren’t born one that doesn’t mean you aren’t an elemental. Though your unusual evolution might be why your control is as good as it is. You aren’t the first elementally infused to turn into an elemental as they are already half elemental, but it is rare and usually the Elemental Council scoops them up the moment they appear, so we don’t know much about them.”

Elysia stiffened. “Are you sure it’s safe for me to be in a populated area? What if this Elemental Council comes for me?”

The fluttering stopped as Urus’ tone turned serious. “There isn’t much you can do but to get as strong as you can to ensure your independence. They will find you. They probably are already coming, so there is no point in hiding. In fact, that fleet bore the insignia of the High Water Elemental Councilor. I didn’t help you just because you asked. Us colossus and him don’t get along. Any time we have a chance to take a jab, we take it. He thinks he owns the waters, and we don’t agree as a water loving species ourselves.”

Urus’ tone shifted to worry. “What worries me is why they were chasing your sister. Did she evolve too? As your twin is definitely possible. My brother was too far away to get specifics, only that a fleet of dozens of ships were chasing a fishing boat, both going at unnaturally fast speeds. He gave your sister some time, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they caught up eventually, as they are both going in the same direction, which is here. Even if you left now without a water elemental, I doubt you could get far enough.”

At the mention of her sister, Elysia’s attention gravitated toward the west. However, unlike usual, the moment her eyes locked on the direction her twin must be, an all-encompassing panic hit her like a tidal wave. With wide, tear-filled eyes, she collapsed to her knees, causing many of the nearby Chrotile to stare at her with confusion and curiosity.

Images played through her mind. First the same images she saw when she asked for help, this time in much higher detail. A fishing boat smaller than Umbra fighting its way through a dozen meter high waves. When a wave nearly crushed the boat, it split to let the boat through, only for another to come within seconds. Each successive wave split a little slower until one finally made it through. It crashed down on the boat, ripping away the mast and anything on the front deck, but the boat made it through.

The vision shifted to a first-person view, panic escalating to heart attack levels, if she still had a heart. The vision narrowed as if the person was focusing really hard at the wave looming overhead, but deep exhaustion turned the vision blurry.

Instead of trying to stop the wave, the person she knew was her sister dove to the floor, cowering under the control console to brace herself for the next wave, only for none to come. She peeked over the console to find an endless clear sea in front of her.

As quickly as it came, the vision ended with a view of dozens of ships, each one at least double the size of Umbra facing down a wave that put the one that hit her home town to shame.