Chapter 68

Amora sat at a pavilion, drinking from a glass of wine as she stared out over the Spring that dominated the center of the Midnight Desert.

This ‘Lodge’ had been established by the Guild, and run by its employees, for years. As long as there were valuable resources to discover, and monsters to hunt, the Guild would have a presence here.

To that end, they needed a place to rest and recover. Land near the Spring was a premium, but the Guild, with its influence, secured a sizable portion. Combined with extensive lodgings, it became a perfect place for members to recover while journeying.

Amora had accompanied the other test observers after the trial had begun, teleporting directly to the Centre Spring while the recruits were barely on the Desert’s outskirts.

They had been bringing test takers here for months, with some already accomplishing the task, having trekked across the dunes, and passing the test, while others had failed, their bodies either claimed by the sands, or the Guild observers managing to save them before they met their end.

“Only a few weeks left, Amora.” The man next to her spoke. Abelardo had come with her, along with Rose, and the trio were sat at a long wooden table, pitchers of wine and ale in front of them, dripping condensation onto the wood.

All around them were other observers, as well as influential recruits, able to enter an area reserved for full members by virtue of their connections, and full members, here to hunt for resources or beasts.

“I still feel uneasy, allowing the recruits to enter that place. We do not have eyes inside, what if something happens? Hundreds of losses would be a terrible blow to the Guild, not to mention the damage to our reputation.” Amora responded, not turning her eyes from the Spring.

The ledge was just on the Center’s edge, and Amora could see a faint shimmer from the water. This close, the mana was strong in the air, even if the Spring was ebbing. The water barely breached the surface now, a single, small pool of clear water, resting on the damp, black sands.

“It’s an opportunity, nothing more. The test is to cross the desert, this is merely a treat for them. Besides, there isn’t anything dangerous inside, just some old ruins.” The large man assured her, as he drank from his glass.

“They’re adventurers, Amora. This is what is expected of them. They should be given the chance to try their luck, to grasp whatever opportunity comes to them.” Rose said, shaking her head at her friend’s unease.

“I heard an interesting tidbit from one of the youngsters. That boy you had your eye on, the Illyrian? He’s been causing a ruckus. I must say, I feel like we’re kindred spirits!” Abelardo said, laughing loudly, his giant belly shaking. Amora saw it for the excuse it was, an attempt to change the subject.

“Has he?” Amora asked, turning her attention back to her friend.

“He even managed to piss off Delman’s son. I’d praise him just for that alone! Arrogant prick. Remember when we were adventuring in the north and we were attacked by those vampires? Asshole tried to blame the entire debacle on us! He came out smelling like roses and all we got was horseshit!” Abelardo cursed, taking a long drink of ale to wash the distaste from his mouth.

“I believe it wasn’t him who started the animosity between the pair of you. Didn’t you sleep with his sister?” Amora asked slyly, her attention now fully on her companions. The large man spewed ale from his mouth, coating the table as Amora nearly cried with laughter at his antics.

“It was his cousin, thank you very much. Lovely woman.” He responded, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He eyed Rose discretely, gauging her reaction.

“She must have been, Delman has never forgotten it. So, what did the Illyrian do to irritate so many scions and peers?” Rose asked, grinning at the large man as he wiped up his mess.

“He marched through the outskirts, towards the center, like a rampaging bull! He’s bold, that one.” Abelardo praised as he dabbed at his shirt with a cloth.

“Or ignorant. It’s foolish to offend so many, simply for the opportunity to save a few rest days.” Rose said, shaking her at her companion’s praise.

“He will learn. I do not want to extinguish that fire within him, but it must be tempered.” Amora said, turning to look over the desert again.

“Are you thinking of taking the boy as an apprentice, Amora?” Rose exclaimed, her eyes widened in shock.

“It would depend on his performance, but yes. He has caught my interest, as has the Khmerian.” Amora confirmed, nodding her head at her friend.

“Another fierce one! I expected to hear tales of her wrestling Wyrms. The fact that she faced one, and came out of it unscathed, that story has been on the other observers’ lips for days!” Abelardo said, throwing down the cloth in disgust, accepting that his garment was a lost cause.

“The Illyrian did as well.” Rose offered.

“A baby Wyrm. Dangerous, yes, but nothing to get excited over. At least he managed to take the Desert Rose before fleeing.” The large man said dismissingly, draining his mug and grabbing the pitcher to refill it.

“Speak of a devil and it shall appear. I did not know that your Bard was familiar with young Wil.” Amora said, gesturing to the far end of the pavilion.

A trio of silver badged adventurer recruits had just entered the Lodge Pavilion. They were led by the flamboyantly dressed Bard, who was speaking to everyone who he passed on a first name basis.

The pair trailing him was made up of the Illyrian, Wil, dressed in his leather armor and signature White Ursine cloak. His companion was a silver haired woman, stunningly beautiful and dressed in white robes, spotless and clean.

Feeling eyes on him, Wil looked over to the three observers, his face showing signs of recognition when he spotted Amora. He nodded his head in greeting to the Magus, before pulling out a chair for the young woman to sit in.

Anwir, finishing his greetings, turned to join them at their table, when he noticed Rose and the others across the room.

Abelardo snorted in disgust, thinking that the Bard would soon be traipsing over to join them, when he surprised them all by merely waving at the trio, before joining his companions at their table.

Amora, noticing the frown on Rose’s face at his actions, swiftly steered the conversation to safer waters.

“Who is the young woman with them? I wasn’t aware that Wil had any friends amongst the locals.” Amora asked curiously. Rose was taken out of her thoughts at the question, turning away from the Bard’s table to refocus on her friends.

“Astrid of Ur. Her mother is-” Rose explained, before being cut off by Abelardo’s exclamation.

“Tessa!”

“Another one of your paramours, Abelardo?” Amora said, smiling at her friend.

“No, nothing of the sort. I just hadn’t realized her daughter was here.” The large man said, his expression serious as he watched the trio at their table. It was clear from his attitude that he didn’t want to discuss it further.

They were interrupted from their conversation by a commotion outside the pavilion. From the direction of the Spring, a swelling of mana was occurring. A vortex of energy created a swirling dust devil, centered over the small pool of water. Even from where they sat, the observers could feel the gathering of mana concentrating over a small point, hovering a few feet above the ground.

“It’s starting early.” Amora said, her eyes narrowing as she observed the energy.

“Still, it’s opening should coincide with Night. But I wonder what triggered it?” Rose asked, lost in thought for a moment as she tapped her fingernail against her lips.

From behind them, sat at the table with Anwir and Astrid, Wil felt a pulse of energy emanate from the bag of holding at his side. Looking around to ensure no one was watching, he subtly reached into the bag, withdrawing the golden coin he had received from the Azure Lord.

It was hot, the coin nearly seared his palm as he looked down at it. Hidden beneath the table, the gold glowed with an inner light, the lines of the seven-pointed sun were filled with bright, yellow mana, and on the reverse, the three wavy lines of the symbol of Aruna glowed blue.

He could feel a connection building between the coin in his hand, and the portal forming above the Center Spring.

‘What in the world have I gotten into this time?’ Wil wondered to himself, as he grasped the coin tightly in his hand and watched the vortex of energy in the distance.