Chapter 84: Restrictions & Restraint

They both appeared standing next to each other at the beginning of the level 1850 instance. It felt like a decade since they had been inside one. A lot had happened but the actual time since they left the System hadn’t been that long. When Trint appeared, he was only briefly surprised to get some notifications from the System.

“Will you keep an eye out for a moment?” Trint asked his companion. “I got some menus to go through.”

“Just summon your Soul creations. Or are you going to stop using them?”

“No, I will. I don’t know why I wasn’t thinking about them.” Trint summoned them and sat on the ground. “I’ll share the screens with you.” Trint flicked the now visible screens over so they could both read them. A new System readout forcefully interrupted the first system messages Trint had pulled up. The message updated as if it were being typed slowly, it drove home the intended messages.

System Message: Sovereign Status Acknowledged.

[Sovereign Class] and Profession Path [Soul King] compatibility issue:

Anchor [Tree of Life] insufficient level for connection to Subsystem causing Instance errors.

Conflicting access and privileges

Multiple Errors Found

Resolution Needed

Escalated Intervention Inquiry

Intervention Approved

System Restriction Assigned

[Tree of Life] - Soul Anchor Level 4 must be obtained for Instance restrictions to be lifted.

Instance control and Subsystem access are now restricted.

System Penalties Assigned:

1-Instances will only be accessible if they are 25 levels above your level when entering.

2-Instance control and menu selections are restricted until compatibility issues are resolved.

Leave the Instance through the entrance or face further restrictions.

You have 30 seconds.

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Trint had jumped to his feet when the high-priority messages started rolling across his display. He felt his stomach flip at the changes and new restrictions.

He willed his Soul creations back inside and then both quickly stepped back the way they’d entered before the timer hit zero. As the timer zeroed out the Instance entrance changed from clear and glowing with soft light, to glowing bright red.

“I honestly shouldn’t complain,” Trint shrugged, “Too many things have gone well for us. And this doesn’t change our plans that much. We just need to find Instances that are 25 levels higher than me. It was nice having additional Instance control but at least we can still access them.”

“Agreed, let’s keep moving Northwest and you can ask your scouts what they find tomorrow.”

They started jogging and jumping down the rocky cliff. Some of the lower-level creatures appeared but most of them retreated if either fighter stretched their Soul presence out. During the last several days fleeing the Cease, they had focused on stealth. But startling the wildlife with their Soul presence got boring after a while. So, they both remained in stealth for the rest of the day. There were a few places where flying was necessary to avoid wasting time climbing deep ravines but keeping to the ground attracted less attention and didn’t signal to anyone miles away that they were there. It is better to spot a threat first than unknowingly be spotted.

The mountains and rocky terrain rose and fell. Mountain after mountain and valley after valley. They covered a great distance over the next eight hours. Not seeing a single sentient being. They came across many red Instances and they were pleased to see that the level of creatures and Instances were higher the further they traveled. But all were still below the new requirement to enter.

It wasn’t until the next day when one of his nightmares found them that they got news of what was around them. Baba Jaga described what they’d found. About twice the distance that Trint and his partner had already traveled was a city.

“Where is Koshchei?” Trint assumed the worst for a moment but remembered he hadn’t felt pain like when he had lost a Soul creation.

“Koshchei is waiting on a mountain overlooking the city,” Baba Jaga’s whispered sliding closer to Trint. “If we travel a little farther you should be able to view through his eyes and decide our path.”

“Good,” Trint was pleased but still took an involuntary step back. “Let’s keep moving till then.”

Knowing nothing stood between them and Koshchei, the other three decided to fly close to the ground and were able to make much faster time.

Within a few hours, they were within range of Koshchei.

“Thank you, Koshchei, your plan is appreciated. Will you look toward the city and tell me your thoughts?” Trint requested through their connection.

Koshchei groaned but did not say anything. He did scan his vision over the city. Trint relayed the message to his companion by explaining and forming a miniature model using his Spirit.

“It appears to be a well-defended and organized city. From a mountain near the path to it, you can see the entire layout. There are two main areas. One is a central walled-off area. The outer wall is very tall the inner wall is more for separation than protection. I believe the wealthy live there.”

“What do you wish to do?” Pneuma genuinely inquired.

“I think leveling my Anchor is important. Leveling in Instances and progressing in my profession. What else were you thinking?”

“Those are good areas to focus on, we also need to find larger cities that will contain teleportation to the largest civilizations. Your family connections are not likely to be in such a small place.”

“So should we just skip this one?” Trint tried to hide the frustration of that idea. I need to be okay with doing what is best, the man thought to himself. Not just what would be good in the short term. Keep focused. Keep advancing.

“What are you thinking right now?” Pneuma saw Trint’s attention drift ever slightly.

“I just wanted to stop and check out the city. But I also beat myself up for that because it is probably not productive toward our true goal.”

“Don’t be hard on yourself. There is time. Honestly, I planned on us needing to spend thousands to tens of thousands of years reaching them. You are a realm-shattering source of excitement and surprise. You may have fallen into a pile of luck before the system. I’m not sure.”

“You mean the car accident that took my family and broke me?”

“No! Now that went dark fast,” Pneuma challenged. “I meant that you keep having things go your way and I am just trying to steer your crazy speedboat down a raging river at a breakneck speed to avoid rocks and waterfalls. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah, it’s been a ride,” Trint ran his hand through his hair. “So, that doesn’t answer my question.”

“Like everything, unless I tell you otherwise, it’s up to you.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Do what I want unless you tell me not to. Oh, that does make some sense.”

“Yeah, I am an advisor and your friend now. I want to help but honestly, your stupid luck has gotten us farther than my carefully laid plans and the instructions I was given.”

“So, there was a master plan?”

“Of course. But that was left behind long ago,” Pneuma’s calm explanation eased Trint’s frustration and firmed his resolve and confidence in their path.

“Okay, let’s skip this place and find a city big enough to blend in and have teleportation.”

They pushed on and in the weeks of travel, they finally found some signs of true civilization. The city was massive, from horizon to horizon almost. What they first encountered was a loose collection of communities.

They made contact and traded some supplies from what they had collected over their i3 journey so far. The animal parts, skins, and even the whole carcass were of value to these people. They wanted everything Trint was willing to trade.

They picked up on the local customs and got some clothes that let them blend in. Pneuma and Trint were still tall and stuck out in the crowd but with a face covering for the scarier of the two and cloaks, they did not become immediate targets for everyone’s attention.

The smaller cities got closer and closer and became the outskirts of the major city proper. It had protected walls and stationed guards. They were more professional soldiers. Not just city guards, well equipped and disciplined. The entrances to the walled city were monitored and everyone was inspected.

The two warriors debated waiting till night to fly over the wall but thought better of it after some observation. That decision was proven wise, when they were waiting their turn in line, they observed someone try it. The boy was immediately captured and led back outside.

“Next time you’ll serve time,” one gate administrator patiently warned. Apparently dishing out just a slap on the wrist to the nicely dressed and heavily bejeweled teenager.

“You know my father would never let you throw me in a mine like some peasant,” the young noble proudly postured.

“That may be true, but everyone waits in line. Unless you have a regent’s pass?” the gatekeeper spoke with great patience. “No? Then please go to the end.”

“Looks like the gates are secure,” Trint smirked watching the young man get ushered to the back of their line.

“What are you smiling at peasant,”

Trint didn’t even notice the little brat, but the escort had stopped and was now looking at his smiling face.

“Oh, nothing,” Trint replaced his smile with a deadpan stare. Hoping humility was the right approach he avoided eye contact and bowed slightly.

“I don’t believe you,” the boy now stepped back tapped his bracelet, and spoke into it. “Yes, I need help. I was attacked by a House-less peasant.”

“Apologies for any perceived offense,” Pneuma spoke softly behind his completely covered face. “My friend meant no offense towards you. We are just entering the city for the day.”

“Well then, that makes two peasants I was attacked by today. Did I say to address me?” the boy continued while sending other commands into his bracelet.

The guards escorting the boy had backed away and returned to the gate entrance. Leaving Trint and Pneuma in line with an angry and elegantly dressed young brat following them with a malevolent smile.

The line moved forward a couple of steps then there was a commotion at the gate. Everyone was pushed out of the entrance and the line they were in quickly moved out of the way.

Three rows of four soldiers marched through the opening. These were all in elegant armor but differed from the less detailed versions of the gate guards.

“Well, he didn’t say who he was he just flew the wall, and we don’t let anyone do that,” Trint heard the gate administrator say as he looked toward the pleading voice, only to see the man’s hand separated from his arm and fall to the ground. The man who removed the hand returned his short sword to its sheath and followed the rows of guards.

“Oh man, this just turned bad, real quick,” Trint whispered to himself.

What do you want to do? Pneuma mentally demanded of his friend. Fight or Flight? I am confident we can take them and escape but what’s the point if we can’t enter the city?

Let’s try to be civil and if they can be reasoned with, we don’t kill them.

I’m not letting them take your hand. We can still kill the brat and run? The advisor offered. Trint couldn’t hide his chuckle at the offer.

Your humor has gotten darker lately. I like it. Want to rush to a teleporter? I’ll let you punch the kid. They both laughed lightly to their back-and-forth jests but agreed to wait till all their options were on the table.

“See, even now they mock me,” the young brat continued stepping towards the guards now positioning themselves around Trint and his partner. At this point, the crowd had become scarce and even the gate guards were now stepping back into enclosures in the wall.