Leveling up the World

Chapter 632: The Price of Leveling

Do you disapprove of what Im doing, Harp? Dallion asked, looking at the horizon.

Despite this being his realm, he couldnt remove the storm clouds that had gathered. They didnt thunder or rain, just stood there like grim reminders just above the remnants of Gleams bridge.

If I dont do it, theres no one who will, Dallion continued.

The nymph kept playing her water harp. The melody was beautiful and full of calm, but Dallion couldnt enjoy its effectshe could see them float through the air, bouncing off of him. That was one of the downsides of his sudden boost: knowing how to use music to achieve his goals made him reluctant to allow the skill to be used on him.

Will there be any going back after this? If I succeed, I mean. I know theres going back if I fail.

Dallion wondered why he said that. For a moment, he had the feeling that things might get worse if he survived.

The Moons havent been talking to me lately. I see them all the time now, staying in the sky day and night, even there. He pointed at the clouds. When it comes down to it, will they approve?

Thats not for me to say, the melody changed, forming words. I dont know the Moons, but I know you. Youll get through this.

But things wont get back to normal.

Change is inevitable.

Dallion knew that the nymph meant well, but her response still felt hollow. There was nothing she could do for him right now. His hope was that when it came to the actual fight, she would. Even wounded, the Star was more than a threat he could handle alone.

This really is a bad idea, dear boy, Nils familiar voice came from behind. The old echo had taken the pains to come all the way from his library.

What is?

Ariel told me what youre thinking. Leveling up now is a needless risk. Itll make you vulnerable in the immediate future.

Itll make me stronger for the fight with the Star.

Thats where youre wrong! Nil snapped. Assuming the general somehow comes through, which I still have doubts about, his artifact will match the Stars level with yours. Following that logically, the stronger you become, the stronger he will as well. Even worse, youll give him a chance to use abilities he lacked in your previous fight.

One level wont change the outcome all that much.

In that case, why go through it?

Because passing the trial will help me! Dallion shouted.

All the sounds in his realm vanished. The wind stopped, as did the waves and the movement of the clouds. Never before had Dallion yelled at the inhabitants of his realm with this level of anger. He wanted to apologize to the old man, to let him know he valued his advice and all the training hed given him since Dallion was level six. At the same time, he couldn't afford to. Any distractions risked making him weaker, and right now, unwanted advice was a distraction.

Lux, Dallion said. Take me to the nearest door.

Blue flames surrounded Dallion, lifting him in the air, then thrusting him towards another part of the island. If there was any response on their side, Dallion didnt hear it. For a few seconds, he felt like going back and talking it out, but that feeling soon faded away.

The trial entrance the firebird brought Dallion to was in the sea itself, located on the side of a dark rock. Dallion was certain he had attempted the trial before, although last time the door hadnt been this rusty. Even so, a trial was a triallacking the strength to pass one was the same as lacking the strength to pass all.

Nox, are you well enough for this?

As long as its not in water, the crackling replied. I hate water.

I hate water too! Lux said in a far too joyous fashion. He was right, though. Firebirds and water didnt mix, at least not unless Lux got a serious level boost.

Without further delay, Dallion pulled the door open and floated through.

Youre in the halls of destiny.

Defeat your hidden fears and shape your future!

The blue rectangle appeared immediately. That was normal. Seeing a second door less than five steps awaynot so much. Judging from past experience that occurred when Dallion was faced with a logical challenge. The issue with that was that there shouldnt be any more such challenges. In the last few months Dallion had attempted all the remaining challenges: all of them were physical, requiring him to defeat one or more enemies, among other things, in order to complete the trial. Furthermore, the corridors leading to them had always been long, occasionally filled with traps. Being presented with something new meant that the trials had changed.

Anything you know about this, Nil? Dallion asked.

The door was entirely crafted of white wood. The handle was delicate, as if belonging to royalty.

Im facing the countess, arent I? Dallion smiled. He could see the logic. What was more, he was pleased that it happened. This way he got to experience something he couldnt in the real world. Fighting the countess was the same as fighting the Star, yet awakening trials always presented a means to victory.

Dripping the handle tightly, Dallion opened the door and walked in.

A large white room welcomed him. Everything was incandescent white, making him feel as if he were standing in infinity.

Yes, dear boy, I know everything about this challenge, Nil said, though not in the fashion the echo usually did. This time, the echo was facing him, standing in the room itself. In fact, its an extremely simple challenge. Its all in the execution, as they say.

I didnt think Id have to face you. Dallion summoned his harpsisword.

There are two doors, Nil continued. The one you came through and the one behind me. In order to complete the trial, you need to pass through the one behind me. Needless to say, Ill do everything to stop you.

Concentrating, Dallion combined his music skill with layer vision. As far as he could tell, there was nothing unusual in the old echos words.

At any point, you can choose to give up by walking out through the door you came in.

Thats it? Dallion asked. Seems too simple.

As I told you, it would be. Theres just one catchdestroying me would remove me from your realm forever.

Yeah, right. Apparently, it was one of the psychological trials. It had been a while since Dallion had one of those. The goal was to test Dallions resolve.

This time Im quite serious. Destroy me and youll get what you wanteda quick level up with no consequences. You wont even feel hungry once youre done. I wont attack you or defend myself. The only thing Ill do is physically prevent you from passing from the door. And just in case youre wonderingyoure not fast enough to run past.

Something felt off. Dallion found himself hesitating.

Theres no such trial.

Oh, but there is. Youve always asked me whether Im a mage, well now you can be certain of it. I modified the trial just a bit. You can say I bypassed it for the low price of an echos existence. Destroy me and the level is yours. Go back and youll never have this option again. Of course, the one-day restriction will still apply.

Youre telling me that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity?

Not your lifetime, Nil corrected. Its all a matter of priorities and determination. Or a cost benefit analysis. Since youre so readily ignoring my advice on important matters, maybe its time you continued on your own. I wont stop you. If you think you prefer that I keep guiding you, as much as Im allowed, walk back. Either way, Ill have no hard feelings.

It had to be a trick. Surely the trial was just messing with Dallions head, yet in the most unexpected fashion. The trial with Jiroh had also offered him a way out of this world and back to Earth. To this day Dallion could never be sure whether that was real or not. The stakes here were a lot smaller or were they?

Would it help if I made a Moon vow? Nil asked.

Instead of an answer, Dallion split into instances, then used his athletic skills to try and run past the echo. In each case, Nil blocked his path. He wasnt lying about that, it seemed.

Go ahead, Dallion said.

I vow by the Purple Moon that everything I told you is the truth and that I havent omitted anything of significance relating to this matter. Happy?

Dallions reaction was to ask how he could be sure the vow was real. There was no way it wouldnt be. Even the awakening trials followed the rules of the Moons, and breaking a Moon vow resulted in immediate punishment.

Youre really willing to vanish in order to make a point?

Sometimes thats the only way, dear boy. As I said, I wont have hard feelings either way. I just want to be sure youre devoted to the choice you make one way or the other. Put it simply, if youre willing to kill in order to achieve your goals, youd better accept that now. If not, at least be aware of your limitations and stop building castles onto air.

You disapprove of my methods.

I disapprove of a great many things, the same as you. Why do you think people are terrified of nobles? Its not so much because of their power. The key is that everyone knows they arent afraid to use it. In the grand scope of things, mages are the arrogant ones. We can see things others cant, so our actions often seem illogical. We deal with numbers. When looking at a page, its easy to do away with the lives of people. Doing it in person thats a whole different matter. Im not capable of that. Nobles, though, have no problem. You see, theyve done it at least before in a trial.

All of them?

Looking back, Dallion couldnt picture Lady Marigold as a stone-cold killer. Then again, she had lived through the wars of succession, which suggested that she had seen a lot of bloodshed first hand. Nobles were too powerful weapons to remain unused, and the only thing that could stop a noble was a mage or another noble.

Most. Dont ask me if thats a good thing. I dont know the answer. There are arguments either way. Some say strength without conviction is no strength at all. Others disagree. Whats important now is for you to make a choice.

Dallion looked at the door across him.

If I quit, does that mean I wont get such a challenge later on?

Theres no way for me to know that. I just know you wont get this challenge.

Dallion unsummoned the sword.

This never was a trial, he hissed. You know I dont have a choice. If youre really destroyed, Ive no way of knowing anything that your original is told. Ill never get the artifact from the general.

Oh? I had forgotten, Nil said in mock surprise. Im confident hell find a way. As for information on the Stars location, youve figured that out already, havent you? Thats why the trial is about conviction. Are you convinced you have what it takes to continue on your own, or will you endure my help?

Isnt this breaking the vow? Dallion clenched his fists.

Not in the least, and clearly the Moons agree with me. You were perfectly aware of the consequences when I gave you the option. Facing the Star alone is already going against the odds. Would this be any different?

Dallion took a few steps forward, stopping right in front of the echo. The old man didnt look particularly fit, and yet he was the first and oldest mentor Dallion had had.

You never made things easy, Dallion told himself.

He didnt want this to happen. He had already sacrificed Gleam not long ago. Dallion knew fully well that the shardfly might perish, yet he hadnt stopped her. Even in his naivete, he knew it was too much to rely on luck, just as he shouldnt rely on this being a mere mind game.

One level for Nils life. It wasnt a lot, but given the difficulty of the current trials, it wasnt trivial, either.

Bringing back an echo is a lot more difficult than a guardian. Aether didnt miss an opportunity to remind Dallion of himself. Its not impossible, though it might be easier to just ask the original to create a new echo.

It wont be Nil.

Just like the echoes you created in combat werent you. You didnt have trouble sacrificing them, did you? Also, if you use the gem, you wont have to go through this trial in the first place. Ill give you all the power you need to defeat the Star. Ill vow to it. All you need is to say the word.

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