System Change

“Eloria?” Derek turned his head and looked at Alanah with confusion. “Are there a bunch of good dungeons around the capital of Indria or something?” he asked. He thought that Alanah would probably take him around some of the dungeons in Cydaria before moving to dungeons in other regions, so he wasn’t sure why they would start their little adventure in Indria.

“Well…” Alanah said. “There are many decent dungeons around Eloria, but that is not why we are going there. There is something we need to take care of before doing anything else,” she explained, but didn’t go into any further detail.

“Okay,” Derek said with a shrug. “I’m just a passenger on this trip. We’ll go with what you have planned.” Though curious, it didn’t make any difference where they went. He was actually just glad to be out doing something. He felt like he was beginning to get back to being himself after all those decades or more trapped in the void—albeit, he was getting back to himself, but while actually having friends and people he cared about.

After the system came to Earth, he spent most of his time alone, and only used his cabin for sleep and a modicum of safety. The rest of the time, he was always doing something like hunting monsters, grinding skills, or getting his ass kicked by Jace. So, after his longest stretch of being home in Savannah, it only made sense to him that he was getting ‘antsy,’ as Malorie put it.

If Alanah wanted to go to Eloria to start the adventure, who was he to say no? Besides, Eloria smells really nice. It will be good to get out of the ‘aroma’ of a regular city like this. Natalie did a great job at keeping Savannah cleaner than any of the other cities in Cydaria that he’d been to—and the one in Astrus—but it still couldn’t compare to the natural City of Elyria.

“There will be two teleports to get to Eloria,” Tavors said, breaking Derek out of his thoughts on the matter. The man reached out to hand Alanah something that looked like a small set of papers, then said, “Once you arrive through the teleporter, give this to the clerk and they will prepare your next teleport. It should not take very long to get where you are going now that the kingdoms’ teleportation centers are properly connected.”

“Thank you,” Alanah said and took the papers that appeared to be Cydaria’s interpretation of a traveling ticket.

Derek looked at Alanah and Tavors strangely. Again, he noticed that something was off with her. She had spoken, and the clerk hadn’t fallen under her passive skills. Maybe clerks invest a lot in wisdom? I guess they don’t really need a lot else for what they do, he thought, but inwardly, he knew that couldn’t be the case. If it was, Alanah wouldn’t have been so happy to have someone other than the elites of the kingdom to speak to when they first spoke.

And, on top of all of that, Alanah seemed to be oddly cheerful and forthcoming in her interactions. He was going to chalk it up to the excitement of going on an adventure, but now, he wasn’t sure. However, Derek didn’t make his suspicions known, and just went along with everything for the time being.

Now that I think about it, though… I don’t think she’s been too cautious about speaking to people for a while—at least, not that I can think of. Back at the Indaria wedding, she had spoken with Avery for a long time during the ceremony, and, while not overly loud, there had to have been people within earshot that would have heard her voice.

Then there was Tara’s kid when he contracted his drake, he thought. Though, he wasn’t sure about that one—the boy was very strong and his class seemed to use a lot of intelligence and probably wisdom. Flashes of his time spent with the half elf went through his head, but he didn’t have enough proof that something was different.

She seemed very much herself when we had ‘meetings’ with the rulers of the kingdoms, he thought. But it’s possible that she was leaning into her passive skills during that time as more of a way of intimidation… and why wouldn’t she? I wonder what all happened with her while I was in the raid dungeon… The problem was, other than during their little conquest once he left the dungeon and the short amount of time he spent with her before the raid, Derek still wasn’t all too familiar with the woman.

Alanah noticed the look that Derek was giving her and Tavors, and sent him a half grin back. Yup, he thought. There is definitely something up with her skills.

“Please step into the teleportation circle,” Tavors said, and the duo followed his instructions. “Please remain as still as possible.”

Yes, yes… Derek thought. Keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times… if you experience a sudden loss of arms or legs, the Cydaria—or Indria—teleportation service will not be held liable for your misfortune.

Finally, the clerk began the process of sending the two away. “3… 2… 1…” he counted down and the bright blue light associated with teleportation consumed the duo.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The next instant, Derek and Alanah were standing in the center of another teleportation circle with a different clerk looking at them with wide eyes. She was an eleven woman, which made Derek wonder if the first teleportation had already brought the two of them into Indria territory. He couldn’t know for certain without asking, but the surroundings didn’t look naturally made like he would think somewhere in Indria would look—at least based on his short time in Eloria.

“M-ma’am… S-sir…” the elven lady stuttered as she greeted the two arrivals. “May I have your ti—” she started, but Alanah reached out with the papers that Tavors had given her and handed it to the clerk. “T-thank you,” she said as she accepted the ticket.

“Going to Eloria,” the elf said. She injected some mana into the papers, nodded, then handed them back to Alanah. “Everything is in order. If you would please stay inside the circle without moving, I will have you to your next destination momentarily,” she said, then began the process. “Runes ready, teleport in 3… 2… 1…”

Again, the blinding blue light washed over the two, and the next time Derek blinked, he was in yet another room with a teleportation circle and a clerk. The difference this time was that the room was much more natural—made of living wood and some stone. He breathed a deep breath and closed his eyes—taking in the pleasant smell surrounding him. That was all the information he needed to know that they were already in Eloria.

“Welcome to Eloria!” A male voice sounded out before Derek had a chance to open his eyes again.

“You know,” he turned to Alanah and said before the clerk could say anything else. “I could have brought us here and it would have been faster. We wouldn’t have had to go through the extra teleport.” He made to take a step out of the teleportation circle, but Alanah reached out with her arm, blocking his path forward and causing him to stop in his tracks.

“It wouldn’t have been faster,” Alanah said, and a frown appeared on Derek’s face. Then, she turned to the elven clerk, handed him their papers, then said, “We need a teleport to Cordonia if that isn’t too much trouble.” She slightly turned her body to show the badge and token of merit adorn on her arm.

“Y-yes,” the man said. “Of course, right away. Anything for one with such status. It would be my pleasure.”

Cordonia… where have I heard that name before? Derek thought, then it hit him. Oh yeah, that is the so-called refuge for the humans that Indria couldn’t allow to go back home that I planned to visit at some point. He looked at Alanah, who smiled at him once again. She knew that he planned on going to the city to take a look—to make sure that those who were there had been treated well.

Now that I think about it, it’s probably a good time to visit the city sooner rather than later. With all the other stuff going on, I doubt they’ve had enough time to cover their asses if they were lying. Plus, with all the contracts, I doubt they were, he thought.

Though, I do bet they have already opened the city up for any of the refugees to leave if they want. Still, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone to let us know how they were treated. He thought about Alanah again. And we won’t have to worry about them lying. Still, he was glad that Alanah thought about going to the city before taking off. It would be one less thing he needed to do once they left there.

“Here you go,” the overly enthusiastic elven clerk handed the papers back to Alanah, and she took them. “If you would please—” he started, but Derek cut him off.

“Stand in the center of the circle and don’t move,” he said with a smile.

“Yes… that,” the man answered, then prepared to activate the circle. “Teleportation ready. Activating in 3… 2… 1…”

For the third time on their currently very short journey, the blue light washed over them and they disappeared. Derek had to say, he wasn’t the biggest fan of these constant teleportations. He wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t full trust them or the people activating them, or because he was just used to his own traveling skill. It did allow him to make a much more grand entrance, after all.

Finally, the light died down and they were in yet another city’s teleportation center. The look of his current surroundings made Derek think that the first place they teleported to was either in Cydaria or very close to the border, because—if they were in Cordonia like he thought—it was laid out just like Eloria had been.

The sweet smell of fresh flowers and nature wasn’t as strong, but it was still there. Also, there were a bit more man-made items and flooring in the building, but overall, it was still mostly natural.

“Welcome to Cordonia,” a feminine voice called out upon their arrival, and Derek took a look at the speaker. She was just about as beautiful as any other female elf Derek had come across. She also had a bright smile plastered on her face that increased her beauty, but, once again, the smile fell away to shock, then excitement, once she saw the tokens pinned to their arms. “How may I help such esteemed guests today?” she asked.

That’s two for two on the overly respectful elves, Derek thought. That first place was definitely still in Cydaria. The clerks here in Indria must have already had these merit badges and proper treatment of those who wear them hammered into their heads. I’m sure everyone in Indria is on edge because of everything that happened.

“Thank you for your concern,” Alanah answered to the woman. “But we will be able to manage ourselves.”

“Of course, Madam,” the woman bowed deeply to the half-elf, then stepped to the side to allow a path out of the teleportation circle and through the building. “Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”

Alanah nodded to the woman and stepped forward—out of the circle—and Derek followed. As they were walking through the building, Alanah whispered, “From what little research I was able to do, I do not believe Cordonia is a very large city. It should be closer to one of the sub-cities in Cydaria, or even smaller.”

“That makes sense,” Derek said. “Especially if it was just a place to send ‘refugees’ from other kingdoms.”

“Hmm…” Alanah shook her head. “It is still a proper city in Indria, and Indrian citizens have chosen—of their own accord—to live here. It is not only a refugee city.”

“Well then, let’s see what it looks like,” Derek whispered to her. “Then you can tell me all about whatever is going on with you.”

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