NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 28: The Path Forward
Erik observed the stone for a while and said, "Yes, for dues' sake, this stone is packed with inactive elemental energy. Let's collect them and store them in my space ring."
The space ring, a gift from his mentor upon his promotion to junior priest, had a capacity of around one hundred cubic meters. This made it an invaluable tool for a mage of his rank.
Arvind listened to Erik's words and felt a pang of envy. The practicality of the space ring was undeniable as they transported the stones to the ruin. He clenched his fist and murmured to himself, "In the future, I will definitely have many space rings." With that resolve, he shook his head and refocused on collecting the stones.
A few minutes later, they finished collecting all the nearby stones, and Erik stopped them. He then carefully placed the stones into his ring.
After Erik finished, Arvind turned to the group, covered in dust. Feeling grateful, he said encouragingly,
"With these stones, we will stabilize the nexus. Think of it like using a key to lock away chaos. Inactive elemental properties act as anchors, grounding the volatile active energy. This is evident in elemental crystals, as active energy cannot exist in physical form. It's like trying to bottle lightning—impossible without the right container. I am confident this will work. Let's hurry back to the ruins; we must secure the nexus quickly."
Everyone nodded, eyes gleaming with confidence as they heard his theory. They stepped forward as Arvind led them back to the ruins. As they hurried back, Arvind secretly prayed that Ignis and Deus would bless them, so the stones would work to stabilize the nexus.
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Once they arrived, Arvind placed his hands on the rough, faintly ember-glowing stones, feeling the warmth beneath his fingertips. "These stones are our hope to stabilize the node," he said, his voice steady. "We need to act fast." His eyes scanned the surroundings.
Erik began crafting a stabilizing array with elemental runes, using the tools they brought. His hands trembled as he carved the symbols into the stones, each stroke a battle against his doubts. Haunted by earlier fears, he focused on the task. As each rune took shape, his resolve solidified. "It will work," he murmured to himself.
Arvind placed his hand on Erik's shoulder and said, "You've got this, Erik. We all believe in you." He looked at the nexus crystal with a hopeful expression. He clenched his fist as he gazed and muttered, "No failure is allowed."
The rest of the group worked in silent coordination, gathering stones and preparing the site. Their collective determination created an unspoken bond, each person playing a crucial role. Even Bramir, stabilized by the stones from the active elemental energy influence, wanted to contribute to the group. He placed the stones at the prepared site and looked at Erik with hope on his face.
Erik's hand trembled as he carved the rune. He calmed himself, determined to meet their expectations. He recalled his initial failure in the wheat field, which grounded him. "No room for fear," he thought. "Just focus and trust almighty Deus."
As Arvind and the others finished positioning the stones around the nexus, their movements were synchronized and precise, like the gears of a well-oiled machine. "Everything in place," Arvind muttered as he checked and ensured the stones were aligned perfectly.
Soon Erik completed the last rune. The runes began to glow brighter, the stones resonating in harmony. Erik then placed the final stone, and the stabilizer began to absorb the radiating active elemental energy and channel it to the stones. The ground beneath them pulsed in response, the unstable energy of the node starting to settle.
After a few minutes, Arvind felt the concentration of energy decrease. He muttered ecstatically to them with a smile, "Erik, it worked, for dues' sake." He turned to Anika, Bramir, and Aldric and continued, "Our hard work has paid off. The bright future of Ravengarde awaits us."
The rest of the group smiled, their faces etched with excitement at his announcement. They allowed themselves to express the emotions they had been bearing all along.
A few minutes later, as Arvind and the others engaged in excited conversation, Anika walked closer to the nexus and examined the stabilizer. She noticed that while the stabilizer channeled unstable energy to the stones, elements other than fire—like water, air, and earth—were absorbed more slowly. She thought, "The stones' ability to absorb unstable energy is limited, especially for these elements."
Turning to Arvind, she said, "My lord, this stabilizer is just a temporary fix. It handles fire energy well, but the other elements are absorbed too slowly. I'm worried we will need to stabilize it again soon. The permanent solution would require a large quantity of inactive elemental crystals, which we currently lack." She paused, then added,
"I recommend we map out nearby inactive elemental-rich minerals for future needs. We also need to locate inactive crystal ore in Ravengarde to permanently stabilize the node."
Arvind nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Absolutely, Anika. Thank you, you truly are my guiding star." He paused and glanced at the stabilizer. "It's all based on solid scientific principles," he thought. He then continued, "Once we return, I will implement a policy to search for the mine and develop Ravengarde, preparing for any challenges ahead."
Anika's worried face bloomed into a radiant smile upon hearing his decision. The shift in Anika was palpable, a transformation that surprised and intrigued Arvind. As he gazed at her, a newfound respect mingled with awe. It was as if a door to a hidden realm had opened within her, revealing a strength and determination he had never seen before. A warm smile played on his lips, a silent acknowledgment of her growth. "I support you, Anika," he murmured, his voice filled with quiet assurance. "No one will harm you while I draw breath."
Anika's heart warmed at his words. She felt her heartbeat quicken and her ears turn red, but she maintained her composure, pretending not to hear him. Inside, she was secretly smiling.
With that, Arvind turned around, searching for Erik. Sobriety settled in as guilt built up, remembering what he had said to Erik. Despite Erik's past mistakes that had caused bloodshed in Ravengarde, today had shown how desperately they needed him. Arvind couldn't imagine the outcome without Erik's help. He shook his head, realizing that it wasn't just Erik's responsibility—he himself had been careless, not having a backup plan in place.
He approached Erik, who was gazing thoughtfully at the stabilizer, his expression a mixture of contemplation and complexity. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I am sorry, Erik, for all the outbursts and curses. At that time, I couldn't control myself; the pressure of responsibility was overwhelming."
Erik waited for a while, then looked at him and replied, "Young man, I know what you've been through. That was my grave mistake; I was too proud of my knowledge without seeing the evidence clearly presented to me. It was so clear that I am ashamed of thinking about it. But I forgive you. May the almighty Deus bless you."
Erik turned his eyes to Anika and continued, "You should be grateful to her. She was the one who showed us repeatedly that I used the wrong method to stabilize the node. Young man, you should take care of her, and if I see you bullying her, I will come to you for a lecture." His piercing eyes fixed on Arvind.
While Erik was secretly amused by Arvind, he hadn't realized that his loyal maid had unexpectedly become a junior mage without even knowing it. Arvind nodded and said with determination, "I am not that kind of person." Then, a thought struck him, and he added, "Why don't you become my mage advisor? I have a promising project that I think you'll find very interesting. What do you think? I'll provide you with the resources and funding to further your magical research."
Erik thought for a while. He realized he had no place to go, and his hometown was Ravengarde. Seeing the positive changes Arvind had brought, he felt optimistic about its future. He looked at Arvind closely and said, "Young man, you need to be prepared for the demands of my research—it could lead Ravengarde to bankruptcy. But reluctantly, I accept your offer."
Arvind's forehead, damp with sweat, broke into a smile as he heard Erik accept his offer. He said, "Don't worry about the finances; I'll take care of it. You just focus on your research." Silently, he mused, "You don't know the advantage of a reincarnator. I have several ways to earn money."
As they were talking, Erik's face changed when he noticed a sudden spike in the main ley line connected to the nexus, with the pressure being redirected to neighboring territories. He was sure it would destabilize their ley lines. The ground beneath them trembled as the energy surged, a foreboding sign of wider unrest.
Even without Erik's explanation, Arvind could connect the dots and imagine the consequences and unrest it would bring to the noble lords. He muttered, "Now the misfortune isn't just mine but also those arrogant nobles who will face the consequences. I'd love to see their expressions."
After calming down, he felt a headache about the lasting impact and was sure the surrounding territories would be in chaos. He clenched his fist. "No matter what, it has already happened. This instability will create a smooth path for Ravengarde's economy, political, and military influence," he said.
He smiled at the baronies' misfortune. It wasn't that he had become the person he once hated, but his perspective had changed. As Ravengarde's ruler, his territory came first before deciding to be a saint. He comforted himself that caring about Ravengarde's future was not wrong.
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As the chaotic energy of the nexus stabilized and flowed harmoniously along the ley line, the turbulent energy outside gradually receded. The mountain began to clear, and the weather calmed. The fauna, once affected by the disturbance, relaxed, and plants started to rejuvenate from their erratic growth or decay. Birds chirped, welcoming the new day with optimism.
The small nodes in Ravengarde were relieved from the pressure exerted by the main nexus, leading to a calm atmosphere throughout the region. Townsfolk emerged from their homes, smiles of relief replacing the hopelessness they had felt. It seemed as though everything was returning to normal—a miracle of nature, even as the recent events left a lasting impact on Ravengarde.
Meanwhile, Eldrin, the son of Bramir, hurried out of his home to the construction site. He gazed at the sky, noticing the receding dark clouds. "I miss my father and Lord Arvind. I hope they are safe," he mused, picking up his pace, eager to help Ravengarde despite being unable to assist Lord Arvind directly with the crisis.
When he arrived, he noticed the smiles on the townsfolk and greeted them, "Good morning, everyone. I see you're in good health, thanks to Lord Arvind."
The serfs and commoners nodded in agreement. One of them replied, "Good morning, sir. We've been living in fear since Ravengarde turned into a hellish place." His trembling body calmed as he continued, gaining confidence. "But with Lord Arvind's promise, we hoped for change, and he did not disappoint us. We can finally breathe a sigh of relief and look ahead to our future. The air has calmed, and our symptoms have receded. We are grateful to our lord and want to help him in return for his grace."
Eldrin smiled at the commoner, empathizing with his words. He loved Ravengarde and didn't want to leave it. He turned to the workers and counted their numbers. "Is it my mind playing tricks, or have their numbers decreased?" he wondered. Turning to his foreman, he asked, "Can you tell me what happened to the number of workers?"
The foreman replied, "Sir, many townsfolk died from magical poisoning due to the crisis. At least 40 have died in just one month. Even my neighbor died. He was my friend, and his death frightened me a lot. Thanks to Lord Arvind," he paused and closed his eyes to pray, "may Deus the Unitor bless Lord Arvind."
Eldrin realized the full impact the crisis had brought to Ravengarde. He couldn't help but worry about Lord Arvind and his group.
Meanwhile, the ley line disturbances in the neighboring baronies grew more pronounced. They faced intense weather; crops failed, and rivers flooded. People began to suffer from magical poisoning, and mages lost control of their magic. The once-stable magic now acted unpredictably, causing chaos and fear among the people, like a miniature Abyss.
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Lost in thought, Arvind gazed at the nexus for almost four hours without any unexpected developments. Taking a deep breath, he reassured the apprehensive group, announcing that the nexus had temporarily stabilized and it was time to return. The group nodded, relieved, and followed Arvind back down the cavern with lighter steps, ready to tackle the tasks ahead.
Arvind remembered something and locked eyes with Aldric. "Aldric, assign two knights to keep watch over the nexus," he instructed.
Aldric nodded and slammed his chest to reassure Arvind he would do as commanded.
The group had temporarily stabilized the node, but they knew it was only a stopgap measure. The node's glow steadied, but the underlying fracture remained. As Arvind walked, he mentally noted to gather resources and plan the next move. "This isn't over. I need more resources and a solid plan. I don't want to be desperate again." He gripped his mother's pendant and silently vowed to himself.
As they walked down the paths, the ruins seemed to stir with a faint, almost imperceptible life. The runes carved into the stone walls dimmed, their glow fading but not disappearing entirely. It was as if the ancient symbols were whispering secrets, guarding mysteries that yearned to be uncovered.
Anika paused, a shiver running down her spine. She turned to glance back at the ruins, her keen eyes catching the lingering glow of the runes. The air felt thick with unresolved tension, a sense of foreboding that hung like a shadow over the ancient site.
"There's more here than we understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the whispering wind. The ruins seemed to echo her words, holding within them secrets yet to be revealed, mysteries waiting to be unraveled.
As the group continued their descent, the weight of the unknown pressed upon them, each step a reminder of the enigmatic forces at play. The path ahead was uncertain, but the flickering runes behind them promised that their journey was far from over.
To be continued...