PftA Book 5 - Chapter 49 - An Increase in Pressure

“How was your day?” I asked Bell when I saw her waiting outside in the small, covered plaza located between the various guest rooms.

Like the rest of the people who’d come with small children, Bell and her family had spent the day in one of the parks geared toward the youngest park-goers.

“Shorter than I expected,” Bell admitted with a tired grin. “The girls passed out just before sunset, so we brought them back early. I don’t suppose I could bother you to help them get over their jetlag?”

“I can do that. You want me to put them in my demesne and slow time until morning?” I offered. “I can monitor everything from the outside, so there’s no worry about them waking up alone or anything. In fact, I’ll make sure they are transferred back to the hotel before they even open their eyes.”

Bell looked relieved by my promise. “That would be great. Traveling is still a little hard for them, especially when the time zones are so different.”

“I understand. You want me to go ahead and grab them so you and Seth can spend some alone time together?” I nudged her arm playfully. “Maybe they’ll get another sibling out of it.”

Bell rolled her eyes but nodded and led me to their shared suite. It only took a few minutes to move the girls and their beds into one of the spare rooms within my demesne. I brought Bell and Seth inside as well, mostly so Seth could see where their children would be sleeping.

Bell’s husband was shocked to learn that I had a personal pocket dimension that functioned almost like a separate sub-realm attached to my soul. I was a little surprised that Bell hadn’t clued him in on it after being together for so long.

“I told you I’d keep it a secret,” Bell said softly when we returned to their suite and Seth stepped into another room.

At this point, I was no longer overly concerned about word of my demesne getting out. Not only was I a Pinnacle in a realm where very few Pinnacles remained, but I was also very close to leaving, meaning any risk that did develop would likely come too late to affect me.

“Amie, Zavira, and I are doing the underwater mermaid park tomorrow with their kids if you want to join us,” I said, changing the subject when Seth returned to the living room. “The website says the park is suitable for younger kids as well.”

“We were going to save the underwater adventure for the last day, but it should be fine to shift things,” Bell replied before raising a questioning brow toward her husband.

“Yeah, that sounds fine. The schedule was meant to be flexible anyway,” Seth agreed.

= = =

Most of the people who’d come for my ascension gathering decided to join us at the underwater park the following day. It was just novel enough to appeal to all age groups, though some of the younger kids initially struggled to adjust to the sudden change in environment and functional body structure.

Once the primal fear of drowning passed, the kids absolutely loved the experience of swimming around and pretending to be a mermaid or one of the many other merfolk variants.

Truth be told, so did I. The experience was completely different from the traditional theme parks, and I appreciated the novelty.

Instead of a park with a bunch of rides and attractions, the ‘Under the Sea’ experience was set up to be an adventure, complete with semi-unique quests handed out by the Mana Intelligence that ran the park.

With such a large group, our quests started out a bit different from most. There were a lot of puzzles with pieces that had to be accomplished simultaneously, which forced us to break into smaller groups and coordinate our efforts.

From there, the quests led the increasingly smaller groups in different directions, making the experience much more personalized to ensure each participant enjoyed themselves.

It was a lot more fun than I expected, even though I wasn’t able to personally contribute much to the ‘quests’ completion. Neither were Zavira and the others who’d reached Tier Seven or above. It was why we’d been given the task of chaperoning the youngest adventurers.

Since we were on a fairly low-tier world, it wasn’t a surprise that the Mana Intelligence couldn’t accommodate us that way. It was fine, though. Just observing the kids and helping out as necessary was enjoyable enough.

As I swam behind Jeni, Amberlee, and a trio of other youngsters, I was hit by a sudden increase in pressure to ascend.

“Gah, it’s only been a little over a month!” I grumbled as I tried to adapt to the added pressure. It wasn’t so much physical as spiritual, but that didn’t stop my body from reacting.

“It’s getting worse?” Bell asked with concern right as Mom swam up.

Our groups had been close enough for them to keep an eye on the kids, so my sudden reaction was enough to draw their attention.

“Are you okay?” Mom asked.

“I’m fine. The realm is just getting really impatient,” I replied through gritted teeth.

“Are you even going to be able to challenge the rift like this?” Mom asked as she reached out to me.

I met her hand with mine and gave it a little squeeze. As much as I wanted to put on a brave face, I couldn’t lie to my mother.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted.

My initial impulse was to say I’d be fine, but the increase in pressure was enough to make me genuinely worry that I might have already waited too long.

“I think I’m going to have to leave soon. Like, today,” I said.

“Why is it pushing you to leave so soon?” Mom asked with a frown. “I’ve heard of Pinnacles sticking around for decades. There are even some still around who became Pinnacles before the change. I just don’t understand why the realm is focusing so hard on you.”

“Probably because it wants me to hurry up and establish the second Realm Dungeon. Aside from that and my status as a Trinity Mage, I can’t think of any other reason it would be so focused on me.”

After everything I’d experienced, I didn’t think the realm was punishing me for my part in causing the loss of several timelines. It was certainly possible, but I didn’t think that was the case.

“Do you want me to call everyone back to the resort now?” Mom asked worriedly.

“No. I’ll last until the evening, though I’ll probably have to slip away to handle the rest of my inheritance stuff between now and then.”

I still had to empty what remained in my demesne, both in storage and within the space itself. Most of the storage would go into the trust to be dealt with based on what the experts deemed would be best.

Items that made more sense to hold onto for future generations would be retained, while others would be sold directly or auctioned, and the proceeds placed into the trust account.

My current and previous pods would be set up on the slice of land I’d had set aside next to the Time well, though I really could have put them anywhere. Most of the furniture and such would go into the trust, but some would remain for the sect’s use.

There was so much to do, and so little time remained.

“Go do what you need to do,” Mom said. “Send me a message when you’re close to returning, and I’ll have everyone head back to the resort. Hopefully, we can squeeze in one last dinner.”

“That sounds good. Thanks, Mom,” I said, pulling her into a hug.

It was a little awkward in our false mermaid forms, but neither of us really cared.

Since I couldn’t teleport directly from within the park without causing a lot of damage to the park’s enchantments, I quickly made my way to the entrance and removed the artifact that allowed me to pretend to be a mermaid.

“I hope you enjoyed your time ‘Under the Sea!’ We’ll see you next time!” the golem near the entrance said when I turned in the artifact.

I quickly teleported to the Time well located within the Epikairos Sect’s newest branch location. My sudden appearance caused a bit of a stir, but the fact that the wards didn’t trigger upon my arrival was enough to keep anyone from responding with violence.

“Elder Momentia?” one of the disciples asked.

Realizing I was not wearing sect robes, I quickly equipped one of the few sets of white robes I had. I’d become more accustomed to wearing the black ones I’d received before returning to the dungeon, but it hadn’t seemed appropriate to wear them while spending time publicly with my family.

Wearing sect robes also wasn’t a very good way of hiding my identity, so I’d been wearing casual items more commonly worn by those unaffiliated with sects or nobility during my time at the resort.

“Sorry to drop in unannounced,” I apologized. “I’ve just sent a message to the Patriarch letting him know I’m here. I’m very close to ascending, so I figured I should set up my inheritance site while I can.”

Calling it an inheritance site wasn’t truly accurate since I wasn’t leaving a bunch of items or knowledge for those who visited, but that was the term given to any site created by an ascender for the use of others.

I’d already prepared everything in advance, so I quickly set up the two expanded pods.

The first was filled with the Tier Ten workstations I’d crafted for my own personal use during the last floor of the dungeon. Embedded in the ceiling was a small portal I’d anchored to the cavern in the Time well, which could be activated to allow the energy from the well to fill the inside of the space.

The second pod was shifted into dozens of small rooms, all of which could tap into the portal anchored in the cavern as well.

I really could have placed the pods anywhere on the planet, but it was easier and more mana efficient to put them close to the anchor because of the way I’d linked the anchor to multiple portals.

If, at some point in the future, the sect wanted to move the pods to another location, I’d made it possible for them to do so as long as they had a Grandmaster Enchanter familiar with spatial enchantments on hand. Since that was not likely, the pods would likely remain as I’d placed them for the foreseeable future.

“Elder Momentia,” a familiar voice greeted me when I exited the second structure after ensuring everything was working properly.

“Patriarch,” I said with a smile. “You didn’t have to come all the way here, you know.”

Patriarch Fora was one of the few representatives from the sect who’d come to the gathering on the first day. None had stayed at the resort beyond the first day, but it meant a lot to me that they’d shown up at all.

“I thought it would be longer before you left,” the Patriarch said.

My smile dimmed, shifting into a grimace. “The realm increased the pressure a short while ago. I don’t think I can hold out much longer. I’ll likely be heading to the Challenge Rift within the next few hours.”

Like with everyone else who’d come to say goodbye, I’d told him about the dungeon’s request on behalf of the realm. Seeing the value in such a thing, Patriarch Fora had asked several questions about my task, most of which I had no real answer for.

I’d promised to do what I could to facilitate the sect’s access to the resource once it was established, but we both knew that with my impending ascension, I’d be limited in what I could do.

“Well, then I won’t take up any more of your time,” Patriarch Fora said. “On behalf of the Epikairos Sect, I thank you, Elder Emie Momentia, for your service to the sect, and your future service to the realm.”

He bowed low, causing the loitering disciples and elders to follow suit.

“We will not forget your contributions or your accomplishments,” the Patriarch added before straightening and giving me a friendly smile. “I wish you the best of luck with your new adventure.”

I returned the bow before looking over the assembled sect members. I hadn’t realized how many had gathered while I’d set up the two pods until that moment.

“Thank you for your support. I won’t forget you,” I told the group, trying to make eye contact with each person. It was a small thing, but I felt the effort was worth the few extra moments.

= = =

The inheritance agent I’d been working with was expecting me when I arrived. I’d changed into casual clothing before leaving the sect, having returned all of the sect robes I’d been given over the years to Patriarch Fora to do with as he wanted.

I didn’t see the point in keeping them in the inheritance since it was unlikely any of my family members would ever qualify to wear them, and it wasn’t like I could sell them. It made the most sense to give them back where the garments might actually get some use after I left.

I’d also placed my entire garden behind the two pods since I didn’t think anything living inside would survive my ascension. Even if it all died off, it was better than everything being destroyed during the transition.

“Trinity Emie, it’s wonderful to see you again!” the agent, Andros, said as he extended his hand.

The man had learned the customs of Earth specifically to accommodate me. His attention to detail only reinforced my confidence in his ability to properly manage my inheritance.

“I hope my services will help soothe your mind as you step into the next realm and begin the next stage of your journey.”

“Thank you, Andros. Knowing everything is in your hands does soothe a lot of my worries,” I replied.

I handed him a ring – one crafted with a large enough dimensional space to hold everything left within my demesne, and then some. It was also enchanted with [Stasis], to ensure everything was properly preserved until it was needed.

I had several smaller rings set aside with items I’d earmarked for specific family members, along with a bunch of spatial bags containing goodies for those who’d come to see me off. I planned to give them out when I returned to the gathering to say goodbye to everyone.

Most of it was lower-tier stuff and enchanted food items I’d crafted during my time with Raymond. I’d needed something to occupy my time while he was meditating, and preparing small gifts for my loved ones felt like the perfect thing to do to fill that time.

“I’ve sent you an itemized list of everything inside,” I said, relying on Lisa to handle that part. “Is there anything else you need me to do?”

Andros held out a tablet that had materialized in his hands. “Just a few signatures, if you don’t mind.”

By a few, he actually meant several, but with Lisa checking everything over beforehand, I wasn’t worried about anything being slipped in at the last minute. I wouldn’t have been worried about that anyway, given the reputation Andros’s firm had.

When the last mana signature was accepted, the tablet disappeared.

“With that, Trinity Emie, your inheritance is set. I appreciate your patronage and wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors.”