A Soldier's Life - 322 - Eternis

Chapter 322: Sailing to Eternis

The investment in the Wind Chaser had been worth it. Captain Taegen had gotten us halfway across the world in just 48 days. He professed that favorable winds and luck expedited the journey. Even though I had paid his crew for 62 days and provisioned them for such, I doubted I would be getting a refund.

Raelia had been the one to barter for passage using the jewelry I had collected in my travels, mainly from the werewolf cache. She, of course, kept the best pieces for herself. I still had a fair amount of gold from the reward from the Supreme, but my mundane jewelry collection was spent on this worthwhile venture.

We only had one encounter crossing the vast ocean to the other continent. A pair of modest pirate ships tried to intercept us. It was their folly, as the elven mages summoned a terrifying storm off our stern. The skies darkened within minutes, and I could feel the aether manipulating the environment. The gusts of wind created white caps off the stern before turning into rolling waves.

The pirates couldn’t fight the crosswinds to escape and were soon swallowed by the concentrated typhoon. One of the mages dispassionately told the captain, “One ship capsized and the other escaped, but the main mast was shattered.”

There was one personal incident during the voyage that showed me Raelia was the jealous type. I was talking to a female elven sailor on the stern deck while going through some stretches. I was preparing to go through sword forms, and spar with Konstantin. I was shirtless but didn’t think much of it at the time.

The sailor may have initiated the conversation, curious about my travels. Still, I was interested in the other continent and her mercantile Elven Kingdom of Galanoris, so I was engaged in heavy discourse with her. It was a long conversation, and I didn't even realize Raelia was watching.

Raelia was angry with me for most of the next three days, even going so far as to sleep in a different cabin. I had to ask Maveith why she was upset with me. I think she wanted me to engage her in an argument so she could yell at me, but I had never been confrontational in past relationships. Since I didn’t think I had done anything wrong, I didn’t apologize. Raelia eventually came back on her own, and we didn’t mention my friendliness with the sailor.

I thought her decision to return might have been influenced more by her desire to use the dreamscape amulet to study spells. Baldo was also glad to be back in my cabin so I could spoil him behind Raelia’s back. Raelia and I resumed our nightly wrestling for dominance as if nothing had happened.

Konstantin was very amused that I had won the argument without any effort, but who was keeping score?

I was looking forward to making landfall. I had consumed or shared almost all the essences I had collected in my dimensional space. With so many mages on board the trade galleon, I was worried about being spied on, so I hadn’t removed anything of substantial size from my space even though I was itching to use the Elven assessment table.

The apex water essence was unpleasant when I consumed it, but I felt confident my aether core had now settled enough. I wouldn’t dare to open a new affinity, but enhancing the magical affinities I already unlocked felt safe, with just the newest one, water, giving me indigestion.

I was also ready to learn a new spell for the charm/mind affinity. I had consumed all 25 minor charm essences I had gathered in the demonic dungeon during the voyage. I once owned a copy of charm spell forms, but it was one of the books I left on the floor of Khrusos’ throne room. I had never flipped through it, so it was impossible to replicate in the dreamscape.

The only two essences I had left were the minor abyssal and the minor fire. I held the minor fire essence in case I needed an apology gift for Raelia. Although I doubted it would ever be my fault, it was best to keep it in case such an emergency arose.

I knew I was faster as my daily practices with Konstantin frustrated him, and Maveith had become too easy an opponent even without my spell forms.

It was irritating how Maveith always drew a cheering section when we practiced. Because of this, I let him win once in a while. He was courting Myra, so I did my best to make him look good while still getting a workout and challenging him. Konstantin knew what I was doing, and I was surprised he never reprimanded me. He never went soft on me or Maveith when we practiced.

During the voyage, I spent most of my time with Raelia and Baldo, but I did manage to pick up the basics of the goliath language. From Maveith, I knew it was derived from the language of the stone giants, one of the dialects of the Titans. I was perfectly fine with letting Maveith take all the accolades for freeing his kin, and managing their attentions.

The goliaths crowded the decks as we finally approached Stone Mountain Island's western shores. The sea air couldn’t take away the smell of unwashed bodies quite fast enough for me. I moved to the bow to see the dot in the distance grow.

Over the next hours, it grew to an impossibly large mountain range jutting out of the ocean that would put Olympia to shame. Maveith was at my shoulder, so I inquired, “Has anyone ever climbed to the top?” I asked him in awe as it seemed to pierce the sky.

“No one has lived who tried. The air is stolen from your lungs as you approach the peak. Even those with magical means cannot breathe,” Maveith said while staring at the growing mountain in the distance. Lesser mountains fell away to the right, completing the range. The maps that I had of the island chain did not do it justice.

The looming mountain towered over us when we were close, causing us to crane our necks. The lower slopes were covered in lush vegetation, but halfway up, they gave way to barren rocks, and higher still, ice and snow formed a peak that pierced the sky. Surprisingly, the air was humid and warm as we sailed along the shoreline, the tropical climate contrasting with the ice-capped mountains so close by.

The crystal-clear waters under the rushing ship were filled with sea life roaming among the reef: schools of fish, sharks, colorful fish, turtles, and the occasional jellyfish were easily spotted from the railing. It felt like I was in paradise, with the sandy shores shadowed by tropical trees.

“A reef surrounds the islands, and there are numerous deep hot water vents that keep the water warm. Our people don’t fish this far from shore for fear of angering the mermen,” Zorana, Maveith’s sister, said from behind us wistfully.

I nodded to her in acknowledgment of her offered information. She had been fairly quiet during the voyage, but there finally was some sparkle in her emerald eyes when she saw her home. Maveith had spoken with her every day, but he was also busy with a clingy Myra. Raelia spent a lot of time with Zorana as well, often talking alone on the stern deck. I was not a therapist and thought it best just to be friendly when she initiated a conversation.

On the other side of the coin, I thought Myra was experiencing hero worship for Maveith. She saw him as her rescuer and maybe felt she needed to repay him. I could see Maveith slowly being wrapped around her finger, but didn’t intervene.

As we paralleled the shore, we saw large gray men fishing with nets in the shallow waters near the coast. They paused to watch our ship pass by. Our deck, crowded with giants, was probably a curiosity. A few younger ones ran inland to announce our arrival. Maveith tightly gripped the railing as the ship parted the waters. He was about to face his father soon, and I could feel his uncertainty. His village was only a few miles away from where we were docking.

The Captain approached and sat down beside us. “Beautiful place. We will dock at Eternis, the largest of the goliath cities, and stay for a month to fill our holds with glowstones and pelts. You can continue to use the cabin while we are here.” He nodded at me, and I think that over the two months, he had become a bit more accepting of a human and an elf relationship. I just wished that Raelia was quieter at night, as the crew’s comments the following day made me blush.

“How far to your family’s house?” I asked Maveith after the captain left us.

Maveith exhaled heavily. “The Stoneskin Clan village is about a day’s walk from Eternis. We can leave in the morning if Zorana doesn’t head straight there.” He turned, searching for his sister, who was engaged in an animated conversation with three other goliath women.

The excitement was palpable on deck as the goliaths were almost home. I believe only a handful of the goliaths on the ship were not descendants of or citizens of Stone Mountain Island. Very few goliaths were born in the Caliphate, as it was not considered honorable to enslave a child. To my knowledge, there was only one other city that goliaths ruled. That city had no affiliation with Stone Mountain Island, according to Maveith.

Eteris was in a picturesque aquamarine-colored bay with blocky stone buildings. Intricate statues adorned the plain-looking buildings. Most of the statues were of goliaths, but some were of other, more fantastic creatures. Two goliaths in black, hardened leather armor stood on towers at the entrance to the harbor. One blew a horn that was repeated further into the bay in a quick chain. “That horn is a call for the Council,” Maveith said nervously.

“Well, you can explain this to the Council,” I waved my hand at the deck of excited goliaths. “I just want to get on some solid ground and lie in a real bed,” I patted him on the shoulder. I was being slightly devious in trying to give Maveith credit for rescuing the seventy-one goliaths. These were his people, not mine. My people were somewhere far, far, far away.

Our arrival caused a commotion throughout the city as goliaths lined up along the stone pier. The bay was large, over three-square miles, and dozens of ships flying foreign flags were anchored or docked. It made sense, as Maveith had told me that glowstones were mined on the island and shipped out as a commodity. I wondered if a ley line was responsible for the glowstone mines and the incomprehensible mountain towering over us as we approached the crowded docks.

Maveith had already told me there were no dungeons he knew of on the island, but the island was over a hundred miles long and half as wide. I had large blocks of colored glowstones in my dimensional space, and I planned to have Maveith shape them into smaller stones to sell.

The crowd on the dock parted as the sails lowered, and the elven mages brought the Wind Chaser along a stone pier they were directed to. Five aging goliaths in blue robes with manticore cloaks stood ready to receive us. Once we were tied off, Maveith stood at the top on the plank and spoke in his language. I understand about half of what was spoken as questions and responses flew back and forth. The goliaths on deck were pressing behind Maveith, and I was worried they were going to stampede him if they were not allowed to disembark soon.

I believed Maveith was doing well as a cheer suddenly erupted along the pier. It appeared that over three thousand goliaths had gathered, along with a few other curious races. Raelia tapped my shoulder as the cheers and some shouting threatened to disrupt the diplomatic exchange. I leaned closer to hear her say, “Aren't you going to take credit for any of this?”

Konstantin gave me a start, as I hadn’t realized he had been so close. “No, Eryk prefers to keep his accomplishments and abilities to himself.”

“Yeah, what the old man said. I am sure if there is any reward, Maveith will make sure we get a share. But in the meantime, I would prefer not to be smelling goliath stink for at least one night,” I replied. The goliaths were already funneling off the ship, following Maveith and being swallowed by the crowd. I waited for them to clear the ship and docks before walking down myself.

Raelia, Konstantin, Gilda, and Baldo followed. Baldo received some curious stares, but the influx of returned people captured most of the crowd's attention. I moved away from the migrating crowd of goliaths, wishing Maveith well, and found the sign with a carving of a bed. Even though I couldn’t read the name of the inn, I knew its purpose.

I turned to ask Konstantin if he would be joining us, but Konstantin and Gilda had vanished into the city. I was sure he would lecture me for not exploring the unfamiliar city before securing a room, but I would simply retort that was why I let him come along.

Raelia negotiated with the goliath innkeeper, and we were soon in a large room. The woodwork in the inn was a rich yellow, almost golden. I frowned when I saw the wooden platform bed had only a thin mattress. It would be much less comfortable than the ship's hammock, and I almost decided to take Captain Taegen up on his offer to use the cabin while he was docked, but this was only for one night. My griffin pillow appeared in my hand, and I dropped it on the bed.

Baldo sniffed the air and started moving toward it. “Don’t even think about it,” I warned him. I had caught him snuggling the pillow during the sea voyage, and after that, I stored it when I woke up. Raelia rubbed the griffin behind the ear holes.

“You should just give it to him. It was made from his parents, after all.” I just grunted a rejection. It was my pillow, and that was that. Raelia rolled her eyes at my attachment to the griffin-down pillow.

“Come on, Baldo, let’s go flying,” she said. Baldo understood the words and got excited. During the crossing, he had gained a lot of weight and was about the size of a pony now. He was getting close to being able to hold Raelia.

She was strapping weights to a mock saddle and training his strength and endurance. Once the weight exceeded her body weight by half again, she would take her first flight on his back. The two noisily left the room. I closed and secured the door and windows. I had other things to do, and she would be safe in a goliath city.

The assessment table appeared in the corner of the room, and I stood over it. It felt like ages had passed since I last checked my progress. I gripped the corners, and it wobbled slightly. One of the legs had cracked, likely when it was forcibly removed from my space. I would need to get it fixed eventually. I gripped the table again and channeled aether into it. I was most curious about my magic, and my eyes focused on that half of the tablet first.

Elemental Magics (Common)

Fire0
Air0
Water (+3)7
Earth (+4)46
Lightning (Energy)8
Spirit (Healing) (+1)24
Nature (Plant)0

Unaffiliated Magics (Uncommon)

Charm (Mind) (+18)23
Illusion (check last should be +2)15
Clairvoyance0
Protection (Guardian)30
Necromancy0
Celestial (buff)0
Abyssal (debuff)0

Rare Magics

Space101
Time90
Displacement80
Materialism9
Worlds88
Void22
Convergence74

The apex essence of water had improved my water affinity to seven. It was still not enough for a spell form. Charm/Mind, on the other hand, had massively improved from 5 to 23. Eighteen points for twenty-five minor essences were very respectable gains. I also noted slight improvements in my healing and earth affinities.

I shook my head, chastising myself. A slight improvement to me would be a massive gain to any true mage. If I couldn’t learn a charm spell, I might return to studying the displacement spell form for blink or dimensional door. My aether stores had improved some, but not quite enough for either spell form to be helpful without limiting the use of my other spell forms.

I looked on the other side of the table at my attributes.

Physical
Strength (+2/+4)69/86
Power (+6/+1)68/89
Quickness (+14/+13)68/75
Dexterity (+3/+0)67/75
Endurance (+3/+0)82/98
Constitution (+3/+0)64/73
Coordination (+2/+0)59/69

Mental
Intellect (+1/+0)39/58
Reasoning (+3/+0)55/62
Perception (+1/+0)58/64
Insight (+4/+2)41/54
Resilience (+0/+0)56/71
Empathy (+2/+0)24/26
Fortitude (+5/+0)68/90

Magical
Aether Pool (+0/+0)24/26
Channeling (+3/+0)42/61
Aether Shaping (+1/+1)10/10
Aether Tolerance (+1/+0)51/56
Aether Resistance (+2/+3)18/22
Prime Aether AffinitySpace
Minor Aether AffinityTime

My magic growth was very poor, but my physical attributes were well above average for legionnaires. From what I understood, most veteran legionnaires had physical attributes ranging from the mid 30s to mid 50s, with maybe one or two attributes slightly higher. Fortunately, I had consumed essences for all my physical attributes and didn’t need to train like a madman to maintain my physical body.

I erased the table and sent it back to my dimensional space. Then I realized how eerily quiet it was. No water rushing past the hull. No sailors yelling across the rigging. Raelia wasn’t talking my ear off or trying to remove my clothes. Baldo wasn’t nudging me constantly for a treat. And there was the absence of anxiety of Konstantin barging in at any moment. The stone walls and woodwork blocked all sound from the common room below. I smiled, lay on the bed with the griffin pillow under my head, and closed my eyes.

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