World Sphere - 203 - Loot Division

Chapter 203: Loot Division

“It was definitely searching for the core.” Relik stood on the hill looking down at the torn-apart fire giant and all the excavated holes in the rocky ground.

“It didn’t find it?” I asked, looking at the pile of items that were expelled from the creature’s dimensional storage.

“The dungeon is stable. If its goal was to destroy the core, it would have done so as soon as it found it.” Relik stated. “You should tell Sana the problem has been handled so we are not attacked when we exit.”

The communication with Sana only took a brief moment, and I also sensed relief from Kiara as well. The phantom cat had not broken her link to me the entire time we had hunted the shifter. Hyperion stood over the loot excitedly but restrained himself from searching through it. We all walked over to it, and there were five dungeon essences among the loot. I handed each to Relik to examine, as he was better than me at reading dungeon runes.

A dozen fist-sized aether crystals were within the pile. Mostly tier five and six crystals with one smaller tier seven crystal covered in adamantine runes. Each of the lesser crystals were powerful enough to power a small skyship. The runes on the tier seven crystal had something to do with animating a golem, but I would have to do more research. I took all of them and sent them to my dimensional closet as Hyperion frowned. It was easily over three hundred thousand worth of crystals that had just been snatched from his sight. Not to mention, the adamantine was worth half that sum.

Separated out the coins next, the most valuable being a dozen large mithril coins. Unfortunately, there was no more adamantine in the mix. I handed Hyperion the smaller mithril coins and lesser metals. He should have been happy as it was easily over ten thousand gold. “Thank you for your generosity, High Mage.” There was a touch of snark in his words, but he was getting his skyship back.

The array construction materials also went to my space, and a few lesser runic items were in the mix as well. I sent my metal sense into the two rings. “A ring of lesser flight and a poorly artificed ring of evasion. They still had dried blood on them so he must have procured them from his victims.” I handed both rings to Hyperion, who suddenly appeared much happier. At least with a ring of flight, I wouldn’t have to carry him around any longer.

The other artificed item was a disc used for one-way distant communication. The shifter probably used it within a crude array to communicate with his master. The final treasure in a pile was four tier-seven dungeon spell books and one tier-five dungeon spell book. Each was incredibly valuable by itself. I read the titles before storing them. Firestorm, Domain of Frost, Purge Mind, and Tsunami were the tier seven spells. The tier five spell was Immolation. By the dust on the spellbooks, I thought maybe they had come from the Black Spire.

I turned to Relik, who was finished with the dungeon essences, and I could tell he was impressed. Hyperion was looking on eagerly as well. “Four tier four essences and one tier two. I think the tier essence two might be the reward from this dungeon’s final boss. It is a tier two giant’s constitution essence.” He handed me the essence and I it would make a good reward for one of the Wolfsguard.

Hyperion couldn’t hold his excitement any longer. Maybe he thought he was entitled to one of the tier-four essences. “Stop hiding your smirk, dark elf, and tell us what the tier four essences are.”

“This essence is called troll’s blood. It is a more advanced form of the tier-three regeneration dungeon essence. I would request this being my compensation instead of the promised weapons. It would greatly enhance my ability to heal in battle.” It was the first time that the stoic elf had a slightly pleading look on his face. He needed to work on his puppy dog eyes as it was actually still quite intimidating.

“Done,” I said without hesitation. Instead of revealing the other essences, he immediately broke the seal on the glowing blue-green essence and drank it immediately. His veins bulged in his neck and forehead as the essence was absorbed into his body. He grimaced and bent over in obvious pain. Had the shifter tricked us for a piece of final revenge?

Relik stood tall a moment later, “I am fine. Since my tier three regeneration came from another dungeon, they were not completely compatible. The troll’s blood essence overpowered the other essence to replace it.”

“What of the other three tier four essences?” I asked before Hyperion burst from curiosity.

“Cloud manipulation,” he said, holding up the first glowing, sparkling vial. “An ability that allows the person to condense vapor into a defense, offense or use as a means of modestly fast transport.”

“I will take that one,” Hyperion interrupted Relik.

“Although I have allowed you a share of what we have found to date, it was not part of our agreement, Hyperion. The Prancing Eagle is yours when we leave the dungeon, and your bonus has been paid,” I reminded him. Tier four essences were worth half a dozen skyships and could make an average person extremely powerful.

Hyperion put on his disappointed face once again but pulled back his hand. Relik continued, “This is the most powerful of the essences. It is called astral touch. The ability can make objects insubstantial. The size of the object is only limited by one’s aether reserve.”

“Can it affect people?” I asked, taking both vials of dungeon essence.

“I believe so. It might take additional aether if the target has some resistance, though.” He moved to the last dungeon essence. “This one is a tier-four affinity for water magic.” He handed it to me and it disappeared. I addressed Hyperion, “I will hold onto the cloud manipulation essence in case I need your help again in the future.”

Hyperion put on his fabricated smile, “I will be ready when the time comes.” Hyperion was oddly honorable in an opportunist kind of way. We would have had a much greater trouble dealing with the shifter without his aide. “If you are done with me and since there is nothing else of mine here, I will be making my exit.” Hyperion walked to the dungeon portal exit and disappeared.

“I would have been hard-pressed to defeat the shifter without his help,” Relik said after the golden-haired elf disappeared. I was surprised he had admitted it.

“Would you delve team been capable?” I asked Relik.

He considered his response for a moment, “If the shifter had time to prepare for us, I think we might have lost some of our number and still might not have overcome him.” Relik looked around at the landscape. “We should search the floor before leaving.”

I spent the next hour with Relik, and he eventually paused over and near a stone formation. He pulled out his sphere and consulted it. “The dungeon core is here. Probably a ten or fifteen feet deep.” I was confused as to why he had taken the effort to locate it. He explained, “I want the dungeon to know that we are here to destroy like the shifter was. We can depart now. I have to prepare the Duskhunters to map the dungeon and increase our delving operations. Are you planning to start another round of seeding immediately?”

That was an intriguing question. It was now the most profitable dungeon on the Skyholme Islands. Compared to other seven-layer dungeons, it was also profitable. “Yes. But perhaps we will take it slower this time. There is no rush for another expansion.”

Relik nodded, “Good. We will assist in the seeding as long as our delving rights are maintained at the current level.”

“Agreed,” I said, and we shook on it. Relik exited the dungeon, leaving me alone. The smokey expanse of pools disappeared into the distance of the floor as I surveyed it.

I spoke aloud and clearly, not sure if the dungeon could understand me. “Thank you. I hope to make you one of the most powerful dungeons in the Sphere. Please continue to offer challenges and rewards fitting of a great dungeon.” Although my words sounded corny off my lips, the pools of steam grew and hissed all the way into the distance. Maybe a dungeon could understand speech. I stepped through the exit.

Twenty adventurers greeted me in a large arc as I exited. Relik had already disappeared, but I recognized a few faces. Sana, Elijah, and Elora were among the number. I had seen A few other faces on my Dungeon Academy tour. My head ached as Kiara yelled into my mind, “You. Will. Take. Me. Next. Time.” Her sentiment was touching, and maybe she would have been fine up until we actually faced down the shifter.

Sana separated from the group, “Is everything well?”

“He was an agent of the Black Marauders. Sent by one of the leaders. I doubt we had deterred them from seeking vengeance. Maybe I should take the fight to them on the Dark Moon.” I told Sana.

“It appears time has not made you wiser,” Sana said snarkily. “You need much more seasoning before heading to any of the moons and need to digest the wealth of knowledge just opened to you.”

“Getting philosophical on me?” I laughed.

“No, the treasure of the Black Spire was extensive. There are pieces of multiple codexes in the collection. But this is not the place to discuss them.” Sana said as she handed me the adamantine ring. I considered letting her keep it, but it was intended for Freya so she could contact me anywhere in the Sphere. Maybe I would make another set for Sana and myself to remain in contact.

“We can bring everyone back from the Goldreach open the Dungeon Academy. Spread word among the traders that the shifter has been killed. I am sure that will make Loriel happy,” I said, smirking.

“It will. Word will spread that Skyholme’s High Mage is capable of neutralizing a shifter.” Sana agreed.

“Let’s give the credit to Hyperion and the Duskhunters,” I stated. “I prefer to be known as a Master Artificer with a great restaurant.”

Sana looked a little dubious. I didn’t seek attention, did I? She shook her head like she didn’t believe me. “My instructors will search the grounds a few times and make sure the shifter didn’t leave anything behind. We will also be cataloging the dungeon.”

I spent the next thirty minutes relaying what we had encountered in the dungeon before the Maelstrom landed and took me to the Shiny Platinum. I think I deserved an extended rest. I wasn’t in my room for more than ten minutes before Remy knocked, and I had to answer his questions about the dungeon as well. He wanted to start to prepare for any new harvestables.

I turned away two messengers from Loriel. If one of them had been Callem or Sebastian, I might have met with them, but they weren’t. After feeding the cats, I settled in for a long nap, with the cats guarding my room from visitors. I was pretty explicit to Kiara that I did not want to be disturbed.

Waking, I found an irate Aelyn waiting to berate me for not letting her into the room. It was a half-hearted yelling at me, and she was not serious. “So, what are you planning to do now?” She asked.

“Finish the repairs on the Maelstrom to start, and then I am going to work with Remy and Rippon of inter-island skiffs,” I replied.

“You are acting like yesterday was just a normal day for you,” she scoffed. “Well, Bleiz wants you to start exercising, and your mother and Freya want to make sure you are eating three meals a day. Me too. There are no Sphere-shattering concerns at the moment. Take a break, Storme!”

I looked at Aelyn, clear concern on her face. I still needed to raise 350,000 for the Dungeon Academy, plus funds to evolve the Progenitor Dungeon again. “Fine. I will take it easy. Can I cook you breakfast?”

“It is evening, Storme. You slept fourteen hours.” I was a bit shocked but checked my absolute time spell, and she was wrong. I only slept thirteen hours. I didn’t correct and wondered why the cats hadn’t woken me for food.

I went down to the kitchens and collected everything I needed for a lasagna, and as I prepared it, I talked with Aelyn while tossing the cats scraps. The conversation eventually came around to the Prancing Eagle that I had given away to Hyperion. I was surprised that she didn’t care or want a replacement.

“I want two guaranteed delves a week in the dungeon for my team,” she stated firmly.

“Is Hyperion and Glint staying in the islands then?” I asked.

“Probably not. I talked to him briefly, and he plans to try to establish a trade route with Skyholme being one of the stops. Most likely, he will be broke and in debt within the year.” Aelyn relayed.

The lasagna was ready, and I served her and waited for her opinion. The streaming casserole got satisfied grunts from her. I tried it as well and had not realized how hungry I was. We finished the entire pan between us, and Kiara and Adrial licked it clean.

“I need a favor, Aelyn.” She looked up, the sauce still on the corner of her lips. “I need you talk to your mother.” Her shocked look was a bit comical. “Your mother belongs to the Hand of the Crimson Moonriders? I need information on the Dark Moon.” The Moonriders were information brokers and preferred to work in the shadows and manipulate events by manipulating others.

Aelyn shook her head, “She is not a member, just an agent. You are better at contacting them through the Adventurer’s Guild than her. Besides, I have not talked to her since I took the Heartstone from her. She is probably still angry with me.”

“Well, your mother stole it first. The Crimson Moonriders and Black Marauders are enemies and have better information than the Adventurer’s Guild.” I stated. I wasn’t sure when, but I would exact some vengeance on the Black Maurader’s leadership. The shifter was their second attack on Skyholme. Aelyn could see where I was going with this request and her face showed she didn’t like it.

“I need to be on the offensive, Aelyn. I can’t wait till they send another shifter or fleet to Skyholme.”

“You are one person, Storme. The Black Mauraders span the Sphere. I am sure if you ignore them, they will eventually forget about Skyholme. It is not near a powerful dungeon or a transit point. It has little value in the scheme of things,” she said persuasively.

“You have been talking with Sana.” Aelyn didn’t deny it.

“Fine. I will bid my time, but contact your mother anyway.” The meal finished with a more pleasant conversation regarding Freya’s spellcraft.

I worked to repair the Maelstrom for the next day. Rippon, my shipwright, had made her look like new again, and I just needed to add the runes for the damaged sections. Bleiz interrupted me twice to eat and weapon practice. He wouldn’t let me use my lightning reflexes to keep the contest even.

I could see how far I had fallen out of shape, and I think that was the point. He handed me a ring, and I looked at him questionably as it was not something I had artificed. “It is an illusionary disguise. Sana thinks you should join the Dungeon Academy as a student.”

“I don’t have time for games, Bleiz.”

“It will get you on a conditioning schedule and some practice against other opponents. Sana, has noted there are a number of instructors that are quite talented and can challenge you. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity. Besides, you are the one who is paying for them to be here.”

“Is Sana talking to all my friends?” I blurted. The woman was clearly trying to pull strings in the background.

“Yes. Talia and Callem are prepared to make the same argument. Did you know Callem is teaching weapon care at your academy?” Bleiz said with a lupine smile.

“No, I did not. Fine, I will try to work it into my schedule. When does the new term begin?”

Victory of his face, he said, “Four weeks.” He stepped aside, and I could see Loriel with an escort entering the hangar. I gave Bleiz a look that told him he could of warned me about this meeting. Prine Antioch was not with her.

“What can I help you with, Loriel?” I asked, not using her formal title.

“Since you have not responded to my requests for a meeting, I came to you, High Mage, to thank you once again for your service to Skyholme.” She bowed her head respectfully, but Loriel never did something without a hidden purpose. I was guessing she was here before the Progenitor Dungeon.

“Has trade resumed?” I asked.

“It will take time to recover to prior levels, but yes, it has,” Loriel said. Income from trade was driving the Skyholme economy. The islands were advertised as a safe port and the shifter had dampened that slightly. “I heard your dungeon has reopened, congratulations on a successful evolution.” Her smile was still there, and I was expecting her to try and worm something out of the dungeon. Instead, she asked, “I am interested in trying the same with our other dungeons. Your network of experts would prove invaluable in the process.”

“I am not paying to evolve the other dungeons of Skyholme,” I stated flatly. I hadn’t seen Remy's numbers, but I knew they were in the hundreds of thousands of gold, and they didn’t include the contributions from the Duskhunters, which matched or exceeded my investment.

“I didn’t ask you to,” she said with a tight smile. I could tell she had been preparing for me to ‘invest’ in them by her reaction. “Will Overseer Logan Warren be returning to Skyholme?”

Logan Warren was a friend of Sana’s and oversaw the large region of dungeons for the Adventurer’s Guild. He had been instrumental in properly seeding the Progenitor Dungeon to guide its path and make sure it didn’t relocate its entrance.

“Why are you asking me and not Sana for help?”

I could see her jaw clench a little, “Because, Storme, you can be reasoned with. What do you need from me in exchange?”

Loriel had me off guard. Was this some back alley deal to show her appreciation for the High Mage? Or was she trying to get the better end of a bargain struck? “Well, I need a number of things. Expediting citizenship for my Academy candidates for one.” Sana had hired recruiters to scour the lowland cities for students, but I did not know how successful the endeavor was. “Second, I would like the Black Spire’s requirement to evacuate the Citadel to be rescinded.”

She hadn’t balked yet, so I kept going. “While hunting the shifter, I noticed a large number of estates on the capital island have been neglected.”

That got her attention as her eyebrow arched. “What estates did you have in mind?”

“All the ones that have been abandoned,” I said.

Loriel laughed, “That would be a quarter of the island. The Bricios left quite a bit behind, and succession is still stuck in the courts for most. Five abandoned estates of your choosing with back taxes owed.”

“Ten,” I countered, having no idea how big they were or their value. I didn’t care about back taxes, and I guessed no resident could afford the taxes or land. If Loriel’s government was still struggling to create a balanced budget I guess I could help a little.

“Seven of your choosing and three of mine,” she stated. “Don’t worry, there will be no back taxes on the three I select.” Was this a trap? No. I didn’t sense a trap. Still, it felt odd that I was winning our exchange so one-sided.

“Agreed.” We shook on the deal, and she promised the papers would be drawn up. As for expedited citizenship, the Immigration Office would work directly with my Dungeon Academy.

When the Bureau of Land Management sent the books, I had Remy review them for profitable estates. The back taxes were not even that terrible, less than five thousand gold for some of the more opulent estates. The buildings on the land were probably worth more than the back taxes. The three estates Loriel had selected were all woodlands near the edge of the island. They were completely worthless but large with high future tax evaluations because of their size. Nothing ludicrous but a way for Loriel to generate revenue from the richest citizen in Skyholme. And if I did invest in developing the land, more revenue for Loriel.

After we finished selecting the seven estates, I was drinking in celebration with Remy. “How goes the Academy Magic Shop?”

Remy’s speech was slightly slurred from the frost mead he was drinking. “It is almost complete. I still have sleepless nights about the security, but Sana says it will match those in the largest cities of the lowlands. Should be a great recruiting tool as long as it can remain stocked.”

“How has the transport skiff design been coming along?” I asked while holding my buzz at bay with my spell.

“I drafted them. Are we still doing that? I thought we had other priorities?” He indicated the tomes of properties we had spent two days reviewing.

I placed the aether crystals I had gotten from the shifter on the table, “Once they are built, I will artifice them. I will finish artificing your dungeon skyship this week. If someone has to keep our Academy Shop well-stocked, it might as well be me.”

Remy’s eyes were wide with lust at the aether crystals. He loved designing and building things. “I will have Rippon start of the builds tomorrow. Oh! I found a line of the phantom kittens! A merchant captain said an adventurer in Elespolis plans to sell some.” I toasted Remy as acquiring two phantom kittens for Relik was part of our deal.

“Where is Elespolis?” I asked.

“It is the transit city for the Sapphire passage, five days away on the Maelstrom,” Remy said. Transit cities stood by massive holes that led to the Outer Sphere. The passages were named after precious stones.

“Noting closer?” I whined a little not wanting to make such a long trip. Maybe the portal stones would make it quicker.

“No, there are not any breeders who have not already sold their litters, and these were captured in the wild like Adrial and Kiara. He even has them in stasis. The auction is a week away if you are interested. Or we can contract for a litter from a breeder. Probably get them in 18 to 20 months.” I groaned as I didn’t like having debts owed hanging over me. Neither option would be cheap.

As I was considering, Aelyn knocked on the door to Remy’s apartment and interrupted us. “Storme, I thought you would want to know. Gareth’s back in Skyholme.”

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