NOVEL WEB Chapter 25: Blackstone Mountains
Edwyn leaned against the dorm hallway wall, arms crossed, his silver hair catching the flicker of mana-powered lamps as he waited for Elia to finish getting ready. Half an hour ticked by, and when she finally emerged, she was a vision, her blonde hair tied back in a loose braid, her fitted Mage robes accentuating her youthful charm, and a spark of excitement in her green eyes. Edwyn let out a low whistle. "Well, damn, Elia, you clean up nice. Youth's the best makeup, huh? Ready to kick some mountain butt?"
Elia blushed, swatting his arm playfully. "Shut up, Edwyn. Let's just get to the mission hall before you embarrass me further." She strode past him, but her smile betrayed her amusement.
At the mission hall, the air buzzed with the chatter of apprentices and the hum of glowing crystal screens displaying tasks. Edwyn's sharp eyes caught sight of Loken, the chubby apprentice from earlier, now laughing with a group of three others.
Guy moves fast, Edwyn thought, his grin fading into a skeptical smirk. "So, team-ups are standard, huh? These kids ain't worried about gettin' stabbed in the back?" He kept his voice low, but his paranoia was on high alert. The Blackstone Mountains were under the academy's influence, sure, but out there, rules were as flimsy as parchment. He'd seen enough to know that anyone who survived the academy's cutthroat admissions had at least a splash of blood on their hands. Trusting a stranger in the wild? That was a one-way ticket to a shallow grave.
Elia nudged him, sensing his tension. "You're overthinking it. Most apprentices just want the reward, not a fight. Relax, we've got each other's backs."
Edwyn shot her a sidelong glance, his grin returning. "Yeah, yeah, you're my bodyguard now, right? Don't let me down, tough stuff." He sauntered to the counter, where the bored clerk barely glanced up as she scanned their mission tags with her crystal orb. "Team of two, check. You're cleared," she droned, waving them off.
"Sweet," Edwyn said, spinning on his heel. "Let's pack up, Goldilocks. We're catchin' the Arcane Airship tonight."
As they headed back to the academy's winding paths, lined with glowing moss and rune-etched stone, Edwyn caught Elia stealing glances at him. Her eyes darted away each time he turned, her cheeks pinkening. Finally, he stopped, grinning like a fox. "Alright, spill it. Got somethin' on my face? Spinach in my teeth? Or am I just too handsome to ignore?"
Elia's eyes widened, and she stammered, "W-what? No! I wasn't looking at you! I was, uh, checking out the street lamps. Yeah, those… fancy lamps." She pointed vaguely at a glowing orb hovering above the path.
Edwyn's grin widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Lamps, huh? Sure, Elia. Next time, I'm bringin' a recording crystal to catch you in the act. Can't lie to this face." He tapped his cheek, winking.
Elia huffed, crossing her arms. "You're impossible."
Back in his room, Edwyn geared up like he was heading into a warzone. He slung his greatsword across his back, its blade etched with frost runes that shimmered faintly. Bracers of reinforced mana-steel clicked onto his forearms, their surfaces pulsing with protective enchantments. He slipped the Ice Spike Ring onto his finger, its gem glinting with stored magic, and tucked a sleek magic dagger into his belt, its hilt wrapped in black leather. Finally, he grabbed his Lesser Fireball Staff, a gnarled wooden rod tipped with a crimson crystal that crackled with latent heat.
"Lookin' like a one-man army," he said, striking a pose in front of his cracked mirror. "Blackstone Mountains, you ain't ready for me."
He met Elia outside, her own gear lighter but no less deadly, a short staff tipped with a sapphire, a dagger at her hip, and a satchel bulging with potions. Together, they made their way to the Arcane Airship terminal on the academy's outskirts, a sprawling platform of polished stone surrounded by mana-charged pylons that hummed like a choir. The terminal was a chaotic swirl of apprentices, merchants, and glowing ticket clerks, the air thick with the ozone tang of arcane engines.
Edwyn spotted Loken's group again, their laughter cutting through the crowd. "Man, that guy's everywhere," he muttered, his grin wry. He flashed their mission permit at the clerk, who waved them through without a fare. The free ride drew envious glares from nearby students, and Edwyn couldn't resist a smug wink. "Perks of bein' a mission VIP, folks."
Elia glanced at the ticket board, her eyes widening at the prices, one Mana Stone for local trips, five or six for farther ones. "Edwyn, how'd you know missions waive the fare? That's, like, four stones saved!"
Edwyn tapped his temple, his grin sly. "Trade secret. Let's just say I've got a knack for sniffin' out deals." In truth, the shop clerk's tip had been a goldmine, but he wasn't about to spill that.
The Zeppelin-Class Arcane Airship loomed above, its massive hull of enchanted ironwood and brass gleaming under the moonlight, its mana engines glowing with violet light. Unlike the fancy airships for admissions, this one was no-frills, rows of hard ironwood benches bolted to the floor, the air sharp with the scent of oil and magic. Edwyn and Elia snagged window seats, the glass cool against their shoulders. As the airship hummed to life, Elia yawned, her head drooping onto Edwyn's shoulder. Within seconds, she was out cold, her breathing soft and steady.
Edwyn chuckled, shaking his head. "Out like a light. You're gonna owe me for this, Elia." He pulled a spare shirt from his satchel, a worn, black thing that smelled faintly of charcoal, and draped it over her like a blanket. Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing her face in a silvery glow, her features softened by sleep.
"Wastin' good moonlight snoozing," he muttered. "Meditating is way more efficient. Amateurs."
The airship was a beast, cutting through thousands of kilometers in hours. By dawn, the Blackstone Mountains loomed outside, their jagged peaks shrouded in mist like a slumbering titan. Edwyn nudged Elia awake, his grin gentle despite his words. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead. We're here."
Elia blinked, stretching with a lazy yawn. "Already? That was fast." She followed him off the airship, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, as the ramp lowered into a small human town nestled at the mountains' base. Loken's group disembarked too, their gear clanking as they vanished into the crowd, clearly knowing their way around.
The town was a rustic sprawl of stone cottages and dirt streets, its people bustling despite the early hour. The moment Edwyn and Elia stepped off the ramp, a swarm of guides descended, their voices overlapping in a desperate pitch.
"Esteemed mages, need a guide? I know every trail in the Blackstone Mountains!"
"Pick me, lords! Just a quarter Mana Stone, and I'll get you where you need to go!"
"Mage lords, don't trust these hacks, I'm the best!"
Edwyn raised a hand, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "Chill, folks. We're here to survey White Crystal Deer and hunt a Black-Striped Water Python. Anyone know those critters?" His grin was all charm, but his eyes scanned the crowd, wary of anyone too eager.
Silence fell, the guides exchanging uneasy glances. White Crystal Deer were common enough, but Black-Striped Water Pythons? Most had never seen one. Finally, an old man stepped forward, his white hair wild but his eyes sharp with vitality. The crowd parted for him, no one daring to challenge his claim.
"Mage lords, I know the deer well," he said, his voice steady. "As for the python, I spotted one six months back. Might still be there, might not."
Edwyn sized him up, his grin approving. "You'll do, grandpa. What's the price?"
"Half a Mana Stone, my lords," the man said, bowing slightly.
"Name?"
"Call me Old John."
"Deal," Edwyn said, tossing him a half-charged Mana Stone from his pouch. "Lead the way, John."
Old John pocketed the stone and set off, his stride brisk despite his age. The trail wound into the Blackstone Mountains, their peaks cloaked in morning mist that swirled like ghostly serpents. The air was crisp, heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth. Strange plants, glowing ferns, spiked vines, caught Edwyn's eye, and he couldn't resist plucking a few, tucking them into his satchel for later study. Elia, equally curious, paused to sketch a luminescent moth in her notebook.
"First time in the Blackstone Mountains, mage lords?" John asked, glancing back with a knowing smile.
Edwyn grinned, pocketing a shimmering leaf. "That obvious, huh?"
John chuckled, his weathered face creasing. "You two got that wide-eyed look. Here, check this." He plucked a mushroom from the underbrush, its cap speckled with silver. Edwyn scanned it with a pulse of Spiritforce, detecting a faint magical hum. "What's this beauty?" he asked, turning it over.
"No clue what mages call it," John said, shrugging. "But I've seen your kind snatch 'em up like gold."
Edwyn's grin turned sly. He pulled out a mostly-spent Mana Stone, its glow dim but still potent, and tossed it to John. "Know more spots like this? Show us, and you'll earn more than half a stone."
John's eyes lit up, his smile wide. "You got it, mage lord. I'll make this trip worth your while."
The Blackstone Mountains were a sprawling labyrinth of ridges and valleys, stretching beyond the academy's reach. By moonrise, after a grueling day of trekking, the trio settled in a small clearing, the forest around them alive with the chirps of nocturnal creatures. Old John, a seasoned guide, had noticed the pair's lack of camping gear and spent the day gathering wild game. Now, he tended a crackling campfire, roasting a mountain pheasant on a skewer. The bird sizzled, its golden skin dripping with a tangy sauce that filled the air with a mouth-watering aroma.
Elia leaned forward, her eyes locked on the roast, practically drooling. "That smells divine," she said, her voice dreamy.
Edwyn's stomach growled, his grin sheepish. "Yeah, my rations are lookin' pretty sad next to that. You're a wizard with a skewer, John."
John chuckled, basting the pheasant with practiced ease. "Decades of guiding mages teaches you a thing or two about eating well."
Just as Edwyn reached for a piece, John's ears twitched. His smile vanished, and he stabbed the skewer into the ground, his voice low and urgent.
"Somethin's comin'. Could be trouble. I won't slow you down." In a blink, he melted into the shadows, his footsteps silent.
Edwyn's hand went to his dagger, his grin sharpening into something feral. "Showtime," he muttered, standing as the rustling grew louder. Elia gripped her staff, her eyes wide but steady.
Seconds later, a figure burst from the undergrowth, staggering into the firelight. Covered in blood, their robes torn, they collapsed to their knees, gasping. Edwyn's eyes narrowed, his greatsword half-drawn.