Unknown Frontier

The next day, Ian followed his usual routine, heading to the workshop. The hours passed as he immersed himself in his tasks, and by the end of the day, he found himself talking with Velka about the gym.

"You should come with me today," Velka suggested. "I'll introduce you to the coach, and you can see if it's something you'd like."

Ian had already decided so he went ahead with Velka. They made their way to the gym together, where Velka introduced him to the trainer and a few other members. After some friendly exchanges and discussions about available time slots, Ian decided he would attend training sessions after work. 

The trainer inquired. "What are you looking to start with? General fitness, self-defense, or do you want to learn some martial techniques?"

Ian thought for a moment. "I think self-defense first."

The trainer nodded. "Good. We'll start with some basic footwork and positioning. You need a solid stance before anything else. After that, we'll work on your guard and simple punches."

Velka chuckled. "Yeah, Ian, don't worry about getting into the ring just yet. You'll thank me later when your balance isn't all over the place."

Ian smirked. "Sounds fair. Let's do this."

Thus, an additional commitment was added to his schedule.

A week passed by, Ian had settled into his new routine. Work at the workshop, training, and then returning to his quarters. He could already see improvements, his endurance was increasing, and the initial exhaustion was becoming more manageable.

Today he learned the news regarding the ruins, it had been completely cleared. Every inch had been meticulously searched, and soon, he would receive compensation for his efforts. With those funds, he could finally start gathering the necessary resources to embark on the Eldritch Path.

The next day, while working, he and the other members of the expedition were summoned by Shanaera. The old woman sat before them, her presence as imposing as ever.

She placed a catalogue before them. "You can each select up to two items from this list, or, if you prefer, you may take the monetary equivalent. Choose wisely and inform me of your decision tomorrow."

As the others examined the catalogue, Ian skimmed through it, noting several valuable artifacts and rare materials. Before he could delve deeper, Shanaera looked at the group and said, "You can take the catalogue with you and return tomorrow. And everyone except Ian may leave."

A ripple of curiosity spread through the room, but no one questioned the decision. Once they had left, Shanaera turned to Ian.

"Master Ordan was asking if you would like to examine the artifacts recovered from the ruins."

Ian hesitated, a hint of apprehension creeping into his expression.

"There's no danger involved," Shanaera reassured him. "They are stored in a secure facility. Master Ordan was impressed by your performance and would like to see if you have an eye for these kinds of things."

Ian considered for a moment before nodding. "Alright."

"Good. I'll inform him. You can visit his facility, it's only a five-minute walk from here. I'll send you the location."

With that settled, Ian returned to the workshop. His colleagues were quick to inquire about why he had been singled out.

"Lucky you," one of them said. "Getting to work with Master Ordan."

Ian only offered a small smile in response. That evening, he followed his usual routine, attending training, where he noticed his gradual improvement, before heading back to his quarters.

Later that night, he reviewed the catalogue more carefully. His total monetary compensation was twenty thousand kibna1, a staggering amount considering his monthly salary was only five hundred kibna. He lived comfortably on that, so this sum was a fortune. Additionally, if he opted out of taking any resources, he would receive thirty thousand per item he declined, potentially totalling seventy thousand kibna.

However, some of these resources were irreplaceable, their worth exceeding their monetary equivalent.

After much deliberation, his eyes settled on two items. He needed two items to get started with the Eldritch Path. The first was a placeholder for constructing the seed, the Catalyst Stone was a good choice. The second was a source of vitality, for which there were multiple options: Bloodroot, a rare plant that thrives in dark, sacred groves with roots rich in vitality and blood; Astral Pollen, pollen extracted from an astral flower with very high vitality; and Nectarglow, a bioluminescent liquid harvested from rare plants, with a sweet, syrupy consistency that nourishes the seed and accelerates its growth.

Astral Pollen felt like the right choice for him. He had previously settled for much cheaper alternatives, but these would be much better.

With his decision made, Ian turned in for the night, knowing that tomorrow he would visit Master Ordan's facility, then return to work, head to the gym, and finally go home. This was to be his new routine.

The following morning, Ian awoke early and made his way to Master Ordan's facility. The building was grand yet unassuming, its exterior betraying none of the mysteries housed within. Upon entering, he was greeted by a vast chamber filled with relics and artifacts, some carefully encased in glass, others sealed within containment fields that shimmered faintly. A holographic projection guided his way.

Master Ordan himself stood in front of what looked like a relic from the ruins, his sharp eyes carrying the weight of years of knowledge.

He looked at Ian. "Welcome, Ian," he said with a measured smile. "Come, let me show you what we recovered."

As they walked, Master Ordan explained, "Many of the most valuable artifacts have already been claimed by higher authorities, but some items were given to us."

Ian listened intently, his gaze shifting between the various objects. "What do you want me to do?" he finally asked.

Master Ordan studied him for a moment before answering. "So, well, you see this..." He showed him an object.

"This is a very efficient way to establish a self-sustaining arcane feedback loop, allowing for prolonged energy retention. It's not that we don't have more efficient methods, but one needs to achieve higher levels. However, this thing could be made even by beginners, even those who haven't officially mastered Arcane... Well, at least that's what I think."

"There is always something new to learn. Even though the levels of previous civilizations were lower than those of the elves, they came up with quirky ways to make things work. I guess this is the disadvantage of being a colossal civilization, we become rigid and lose our sense of exploration and innovation" he lamented.

"But anyway.... I want to see if you can take some inspiration from this and create .... well we can create a simple mechanical puppet to begin with and if it works then this will be a new discovery, you know."

Ian nodded, stepping closer to examine the artifacts more carefully. His keen eyes, capable of perceiving the finest details, picked up intricate patterns and hidden mechanisms that others might overlook. He carefully opened the device and began experimenting, adjusting small components and testing various configurations. Soon, the artifact whirred to life, gears clicking into motion.

Master Ordan observed with a knowing smile. "Yes, we need to examine this further."

"Well, you don't have to spend all day here. I don't want to steal you from that stingy woman's workshop. Do as you like, if you need to take it home, let Qr know," he said while looking at the holographic projections.

The projection turned to him and smiled intelligently.

So it is autonomous intelligence, Ian thought.

"If you need anything, let me know. Take this and have a look," he said while giving him a record of his findings.

Ian started his work, sat in position, and examined the records and the artifacts. He spent around two hours there and asked Master Ordan every now and then about his doubts and other details.

Then, finally, he bid goodbye and made his way towards the workshop.