Chapter 167: Underwater Exploration

Chapter 167: Underwater Exploration

Chapter 167 - Underwater Exploration

Kai stashed his silver disk and clothes inside his ring and jumped to the lower floor. The knee-deep water was hardly of any help in the landing. But if it wasnt enough to cushion the fall, it was enough to drench him thoroughly.

Damned cold water.

Away from the sun, the icy droplets sent shivers down his arms and back. Scant rays of light penetrated from the opening in the ceiling. The polished ivory stone reflected the light coming from the windows two floors up.

A school of tiny yellow fish tickled his legs in their panic to flee to the deeper chamber. The mana density had increased yet again, though it didnt reach any degree that warranted worrying about. Water and Shadow particles swirled around him, with a minor presence of his other major elements and the occasional stray Space mote he snatched for himself.

It wasn't enough to birth a beast, and even if some mollusk or crab got lucky to awaken, a red-tier animal was hardly a threat.

Kai used his enchanted crystal to better light the chamber as he mulled over the plan taking form in his mind. If he wanted to use the Fulcrum, he had to take thorough precautions.

Tapping his fingers on the pale walls, Kai activated Inspect and Mana Sense. Rocks in nature often had tiny fractures where they might break, the stone of the ruins was flawless inside and out.

This aligned with the theory his dad wrote in his journals. Rellan had believed that due to the way the Vastaire built their structures, the stone could be broken but not damaged. Unless a force surpassed their durability threshold, they remained immutable through the millennia. Unaffected by weather and time.

The Fate Fulcrum made unlikely events bubble to the surface, even if the chance they would occur naturally was minuscule. But those events had to be possible.

Its a theory. Im not an expert in magic constructions, and neither was my dad

He would verify their stability before proceeding. He didnt feel comfortable betting on any life but his own. And a collapse was only one possible danger.

With five teenagers climbing the towers, his biggest worry was to find them splattered on the ground. A few slippery droplets falling at the wrong time and place, or a sudden gust of wind could make them lose their grip.

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Without knowing the limits of the artifact, his mind could conjure an endless number of ludicrous scenarios.

That's why I need to test it away from people.

No matter how unlikely the deadly circumstances were, he was not going to take any chances. His best bet was to activate the Fulcrum when the group was away from the ruins and any potential mishap.

The release of Fate had lasted about half an hour in Higharbor. Given the smaller charge he would be using, this one might be even shorter. Perhaps he could activate the artifact at night while his friends slept in a safe area. They might not realize anything odd happened.

Should I ask Flynn if I missed something?

His friend had been the one campaigning to test the silver disk, but Kai didnt want to encourage him towards anything reckless. It might be better to keep him in the dark till all was said and done. He had already told him he planned to use it during the return trip, so Flynn shouldnt suspect anything.

Though Id be super mad if the positions were reverted, and he decided for me. He knows the potential dangers of the artifact

Stuck in a flooded chamber underground, Kai decided to set aside the matter and carry on with his exploration. Either case, he needed to become more familiar with the ruins before he used the artifact. He might have overlooked a potential danger.

Even if the spirits smiled at him, there was no way to ensure the random coincidences brought him something useful. The artifact might need to gather more Fate, there might be nothing to find, or a thousand other possibilities. It would be useful as a test, but he couldnt wager all his hopes on it. His dad had visited many ruins, it was possible he might have missed some hidden glyphs.

Enough stalling, waiting wont make the water any warmer.

Taking a deep breath, Kai dove into the frigid waters towards the next chambers. The world turned silent and darker, lit only by the enchanted crystal in his fist. Its blue light reverberated in the twisted tunnels. Thanks to Blessed Swimmer, he was always at home in the sea.

Wait! Does this mean the water is linked to the sea, or is the proximity enough?

The edge of the ruins bordered the waves, but he hadnt checked whether they were directly connected. If so, the upper floors might empty with the low tide and make his exploration more convenient.

With the oxygen ticking down in his lungs, Kai focused on his surroundings. The chamber he was in brought some variety, with two passages branching on opposite walls beside the one leading deeper into the room.

Where do I go first? Eenie meanie miney moe.

Kai picked a corridor at random, swimming in slow regular strokes for efficiency. He tried to match the confusing maps with what stood before him. Rellan had drawn them for his personal use, not imagining someone else would need to decipher his scribbles decades later.

The pale ivory tunnel extended into darkness. Sand and debris had filled a noticeable portion of the ruins, halving the once spacious passages. Scampering crustaceans and mollusks hid under the sand, scared of the foreign light he carried, while schools of blue and green fishes swam curiously toward him.

No, sorry for worrying you, Kai noticed they were heading deeper into the cluster of ruins and not toward the greenery. His suspicions were confirmed when they stopped before one of the central towers. You set up camp here?

Up close, he had to crane his neck to watch the massive ivory pillar before them. In its prime, it must have been the highest one in the ruins, but now the pinnacle was broken in a clean cut.

Uli and Oli insisted it was the only sensible choice. Ana began to climb with little ceremony, making use of the regular holes that once held the fixtures of the building. Its sheltered from the weather and safe from the tide. So its not a terrible choice

While Kai couldnt dispute their logic, it felt odd to sleep and cook dinner inside the ruins, as if they were violating a sacred place. Following Ana, he entered a spacious room. Their bags were lined up against the wall, and an impromptu fireplace lay extinguished.

Did you get stuck in a room unable to climb out? Uli asked with weird enthusiasm.

Hello to you too.

No, I. Kai tried to explain but was interrupted by Oli.

Did you fall off a tower, hit your head and lay unconscious on the beach?

Did I miss something?

No. I didnt realize how the hours flew by.

Oh both twins slumped, disappointed. They scowled at Flynn who lay sprawled by the hearth, enjoying the sunlight peeking through a window.

I told you he was fine. He forgets about everything else when hes focused.

Kai furrowed his brow. Did you bet on what happened to me?

Absolutely not. What gave you that impression? Flynn grinned brightly. But even if we did, and Im not saying thats what happened, I was right. You cant blame me for it, you can be a bit forgetful.

Im not sure thats how it works.

Here, Ive kept your lunch safe. Flynn offered him a pot to distract him.

Its empty. Kai pointed out the obvious. All that remained were a few crumbs of what might or might not have been a stew.

What? He widened his eyes and pulled a hand over his face in shock. Ive no idea how that happened!

Hey! The twins stood up. You said we couldnt have it because you were saving it for Kai.

No, I said I would keep it safe. Flynn corrected them, his dramatic surprise already gone. And I can assure you, the food is extremely safe right now. He patted his belly.

Uli and Oli shared a glance, slowly advancing towards him. I wouldnt be so sure.

Since Lou had mentioned how the food had been left unguarded, Kai had already resigned. He perused their supplies to cook another meal while the twins chased after Flynn. His traitorous friend fled out of a window, granting him the gift of silence.

***

Busy mapping out every nook and cranny of the ruins, five days fled him. His dad had been extremely thorough in his exploration. Kai didnt know how Rellan had managed to spot every detail of interest, no matter if it was buried below meters of sand.

I should ask Mom what his profession was.

After Inspecting many towers, he hadnt found any signs that could forecast a collapse in the ivory structure. That still left his other worries. There was something weird about the mana density within the ruins.

While the increase wasnt significant, it was there. It grew the deeper he went in the chambers and reached his peak in the center of the underground complex. Rellan had dismissed it as one of many mana oddities. Small pockets of higher concentration werent unique. The Essence of the World was always in motion and ever-changing.

Kai couldnt accept that there was no answer, and he also couldnt find any other explanation. It was incredibly frustrating. He had tried to follow the flows of mana through the maze of corridors, but those streams just looped onto themselves without any detectable source or origin.

Lou asked to come with him once. No one else had shown interest in exploring the icy waters below the ruins. The soaring towers with their jagged tops held more appeal, granting incredible views of the coast. The twins made it their mission to climb every peak.

Despite Kai's worries, they were great climbers and had managed to complete their mission before the week was over, leaving them temporarily aimless. With just a few subtle hints, he convinced them to volunteer for a supply run in a nearby village. And Ana obviously couldnt let them go alone. Spirits knew what theyd buy by themselves.

From the window in their camp, Kai observed Flynn and Lou jogging away along the coast. His friend had shown no surprise when he revealed what he had been planning. Convincing him to keep Lou busy had been harder, but he had ultimately agreed.

With a thought, a silver disk reflecting multiple colors appeared in his hand. It was finally time.