I sat their waiting for the Courier to come, and I scrolled through some of the pending notifications. In the blur of the day I had forgotten the twenty stat points that I had received. Placing them 5 a piece into Strength Durability, and Agility to bolster my physical abilities. Next I placed 3 into Intelligence and 2 into Wisdom.
The pain that racked my body was somewhat more manageable, the fire spread across my body. It might've been more painful not but a month or two, then Headache that pounded was annoying then anything. As I recovered I saw a small Brownie that I had a passing familiarity with appeared.
"Ah, your Majesty, it's me the Courier here to escort you to the Grove" he reintroduced himself even though I hadn't forgotten him.
"Yeah, and I'm ready to go, and thank you for your services" I replied as the I watched the small Brownie.
"Of course sir follow me" he said before he turned around and began a brisk pace towards the Keep Exit. Following behind him, we left the keep, and the outer and inner walls. We followed the path I remember Lord Alvest and the rest of the Fungal folk came from. Form there we came across a new series of tunnels I hadn't seen before. Every so often we would happen across an abandoned house or small settlement. They weren't kidding when they said they where a lose confederation as I didn't come across a settlement bigger than four or five houses.
"Hey, Courier how big was the largest settlement before the Mycelium Keep?" I asked him and his small feet didn't stop his moving as his he looked back at me.
"Oh, I think the largest settlement was around the Old House of Lord Alvest about 600 ish I believe though that population would shift, though we where were always separated from the other factions" the Courier explained his speech just like his walking speed was rapid.
"So how did you get the Name Courier? Is it just a nickname?" I asked him attempting to make small talk.
"Oh, well when I was younger about ten years after my ascension to a Brownie I found a parchment detailing a charter for a Cave Folk mail house, they used Courier and it became my name just as being a messenger became my obsession" He explained and from the glimpses of a smile on his face I saw that he rather liked his name.
"So I have a few questions about the naming conventions of the Fungi—" I asked and after he babbled on I realized just how complex the naming conventions of the Fungi were. Each name had to be unique and since they didn't have parents per se rather just mentors who guided them In their early years. So in their younger years their names were flexible as they began to find out who they where.
Eventually we entered into a companionable silence. I knew that the two most powerful beings where me and the Cave Bear. I had asked the Courier who seemed happy to answer my questions, turns out the Cave Bear entered intense hibernation as only rabbits random attacks offered enough calories to allow such a massive creature to exist. Its home the Old Capital of the ants was the largest cavern in the caves that was ever found.
Then I saw the light, glimmering in the entrance the light blinded me temporarily as my eyes adjusted to the light. Blinking away the floating images in my eyes I looked around. Palm trees, dominated the decently large cavern. Giant crystals gave off the light, smaller duller versions laid scattered along the surface which was made out of dirt. For a moment I simply took in the beauty of the Grove, I went over to a nearby rock and sat down.
I wanted to burn the image into my eyes, picking up one of the small light crystals.
...
[Refined Sunstone Crystal]
Rank One Trash treasure(fragment)
This variant of the Felspar Crystal absorbs Oxygen to grow and releases UV light typically forms a symbiotic bond with species of underground Flora. This fragment has been rendered inert unable to absorb more oxygen it fell off the main crystal cluster. This Crystal bears a miniscule connection to the Plain of Sun and lIght.
...
It was beautiful even though it was a big disappointing that this fragment was inert. Placing down I focused on the other parts of the cave that hosted life, mushrooms grew along some of the walls but more so in places of shade. Then I saw them small mammals and birds? This area was completely untouched by civilization.
"Why does Nobody live here?" I asked him and he seemed nervous for moment before he responded.
"Because it's sacred to us, we only take the trees that fall down by themselves sir, and the harsh light form the crystals are to uncomfortable for the other factions to live here sir" he responded and while I thought that the Fungi weren't religious this little slice of nature could stir just a little bit of protectiveness In even the most greedy business men on earth.
...
[Divine Synergy Detected]
You as a Divine connected to the conceptual plain of the Depths you can designate this place as a provisional sacred grove. The System Administration has allowed it. This would be on a temporary basis until such time that the Tutorial Faction [Fungal Folk] have completed the requirements to earn [World Shard]
As a Divine Grove this place will grant you Divinity by those that rever this place. He can also invest Divinity to summon a guardian to protect this place in case of attack.
-50% Divinity Gained due to Tutorial Mandate
Accept: [Y/N]
...
Why not? I remembered a little bit about the ancient sacred groves of various deities and as for this place it was perfect place. If I could protect this place then I would. Pressing yes I felt a connection snap between me and this place. It was tenuous and I could tell that it could and would snap if me or the system out pressure upon it.
...
[Alert!]
You have entered the Sacred Grove of Asylum this place is sacred to the Daemon Kien(you). This Grove grants protection to those deemed worthy by the Daemon.
Requirements*: Must be Friendly or Allies to the [Fungal Folk]
*You can change this requirement at any time.
...
I was glad that this place didn't change when I made it sacred. The Courier also read the message and smiled and I watched a small transparent shield around him more symbolic then protective.
"Alright well I think it's time to leave, can you guide me back?" I asked him to which he nodded before I followed him smiling as we navigated back to the Mycelium Keep. The Trio blurred together before eventually we ended up in the keep.
"Thank you once again for your services" I replied to him and he nodded before running off to go deliver messages I guess. I would call him odd but that would be a case of the pot calling the Kettle Black. I was a 17 year old In a bear pelt underground with magical abilities. Back on earth my outfit alone would classify me as 'odd.'
Walking right out of the keep and to the Guards training place I saw pieces of pelt cloaks eeriely similar to my own on most of them. Tomorrow I already knew what I was going to do, and seeing Darevellum I smiled.
"Hey, Darevellum you busy?" I asked him and the same old statue face of his greeted me.
"I'm always busy, but for You I'll make time, my liege" he stated steeping away from his pupils, stopping half way to fix a stance.
"I was wondering what you could teach about sword fighting, especially something to fight a bear" I stated calmly and I saw the hesitation in Darevellum's step.
"So, soon my liege you truly wish to leave us so early?" He asked and it took a moment for me to realize he was fucking with me.
"Yep!" I quipped back and the Lithoni laughed out loud.
"Aw, and about your request, you know it takes several years to learn swordsmanship? skill wise your flailing toddler" he replied and while the language was harsh he wasn't lying.
"Yeah I don't have the luxury of years" I responded with the truth.
"Yeah I know but still, and yes come on I've got an empty training place." He stated waving me on to an area of the training ground that was empty.
"Today you will be learning the basics on striking" He stated and I waited for him to continue.
"When we were sparing I noticed your edge management was shit, respectfully my Liege" he started and I waited soaking up his words ignoring him messing with me.
"When you are slashing your grip is doing more than keeping the sword in your hand, you also have to keep your edge in line to where you want to hit" He stated, before he told me to take out my Claymore after which he told me to strike a dummy.
"No, no, no my liege you have gotten out of alignment, Again!" He said before making me realign my grip.
This went on for close two hours until finally I was 'passable' for enough strikes to move on the next part.
"Okay, typically I would force you to wait until you got edge alignment right but thats a luxury we don't have, now our next lesson is accuracy which is important for hitting weak spots." He explained as he pointed at a dummy dressed in heavy armor with small gaps.
"From what I've heard most of your enemies were lightly armored and thats a Luxury that will become rarer" he stated before making me strike at specific weak spots on the dummies armor pieces.
Easier said then done and trying to keep my grip, edge alignment, and now my accuracy accurate. I struggled for another three hours and It was almost time for sleep for me at least.
"Okay, okay, now as a wrap up let's fight, now typically these lessons would be taught over and over again but once again not a luxury I have, so come on let's fight!" He said pulling out a practice Claymore himself.
Stepping to the space indicated I changed out for a practice claymore I readied myself and we both launched into battle. Parrying his blade I backed off settling into a Bear stance waiting for him to make an opening in his stance as he moved closer. Seeing an opportunity I struck outwards using a small amount of force he redirected me. Using my greater Agility I blocked the attack he used as a retaliatory strike.
Using a roof stance I struck downwards as he evaded that attack I switched my grip and brought it at a sideways slash. I continued to press the attack until one of my more overzealous attacks switched to battle to Darevellum's favor.
As we fought I could feel Darevellum not take opportunities as I became more skilled I realized just how much I didn't know and still don't know it was kinda of like staring at a deep sea. You could see a little bit on the surface but anything else was just darkness and vauge shapes.
Then it switched on a dime, all of a sudden I was not even a match as I being brought low by Darevellum as he showed his true skill and he used a blurring series of thrusts and slashes. Each of my attacks ended with me being easily parried and open. Soon enough I swordless and with a blade tip at my neck.
"You lose" Darevellum stated simply and I knew why he did that, or at least I think I did. It was demonstration that swordsmanship proper swordsmanship could eclipse stats and system skills.