Chapter 94
"So this is the Decarabian Tower?" Saeko asked with interest, looking at the half-ruined tower, inside of which a pillar of blue light could be seen, covered by a huge domed anemo barrier.
- Yes, - I nodded. - And this will be our last stop for today.
- I see. So, what should we look for?
- Well, I think first of all it's worth looking at what's going on behind the barrier, and then looking for traces of the Order of the Abyss. - I suggested.
- And we will end up behind the barrier...
- Naturally, with the help of my teleportation. - I grinned and extended my hand to the girl. - Grab it.
I transported us directly to one of the levels of the tower, where the faulty guardian of the ruins was located.
"What are these circles?" Saeko asked, pointing to the three magic circles that were one on each floor along the pillar of light.
- It's a portal. - I answered, looking thoughtfully at the seemingly unremarkable guardian of the ruins. But as far as I remember, he is the first cultivator and his core plays one of the most important roles in the plans of the Order of the Abyss. I wonder how it happened that after such a long time they couldn't find him themselves?
"Is there something wrong with him?" the swordswoman asked, noticing my interest.
- Yes. The core of this cultivator is special. I don't know what its specialty is, but it can affect a lot, a lot.
"So maybe we should just take him?" Saeko suggested.
- Yes, I think I'll do that.
Nodding at Saeko's words, I removed the bandage from my left eye. What I saw was quite interesting. The core inside this "cultivator," as the people of Kaenriah called it, was emitting a distinctly different energy. It was somewhat reminiscent of my own, which I had never used in its pure form before, but it was noticeably weaker, but even so, in my vision it stood out like the sun against everything else.
"Amazing," I muttered. "How did they manage to do that?"
I channeled a massive amount of electricity to form a glove-like structure on my hand with claws on the fingertips and in one motion literally cut off all the metal that separated me from the core, and then carefully pulled it out.
- At first glance, nothing remarkable, however... - I tried to influence the energy inside the core and soon, I managed to pull out a thin, golden thread of energy, the absence of which the core almost instantly replenished.
- Amazing. - I looked in fascination at the thread of energy that obeyed me as if it were my own.
"I don't know what the limit of generating such energy is for this core, but I think I understand why it is so important for the Order of the Abyss." Letting the thread dissipate into the surroundings, I put the core in my inventory.
"What was that thread?" Saeko asked.
- It was a special energy, very similar to this. - For the first time, instead of converting, I decided to pinch off a grain of energy from the golden star inside and let it come out in the form of a small firefly.
"How beautiful," the swordswoman muttered, looking at the firefly in fascination, and I could understand her perfectly.
Holding a grain of this energy in my hand, I felt some strange, almost sacred awe. As if the spark from which the world was born rested in my hands. Noting to myself that it would be worthwhile to find time to experiment with this energy later, I forced myself to return it back to my body.
- Ahem, as I said, that energy was similar, but... How can I put it correctly...
"More backward?" Saeko suggested.
- Yes, I think that's an apt description.
- So where shall we go next?
- Into the portal, it's worth taking a look at what's happening there now.
"Aaaand, we just need to enter the table of light?" Saeko asked.
- In theory, yes. - I nodded, and then, heading towards the portal, added. - Just in case, hold on to me.
- Fine.
As soon as we entered the pillar of light, our surroundings changed, instead of walls with large arches opening up to the outside, we were standing on one of four large platforms that together formed a circle and went off into the void, and right in front of us was a huge beak-shaped dragon head.
"Is that a dragon?" Saeko whispered, looking at the Dragon in shock, which looked a bit like a large cat curled up in sleep, but the six pairs of wings on its turquoise body, as well as the dark blue claws and horns left no doubt as to its identity.
- Dwalin, one of the four guardians of Mondstadt. - I looked with complex feelings at the dragon, who even in his sleep after so many centuries continued to suffer from the cursed blood of Durin.
- How funny life can be, it would seem that just recently I was ready to stay on the sidelines, so as not to interfere prematurely in the course of history, but once you see the suffering of others personally, you can no longer calmly pass by. - With a heavy sigh, I went to the dragon.
- Who are you? - a quiet, slightly growling voice came from the dragon, who slowly opened his eyes.
"I came to help," I said soothingly, placing my palm on his beak. "Trust me."
Without waiting for the dragon to respond, I got down to business. My palm began to glow with a bright white light that began to envelop the dragon's body.
This alarmed the dragon, but not having had time to experience disappointment because of the people of Mondstadt who did not recognize him, he was able to restrain his distrust and did not recoil, and soon, along with the filth leaving his body, the tension passed.
- Thank you. - There was so much relief expressed in this one word that I felt truly, deeply sorry for Dwalin, who had suffered for 500 years.
"Did Barbatos send you?" asked the rising dragon.
"No," I shook my head. "Nobody knows where he is."
- It is clear, while I was in the dream, I heard whispers, creatures of the abyss, who tried to pervert my nature and turn me against those whom I swore to protect. They whispered about how I was forgotten and instead of joy I would be met only with fear. They wanted me to cast aside resistance and destroy the traitors. I am glad that I did not give in and waited for your arrival. Please tell me your names, Friends.
- My name is Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort, but for friends you can just call me Amy. - I introduced myself, and then introduced my companion. - And this is my friend Saeko Busujima. We came to investigate what the Order of the Abyss was looking for here and we couldn't pass by after seeing your condition.
- I will not forget the help you provided, friends, and although I am now impatient to see how Mondstadt has changed during this time, but first we need to deal with the rats that are prowling nearby, will you come with me? - Dwalin offered us one of his wings, hinting that we should climb onto his back.
- Of course. - Saeko was the first to answer, seeming to be pleased with the prospect of yet another massacre among the Hilichurls and abyssal mages. I have a feeling that thanks to her, the Modstadt branch of the adventurers' guild will soon have no more tasks to clean up.
- Well, it looks like the time has come for a just punishment. - I grinned and jumped onto the dragon's back after the swordswoman.