A Hand-Woven Universe 106 105.

"So. Noone, how did you enjoy Ardglass?" Jakobson's voice seemed even more full within the confines of the room.

"It was interesting. I have never seen anything like it before if I am speaking honestly."

"Well. I am glad you're speaking honestly at least." Jakobson laughed. He had heard a bit about Noone from Tobias earlier and knew how powerful Noone was in comparison to his experience.

Beings born powerful were far more dangerous than those who grow into it from the ground up, so it was important Noone quickly gain the experience to supplement his strength. Jakobson noted how easily Noone carried the axes on his hips.

They talked for a while, Jakobson was enjoying hearing about Noone's home from him. Noone did not mind talking about it, although in the back of his mind there were the mild pangs of grief. But he ignored these, hiding it away behind conversation.

Jakobson sighed. "Truly… Tapestry sounded like an amazingly peaceful place."

Noone did not say anything. He never had anything to compare it to before, but yeah, compared to this world it was completely at peace.

Jakobson couldn't help but feel sorry for Noone. To lose one's whole life to death was not an unheard of occurrence in their world. He glanced at Sarah, she was evidence of that. But Noone came from a place of complete peace. The real crime is the people left behind, they are forced to lose their innocence and embrace a distrusting world.

Jakobson knew Noone was going to have to learn some hard lessons from here on out.

Noone was about to say something when he suddenly looked at the door. His eyes went wide in shock. Everyone looked at Noone, confused.

The door swung open and the tall figure of Tobias stepped into the room, having to duck underneath the doorway. He skillfully maneuvered himself, so his axe would not knock on the door on the way in. Behind Tobias, Feylin followed.

While Tobias and Feylin settled into the room, Sarah and Noone were unable to look away from tear their eyes from the paladin.

Both of their eyes were wide, Sarah's jaw was hanging open and she found herself unable to speak. Noone fared only slightly better, but still felt extremely odd.

Everyone else in the room was already aware of what had happened.

Tobias's arm had been regenerated. It rested comfortably at his side as though he had never lost it. On his new hand was a ring and a bracelet with a holy symbol etched into it.

Tobias enjoyed the shocked look on their faces, letting them remain in their stupor for another moment before clearing his throat.

"You can grow back limbs?" Noone was the first to break the silence. He had felt rather guilty about the injuries he inflicted onto Tobias during their initial encounter. Although Tobias had told him not to worry about it, Noone still felt uncomfortable whenever he would see Tobias training his off-hand.

Tobias was shocked by the question before remembering how little experience Noone had.

"Not quite. By the grace of our gods we are gifted with miracles of healing and strength. While simple healing is easy for even acolytes of our order, to be healed of dismembered limbs requires extremely high level grand-priests – either clerics or paladins – or blessed items and scrolls." Tobias spoke clearly and with conviction, he had full faith in the gods of life.

Noone did not understand everything he said, but understood enough of it. Obviously, there was an item at this temple that he was able to use to recover. Noone considered what he said about the gods of life. He felt the concepts of gods in this world were odd but put those thoughts in the back of his mind.

"I am glad the injury wasn't permanent." Noone said meaningfully.

Tobias nodded. "Although I am lucky to be able to use such a high-level healing. To most of the world, healing a limb is something that they can't afford to do."

Sarah sat there in silence. She considered the whole exchange as well as her own position. Despite being a clergyman of the order… she knew that she was not worth the energy to heal from such an intense injury. If she lost a limb as an acolyte… that would be it.

Her mind steadied and her eyes looked ahead.

"I guess I only have one choice. I must break through into the cleric realm tonight." She thought. She was at the very peak that an acolyte could reach.

She knew two spells by heart and was on the cusp of grasping the third. Once she does that… combined with her experiences over the past year and her diligent studies, Sarah felt she should have no problem advancing.

Tobias and Jakobson both noticed her changing expression but said nothing.

"Well then." Tobias took the lead for the discussion. Jakobson leaned back in his chair, he was curious what Tobias would say after their private conversation earlier. Everyone sat up and paid attention, even Sally and Rae. They took Tobias very seriously, and as their leader it was their responsibility to listen close to his words.

"We will be spending three days here in Ardglass..." Tobias cleared his throat, organizing his thoughts about the last year.

Ever since he arrived in Ardglass a year ago and met the two acolytes, nothing about this assignment has gone the way he thought it would. He did not expect to replace the two deaths in his party with two acolytes. He did not expect to be retrieving a living person, and he most certainly did not expect an organization to attack the epoch tribesman… Tobias prayed there was no correlation between these things.

If there was… He glanced at Noone, saying nothing.

"Feylin, over the next three days I want you to focus on advancing into a full cleric. From our observations, you should be very close. Being within the temple should be more than enough to help your studies. Once you master a third miracle, the advancement will come naturally."

Feylin nodded. He wasn't sure what advancing would feel like, but he could feel how close he was. Sarah glanced at Feylin in surprise, how come Tobias only mentioned him? Sally and Raelith did not seem surprised by this either. Only Jakobson raised his eyebrows in curiosity. From what he could see, it looked like Sarah was closer to advancing than Feylin.

"While he stays here to advance, I want Raelith and Sally to focus on doing what you can to prepare the clergy here in case of war. Also go out into town and offer whatever healing you can. It is important that we try and ease the minds of the townsfolk." They both agreed, and were happy they would be able to support in what little ways they could.

"Our initial journey from the capital of Cinapul to Ardglass took a year and a half. During our trip we passed through a newly occupied drow city, losing two student paladins." Tobias did his best to keep his voice neutral, but everyone present was able to see how this affected him. Rae and Sally both knew the two paladins, and they understood that Tobias felt he was personally responsible for them.

"The city was a reformed dwarven mining town, within the base of Stone-Eyes mountain. It was a lapse in capability on my part that led us into such a dangerous situation. Jeopardizing not just the mission, but our lives." Tobias let out a sigh, no longer bothering to try and hide the weight on his heart.

"On the way back, we will be taking the same path."

Everyone in the room frowned, especially Rae and Sally who had experienced the dangers of the drow firsthand.

"There is nothing I can do about this. When I talked with the grand-priest and proposed circumventing that route, he denied doing so."

Noone's frown deepened. Again with the grand-priest? Everything that has occurred since his arrival to the surface has been because of this person… and the individual who requested this of him as a favor.

"It seems that there is a military force of Cinapul preparing to drive the Drow out of the caverns. He wants us to join with them, working with their forces and providing support. There is already a small division of many of the Orders other than ours. We will be meeting with another party of 5 from our order." Rae and Sally looked at each other. In reality, much of the use of the Order of Life was on the battlefield. Being able to heal and resupply soldiers and adventurers was a necessity to keep army morale and strength.

"Doesn't Cinapul have more to worry about right now than a small drow encampment? They have an approaching epoch tribe at their doorstep, and they are wasting energy on this?" Sally's voice bit into the air, obviously upset by this decision. No matter how inconvenient the drow may be, they aren't a thirty-thousand strong army.

Tobias nodded his head, understanding her point. No one else said it, but everyone was thinking similar thoughts. Especially Sarah and Feylin, whose home sat on the edge of the storm.

"I don't know all the details for certain, but it seems that within the base of Stone-Eye mountain is a high-level transport circle." Tobias said. "With the oncoming war, it is not surprising that Cinapul would want to get their hands on it."

Sally grit her teeth. "Even if that is the case, only a few of the highest wizarding schools can even activate them, using up many resources in the process. That is why they have gone almost completely out of commission."
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"Actually…" Raelith said. "I don't know how accurate this is because I heard it from a friend within the capital's wizarding court, but it seems that many of the owned transport portals are being opened for use in trade and travel. It is not something we have seen much of down here yet. But from what I heard it seems like this is already the case in the northern desert."

"That is correct. It seems that in exchange for resources, they are opening these transport spots to the public. It seems the grand priest has given us a guarantee that as long as we contribute to the reclaiming of Stone-Eye, he will pay the fee to have us all transported directly to the Capital."

Chapter end