Mana System Chapter 169: Vetting process (Patreon)

The three of us followed the silent woman as she led us to the Chief’s residence. It was easy to tell how opulent the place was, even more so than Fiona’s description. I noticed pillars carved from some sort of ivory. Just the amount of detail work put into items meant to hold up a roof was beyond the norm.

At first, I thought they looked a little like runes but I felt no magical power emanating from them. There also wasn’t any connecting structure to the designs, almost like it was random. I knew true randomness wouldn’t look as good as this effect though.

Besides the intricately carved columns, there were the golden filigreed beams overhead. The design was more subdued there, as it ran across the beams like branches, with leaves of gold. I didn’t quite understand why someone would build that much detail into something most people would overlook but I could at least admire the craftsmanship that went into the design.

The outer walls of the building were wooden paneled and displayed a vibrant mural of mountains, rivers, and flowering trees that tied in with the golden filigree overhead. I felt something slightly magical from the mural, and maybe that would explain how it looked to be freshly painted when you could tell the building was old. Like really old. If you’ve ever visited ancient landmarks, you know the feeling.

We came around the side of the house and into a sprawling backyard. Blindingly white stone made up the majority of the rock garden, only broken by pure black boulders that sat as focal points to contrast the whole thing. Tall walls surrounded the area, covered in thick vines with the center of the garden being occupied by the gazebo that Fiona mentioned.

After seeing the detail on the house, the gazebo was almost bland by comparison. Thin and smoothly polished white and black speckled columns of marble supported the four sides. The roof was a similar dark grey clay tile as the main house. But the floor was what really caught my eye.

It wouldn’t have been clear to someone who hadn’t had a class designed to draw magical circles, but thanks to my acquisition of the Hex Circle skill, even though I got rid of it, I could see the magical diagram for what it was. I had no idea what it did, but I knew it was magical in nature. The design was inlaid into the creamy white stone floor in silver geometric lines.

A table with a slightly overweight man sat in the center of the design. Around that table sat four chairs of a rather subpar design compared to everything else.

We each took a seat at the round table, Mugat to the left of the Chief, Fiona off to his right, and me directly across from him.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation,” the man added after we sat.

I didn’t think our invitation was optional but chose to remain quiet on the subject.

“We can talk over food,” the man added, picking up a small silver bell and giving it one ring.

Four women appeared from a doorway carrying trays of food. To me, they all looked like younger versions of the Silent One. None of them spoke and as soon as they set the trays down in front of us, they disappeared back into the house, making the resemblance even eerier.

“Please, enjoy what little we have to offer,” The Chief gestured, removing the clay cover from his plate.

I shrugged, might as well dig in, I wasn’t too concerned about being poisoned with my stats and titles. I removed my cover as well, revealing three dishes. One looked like a thin soup or broth. Then there was the meat, shaped like a cube and sitting in a vibrant red sauce. The last was a small confection that looked to be made from fruit. It smelled wonderful.

“So, I hear you two are from a far-off town?” the Chief asked as he sipped on his thin soup.

“I suppose so.”

“That is fascinating, we don’t get many visitors to this secluded area, but that was before we were plucked from our world. I think you are the first to visit us since we arrived. How long did you have to travel to get here?”

“Maybe a week,” I replied, not wanting him to know just how long it took to get to his village. “We came from a town called Saint June.”

“Hmm, that is a name I am unfamiliar with. Was it a town in your world?”

I nodded as I sipped on the spicy broth mixture. It was time to ask some questions of my own. “Mugat told us your town is having some sort of issue?”

“Oh,” the Chief said, turning to face Mugat, who shrank in his seat. “He shouldn’t have burdened travelers such as yourself with our worries. But he spoke the truth.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Fiona asked.

The man paused for a moment while he pondered the offer. “Perhaps. We can discuss it further after our meal. I feel like the specifics may limit your appetite.”

The rest of the meal was filled with small talk, but any time I tried to bring the subject back around to the city, the Chief waved off my question or changed the subject. But the meal had come to an end, and I was a bit sad for that fact considering how delicious everything had been. Martin would have loved to get tips from the cooks.

“Now, before you start flooding me with questions, there is a small issue that needs to be taken care of,” The Chief stated seriously.

“Oh, and what is that?” I asked in curiosity, my mind still lamenting the end of the meal. Perhaps if I had been paying more attention I wouldn’t have been so surprised by the next action.

A bubble of teal energy radiated out from the center of the room, throwing me and Mugat from our seats and into the stone garden beyond. Fiona and the Chief were still sitting at the table, the Chief with a look of resolve, and Fiona one of surprise. I could tell something was wrong as Fiona hadn’t moved from her seated position.

Before I hit the ground, Mantle of Oroboros appeared on my body and Dominion and Destruction appeared in my hand. I rolled as I hit the rocks, coming up in a crouched position and looking around.

Mugat was also rising and I saw one of the Silent Ones standing nearby, holding a spear. When I turned around, I saw one near me as well, but she was holding a straight sword with a long tassel through a rung in the pommel. I was going to demand what was going on when I received a prompt.

Silent One wishes to challenge you to a duel. Accept Y/N

I took a moment to take in what was going on, realizing this was the same woman that we had followed to the mansion. I used Identify on her again out of habit and found her obfuscation turned off.

Mon Ying | Blade Dance/Wind Spirit | 21/10

My eyes widened at this and she smiled in reply. Not the smirk of before, but a genuinely happy smile.

I turned back toward the gazebo and saw Fiona and the Chief talking about something. She didn’t seem in danger so I decided to see what this duel was all about, selecting yes.

There was a tinkling sound of laughter that flowed through the courtyard as Mon Ying took up a fighting stance, her blade held low and behind her.

My track record with fighting close combat classes was not exactly stellar but I was going to give it my all. If they had wanted to kill me they would have done it. No, this seemed more like some sort of test.

***

“What is the meaning of this!” Fiona yelled as the weird shield sprang into place, shoving Paul and Mugat out from under the gazebo.

“Please calm yourself, Miss Fiona, it is a simple test to see if they are worthy of the knowledge I am willing to impart.”

“Oh, and why am I still inside the bubble, and why can’t I move?”

“I will release you, but please don’t try to leave or harm me, it will only cause the Silent Ones to seek vengeance and neither of us wants that. As for why you weren’t pushed out, that has to do with your spiritual connection.”

“What does that have to do with anything!”

The Chief grimaced, “I apologize if this is rude behavior. But the information I contain could lead to the death of this entire town if given to the wrong person. When I saw your class, I had hoped we could reach an understanding. But before that can happen, everyone here must be vetted. No permanent harm will befall either of them, if they fail the duel, I will simply ask them, and you to leave our town.”

***

I avoided a quick slash of Mon Ying’s sword that had been aimed as an upward slice toward my chin. She deftly weaved her way back out of my reach as I struggled to try and even strike at her with my staff. It was like trying to fight a plastic bag twisting in the wind, where every swipe caused it to change direction.

The smaller woman swirled just beyond a quick slash of my staff, only a faint hint of frost coating her flowing dress.

The woman’s smile had gone from simple joy to ear-splittingly happy as our fight went on. She was obviously enjoying the challenge and heck, I was enjoying it more than I should be considering the actions that led up to the duel.

I learned early on that magic fired at her was a lost cause. She would weave out of the way of Arcane Bolts like a matador avoiding a charging bull. She used no spells that I could determine, meaning most of her abilities were tied to her fighting style, similar to Fiona.

While their first classes were similar, the outcome was drastically different. Fiona’s was more about controlling the forces of a fight and getting them to move how she wanted. And Mon Ying’s were more about avoidance and getting within your opponent's reach to strike a vital blow. Somehow Mon Ying’s style was much more fluid but that could be due to her secondary class.

I attempted to intercept her blade with my staff. Mon Ying didn’t cross swords or attempt to block, she simply avoided the attack altogether, following it up with a quick stab to my side.

I jerked sideways in pain, getting another slice across the arm as she danced away again. I had been ready for this one, using Earth Fist to try and trip her up. It slowed her down but she deftly avoided the obstacle but it gave me time to swing my staff around, dealing my first blow to the lithe woman.

The lion head met her side with all the power I could muster. The hit was solid but instead of being thrown across the courtyard, the woman simply floated farther away before landing. She did stop to look at the ice coating her dress. I swear if the woman could have smiled wider she would have.

Her stance changed, as she slightly crouched side on toward me, one hand on her sword and the other on the end of the pommel as the tip faced me.

I knew a buildup attack when I saw it, activating my wings only a moment before the air around her stirred. She shot forward like a bullet, her sword forced forward even faster by the hand at the back. I barely avoided the attack as I activated Blink Step and shot into the air.

There was a crack of displaced air as her attack finished. The side of the yard was in disarray as a straight line of destruction lanced through where I had been standing a moment ago.

I didn’t have time to be shocked as the icy water dripped from the ends of my staff. I whipped a large crescent in her direction with Stunning Gust.

Probably not the best use against a Wind Spirit I realized. There was a tinkling giggle on the wind again as the attack veered harmlessly away from her and she took up another fighting stance.

She stood with her eyes closed and the flat of the blade against her forehead a moment before she ripped it down with impressive speed.

I felt a massive burst of wind smash into my back and flatten me into the garden with little warning. I had to struggle against the buffeting winds just to stand, but flying was simply not possible.

So far she was getting the better of me in combat but her attacks were doing little damage thanks to my armor. Ranged abilities were going to be of little use against someone who could avoid them or slap them out of the air with little effort. That meant fighting her up close.

Seeing as I had no other options, I activated Charge. She began to move almost before I did, attempting to avoid my attack. But I activated Time Shudder, giving me just enough time to strike her with the dragon end of my staff. She had a surprised look on her face as a thick layer of ice coated her midsection.

For most opponents that would have been game over but she fought on. I took two long gashes and three more stab wounds before I was finally able to deplete her health to the point that the duel ended.

I fell down panting from the exertion of the fight. Mon Ying only gave me a slight bow in deference, her face now returned to a completely neutral expression with only a hint of mirth still dancing in her eyes. She looked completely fine like it hadn’t even been a mild workout for her.

I looked to Mugat to see how he was faring. It seemed his combatant was Earth-based as the smaller clone of Mon Ying moved slowly but deliberately, her spear striking out with immense strength.

Eventually, he too overcame his challenge and the shield around the Chief dropped. “I am sorry for the theatrics, but they were necessary as you will learn shortly. Now we can discuss what ails the town.”