The Realm Between: A LitRPG Saga (Books 7 - 10), page 31
“Hey. Are you all right?” The elf jogged into his peripheral vision, causing Azure to stop and sigh.
“Not really.” He tore his hands through his hair, looking out toward the ocean.
It was taking everything in him to fight back the tears. Crying in front of Jin wasn’t an option. Not when he was supposed to be the Captain of the Guard. If the elf thought him weak, he might regret having bestowed the position on Azure, and it was currently the only thing left giving him a purpose.
“If you are here, then you are not dead,” Jin told him.
Azure shook his head. “You don’t understand. After seeing that vision…After knowing what I know now, I can’t help but wonder what the point of any of this is. Even if I wish it, I won’t be sent back home. I don’t even have anything else to wish for.”
“You can always wish to be sent back home, whether it works or not,” the elf said. “Our travels will give you a chance to come up with a backup wish in case it doesn’t. And even if you can’t go back home, does it really matter? You’ve accomplished so much here.
“Azure, you are the first human ever to serve as an elf’s Captain of the Royal Guard. That is a historic event. Long after you are gone, people will remember your name,” Jin emphasized the importance of the accomplishment. “And besides, once I bring my people back, you will be rich beyond your wildest dreams. Is the thought of that life so bad?”
He considered it for a minute, then sighed. “I suppose not.”
Back on Earth, all Azure could have hoped for was a promotion into his dream job. Here in The Realm, he had been granted a position that many people would probably kill for, and he hadn’t even really had to work for it. It had just been handed to him.
“And if that is not enough to motivate you, think of all the memories you’ll make traveling with your friends.” Jin wrapped an arm around Azure’s neck. “Just envision all of the exotic places you’ll get to see and the monsters you’ll get to kill.” He made a sweeping motion with his hand as he stared off into the distance.
Azure couldn’t help but smirk at him. “I think you get more enjoyment out of fantasizing about all the monsters we’ll kill than I do.”
The elf glanced at him. “I know you have a soft heart, but you have to admit that it’s kind of fun.”
Azure scrunched up his brow. “Almost dying is never fun.”
Jin patted Azure’s chest. “That’s how you know you’re alive.”
Azure tilted his head to the side. “While I don’t agree with your logic, I suppose it’s not all that bad.”
“Of course, it’s not. Remember, things could always be worse. Hypothetically, if you were dead, you could have just drifted off into nothing, an endless sea of darkness.”
“Is that what your death was like?” Azure asked.
The elf shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable. “What happened to me was much like what happened to you. I was somewhere else one moment, then here the next.”
“So, death is an endless void.” Azure looked out over the ocean, his eyes wide as he pondered the depth of that, though he quickly snapped out of it. “Well, we’d better avoid death, then.”
“It should be avoided at all costs.” Jin nodded. “Who knows how many more chances we’ll get. I, for one, don’t want to test my luck.”
“Yet we’re going after the rest of these stones, which will most certainly put us in harm’s way.” Azure gave him a half-cocked grin.
“Some things are worth dying for,” the elf replied simply. “Like good friends and the chance to accomplish the impossible. There is no other way for me to bring my people back. And there is no other way for you to get back to Earth.
“Remember, I did not get my gift because I saved you. For all I know, I could have received a similar vision. Visions of my people forever perished and my homeland burning.”
“What would you have done then?” Azure lifted an eyebrow.
“Not give up.” Jin removed his arm from around Azure’s shoulder. “I’ve lived long enough to know that, given the right situation, being in the right place at the right time, nothing is impossible in The Realm. Visions can be misleading and also mean something entirely different than you think.” The elf paused for a moment before looking at Azure. “Do you trust me?”
There was no hesitation. “Yes.”
“Then believe that I will find a way to get you out of here. If the Ultimate Blessing does not grant your wish, then I will put every resource I have at my disposal to aid you in your quest. We are brothers until the end.” He patted Azure on the shoulder. “Now stop moping and go enjoy some much-deserved relaxation.”
A long breath escaped Azure’s lungs as he watched Jin walk toward Princess Zadori. He could have rejoined the group but decided instead to continue to the beach. Even though his mind was a bit more at ease, he wanted the space to decompress from the day’s stress. So much bad was still fresh in his mind.
As Azure took a seat on the sand and began unbuckling his armor, he wondered many things. Would he even live long enough to collect all the stones, or would he die in service to the elf? In the grand scheme of things, did it even matter if the Ultimate Blessing could grant his wish?
It had taken almost a year just to obtain the Land Stone. By the time they acquired the rest, there might not be anything worth going back to. The elf was right about one thing, though. Regardless of the outcome, Azure had to try.
Inhaling deeply, he watched the sun cast sparkling rays over the water on the horizon. It was still early in the day, barely noon, if that late. His worries would eat him alive if he let them, but they were just that, worries, not current emergencies, and certainly not anything pressing. All Azure could do was take things one day at a time. Today, relax and recharge. Tomorrow, set off with his party toward the God of Life and whatever adventures awaited them.
GOD OF LIFE
CHAPTER ONE
THE REALM – DAY 516
If Patheana was like Earth, then Sheidan was like a dream. The change in scenery was subtle at first. As they walked through the field on the borderland that signaled the crossing over into the new continent, Azure noticed that the lushness of the green grass dulled. It was not a loss of color from dying that he was seeing. Pastel hues took the place of bright pigmentation, and there was a slow but distinct gradient to the field.
By the time they had reached the forest beyond, even the texture of the grass had changed. It parted to the weight of Azure’s armor as if made of nothing at all. He had thought the feeling imagined at first until he reached down to stroke the grass and found it as light and flexible as a string blowing in the wind.
Azure tried his best not to seem surprised by this. None of his traveling companions perceptibly noticed the change in scenery at all. They simply pressed on, narrowed in on their destination.
There were many things that Azure had to adjust to as they ventured further into Sheidan. Instead of petals, about half of the flowering plants had featherlike blooms, reminding him of dandelions. They were also much larger than the flowers he’d seen in other parts of The Realm.
While the pastel landscape eventually became par for the course, everything seemed dulled in one sense or another. However, the lack of pigmentation did not cause a depressive effect. Instead, his surroundings produced a soothing, pleasant feeling.
Azure did his best to forage whenever he had the chance.
You have harvested:
673 False Weed
Uses: Alchemy component, temporarily increases HP by +10 if eaten
You have harvested:
61 Betty Leaf
Uses: Alchemy component, temporarily increases SP by +10 if eaten
You have harvested:
54 Evergreen Frond
Uses: Alchemy component, temporarily increases MP by +10 if eaten
You have harvested:
80 Belle Zedoary
Uses: Alchemy component
You have harvested:
39 Dyer’s Ink Plant
Uses: Alchemy component, Restores +20 SP if eaten
It seemed that most of what he could forage in Sheidan had some use. Azure doubted he’d be selling much of what he’d gathered, especially the Dyer’s Ink Plant. Though it didn’t look particularly appealing—the only plant Azure had seen in Sheidan that was solid black—it restored almost as much Stamina as a Potion of Minor Stamina.
With two thin leaves at its base that folded over, the Dyer’s Ink Plant consisted of one long stalk that ended at a point. The first time Azure tried to eat it, he almost spit it out. Black licorice on steroids was the best way to describe the taste.
Princess Zadori had scrunched up her nose when she’d watched him munch on it while they were walking. His expression upon the liquid innards of the plant hitting his tongue had made her smirk.
“Doesn’t taste good, does it?” The princess’ expression was somewhere between sympathy and amusement.
Azure stuck out his tongue, wondering if it was black.
“That’s why people don’t usually ingest it in its natural form. They wait until it can be made into a potion,” she informed him.
The flavor lingered long after Azure had discarded the rest of the plant, and no amount of water seemed to wash it out. After about half an hour of taste bud misery, he decided that maybe it was worth forking out the coin for Potions of Minor Stamina instead. If Dyer’s Ink Plant was a component used to make them, it was probably worth a lot. Perhaps the tradeoff wouldn’t be so expensive.
Just from Foraging alone, Azure raked in a massive amount of experience, leveling the skill several times and earning another perk at level 20.
Congratulations! The skill: Foraging has reached Level 19, 20, 21, 22. Plants collected through foraging have a variety of uses. You can sell them, consume them, or use them to create potions through alchemy. You now have a 5% chance of yielding two of the same item when Foraging.
The first time Azure saw the perk in action was a bit jarring. He had just harvested a False Weed, which was a mimic of other weeds around it. In fact, the only way Azure could identify one was by pulling up all the foliage around it as well and waiting to see if he received a notification of success. Once the message popped up, the False Weed would take on a yellowish tint to help him discern it from the other clumps of grass in his hand. The plant itself was thin, with a thick yellow bloom atop it. How the skinny stalk supported the weight of the flower, Azure would never know. It defied the laws of physics, as many things in The Realm did.
After brushing away the actual weeds from the false one, Azure watched as the plant began to split in his hand. At first, he had thought it alive—a monster in disguise—and had dropped it and stepped back. But by the time the False Weed had hit the ground, the process had completed, and it had divided into two plants. At that time, he received another notification.
Congratulations! You have received a double yield.
Relief had flushed through Azure, and he had looked around, a little embarrassed when he noticed his traveling companions staring at him oddly.
The second time it had happened, it was far less shocking. For a while after, every time Azure harvested something, he waited with anticipation for the plant to split, a strange drop of adrenaline rolling through his veins. It was the same feeling he got when gambling, though this was a bit less exciting.
Birds seemed more abundant in Sheidan, their plumage almost unsettlingly colorful in contrast to the foliage around them. They were practically incapable of hiding in the branches. For the first few days of the group’s travels through the country of Life, Azure found his focus quickly diverted to the birds when he’d see one fly by or perched in a tree.
As for insects, Sheidan seemed to lack most of the creepy crawlies of Patheana, though there was no shortage of butterfly-like creatures that Princess Zadori informed him were called helioflies. Their wings glowed with the light of their color, either blue, red, or yellow. In the daytime, the illumination was so faint that it was barely perceivable, but at night, they were every bit as vibrant as the jumpywinks had been. Unlike the jumpywinks that flitted around carrying Mana throughout The Huge Wilds, the helioflies would find a choice flower to rest on, keeping stationary like living nightlights. The princess explained that each heliofly provided healing benefits relevant to their color to the creatures that consumed them. The red ones granted Health. The blue ones provided Mana. And the yellow ones were rich in Stamina. The amount of each was dependent on the size and age of the heliofly, and there was no way to tell how much a creature would receive until the heliofly was consumed.
“Should we start catching them and saving them for later?” Azure asked, now seeing the creatures as more of an item than a living thing.
Princess Zadori shook her head. “They will not survive in a bag. They are worthless dead, their properties rendered null within mere seconds of their expiry. Short of catching and eating them where they fly, they are of no benefit to humans. Monsters love them, though.”
Of which there were plenty. Without the hourglass of impending death hanging over Azure’s head rushing them along, Jin was less cautious about avoiding enemies. Often, he’d lead them straight into danger just for the experience.
That made the over 2,000 mile trip to The Crystal Forest where Dyasitet resided even longer as they hacked and slashed their way through Sheidan, defeating a variety of monsters that Azure had never seen or heard of before. They racked up an impressive amount of experience as they went, all leveling up several times and collecting a myriad of loot.
Congratulations! You are now Level 18, 19, 20, 21, 22! Your base stats have been boosted. You have earned 3 points to assign to your characteristics (per level). Please note that adding points to some characteristics (Vitality, Intelligence, and Strength) will further boost your base stats. You may also advance any 1 skill of your choosing by 1 level (per level).
You have received the following items:
Rabbit Pelt
Quantity: 92
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.1 kg
Uses: Crafting
Deer Pelt
Quantity: 87
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 1.8 kg
Uses: Crafting
Uncooked Rabbit Meat
Quantity: 92
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.5 kg
Uses: Cooking
Uncooked Deer Meat
Quantity: 4,785
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.5 kg
Uses: Cooking
Uncooked Boar Meat
Quantity: 11,700
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.5 kg
Uses: Cooking
Mushroom Poison Extract
Quantity: 17
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Alchemy Component
Plant Poison Extract
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Alchemy Component
Small Cloth Cap
Defense: +2
Type: Light Armor
Durability: 11/20
Item Class: Common
Quality: Poor
Weight: 0.0 kg
Small Cloth Pants
Defense: +3
Type: Light Armor
Durability: 25/20
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.3 kg
Small Cloth Sandals
Defense: +1
Type: Light Armor
Durability: 21/21
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.4 kg
Blue Mesh Tunic
Defense: +8
Type: Light Armor
Durability: 14/21
Item Class: Uncommon
Quality: Good
Weight: 0.8 kg
Rune of Chance
Item Class: Rare
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Used to make Chance Spell Scroll
Rune of the Leader
Item Class: Rare
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Used to make Pathmaker Spell Scroll
Rune of Weak Haste
Item Class: Rare
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Used to make Weak Haste Spell Scroll
Iridium Ore
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.1 kg
Uses: Contains iridium. Can be smelted for crafting
Bat Wing
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Loot. Sell for coin
Azure never thought it would happen, but his Small Bag of Holding finally ran out of space with all the uncooked meat he had been collecting, so he eventually had to start selling the excess.
It seemed like a colossal waste of animal life for them to hunt for sport, but Azure could not stop the elf and the half-imp from doing it. Lonnell’s past chastisements went out of the window. When in Rome…
Azure was surprised to receive the runes as loot. They had dropped from lesser life elementals, existing at their very core. Each lesser life elemental could only cast the spell of the rune it contained within. As soon as Uden discovered that they dropped the runes, he made it a personal mission to collect them all.
