Antonio nodded at Aya sagely.
"All excellent questions, to which only HALF of us will be able to answer.
"Are you sure you want to confront possibly a nest of those things with only half of the force it took to take down ONE?
"I say we continue on to the Old Monastary, our original destination, where our combat power is intact. This trail of slime," He waived at the mountains in the way. "Can wait. Will have to wait."
Reiko looks up at the mountainside one last time, then nods.
Antonio is right. We don't have the supplies or the magic to get everyone up there safely. Let's go to the monastery.
He absentmindedly puts his hand on the hilt of his katana as he once again goes into a train of deep thought.
OK then. Let's get going. Aya turns away from the mountain and starts walking toward the monastery.
Feeling weakness enter her body she would comment.
"Remember what Alyra said. We must seek out the Stream of Heroes, on the Isle of Life, and drink from the source." Taking a moment she would try to see if she recalled any such Isle in her studies.
"Mmm. No, I don't recall that one. Are you certain Nia?"
Reiko speaks up when he notices that the power from Alyra is fading.
Does anyone else feel that? It's almost as if Alyra is guiding us. Perhaps we are meant to scale the mountain. Should we first acquire some fear, or try to make it up as we are?
I sense the power fading. Not sure what is going on. Perhaps we need to follow the trail after all.
Not sure why but the following fact seems to have entered my mind while I was pondering our situation. "There is an island in the southern part of the lake where the fish are huge and plentiful, but also quite dangerous. It's rife with growth, but nobody gets too close. Too many have died nearing the island."
"Then it sounds like we should go to the lake. It the place is alive with growth that means life. Her gift may have been temporary. Drinking will possibly make it permanent. That is why it is fading."
Antonio winced as he looked off longingly to the north to where they were intending to go to the abandoned monastary.
He sighed and looked at his hand as he waived it through the air again. He can still see his hands drift effortlessly through the air as if they were in slow motion.
"I like this gift that Alyra bestowed upon us; and I don't want to see it wasted. Let us seek out this island, and drink of its waters in memory of her."
Reiko pipes up quietly.
Or... They are only fully active when we are close to a Titan spawn, or a powerful source of Titan Magic. I've been thinking about it ever since it started to fade, and this is the only explanation that makes sense.
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Well, seeing as you were heading that way, and it wasn't far, you're at the lake - on the north side, as that's the direction of the monastery. Off in the distance, you can just see it - while Lakeroot is just visible as smoke coming from chimneys in the village and the fishing huts, looking like dots in the distance.
The largest plume is likely the 'Mug.
"We should probably head to the southern part of the lake if that is where this place is." To many things they needed to do.
Shifting slightly in the saddle she would frown slightly. To many questions and no answers.
Auric remains lost in thought as he wrestles with what has transpired and the uneasy conviction that the task for which he has been called is at hand. Barely aware of his surroundings, he follows the party quietly.
"Well then, we'll need a boat. Who can we borrow one from..." Antonio wondered aloud.
Nia stroked her mount's neck. "We will see if any is available. They might all be busy. But with how many of us there are and if I keep my friend with us we will need it. Good thinking Sakuro."
Shifting she scanned the horizon looking to where the barges are kept and heads that direction.
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It takes a little time to find one that isn't claimed.
After a while, one poles in to join the queue, but the man in charge looks discouraged.
By the way, they're all similar - narrow, shallow boats with straight sides - none over six feet wide or maybe eighteen long. They seem to float just fine with crates, barrels, and baskets piled to a man's chest.
Nia steps forward with a warm smile. "Something is on your mind. You seem discouraged. May I ask why?" At this point she had dismounted and was leading her horse by the reins.
"Hire" Auric offers distractedly, "we'll need you to crew it- we'd like to hire your barge... please"
Nia sighed internally even as she smiled warmly. "We need to get to the Isle of Life. Could we book passage for all of us and one horse? As Sakuro said. We can help each other. If you wait for us once there, there will be adequate compensation of course."
"We have heard of this island that is in the southern part of the lake where the fish are huge and plentiful. It's rife with growth. Do you know of such an island? That is where we wish to go."
Reiko nods at the man.
That is good. I fear our destination is connected to the attacks on the town as of late. We must make haste.
"Please," Said Antonio, smiling.
"We really need your help, and we can make it worth your while." He said, casually clinking a couple of coins together.
Reiko stops at the boat and murmurs.
The last time I was in a boat... I was being brought here after being banished and having memory wiped.... Let's hope the end of this trip turns out better...
Then, to whoever heard him, he offers a small smile and a hand to hang onto while they step in.
Seeing the horse's reluctance, Auric attempts to assist Nia in soothing it...
As Aya boards the boat she looks at the barge captain and asks, So, How much do you think is fair to take us to the Isle o' Life? She then pulls out her 'small' coin purse and extracts 1 gold.