Sealed in Steel [ Tank Litrpg ]

Hinter Engall of Golden Grove wore a chest plate displaying that distinct tree design. He never replaced that piece of armor, no matter how battered it got. He was a formidable swordsman wielding shard swords, the weapon equivalent of spell shard rings. The last one to join Yanira's adventurer's group, he had at that time three shard swords with three stored spells each. Expensive and powerful. Family heirlooms, he explained to them. They let him join because he was an excellent cook despite being on the silent and reserved side. He could probably make tree bark taste good.

He died two years after they first met, killed by a Giant during the siege of Antillar.

"Do you know of anyone from Golden Grove?" Gideon asked Elian.

Elian shrugged. "Heard of a few good warriors from there. Haven't personally met anyone."

The men slowed their horses to a gentle trot as they approached Elian and Gideon. Their spears were held high instead of leveled at them. These newcomers didn't mean any harm. The man in the lead even did a salute before coming closer.

"A good day to both of you, kind sirs," he said, dismounting his horse and bowing. "The name's Maveron Gustall of Golden Grove."

He has the angular facial structure of Hinter, Elian thought.

This guy was older than Hinter. His long hair, woven into a braid, was silver in places. Perhaps a relative on the mother's side, given that they didn't share the same surname. This could be a good chance to reconnect with the old gang. Elian never expected to meet any of them because he didn't go south.

"Gustall? Are you Lord Gustall?" Gideon asked.

"My cousin is the ruler of our humble town," Maveron said. "I'm honored to meet Penitents of the Temple of Tribulation."

"I'm not a Penitent," Gideon said. "A simple floramage that goes by the name Gideon, I greet you, of Golden Grove." Gideon jabbed his thumb my way. "He's the Penitent."

"Elian Ward of Gilders," Elian said, slightly bowing. "How may we help you? And how did you know there's a Penitent here? Ah, the clouds."

"Both the dark clouds and the resounding crash," said Maveron, nodding. "We don't mean to intrude on your business. It's only that I have a fascination with the Penitent culture of the Temples of Tribulation. I've been to the hills several times for trade and have met outstanding individuals. Would you be interested in joining us for breakfast? I'll call my fellow townspeople over since this is such a scenic place to have a meal. We'd love to hear about the latest stories. There seems to be much abuzz about the hills."

Elian and Gideon looked at each other.

"I don't have any objection," Gideon said. "I haven't heated water yet. It's better for me if others do it."

"Breakfast with new friends is always welcome," Elian said. And I might learn about my old friend, too.

Maveron's group was around two dozen men in total, all armed and armored. Not just 'townspeople,' as Maveron put it. They did leave their weapons by their horses, an outward showing of peaceful intent.

Elian became more interested in their purpose. Golden Grove wasn't one afternoon's ride away. They also didn't bring wagons laden with goods if their purpose was trade with the hills of Penitents or elsewhere. Were they going to fight an enemy?

As the Golden Grove men started a fire and began to fry eggs, Elian told them the story of the mysterious attackers who tried to assassinate the Hundred-Armed Magistrate. In truth, one of the Magistrate's priests, Thalman, wanted to kill the deity as revenge for Cursing him and imprisoning him for over a decade. Elian was able to thwart his plans.

Elian couldn't allow the Magistrate to die. Thalman revealed to him that the Magistrate was actually the hand of the Elder Giant, purposely kept separate and animated with the essence of another deity—the real Hundred-Armed Magistrate. The result was this pseudo-deity that became the center of a religion. If the Magistrate died, the Elder Giant would begin to regenerate its lost hand and be one step closer to reforming its body.

An awakened Elder Giant would bring about the end of humanity. Elian succeeded in stopping part of it.

Of course, Elian didn't tell the Grovenians about that. Neither did he reveal his actual role during the fight at the temple. He was just a random passerby who joined the temple guards fending off the faceless enemy.

"I didn't know we're in the presence of a hero," Maveron said, raising his mug of ale. The other soldiers also raised their drinks.

"I was just doing my part defending the hills," said Elian. "I'm not worthy of any recognition." In a way, I'm humble bragging, right? He intended to raise his status in the eyes of the Grovenians so they'd be open to him. There was probably no need for his story because they were open and friendly.

Too open and friendly. Gideon had his eyebrows permanently raised at how weird the soldiers acted.

"Not worthy of recognition, and yet you've been given the stone band of the Magistrate." Maveron locked his eyes on Elian's bracelet with the symbol of a fist.

"You know what this is?"

"I've seen it a couple of times. Given to those considered friends by the temple, I was told by some friends of the Magistrate's clergy. You have done them great service, and I salute you."

Elian scratched the back of his head. "Er, thanks. I really wasn't…"

"It is made from an ancient stone, is it not? Hewn from the ruins of the catfolk empire and carved by the priests. It truly is a unique gift befitting a hero. What are its enchantments? My eyes spy a magical glow about it."

Elian was taken aback by how much Maveron buttered him up. What did this Grovenian want? Help them fight whoever their enemy was? But Elian decided to indulge Maveron. He wanted to eventually know about Hinter.

"See for yourself its enchantments," Elian said, raising his right arm.

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Kymorathi words written in light emerged from the bracelet—the description of its enchantments. When Maveron touched them, they turned into Angloise, the common language of trade amongst humans this side of the Great Chasm. The bracelet had three enchantments.

Forgesmith of the Invisible Hand

Making a connection with enchanted equipment, the Invisible Hand repairs them so long as the wearer has Energy.

Konshari's Protection for the Brave

Stand your ground and not one step back. Your bravery earns you the blessing of fifteen percent more Armor so long as you stay in place.

Life Conversion of Melloween's Guard

Choose Health or Energy, converting a quarter of it into the other. You cannot expend any further amount of your choice until the converted amount is lost or you dispel the conversion.

"An enchantment that repairs equipment?" Maveron stroked his square chin as he nodded. "I suppose your equipment continuously suffers damage from the Tribulations. The other two are likewise useful for a Penitent like you, the Konshari's enchantment particularly seemed tailor-fitted."

"I am grateful to the Magistrate's priests for their gift."

"And what of your mace of splendid make?" Maveron nodded at Elian's mace by his side. It made Elian a bit conscious that he didn't disarm themselves while these men did. But Maveron didn't seem to mind. "That white material… Is it not made of steel?"

"This is Warkodon ivory."

"Oho, from the tusks of the mighty Warkodon! As expected of a Penitent." The rest of Maveron's men echoed the praises of their leader.

Before Maveron could find anything else to compliment, Elian said, "Uh, so where are you going, if it's alright to ask?"

Maveron nodded at the towering mountain. "Yonder. The Sabyn Mountain is our destination."

"Are you going there to hunt?" Elian asked.

That'd explain why they had such a large group of armed men. Not only were there dangerous beasts and plants, but the Guardian Herbalists would also be ready to defend the mountain from hunters. Elian wasn't sure how strong the defenses of Sabyn Mountain were, but he was certain that Maveron and his group wouldn't win against an angry forest.

"No, no, no," Maveron said. "Too dangerous, our Penitent friend. The Sabyn Twins wouldn't take too kindly to such an incursion. Our goal is to meet the Sabyn Twins and petition that they stop their attacks on our town."

"Attacks?" Elian blinked in surprise. "But the Sabyn Twins don't venture out of their mountain. That's what I've heard."

And read. He had originally planned to study herbalism, and he did do some preliminary studies in his first life, as a workaround for the Abyssal Eye's Curse that reduced the effect of potions. The herbalists have potions, yes, but they also had ointments, pills, powders, and much more.

Elian's choices for a deity that gave a Boon related to herbalism were the Goddess Floralia and the Sabyn Twins of Autumn. Going to the forest of Goddess Floralia, though much further, was a no-brainer. It was said that Floralia was kind—getting her Boon should be easy—and her herbalists benevolent at helping the cities around their forest. The Sabyn Twins, on the other hand, hated humans. An aspiring herbalist needed to perform various rituals of cleansing and even take on plant properties. All that Elian knew about the Sabyn Twins came from books, and there wasn't much information. Even the books in the temple library gave him no new knowledge.

Maveron, however, seemed to have an actual experience dealing with the Sabyn Twins.

"You are correct in that the Sabyn Twins do not leave their abode," Maveron replied. "However, the same doesn't apply to their minions, both beasts and plants. Our town has been under attack for the past month."

Elian tensed upon hearing that. It brought back a crucial piece of memory about Hinter.

"My town was destroyed," Hinter said when their group asked about Golden Grove.

They were gathered around a campfire at that time, sharing their backstories. Elian had no choice but to give a fake tale since the Timekeeper's Gift didn't allow him to share any information about the Timekeeper, including knowledge of the Giant invasion and his Earth origin. Elian claimed to have gotten amnesia after he was robbed. Farmer Wendell then saved him and cared for him. A lame fake backstory, but it drew some sympathy.

Hinter's backstory was the real deal.

"Destroyed? When did this happen?" Yanira asked Hinter. "I visited Golden Grove as a little girl. I haven't heard any such horrid news."

"A couple of months ago. Only a few survived—my mother fortunately did. Our relatives and most of the townspeople didn't."

Elian asked, "How was it destroyed?" If possible, he'd try to stop it in his next run.

"By horrible shadow beasts that can strike us, but we cannot strike them back, for our swords and spells pass right through them. We know not whence they came." Hinter stoked the fire with a stick as he chewed his tongue, pondering. "I think my uncle did. Others on the town council, too. I sensed the elders kept something from us. I travel in search of clues and to make myself stronger for revenge."

"How is that possible?" Gideon asked Maveron, pulling Elian back to the present. "The Sabyn Twins of Autumn only defend their mountain. Attacking would be antithetical to their stance of not stooping to the level of humans that consume and destroy everything."

"I speak of the truth, Master Floramage," said Maveron as he undid the buckles of his armguard. He showed them the scar of a deep slash across the length of his arm. The scar had a grayish ashen color, like that of a smoldering charcoal. "This was caused by a shadow beast."

"Shadow beast…" Elian repeated.

"That is what we call them, for that is what they are. Ethereal creatures made of shadows that could seemingly slip through cracks like smoke, and then reform and take shape. Very solid, as you see." Maveron nodded at his scar. "We have never seen anything like them before, though our elders speak of such attacks decades past when our town was young. They're happening again."

"And you suspect this to be the work of the Sabyn Twins?" Elian asked, eyeing the equipment of Maveron and his men. Their metal bore the signs of suffering attacks. Dents and scratches. They have been in recent fights and haven't yet had the time to repair their armor.

Was this the truth that Hinter sought? The Sabyn Twins could be angry with the Grovenians cutting down the forest for their town's expansion. But that didn't explain outright attacks on a place not near the Sabyn Mountain.

"We sent people to tail these beasts as they return to their lair," explained Maveron. "They travel only at night, seeping into the ground during the day to avoid the sun, as strong light seems to be their only weakness. Our men reported that these shadow beasts all head to Sabyn Mountain. We are not ignorant that we have harmed the forest for our gain, attracting the ire of the Sabyn Twins."

"How do you plan on making peace with the Sabyn Twins?" Elian asked. Maveron's group didn't look very peaceful. Couldn't they have brought along non-warriors for negotiations?

"That's what we're going to ask them," said Maveron. "What about you? Where is your destination?"

"Ohmenstrat," Elian said. Gideon glanced at him. Elian didn't look Gideon's way as he explained, "There are many Penitents in the Ohmenstrat area. Share strategies and the like." He didn't want to say they were heading to the Sabyn Mountain because he knew what Maveron would say next.

"Ah, Ohmenstrat. Indeed, there are many followers of the Magistrate there. You'll be taking the path snaking along the side of Sabyn Mountain."

"That's right…"

Maveron leaned forward. "I hope this isn't overbold and disrespectful of me to ask, considering we've only met, but could you accompany us to meet the Sabyn Twins? You will be compensated. A Master Floramage and a powerful Penitent would dissuade the herbalists from attacking at first instance, perhaps giving us an opening to sue for peace. What say you?"